*Hephaestus' POV*

  "What do you see in that guy? I still 't believe you're dating him. Are you sure he's not bckmailing you in some way?"

  I was fag Loki in a room ihe tower.

  My private office.

  Hearing her words, I felt highly offended. How could she think a human was bckmailing me? And how could she treat Eryk with such disrespect?

  I stared at her seriously, and Loki partially opened her eyes.

  "Hmmm…" She walked up to me and looked into my eyes. "I'm getting curious about him. There must be something special about him."

  "I won't allow you to meet him. You'll try something unnecessary. You only o know that I like him, and he's not bckmailing me. Don't say unnecessary things."

  "Hahaha." Loki ughed. "Of course, I'm just joking. A human 't bckmail you. Your retionship is just so unusual that it's hard to believe it's something natural."

  "You would never uand."

  "What do you mean by that?"

  "Have you ever loved someone before? I don't think that's ever happeo you."

  "Hmmm…" Loki thought for a moment before answering. "I like Ais' boobs. Does that t?"

  Loki smiled at me, and I stared at her in disbelief.

  "You're disgusting."

  "Hahaha, you take things way too seriously." Loki stopped ughing and looked at me seriously. "But really, I want to meet this guy."

  "I'll think about whether or not I should introduce Eryk to you. For now, I'd rather you not meet him."

  "Alright then." Loki got ready to leave. "Try not to love too much. That always ends badly."

  "Says someone who's never been in love before."

  "Alright, alright. Enjoy yht with your boyfriend when you get home. You look tired—I hope you satisfy him. Hahaha."

  Loki ughed as she left the room.

  I sighed and sat dowing my back against the wall as I looked at the ceiling.

  Eryk's face was floating there.

  "I guess I should go home…"

  ####

  *Bel's POV*

  I was sitting with Hestia while we had dinner when, suddenly, Eryk came to my mind.

  "That sword he was using… I wish I had a sword like that…" I murmured while chewing my food.

  Hestia, sitting across from me, heard my words.

  "What do you mean by "sword"? Who is Eryk?" she asked.

  "He's a guy I met in the dungeon. He didn't look much older thahough he was taller and had a lot of muscles. He told me he was a member of the Hephaestus Familia."

  "Eryk… Hephaestus Familia…" Hestia thought for a moment. "Isn't he Goddess Hephaestus' boyfriend? That's his name, but I've never seen him before. Hermes told me about him."

  "Is he famous?"

  "I wouldn't say he's famous… But since he's Hephaestus' boyfriend, the ods know about him. Hermes told me he's quite… weak?"

  "That guy is weak? Are you sure? When I saw him, he seemed petent. I didn't get to see him fight monsters, but he had the aura of someorong."

  "I told you, I've never seen him before—I've only heard rumors."

  "I see… Oh, and Eryk was using a sword he fed himself. That's the sword I was thinking about."

  "I also heard from Hermes that he's terrible at f anything."

  "I don't think we're talking about the same person," I said.

  "Or he might have lied to impress you. You are a pretty girl, after all."

  Heariia's words, I felt my face heat up.

  "Don't say things like that! You know I get embarrassed easily."

  "I like saying these things because it's cute when you blush."

  "..."

  The versation quickly shifted, and the goddess seemed tet about Eryk.

  But I kept thinking about him.

  Did he lie to me?

  The goddess surely wasn't lying—she heard those rumors.

  'Maybe he was weak but got stronger. I'm curious. Maybe I vince him to make a on for me.'

  ####

  *Eryk's POV*

  When I woke up the following day, Hephaestus was sleeping beside me. Last night, I went to bed before she got home.

  As I got up, I heard Hephaestus call me.

  "Eryk?"

  "Hm?" I turo look at her.

  "Aren't you going to say good m?"

  "Good m." I smiled at Hephaestus before asking, " I know where you were st night? You got home really te, didn't you?"

  "What's this? Are you jealous?"

  "I'm not jealous, just curious."

  I walked over to the bed and sat down. Pg my hand on Hephaestus' face, I gently caressed her.

  As I ran my fingers over her cheek, I tried to remove her eyepatch, but Hephaestus grabbed my hand.

  "Don't do that, please," she said, looking at me seriously.

  We stared at each other briefly before I softly smiled at her.

  "Alright, I'm sorry. I fot you don't like showing your eye."

  "...You would feel disgusted if you saw it," Hephaestus said, pg her hand over her eye.

  "I wouldn't be disgusted by you just because of your eye."

  "When you see it, you'll ge your mind."

  That proves Hephaestus has never shown me her eye, not even once.

  Even though we've known each other for years and have been dating for months.

  It's sad not to have memories of the past.

  I 't even remember my parents' faces in this world. I don't know what my hometown looks like… And I don't remember how we started dating…

  Or maybe Hephaestus was the one who asked me out.

  I've alked about our past with Hephaestus because she would find out I don't have any memories.

  I wish I knew more about our past together so that I could act more naturally around her.

  I'm just someone who suddenly got a strong aiful girlfriend ht, yet I have no memories of our past together, making it hard to feel a strong e with her.

  'Though my subscious loves her very much.'

  How plicated.

  "Eryk? Did something happen? Your expression suddenly ged—you look sad."

  "I love you."

  "W-What's with that all of a sudden!?"

  ParodyGirl