After some time passed, Alpheus calmed down from the crying. Once he began to eat in relative peace, Marianne decided to start eating, too.

She grabbed a skewer and finally truly noticed the smell. Even without any spices, the familiar aroma of roasted meat was always a welcome slap to the face. She can’t determine the quality of the meat because after starving for days to have a proper meal, anything would be bound to smell and taste like gourmet food. And so, she digs in.

The moment she took a bite, and the meat was simply superb. Her teeth sank into the surface with little resistance, and the juices burst. She truly felt in bliss. Getting to taste the wonder of meat might make the whole second-life business worth it, based on that alone.

However, the true reason that validates her existence in this new world is right next to her: the boy who has already demolished several skewers but is clearly nowhere near finished. She made the right call with the amount she hunted. The boy forgot his surroundings and focused on satisfying his hunger. Marianne wondered just how long he had been starving. She doesn’t dwell on the thought and simply allows herself to feel accomplished for succeeding in her task.

And so, the two devoted themselves to a well-deserved rest. However, there was yet another issue to tackle before that, and Marianne deemed it appropriate to settle it tonight.

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

Finally, Alpheus was done, and after a while of absentmindedly staring ahead, he snapped out of his stupor. He flinched and immediately turned toward the person who had long since finished her meal.

“Uhhhmmmm, I-I’m sorry for getting carried away like this! It was rude of m- “Once again, he began to panic and stumble over his words. As entertaining as this performance usually was to her, she also gets weary of the whole routine, so she shuts him down instantly.

She points her open palm against him, and he immediately goes quiet. “Alright, I want to make something clear here. I don’t want to hear any more apologies from you. No “I’m sorry” and no “Forgive me.” None of that. I hate it when people do that,” she said, all of this with genuine annoyance dripping from her voice.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

His long, green ears began drooping as she expressed her exasperation with his behavior, but then she proceeded.

“From this point onward, I want you to respond by saying “thank you.” You better take what I’m about to say to heart. People would rather hear gratitude than self-deprecation. Putting yourself down just makes the other person uncomfortable, so you’re not doing anyone a favor here.”

Thinking back to their encounter with that swordsman, she can imagine how he stumbled into that mindset. However, ...

Marianne leaned her hand toward Alpheus’s head and stopped before him. For a moment, Alpheus looked incredibly confused. He was exposed to a sudden and sharp pain. She flicked his forehead.

“Ouch!”

Stumbling back and massaging the spot she hit, he looks at her bewildered, and she smiles at him smugly.

“From now on, whenever you dare respond to me with anything that sounds remotely apologetic, I’m flicking your forehead just like that. Either get used to the pain or keep this in mind. Got it?” She says this in a commanding voice.

Alpheus feels quite intimidated by this and falls quiet. Displeased, Marianne adds with a more threatening voice.

“I was asking a question.”

He flinches.

“Y-Yes, Ma’am!” He shouts as he nods his head frantically.

“Good!” And just like that, her usual sweet tone returned.

To say Alpheus was bewildered was an understatement. He had no idea how to react to the many different attitudes she suddenly exhibited.

“Now then, what is the first thing you say in this situation?” She asks in an overly sweet tone, which only puts him on edge.

“Th-th... Thankyouforthefood!” He mumbled but quickly managed to blurt the words out. Marianne didn’t want to stop there, though.

“Now try to say it slower. Be calm when talking to others. Collecting your thoughts when expressing gratitude will make you sound much more sincere. In fact, blurting stuff like this just to get it quickly out of the way is rude.” Her instructions are forceful, but at least there is a lot less edge in her manner of speech right now.

“I’m sorr- “He responded immediately, and just as quickly, a sudden force landed on his head again. He rubs his forehead in pain, and he corrects himself upon seeing her frown at him.

“I mean... yes, Ma’am!” He straightens his posture as he says this.

“Good.” She simply said as she was done lecturing him on that matter. From now on, her hand will do the lecturing.

In a harmless way, of course.