The sacred right side of a certain manga Chapter 098

Athena opened her eyes from a deep sleep.

She found herself lying on a soft, warm bed, held by someone. Her feminine instincts made her body tense, but then, as her nostrils caught that familiar scent, Athena’s stiff, delicate body softened.

‘Let’s just consider it a perk for the victor from the vanquished.’

She thought, snuggling closer into Roy’s arms, her eyes wide as she stared at the ceiling.

A night’s rest had finally restored some of Athena’s divine power, but the weakness caused by the ‘Right Hand of Light’ still lingered.

As Athena had realized during her defeat, the ‘Right Hand of Light’ was a power that eliminated all factors related to ‘victory’ for the enemy, leaving only the possibility of ‘defeat.’

If your energy is a condition for victory, then it will be reduced to zero.

If your divine power is a condition for victory, then it will be reduced to zero.

If your authority is a condition for victory, then all your authorities will be sealed.

Even if awaiting rescue is a condition for your victory, the ‘Right Hand of Light’ would even twist fate, reverse causality, making it impossible for anyone who might come to rescue you to arrive for various reasons, as if manipulating the world’s inhibitory force.

In short, once all external and internal factors that could lead to your victory are resolved, the probability of victory becomes zero, meaning absolute defeat.

That’s why Athena said the ‘Holy Right Hand’ was unreasonable, and she wouldn’t accept that outcome, simply because Roy’s right hand was utterly illogical, almost like cheating.

“You’re awake, Athena… How was your rest?”

When Athena’s delicate body stirred in his arms, Roy was already awakened. He slowly opened his eyes and yawned, rubbing Athena’s silver hair as if cuddling a kitten, which earned a grunt of displeasure from the goddess.

“It’s alright. This妾身 has recovered some stamina. At this rate, it will probably take another two days to fully recover.”

Athena frowned as she examined her body. She wasn’t injured; she had merely been ‘defeated.’ Her current recovery wasn’t so much about healing injuries as it was about the influence of the ‘Right Hand of Light’ disappearing, with the ‘victory elements’ Athena had lost gradually returning to her body.

Stamina, energy, divine power, authorities, and even abstract concepts like friendship and bonds were slowly returning.

“Since you’ve recovered enough, get up. After breakfast, we’ll go for a walk in Athens.”

Yesterday in the washroom, Roy hadn’t been overly unrestrained; he had simply relaxed and enjoyed himself in the bathtub.

“This妾身 is a wandering Heretic God; it doesn’t matter where I go.”

Athena’s voice, as clear and pure as a stream, held no sadness, merely stating a fact.

Although she was the most famous Greek goddess, the guardian deity of Athens, she actually had no particular feelings for Athens. After all, it was merely a myth woven by humans, a divine office forcibly bestowed upon her.

Of course, because she was the guardian deity of Athens, if she were to truly battle in Athens, she would receive a regional bonus, making her even stronger.

Heretic Gods and Heroic Spirits are entirely different entities. The stories of Heroic Spirits usually happened first and then were imbued with mythological color, while the stories of Heretic Gods were first given mythological status and then became factual divine offices. The causal relationships are completely opposite.

Seeing that his flattery seemed to have missed the mark, Roy shrugged. He hadn’t expected Athena to have no feelings for Athens, but Roy said indifferently, “…Anyway, I’ve never been to Athens, so let’s go for a walk there.”

Roy was a travel enthusiast in his original world, but back then, due to time and money constraints, he couldn’t travel the world. In the A Certain Magical Index world, it was wartime, and his life was even more strained. He had to take care of his sister and write letters for others to supplement the household income. Besides the street he lived on and the nearby Puritan church, Roy wasn’t even very familiar with London, where he lived.

Now, in this modern society, he had power and strength, no longer worried about money. Although he usually spent most of his time reading in his villa or the Vatican, now that he had free time, he didn’t mind traveling around.

“Alright, this妾身 will listen to you… Although this妾身 is not a knight and won’t pledge loyalty to you as a master, this妾身 will try to treat you as my chief god.”

Athena jumped off the bed. A goddess’s body didn’t require cleaning, so she prepared to leave the bedroom.

“Wait a moment, Athena.”

Roy called out to her.

“Is there something else, Roy…?”

Neither a respectful address for Roy nor a formal call by his full name, just a plain, casual address like between friends, which made Roy feel a little closer to this goddess.

Athena tilted her head, a few strands of hair falling down. Her amber eyes looked at Roy in confusion, resembling a delicate doll.

“Change your clothes. Your current outfit is just… too old-fashioned.”

Roy looked strangely at the loli-shaped Athena’s extremely oddly colored clothes. Fortunately, she was a goddess with an elegant temperament, otherwise, wearing such a color-blocked outfit would make her look like a country bumpkin.

“The clothes are there. I had them sent over by the Swiss side yesterday.”

Roy pointed to the sofa, and Athena then saw a white dress with lace ruffles folded on it.

“Is it… ugly?”

Athena looked down at her attire, asking hesitantly.

These were the clothes she had chosen herself. If Roy said they were ugly, it would strike a blow to the goddess’s confidence.

“I wouldn’t say ugly, but how should I put it… this outfit is a bit too mature for your current appearance. Since you’ve turned into a child, you should dress cutely to match your identity. Actually, the clothes you wore in your complete form were very beautiful, with a strong ancient Greek style.”

Roy said with a smile, already dressed.

Athena had intended to refuse his suggestion; she was an arbitrary goddess and wouldn’t change herself because of others’ opinions. But after a moment of hesitation, she still said, “…Then you go out.”

“What?”

“This妾身 is going to change. Do you want to watch this妾身 change?”

Athena glared at Roy.

Roy was about to say, ‘I’d quite like to watch you change,’ but seeing a barely perceptible blush on Athena’s fair and translucent face, he swallowed the teasing remark, merely walking towards the door with a helpless smile.

Their relationship wasn’t that close yet; it was better not to upset this goddess.

“This妾身 is not Aphrodite, who would doll herself up for men.”

As he passed by Athena, Roy heard her muttering.

“Aphrodite, the goddess of love? That’s Venus, right… From your tone, you seem to dislike her very much?”

Roy asked curiously.

“That kind of promiscuous woman is the type this妾身, a self-respecting goddess, despises the most. A useless being who can only rely on selling her looks to other male gods to solve problems! Let’s not talk about her anymore, Roy, hurry and get out.”

Athena’s tone was impatient, even irritable, as she urged him.

Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, indeed had a rather poor reputation in mythology, giving the impression of a coquettish goddess who enticed men with her attire and body. Athena, on the other hand, was perceived as modest, decisive, and a goddess who solved everything with her own strength.

One could say these two goddesses represent two distinct types of modern women.

Although Athena in mythology could also be described as ruthless and manipulative towards humans, this was a common flaw among Olympian gods. In Greek mythology, where private lives were chaotic to the extreme, only Hestia, Athena, and Artemis were virgin goddesses, which highlights Athena’s uniqueness.

…

At the dining table in the restaurant, Athena had changed into an elaborate and luxurious Baroque-style dress, with white stockings on her straight legs, and a wreath on her head, identical to the one Athena wore when she was grown up.

Roy felt that the wreath on Athena’s head had a strong girlish charm, and without it, something always felt missing.

Athena seemed unaccustomed to such overly ornate clothes, constantly frowning, tugging here and pulling there.

“Lord Roy, this is a handwritten letter from Lord John Smith, the Campione from North America. He wishes to borrow your power to help him solve a troublesome matter. Lord Smith said he should have personally come to Italy to invite you, but he truly cannot leave North America at the moment and can only request through a letter. He hopes you can travel to North America, and upon your arrival, he will personally come to apologize.”

Every day, Erica would report the latest major events in the mysterious world and matters related to Roy during breakfast, just like a personal secretary.

Roy had grown accustomed to Erica handling these cumbersome affairs for him. Sometimes, he wondered if he would feel very awkward if Erica were not around one day.

“John Smith? I don’t even know him. I’m not interested in traveling that far to help him solve a problem. Just decline directly and say I’m busy.”

Roy said without thinking.

A joke, wanting to call him away for help with just a letter and a sentence. Roy wasn’t that kind of warm-hearted person.

“Understood. I will politely decline Lord Smith’s invitation.”

Erica nodded in response, showing no surprise at Roy’s decision.

When a Campione like Smith had a favor to ask, ordinary magical societies would absolutely not be able to refuse, nor would they dare to. But Roy was different; Roy was also a Campione, and one whose fierce reputation was as formidable as the Eastern Patriarch. He could simply wave his hand and refuse John Smith’s request.

And as a subordinate of a Campione with such renown, all the magical societies in Italy could stand tall and be superior when facing counterparts from other countries. Erica also didn’t need to be afraid when facing other ‘Kings,’ for she represented Roy.

“Wait a moment, Erica, don’t be in a hurry to refuse!”

Roy raised his hand. His ‘Clairvoyance’ magic had found something that deeply interested him. This time, Smith’s request for help, Roy discovered, was actually related to a certain item—that item was the legendary Holy Grail!