"Hmph, you there—Campione. I don't know how you ended up with this violent, short-haired goddess, but it's not too late to regret it. Why not throw yourself into my embrace instead? If you still have any sense left, that is!"
Aphrodite's voice was honeyed and melodious, soft as cotton candy yet intoxicating. Just hearing it was enough to set one's heart aflame, stirring up reckless impulses.
'This woman… she really is a succubus.'
Roy clicked his tongue in admiration. Although his willpower wouldn't allow him to abandon his principles at Aphrodite's mere words, he had to admit that the goddess truly lived up to her reputation as the most beautiful deity in Greek mythology—one so stunning that even other goddesses envied her. The way she could stir a man's primal instincts with just her words was truly unparalleled in this world.
"Goddess Aphrodite is indeed as beautiful as the legends say, and your proposal is quite tempting."
Roy's expression remained unchanged as he spoke these measured words, first offering proper compliments to this proud and beautiful goddess.
Before Roy could finish speaking, Aphrodite curled her elegant lips into a smug smile and declared, "...If you're tempted, then hurry to my side! The most beautiful woman is waiting for you right here!"
"And then what? Will you act like some courtesan, using your body to win favor? Or perhaps summon your old lovers with that lustful ribbon around your waist?"
Athena suddenly interjected. The goddess, who had always struck Roy as noble and unyielding, now spoke with rare venom in her voice. This was practically Athena abandoning her dignified divine demeanor—proof of just how furious she was with Aphrodite at this moment.
"Hmph! You don't sound like a noble goddess at all right now, Athena, spouting such filthy words!" Aphrodite retorted defiantly.
"Still better than a goddess who treats marriage as trivial and wantonly seduces men everywhere. Or perhaps, Aphrodite, you'd like to compete with me using your vast experience with men? In that case, I'd indeed have to admit defeat in shame!"
Athena fired back without backing down. As the goddess of wisdom and war, she could dominate whether in verbal sparring or actual combat.
Athena's words made Aphrodite flush with anger. The barefoot goddess childishly stomped her jade-like foot, sending droplets flying. Water beads rolled down her exquisitely shaped, fair skin where faint blue veins surfaced, making her delicate ankles even more alluring.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Athena?! I don't understand a word of it! Those are just mythological attributes humans forcibly imposed on me! I'm the earth mother goddess of Cyprus—how could I possibly be as promiscuous as you claim? And don't even mention marriage! I absolutely refuse to acknowledge any human-bestowed matrimony. Even if such a marriage contract existed, I'd choose divorce immediately!"
Aphrodite spoke heatedly, completely denying Athena's accusations. Her golden pupils darted about evasively—clear signs of guilt. Being labeled with 'unchaste' and 'impure' traits by human mythology was probably hard for the ancient earth mother goddess to accept. Yet no matter how vehemently she denied it, when people heard the name Aphrodite, the first things that came to mind were beauty, infidelity, and bearing children with lovers.
Aphrodite was now itching to use the ribbon at her waist to make Athena fall in love with her instantly, just so she could mock her afterward. However, the Goddess of Love and Beauty also knew that in Greek mythology, this ribbon had no effect on three goddesses: Athena, Artemis, and Hestia—precisely because these three possessed the attribute of 'virginity.'
Seeing the two goddesses locked in a fierce confrontation, even forgetting his presence, Roy had no choice but to speak up. "...Goddesses, perhaps you should hear me out."
Roy's words finally brought a temporary calm. Aphrodite smiled like a blooming flower, her golden eyes shimmering with tender affection, her peach-blossom beauty radiating shyness, as if she were a maiden too bashful to confess her love to her sweetheart.
But Roy's next words instantly darkened the Goddess of Love and Beauty's expression.
"My deepest apologies, Goddess Aphrodite. Compared to your beauty and love, I seek wisdom and war above all."
Roy spoke sincerely, without a hint of deceit, for what he truly pursued was wisdom and strength.
"Hahaha! Did you hear that, Aphrodite? Roy is no fool like Paris, ignorant of what is most noble in this world. Your coquettish antics are nothing but a joke to him!"
Athena laughed heartily, her expression one of pure triumph, even bordering on smugness, as she taunted Aphrodite's visibly distressed face.
"...Roy, enough words with her. Since you have chosen me, I shall grant you what is most precious—wisdom and victory!"
As Athena finished speaking, Roy's body flickered with light and thunder, instantly entering a state of Godspeed.
Athena, too, murmured an incantation under her breath. In an instant, night descended, and she transformed from her loli-like goddess form back into the trinity of the Queen of the Night.
Witnessing Athena's divine power surge, Aphrodite's face paled drastically. Her earlier bravado had stemmed from sensing Athena's weakened state, but now she realized—Athena had been deceiving her all along. In the blink of an eye, Athena had regained her mythically unmatched combat prowess.
Aphrodite, possessing no combat ability whatsoever—arguably one of the weakest among the gods—could easily overpower mortals by virtue of her divine status. But against even a marginally combat-capable deity, she was utterly defenseless, let alone when facing the Goddess of Wisdom and War.
With a light tap of her toes on the sea's surface, Aphrodite attempted to flee. Yet Roy's divine speed far outstripped hers, placing him behind the Goddess of Love and Beauty before she could even move. Her retreating posture now resembled that of a lovestruck maiden eagerly throwing herself into her beloved's embrace.
Roy wrapped his arm around Aphrodite's slender, willow-like waist, feeling the goddess's flawless skin through her translucent gauze robe as he teased with a smirk, "...My lady, please be a little quieter, won't you?"
Aphrodite shuddered, goosebumps rising all over her body. She swiftly untied the silk sash at her waist, intending to invoke her divine authority and summon other gods to her aid.
This was Aphrodite's only combat ability—calling upon gods connected to her in myth to assist her.
"Aphrodite, are you trying to summon Ares? But how would Ares dare show his face before me? A goddess who can only rely on other men—won't you admit how chaotic your life is?"
In mythology, if Athena represented abstinence, then Aphrodite was the epitome of indulgence—the two were polar opposites.
Athena materialized a bow in her hand, drawing the string lightly before releasing an arrow that knocked the sash from Aphrodite's grip. The arrow then transformed into chains, binding the Goddess of Love tightly.
Roy took advantage of the moment to tighten his hold on the goddess's waist, pulling her into his embrace while covering her cherry-like lips with his hand to silence her.
The moist warmth of her lips against his palm sent a ripple of excitement through Roy, but he quickly steadied himself and strode toward the beach.
When Aphrodite caught sight of the golden Holy Grail placed on the sand, her eyes widened in terror, tears spilling like a helpless maiden about to be dragged into a dark alley. She whimpered pitifully, thrashing in his grip, her delicate feet kicking futilely in the air. But against Roy's strength, her struggles were useless—she could only watch in despair as he carried her toward the Grail.
***
[T/N: Thank you for hitting the PS goal for this week. But I just scheduled the posts for this week🥲. It'll be annoying to reschedule all the posts for this week again, so I'll be posting them by the end of next week with two extra chapters as a gift🫡. Be sure to smash the goal this week too.]