— — — — — —
A maid in a lewd uniform hurried over to the sofa where Ryo sat.
"Mr Yagami, Lady Shiroyasha is already waiting in the tea room."
"Got it." Ryo nodded and stood. Black Rabbit quickly followed to his side.
The two walked down a long corridor, stopping before the tea room door. After a light knock, they entered.
The moment he stepped inside, Ryo saw her—the blonde woman sitting on one side of the tea table, her back to him, golden olive wreath glinting in her hair.
His smile froze for a split second, then returned as smooth as ever. "Well now. Didn't expect to find you here too, Your Excellency Athena."
Athena turned her head slightly to glance at him, her tone as calm as ever. "A coincidence indeed."
Something in that tone put a faint chill in Ryo's chest, though outwardly he still looked composed.
So this counts as walking right into the trap, huh? He laughed inwardly.
Still, he wasn't surprised to see Athena here. He could more or less guess why.
After all, if he wanted high-level intel, the first place he'd go would be Thousand Eyes too.
"Y-Y-Y…"
Black Rabbit's tongue tied itself in a knot. Just seeing Athena's silhouette made her tremble.
Right then, she heard Ryo's casually cheerful voice.
"Mind if I sit next to you?"
"…Huh?" Black Rabbit just stared, stunned.
She knew he was here to "turn himself in," but who the hell turns themselves in this boldly?!
Athena paused, clearly a bit surprised at his reaction. But in the end, she smiled. "Go ahead."
Hearing that, Ryo stepped forward and sat right beside her. He glanced past her at Shiroyasha—
—who was currently shaking her right hand like she'd been scorched. On closer look, the back of her hand was noticeably red.
"…What happened to you?" Ryo raised a brow.
Shiroyasha froze for a heartbeat, then laughed it off. "Nothing. Got careless and burned myself pouring tea. Ahh, so clumsy of me."
That excuse was way too half-baked… Ryo complained internally and then looked back at Black Rabbit.
'Come sit.' He signaled with a look.
Black Rabbit shook her head violently, eyes glued to Athena's back in open dread.
Ryo sighed inwardly. Fair enough. Sitting next to the Greek goddess of war and wisdom wasn't something a timid bunny could do.
Right then, Shiroyasha beckoned casually.
"Black Rabbit, perfect timing. I'll leave tea duty to you."
She said it cheerfully while hissing through her teeth and blowing on her reddened hand.
Athena calmly lifted her cup, took a light sip, and glanced briefly at Black Rabbit as she stood there awkwardly with the tea set.
"A moon rabbit... I haven't seen one in some time."
"Cute, isn't she?"
Shiroyasha's lips curled in mischief. She reached out—clearly intending to smack Black Rabbit's bottom.
BAM
That was the sound of her palm slapping straight into the steaming hot teapot.
Ryo and Athena watched silently—with a very subtle amusement in their expressions—as Black Rabbit stood there smiling serenely with another teapot in hand, while Shiroyasha stared down at her own scalded hand.
"…Bit hot," she muttered after a few seconds of dignified silence. She withdrew her hand like nothing happened.
Then, changing topics at neck-breaking speed, she asked: "So then, brat, what brings you here to my place this time?"
Funny how this time your hand isn't turning red… Ryo stared at her palm.
Yeah, he could more or less guess what happened.
'This lecher must've tried something on Athena just now.'
Truly fearless. As expected of the reigning queen of degenerates. In the field of shameless lust, Ryo was willing to acknowledge her as number one.
He took the cup Black Rabbit passed him, blew on it, and took a small sip.
"There is something I need to discuss."
"Oh? What's that?"
Shiroyasha glanced at Athena, then gave Ryo a very deliberate wink.
"Relax. Athena-chan isn't an outsider to us~~"
That nauseatingly sweet tone made everyone present feel a subtle sense of discomfort.
Ryo caught the cue, turned politely toward Athena, and said with impeccable manners: "As you wished, I've completed the task you assigned me."
"Judging by the timing, you should have already received the results."
Shiroyasha raised a brow. Black Rabbit's face contorted.
This… this man just drew a knife and went straight for a frontal stab!
"My wish? The task?"
Athena's tone wavered just a hair. She repeated, more deliberately— "The results?"
"Yes." Ryo smiled serenely at her.
"So I assume you're ready to prepare my compensation?"
"Compensation." Athena echoed it again in an unreadable tone.
"Repeating won't make it go away," Ryo said calmly.
"Repeating?" Athena repeated again, this time with a bit of playful edge.
"…"
Ryo went quiet for a moment, then let out a small sigh.
"Your Excellency Athena, it seems we should establish some mutual understanding."
Athena took a long breath, then set her teacup down and said. "Your shamelessness rivals at least three Zeus."
"Should I take that as a compliment?" Ryo asked, genuinely curious.
From the side, Shiroyasha nodded. "She's saying you're three times more shameless than Zeus. As expected from you, Ryo Yagami."
Ryo just screwed Athena over, came to her face to say "just like you wanted," and now he was demanding a reward? Even Shiroyasha had underestimated the thickness of his skin.
Good kid. If she'd been that shameless back in the day, even Queen Halloween wouldn't have stolen so many sun authorities from her.
"…I'll reluctantly take that as praise," Ryo muttered dryly, giving Shiroyasha a side-eye.
Then he looked back to Athena and lifted his cup again.
"Given the difficulty of the task—and the fact that I delivered results in just two days—I believe I'm qualified to receive a generous reward."
"…I understand," Athena replied after a breath, smoothing out her expression with effort.
Two days. In just two days, this man had created an incomplete two-digit spirit—and split her divine faith to form an artificial Athena, effectively equating her with Algol.
Athena had to admit—she had vastly underestimated him.
She now fully understood why the Twin Goddesses (Alpha & Omega) of Thousand Eyes and Shiroyasha hadn't chosen him as their representative.
This man was born to cause trouble.
"Since we've come to an understanding, a corresponding reward is only natural. I assume you agree?" Ryo continued, thick-skinned as ever, completely ignoring the existence of the other Athena involved.
He was trying to redefine the narrative.
From "caused a major scandal involving Athena" to "completed Athena's mission perfectly and returned in triumph."
Change the definition and the method of resolution changes accordingly.
That was the game he was playing.
"I agree."
Athena nodded. Then very casually, she lifted her hand and clamped it down on Ryo's shoulder with a deceptively light pat.
Pain shot through his bones like a spike. His eyes snapped to the delicate hand gripping him like a vice.
Athena spoke seriously, clearly, with divine authority in her voice. "I will make a proposal to Hera—and have her vacate the position of Queen of the Gods."
She gave his shoulder one last squeeze. "Don't worry. We place great value on those who achieve merit. You will not suffer even a hint of injustice."
Ryo: "…"
Him? Being the Queen of the Gods?
.
.
.