Chapter 182
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Gods of Love and Heroes of Love-2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[You have entered the Instant Dungeon: Hestia's Hearth Path!]
...an illusion flickered before my eyes.
"Hehehe..."
"Hohoho..."
On one side loomed a tidal wave as tall as a house, while on the other blazed a crimson meteor streaking through the sky.
In the face of this mythical standoff, with both sides growling and poised to strike, I quietly curled my lips into a smile.
No, if it were just the tidal wave crashing down, I could counter with a Heavenly Demon Punch. If the meteor came hurtling at me, I'd blast it with a Death Beam.
The problem was that this tidal wave and meteor were none other than my lovers.
Haha, damn it, save me.
"Dianes, do you have any idea how worried I was? I woke up and you were just... gone!"
"Haha, Nesneria. About that..."
Neri—no, I supposed I had to call her Nesneria now—the princess of the seas was utterly radiant.
Her dress shimmered like rippling pearls, and the sapphire jewelry only accentuated her flawless white skin. Even the red marks I'd left on her stood out in stark, enticing contrast...
Wait, what marks?
"Neri...?"
"Mm?"
A mad month of indulgence flashed through my mind.
After surviving the horrific newbie hunts by those deep-sea predators, Nesneria and I tangled together like newlyweds with the flames of passion ignited.
They say newlyweds spark at a single glance, and birth rates explode after wars—yeah, it was exactly like that.
For some reason, I'd been possessed, sinking my teeth relentlessly into that pristine white skin, especially targeting her slender neck and lovely breasts. Those spots never stayed mark-free for long.
And here Nesneria was, proudly displaying them without a care...
"Heal... no, never mind."
What else could explain this demure lady from just months ago turning so provocatively bold?
Once the thought hit me, I couldn't bring myself to erase the marks I'd made with my own hands.
All I could do was drape my outer jacket over her to cover them up.
"Dianes?"
"The morning breeze is still chilly."
Nesneria was a full-fledged goddess in name and truth.
Hangul's temperature swings couldn't touch her, so she quickly caught my intent, flashing a beaming smile as she wrapped herself in the jacket.
"Ehehehe."
"Sigh..."
This seductive little temptress—goddess, rather.
She'd always played innocent while being irresistibly alluring, but after a month together, it was like her limits had shattered completely. She was aggressively bold now.
"Grrrrr...!"
Look at that. Atalanta's eyes burned as fiercely as her fiery hair.
I could even see her blood vessels, still vibrating from her recent outburst of energy, boiling over once more.
"Atalanta."
"Di... Dianes..."
Relief, sorrow, joy, grief, ecstasy, longing...
Every emotion overflowed from Atalanta's eyes, which had once sparkled with vitality and fighting spirit.
For me, brawling with gods had become routine.
But even in this forest of heroes, the descent of Olympian gods would cause a massive uproar.
And in the midst of that, I'd beaten a god and goddess black and blue, then got dragged off by the goddess of justice as punishment?
If it were me, I'd be agonizing over whether to set a Greek funeral or a Demonic Cult one.
Then, upon returning, I didn't even check in right away—instead, she had to hear about her man from a rival, no less.
Yeah, I was the asshole this time too.
'Please, just let one clean shot from her fist be enough this time.'
That last Cobra Twist had hurt like hell.
And now Atalanta was a top-tier master in her own right—a peerless warrior who'd reached the pinnacle of external arts, enough to shock even the Heavenly Demon.
One wrong move, and I might end up mounted and pounded into the dirt.
Still, I humbly resolved to accept the self-inflicted disaster barreling toward me.
'Well, I should've tried dating properly first...'
Looking back at my romantic history, it was a total disaster, rivaling the sun god I'd killed with my own hands.
My first youthful love story had twisted into a battlefield rivaling love and war itself.
All my fault.
"Hic!"
Finally, Atalanta's pent-up sorrow burst forth in a sob-choked whimper as she moved.
I gritted my teeth, bracing for the spicy meteor punch incoming.
-Poof!
But the punch I expected never landed.
Instead, something warm, fragrant, soft, and springy collided into my chest and clung tight.
"...?"
I glanced down cautiously to find Atalanta buried face-first in my chest, trembling faintly.
"I... I... Hic!"
And then her wails erupted in a heartbreaking torrent.
"Waaaaah!"
What the hell were you thinking? Why didn't you hold out just a bit longer? You got dragged off silently by a goddess—why didn't you at least tell me when you got back? What am I to you anyway?
All I could do was quietly listen as Atalanta's resentments piled up like the Tower of Babel in a single day.
"I'm sorry, really sorry..."
"Wi... without a word! Seriously! What the hell! Waaaaah!"
Her endless cascade of grievances finally erupted into a volcanic sob-fest.
I held her close, listening silently.
Correction: I wasn't just an asshole.
I was a chewable, motherfucking bastard.
How long did I hold and soothe Atalanta like that?
With a barely calmed Atalanta in front of me and Nesneria eyeing her with a peculiar glare, I explained yesterday's events in detail.
Well, not in detail.
I'd punched Apollo in the face, slammed Artemis into the ground.
And then I'd shattered the earth and roared through the heavens in a fierce brawl with Athena—no less than Athena clad in her full aegis.
If they heard all that, Nesneria might faint, and Atalanta might foam at the mouth and collapse.
So I kept it vague: I followed along, got scolded, heard some motivational words, got a dog collar—er, the helmet from Athena—and ended up running errands for her as a proxy.
"So... you've become Lady Athena's praetor?"
"The archon of Olympus in this age... is you?"
But their reactions were more dramatic than I'd expected.
How to put it.
Like gazing at a husband returning in triumph, adorned with an inspector's insignia.
They didn't forget to eye each other warily, but when I even showed them the owl bracelet on my arm, their eyes went wide as saucers.
"Woooow! That's amazing! So perfect!"
"Kyaa! Dianes! You're so cool! Incredible!"
Atalanta, eyes still teary moments ago, jumped up clapping, while Nesneria threw herself into my arms with a cheer.
Athena had called it honor, proxy authority, whatever—but to me, it was just a dog collar, a shiny silver anklet she'd bestowed.
Apparently, it meant something far weightier to the Greeks.
If my earlier words were like receiving an inspector's hat, the bracelet was like getting an official seal-stamped diploma.
"This is huge, really huge. It means you're a champion blessed by Olympus and Athena to uphold Greek order—like Perseus or Bellerophon. A true great hero in name and deed!"
"King of kings, dynasty above dynasties. If you will it, any war must halt on the spot. If you punish a villain, no matter their status, they must submit to your judgment without question."
As I puzzled over their reactions, Atalanta explained with sparkling eyes.
In summary, Athena's praetor came with immense honor and power befitting the role.
Refuse an order from Athena's enforcer of Olympian order?
No need to bother Zeus—Athena would crush you herself.
The most famous current heroes, Perseus and Bellerophon, had received the same bracelet.
With it, gods lent their divine artifacts, kings welcomed them with arms and armies without stint.
'Well, look at that?'
I'd thought it was just a freelance contract or dog collar, but Athena's "punishment" was far grander.
She'd clasped supreme authority on my wrist and told me to run her errands.
"Another big lesson learned... haha!"
Different from Zeus's methods, but a true strategy befitting the goddess of wisdom.
Not blatantly offering this or that to buy loyalty.
Pretending to punish while letting me taste the honor and power I'd gain by following her and Olympus, drawing me in naturally.
And by framing it as a deal rather than orders, from an equal position, she eased me into that power and honor without burden or suspicion.
The cunning familiarity made me chuckle.
Brains like hers worked the same across eras, huh.
"Heh... interesting."
Even if I saw through it, no matter.
The contract was signed, the deal sealed.
Like it or not, I'd move as she wanted.
'Not like it's bad for me anyway.'
For now, along with Hera's quest, I'd table it with a smile.
At least I wouldn't be bored out there.
Positive mindset, positive thinking.
"Anyway, Athena... said she'd handle Apollo and Artemis properly, so no worries."
"Phew... good."
"I was so worried. Of all things, picking fights with Olympian gods..."
Unlike Atalanta, Nesneria—who had a rough idea of my background—just shrugged at the mention of punching Apollo.
Artemis needed a once-over, though.
If they knew I'd laid hands on her too...
'...Gotta keep that secret forever.'
Those two were already at each other's throats with jealousy.
Adding more women here would get me wrecked by them—and goddesses like the elegant one, queen of the gods, guardian of marriage and hearth...
Luckily, Atalanta's good cry and my praetor news steered the conversation smoothly.
If I played it right till we got back to Ares...
"By the way, Dianes?"
"Yeah, Nesneria?"
"Aww~ Call me Neri like always~"
Neri clung openly, beaming sweetly.
And Atalanta's eyes sparked with flames once more.
.....Oh boy.
My attempt to defuse things peacefully shattered the moment a smiling wave latched onto my arm.