Aphrodite smiled faintly, wearing that divine air that blends tenderness with power.
Aphrodite: —"I see… you've made yourself quite handsome again."
—Uhmm, I need a favor.
Lilith, amused, stepped in before her sister could reply.
Lilith: —"Oh? So that's what you want?… I'm sorry to tell you this, but we won't be fulfilling that fantasy, naughty boy."
Aphrodite: —"S-so that's what you were aiming for?"
The mocking tone ignited something inside me.
[Basic Skill "Absolute Resistance" activates at full capacity]
—Don't be ignorant. I want to know the location of Poseidon and Athena.
The air changed density.The nymphs stopped moving.Aphrodite and Lilith finally looked at me with real attention…
But they still didn't understand that I was serious.
—Quincy.
[Your strength is at maximum, Master. \( 🔥 ₒ 🔥 )/]
Then, without any warning, I threw an upward punch.
The impact echoed through the forest.The shockwave slammed into the barrier, shattering it in an explosion of golden light. Thousands of luminous particles descended like celestial rain over everyone present.
The goddesses, the nymphs—even the air itself—froze in astonishment.
And a new notification appeared before my eyes:
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Conditions fulfilled. Your strength has exceeded the permitted growth limit. Omni—ERROR… Origins System intervenes… Action devalued—Basic Skill "Strength of Creation" (Ex) has been created.]
Aphrodite: —"H-how is this… possible?"
Lilith: —"I-incredible… simply incredible."
Ducaela: —"How can a child possess such power?"
Lilith approached. Her gaze was pure scientific intrigue mixed with divine desire.
Lilith: —"Are you some kind of demigod or Immortal?"
—Nope… I'm just a normal human.
Aphrodite: —"Do you really think what you just did is normal?"
—I don't know. ("I'm completely broken… But being a glitch, comparing myself to others is stupid.")
Aphrodite: —"You don't know? Zeus, Odin, or even Ra himself would need at least two physical attacks to destroy this barrier."
—Not my fault they're weak. ("Wait… did I just hear Odin and Ra in the same sentence?")
Aphrodite: —"W-weak, you say!? Please tell me honestly—who are you?"
—I'm Sam Raymond. I already told you. ("Is my name that common, or what?")
Lilith: —"So Raymond… Do you believe in Mother? No… better yet—do you know Mother's whereabouts?"
—I have no idea what you're talking about. ("Who the hell is this "Mother"!? I'm tired. Mother this, Mother that… I asked about Poseidon and Athena and you won't answer. DAMN IT, MY PATIENCE IS RUNNING OUT!")
Lilith reacted in shock.
Lilith: —"What do you mean you don't know!?"
Aphrodite touched her shoulder, whispering softly.
Aphrodite: —"He truly knows nothing about Mother… he doesn't even know who she is."
Lilith: —"Then it can't be him… But still—where does that insane power come from?"
Aphrodite: —"I don't know, sister. And if you can't deduce it, then no one can."
Lilith smiled faintly, that mischievous glimmer lighting her eyes.
Lilith: —"This child… is becoming more and more interesting to me."
Aphrodite: —"Sister, he came to me first!"
Lilith: —"I'm the Council's researcher. I need to know more about him."
—Hey!! You know I can hear you, right?
Aphrodite: —"Sorry, we were talking among ourselves."
—It's fine. I heard everything.
Lilith: —"Aren't you interested in being studied by me?"
—Can you use glasses? ("Damn it, I spoke without thinking.")
Lilith laughed softly, dangerously melodic.
Lilith: —"Fufufufu… of course I can, naughty little one."
Aphrodite: —I-I can do that too…
At that moment, an intrusive memory hit me—A comment from a fellow translator who once wrote:
"2-for-1. No self-respecting heterosexual would ignore this opportunity XD"
I shook my head. I needed to get myself together and stop thinking nonsense. My emotions were shifting so abruptly that I couldn't maintain a stable stance, and without realizing it, I blurted out:
—You'll have to wait until I'm 18 or 21.
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
Lilith: —"Why? Aren't you interested in what I could teach you?"
—It's wrong to seduce a child, you know? ("What's wrong with me? This isn't who I am.")
Aphrodite: —"You do know human rules don't apply to gods, right?"
When Aphrodite said that, everything Poseidon had done came rushing back—unchallenged.What Athena had done, without caring about Melissa's suffering and humiliation.
My fury returned, now fueled by indignation.
My voice hardened.
—Then you'll have to obey my ideals.
Aphrodite: —"That'll be difficult, you know." ("You may be strong, but you're still human. And you're not him.")
Lilith: —"My sister is right. How could a mortal bend gods and impose his ideals?"
—With my strength.
Aphrodite: —"W-what!?"
Silence followed my words.
The air vibrated with near-divine tension.
Aphrodite and Lilith stared at me—confusion in one gaze, fascination in the other.
—Listen carefully… limits are necessary —I finally said, my voice so firm that even the forest's murmur stilled.
Lilith straightened, crossing her arms inquisitively.
Lilith: —"As a researcher, I reject your statement."
Aphrodite: —"Why do you say that?"
At that moment, I felt the same sensation I had when I last spoke with Karen…The same emotional energy—but not guided by pain or understanding.
By indignation.
I inhaled and continued, letting each word carry its weight.
—Because limits exist, damn it. In life, the ultimate limit is death. Even freedom has limits. Because where there are no rules or order, there is nothing but anarchy.
The echo of my voice faded among the trees. The nymphs stared at me, confused, unable to fully grasp the scope of my words. I went on.
—Even when you observe the universe, beyond its apparent chaos, you realize it's ordered—if you actually think about it.
Aphrodite narrowed her eyes, intrigued.
—Limits exist for two reasons —I continued—: one, to protect us; and two, to remind us that there's something greater beyond our comprehension.
When I finished, the weight of my own words crashed down on me. The silence was unbearable.
But worse was their expressions. Both goddesses looked at me with a mix of respect and bewilderment.
My instincts screamed that I had done something very stupid.
Aphrodite: —"What you're saying… makes sense."
Lilith: —"Then why do almost all mortals feel the urge to challenge those limits?"
Her tone was curious—but also provocative. It made me rethink and refine my point.
—I'm not saying they can't be challenged. I'm saying you must understand that no one can become an absolute being.
Aphrodite tilted her head, her voice now soft and inquisitive.
Aphrodite: —"An absolute being?"
Lilith: —"Why not?"
I took a step forward. The ground vibrated beneath me with the energy flowing through my body—a mix of determination and restrained fury.
—If you could do whatever you wanted and no one could stop you, tell me… would what you do be good or evil?
Lilith raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Lilith: —"Good and evil are subjective."
—I'll change the question slightly —I said, locking eyes with her—. If you could do whatever you wanted and no one could stop you… would the first thing you did benefit yourself or complete strangers?
Lilith didn't hesitate.
Lilith: —"Myself, obviously."
—Then you'd be a selfish tyrant. Is that it?
Lilith: —"Evil… but if I could distinguish which beings are worth it, I'd help them."
—Didn't you just say good and evil are subjective?
Lilith: —"Yes, but… what does that have to do with anything?"
—How the hell would you distinguish people, then?
Aphrodite, who had remained silent, sighed with a faint smile.
Aphrodite: —"Oh… I get it now."
Lilith turned toward her.
Lilith: —"Get what?"
Aphrodite: —"That without good or evil, it's impossible to distinguish."
Lilith blinked, surprised.
Lilith: —But that means…
—Yes —I cut in—. That good and evil have an absolute root. But good precedes evil… because evil stems from freedom—a quality of good.
Both goddesses stared at me. Aphrodite's lips were slightly parted, and Lilith—for the first time—was speechless.
—Because when you grant freedom, you grant good. But what someone does with that freedom… is the choice of the lesser individual. Homework for you.
Lilith stepped back, murmuring almost to herself.
Lilith: —"H-how can a c-child understand something so profound?" ("Impossible… those words…")
Aphrodite, still stunned, could only ask:
Aphrodite: —How old did you say you were?
An involuntary smile tugged at my lips.
But then—
Three terrifying system notifications appeared before my eyes.
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Social Favorability stat for Lilith and Aphrodite has reached maximum… converting into Love stat.]
When I read that, one thought formed instantly:
"Shit… I've created more problems."
"Why the hell couldn't I just shut up!? "
"DAAAAAAAMN IT!"
[Ding!]
[System Message: Special characters Aphrodite and Lilith are registered with the permanent effect of the achievement "Eternal Love".]
"With a demon…"
"I'm going to have hellish days because of that achievement…"
"I only wanted high charm to influence them a bit—not make them fall in love… DAMN IT!"
[Ding!]
[System Notification: You have conquered the first two fairies of the Nine Worlds simultaneously. You obtain the achievement "Transcendental Attraction".]
"No more achievements…"
"Please… "
"No more achievements, System!!"
I sighed.
—Maybe the details show something good…
I read the description.
"Transcendental Attraction"
(No Rank)
Permanent Effect:Any goddess or divine being will feel inexplicably attracted to you… The effect is significantly stronger with the Nine Fairies of the Nine Worlds.
[System Note: This achievement is irrevocable and cannot be obtained by anyone else.]
"Just more problems…"
"that's all this shitty system ever gives me."
My mind was flooded with worries because of that crap.But I had to stay focused—what mattered now was Poseidon's location.
And since those two had apparently set their sights on me ("AGAINST MY DAMN WILL!! AHHH!"), I might as well take advantage of it and ask one more time.
—So… will you finally tell me Poseidon and Athena's location?
Lilith: —"They should be in Olympus."
—And where is Olympus?
Aphrodite: —"On the floating island at the summit of Mount Olympia, where humans built a city called Tontheón."
—Tonto?
Lilith: —"Not Tonto. Tontheón."
—Quincy, where is that?
Aphrodite and Lilith looked at me strangely.
Aphrodite, Lilith: —"Who are you talking to?"
—My assistant. ("Damn it, I really don't want to look insane every time I talk to Quincy.")
[Master, that city is located in the Gregorian Empire… Would you like to know more? (>‿◠)✌]
—Go on. ("The Empire again… makes sense if I think about it.")
[That city hosts the headquarters of "The Order of Light", the religion of the entire continent. ( ͡─ ‿ ͡─)]
When I heard about a unified religion, I stopped to question it.
"That doesn't make sense. If what I've been told is true… It's illogical."
"From what I've seen and heard, there are far too many gods in Greek and Norse mythology for only one religion to exist."
I kept doubting. But Quincy continued.
[In fact, Master, the word "Tontheón" means "of the gods". And the Order is named after the goddess who descended from the heavens, shining like the Sun. (＾∇＾)ﾉ]
—And what does this Order do?
[It supervises the cults of all gods in every kingdom on the continent. (☆▽☆)]
—Hmm, I think I get it. ("Honestly, I don't get anything. My brain is tired… it might fail if this keeps up.")
Aphrodite and Lilith exchanged curious glances.
Lilith, Aphrodite: —"Do you always talk to yourself?"
I couldn't explain Quincy's existence.
The player system.
That their entire existence was a farce.
I took a deep breath and replied quickly.
—I do it to reach conclusions faster.
Lilith: —"You're very strange."
—Thanks. I'm leaving now.
Aphrodite extended her hand, stopping me.
Aphrodite: —"Wait… to enter Olympus, you must be guided by a god."
Lilith: —"And not just that. You must enter accompanied by one."
—Then…
Lilith: —"I can accompany you. Interested?"
Aphrodite: —"Sister, you've had a long investigation in the underworld… Don't worry. I'll go with him. You should rest."
They stared at each other, as if a silent war were about to erupt. The tension between them was almost tangible.
Mentally exhausted, I simply raised a hand.
—I'll go with both of you. End of discussion.
Aphrodite: —"Very well. I'll speak with Heimdall."
—Heimdall?
Lilith: —"You know him?"
My mind was a complete mess.
"This makes no sense… Heimdall is the guardian god of the Bifröst, the bridge connecting Asgard to the Nine Worlds. He's Norse, not Greek… I don't understand anything anymore."
Noticing my confusion, Lilith explained patiently.
Lilith: —"Heimdall oversees the Bifröst, the gods' teleportation system. He can connect any destination requested."
—Where is the Bifröst?
Lilith: —"In Asgard, the home of the gods. It was built by the finest divine craftsmen."
—Then… what is Olympus?
Aphrodite: —"I'll only tell you this: it was created to supervise something—just like the other nine zones."
—Asgard is a zone too?
Aphrodite: —"Yes. They oversee something as well."
—And who is the king of the gods? Odin? Zeus? Someone else?
Lilith let out a soft laugh.
Lilith: —"Are you joking? Odin may rule Asgard, but he could never be called the king of the gods."
Aphrodite: —"Zeus is powerful and oversees Olympus, but he doesn't hold that title either."
Lilith: —"The strongest isn't here. He oversees the outside… but even he cannot be called that."
—Then who is it? ("Who sits at the top of this absurd divine hierarchy?")
Aphrodite: —"I already told you: Mother."
—And who is this Mother? ("My brain is failing… HELP!! This is too much information. Damn it, I hate being this curious.")
Lilith: —"Wow… you really don't know. The creator goddess. Gaia."
—Gaia?
Aphrodite: —"That's right. The creator of gods and worlds. Our Mother, Gaia."
Lilith: —"Sister, go contact Heimdall. Now."
Aphrodite: —"Alright… wait here a moment."
They walked away, murmuring softly. I was left standing in the forest, surrounded by nymphs, trying not to mentally collapse.
Everything made sense—and yet it was chaos.
Too much information. Too many names. Too many overlapping worlds. All in barely two days with almost no sleep.
My neurons were on strike.
Gaia—also known worldwide as Gaea. Usually portrayed as the will of the world. Or a primordial goddess who gives birth to the gods.
Same essence. A thousand names. Always the same idea across mythologies.
And she is always essential to the creation of mythology itself.
Thinking about it made me reflect.
I don't know what scenario or story lies ahead.
I know my actions affect the game's development. And with the limited information Quincy has, I know even less about what will happen.
So just this once… I'll confront Poseidon. And after that, I won't interfere anymore.
I'll live with Melissa, Karen, and my family in my city—until the final scenario.
All I want now is peace of mind.
To eat delicious food—whether from this world or recreated modern cuisine in my future city.To travel this fascinating world.
And only later, when the players arrive, see what became of my previous life.
And if I can… escape this damned game.