Chapter 111: Marie Alter
[You have firmly and sincerely rejected Marie Alter.]
[But instead, your rejection only excites her even more...]
'Damn it...'
Eikoucles was about to enter a state of complete emotional lockdown.
How did it turn out like this...
He had clearly rejected her, hadn't he?
He had refused Marie Alter very seriously, very clearly — there was absolutely no room for misunderstanding.
Yet why had the atmosphere become like this, and why had her enthusiasm only grown stronger?
Eikou began to doubt himself.
Meanwhile, Marie Alter, sitting beside him, quietly revealed a faintly wicked smile.
'Foolish boy, how could I not realize you're rejecting me?'
She could tell perfectly well — Eikou genuinely wanted to cut off all ambiguous ties, trying his best not to mislead any girl.
Even though he sometimes said teasing things, deep down he was a pure-hearted boy who wanted to build honest and innocent relationships with others.
However, Marie Alter had absolutely no intention of obediently accepting that.
No — quite the opposite, it only made her want him even more!
"Hehe..."
Tiny heart shapes shimmered in Marie Alter's eyes as she bit her lip softly, suppressing the burning heat rising within her.
So gullible, so earnest, so soft-hearted — how could a boy this adorable even exist in this world? With just a little teasing, he'd be willing to say yes to everything.
Marie Alter could barely restrain her urge to see him sink into her gentle embrace — to see him smiling blissfully in her love while feeling guilty and whispering: "Jeanne Alter, I'm sorry!"
Because no matter how strong Heracles was, in the end, he was still just a plaything in the hands of the goddess Hera!
And you — from the very beginning, your twelve labors could never escape the grasp of women!
Just as Marie Alter was about to take another step closer to him, Eikou suddenly stood up.
He took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, but I'm being completely serious right now..."
He shook his head firmly.
"No matter how much you pursue me, my answer will still be a refusal. Please don't waste your feelings — I don't want to hurt you."
Eikou had made up his mind — he must reject Marie Alter right here and now.
He thought to himself: sorry, but the man standing before you is no longer the weak-willed Eikou of the past.
I have become Eikoucles — the one who chose the path of Virtue when standing before the two goddesses, Virtue and Vice.
No matter how great the temptations before me, I will steadfastly choose the arduous yet glorious road of virtue!
"What..."
Marie Alter's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
[She's shocked.]
[She never imagined that there could exist someone capable of, through sheer willpower, rejecting this — rejecting the very conceptual goddess of France herself, the fusion of the gentle mother, the devoted wife, the maiden, and the seductive elder sister?!]
[This strength of will could move even the Greek gods, make Zeus himself shed tears, and cause them to raise upon Mount Olympus a shrine in your honor — the god of all pure-love warriors, "The Pure-Love God, Eikoucles"!]
[Thy divine proclamation: "Harem is fleeting, monogamy eternal!"]
[However...]
[If you think that's enough to deal with Marie Alter, you're being a bit naïve.]
"I see, I see..."
Marie Alter softly furrowed her graceful brows, nodding with a hint of melancholy.
Well done, Eikou — up to now, you've handled yourself admirably. You've truly made me see you in a different light.
But the next move I'm about to make — will be the finishing blow that you'll never withstand.
Marie Alter lightly bit her lip.
This move — she had originally planned to save it for the moment she lured Eikou into the love hotel "Until You Dry", to use it there half in jest and half in temptation.
But if she didn't use it now, she might never get another chance.
"That's wonderful, not being careless in matters between men and women. Eikou, you're truly a pure man."
As Marie Alter said that, she boldly approached him, the man who was sitting properly.
She pressed her soft lips close to Eikou's ear, her voice ambiguous, only enough for the two of them to hear,
"Then… the young man who ran away from the hot spring when I was bathing with Jeanne and Bradamante — that definitely wasn't you, right?"
"!"
Eikou's eyes widened in horror.
It was the Hot Spring Crisis when Jeanne Alter was disguised as Lancelot!
Damn it, she even knows about that incident?!
No, that night was so noisy, there's no way it could've gone unnoticed…
During the race, Marie Alter had already hinted vaguely at this — so she knew it was him even then.
"..."
At that moment, a storm of thoughts erupted in Eikou's mind.
'Should I pretend I don't know what she's talking about?'
No, that won't work. The fact that she dares to bring it up like this means she already has enough proof.
But still, she doesn't have any evidence.
That said, the foundation of my pure-love godhood is already starting to shake!
Moreover, she spoke so suddenly that he couldn't control his expression — in just an instant, he exposed his guilt — which was the strongest evidence of all.
"What should I do now..."
Marie Alter feigned distress, poking her finger at her cheek, letting out a sorrowful sigh,
"If this were to be known by others, would it affect your reputation, I wonder? People might think you're a peeping tom, an enemy of women perhaps..."
This woman… she's actually trying to use my weakness to hold me by the throat.
Damn it, could this be… the legendary Enkidu?!
Bound by the chains that restrain gods themselves — even the pure-love god Eikoules would become a mere mortal under her control!
To think that in just a few short sentences, he, the so-called god, was dragged down from his pedestal by this wicked woman.
"I…"
In that instant, countless ways to respond flashed through his mind, but in the end, he chose to tell the truth.
"Alright, yes, I was at the hot spring that time, but I didn't do anything wrong to you girls. It was just a staff mistake.
"If you insist on reporting me for that, I won't object. But if you think you can use that to threaten me, then you're far too naïve..."
Eikou said honestly, his tone utterly serious.
Hmph, I'd rather you kill me right now!
Until the very last moment of my life, I, Eikoucles, will live with a clean conscience, never bowing to your blackmail!
"You think I'd report you?"
The beautiful, charming face of Marie Alter now blossomed with a radiant smile,
"Fufufu, I never reveal the secrets of the one I love! Because I like you, I really, really like you!"
"W–What… what did you just say…"
Hearing that sudden confession, Eikou's face instantly turned bright red.
A-Again with the confession at a time like this?!
His heart raced wildly, completely unprepared for such a thing.
Marie Alter only smiled even more sweetly, sitting down beside him. Her fair, beautiful face full of allure was both adorable and overflowing with sensuality as she leaned closer to his ear.
"The only thing I want to confirm is… back then, were you staring at me? Did you like how I looked while bathing?"
Her sweet voice rose softly, her warm, intoxicating breath tickling his ear, so close it felt like she was about to bite,
"Compared to those two girls, wasn't my body the one that aroused you more…?"
...