"This is the entire tale of the foolish woman standing before you. How do you feel after hearing it?"
Having recounted her story, Medusa looked at Alaric, her voice calm and detached.
Though her expression suggested indifference to his response, Alaric could see a flicker of anticipation in the depths of her mystic eyes, their power currently sealed by him.
"Despite her inner strength, after enduring such misfortune, does she still crave the comfort of others?" Alaric thought to himself.
Instead of answering directly, he offered a warm smile and turned to gaze into her enchanting, otherworldly eyes.
Under his prolonged stare, Medusa began to falter, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze. She turned her face slightly, her voice soft. "…Please, could you not look at me like that? These cursed, ugly eyes… they're not something to admire."
"No, they're beautiful, both your eyes and you," Alaric said gently, taking her hand. "For such a kind and lovely woman to suffer this fate… it's truly a travesty."
"…Thank you for your kindness…" Medusa, unaccustomed to such intimacy from a stranger, flushed and pulled her hand away, her voice barely above a whisper.
"But are words like 'beautiful' and 'kind' really fitting for someone like me? After all I've done…"
"But weren't those people merely reaping what they sowed?" Alaric replied, his tone matter-of-fact.
"This 'Shapeless Isle' is far removed from the world. Even if a so-called monster lived here, what harm is it doing?
Honestly, if you were a monster, living quietly on an uninhabited island only to be attacked by intruders shouting about 'slaying evil', that's the real tragedy, isn't it?"
"You really think that way?" Medusa's eyes widened slightly, surprise softening her usual cool demeanor. "A human… pitying a monster?"
Though her words carried skepticism, Alaric noticed her expression soften, as if she'd found someone who truly understood her.
"My perspective has nothing to do with being human," Alaric said.
"At the end of the day, whether human or otherwise, aren't we all part of this world?
If it's a matter of fighting for survival or protecting one's kind, I can understand humans taking up arms against a monster.
But a creature hiding on a remote island is harmless by definition. Those who come here preaching 'demon-slaying' and end up dead? They brought it upon themselves."
"…Such comforting words. You're truly kind," Medusa murmured.
"After all, Miss Medusa is such a charming person, and your sisters are quite likable too," Alaric said with a grin.
"Since I'm here now, the hardships of your past are over. You three are joining us, and I'll make sure you're protected."
"But… Athena is no ordinary goddess to challenge," Medusa said, her voice laced with concern as she looked at him.
"Even Athena is no issue," Alaric replied confidently.
"Back then, the entire Olympian pantheon came after us, and we still triumphed, didn't we? The Magic Network isn't to be trifled with either."
To hear a mere mortal speak so boldly, dismissing Athena and Olympus itself, should have seemed absurd.
Yet to Medusa, his words weren't laughable, they warmed her heart.
The willingness to stand against a major goddess for their sake, even if just in words, brought solace to someone who had endured the cold indifference of the world.
"Besides, your suffering stemmed from the feud between Poseidon and Athena," Alaric continued.
"You were just innocent bystanders caught in their game. Once you join the Magic Network, you'll be free from Poseidon's influence.
Athena isn't unreasonable, she won't pursue you further."
His words seemed to lift a weight from Medusa's shoulders.
For the first time, the heavy burden on her heart eased, and her usually somber expression melted into a breathtaking smile that nearly left Alaric spellbound.
"…Um, could you not stare at me like that? It feels… strange," she said, her voice faltering.
Unlike her sisters, who were adept at handling men, Medusa, despite her mature appearance, was utterly unprepared for someone like Alaric.
A few lingering glances were enough to fluster her completely.
Paired with her usual icy beauty, this awkwardness gave her an endearing charm.
Alaric couldn't help but want to tease her a little more.
No wonder her sisters loved to pick on her.
For some reason, Alaric felt he was awakening to a peculiar new interest.
Finally, unable to bear his gaze any longer, Medusa spoke up, her voice tinged with discomfort.
"Please… stop looking at me like that. What's so special about someone with a tall, ungainly figure like mine?"
But Alaric firmly rejected her self-deprecation.
"No, in fact, your figure is perfect," he said earnestly.
"Stheno and Euryale are beautiful, no doubt, but compared to them, your physique is far more captivating to men…
Honestly, just your legs alone could keep me entertained for a year."
His words were blunt, perhaps even brazen, but Alaric believed that for someone as self-conscious as Medusa, a bold approach was necessary.
As expected, rather than reacting with the indignation of most women, Medusa seemed… quietly pleased by his candid, almost roguish compliments.
Yet her insecurities lingered.
"Someone as tall as me… could anyone truly like that?" she murmured.
"Even Lord Poseidon, who favored me with his gift, was drawn to the petite version of me, wasn't he?"
Her offhand remark left Alaric torn between amusement and exasperation.
Really? Were all the Olympian gods just obsessed with the strange relation?
Zeus had his Europa, a delicate maiden. Triton and Paris of Troy were both youthful, boyish figures.
Truly, the gods' tastes had veered into questionable territory.
In Alaric's view, while some preference were fine, a world of only certain preferences was unacceptable.
But he decided words alone wouldn't quell Medusa's doubts.
It was time to show her the allure she possessed.
With that thought, Alaric acted.
He stepped forward suddenly, startling Medusa into retreating.
They had reached a pillar, and in one swift motion, Alaric pressed her against it, catching her off guard. Leaning in, he aimed for her delicate lips…