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Pallas Athena. One of the Twelve Olympian Gods of Greece. The goddess of war and wisdom. She was also the patron goddess of heroes.
Within Little Garden, her name carried immense weight. Some even regarded her as the "female sovereign" of the Greek pantheon, standing as the counterpart to Zeus, who embodied masculine authority.
But why would such a deity appear here?
Mandora felt a bead of cold sweat slide down his face.
Just then, Athena, who had suddenly appeared across from them, spoke in a cheerful tone. "Doesn't it feel like a surprise?"
"Not even a little."
Ryo's mouth twitched. He straightened his clothes and replied with faint disdain. "Also, you called me over. Why would you think I'd be pleasantly surprised?"
"Is that so? What a shame."
Athena dropped her bright smile, though she seemed more amused than disappointed by Ryo's reaction.
"Lady Athena—"
Having recovered from the shock, Leticia and Black Rabbit hurried forward and bowed respectfully.
Athena glanced at Leticia, narrowing her eyes slightly, then turned to Black Rabbit with a smile. "We meet again, Miss Draculea… and the little one from Indra's family."
She then looked toward the Divine Ancestor and the former Heretic God, pausing in mild surprise before smiling again. "These must be Sita and Lancelot, right? I've heard Ryo mention you."
I never mentioned them, Ryo complained silently.
Still, he had no intention of calling her out.
He had only just firmly rejected Athena's attempt at recruitment before dawn, cutting off their secret cooperation. If he didn't even keep up appearances now, that would be far too tactless.
"It's an honor to be known by you," Sita replied with a gentle smile, her expression perfectly composed.
On the other side, Lancelot stared at Athena with undisguised fighting spirit.
Born as a god of steel, she sensed Athena's overwhelming strength immediately.
Unlike Ryo, whose depth was impossible to gauge, Athena's power was clear and absolute, crushing in its purity.
'What a pity. I don't yet have the strength to face someone like this.'
The light in Lancelot's eyes dimmed. She nodded politely at Athena and fell silent.
Athena paid it no mind. She simply smiled at the two of them, then stepped forward and naturally looped her arm through Ryo's.
"Alright, it's getting late. The host of the banquet should make an appearance." She tugged at Ryo lightly.
But Ryo didn't budge.
Hmm?
A trace of confusion crossed Athena's face. She looked up at Ryo beside her, only to realize that his gaze wasn't on her at all.
She followed his line of sight and saw Black Rabbit standing there, eyes wide.
"Oh?"
Athena glanced down at the arm she was holding, then back at Black Rabbit, who was staring intently at her hand. Understanding dawned on her.
The legendary netorare, huh?
Amused, Athena beckoned to Black Rabbit. "Come here."
'That would be embarrassing…' Black Rabbit looked at Ryo's free right hand and instinctively raised her own, wiping the corner of her mouth.
Then she froze.
Wait.
Isn't something wrong here? Isn't something seriously wrong here?
"..."
Mandora stared blankly at Athena clinging to Ryo.
That woman… that's Pallas Athena, right?
One of the three most outstanding gods in Little Garden?
Why is she holding a man's arm?
And not just any man, but the one who killed her brother Hermes's incarnation?
This makes no sense at all.
Something is wrong here. Something is seriously wrong here.
Arcadia's ties with Greece are mostly with Heracles and Apollo, right? Those two don't exactly get along with Athena…
Then what is this scene that looks like public NTR and two women fighting over a man?
And what's with that faint green glow over Black Rabbit's head?
Athena is a virgin goddess. That's common knowledge, isn't it? So why is she holding Ryo's arm that way?
Even Zeus never got that kind of treatment!
Mandora felt his brain short-circuiting.
As a promising young elite raised in a traditional community, he felt that Arcadia was already so deep and murky that it had completely shattered his worldview.
Normal thinking was no longer possible here.
"What are you spacing out for?" Athena smiled, reached out, and hooked her arm through Black Rabbit's.
Oh... Ooooooh, so that's what she meant…
Black Rabbit froze for a moment, then realization hit, followed immediately by a rush of embarrassment.
On one hand, she had thought Athena was calling her over to take Ryo's other arm. Turns out Athena meant holding her arm instead.
On the other hand, she felt deeply ashamed of her earlier thoughts, when she'd assumed Athena was trying to steal Ryo from her and had even felt the urge to lash out.
The goddess herself had lowered her status to show goodwill toward Arcadia, and as a member of the community, she had suspected Athena of snatching food from a rabbit's mouth.
How disgraceful!
Such thoughts deserved nothing but condemnation!
Being led along by Athena, Black Rabbit was filled with remorse.
And yet, within a hidden private mental channel with Ryo…
Athena laughed without restraint.
'This rabbit's expressions are priceless. That "how did it turn out like this again" look is hilarious.'
'By the way, do you often get close to other girls in front of her?'
'...'
'What exactly did you come here to do today…' Ryo replied internally, utterly speechless.
'Didn't we agree I'd show up as your dance partner?' Athena replied with a laugh.
Ryo felt like Athena was deliberately getting back at him.
Wasn't it just that I didn't want to secretly cooperate with you anymore? Did you really have to toy with me like this?
Do you have any idea how big a mess I've caused? Even if I wanted you to take the blame, you couldn't carry it.
Ryo grumbled endlessly to himself.
He genuinely couldn't tell what Athena was thinking anymore.
.
.
.