“Yes, I was waiting for that statement.”
“Wha… Waiting? Why?”
Her finger, which had been pointed straight at me as if to represent her bewildered heart, now bends, adding to her hesitation.
But that hesitation only lasted for a moment.
Shaking her head to clear the confusion, Nike glares at me with even greater determination and points an accusing finger.
“Your arrogance won’t work on me. You don’t think I know your predicament right now?”
“My predicament… Why is that?”
“Hmph, brazen! Your Golden Pen is at the center of Eros’ vow and my proclamation. Clearly, you have no choice but to pick one.”
In terms of justification, it would be most appropriate to gift it to Athena, the goddess of reason, who recommended me.
However, a few days ago, Eros came to me and, swearing by the River Styx, proclaimed that he would shoot the arrow of emotion at me if I gifted the Golden Pen to Athena.
And now, Nike has declared that if I give the Golden Pen to Aphrodite, she will cease to celebrate my victories in the future.
In essence, Nike’s declaration has driven me into a corner.
“…Like a rat caught in a corner.”
“Exactly! How can you be so calm when you’re in such a dire situation?”
“Lady Nike, have you forgotten? Recommending a god is just a tradition, not an absolute rule.”
“……”
Aphrodite → Nike’s curse.
Athena → Eros’ arrow.
Whichever side I choose, it will bring me harm.
Isn’t there a simpler solution?!
By giving the Golden Pen to a third party.
For instance,
Artemis, who is seated beside me, leisurely yawning, could be a viable option.
As I glance at Artemis, Nike notices and begins to stifle a quiet chuckle with her head bowed.
It seems she’s figured out what I’m thinking.
Raising her head, she gracefully tucks her loose hair behind her ear before speaking.
“Is that all you’ve thought of, Ark? Why don’t you just declare that you’ll keep the pen for yourself?”
“That seems like a good solution to me.”
“Do you know why Eros went through the trouble of nominating you, even though he dislikes you, at the rank 8 level?”
“That’s…”
Indeed, Eros nominated me so that, by compulsion, a justification for my connection with Aphrodite through the Golden Pen would be established.
Or, in other words,
even Eros cannot casually break tradition.
“Let’s not confuse this with a trivial human tradition. This is the custom of the gods, understood? A tradition that’s been around for thousands of years is akin to the highest law.”
“A customary law, you mean?”
Customary law.
Even though it is not codified in legal documents, it refers to customs universally acknowledged and followed by the members of society.
In the modern world, while many regulations are formalized, cases not explicitly covered are often resolved through customary law.
“Exactly. Would the hundreds of gods gathered there truly accept your gifting the pen to some random deity, with no significant reason or justification?”
“……”
“That’s not a bold choice breaking the custom. It would simply make you a rebel against the gods’ established order.”
The rule-breaker who ingeniously dismantles the rules,
And the rebel who upsets the societal order,
These two concepts, like the two sides of a coin, cannot coexist.
They’re merely perceived differently depending on the perspective.
Similar to Nike’s nickname, “Double-Faced.”
From Nike’s position, a guardian of tradition, I am seen as a rebel.
“Even so, as a custom, the choice of a third party is still valid, regardless of other gods’ opinions.”
“Agreed. But let me make a prophecy in the name of the Goddess of Victory, Nike.”
She raises one of her fingers.
“At the moment you choose such an escape route, the gods who had expected brilliant wit from you will surely lose interest in you. So, why don’t you cozy up to some random god now and start building justification? Hahaha!”
Has our situation become so well-known that even Nike understands it fully?
Even though my connections with gods are expanding through recent entanglements, there are still plenty of gods whose faces I don’t know.
Thus, Nike firmly believes that I will eventually have to choose between Athena and Aphrodite.
Not just Nike.
The other gods who are looking forward to the celebration of my promotion in Panthegrasia will likely think the same.
Even I can’t deny it.
How could I offer the pen to a god I’ve never met with some fabricated justification?
“And I’ve come to understand you, Ark—the way you view customs and rules as outdated and how you love breaking them with clever tactics. Am I right?”
“……”
“Poseidon seems to expect this sort of cleverness from you… But this time, you won’t escape it.”
“……”
“Let me give you the right answer.”
“The… right answer?”
“Yes. It’s very simple. On the day of the celebration, don’t attend. Pretend to be sick and skip it.”
Non-attendance.
It is indeed a good idea.
By claiming sickness, I could avoid the dilemma of choosing between the two goddesses, as this way, it’s not that I didn’t offer the Golden Pen but that I wasn’t able to.
But why would Nike, who clearly harbors hostility toward me, suggest such an escape route?
“What’s your reason for giving me this ‘answer’?”
“Simple. The moment you choose my answer, you sever all connections with Sister Athena.”
Now I understand.
Nike continuously pressured me by narrowing my choices down to Athena and Aphrodite.
Under pressure, one’s perspective naturally narrows.
And if someone discovers even a slightly firm anchor in such a situation, they’ll likely grab it recklessly.
This is precisely what Nike was aiming for.
Her real objective was to cut off all ties between me and Athena.
However, unfortunately for her,
I am no fool.
From the start, I didn’t consider fleeing, so there’s no intention whatsoever of grabbing such a rotten anchor.
“I apologize, Lady Nike, but I won’t be using your answer. I intend to attend the promotion celebration in Panthegrasia.”
“Hah! You’ll just modify your escape plan a little by hiring some thugs to stage a self-kidnapping instead of feigning illness.”
That’s… actually a decent idea, right?
I shake my head vigorously, slapping myself mentally.
Shame on you, Ark! Every time I’ve thought something “seemed decent,” it turned out horribly!
“I repeat: I’ll be attending.”
“Hmph! You might be confident now, but once the day comes, you’ll undoubtedly run away under the pressure.”
“If you don’t believe me, how about a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
True to her title as the Goddess of Victory, Nike’s eyes sparkled at the mention of a bet, fueled by her competitive spirit.
“I’ll attend the celebration on that day, gift the Golden Pen to a god, and ensure that this decision does not tarnish Lady Athena’s dignity or authority.”
“Alright. If things go as you say, I’ll genuinely support you. Even if you get hit by Eros’ arrow and fall in love with an orc. Haha!”
With a hand covering her mouth, Nike smirked at me.
Then, she pulled out a small piece of paper from her bosom and slammed it forcefully on the table.
When I looked at her questioningly, she handed me a pen.
“Make a pact. If you break your word, promise that you won’t appear before Lady Athena ever again.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have Lady Artemis.”
After listening silently to our lengthy conversation, Artemis now stretched her arms, as if it was finally her turn to speak.
She, who is usually clueless, was a godsend today for staying quiet and listening so well.
When we get back to the temple, I should make her a pizza or something.
“Ark… Are you ready?”
“Yes. Lady Artemis, assign me the third Labor.”
“Are you confident?”
“Of course.”
I knelt down on both knees before Artemis.
Approaching me, she placed her hand on my head, as if it were the most natural action in the world.
“What’s your desired reward?”
“Dinner with the Virgin Goddesses.”
“Fine. By sacred word, I will bestow the third Labor upon you.”
As Artemis began to murmur a sacred word, the hand she placed on my head grew warmer and warmer.
A bracelet-like tattoo that enforces the Labor appeared on my wrist, and
[Gift the Golden Pen to an Olympian god while avoiding Eros’ and Nike’s wrath.]
Just like the second Labor, the task was transmitted directly into my mind.
Until now, I had passively received the tasks, but now I will actively undertake this one given the challenging situation.
Difficulty Level: S-Rank.
The task itself is simple—almost a piece of cake—since I just have to gift the Golden Pen.
However, the key point is to ensure that I avoid the consequences.
If I slip up, there’s a high possibility I could turn Athena, Aphrodite, Nike, and Eros—all potentially four gods—into my enemies.
“Hah! Are you really that stupid? You’re already cornered, yet you’ve just sealed your own fate with this Labor?”
Nike, who had verified the Labor inscribed on my body with her divine vision, mocked me.
I smirked back at her mocking expression.
“Hohoho! If I succeed in this Labor… would that make you belong to me as well, Lady Nike?”
“Sure. I sincerely hope you fail and get trapped in the Labor forever. Sister Athena doesn’t need you anyway!”
“Hey~ Athena also belongs to me.”
“Ugh! Don’t make me laugh! Try saying things like that after you’ve completed the Labor!”
Nike, who had only thought of Athena, clenched her fists tightly and glared fiercely at me.
Did she imagine the horrifying scenario where Athena becomes mine?
I casually brushed off her fierce gaze and casually mentioned that I was going to the restroom as I left the reception room.
Thud.
As soon as I closed the door firmly, preparing to head to the restroom,
“Seems like the conversation went on for quite a while?”
Athena, leaning against the wall of the reception room, called out to me.
What’s going on?
Could she have overheard everything!?
