The Greece Antagonist

After a lengthy silence, Luo En raised his head to meet those eyes that shone like stars, and he responded solemnly.

"To the deities, the kingdoms of the Mortal World are meaningless."

As a man who aspired to ascend to divinity, he naturally would not be attached to worldly kingship.

Soon after, Luo En pursed his lips, looking seriously at Athena before him.

"Of course, if you wish for me to marry her, I will do so..."

Athena was slightly taken aback by the unexpected answer and the gaze filled with unusual emotion; she couldn't help but look away and laughed softly, shaking her head.

"Your affairs, you should solve them yourself; I can't manage so much."

Noticing the slight upward curve at the corners of the Goddess's mouth, Luo En felt as if a weight had been lifted from his heart, and he couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his brow.

The key to this question wasn't really about making a choice, but about seeing his attitude.

If he agreed, then it would mean he had long harbored intentions and harbored ill will.

If he opposed, then it would mean he was insincere, all evasion and concealment.

Therefore, facing this classic attitude problem from a woman's mouth, tackling it with a scientific mindset was certainly doomed to fail.

To break out of the dilemma, one could only throw the hot potato back and respond to the question with another question, forcing the other party to decide.

For instance, letting Athena decide whether he should marry that high Priestess.

Of course, before that, he had to make clear that he had no personal affair with the high Priestess, and everything was conducted as a matter of official business.

And judging from the outcome, although Athena did not get a clear answer from someone, nor did she provide clear instructions, she seemed to be in a good mood now.

"Take a seat first, let's talk about something else."

Upon hearing that invitation, smooth as a divine melody, Luo En finally relaxed his taut nerves, feeling immensely relieved.

Thank goodness, back when he worked at that gaming company, in order to attract more types of customers, his bosses had him incorporate elements of romance development into many of the game development projects.

Thus, during his research, he had delved into numerous relationship conundrums between men and women.

Otherwise, facing one pitfall after another, he feared he wouldn't have made it a few steps before his chariot would have already tumbled into a ditch.

Having navigated through difficult and perilous paths, Luo En finally settled into his seat comfortably, but before he could even catch his breath, Athena across from him was caressing the newly fired wine cup in her palm, looking at someone with a somewhat teasing gaze.

"Speaking of which, a new esoteric cult that worships Dionysus, the spirit of wine, has sprung up in Crete Island lately. Do you have any clue about it?"

"Isn't that quite normal?"

Luo En also smiled, stood up, and filled Athena's wine cup to the brim.

"Music, poetry, forests, wild beasts, strife, slaughter, intrigue... these things, good or bad, all have their devotees. Thus, it's not strange for humans to worship anything.

After all, it's a world where beasts roam rampant, disasters are frequent, and deities and monsters are everywhere; humans could die at any moment.

Since one's life is uncertain and one doesn't know if they'll wake up when they go to sleep, it doesn't really matter what you believe in—as long as it makes you happy."

Athena nodded as if in agreement, raised her cup towards the other side in a gesture, and then, tilting her head back, she drained the blood-like wine in one gulp.

Luo En raised his cup in return and similarly drank down the exquisite wine with grace.

Both set down their cups, exchanged a smile, and seemed to have reached some sort of understanding.

That's right, there are countless named and unnamed sects on earth.

Compared to those cults that worship death, pestilence, Titan spirits and frequently demand sacrifices, a Dionysian esoteric cult mainly composed of the general populace is as gentle as a lamb.

Their greatest rebellion is merely hiding in the forests, tearing off their masks of identity, indulging in wine and song, and freeing their true selves.

As long as they don't shake the mainstream thought, who cares about these mortals and their fleeting pleasures?

"It seems that you have already chosen your path."

Upon hearing Athena's meaningful whisper, Luo En couldn't help feeling a bit guilty.

Without hearing a response, Athena simply smiled nonchalantly, lifted her cup, and once again poured the sweet wine into her throat. Then, setting down the cup, she looked solemnly across at him.

"Since that's the case, I will personally preside over the God of Wine festival half a month from now and enjoy the celebration with the people."

"...?"

"At that time, I will assist you in ascending to divinity, as promised."

"...!"

The soft murmur echoed in his ears, and as Luo En looked at Athena elegantly drinking from her cup, he couldn't help but show a look of surprise and emotion.

A conscience! The conscience of the gods!

I had almost forgotten about this, but sister Athena had not only thought it through in advance, she was actually going to follow through!

If things go according to the plan of the Goddess of Wisdom, with the Festival of Dionysus established as the official celebration in Crete Island, attracting tens of thousands to gather in Knossos City, then Dionysus, the spirit of wine who is the main object of worship, will inevitably harvest a large number of followers.

By then, my ascension to godhood would be just around the corner.

After mentioning the promised date and specific plans, the Goddess of Wisdom sitting at the dining table put down her wine glass and turned to look at the backyard.

"Auntie, I'm hungry, let's make some food."

"Coming right up! I'll start preparing now!"

At this moment, hearing Athena's call, Hestia swiftly popped in through the back door, eagerly making her way to the stove.

Having just confessed her guilt in wooing others away, she ought to provide some necessary compensation to her great-niece who had suffered a loss.

——I must do my best to serve her well!

The Goddess of the Hearth silently made a vow while energetically picking up a spatula and a kitchen knife.

"I'll help too!"

Luo En, equally touched, immediately rose to his feet, hoping to return the favor to the generous and kind Goddess of Wisdom in the living room.

However, before he could leave his seat, a delicate and translucent hand gently landed on his shoulder, exerting an immovable force.

At the same time, that breathtakingly beautiful face lifted with a smile, revealing a light smirk.

"You are not needed."

"Huh?"

"The divinity within you is still too weak, and you are not skilled enough in its use, even with my help, to kindle the sacred fire and refine the divine essence needed to complete a successful ascension to godhood—these alone are insufficient."

Athena patted Luo En's shoulder, continuing to speak with a tone filled with depth and concern.

"Therefore, I have specifically set aside half a month for you to prepare."

"Prepare?"

Luo En swallowed, sensing that something was amiss.

"That's right, I plan to give you intensive training during this half-month to ensure you have sufficient ability to endure the pains of the divine fire and the impact of refining divine essence."

The Goddess of Wisdom looked at Luo En with earnestness, her good intentions clear.

"Time is of the essence, so let's start today."

Seeing the radiant smile on Athena's face and the sincerity in her eyes, a chill shot up from Luo En's tailbone to the crown of his head in an instant.

Run!

The thought was almost instantaneous, and without hesitation, Luo En ducked and turned, dashing towards the front door.

But, as the space before him blurred, his surroundings seemed to fold and reverse.

In a trance, Luo En, who was originally running forward, inexplicably appeared in the empty backyard.

Simultaneously, a feeling of being sealed and enclosed enveloped the area, as if the entire backyard was perfectly segregated from the world, becoming an independent microcosm.

Looking at the mysterious glowing runes surrounding him, Luo En finally remembered.

Apart from producing Minotaur warriors, Crete Island was also famous for the Labyrinth of Minotaur...

And one of Athena's titles as a Great Mother Goddess of the Minosians was exactly — Mistress of the Labyrinth.

Moreover, with a reputation as a Goddess of Magic, it was evident that this wisdom deity who excelled in both magic and combat was highly adept in the arts of base formation and spatial reconstruction.

"There's no rush, we have all night, we'll take it slow."

Athena comforted gently, and as she spoke, she plucked a branch from the nearby shrubbery.

Luo En looked over and couldn't help but stare.

Because, it was covered in thorns...

"I appreciate your kindness, maybe some other time?"

Luo En, sweating profusely, declined with a tremulous voice and an expression of horror.

"Ascending to godhood, inheriting divine duties, does not permit any slack or oversight."

However, Athena gently shook her head, her tone tender yet resolute.

"I'm doing this for your own good!"

Looking at the thorny whip slowly forming in the hands of the Goddess of Wisdom, and the glinting thorns on it, Luo En involuntarily shed tears of gratitude and inwardly offered his sincere praises.

——I don't believe you for a second!