Sitting down on my luxurious bed, I looked at my new personal maid.
"One more thing, Esther. What will happen here must forever remain behind these doors. No living soul must ever find out about it. Of course, if they're dead, that's not a problem."
"...I understand, Young Master."
I nodded satisfied at her not-so-sure answer and opened my newfound Trait.
[Mind Singularity] [Ex-Rank]
[Origin: custom.]
[Allows the user to connect their mind with the minds of other living beings.]
"Esther, you are about to see a naked hyper muscular man in front of you."
"...Excuse me?"
"Don't be frightened. It's Gigachad, part of you."
"Pardon—?"
Her tongue froze as she stared into the air in front of her.
"...I...really see a hyper muscular man with a bare top..."
"Oh, so it's working properly."
It was a relief.
"What's Gigachad doing now?"
"Just looking at me with his arms folded across his chest… no, his pectoral muscles twitching as if winking at me."
"Hmm... not bad."
I nodded, rating Esther's abilities as a test subject as 'not bad'. Her observation and diligence pleased me.
"Good, Esther, as I said, this is Gigachad and he is an integral part of you. From now on you will always be together."
Esther blinked a couple of times. I think she was only now beginning to realize the meaning of my words.
"Gigachad...? Always...?"
"Of course, My Daughter. From now on we are bound together by the unbreakable ties of happiness and hard work."
Instead of the Young Master's response, this hyper muscular entity spoke to her.
"..."
She turned right back to me.
"Young Master, are you saying that I have to live with Him for the rest of my life, 24 by 7?"
"Yeah, you're quick on the uptake."
"Can I die right away?"
"No."
"...I see."
"Anyway, it's an essential part of your life now, just like sleeping, eating, and toileting... though no, probably even more important. Anyway, make friends with him."
"Easier said than done..."
"Don't worry, Esther. A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, and the tale of the Hero begins with the first page. And I will always be there to support you."
Seeing her depressed mood even after Gigachad's encouraging words, I did my best to lift it. A good Master does not leave his maids in distress.
"Come on, smile, Esther! You just haven't realized the beauty of Gigachad yet! This mountain of muscle and steel willpower will turn your life into a fairy tale!"
"I don't want such a fairy tale, Young Master..."
With that, our fabulous research began.
***
"Esther, from now on, report to me everything that happens in your life, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you. Oh yes, showering can be excluded from your reports... or not, depending on your wishes."
***
[Research, Day One.]
"Young Master, I think it's worth removing those hypertrophied muscles. They twitch bizarrely, which keeps me from sleeping well, and their shine sometimes distracts me from my work. Gigachad is fine without them."
"You can't. Those muscles are the personification of Giguachad. Without them, he will no longer be himself."
"You better use this opportunity to hone your ability to focus on your work."
"And anyway, thanks for your honest opinion, it's the most important thing in our research."
[Research, Day Three.]
"I found that Gigachad can be a good conversationalist when no one else is around. Also, he can always be supportive if you're having a hard time or feeling sad. Although his hyper philosophical phrases are still a bit odd."
"Hmm, thanks for the feedback, Esther."
[Research, Day Five.]
"Young Master, I've noticed that I've now started doing things I didn't like to do more often, and my mood has been getting better lately. And Gigachad's muscles don't seem to embarrass me so much anymore..."
I nodded my head.
"Yes, that's it."
Success.
I thought it would take a week initially, but five days was enough.
That was good news.
And I didn't make a bad choice. Esther was the perfect lab rat in so many ways.
As her Master, this pleased me even more.
Now one could not fear for Gigachad's confidently pushing one of the [Fates] to the end of the world.
"Great job, lab rat— I mean Esther."
"For just two gold coins, you can call me either a dog, a b*tch, or even ******."
"No."
My response was decisive.
Who does she think I am in her eyes?
A bottomless bag of coins? Two gold coins, really? I'm not that rich.
"Okay, Esther, let's go back to my room."
"Yes, Young Master."
Re-entering the spacious, ornate room, I turned to my personal maid.
There was something I wanted to ask her.
"Esther, aren't you wondering why I made you do all this?"
For the past five days, she had never asked me anything, no matter how strange my requests were.
Even to me the idea of Gigachad seemed crazy, so what to say about her?
"I am."
"...But you didn't ask anything?"
"You yourself have only told me to do as you say, Young Master."
...Indeed. That's what I said.
Should I commend her for that?
"Okay, I think it's time to reveal the truth."
It was time for my maid to learn the harsh reality.