From the information Metis provided through her authority of wisdom, the methods for conquering Athena's three divine aspects were all different.
To conquer Athena, one needed the power to defeat her and the will to help her reclaim the throne of the Goddess-Queen.
To conquer Metis, one needed wisdom great enough to surpass her, while also dispelling the anxiety she carried as the Goddess of Wisdom.
To conquer Medusa, one needed sufficient love, along with the attributes of dragon and serpent.
Under normal circumstances, the Trinity Athena would be extremely difficult to conquer.
Because whenever progress was made with one aspect, that divine nature would become shy and retreat into a latent state, making the process begin again.
However, Akuto had openly revealed everything about himself and advanced along all three directions at once, leaving Athena with nowhere left to retreat.
It was precisely after that moment that Athena gradually changed her attitude, shifting from resistance to acceptance.
Looking back now, if Akuto had chosen another strategy, he probably still could have conquered Athena eventually.
But the time required would likely have stretched indefinitely.
No matter how one looked at it, Akuto had indeed achieved the astonishing feat of conquering three goddesses at once through his own efforts.
…
"Akuto, you… aren't feeling excited because you've conquered me, are you?"
Metis narrowed her eyes slightly and wrapped her arms around Akuto's head so she could sense his reactions more deeply.
She knew very well that Akuto liked this kind of closeness.
While kissing him deeply, Metis spoke again in a proud tone.
"You must remember this. It was not you who conquered me. It was I who conquered you."
"After all, long before I accepted you, you had already fallen for me… hadn't you?"
"Alright, alright. You conquered me. Happy now?"
Akuto sighed helplessly and accepted Metis's argument.
After all, she was saying all of this while kissing him intensely. What reason did he have to argue?
"Hmph~ Not 'happy now.' That is simply the truth."
"As the Goddess of Wisdom, I am very pleased with the love you have shown me. Therefore, as your reward…"
Metis spoke as she passed something into Akuto's mouth.
Before Akuto even had time to fully process it, she spoke again.
"I grant you… the blessing of the Goddess of Wisdom."
"Weng—"
Because Akuto did not resist, the authority of the Goddess of Wisdom flowed into him.
In an instant, a large amount of knowledge appeared in his mind.
The first time he kissed Athena, Akuto had already obtained a full set of her authorities.
However, at that time Athena had not been complete, and her authorities had not been at their strongest.
Now that Athena had returned to her Trinity state, her authorities had grown much stronger.
After Metis came Medusa.
Medusa's kiss was somewhat clumsy and noticeably gentler.
Like Metis, she also transferred a portion of her authority to Akuto through the kiss.
Finally, Athena herself approached.
Her body carried the power of the underworld, and the muscles of her abdomen shifted slightly as she moved closer.
"I know that you possess an ability similar to the Disc of Usurpation. Not long ago, you already stole some of my authority."
"And after you defeated Perseus, the aura around you grew stronger."
"Since you could not become stronger through that method alone, it is only natural that I should assist you."
"After all, I am your ally."
As the kisses continued, Athena and Akuto gradually lost track of time.
Only when Athena could no longer maintain her form did she finally stop transferring her authority.
By that time, Athena's body had already become partially transparent, as though she were dissolving.
Her strength had fallen from peak chief-god level to early chief-god level.
Akuto looked at Athena with eyes full of love and tenderness.
He had never asked her to do this, yet she had chosen to do it anyway.
"Do not misunderstand."
Athena lifted her elegant neck proudly.
"I simply do not wish to waste the power."
"Even if I connect with my true body, I cannot maintain this perfect Heretic-God state for long. Rather than allowing it to dissipate meaninglessly, it is better to make use of it and turn it into your strength."
Athena's reasoning was logical, and her expression remained proud.
Holding such a goddess in his arms, Akuto's emotions surged violently.
He only wanted to draw closer to her in every possible way.
Looking at Athena, Akuto could only say one thing.
"Athena… I love you… so, so much."
He gently kissed the corner of the goddess's lips.
Athena's response was simple.
"Hmph. Isn't that only natural?"
After saying that, the goddess suddenly kissed him again.
As they kissed, Athena's beautiful jade-like feet swayed lightly behind Akuto's waist, almost as if encouraging him.
And so, the moment continued quietly.
…
Elsewhere.
While Akuto was completely conquering the goddess Athena, Liliana had just finished the task assigned to her by Erica.
"Phew…"
Letting out a long breath, Liliana placed the documents in her hand on the desk.
[So far, the War God Veleslana has recovered all of his remaining incarnations, and the injuries of the god-king Melqart are rapidly healing.]
[Since Veleslana's whereabouts are unknown and he appears to be hiding, it is recommended that His Majesty first defeat the recovering god-king Melqart.]
"Thank you for your hard work, Lady Liliana."
Beside her, a maid with long teal hair named Karen gently placed a cup of tea on the desk.
"Thank you, Karen. Just leave it there."
Liliana leaned back in her chair, exhausted.
Karen remained silent for a moment, pressing her lips together as she looked at Liliana with frustration.
Liliana always put effort into these meaningless tasks, and it exhausted Karen just watching her.
Why keep completing all the assignments Erica gave her?
Why not simply make a direct move toward the King?
Karen knew Erica did not have bad intentions. She merely wanted to stall Liliana for the moment.
Karen even suspected that once Erica had achieved her own goals, she would probably help Liliana herself.
But even so, watching Liliana being led around so easily was unbearable.
So in the next moment, Karen said something shocking.
"Lady Liliana… do you like His Majesty?"
"Eh?! …What?!"
With a single sentence, Karen made Liliana jump out of her chair.
"Like him? Karen, what are you talking about?"
"I am His Majesty's knight! How… how could a knight fall in love with her lord?"
Liliana denied it in a panic.
"I see~"
Karen nodded slowly.
"That's right. Exactly."
Liliana pressed her lips together.
"In that case, I suppose I should inform His Majesty of your feelings."
Karen spoke calmly.
"I'll tell him that Lady Liliana could never fall in love with him, so I will replace you and provide His Majesty with a perfect experience instead…"
"Shing—!"
Before she could finish speaking, a silver blade flashed before her eyes.
Liliana had drawn her craftsman's magic sword.
Karen smiled helplessly at the weapon pointed at her.
"Lady Liliana, even if you can stop me… can you stop Lady Erica?"
"In places you cannot see, Lady Erica is surely already plotting how to establish a real relationship with Lord Akuto before you do."
"So I think it would be better for you to face your own feelings honestly."
With that, Karen took out a small booklet from her pocket.
[I know he did it on purpose. He deliberately brought me onto the hot-air balloon, a place that cannot be escaped once it rises.]
[His confession on the balloon was both a declaration of love and a form of confinement.]
[Even so, I still allowed him to take me there.]
…
[After the passionate confession, before I could respond, he pulled me into his arms…]
[I had resolved to resist, but when I felt the gentleness hidden within his dominance, I gradually relaxed and allowed him to take everything from me.]
"Eeeek!!!"
Unable to endure it any longer, Liliana snatched the booklet away from Karen at lightning speed.
"Karen! How do you even know about something like this?!"
Liliana's face turned completely red.
Karen calmly brushed the hair beside her ear.
"Lady Liliana, if I'm not mistaken, the male protagonist of that story is Lord Akuto, correct?"
"You wrote such a story yourself, yet you claim you do not like him?"
"I…!"
Liliana could no longer find words to deny it.
"I… I just think his changes have been a little too great."
"Too great? Do you mean that Lord Akuto has become even more handsome than the records suggested?" Karen asked knowingly.
"Huh? More handsome?"
Liliana froze for a moment before realizing that Akuto truly had become more handsome than before.
"Yes… Akuto has indeed become more handsome."
"But the Akuto I knew before would never have been so greedy as to want the devotion of so many girls."
That was the honest thought Liliana finally spoke aloud.
"Ah… so that's what you mean."
Karen nodded thoughtfully.
After a moment of silence, she asked quietly.
"Lady Liliana… have you ever considered that Lord Akuto might have always been this greedy and this romantic from the very beginning?"
"What do you mean?"
Liliana looked confused.
Why did the Akuto Karen described seem completely different from the Akuto she remembered?
(End of Chapter)
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