Chapter 133
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Aerial City - 3
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Unlike the serene temple in the capital, Asgard's temple was bustling with lively chatter.
"Sister Cale, have you finished today's prayers?"
"I wrapped them up at dawn. Brother Dabi, is something the matter?"
"Our youngest sister Crimson is struggling with her prayers to Lady Luna. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you help her out?"
"Of course! I'll lend a hand as her senior."
It was a nymph.
A young one, who hadn't even lived two hundred years yet.
"Rookie nymphs, huh."
Helia had occasionally mentioned the Nymph Academy here, and sure enough, clusters of young nymphs were huddled together, animatedly discussing their studies.
Camilla blinked in surprise at my words, gazing at me with wide-eyed curiosity.
"You spotted they were young nymphs right away."
"The halo above their heads is noticeably smaller compared to Helia's."
The distinctive halo crowning a nymph's head grew with their training—the older the nymph, the larger it was.
It was like tree rings for gauging their age.
"I'm basically a nymph expert now."
"Anyone hearing that might think you married one."
"Not married, but we live together."
"Then you can't claim to be a nymph expert just yet. The real ones might beat you to death."
"That was a joke, but there are actual nymph experts?"
"There are. One got branded a problem child here in Asgard and is currently locked up. Want the full story?"
"...Nah, I'm good."
I waved it off, sensing the conversation veering off track.
"Just guide me to the divine relic."
"Understood."
We headed straight for Helen, but our path brought us close to the group of rookie nymphs.
Their adorable childlike forms drew a fatherly smile from me, and I waved at one who met my eyes.
"Hi there."
"Eek?!"
But the rookie nymphs who spotted me suddenly started trembling, then huddled together in a tight cluster.
It looked just like penguins shielding their group from a predator.
What the...?
"Hero, what did you do this time?"
"I just said hi. Nothing else."
"Hmm... Maybe it's your scary face. You do have that classic kidnapper vibe."
"Can't argue with that."
I never noticed when I was with the women who loved me, but objectively, my looks weren't great—and the scars from the black tiger made my rugged face even more intimidating.
I could see why the young nymphs were terrified of me.
"Kids, Uncle's not a bad guy."
"Oh, Hero, that was straight out of the kidnapper playbook."
"Camilla, quit joking and help me out."
As I floundered amid the near-tears young nymphs, one from the front row mustered her courage and stepped forward.
"Eek—hic, I-I'll offer myself up... P-please don't touch my little s-siblings..."
"???"
The vibe had suddenly shifted to me being some child-molesting scum.
No, that's not me at all!
Thankfully, Camilla caught on and cleared up the misunderstanding.
"Looks like the Titan aura is frightening the young nymphs."
"Ah!"
Titans were a divine beast race.
It was only natural for nymphs, born with a measure of divinity, to fear them.
"But the nymphs I've met never reacted like this."
"The ones you've encountered had all completed exceptional training."
"Even the ones at my house?"
"Yes. Lady Forest and Lady Ravi graduated the academy fifty years early, and Lady Helia is a nymph devoted to Goddess Hestia—special in her very existence."
"Nymphs who serve Hestia are one-of-a-kind, then."
"Exactly. Think of them as royalty among humans."
An idea sparked by Camilla's words. I immediately cloaked myself in Hestia's divinity and addressed the young nymphs.
"Come on now, Uncle's the Hero of Goddess Hestia. No need to be scared."
The warm, flickering divine aura like hearth flames made their eyes sparkle with delight.
"Wow..."
"It's really Hestia's divinity!"
"This cozy feeling... it's like being in Hestia's embrace."
"I've never seen divinity this pure before!"
"Um, kids?"
But one young nymph reached out to touch the divinity swirling around me, and the others lit up even more.
"We can absorb the drifting divinity!"
"M-Me too, I wanna eat some!"
"It's delicious! So yummy!"
"My halo's growing!"
"Kids, hold on a sec..."
They'd been penguins facing a predator moments ago; now they were seagulls swarming food, charging straight at me.
"C-Camilla, help! These kids won't let go!"
"Sorry. Touching young nymphs without permission violates nymph child protection laws."
"Hey!"
And so I endured the young nymphs' onslaught until Helen arrived to help.
Even with their eyes glazed over Hestia's divinity, they snapped to attention at their senior's command.
"Phew... Thanks, Helen."
"Not at all. You had your hands full with words alone, Sian."
"Haven't seen you in ages, and I show you an embarrassing sight."
"Hehe, quite the opposite. I found it heartwarming."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Seeing you protect my young siblings brought joy as an apostle of Hestia. You'll make a wonderful father, Sian."
"Haha... Hope so."
Dealing with over a dozen at once had drained my energy completely.
"Next year, I'll have five more little Ciels. Wonder if I can handle it."
"Already that many?"
"Impressive stamina as always."
I shared the pregnancy news.
Helen beamed with joy, while Camilla marveled.
Helen clasped her hands together.
"Wonderful news. As Titan bloodlines grow, humanity may reclaim its lost faith."
"Helen, you lot secretly want me having a ton of kids too, huh."
"Hehe, denying it would be a lie."
The emperor was blatant about using me as a stud horse, but the Holy Kingdom seemed just as eager for my heirs.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent three nymphs my way.
"But please know this: We hope the Hero sires children through love, in accordance with Hestia's tenets."
"Eh, no complaints here."
It was symbiosis.
I built my family with the Holy Kingdom's full backing, and they glimpsed hope through me.
...
"So this is Taranis's divine relic."
Guided by Helen and Camilla, I found myself face-to-face with the lightning spirit I'd only seen in the game.
Curiosity piqued, I asked Camilla,
"How'd you even get this thing here?"
"With help from the Tower. Mass Teleport moved the space itself, sealing it in an instant."
"Magic's awfully convenient."
"And just as dangerous. A slip-up could've unleashed a new catastrophe."
Camilla spoke as Helen began praying around the relic with the other nymphs.
"No kidding. Why bring something that risky into the city? An aerial city, no less."
"Nowhere but Asgard could seal a relic of this magnitude."
"Sealing divine relics isn't common, huh?"
"Even in the Holy Kingdom's thousand-year history, it's rare."
"Impressive feat."
Amazed by Helen and Camilla's achievement, I approached the relic slowly.
"Guess I'll take care of this headache for you."
"Hero, please wait a moment."
"Huh? Some ritual I need to follow?"
"Nothing like that. The apostles are just preparing for any accidents."
"Got it. Lead the way, then."
"Right above us. This way."
Following Camilla, we arrived to find two nymphs debating.
"Feeding it to a Titan in that state is too risky. Why not use the Heaven-Splitting Thunder Formation instead?"
"Iris, how many times do I have to say it? That's even more dangerous! You planning to wreck the surface?!"
"Senior, this is our only option to dispose of the relic."
"You idiot! What you're suggesting is burning down a thatched house to kill a flea!"
One was a tall nymph for her kind.
She exuded purity and chastity over the usual nymph warmth.
Looks stubborn.
She had the face of someone who excelled at work.
Her counterpart had a free-spirited look and emotional vibe.
Appearances aside, I'd pegged her as the cautious, rational type.
I greeted the hot-tempered one first.
"Allie, long time no see."
"S-Sian?! Y-You're already here."
The fourth apostle and Tower of Wisdom master, Allie, trembled at the sight of me.
"Thanks to someone, work piled up. Had to leave the capital sooner than planned."
"Haha... S-Sorry about last time."
When I confronted her about crashing naked into the palace, Allie skipped excuses and bowed in apology.
"You don't think a single 'sorry' covers it, right? I was mortified."
"Of course not. Whatever you want, I'll make it happen, no matter what."
"Anything?"
"Yes! With the magic I've amassed, I can create whatever you desire."
"Fine, apology accepted."
"Phew..."
Allie finally relaxed.
The tall nymph watching us turned to me.
"And who might you be?"
As I opened my mouth to reply, I flashed the family crest the Pope had given me at the inauguration.
"Sian Ti Atlas, Hestia's Hero, newly inaugurated as Duke."