A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

She was a young girl with short silver hair, who looked to be only about ten years old. She wore a blue cotton hat shaped like a rabbit, which was stained with snow from the Alps. Although she was still young and her facial features were not fully developed, her delicate face and snow-white skin already hinted at a beauty that could captivate the world.

"Is this... the Heretic God?"

Erica and Liliana stared at the petite figure at the door in amazement. Her appearance was so endearing that it was difficult to associate her with the gods who brought natural disasters.

However, the unsettling divine aura emanating from her left no doubt in their minds. This was a Heretic God—the goddess who had come for the Gorgoneion.

"It's freezing outside. Why don't you close the door, come in, and have a cup of coffee to warm yourself, Athena?"

Roy's tone was calm and composed. He seemed entirely unsurprised by her arrival, as though he had been expecting it.

Setting down his coffee cup, he gestured politely toward her.

"This is the first time I have seen a God Slayer inviting a Heretic God to sit down," the girl declared, her voice crisp and tender, yet carrying undeniable authority. "Since you are inviting me so sincerely, it would be impolite and cowardly for me to refuse."

The petite goddess held her head high as she stepped into the room. She closed the door behind her with a casual motion.

The howling wind and snow outside ceased, and the warmth of the hearth reclaimed the room. Yet, the oppressive quiet that followed made Erica and Liliana uneasy.

In such close proximity to a Heretic God, the confined space of the room felt suffocating.

Erica and Liliana gripped their swords tightly, their palms damp with sweat. They stared at the little goddess, who looked almost too innocent as she walked over with her slender legs and sat gracefully across from Roy.

"I am no longer Athena," the young goddess said softly. Her voice carried a calm and profound wisdom. "I have lost the title of the Trinity Queen. What remains with me now are my mother's sighs, the queen's shame, and the old woman's wisdom.

"…My glory is fragmented. I have only a faint resistance left to the thunder and the sun governed by the King of the Sky. Therefore, what I desire is the Gorgoneion. God Slayer, can you give it to me?"

Though she was openly requesting something vital to her power, Athena's straightforward manner exuded neither desperation nor foolishness. Instead, her words carried an air of dignity and fearless determination.

"Lord Roy, you cannot give her the Gorgoneion!" Erica exclaimed. "Athena is at her weakest right now. You must kill her and seize her authority!"

Liliana nodded firmly. "Now is the perfect time, my lord!"

Athena's violet gaze shifted toward the two knights.

"Speaking openly of slaying gods in the presence of one... such words are blasphemy. Mortals who utter them invite divine retribution," she said softly.

Though weakened, Athena's divine authority was undeniable. Even a single glance from her was enough to make Erica and Liliana gasp for breath. Their faces turned pale, but the two knights were skilled enough to channel their magic and suppress their instinctive fear.

Roy stood up and stepped between Athena and his knights, shielding them from her oppressive gaze.

He bent slightly and brushed the snow from her hat and shoulders, his movements calm and deliberate.

Athena was dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt layered with a beige knitted sweater. A girlish bow tie adorned her neckline, adding to her charm. She wore a knee-length black pleated skirt, and the gap between the skirt and her blue stockings revealed a snowy, tender zone of her skin, accentuating her allure.

Overall, her outfit's color coordination was rather unusual. On anyone else, it might have looked quite out of place or even tacky. Yet, on Athena, it exuded an undeniable sense of nobility and elegance.

People often say, "Clothes make the person," but for gods, even the plainest attire becomes regal when worn by them.

"This kind of sweater gets wet when snow melts on it," Roy remarked in a gentle tone, his actions equally soft. "In this cold weather, it's easy to catch a cold. It's better to clean it up. Sitting by the fire helps too."

He carefully dusted the snowflakes from Athena's sweater and shoulders. Once he was done, he stood upright and returned to his seat.

Athena had not anticipated such an action. She gazed at him with her gemstone-like amber eyes for a long moment before letting out a small, amused laugh. "...I am a Heretic God. Catching a cold is not something that happens to me."

"Ah, my apologies. Seeing your lovely and beautiful appearance, Goddess Athena, made me momentarily forget your divine identity. It even made me want to take you home and care for you," Roy said casually, sitting opposite her with a playful shrug.

Athena's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "...I feel that your words are insulting, yet I don't feel truly angry."

"Because those words are compliments. As a goddess, you must surely recognize the sincerity in my tone. There's no insult or mockery, only genuine admiration for your beauty," Roy said earnestly.

Athena inclined her head slightly, her demeanor reserved. "...Indeed, I sense the sincerity in your words. In that case, as the goddess who governs wisdom in the heavens, I graciously accept your compliment."

Erica and Liliana stood silently nearby, their expressions frozen in disbelief. Listening to the exchange between Roy and Athena, they couldn't help but feel that both the God Slayer and the Goddess operated on a completely different wavelength from ordinary mortals.

"Snap out of it, Lili! The goddess's arrival has graced our humble villa with her divine presence. Your current demeanor is far from proper hospitality. Go prepare a cup of our Italian cappuccino for our honored guest!

"…Compared to overly strong and bitter coffee, cappuccino—with its milk and frothy foam—is much more suitable for a lady's taste," Roy added with a smile.

Startled, Liliana quickly recovered her composure. Nodding hastily, she went to prepare the coffee.

Across the table, Athena raised her chin slightly and said in a clear but slightly annoyed tone, "...Do not treat me as a little girl. It displeases me."

Her expression, though meant to convey anger, was adorable. Her rosy cheeks puffed up slightly, making her look even more endearing. Yet, the reason for her displeasure seemed oddly peculiar.

"Please, don't get worked up, Goddess Athena! There's an old saying in the East: 'Be polite before using force.' For a Campione and a Heretic God to sit and converse like this, doesn't it highlight your magnanimity and tolerance as a goddess?"

Roy's soothing tone and warm smile stopped Athena from rising to her feet in irritation. He gestured politely, urging her to remain seated.

Athena's frown lingered for a moment, but she eventually relaxed and gracefully settled back into her chair.