Chapter 230: Time to talk with Medusa.
"Stop right there, Medusa!"
Hearing such dangerous words, Eikou rushed in without any hesitation.
"Master?!"
As Eikou pushed the door open, a beautiful tall woman with purple hair appeared before him in shock.
Medusa — or more precisely, Anna after becoming an adult — her purple blindfold had somehow already been removed, and those deep violet eyes showed a hint of guilt when she looked at Eikou.
Beside her stood a full-length mirror, reflecting her body wrapped in a thin layer of black fabric, her tall and alluring model-like figure — and also revealing the measuring tape she had tried to hide behind her.
"...Master, what are you doing here?"
Medusa guiltily turned her face to the side.
"I should be the one asking what you're doing, suddenly saying such dangerous things."
Eikou quickly walked over and immediately took the measuring tape from her hands.
"Even though I completely understand how much you prefer your small form, don't do things that would harm yourself like this."
"...I'm sorry, Master. I was only talking to myself, I didn't really intend to do anything."
Medusa's voice softened, and very quickly she returned to her usual calm demeanor.
"Good."
Eikou sighed in relief. "You must take proper care of yourself, understand? If something happens to you, that's my responsibility as your Master."
"There is no need to worry about my condition. I will maintain my best form and fight for you until the end."
Medusa shook her head. "Besides, a Servant is essentially just a type of familiar, we have no right to demand that you take responsibility for us."
"...What kind of attitude is that? It's like you're treating me no differently from some emotionless coworker. We talked just fine last night, but the moment you evolve you suddenly act like you've been formatted."
So adult Medusa… is even gloomier and colder, huh.
"..."
Eikou helplessly scratched his head.
Thinking about it, that actually makes sense. Anna had always been negative, gloomy, and pessimistic; at her core she was a very serious and stubborn girl, always tormenting herself internally.
After evolving into Rider Medusa, her larger body only amplified her inferiority complex, making her psychology even more tangled and troublesome.
Even though he really wanted to go rest for a bit…
He should talk seriously with Medusa first.
"Sit down and talk with me for a moment."
Eikou sat on the sofa and pointed at the empty spot beside him.
Medusa hesitated for a moment, but still obediently sat down — though she shifted slightly farther away.
Eikou noticed, but didn't comment. Instead, he poured tea from the pot on the table, pouring a cup of hot tea for both of them.
The warm cup was placed in front of Medusa.
"Although this doesn't really count as compensation..." Eikou slowly began speaking.
"I'm sorry. If it weren't for saving me, you wouldn't have become this adult form that you dislike."
"You don't need to apologize. Protecting you is something I must do."
"No, I should apologize,"
Eikou said firmly, "Medusa, what do you think I see you as? A convenient sword? A life-sized talking doll? No. I see you as a teammate and a younger sister. You paid a price to save me, so of course I should apologize to you."
"Um..."
In Medusa's deep purple eyes, a faint light seemed to flicker before she turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
"It's fine... My growth was something irreversible to begin with. In fact, even without you, sooner or later I would have become like this."
After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but add softly: "But I'm happy that I became like this in order to protect you."
"Is that so,"
Eikou said with a smile, "I didn't expect I'd be that important to you. I'm glad. Can you move a little closer to me?"
"Mo… move a little closer...?"
Medusa froze, her fair cheeks instantly dyed a blush.
"Forget it, we should keep a proper social distance between Master and Servant. This is enough. If we have to part in the future, being too close will only cause more sorrow."
Eikou thought to himself: She's really too negative. Things haven't even reached that point and she's already this pessimistic.
Dealing with a Servant whose heart is this heavy and conservative, he truly felt a bit helpless.
"Then there's no helping it. I give up..."
He sighed regretfully.
Then he raised his right hand, revealing the Command Spell, and said seriously:
"I'll stop trying to reason with you. I'll use a Command Spell to order you to come closer! Umu, I'll use one stroke of a Command Spell and command you to move about twenty centimeters closer!"
Medusa's whole body trembled, and she looked at him in disbelief: "You're using a Command Spell for something like this??"
"Because you won't listen."
"Don't do that, I'll move closer right away!"
The beautiful, mature Medusa panicked and quickly put both hands on her lap, obediently scooting right next to him.
"Still a bit far,"
Eikou said thoughtfully, "how about you lie on my lap?"
"O… on your lap?!"
"Yes. Quickly, or I really will waste a precious Command Spell because of you."
With a straight face, Eikou said: "Medusa, do you really want to force me to do that?"
"I… I will..."
Flustered, Medusa still obediently followed his instruction. She stiffened a little, then slowly laid down, resting her head on his lap.
Feeling the warmth through the thin layer of cloth, and with her head on her Master's lap, Medusa's beautiful face flushed even redder, completely unlike her usual cold and seductive demeanor — right now she looked extremely shy.
"Master, please never do such outrageous things again. Every Command Spell stroke is extremely precious."
Medusa said softly, hesitantly: "Forming a contract with an anti-hero like me… and yet you're willing to sacrifice a Command Spell for something so trivial..."
"Haha, because I know you're a good girl. You'd never let me waste a Command Spell over this."
Eikou smiled gently.
"Master..."
Medusa's deep purple eyes looked at him with emotion, a faint warm light shimmering within.
She shifted slightly, like a snake seeking more warmth, clinging to the heat of Eikou's lap, while also positioning herself so she could see his face more clearly.
Medusa unconsciously bit her lip, as if desperately suppressing something.
Eikou gently ran his fingers through her soft hair, soothing her flustered feelings as he spoke in a warm voice:
"I'm not good at saying nice things. I just want you to know this… aside from your two sisters, there will always be others who care about you. No matter what form you take, their feelings for you won't change. You can keep hating yourself if you want, but that won't change how much I care about you."
"I see..."
Medusa's breathing suddenly grew hot, her gaze locked onto the handsome boy in front of her — the gaze of a hunter who had found her prey.
In a sense, her Master truly acted with complete consistency — in his heart, he still treated her as the shy, timid little girl from before, the adorable Anna.
And because he had no guard up at all toward such a girl…
Medusa's desire only intensified.
"... Even very selfish requests, are they allowed too, Master?"
She asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.
Seeing that she suddenly wanted to make a request, Eikou thought she had finally opened her heart, and quickly replied:
"Of course. I even hope you'll be a bit more selfish. Just feel free to cling to me!"
"Ma… Master..."
Looking at the boy she had long desired, remembering the events in the tent last night, Medusa exhaled a hot, sweet, seductive breath:
"Master… to me… you're truly irresistible..."
"If so, according to your command... I won't hold back anymore! My Master, I like you!"
As soon as she spoke those words, the fully grown Greek beauty could no longer suppress her racing heartbeat. She suddenly sprang up, and in one swift motion lunged forward, pushing down the Master she had long yearned for onto the sofa.
Always thinking of your Servant as so perfect, and completely lacking in vigilance — you're bound to get 'devoured' someday!