Alas, inciting Athena to rebel against Olympus—once something goes wrong, does it really turn out like this?
Fully awakened, Ana felt inexplicably lighter. Her back straightened as the pressing anxiety slowly faded.
The purple-haired loli's lips quirked, ready to show a bit of joy, but she realized scheming against a little girl like this felt pretty underhanded. The last shred of kindness in her heart made her glance at the instigator beside her and grumble.
"Samael, I still think you're too mean..."
Ugh, why am I taking the blame again?
The ancient serpent's breath hitched, the corner of his mouth twitching. Why does someone as kind as him always attract so much hate?
It's fate's fault! It's the World's fault! It's Tokiomi's fault!
While Samael was busy shifting blame, the little girl at his side calmed down, a bit shy.
"But... thank you."
"And also... um... I mean... you like it when I'm aggressive, right?"
Ana lowered her head, fingers twisting together, her face flushing.
"Of course! If you want to protect yourself, you need to be full of fight! Let anyone who dares touch you know you're not someone to mess with!
Don't chicken out, and don't be afraid. When something happens, charge straight in!"
Samael spoke with gusto, spittle flying as he kept drilling a certain mindset into the girl.
Aggressive? Fiercer? Sounds a bit like the Gorgon.
Hmm... hard, but I can learn!
Listening intently, the girl kept nodding, quietly thinking about how to change her timid weakness.
As she sorted through and savored the other set of memories, Ana made a few adjustments. Naturally, from her very core, the pride and chill of the Goddess of Demonic Beasts began to seep out.
Sensing the shift beside him, Samael looked down and paused for a beat. In the state the little girl was trying to hold, he could vaguely see a familiar yet unfamiliar silhouette from memory—
The adult Medusa, blending Ana and Gorgon, a full-on onee-san vibe: proud and alluring.
Was it because of what I said?
Raising her? I love it!
Onee-san? Even better!
The ancient serpent smacked his lips, eyes full of anticipation.
A little over ten minutes later, Samael figured it was about time to head to the Mother of Serpents' place to bring Tina and Athena back. His expression turned solemn as he gave his last reminder of the day.
"Ana, the war between the old and new gods will begin in the Oceanus in three days. I have to go in person."
Ana's eyes filled with worry. She grabbed Samael's arm, lips pressing together.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
The ancient serpent nodded calmly, smiling gently.
"Of course it's dangerous, but risk and opportunity come as a pair.
After this, Olympus will be unstoppable. Another chance this good will be hard to find.
Whether it's for you, Tiamom, or Athena, we have to face Zeus and his gods. This risk is worth it!"
Then Samael shifted tone, brimming with confidence.
"Besides, staying alive? That's what I do best."
Seeing his resolve, Ana could only nod earnestly.
"Don't worry. I'll protect Tina and our brothers and sisters.
As for Athena, I'm not like the Gorgon. I won't attack her over a mere possibility."
So sensible—doing her best to put his mind at ease. Samael was moved and felt much steadier.
He then took Ana—new mindset and all—and led her out of the cavern to see her home. Near the thicket by the Arima Cavern, the little girl let go of his arm on her own, reluctant to part.
"Ana!"
Just as the purple-haired loli turned to leave, a gentle call came from behind. When she looked back, Samael had crouched down to her eye level.
Before she could react, a breeze brushed past, and a soft, pudding-smooth touch landed lightly on Ana's forehead.
He... he kissed me!
Ana froze. Realizing the sensation on her forehead was Samael's kiss, her face turned scarlet in an instant.
Snapping back, she hurriedly shoved the ancient serpent away and ran toward the cavern.
But at that very moment, rustling came from behind the bushes. Two little girls with purple hair over their shoulders, in white gauze dresses, fair, delicate legs, already bearing the form of gods at just three months old, emerged and approached Ana and Samael.
They turned, fingers entwined. Their strikingly similar pretty faces drew close as they gazed deeply into each other's eyes and parted their lips.
"Euryale."
"Stheno."
"Peck! Peck!"
In the rising, suggestive mood, each took a turn, taking the initiative to kiss their sister on the forehead—exactly where Samael had just kissed Ana, not a hair off. They even drew out glistening filaments as they did it, making the scene look downright sensual.
"You two..."
Seeing this, Ana flushed to the roots. The vivid blush seemed ready to break through her skin. Faced with her sisters' public "punishment," the little girl was mortified and furious.
Stheno and Euryale, who loved teasing their little sister, giggled when the prank landed, faces full of mischief and shameless glee.
"Well, how about Big Sis gives you a kiss? I'm very good at teaching."
"Second Sis can do it too. Come on, tell us—where are you most sensitive, little Medusa?"
"If you won't talk, we'll each pick a side and go kiss your Samael."
In this barrage of teasing, Ana kept losing ground until Stheno's eager suggestion made her snap.
"Don't you dare bully Samael!"
"Hm? A little sister hoarding for herself and scolding her elders? How rude."
"Well then, nothing more to say. We'll show her a goddess's true charm."
Lazy and elegant, Stheno covered her mouth with a laugh. Spoiled and scheming, Euryale fanned the flames. The two slipped past Ana, one left and one right, heading for the back.
"Sisters, you—"
"Thud! Thud!"
Before the fuming Ana could stop them, the two trouble-loving Gorgon goddesses were already clutching their heads and wailing.
"Ugh, to be treated like this! What a tasteless brute!"
"I'm beautiful, right? Adorable, right? ...We're goddesses, you know! How could you—"
"Thud thud!"
"Too much! I'm angry!"
"Don't get cocky. Under this goddess's charm, you'll fall sooner or la—"
"Thud thud!"
Half an hour later, the two little terrors crouched before Samael, eyes brimming, hands over their lumped heads. They sulked, doodling circles on the ground and muttering curses at a certain someone.
"You two are clever and full of energy. Looks like I should give the Mother of Serpents some advice.
Divine Script memorization, Ether Perception, plus Geography and Medicinal Studies—these all need to move up the schedule.
So enjoy what's left of your free time. I'll deal with you later."
Samael's sinister chuckle sent a chill down Stheno and Euryale's spines. Instinctively, they clung to each other and shivered. They couldn't figure out what was so scary about those so-called courses.
And yet, the once-fierce Little Nine and that dumb dog had already become the most miserable of their siblings.
As Samael strode toward the Arima Cavern with that eerie grin, the two abandoned young goddesses seemed to see a grim, chilling shadow drifting toward home.
The future looked bleak.