Chapter 190
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Savage Love
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Well, now that the play is over, what comes next?
The afterparty, of course.
The starring couple of this production, so endlessly praised by the Goddess of Love, saw one of them—the goddess of a certain sea—straight-up kidnap the shepherd god's son and vanish into the ocean, skipping the event entirely.
Inspired by that, the other sea goddesses snatched up their own partners, whom they'd only just reunited with after four days, and scattered off in twos and threes.
Todays stars and their allied goddesses and heroes vanished in the blink of an eye, but this was Greece.
And not just any gathering—this was the afterparty of Dionysus's revelry, with his drunken haze still lingering.
The Colosseum emptied of heroes and goddesses like the tide receding.
To fill the void, Karyklo and her nymphs bustled about distributing simple dishes and drinks, while Chiron handled the cleanup. He led the gods in applause of thanks and awe toward the divine, formally bringing Dionysus's feast to a close.
Yet those still buzzing from the fresh heat of the new myth lingered in their seats, sipping food and wine while sharing their thoughts on the day's showdown.
A few among them, those in the know, even leaped down into the arena for a closer look, diving into heated debates as they analyzed the duel in depth.
"A sword, of all things. I thought that was just for far-off barbarians and pirates?"
"But that final lethal blow against Polyphemus? Impossible without that sword."
"True, that uncanny footwork. Didn't it remind you of Zeus in the underworld, all those bizarre, twisting moves?"
"Hmph! A sword's just for cowards who rely on sneak attacks! If he'd wielded a spear, Acis could've shone even brighter!"
"Hey, like I've said a million times, it wasn't a team fight—it was one-on-one, and that's why Acis beat Polyphemus...!"
"If Acis had used a shield with his spear, though..."
"Even then..."
Curiously, most of the debaters were women.
They were Atalanta's warrior band, the ones who'd risen to fame as commanders in this Heroic Tournament.
They say you see more when you know more.
To these women, awakened to martial arts and combat prowess by Atalanta herself, the Colosseum was nothing short of a new textbook.
"Look at this. The footprints..."
"Was Acis that light? These prints are so shallow."
"Probably trained in the same techniques as our captain Atalanta."
"If our battalion commanders fought those fifty guys right now, who do you think would win?"
Beautiful and fierce warrior women, evoking the Amazons, hurried to and fro. Princes and male gods, unwilling to miss their last chance, slunk closer.
But at the sight of those lionesses flashing eyes at the scent of blood, they beat a hasty retreat.
And those looking down with giggles were toasting as they watched the warriors' zeal and the men's clumsy antics.
"Oh ho ho! Ahh, so refreshing. I feel ~so~ good~"
The highest seats, sculpted like Olympus itself by Cyclopes pouring in skill and magic without restraint.
The divine hall, untouchable to the uninvited, brimmed with intoxicating laughter.
"Ares, did you see? All Greece's heroes and gods praising me?"
"I saw. Oh, I saw. And whose praise was the loudest and most fervent?"
"Eyy~ Of course it was our baby boar!"
Todays protagonist, Aphrodite, and her lover, Ares.
"Behold, Caineus. Walk with me, and you'll stroll such divine feasts by my side."
"..."
Poseidon, eagerly courting(?) the half-goddess woman seated beside him—someone he'd only just met.
And then.
"Eek, hee hee hee... Hey! Scoot over a bit!"
"Hing! No way. He's mine!"
"I-I won't yield either!"
"..."
One blue flower draped on each arm, one red flower.
A winged fiery arrow pendant around his neck, and right beside him, another judge seated demurely.
Altogether four beauties attending one pitch-black demigod.
'What the hell is this situation...?'
Suddenly the center of attention in this place, the demigod stared around in utter bewilderment.
* * *
Todays protagonist, Aphrodite—the first in all of Greece's long history to receive a myth itself as tribute—was in absolutely ecstatic spirits.
What makes the world most beautiful and abundant?
Love, of course!
Love begets life, begets war, defies even death and conquers it.
And this new black-and-blue surprise had pierced right to the heart of love's essence.
A myth offered to her—not some fragrant wine or sparkling gem, but love's power made manifest—left Aphrodite utterly satisfied.
It even absolved the other goddesses for their neglect, after all their quirky tributes and rituals had delighted the masses while sidelining the Goddess of Love herself.
But the real fun was something else entirely.
The very one who offered that tribute was, to her, the ultimate gift of all.
Goodness.
Since emerging from Oceanus's seas onto land, had she ever witnessed a more entertaining romance tale?
"Ares, what do you think?"
"That guy? He's a fun one, qualified like few others."
Beautiful heroes and lovely goddesses dangling from his arms, desperate for even a scrap of his attention.
The hero was one who, even if he fully escaped Aphrodite's grasp to become Artemis's hunter, would inevitably return to her embrace under a man's touch.
The goddess was Oceanus and Tethys's youngest daughter, revered by her and Hera alike—if she truly desired it, no being in Greece would defy her will.
Yet these two fierce beauties—one heavenly fire, the other abyssal currents—weren't fighting to monopolize his love.
No, they competed to draw more of it to themselves, transforming into meek lambs. It was utterly exotic.
Love softens even steel, but this was something else.
Ares, watching it all, smirked and summed it up.
"Beautiful things are drawn to even more beautiful ones. Your words, weren't they?"
"When did my little boar get so clever?"
But Aphrodite already knew as much.
Just a week ago, right here—the unprecedented Heroic Tournament.
Hadn't it all started with Theseus and Dianes's sordid drama over the beautiful Atalanta?
Yet what thrilled her so wasn't just witnessing that familiar tale firsthand.
"Honestly, those two's drama was fun enough—a rare treat after so long."
What truly set her interest ablaze were the other two beauties.
Agents of inescapable fate, bowed to in awe and fear even by Olympus's gods and the three supreme beings.
Primordial bloodlines, like Aphrodite herself, embodying the world's foundational forces.
The Goddess of Misfortune, Eris.
The Goddess of Retribution, Nemesis.
Eris, who always smirked wickedly wishing ruin on others, now hung from his neck like a spring maiden, beaming.
Nemesis, ever stern and expressionless with eyes shut, fidgeted desperately to edge closer—as clear as day to Aphrodite's eyes.
"Uranos preserve us. Baby boar, am I really seeing this right?"
"I swear by Zeus, I was shocked too at first."
Who could've imagined?
The maiden of strife who stirred all Greece, smiling not sneering.
The implacable judge hiding her wings, craving even a hint of warmth.
And all for a mere demigod, not even a full god yet!
Artemis herself twisted at the sight of Dianes, whom even Athena and Hera eyed covetously—truly Greece's hottest topic.
'No, not just any hero.'
The other gods had likely realized it too.
This man called Dianes wasn't a demigod.
Merely a creation from the hands of the night mother dwelling in the Abyss, now clothed in flesh.
And soon, his blood would shift from mortal red to immortal gold—no one dared call him mere demigod.
'Makes me want him even more.'
Unprecedented existence.
Unprecedented surprise.
Unprecedented romance.
What could stir a god's curiosity and greed more?
The being had Aphrodite's love—in already full blaze—roaring to new heights.
She wanted to storm in tonight and claim him.
"Ahem, Goddess? Where are you looking?"
"Uh, huh?"
But her lover, who'd seen such throes of the Goddess of Love countless times, seized her porcelain chin and turned her face to him.
Brutal war, hated and shunned by all.
Yet within that brutality, Aphrodite found the greatest beauty.
Those jealousy-flaming red eyes were part of it.
"Don't look away. Aphrodite."
"...Aha♥"
Ares shifted in an instant—from playful child stroking her hair and chuckling to a jealousy-ravaged monster.
Even his father Zeus couldn't tame that savage war-god, bending to her mere glance or gesture. It was her delightful secret hobby.
She loved beauty.
But what could be more beautiful than a fierce man devoted solely to her?
She yearned to see it.
This hero who'd captivated goddesses she never dreamed of—soon a god unfolding ancient wings.
Fighting over her.
And even bloodied, craving her like this Ares—jealous, enraged, melting away.
As she kissed the wild god who always enthralled her, her savage love never left the new love's side.