"C-Can I refuse it?" Joe trembled.
"Of course," she said sweetly—Then gently pushed Joe's face back a little and grinned widely. "But... you'll face the consequences."
Before Joe could ask what kind of consequences, the goddess let out a soft chuckle and said,
"You'll live your next life… as a stray cat."
Joe sighed. "Fine." He wasn't scared of that consequence at all.
At least if I reincarnate, I'll forget everything, Joe thought.
Once again, the goddess chuckled—then removed her hand from Joe's face. She stepped back and raised her left hand, pointing her index finger at him.
"You won't forget anything. You'll remember everything. Even during mating," she explained with a wicked grin.
"HUH?" Joe flinched. "What… why?!"
"Did you forget? That's your consequences for refusing," she said, lowering her finger and crossing her arms.
Oh god, what kind of madness is this? This feels like one of those fever dreams I get when I'm sick, Joe thought.
The goddess could hear that too.
"Dream? Madness? Ahaha…" she laughed.
"What's so funny?" Joe asked.
"Your fate. Your next life on that lovely little Earth of yours," she replied, raising her right hand and resting her chin on it.
"What do you mean?" Joe frowned.
"You'll be reborn as…"
She removed her hand from her face and snapped her fingers.
A scroll appeared in front of Joe—transparent and floating upright. It unrolled slowly, glowing, then displayed a scene like a movie.
"Female cat." She said.
"What the hell…" Joe's eyes widened.
He saw a female cat—being mounted by a male cat.
The male's posture was like a motorcycle racer—leaning forward aggressively at top speed.
"Hahahaha…" the goddess laughed.
"That's your fate. Oh, and I'll also add a special neural pathway inside your brain… so you'll remember your father's face every time you're mated."
Joe was silent.
The insane goddess before him truly had no mercy.
And then came a memory far worse than the threat itself.
During his unemployment days, bored out of his mind, He once watched an educational video—animated with stick figures—explaining that a male cat's private organ has micro barbs that hurt the inside of the female during mating.
The goddess's laughter still echoed loudly through the void.
Her voice rang like the prayer of a faithless man inside a lavish cathedral.
Joe narrowed his eyes and asked flatly,
"Wait… you made me remember that, didn't you?" His hand clenched into a fist.
The goddess looked at him, smiling wide.
"Of course."
Joe exhaled slowly. "Yeah, figured. You're insane."
The goddess opened her arms wide, her voice once again soft—almost graceful.
"Now, choose… Live as a female cat,
or become my chosen one in the world I love."
Joe paused.
He wasn't naïve. Not anymore.
"I want a reward," he said firmly.
The goddess raised an eyebrow—looking even more intrigued.
"But of course. You're entitled to it. So, tell me—what do you desire?"
Joe lowered his head for a moment.
His breath was heavy, but steady.
The memories of his past came rushing back—his dreams of wealth, of being respected along with his family.
The laziness, too, returned—replaying the melody of regret after regret.
The goddess was silent for a while. Her face unchanged, but her gaze—It pierced deeper than before.
Inside her own mind, she whispered softly:
I will stop accessing his thoughts.
I will honor this choice.
Then, Joe lifted his head.
His eyes calm.
"Let my family be blessed," he said.
"Let them never feel lacking—even once." He added.
The goddess finally asked, her voice now a touch gentler.
"Why? Didn't the one who gave birth to you once hurt you with her words?"
Joe didn't hesitate.
"That doesn't matter. She said those things because I was the one at fault."
The goddess tilted her head.
"And what about the others? Those who knew you—and those you knew?"
Joe fell silent.
Then slowly, he murmured,
"Them?"
He closed his eyes briefly.
There was no naïveté in his voice as he answered.
His clenched hand slowly relaxed.
"Let them receive what they deserve. Let them be repaid for what they gave me—Whether it was kindness… or cruelty."