I approached her with a slight bow.

  "Morning, Master." A tone too cheerful for my Master.

  Master scowled. "What kind of greeting is that? So rude."

  "The 'Almost-Dead-Due-To-Master's-Recklessness' greeting." I dropped onto the seat across from her, resting my cheek on one hand.

  Her expression twisted. A vein throbbed on her temple.

  I stretched my grin wide, baring every tooth in a deeply questionable display. Ignoring my already tragic luck, I pushed it further.

  I dipped my brows low, crossed my eyes, then let them spin wildly as if they’d lost supervision. My tongue lolled out, swaying side to side with zero dignity. My hands crept up beside my face, fingers wriggling in a dramatic “behold, chaos” motion.

  If bad decisions had a face, I was wearing it.

  Master let out a cold laugh. The next second, her hand shot out, grabbed my head, and slammed it down. My forehead hit the table with a dull, brain-rattling thud.

  "ACK—!" I thrashed under her grip. The world tilted sideways as she twisted my neck.

  I reached out to grab her hands, but her other hand grabbed her fan and smacked my hands. After far too long, she let go.

  "Demon," I muttered under my breath, rubbing the fresh trauma on my scalp.

  "If you know better, then behave yourself," she said coldly, sipping her tea like nothing had happened.

  "Cheh! Master started it first…" I grumbled. My mouth jutted out.

  Her eyes sharpened like twin daggers. She tilted her head with the slow menace of a predator. "What did you say?"

  I stiffened. "N-Nothing, Master." My voice cracked.

  I already sent my greetings. Better get out of here fast before my mouth decides to end my life before I write a will.

  I began crawling toward the door, one inch at a time, my body flat against the floor as if staying low might save my life.

  Master placed her cup with a sharp clink. "Where are you going?"

  "To the dining room," I said with a pitiful whine. "I haven't eaten breakfast, and I'm starving, Master. Please let me go already."

  Master's voice came down like a verdict. "No."

  "Why?!" My stomach groaned in protest, right on cue.

  She turned away, sulking like a child.

  I slowly rose from the ground, scratching my head. That was… unexpected.

  I tried again, softer this time. "But I'm really hungry—"

  GRRRRRROOOOWWWWL.

  My stomach betrayed me with a monstrous growl. Even the walls trembled a little.

  "Oui… That's loud," I muttered, clutching my stomach like I'd been stabbed.

  Master blinked, stared at me, then stood up and opened the door.

  "Follow me," she said.

  "Where?" My instincts screamed trap. But she shot me a glare, and I hurried after her before she changed her mind.

  "You'll find out when we get there." Master started walking before I could say more.

  Behind, I began imagining every possible form of culinary torture she could inflict. A visual of a dungeon butcher sharpening knives played behind my eyes.

  Please don't let it be the butcher... I hate pain. At least make it a quick and peaceful death. My back hunched as I sniffled quietly.

  Each step I took echoed with dread. After all, Master was the type to mix breakfast with psychological warfare. But when she opened the door, warm air, fragrant and sweet, flooded my senses.

  The smell of grilled meats, toasted bread, rich soups, and freshly picked herbs filled the room. My stomach cried in joy. I dove for my seat. Without waiting for Master to sit down, I devoured the feast like a starving mercenary between quests. For a few minutes, the world felt right again.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Lady Nozomi joined us, serene and elegant, sipping her tea as she chatted lightly with Master. The clink of porcelain, the murmur of conversation, the warmth in my belly—it was the kind of moment people tried to photograph but never captured right.

  Burp~

  I flopped onto my back, whistling. Rubbing and patting my tummy. "That was one hearty meal."

  Meanwhile, Master had barely touched her food, poking at it like it was a chore.

  Doesn't Master know it's rude to play with food? Unless... The food is laced with poison?! Is that why she was so kind to bring me here instead of the execution ground? I narrowed my eyes. No. Let's confirm first.

  Suspicious, I sat up. "Master, aren't you hungry? You barely ate anything. Even a tiny mouse eats more than you."

  She smirked, amused. "Oh, my little shrew, don't worry about me. I have a different appetite and enjoy savouring the flavours in moderation. It's all about quality over quantity."

  Sus... super sus...

  I crossed my arms. "I know quality is important, but quantity too, you know. You might starve!"

  Eat before my brain accuses you of murder!

  "You underestimate me," she replied, voice light. "Appearances can be deceiving. I prioritize inner strength and resilience over physical size."

  "But what if you become weak or fall ill?" I asked seriously.

  Master reached across the table and placed a hand on my shoulder, firm and warm. "I appreciate your concern. But I assure you—I've honed both body and mind over years of training. I know my limits. I'm fine."

  "Bruh. That ain't convincing me at all." I said, pouting.

  Yup. It's confirmed. This meal is one big death trap, and I ate enough for five people. I wonder if I'll be fine after releasing it all out?

  Lady Nozomi, silent until now, gently set down her teacup. "I also stand by young lady Llyne's words."

  I blinked. "You do?"

  What is this? Did I travel through space and time while sleeping?

  She nodded. "Indeed. There have been many occasions when Master's dedication to her work has led her to neglect her health, including proper meals. It's deeply concerning to everyone in the House of Aum. She's far too thin. It breaks our hearts."

  I looked back at Master, and something hardened in me. Without hesitation, one hand reached out and seized her hand. The other was raised high in the air. Tears stung my eyes.

  "For the sake of everyone in House of Aum, I, the Shrew, one and only, shall make sure we eat together. No excuses. No complaints." I turned back to Master, eyes gleaming. "No matter how busy you get. We. are. eating. together."

  Master's expression froze. Her mouth opened slightly, as if to argue, but I pressed a finger on her lips. "Shh... Be a good girl and follow this Shifu's advice."

  Lady Nozomi smiled softly, like a strategist whose plan had worked. If I had failed, she would have simply moved on to the next piece.

  Master shot her a dirty look. She shrugged back like an innocent bystander.

  Master tried to pull my hand away, but I held firm.

  "I'm not letting go until you agree," I said, glaring into her eyes.

  A moment passed. Then two. Finally, she sighed and relented.

  "If it means that much to you, we will eat together."

  Something about that sentence hit me. I threw my hands up, knees on the ground, and yelled silently to myself.

  Victory. I'd fought monsters before, but this felt like my first real win. No poison. No blood. Just a promise kept.

  Then Lady Nozomi detonated my victory.

  "But how will you eat with Master if you're busy today?"

  Master tried to remain stoic while drinking her tea, but the corner of her eyes betrayed her. My confidence withered. I could almost feel myself deflating.

  Lady Nozomi stepped in with perfect timing. "Take this." She handed me a thin, transparent sticker. Master's face went pale the moment she saw it.

  "What's this?" I asked, sniffing it.

  Without warning, Lady Nozomi slapped it behind my ear. I touched my throbbing pain, and a faint pulse of warmth radiated through me.

  "Now press it," she said.

  I obeyed.

  A glowing blue screen blinked into existence in front of my eyes. Like the ones from the trial system.

  "Whoa! It looks like the ones in the dungeon. So magical!"

  Lady Nozomi pointed to a sidebar. "You should see a chat area. Try Master's name."

  Sure enough, there it was. I clicked it and typed a message.

  Across the table, Master's blue screen flickered to life. Her face twisted in disgust.

  I grinned. "Guess it works."

  "You can also use voice and video," Nozomi added, gesturing at the call and camera icon.

  I tapped it without hesitation. "Oho?"

  Master's blue screen flickered my profile picture, which I had no recall of putting on, and looked ready to kill someone. But after some coaxing from Nozomi, she accepted the video call.

  Master's face filled my screen in perfect clarity.

  "Oui! I can see Master so clearly!" I started bouncing on my chair, and then a genius idea hit me. I grinned.

  "With this, I can make sure Master eats her meals on time."

  Master groaned as if the world had ended. Her glare toward Nozomi was deadly. Nozomi only hummed a happy tune and looked away.

  I leaned back, arms behind my head, satisfied. This device is a blessing from the heavens.

  "I'm full. Thanks for the delicious meal. Now I'm going to meet my friends." I started getting up but Master interrupted my triumph. "Before you go, you should clean the wound on your neck. Or you might die in front of your friends."

  "But it's just a scratch. I'm fine—"

  "Unless it was coated in poison," Master added casually.

  My brain halted. "W-Wait. What?! Poison? That needle had poison?! No wonder I'm sweating, dizzy, my vision's blurry, and my heart—!" I fell, weakened on my knee, my hands flew to my forehead like a tragic heroine.

  "None of that is from the poison. That's just you being overly dramatic about seeing your friends," she said in a flat tone. Then pulled out a bottle, the size of a baseball bat, and handed it to Lady Nozomi.

  "Please open your mouth," Nozomi said sweetly.

  I inched away, staring at the monstrous-sized bottle, "Why—"

  The moment I opened my mouth, she gripped my head and shoved the entire bottle down my throat, then whacked my back.

  GULP.

  "There you go, all done," she said, smiling like she hadn't just committed medical assault.

  I collapsed onto the ground, coughing, eyes tearing up. "Normal humans would choke to death on that!"

  "Normal humans would," she agreed with a wink. "But you're no ordinary human."

  Lady Nozomi took out a mirror from her inventory and showed the reflection on my neck. "The antidote's already working."

  Master, feeling pleased, said, "Now that young lady Llyne has finished her breakfast, please wait outside in the garden. Lady Nozomi has something to give you."

  "Okies!" I beamed and dashed out excitedly.

  Whatever came next, I had already survived the first trial of the day: making Master promise to eat.

  And I'd do it again.