“Haa… Haa… How’s that… Haa… Haa…”
I speak between breaths, struggling to fight off the overwhelming fatigue consuming my entire body.
My magic is completely drained, leaving me barely able to stand. In this world, life without magic is harsh, a reality I am once again reminded of.
“Haa… Haa…”
In front of me, a massive crater spanning tens of meters stretches out. The surrounding trees have been reduced to ashes, blown away, and the sky remains clogged with thunderclouds.
At the center, where Zeus once stood, the air is filled with dust, making it hard to see. The lingering lightning in the air prevents the dust from settling.
“What… happened?”
Clutching my right hand, ruined from channeling too much magic, I approach slowly. If I had even a sliver of magic left, I could sense the situation, but with none remaining, I’m forced to rely on my sight.
I stand at the edge of the crater and peer inside. It’s now a pool of electric energy, dangerous enough that an ordinary person would be fried instantly if they tried to jump in.
Seeing this, I can’t help but feel a bit afraid of the dangerous technique I used.
“As expected… He’s probably not dead, but… at least he should have taken some damag—”
“—You did well. It’s been a long time since I got injured.”
Suddenly, a gust of wind, like a tornado, rises from the crater’s center, and Zeus appears, covered in what looks like scratches all over his body. His face, however, is beaming with childlike joy.
“Ha… You monster…”
I black out as I hear Zeus laughing heartily in the background.
“—Huh!?”
I wake up from a nightmare where I saw Hera fall into darkness. Sitting up abruptly, I glance around and realize I’m in an unfamiliar room. For now, I’m just relieved that Hera hasn’t fallen, letting out a deep sigh of relief.
“Ow… Where am I—”
“—You’re in my home.”
I turn toward the voice to find Zeus, holding two mugs. He’s dressed casually, far from the powerful being who had toyed with me earlier.
“… It’s a pretty human-looking house.”
“Well, I like human culture. It’s quite convenient.”
Zeus places the mugs on the table in front of me, laughing warmly like a grandfather doting on his grandchild.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Well, don’t be in such a hurry. First, have some coffee and calm your nerves.”
Reluctantly, I pick up the mug, comforted by Zeus’s cheerful assurance that nothing strange is in it. The rich aroma of coffee drifts from the cup.
“Haa… I guess coffee can’t be blamed for anything… This is… really good.”
It’s the best coffee I’ve ever had, even counting my previous life. Seriously, how did he make this?
I widen my eyes in surprise and look at Zeus. Noticing my reaction, he sips his coffee and speaks.
“Delicious, isn’t it? I was just as surprised when I discovered it.”
“… This is really good.”
“Isn’t it? You’ve never tasted anything like it in your previous life, have you?”
“!?”
I leap off the sofa, trying to cast a spell, but before I can, it’s neutralized by Magic Cancel, an advanced technique that nullifies magic.
“How do you know that? I haven’t told anyone.”
“Don’t be so agitated. I’m a god, after all. I can figure out things like that just by looking.”
“… Gods are ridiculous.”
“That’s why they’re revered. Though I doubt anyone remembers me anymore.”
Zeus nonchalantly mentions how he’s been living here for hundreds of years. I begin to understand why he enjoyed our battle earlier.
“Well, tell me your story. You must have a reason for seeking a contract with me, given your past life.”
His words leave me at a loss for how to respond.
Should I really tell him? It’s too dangerous to talk without forming a contract. If I reveal too much, it could mess up the storyline, and I’d lose my advantage of knowing the original story.
That would make preventing Hera’s fall into darkness even more difficult.
But… if I don’t trust him here, I won’t be able to form the contract.
“Haa… Fine. I’ll tell you.”
“Oh! It’s been a while since I’ve heard an interesting story!”
Zeus’s eyes light up like a child’s, and with a serious expression, I tell him:
“I… want to save a girl in this world.”
