A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

Roy casually scanned his surroundings but found no trace of anything related to a God Slayer.

"Aiwass, can you locate the God Slayer Athena mentioned?"

Unable to pinpoint the location himself, and with Athena only able to sense faint traces, Roy turned to Aiwass for insight.

["The God Slayer is not in this world, or more precisely, not in this time. She is returning from another point in time. This world truly is fascinating—it can effortlessly open the paths along the flow of time."]

As always, when faced with uncertainty, Roy sought guidance from Aiwass. While the Holy Guardian Angel was not omniscient, she could answer most questions with remarkable precision.

"Understood. It seems the most troublesome God Slayer has made her appearance."

Roy nodded slightly, realizing who the visitor was.

Now that he knew it was Madame Aisha, his vigilance eased. While Madame Aisha's authorities were notoriously chaotic, she was also known for her kind and gentle demeanor—making her the least threatening of all God Slayers in terms of combat prowess.

"King, this is the Acropolis of Athens," announced the head of the Athenian magic association.

Roy and his companions had wandered into the heart of Athens and now stood atop the Acropolis Hill.

The local magician, acting as a zealous tour guide, gestured with enthusiasm as he spoke:

"...This is the crowning achievement of ancient Greek architecture, built to celebrate Athens' triumph over the Persian invaders. That temple there is the Parthenon—the largest shrine dedicated to the goddess Athena. This site, in many ways, represents the very essence of Western culture.

"...In ancient Greek myths, Athena was born fully armed from the forehead of Zeus. She imparted humanity with the crafts of weaving, tailoring, sculpting, pottery, and painting. She is the goddess of war, wisdom, civilization, and craftsmanship. Later, she became the patron deity of Athens. Within this temple once stood the largest statue of Athena in all of Greece, sculpted from gold and ivory."

The magician narrated the history of this iconic landmark with fervor while sneaking glances at Athena, who followed Roy silently.

The magician's expression was a mix of reverence and trepidation. His fear stemmed from the fact that Athena was a Heretic God—a divine being whose presence could bring calamity to mankind. Yet his reverence came from the unique cultural and mystical significance Athena held in Athens. His magic, like that of many Athenian mages, was deeply tied to Greek mythology, with Athena as its core inspiration. His association was almost like a religion devoted to the goddess.

Now, standing in the presence of Athena's true form, the magician felt an overwhelming combination of awe and fanaticism.

The story of Roy's battle with Athena in the Alps had already spread far and wide in the mystical world. The consensus was that Roy had emerged victorious, usurping the authorities of the ancient Earth Mother Goddess.

As for why Athena now followed Roy, the magician found it entirely logical. The precedent was set by the Black Prince Alexander Gascoigne, who had a authority called Faceless Queen, usurped from the mermaid goddess Melusine. This power allowed the Black Prince to summon Melusine as a familiar to fight for him.

In the magician's view, the authority Roy usurped from Athena must be similar—enabling him to summon Athena to fight on his behalf. That Roy could summon her even outside of combat was a detail the magician couldn't quite comprehend.

Whether it was Athena or Solomon, Roy had effectively misled the magical community. The world believed that Roy had acquired Clairvoyance from Solomon and mistakenly assumed that he had slain Athena.

There is a vast difference between an authority to summon Athena as a familiar and the true goddess Athena herself. Anyone who dares to treat Athena as merely a summoned familiar is bound to face a disastrous fate. After all, this is Athena, the strongest goddess of war in her true form!

"Besides the Temple of Athena, the most famous attraction in Athens is the Temple of Zeus. Will you visit it, King?"

The magician asked cautiously, sneaking a glance at Athena. Even from the myths, it was clear that the relationship between Athena and Zeus was far from harmonious. Moreover, Zeus, the father of the gods, was responsible for Athena's fall from her status as an ancient earth goddess to a dragon-snake deity.

Sure enough, Athena's expression soured at the mention of Zeus's name. While she referred to herself as Zeus's daughter in mythological accounts, that was merely an inescapable fact from the tales woven by humans. To suggest that Athena held any reverence or admiration for Zeus was simply impossible.

"Forget the Temple of Zeus. This is Athens. Visiting Athena's temple is more than enough."

As Roy said this, he tightened his hold on Athena's hand and pulled her closer to him. Although the goddess frowned in slight annoyance, she did not resist. Seeing that Roy did nothing further to provoke her, she let him have his way.

The magician silently marveled at Roy's audacity. Being in such close contact with a goddess might sound enviable at first glance, but if one truly understood the terrifying nature of the Heretic Gods—walking disasters—they would find it hard to believe that Roy, a Campione, dared to show such intimacy. Especially given their identities as mortal enemies: Campione and Heretic God.

"I recall a myth where Hippomenes, to win the hand of Atalanta, sought help from Aphrodite. The goddess of love provided him with golden apples to secure his victory and marriage. However, Hippomenes failed to thank her afterward. In her anger, Aphrodite lured him and Atalanta into Zeus's temple, where their blasphemy of the king of the gods led to Zeus transforming them into lions as eternal punishment. Could that temple be this one?"

Roy, showing a casual familiarity with ancient myths, asked with an amused smile.

The magician chuckled awkwardly, replying, "...Myth and history are so intertwined that it's nearly impossible for us to discern the truth. Whether this temple is the same one where Atalanta and Hippomenes were punished by Zeus is something no one can say for sure."

He didn't dare lie to Roy, the King. Faced with a question beyond his knowledge, he could only answer truthfully, unwilling to speculate recklessly.

"...That is precisely the sort of thing Aphrodite and my father Zeus would do," Athena interjected sharply, her tone dripping with disdain for Aphrodite and barely veiled contempt for Zeus.

Roy decided not to press further. When it came to myths and the actions of gods, even he couldn't say for certain what had transpired. Whether Aphrodite truly embodied the scandalous behaviors attributed to her could only be known upon meeting her in person.

"Roy, that stench is unbearable! I feel like eradicating it this instant."

Athena suddenly stopped walking, tugging on Roy's hand. Her beautiful yet youthful face twisted into an expression of near-manic rage. The local magician of Athens almost lost his composure at the sight, fearing that Athena, as a Heretic God, might unleash her wrath right here in the city. This was Athens, her sacred ground—if she were to act here, her strength could reach unfathomable levels.

Erica and Liliana both froze, alarmed by Athena's agitation. They didn't know what had triggered the goddess's reaction, but her volatile demeanor was unmistakably a cause for concern.

"Look at me, Athena!"

Roy's firm voice cut through the tension, causing Athena to instinctively lift her head and meet his gaze.

As Athena locked eyes with Roy, her amber irises shimmered with confusion, and the wildness in her expression began to dissipate. Her rationality slowly returned.

This was the effect of Roy's Face of God authority. Using it, Roy could subtly alter his presence, suppressing the Campione's aura that would normally provoke the Heretic Gods. Moreover, if Athena did not resist, Roy could even extend this effect to her, temporarily neutralizing her innate revulsion toward Campiones.

"Hah... I feel much better now," Athena said with a soft exhale, her lips curving into a faint, playful smile. "Roy, well done. I am now certain that I can continue to tolerate your presence like this."

Roy smiled but said nothing. Turning to Erica and Liliana, he remarked, "...Let's go, Erica, Lili! It's time we met Madame Aisha."

"""Madame Aisha?!"""

Erica, Liliana, and the Athenian magician all exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with shock and disbelief.