Chapter 374

374 Nectar of the Gods #4

“Eh, sister, what are you doing here…?”

Antiope cautiously asks. Is this Antiope really the same fearless Antiope from the legends? Could this one have been swapped with a fake in the university basement?

But the unzipped space between the chest, revealing the unmistakable br*asts of Antiope, confirms her identity.

The sweat rolling down her smooth, soft-looking, full D-cup remains undeniably Antiope’s.

This Antiope is the real one.

With a swish, the woman named Shilaya opens her arms wide toward Antiope.

“…”

“…”

For a few seconds, neither speaks, only staring blankly at each other.

“What are you doing? You should come to your sister like you used to.”

“Do, really? Here? I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Not a kid, huh? You’re still a young one. Come on. Aren’t you coming? Should I come to you?”

“A, no-.”

Antiope glances around nervously. It resembles how a teenager might act, embarrassed to introduce a family member to their friends during adolescence.

Whenever my younger sister and I would meet in town, we would often pretend not to notice each other.

“Four, three, two-.”

However, when the gold-tier adventurer Shilaya began counting down cryptically, Antiope reluctantly approached her and embraced her amidst the stiff breastplate.

“There, that’s better.”

Shilaya roughly pats and strokes Antiope’s face and hair. Antiope’s expression is flushed with feelings of humiliation and embarrassment.

“What’s wrong with that look? Isn’t your favorite sister here? Isn’t that right?”

“W, well….”

“Your favorite sister is me, and your second favorite is Hippolyte, right?”

“That, that….”

“What? Not answering?”

“M, right-!”

“Then give your sister a kiss.”

Family dynamics are always complicated. Especially in the Amazons, who have plenty of half-siblings, it’s bound to be even more intricate.

There was a lot to think about and say, but I had no right to interfere in such family matters, so I decided to just spectate.

Regardless of the situation, watching pretty women kiss is fairly delightful. But soon, Shilaya pulled Antiope, who had been half-forced into her embrace, away by the shoulders.

“Just kidding. You’ve grown so much. Why did you change your hair color?”

“That, well-.”

“Rather, why are you working in such a place? Didn’t Hippolyte order you to work here?”

Overwhelmed by the rapid-fire questions, Antiope blinks nervously and then turns her head, looking silently at me and Paranoi standing there.

Are you asking for help?

Under normal circumstances, I would have avoided the situation, but haven’t Antiope and I shared many trials together? She is a rare existence, a fellow colleague, and like a delinquent younger sister I know.

Therefore, reluctantly, I opened my mouth.

“Uh, hello.”

Ah.

Even after saying it, I felt a little flustered. Approaching unfamiliar women with ease is always difficult for me, despite my experience.

The more youthful and attractive the woman, the higher the difficulty. Right now, it felt easier to wield an orbed baton against a monster.

Was there perhaps a smarter way to initiate a conversation?

“…”

Look at that. She’s glaring coldly at me.

Koochigit.

After narrowing her brows at me, Shilaya asks.

“Who are you? I saw a Samaritan in Hippolyte’s office earlier. There’s another here. Why are there so many Samaritans in this city?”

“That was me too.”

“Really?”

This woman did not seem particularly interested in me when we met at Hippolyte’s office.

And it seems to still be the same now, as she does not even recognize that the person she saw there and I are one and the same.

Though I’ve often been mistaken for someone else due to people being unable to distinguish the faces of Samaritans, having someone not recognize me is a rather novel and amusing shock.

“…So, who are you?”

It was then that Paranoi, who had been hiding behind me, peeked out from beside my waist and shouted.

“This distinguished figure, the darkest yet brightest star, the ruin of Hypnos and the despair of demons, the terminator of college life, the lord of terror, the Golden Hassan-sama… is what this is! Worship him, this is what it means!”

“Golden Hassan…?”

Shilaya’s pupils narrow slightly.

“I’ve heard of it. They said Pluto’s heir enjoys living and playing as a human on this land. So, it was you.”

“Yeah, well, that’s right.”

Given that I’ve revealed my identity, I can no longer speak to her as if she were an inferior.

This is my shrine, and everyone around here belongs to me. It’s necessary to demonstrate inherent authority before my people.

“This place may be small and humble, but it’s my shrine. Visitors are not stopped, but it’s better not to try to cause any problems.”

“Hmm. So, you’re Pluto’s son.”

The woman uses a fan to cover the lower half of her face. The eyes peeking over the fan seem to pierce through my body. She’s probably sensing my courage or momentum.

“I’ve met many necromancers who claim to be the son of d*ath. All of them were inadequate. They couldn’t last a single round against me. In comparison, you do appear somewhat stronger.”

“Blasphemy…!”

Responding to her is Paranoi, still hiding behind me.

“To compare Hassan-sama with such fakes is akin to asking for a whack on the head with a mallet…! Though bearing the name ‘whack’ suggests sweetness, a whack is anything but sweet…!”

“Are you saying something now? What a strange nymph. But having a nymph as a subordinate implies that you’re most likely real.”

Shilaya appears genuinely interested in me, as if realizing that the man who seemed unremarkable at first is actually a god.

It’s a bit like when someone comes to a blind date dressed casually, but then pulls out the keys to a Maybach. This analogy occurred to me, but I think it’s pretty accurate.

“So, you’re Hassan, right? Could I ask for your guidance in combat?”

Snap.

Shilaya folds her fan and neatly tucks it into her breastplate. Then, she draws two swords from her waist and points them at me.

She seems to have developed an interest in me not as a man, but as an opponent. Amazonian daughters are indeed quite warlike, aren’t they?

“Excuse me for interrupting-.”

Sliiing, sliiing.

Shilaya holds her swords in reverse grip.

She’s adept at wielding two swords, isn’t she?

Still, practicing against a gold-tier adventurer is a pretty unfamiliar situation for me, who has little experience beyond what I’ve had with Hippolyte. Would I stand a chance if we fought?

With Strength at 16.

Aura.

And the peculiar power of druidry latent within me.

Home advantage.

Combined, these factors could give me a fairly good chance in the fight.

Though, my arms were still tingling from the aftereffects of the Genuine Fist of the Rokugen technique used against Hippolyte earlier, and they’ve yet to recover. This makes the outcome obvious.

Still, refusing the duel or backing out wouldn’t look good. As I prepare to accept the challenge, Paranoi behind me says one thing.

“Challenging a god is not an opportunity easily obtained…! First, you must face me, Hassan-sama’s most trusted, cherished right-hand, the foremost disciple Paranoi!”

“You?”

“And, before facing someone like me who knows their place, you must first face the excellent subordinate I value, Antiope, as per the shrine’s customs!”

In the end, Paranoi has essentially used Antiope as a shield. Startled, Antiope reacts.

“Me?!”

“Yes…! Show your strength to this disrespectful woman, Antiope!”

“No, I…”

Antiope appears rather uneasy, which I had already sensed when I noticed earlier that she is intimidated by Shilaya. I can empathize with her feelings.

Perhaps Shilaya sensed this as well when she snorted with derision.

“Antiope isn’t capable of fighting me.”

“…”

However, this seems to have offended Antiope’s pride. Any traces of discomfort she showed earlier vanish as she narrows her brows in a rather cold manner.

“I suppose we’ll know that once we try.”

“So, you’re saying you want to fight me here and now?”

Fazhit, fazjiit.

It feels as if static electricity has been released into the air. A prickling sensation begins to spread over the skin. It’s clear that both are determined to fight.

Goohoo.

What, what’s going on?

I don’t know. They might be preparing to fight!

When the two began squaring off with such intensity, all the priests of the 12Number Order and Paranoi lounging around nearby forget to even swallow their saliva, glued to the sight of the two.

A duel between a gold-tier adventurer and an elite squad of shrine knights gathered here is something you couldn’t even buy tickets to watch in a coliseum. Even I found it incredibly fascinating.

These two are sisters.

They are likely of comparable strength. Regardless of who wins, they might both reach their limits.

Sliing.

Antiope draws the short sword she had slung on her back and speaks.

“Then, as the master of this shrine, would you validate the upcoming matchup?”

“Sure, I’ll witness it.”

Surprisingly interested in other powerful fighters’ battles, I readily accept the role of referee. What better privilege is there than watching fights and acting as a judge? Being the master of the shrine really is like honey (great).

Ssuuuk.

Antiope crouches low, holding the short sword in a reverse grip like a puma poised in the bush, ready to pounce at any moment.

Unlike Antiope’s sharp stance, Shilaya sheathes the two swords she had in her hands back into their holders at her waist, then extends her bare hands toward Antiope.

“I don’t even need a sword to face you, Antiope. It brings back good old memories.”

Her posture reminded me of Hippolyte when she faced the novice adventurer Hassan. It’s similar.

“So, you might regret it later-?”

Then Antiope reminds me of Hassan when he faced Hippolyte. But, of course, this one is far stronger than I was at that time. Level 39 and counting.

“Antiope, it seems you can’t measure our strength at a glance and you’re simply not ready yet. You can’t defeat me, sister.”

“Eh, nonsense-!”

Pabat!

With a powerful thrust of her back leg, Antiope darts forward like lightning.

Simultaneously, the reverse-gripped spear she holds splits the air as if it were about to pierce through Shilaya’s neck.

Shaeaeak!

In a speed so fast it could have burned the air, Shilaya deflects that spear-like hand with the palm of her right hand, severely unbalancing her pose.

Paat!

“Uh-oh!”

Thrown back, Antiope loses her balance significantly for a moment, but she doesn’t fall. Instead, she spins around in the direction she was pushed, delivering a swift roundhouse kick.

Ssuuk!

That sharp kick barely grazes past Shilaya’s nose.

“Uh-!”

Then the fierce exchange continues with both their hands, knees, and feet colliding at close range. Antiope’s bare hand seems poised to grab Shilaya’s head, extending toward her face.

Ssuuk!

“…”

Shilaya silently dodges that with an almost imperceptible move, then counters by grabbing that arm and flinging it into the air.

Despite being thrown like that, the agile Antiope regains her stance mid-flight and lands gracefully on the ground.

What’s going on right now?

They’re both too fast to follow.

The people watching this exchange can only gape in disbelief, unable to believe the rapid exchanges of attacks and defenses happening within the briefest of moments. It’s natural since even for me it’s a challenge to keep up.

Pabat!

Finally, the two step back from one another.

“Nothing has changed at all, Antiope. I taught you everything about melee combat. See, I’ve already struck two attacks against your shoulder and stomach.”

Shilaya gives a casual shrug to Antiope. Indeed, sharp handprints stand out on Antiope’s shoulder and stomach, evidence of the fierce exchange where she allowed these attacks.

“And you’re unsuited for spear fighting. You’d be better suited as a shield-like frontline fighter. Just because Hippolyte made you use a spear doesn’t mean you need to use it.”

“I don’t care about what Hippolyte said. And whatever I show from now on has nothing to do with anyone…-”

Jeeek.

Antiope opens her zipper again, pulls out the pipe tucked between her br*asts, and after taking a deep puff-

“Hmm.”

Exhales a dense cloud of white smoke, finishing her stylish smoke break. Shilaya narrows her eyes slightly as if trying to understand the situation.

“Smoking in the middle of a duel? Why would you do such a foolish act?”

“Herbal incense enhances the perception of magic, doesn’t it? You know that.”

“But you’re a daughter of Mars. What do you intend to do by perceiving magic?”

“That’s the trick. I was planning to save this trump card for the Festival of Battles, but-.”

Fapzip, fajijik!

A peculiar static electricity-like sensation begins emanating from Antiope’s body. The visible white sparks are enough to be alarming.

The magic lightning makes my hair stand on end. Shilaya, who looked so calm earlier, erases her expression of tranquility and draws her two swords again from her waist.

Sliing.

Simultaneously, Shilaya’s form disappears from my view.

Pabat!

When I come to my senses, I see her striking Antiope’s neck with the pommel of her sword.

“Kehp!”

With blank eyes, Antiope is about to fall to the ground when Shilaya grabs her stomach and supports her.

“My agility attribute is 15, you know. You couldn’t see me, much less follow. Hence, I’m Slilay of the Mist.”

It’s an astonishing speed, indeed. I’ve rarely seen anyone that fast, except for Gloria. She’s an Amazonian specialized in speed. This has been quite an impressive duel.

*

“Ah, d*mn it. I lost. Why did you get so much stronger? I thought only I was getting stronger, but everyone keeps getting ahead of me!”

Upon awakening, Antiope angrily scrunches her hair, dissatisfied with the fact that she has lost.

“This way I can’t win!”

She complained with frustration, but if Antiope’s final ultimate move, that strange lightning-filled fruit ability she had been preparing, had fully materialized, the outcome could have been different.

Of course, Antiope must understand that herself. Nevertheless, having a charging time for the ultimate move that exceeds the enemy’s attack window is a significant drawback.

Antiope must be well aware of that too. Having a competent comrade means I have nothing much to teach her. However, it seems the older sister has something to say.

“Pick up a shield, Antiope. A shield suits you more than a spear.”

The older sister Shilaya strongly advises Antiope to change her weapon. Antiope clearly doesn’t want to continue this conversation any longer and decides to change the topic.

“So, sister, you aren’t here just to greet us all in Babel, are you? What’s your reason for being in Sodomora? A job, right?”

“Yes.”

“Something quite significant, it seems. Or maybe a big hit?”

“That’s correct. This assignment involves the Nectar of the Gods.”

Ssuuk.

At that, even Antiope, who was slightly annoyed earlier, calms down. They must understand well the significance the word “nectar” carries.

This is especially true for me here. “Nectar,” whose effect bestowed upon me power equivalent to a divine card enhancing attack by 4000. Could I perhaps get another taste?

I ask,

“Since it’s a nectar-related job, can you explain what this job entails?”

Shilaya gives another shrug.

“It’s not a secret or anything. Actually, I was trying to cooperate with the city. I’m looking for a thief. The thief is a nymph named Ignoy, of the murky waters. She stole a scroll detailing the method for brewing nectar and fled. She should be somewhere near the city.”

“Ho, Ignoy the murky waters nymph…!”

From behind, Paranoi lets out a loud shout.

Does he have some knowledge of the murky water nymph?

I ask,

“Paranoi, do you know anything about this Ignoy?”

“Unnooo…!”

“Then why did you scream, d*mn it.”

“But, I have heard of murky water nymphs… Truly vile nymphs that even sell other nymphs to hunters! Murky water nymph refers to those criminal nymphs who despise other nymphs!”

It’s hard to decipher Paranoi’s angry words, but since I’ve known him for a long time, I manage to understand them somehow.

So, in essence, it sounds like they’re referring to a group of particularly wicked nymphs, is that it?

As Shilaya stands there deep in thought with her arms crossed,

“Latest sighting information?”

“It was at the Sodomora Nymph Welfare Foundation. There’s someone who saw Ignoy’s appearance there. We need to quickly retrieve the manufacturing method she stole. If we don’t, this year’s Great Battle Festival goods might go missing. The formula is one-time use.”

“That’s a serious problem. Did you tell Hippolyte?”

“Nope. It’s something that will get smoothed over once resolved, so there was no need to tell her. Anyway, I need to approach the Nymph Welfare Foundation. But only authorized personnel are allowed entrance, so it’s not easy.”

“Of course. A place that harbors nymphs has strict security, and outsiders are unwelcome.”

Ssuuk.

The sisters, who had been chatting so effortlessly, just moments after their duel, suddenly focus their gaze on one place.

“Me? I have a profound aversion to charities! I never want to go back there! My faith’s precious principles need to be formulated!”

…

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