While marveling at how a goddess could be wearing thigh-high stockings, Souta confirmed one thing in his mind.
If you weren't explicitly invited, then even if you world-hopped, you wouldn't be teleported next to the person you were thinking of.
Like just now—he had Lu Hao in mind, but ended up with Athena.
Athena: "You say you ascended to godhood from humanity...?"
Souta's words surprised Athena.
Athena: "My wisdom tells me you're not lying. So... something like a Campione's rebirth?"
Souta: "Not quite," he shook his head. "Becoming a Campione locks your strength. From there, all you can grow is authority and experience—it just adds to your arsenal, not your power."
Athena looked intrigued. "So you're saying you can... keep getting stronger?"
Souta: "Yep," he smiled. "My divinity level can level up."
Athena: "Level up..."
She began circling around Souta, observing him closely. The more she saw, the more uneasy she felt.
Her goddess intuition warned her: Souta was extremely dangerous. Possibly her equal—or even beyond her.
And if he could still level up...
The gods of his world might surpass those of her own.
Realizing this, Athena immediately gave up on testing him further.
Souta: "You know the rules of travel, right?"
Athena stopped circling him and gave a small nod.
Athena: "I read the pinned message. I need to hug you, yes?"
Souta: "Right. If you're not comfortable—"
She looked at him calmly and added:
Athena: "Why would you assume I'd care about something so trivial?"
Fair enough—she might look like a little girl, but she's still a goddess. You can't judge her with human logic.
Souta: "Good, then let's get going. We still have two more to pick up."
He glanced at the time on his system phone.
Athena: "Before that..." she said, stepping closer, her gaze locking with his. A faint fragrance lingered in the air.
Athena: "I must retrieve the 'Grimoire'—the Gorgoneion. That is my purpose for awakening."
She looked at him expectantly.
Athena: "May I call you Souta? Since you've returned to the real world, I trust you've brought me information I desire."
Souta didn't answer right away. He started searching his divine memory for everything related to Athena.
Memories, powered by divinity, rushed in.
In early myth, before Greek legends were finalized, Athena was a sovereign of the ancient world—a goddess who ruled over humanity with divine servitude.
She was born in North Africa and worshipped as a Great Earth Goddess across the Mediterranean.
She was stripped of her sovereignty, reduced to Zeus' daughter, sister, or wife. Her glory diminished.
Metis was violated and robbed of her wisdom.
Medusa was twisted into a monster.
The myths may not have been true—but myth defined divinity.
As her myth was degraded, so too was Athena's divine nature—leaving her incomplete, manifesting now as a young girl.
That's why she refused to submit.
That's why she sought the Gorgoneion—to reclaim her true, united trinity self.
But the real question was—what would she do once she had her full power back?
Meeting her expectant eyes, Souta asked:
Souta: "I do know where the Gorgoneion will show up. But... can I ask what you plan to do once you get your full divinity back?"
Athena (casually): "Of course—I'll extinguish the abhorrent lights of civilization and return my domain to the darkness of ancient times."
"..." Souta wasn't surprised. "Is... that really necessary?"
Athena: "Naturally. Darkness is my domain. I call to the Underworld better that way. This world's lights displease me. I need to make it more to my liking."
She stared at the city lights of Naples with disdain.
Athena: "In my land, Prometheus's fire is a blight. I do not need it."
Hearing that, Souta actually felt relieved.
So it wasn't some urgent world-ending agenda—just goddess-level pettiness.
She was clearly a hybrid between her anime and novel versions.
If that was the case, he figured he had a decent shot at talking her down.
Though knowing he wasn't much of a negotiator, he shelved the idea for now.
Instead, he'd take the long route—build a solid relationship first. If things went well, she might not resist a favor request later.
Souta: "By the way, have any other Heretic gods appeared in Italy?"
Athena: "None I've sensed. Why?"
Souta: "Then you'll have to wait a bit."
He began recalling the original timeline.
Souta: "From what I remember, the Gorgoneion will soon be discovered by a mage. Once that happens, you'll be able to sense it."
Athena: "Soon, huh... so I will reclaim it?"
Souta: "Not necessarily. In the original timeline, a Campione stopped you and defeated you."
She froze, genuinely shocked.
Souta: "Hard to say now. The moment you got the system phone, your future became fluid—full of endless possibilities."
Souta: "In any case, no need to rush the Gorgoneion. Let's finish our mission first. If a Campione blocks your path later, maybe I can lend a divine hand."
Athena: "Then allow me to thank you in advance."
Her opinion of him just skyrocketed.
He'd shared valuable intel openly, showing sincerity.
She liked sincerity—especially in gods. Unlike those cunning, scheming Campiones, Souta felt far more pleasant.
Comrades in divinity—not monsters who killed gods.
Souta: "Also, once you earn more points, you can use them to ask me to remove your flaws as a Heretic god."
She looked at her petite body instinctively. "You think I'm flawed?"
Souta: "Heretic gods eventually go mad from the world's distortions. You do know that, right?"
The Last King's brother—Rama's shadow—was proof. He took on all that distortion and lost himself.
If Athena stayed too long on Earth, her myth out of sync, she'd end up like that too.
Athena: "Of course I know. Unless I return to the Netherworld, it's an unavoidable curse."
She was surprised Souta even knew that. But recalling the group chat announcements, she let it go.
Athena: "You... can even remove that curse?"
Souta (confidently): "Naturally. My divinity allows for omnipotent potential. Removing a curse? Easy. I could even help you break the limits of a rogue god and grow stronger."
Souta: "Of course... not for free."
Athena: "Naturally. One must pay for what they receive—fair trade."
Her eyes shimmered with growing interest.
To live on Earth without losing her mind? Who wouldn't want that?
Athena: "I'm becoming increasingly curious about your power..."
She stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Souta's head, and whispered:
Athena: "Let's go. You can teleport now."
"..." Souta wasn't used to being hugged .
Why couldn't it have been Kiss-shot instead...
Feeling his face pressed against a very flat chest, Souta couldn't help but feel... disappointed.
Of course, that wasn't something he'd say out loud.
Souta: "System, return."