45 THE talk.

*Chirp* *Chirp*

The sound of bird chirps served as an alarm to wake me up. I slowly opened my eyes. I hissed when the bright sunlight hit my face. Likewise, I put my hands up to cover my eyes.

Some time passed, and I was finally able to adjust. I slowly and groggily got up from the bed, still naked.

A weird sensation was on my feet... I looked down and saw some sort of paperwork stuck on my heels.

The thought of picking it up and reading its contents ran into my mind, but I couldn't care less about it at the end of the day.

The entire workshop was a mess: Paperwork was dispersed all around the room. The table where we started our session had deep scratches on it.

Even the black leather couch wasn't spared.

I looked at Hephie that was wearing only her forging uniform. She was essentially only wearing an apron on her naked flesh.

A play that we both seemed to enjoy.

She was sprawled on the ground like a careless toddler. Her private parts for all to see.

Well, for me to see it at least. Not a single peeping can look through.

I made sure of that.

*Swoosh*

I started putting back what paperwork I could back into the desk. Several papers were flying around the room.

'Hephie will have to organise them later.' I muttered once all of them were at least in the same pile.

While that was happening, I decided to take to rinse myself along with Hephie using hot water.

I slowly brought her to me while keeping her floating, and gave her a light peck on the cheek.

"Morning,"

I knew she was awake right from the beginning, she just couldn't hide that from me.

Hephie slowly opened one eye and proceeded to pout… She looked like a cute squirrel with her puffed cheeks.

'Cute.'

No matter how many times I see that expression, it always gets me.

Hephie grinned, knowing full by now my evident weakness to that expression.

'What can I do? She's just that cute.' I faintly smiled.

"You didn't have to." She said, already gotten used to my multitasking magic.

"Well, true. But we went at it pretty hard yesterday." I gestured at her." I doubt you're fine after that."

She paused for a second or two and looked down at my nether regions. She seemed to be in her own world... Her eyebrows creased in concentration as her eyes squinted. I could even see a shadow covering half her face; virtue of anime logic.

I don't know why, but I had this weird instinct to cover my jewels up. That look wasn't good...

"Umm... baby?" I said, hands still protecting my jewels.

"Hephie, talk to me... That look you have on is giving me b-bad vibes." I joked, but the way my voice cracked at the end gave away my nervousness.

Not that Hephie didn't know it.

Hephie deeply sighed. She turned her head away from me and mumbled in a hushed voice." ... Do you h-have to..."

She looked at me right in the eyes; unfiltered sadness seeped through them. " Am I alone not good enough, Ken?".

"..."

I was not ready for this kind of response.

Neither of us was stupid, we both knew this topic would come along eventually.

Furthermore, I had been dropping hints along the way, and she surely picked them up.

But, I was expecting her to be at least angry. To at least yell or SOMETHING. Some argument I can win against, or maybe even a small fight where I would have to win her back.

"I-..."

There was no way for me to answer that question. How could I?

"You know I love yo-"

"Just... Answer me, Ken, please." she insisted.

Her crimson eyes gazed deep into my blue ones.

I bit my lower lip in frustration; this was not how I imagined it would work out. Neither of us said anything for a long time, our soft breathing was the only sound that travelled in the workshop.

I had to say something.

I could have chosen more elaborate words... I could have manipulated her with magic...

Not only that, but I could have even gone as far as to slow down her time, letting me come up with the perfect response.

Yet, I picked the dumbest and most natural option: the truth.

I shook my head at her question and closed my eyes. Likewise, I was not even able to meet her eye to eye.

"And why is that?" She inquired.

*Drip*

Despite her seemingly even tone, the moment I opened my eyes, I could see a tear slip down her cheek and drop on the cold wooden floor.

I drew closer to her, yet I didn't dare touch her floating figure.

The words were stuck in my throat. Nonetheless, I was determined to simply tell the truth, "It's because I'm a selfish bastard, Hephie... I love you, and you know it." I stopped for a second," But I can't tell you I won't ever love another."

She looked at me for an extended period of time, all the while tears silently streamed down her face.

"...Put me down, Ken."

I gently put her on her feet.

She crossed her arms, only after wiping her tears away with her naked arm.

We both sat down on the disfigured couch.

"If this is going to work, we need to establish some rules."

I, of course, nodded to that.

"Foremost, I will accept NO other goddess." she said, "And I don't care to which 'world' she belongs, either," she added the latter part.

"I was not lying when I said that back then, Hephie. I fully meant it. You really are the only goddess for me..."

A reminiscent smile decorated her face for a quick moment. It seems my declaration was indeed special to her. She continued, "Secondly, I want to know about them before I accept them."

That was also fair enough, but it seems like she wasn't done.

"And most importantly Ken, I want YOU to slow down," she said. Strangely, she was the most serious in this of the three conditions.

I drew a confused eyebrow," Slow down... What do you mean by that?"

"I know that you know what I mean. Don't dodge this, Ken."

I took her hand and sighed, "Hephie, I can't do that." I paused," You of most people should know why."

She looked at me. "No, I don't Ken, I don't."

"Tell me. What do you do besides trying to get stronger?" she questioned.

She grimaced at the look I gave her; it screamed 'What kinda stupid question is that?'

"I will seriously smack you if you say something related to the dungeon."

My eyes widened and I sheepishly scratched my neck.

'Maybe it's really a problem?'

"You're being quite hypocritical, Hephie? What if I tell you to stop forging?"

She briskly nodded at that. "I know it is... I can be selfish too."

'She just had to say that...'

Hephie still looked seriously at me and expected an answer.

A positive answer.

I sighed for real this time. 'It must not be fun to have a partner with suicidal tendencies.'

-----------------

[Akagi Ken]

Level:4

HP: 4980

MP: 2490

Unallocated Stat points: 142

Valis: ~10mil

-Strength: EX1224

-Endurance: EX1324

-Dexterity: EX1420

-Agility: EX1420

-Magic: EX1380

Skills: Gamers Mind - Gamers Body - Instinct - Mind's Eye (True) - Mage - Mystery- MasterSmith- One-Handed Sword Mastery - Rejuvenation - Shapeshifting - Mixing- HeadPatting.

Magic: Ele magic - Non-Ele magic - Inventory- Space-Time magic.

If you want to help me out, have any ideas, or want to read advanced chapters ahead: patron.com/MunirSM