-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Priest's Connection (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"I-I… I'm so… H-Hee-heeck!"
I screamed, closing my eyes, but Daphne didn't even blink, swinging her sword at me without hesitation.
-Slish.
A chilling sound pierced my ears.
And just like that, my head was severed.
"Why are you crying?"
Not the head on my neck, but my hair.
When I opened my eyes, I saw black hair scattered on the floor and Daphne, her expression inexplicably excited.
"I thought it was bothering you, so I cut it."
"…"
The invisible force that had bound my body vanished, and my strengthless body slumped back into the chair.
'This damn woman…'
Seeing her smirk as she sheathed her sword, it seemed she had been trying to tease me.
Just as I was about to retort indignantly.
[Affection with Daphne increased by 20! (Affection: 50/100)]
A notification arrived. No, why?
"Heh, anyone would think I threatened to kill you."
You did.
"By the way, seeing you scared and crying, you really are just a kid, aren't you?"
"I… I wasn't crying."
"Then what's this moisture here? Ah, perhaps it's just dew?"
Daphne asked, rubbing her finger under my eye. Meeting her gaze, her eyes curved into a crescent moon shape, annoyingly smug.
"…"
My face flushed with shame, and my head instinctively dropped.
To be teased like this by a woman.
My pride as a man was utterly shattered.
'Just you wait.'
My pride utterly wounded, I trembled slightly and vowed.
Though I was currently in a position where I had to appease her, I would one day reverse this situation.
"Oh my, the apron's ruined?"
"...?"
As I stood there, Daphne held up my apron.
"We almost had a big problem."
Daphne smiled brightly and tossed the black apron I had been wearing aside.
Seeing that, I swallowed dryly.
Because the apron Daphne had thrown wasn't intact; it was shredded.
'In that short moment, while cutting my hair, she even sliced up my apron just to tease me?'
As the situation dawned on me, my mouth fell open.
It was beyond comprehension.
How skilled in swordsmanship must she be to pull off such a feat?
And how twisted must her personality be to wield such a terrifying blade, just to tease a child?
"Here."
While I was lost in thought, something was placed on the floor.
"...?"
When I gave her a look asking what on earth it was, Daphne smiled slyly and replied.
"It's an apron. I thought black was too gloomy, so I prepared this."
"This is a bit…"
As I held up the apron, a feast of pink unfolded.
I felt an instinctive repulsion.
And for good reason.
No, even if it wasn't me, any man would have felt the same.
'Even gay men would hate this.'
A vibrant pink background, with clear-eyed baby animals frolicking happily.
The apron Daphne handed me boasted a design that, as someone born with XY chromosomes, I simply could not accept.
"Daphne-nim, I'd rather just go without an apron…"
"Wear it."
"Huh?"
"I said, wear it."
As I was trying to politely refuse, a chilling voice cut in.
"…"
Daphne was looking at me with an even colder expression than the first day we met.
It was a deplorable situation. To be a man, yet unable to raise my voice properly, forced to yield like this.
'Fuck.'
I really didn't want to wear it, but in the end, I had no choice but to put on the apron.
Then a notification arrived.
[Affection with Daphne increased by 20! (Affection: 70/100)]
Thanks to this, I realized what I needed to do to clear this quest.
'So this was her taste.'
All I had to do was cater to Daphne's preferences.
Look now. Daphne's frigid expression had vanished as if it had never existed, replaced by one of utter satisfaction.
'Look on the bright side.'
My pride as a man was wounded, but this was still better.
Than eating seven gray sandwiches, that is.
Ah, since things have come to this, I should tell her right now.
That I'll cook.
If this goes well, I might even be able to clear the quest today?
"Such a pre… pre… pretty apron, thank you."
"Yes. Quite cute… no, it's tolerable."
"Ah, Daphne-nim! Since I'm already wearing this apron, would it be alright if I repaid your kindness?"
"Repay?"
Daphne asked back, her eyes filled with curiosity.
It was a good expression. An expression that would surely be moved and find me admirable if I declared I would cook.
"I actually know how to cook a bit!"
"Cook?"
"Yes. If you just tell me where the ingredients are, I was thinking of preparing a meal myself…"
"Kamel…"
As I spoke confidently, Daphne trailed off and lowered her head.
'She must be moved.'
I'd be the same. She can't cook, and I'm offering to cook for her out of gratitude.
From Daphne's perspective, I must seem incredibly admirable.
Sure enough. A notification arrived shortly after.
[Affection with Daphne decreased by 10! (Affection: 60/100)]
'Huh?'
Why did it drop?
Perhaps she sensed my puzzled gaze. Daphne then raised her head and asked me.
"Was the food I made not delicious?"
Daphne's expression was tinged with various emotions.
Dejection and disappointment, along with anger and even madness.
Feeling as though I had made a grave mistake, I involuntarily gasped.
"…"
How long did we stare at each other?
After much deliberation, I made a big decision, opened my lips, and answered with difficulty.
"Yes."
****
I had invested over 10,000 hours into games, but this was a first.
Just one word… no, just one syllable left my lips, and my affection dropped by 20.
[Linked Quest 'Gain Daphne's Affection!' in progress. (Affection: 40/100)]
It was a truly infuriating situation, but I had no regrets.
No, I truly thought I did well.
-"Do as you please."
Although Daphne had pouted and somewhat abandoned me in the kitchen.
Despite that, I couldn't help but hum a tune.
"Hum-hum."
I had traded 30 affection points to be able to live like a human, so how could I not be happy? I thought this was a truly cheap price to pay.
'I can just raise the affection again.'
From what I observed, Daphne had quite a capricious personality.
So, if I just played along with her whims a bit, the quest would surely clear naturally.
No matter how I thought about it, my choice wasn't wrong.
"Hum-hum."
Thanks to it, I was able to protect my precious sense of taste.
As I placed the meat on the frying pan, a sizzling sound and appetizing aroma began to fill the kitchen.
Surprisingly, the pantry was well-stocked with fresh ingredients, allowing me to prepare various dishes.
'This should raise her affection, right?'
Tomato pasta, chicken stew, and even pork neck steak, which I was currently grilling.
These were dishes that any woman would go crazy for, and if cooked by a man, would surely create affection where there was none.
'To think I'd put this to use like this.'
In my past life, I had learned to cook as a hobby. To cook for my girlfriend when she came over to my studio apartment.
"…"
Suddenly, a bitter feeling arose.
Come to think of it, in my past life, I never got to show these dishes to anyone.
"It's fine."
If it's helping now, isn't that proof?
That the time I invested was never wasted.
"Fuck."
It really was fine.
****
When I finished all preparations and called Daphne, she was still pouting.
"...You worked quite hard."
It wasn't just 'quite hard'; I did my absolute best.
'How petty.'
Seeing her still sulking, I felt my mood souring, but I endured it and handed her her utensils.
"It's simply not enough compared to the grace you've bestowed upon me, Daphne-nim."
"That's true."
"Please, try it before it gets cold."
"Alright. You worked hard, so I suppose I should try it."
"Heh-heh…"
On the outside, I smiled, but inside, I was utterly miserable.
To be born a man, cook for her, and still be treated like this.
'Dad, I'm sorry.'
A sudden surge of guilt.
My father in my past life used to tell me to die like a man, even if I died.
'I need to live.'
Incidentally, my father had manfully gambled his entire fortune on Dogecoin, and met a manly end…
"Deliciou— no, it's quite edible."
As I was thinking that, I heard Daphne mumble, and I raised my head.
'She's eating well.'
Daphne was focused on her meal, continuously munching with her small mouth.
Watching her, a strange feeling arose within me.
'She really is pretty, though.'
The way she was nom-nom-nomming was quite cute.
'If only her personality were better, it would be really great.'
Just as I was having such futile thoughts and about to join her for the meal, a series of notifications arrived.
[Affection with Daphne increased by 20! (Affection: 60/100)]
[Affection with Daphne increased by 20! (Affection: 80/100)]
[Affection with Daphne increased by 20! (Affection: 100/100)]
[Linked Quest 'Gain Daphne's Affection!' completed!]
The quest, completed in an instant.
Amidst my stunned confusion, I looked ahead to see Daphne happily munching away.
"…"
Watching her, I felt a sense of futility.
I had worried so much about clearing the quest.
To think it could be done this easily.
'Oh.'
But that sense of futility melted away like snow at the next notification that arrived.
[Please select your reward.]
The list of rewards that arrived for me was nothing short of excellent.