The same small fifty-square-meter apartment greeted him—a double bed, a simple sofa, a low table.
A computer sat by the bedside, and though there was a television, it hadn't been turned on in ages. A few delivery boxes were scattered around, leaving the space slightly cluttered yet clean.
Seeing his humble abode again, Roy felt a pang of nostalgia. Unlike the worlds of A Certain Magical Index and Campione, where he constantly had to think ahead, returning to his original world allowed him to truly relax and rest.
This was something Roy cherished deeply—like a wanderer returning home. No matter how stormy the journey, there was warmth in coming back to his own little den.
Neither the London apartment where he had lived for over a decade in the world of Toaru, nor the sprawling Roman villa in the Campione universe could compare to the nostalgic attachment Roy felt for this modest fifty-square-meter room. This was the place he had called home for more than twenty years, back when he was still an ordinary person.
"The place is a bit small, and we don't have servants like we did in Rome. Athena, you'll have to make do for now. If you don't like it, we can always move to somewhere bigger."
Roy spoke up first, worried that Athena might not be accustomed to such humble accommodations.
The goddess, still maintaining her loli form, surveyed the surroundings with keen interest before turning her head gently to ask, "...So this is where you used to live in the past?"
During their previous conversations, Athena had learned that Roy had been an ordinary person before gaining his powers. But that was hardly unusual—every Campione had been ordinary before becoming one, just as every strong individual had once been weak.
"Yeah, though the place is a bit messy."
Roy felt slightly embarrassed. Living alone in the past, he had cleaned occasionally but never with particular diligence. Now accustomed to being taken care of, he had little desire to tidy up himself.
Maybe I should hire a cleaner to get the place in order, Roy thought.
"This place carries the scent of your life, Roy. I quite like it... I'm not a vain goddess like Aphrodite, who would complain about her dwelling. I am the goddess of war. Even in the harshest conditions of battle, endurance is a necessity."
Athena plopped down on Roy's bed, her slender, pale legs swinging playfully as her amber eyes glimmered with a hint of coquettish charm.
Roy couldn't help but chuckle. Even now, after leaving the Campione world behind, she still couldn't resist badmouthing Aphrodite. Just how much did she enjoy teasing her?
"What are your impressions of this world?"
Roy asked the question that currently intrigued him the most.
Understanding his meaning, Athena furrowed her delicate brows slightly and pondered before answering, "...In terms of pollution and environment, this world isn't much different from the Campione universe you described. Judging by these human inventions, even the technological level seems comparable. But there's no substantial source of magical energy here—it's like an age of spiritual decline."
Indeed, Athena had immediately noticed the absence of magical energy in this world's greater source. In the Campione universe, the abundance of magical energy was precisely what allowed Heretic Gods to descend.
"But what's strange is that for a deity like me, even without the greater source's energy, I should still be able to wield my authorities. Yet in this world, it feels as though some peculiar rule suppresses them. I still retain my supernatural abilities, but they've been significantly weakened."
This left Athena feeling deeply unsettled. It was akin to someone accustomed to lavish spending suddenly finding their cash flow insufficient. Even knowing they possessed vast wealth, most of it remains locked away in long-term investments, leaving only a paltry sum of expendable cash. The abrupt need to tighten one's belt was hard to swallow.
"I feel the same way. Both Authorities and various magecrafts can be used, but their effects are vastly different."
When Roy returned from the Toaru world last time, he hadn't mastered any supernatural abilities, so this sensation wasn't as pronounced. But now, having returned from the Campione world, Roy had become a powerhouse capable of shattering mountains and splitting seas. Thus, he had a deeper understanding of the strange rules governing this so-called 'real' world.
Roy referred to his world of origin as the real world, but this was merely a label. He was absolutely certain that whether it was Lola whom he'd previously encountered or Athena whom he now interacted with, they were all living, breathing people. Those worlds weren't illusions either—they truly existed. Calling them fantasy worlds would be incorrect; all worlds were equally real.
Yet Roy couldn't help but find his current world somewhat peculiar.
Perhaps this was exactly as Aiwass had described—a 'Quadruple World' theory involving multiple universes, a state of countless overlapping boxes.
However, Roy felt no fear. Even with weakened abilities in this world, his current physical condition and strength made him impervious to modern weaponry. Moreover, those diminished powers still belonged to the realm of mystery. With his mastery of various magic, in a world where only he and those around him possessed supernatural abilities, conquering the world would be child's play.
But Roy had little interest in such pursuits. In the Campione world, he'd already experienced the glory of becoming the world's ruler. Now that he finally had an ordinary world where he could rest peacefully without constant worries, he had no desire to stir up trouble here.
This world was fascinating, perhaps hiding secrets as incomprehensible as that 'Throne.' For now, it was best not to meddle recklessly.
"I'll rest here for a couple days before addressing the Human Order Curse. Oh, here—this belongs to you."
Roy took a few sips from a bottle of chilled Coke he'd retrieved from the fridge while glancing at the computer's calendar. From his journey to the Campione world until his return, only three or four days had passed in this reality—truly like "a day in heaven equals a year on earth." The incredible part was that this real world was actually experiencing the heavenly time!
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed over a circular stone carving.
Athena caught it effortlessly, recognizing it immediately as the Gorgon Stone.
"I don't need this anymore. You should keep it."
Roy smiled at Athena.
Originally, he'd safeguarded the Gorgon Stone because it had served as a contractual tool when they first formed their pact. By controlling the artifact, Roy had ensured Athena couldn't betray him, as the goddess's power remained under his management.
But given their current relationship, such restrictive measures were entirely unnecessary. Returning it to the goddess was the natural choice.
Understanding Roy's intention, Athena accepted without pretense, absorbing the Gorgon Stone immediately. As the trinity goddess regained her completeness, the petite, childlike figure transformed back into her true form—a statuesque, snow-skinned mature goddess.
Athena was dressed in a white, ancient Greek-style robe, with a wreath adorning her silver hair. She leaned against the headboard, one leg bent, while the other stretched out straight and slender like a lotus root, gleaming faintly under the sunlight streaming through the window.
Seeing the goddess in such a languid pose, Roy let out a soft sigh, his earlier complaints fading away as he slowly approached her.
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