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Chapter 164 - [164] The Rivalry Between Goddesses

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains into Roy's bedroom in the villa, rousing him awake on time.

He felt a weight pressing down on him, and a certain tightness enveloping a particular part of his body. Of course, he knew what it was, so Roy didn't get up immediately. Instead, he half-closed his eyes, savoring the sensation. After a long while, his body shuddered, and he exhaled a heavy breath before swiftly flipping over and sitting up, throwing off the covers to reveal Aphrodite kneeling atop him in a flustered panic.

Aphrodite quickly raised her lowered head, wiping the corner of her mouth before hiding her hands behind her back. Her eyes darted around nervously, betraying her guilt.

"Good morning, Aphrodite... ah, I mean Stella. Though you've been doing this morning greeting quite well these past few days, what exactly is that behind your back?"

Roy looked at Aphrodite with an amused smirk, making her even more uneasy.

It had been several days since Roy returned from Cyprus to Rome, Italy. When there were no Heretic Gods appearing, a Campione would usually have a lot of free time. However, Roy certainly couldn't afford to be idle. In order to defeat the Last King, he had been working tirelessly on his plans, racing against time—because no one knew when the Last King might suddenly awaken.

Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty who had been controlled by the Holy Grail, was also brought back to Rome by Roy. Roy was no hypocrite. As a Demon King of the Earth, he was entirely self-indulgent in his temperament. Unlike some protagonists in Japanese light novels who would drag out ambiguous relationships with girls within reach without making any real progress, Roy had no such reservations.

Faced with Aphrodite—a goddess hailed as the most beautiful in Greek mythology, and one who couldn't refuse any of his commands—Roy naturally had her serve him without hesitation.

In Roy's view, emotions would naturally develop over time. He was putting all his effort into slaying the Last King—though this was partly for his own sake, it was also for the Earth Goddesses. Given that he was constantly immersed in exhausting and tedious work, it was only fair that these goddesses comforted him in return. To Roy, this was an equivalent exchange.

Whether it was because Aphrodite's nature was simply like this, or because Roy was handsome and exactly her type, or perhaps due to the pressure from Athena and the irresistible influence of the Holy Grail—regardless, after some initial resistance, Aphrodite obediently followed Roy's commands. Even in the way she greeted him every morning, the goddess put in her best effort, never slacking off.

"Good morning, Roy... Oh, you're awake... T-there's nothing behind me, really."

Aphrodite clasped her hands behind her back, forcing a smile. She was still wearing that Greek-style white gossamer dress, her snow-white skin glowing, her entire body exuding an intoxicating fragrance. The rosy scent filled the room, subtly stirring the longing for love in people's hearts.

Though the goddess tried to hide what was behind her, she knew it was a futile attempt—the object in her hands was none other than the legendary girdle, said to bestow love and affection upon those it touched.

"You used this Authority on me again, didn't you?"

Roy looked at the girdle tightly clutched in Aphrodite's hands and chuckled.

Aphrodite's face flushed crimson, as if blood might drip from it. She fidgeted with the divine artifact in her hands, puffing her cheeks as she stammered, "...What's wrong with wanting you to fall in love with me?! After all the ways you've bullied me... You should know that in ancient Greece, countless gods and heroes longed for my favor, Roy! You should be grateful for this honor!"

Though her words still carried the pride of a goddess, her stunning face was on the verge of tears. At the corner of her lips, traces of unwashed white residue lingered, stimulating both sight and sensation.

"You want me to fall in love with you so I'll help you deal with Athena, right?"

But Roy wasn't fooled, directly pointing out Aphrodite's true motive.

"I admit that was part of it," she conceded, "but you're so handsome, and exactly my type. What's wrong with becoming my lover?"

Aphrodite grabbed Roy's hand, speaking anxiously.

"Become your lover? No thanks. I might consider being your mistress, but what if you put a big green hat on me after becoming my lover?"

Roy subtly withdrew his hand and bluntly pointed out the wanton and unrestrained behaviors recorded in Aphrodite's myths.

"Mmm... those have nothing to do with me! They're just myths made up by humans!! Anyway, I've obediently woken you up as asked, so hurry up and get out of bed."

Seeing that Roy didn't seem angry at all about her secretly using her divine authority on him, Aphrodite grew bolder. She tied the ribbon back around her waist, jumped off the bed, and stepped onto the expensive carpet with her delicate feet, ready to leave the bedroom.

Roy had long since discovered Aphrodite's weakness—mention the myths about her escapades with men, and she would immediately deflect and change the subject. No matter how confrontational she had been before, she would instantly back down.

The so-called myths were indeed fabrications by humans, not actual history. Thus, Aphrodite's promiscuous lifestyle existed only in books, not in reality. Yet, as a Heretic God who had descended, she was forcibly imbued with such traits by the myths.

Precisely because of this imposed nature, she didn't resist much under Roy's command. Combined with the fact that Roy's appearance was exactly the type favored by her "looks-obsessed" self, she simply resigned herself to it.

Such mythological transformations represented the fall of Earth Goddesses after being defeated by Steel Gods. Goddesses like Athena, who maintained their dignity even in myths, were exceedingly rare.

"Stella, don't bother trying to make me fall in love with you using that ribbon anymore. Right now, you're just a Divine Ancestor—you can't fully wield your authority. If you still had your goddess's divine status, this authority might have some effect on me. But as things stand, it's just unnecessary."

Seeing Aphrodite about to leave the bedroom, Roy called out to her with a reminder.

"I know!"

The proud goddess, realizing that even her body couldn't fully seduce Roy, pouted unhappily as she walked out, deeply hurt and utterly defeated.

After the goddess left, Roy quickly got up, dressed, and freshened up.

When he arrived at the hall where he usually worked, he heard noisy chatter inside.

"Liliana, there's no need to prepare these things for me. Your status isn't high enough to serve me. Leave these menial tasks to Stella—after all, she was once a goddess. It's only fitting for her to serve me."

Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War, sat primly on the sofa, her tone elegant and dignified. After reprimanding Liliana, she ordered Aphrodite to do the menial work.

"Athena, don't push your luck too far! Don't think I don't know you're just Roy's prisoner too! Though I must say, you truly live up to being the most notorious socialite among goddesses throughout history. To boss people around while being a captive yourself—impressive indeed. I have to admit defeat on that point. A virgin goddess yet so smug about male flattery, it's downright nauseating."

Aphrodite, flushed with anger, hurled another venomous remark.

Yet Athena remained unperturbed—or if she was angry, she wouldn't show it. The goddess of wisdom replied nonchalantly, "...First, let me clarify that my relationship with Roy isn't that of victor and prisoner, but of allies. Second, even if I am pushing you around, what of it? You're nothing but a woman who can only make empty threats or simper at men."

Neither goddess backed down, and their argument escalated once more.

Nearby, Liliana could only smile wryly. She couldn't intervene in the goddesses' quarrel. Even though Aphrodite had become a Divine Ancestor and was no longer a goddess, to Liliana—who carried the blood of witches—a Divine Ancestor was akin to an ancestral figure. Caught between the two, she was at a complete loss.

Erica, witnessing this all-too-familiar scene, felt a headache coming on. Two of the Twelve Olympians were bickering on the sofa, the heretical serpent Leviathan from the Bible was kept in the fish tank, and among the mansion's maids was an ancient Campione. This Roman villa was undoubtedly the most dangerous—and most coveted—place in the world.

Just as Erica, for all her cleverness, was at a loss for how to resolve the argument, she spotted Roy's arrival and promptly performed a knightly bow. "...Lord Roy!"

"Erica, contact the King of North America, Annie Charlton, for me. Tell her I have matters to discuss."

Roy paid no heed to Athena and Aphrodite's dispute—Aphrodite always ended up the loser anyway. He couldn't fathom what possessed her to keep provoking Athena.

Now, he needed to consult Anne Charlton to prepare for the second phase of his plan to eliminate the Last King.

***

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