139. The Goddesses' Meeting (2)
"Ah, yes... huh?"
The moment she naturally reached out to touch Eunhyeon's cheek, Verdandi hurriedly grabbed his hand and pulled it behind her, shouting with a flustered expression.
"Don't touch my child."
"Oh, come on, it's just a cheek touch. It won't wear out or anything. Right?"
"Yes. Well..."
Eunhyeon couldn't hide his awkward expression at Verdandi's protective stance—like a parent hiding their child from potential bad influences—but he stood behind her and gave a vague reply.
"I'm Vesta."
"...Lady Vesta?"
The moment he heard the name of the goddess introducing herself with a bright smile, Eunhyeon looked at her in surprise and repeated it.
"Yeah. Mind if we chat a bit?"
"Chat... you say?"
"Yeah. I've wanted to talk with the child."
"......"
Eunhyeon eyed Vesta suspiciously. Aside from Verdandi, no other goddess called him 'child,' and it grated on him.
He knew Urd and Skuld had also granted him powers, but they never referred to him that way. Verdandi's emotional attachment was an exception; by the standards of most gods, Urd and Skuld's detached demeanor was the norm. Some, like Diana, even viewed humans as mere consumables. So Vesta's friendly gaze felt a bit unsettling to Eunhyeon.
"...What do you want to discuss with my child?"
"Nothing much. But..."
Vesta smirked at Verdandi's wary stance and stepped closer to Eunhyeon and Verdandi.
"You're holding on so tight, it just makes me more curious, you know?"
"D-don't come closer!"
As Verdandi pushed Eunhyeon back and started retreating, Eunhyeon looked flustered instead. He couldn't understand his goddess's panicked reaction—like a puppy with its fur bristled in fear.
'Is there some kind of hierarchy among the goddesses...?'
"Hehehe."
"I s-said don't come closer!"
"Ufufufu."
'No, this isn't about hierarchy.'
She was just teasing. Vesta's face held the expression of someone eyeing an adorable little animal, but it was sly and mischievous. She was clearly enjoying Verdandi's flailing panic as she backed away, waving her hands frantically.
"Ah, child? Kyaa!"
Unable to watch any longer, Eunhyeon grabbed Verdandi's arm and yanked her behind him, switching their positions completely.
"If it's just a talk, that's fine. Let's get it over with quickly. Please don't torment our goddess too much."
"Hehe, what a fine child. Stepping forward to protect your master?"
"Ah, my child..."
Vesta began giggling at Eunhyeon, who stood calmly without responding.
"Fine, fine. I've wanted to talk with the child anyway—well, less talk and more a request, actually?"
"A request?"
"Yeah. Inspired by your case, I'm thinking of making my own child."
"......"
For a split second, Eunhyeon had an odd thought at 'making a child,' but he knew goddesses didn't mean it that way.
"You mean... you're going to make an Apostle?"
"Exactly."
"That's..."
He recalled hearing from Verdandi during his first summons to the divine realm after resurrection: the gods were planning to select promising humans as apostles.
"From that look, you're misunderstanding something? The child's immortality is largely due to Verdandi's power freezing his body in the 'present.' Not every god can make their apostle an immortal."
"No, I know that from our goddess. But the apostle you mean... is it who I think it is?"
"Yes. The one where the child directly infused divine power to forcibly elevate her rank."
Vesta confirmed Eunhyeon's hunch.
"What I want from you is to keep guiding her, just like you've been doing."
"...Was there a specific reason it had to be Elenoa Armitas?"
"Wouldn't you know better? You're the one who changed that child's fate."
In the 'future vision' Yuria had seen, Elenoa was sold to the Erenia Holy Kingdom, destined to marry the son of Bishop Harkan. But Eunhyeon didn't think he'd changed that.
"That was the result of Anies, a devout priestess who serves you faithfully. Not something I did."
"You're the one who influenced Anies to reach her current position."
"......"
"You've already altered the fates of many. You saved and guided a child bearing divine beast power, preventing her rampage; you reduced potential casualties from tens of thousands to mere hundreds by swiftly dealing with a necromancer who toyed with the dead; you forcibly twisted the arduous path of a priestess filled with trials that would make her doubt her god."
Saving Erin prevented Fernin's capital from burning. Dealing with the necromancer early saved countless lives before the damage spread. He erased the countless hardships that would have led Elenoa to question her faith as a priestess.
"From the masses to individuals, many have benefited from your hand, yet you don't even recognize your own achievements?"
"No. That's not it."
Eunhyeon shook his head in denial.
"Without the goddess who made me an apostle, it would have been impossible. Without the many who helped me, I couldn't have achieved any of it. It wasn't my power alone. So, Lady Vesta, your words are too much for me."
"Hehe, such a humble child. Now I see why Skuld's Fate Pioneering power resides in you. It's because of who you are that it took effect, leading to these results."
"...May I ask why you chose Elenoa over Anies as your apostle?"
"Because the feelings that child harbors are so amusing. She feels great gratitude toward you and wishes to be of help to you deep in her heart. I merely responded to those feelings and showed her the path. And I was curious how the flow of fate would change between you and her."
"...Elenoa wants to help me?"
"That's right. So, child, please guide and care for my future child well."
"I can't promise, but I'll do my best."
"Hehe, that's enough."
"Won't you join the conversation too?"
"Oh? Minerva? Didn't you leave?"
"No. I had business with this human as well."
Eunhyeon bowed his head to the approaching goddess.
"Thank you so much for defending me during the meeting."
"It was only natural. You've achieved feats worthy of such treatment. Beyond our seven goddesses, many gods are watching you—including 'Vulcanus,' who wished to bestow his sacred weapon upon you."
"Ah... Please convey my gratitude to him as well..."
"I will. And this is a gift from me."
"Ah..."
Just as Juno had breathed pure white holy flame into his chest, Minerva did the same, imprinting a 'divine relic' onto his soul. Eunhyeon stared at her in a daze.
"This is my shield, Aegis. It will protect you not only from physical attacks but also from those targeting your mind and soul. Use it to protect yourself or in any other way. I believe you'll bring good results however you use it."
"Is it alright to give something like this to me, an apostle of another goddess?"
Moreover, Vulcanus's hammer had been awarded through a council vote. Handing out such items personally couldn't possibly go without issues.
"It's purely my goodwill. I might face reprimand if it's discovered later, but once imprinted on the soul, only the owner can retrieve it. Don't worry."
"......"
This was bad. Eunhyeon felt his stomach churn from receiving such over-the-top gifts out of nowhere.
"I'm greatly interested in the future you'll shape in the mortal world. Please don't break and keep moving forward. I'll take my leave now."
"Hehe, do your best, child."
"Wait, excuse me, ladies."
With the goddesses vanishing after saying their piece, only Eunhyeon and Verdandi remained in the vast round table chamber.
"Hooo..."
"Goddess?"
Startled by Verdandi's heavy sigh, Eunhyeon checked her complexion.
"I just don't understand why they're all so interested in another goddess's child..."
"Ah, haha, let's think positively—they're cheering us on."
"I'm sorry, my child. Unlike the others, I have no relic to give you directly..."
"You're always by my side, even in the mortal world. That's more than enough for me. More importantly, Goddess, something's been bothering me that I couldn't ask about."
"What is it?"
"That woman, Renat—she summoned the ancient dragon's corpse through a gate in the air. It was a divine power, right? No one mentioned it, but do you know what's going on?"
"That's... something the divine realm is investigating now. We don't yet know which god granted that human divine power or why. The seven goddesses are inquiring among connected gods, but nothing's come to light. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful."
"No need to apologize. I figured they were alive, but I'm still disappointed we couldn't kill them."
He hadn't disagreed with Diana's reprimand. Ultimately, letting Marius and Renat—seeds of disaster—escape left a bitter taste.
"Still, with these two relics from the gods, I'm starting to get an idea of how to use them. More things to worry about, but it should be fine. Thank you for inviting me to the meeting, Goddess."
"Don't thank me. It was necessary for bestowing 'divine relics' upon you."
"Haha. Still."
"Hm..."
"......"
A brief silence fell between Verdandi and Eunhyeon. A few seconds later, sensing something off, Eunhyeon spoke up.
"Um, Goddess?"
"What... is it?"
"Do you... have something to say?"
With the meeting over and all promised rewards received, he assumed the gods had no further business with him. He'd expected Verdandi to send him back to the mortal world immediately, but for some reason, she hadn't.
"......"
Realizing she had something to say, Eunhyeon waited quietly for Verdandi to speak.
"Well... you see..."
After hesitating, she finally resolved herself and shouted at Eunhyeon.
"At least have some ramen before you go!"
"...What?"
For a moment, he wondered if he'd misheard, but confident his ears were fine, Eunhyeon took a deep breath and asked again.
"Goddess... That line—is it from the Earth knowledge in my memories?"
"Y-yes..."
"Do you know what that line means?"
He'd thought Verdandi just wanted to spend more time with him after so long in the divine realm and nearly chuckled, but her expression was off.
"W-well, you see, it's..."
Verdandi avoided his gaze, her face beet red, mumbling incoherently without finding the right words, clearly embarrassed. Eunhyeon's face gradually hardened as he watched.
At this point, even he couldn't miss the implication of her words.
"You're... serious...?"