Chapter 183
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Fruit-Tossing Spectacle
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How much time had passed while I anxiously waited amid the fierce standoff between the tidal wave and the shooting star?
In Greece—a land where monogamy was the baseline but cheating was par for the course and affairs nothing out of the ordinary—my honest admission of another lover seemed to earn me some leniency. The nagging about infidelity was milder than expected.
If anything, judging by their reactions, both Nesneria and Atalanta acted like it was only natural for me to have other women.
"Eros's golden arrow flies wherever it pleases, after all."
"It's not like Himeros's golden rose has bloomed, is it?"
"Better than that princess who wouldn't let me rest for a whole month straight."
"True, she drained me so thoroughly I barely had anything left in me~"
After a prolonged exchange of growls and glares, they even traded jokes like this. Atalanta and Nesneria proved remarkably tolerant of my romantic escapades.
Sure, I got grilled a bit, but it never devolved into some trashy soap opera where they yanked hair and screamed about who the real lover was.
Truly a relief...
Not that it's my place to say, but is this place called Greece really okay?
I'd learned about romance from books, but their effortless acceptance of another woman felt downright awkward—even if I was relieved.
Not even the concubine systems of the martial world or Ming would have made a scene this smooth...
In any case, with tempers cooling, the charged atmosphere finally eased. We could talk rationally again.
"So, Dianes, you'll have to leave the forest soon?"
"Who knows. Whenever the call comes, I'll head out."
The Hero's Forest wasn't like a typical school with set graduation dates.
Entry required exams, but leaving was free-form.
Most ventured out to build fame once they were set to inherit thrones or felt ready.
I could leave anytime if I wanted.
"Probably time to start preparing, though."
For starters, two heavyweight goddesses—Aphrodite and Hera—were lining up quests for me personally.
Poseidon, too, had let slip his worries about his child during our deep-sea spar, clearly hoping I'd look after things.
"But first, we've got to deal with that Cyclops named Polyphemus."
"...Cyclops?"
"The one-eyed brute tailing Little Sis?"
Atalanta blinked in confusion at the sudden Cyclops mention, but Neris—who knew about the Love House plan—caught on quick.
"You really tracked down Little Sis all the way here...?"
"Yeah, just like you described, Nesneria."
During our time together underwater, I'd shared all the latest developments, and she'd filled me in on plenty.
Her surprisingly deep knowledge of the gods' ways had been a huge help.
She'd advised me on setting up that gayageum date after I made it for her sisters, which smoothed things over nicely.
And among those tips was the Cyclops stalking Galatea.
"Never thought he'd chase her all the way to the Hero's Forest..."
"Honestly, I'm shocked things spiraled this far."
Truth be told, the clash between Polyphemus, Acis, and Galatea was pure coincidence stacked on coincidence.
I hadn't expected Acis to pass my screening and get invited to the Nereids' feast.
Or for him and Galatea to hit it off.
Or for Polyphemus to show up at Dionysus's party.
"If I'd seen this coming, I wouldn't be stuck dealing with this mess right now..."
I'd be chilling in Phasos as a fortune teller, dodging flags for a slow life...
Though I wouldn't have met Atalanta that way.
Looking at my sparkling-eyed lover and promising disciple made my chest warm. Not all losses were total tragedies.
"Polyphemus... I've heard of him. Poseidon's son, right? The Cyclops warrior-chief who guarded Dionysus on his pilgrimage to find Rhea?"
"Yep~ He's got a temper to match his monstrous strength—exactly the type Sis hates most in a man."
"Makes sense. Acis is his total opposite."
Acis was the picture of a pretty boy straight out of a painting.
Word was Pan—god of shepherds—looked like a satyr with goat or pig features, but Acis was the reverse.
Without those tiny curled horns peeking from his locks, you'd never buy he was Pan's blood.
"He's honed from herding, but still looks a bit delicate."
"Even so, he's top-tier in running and rock-climbing here. That quirky footwork of his stands out."
"Perfect match for Galatea's tastes."
"When I came out after hashing things with Athena... er, Lady Athena, they were duking it out on the beach."
I explained the fight I'd just witnessed, how Acis had requested the duel, and the Jason crew's current woes. Their reactions were predictably dramatic.
"Duel's in three days flat."
The last day of Dionysus's feast.
"Whoa... That Acis kid. Think he'll be okay?"
"...Lord have mercy, Dianes. You sure about this?"
To Atalanta, who knew most powerhouses in Greece, Acis and Polyphemus were sky and earth apart.
Nesneria looked worried too about her second sis's beau facing that giant Cyclops.
Frankly.
Me too.
"Even with Ares's help, bridging that size gap short-term is tough."
Atalanta—pre-awakening but steadily trained—might hold her own, but realm built on shortcuts had clear limits.
In life-or-death crises, fear naturally etched swordmasters' styles into their minds.
Unless Acis manifested qi like Atalanta...
Against Polyphemus's bulk, fierce swordplay might buy time, but loss was half-decided.
But.
That hardly mattered.
"The duel itself isn't the real fun part anyway."
"Fun...?"
"Dia, that's the face you make when you're up to no good."
The lifetimes of my past self, desperately soothing that gnawing void in my chest.
I'd drowned in every pleasure and revelry, yet the emptiness lingered. A body and mind that conquered poisons and heart demons denied even escape into stupor.
Only true fulfillment—for a god in living flesh—came not from cheap thrills.
"Atalanta, Nesneria. Know what the most fun thing in the world is?"
"Fun thing?"
"Hm... What?"
Why I'd shown my inner realm to save Atalanta as she climbed me pointlessly.
Why I'd fixed Theseus to serve under me.
Why I'd indebted myself to Ares to train Jason and his warriors.
Why I hadn't slain Polyphemus outright but bothered staging this duel with Acis.
And.
Why, as absolute sovereign, I'd swallowed past-life pride to befriend gods.
Endured Hera and Athena's yoke with some groveling.
Tamed Artemis—who'd threatened my life early on—with patient effort.
Showed restraint against Apollo for wrecking my treasure, keeping Olympus ties.
All boiled down to one thing.
"Drama."
Not some low-budget CG schlock with forced plots.
Clashes between humans, transcendents, and crossovers—similar yet different beings sparking true drama—that was peak entertainment.
No wonder hidden masters cosplayed mortals to secretly mentor disciples.
The Nangong clan eldest daughter who'd mistaken me for a righteous hermit, vowing to reclaim the central plains from demon cult conquerors.
The girl chopping wood with unnatural vigor—I'd taught her myself, then sent to four kings and Moonless Tyrant.
The assassin doctor hiding in my bedchamber, gradually swayed to submit; learning her clan's truth after thinking I'd wiped them out, setting off for revenge.
The kid who later raged in betrayal upon learning my identity, storming the Heavenly Demon Church.
Or grew as Moonless Tyrant's direct disciple, shaking the world.
Or finished revenge and brazenly snuck back to my bed.
Watching those tales I'd spun sweep the martial world—how thrilling, how fun.
"Time to spin that drama again."
No more half-baked efforts from half a year ago, desperate for heart's thirst amid black history.
Now I qualified for that supreme amusement reserved for transcendents and elites.
And this time, as a participant in an unknown script, experiencing dramas firsthand.
Tolerate gods' errands—the minor hassle and compulsion—and it was perfect play.
"Expect a show. This drama's gonna be a wild ride."
The play's name...
Yeah, this works.
"Fruit-Tossing Spectacle."
Like fruit lobbed onstage—fragrant, sweet, but a stinging insult to some. A love story.
"May Aphrodite and her twins savor it."
Heck, they're love gods.
If they meddle and amp the fun, all the better.
It's all in good fun.
"Oh, speaking of—let's hit the temple."
"Yes! Prayers are key! Asking the gods to bless our love!"
"S-Sure! I need to apologize and give thanks to Artemis, pray for Athena's blessings too."
With the mood fully thawed, I embraced my twin flowers and headed for the altar.
Utterly clueless that my offhand prayer would unleash ripples beyond imagining.