A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

"Your coffee!"

Liliana carefully placed a cup of frothy cappuccino on the table in front of Athena. Then, she quickly retreated behind Roy, standing shoulder to shoulder with Erica. Her hand instinctively gripped the hilt of her sword once again.

Even though Liliana knew that her vigilance was futile against a Heretic God, her sense of duty as a knight compelled her to remain on guard. Even if Roy commanded her to charge at the goddess, she would do so without hesitation, ready to confront an existence far beyond mortal comprehension.

Athena held the warm coffee cup with both hands, brought it to her soft lips, and took a delicate sip. A trace of white milk foam clung to the corner of her mouth, which she licked away with her petite tongue. Her amber eyes squinted slightly, and a faintly feline expression of contentment appeared on her face.

"Introduce yourself, God Slayer," Athena began, her tone solemn and commanding. "You are different from those I have encountered before. I am Athena, the Heretic God. Before we engage in battle, it is proper that I know your name."

She continued to cradle the coffee cup in her hands, her demeanor unwaveringly regal.

"My name is Roy Crowley. Remember it well, Goddess Athena! It might just be the name you'll never forget for the rest of your existence!"

Roy matched her seriousness with his own, the exchange resembling two battlefield generals announcing themselves before engaging in combat. However, after a moment, Roy relaxed and allowed a wry smile to cross his face. "...So, Goddess, it seems you've met other Campione before. But from what I know, there hasn't been a single record of Athena clashing with any Campione in the past three hundred years."

His tone was peculiar as he spoke the word "Goddess." It wasn't a term he was accustomed to using, as it carried connotations that felt foreign to him. Yet, Roy had to acknowledge that the girl before him was indeed a true "Goddess."

Before Athena could reply, Roy closed his left eye, the one imbued with extraordinary power. His expression shifted as though he were peering through the veils of time itself. "Ah, I see now... You're not a recently descended Heretic God, Athena. You're a goddess who was born thousands of years ago, though you've spent most of that time in slumber."

Athena's brows furrowed at his words, and her regal tone became sharper. "...Which god's authority did you usurp to obtain such an ability? I can sense the 'flame of wisdom' in you. It is a most detestable power—to pry into the past and glimpse others' private truths. Even I find such a thing displeasing."

She exhaled lightly before continuing. "...As you said, Roy Crowley, I am a goddess who descended to the earth thousands of years ago. During that time, I fought against a Campione. Though I managed to slay that Campione, his authority stole the Gorgoneion from me. Deprived of much of my power, I fell into a deep sleep. It was only recently, upon sensing the presence of the Gorgoneion, that I awakened once more."

Having realized Roy's ability to uncover the past, Athena chose not to withhold any details. She recounted her story, recounting the events of thousands of years ago with unerring precision.

At that time, human civilization was primitive, and its records were sparse and fragmentary. Unlike the detailed chronicles of today, the Campione and Heretic Gods from that era were seen as awe-inspiring entities beyond human understanding. No detailed accounts of Athena's past battles survived to the present day.

"So, I ask you once more," Athena said, her tone as calm as it was commanding. "Where is the Gorgoneion?"

Roy smiled faintly and extended his hand.

"Look, it's right here."

As Athena finished speaking, Roy flipped his wrist, revealing an ancient stone badge in his palm. The moment the goddess laid her eyes on the Gorgoneion, her amber pupils contracted sharply, and a flash of joy lit up her gaze. However, she quickly looked back at Roy, her delicate and beautiful face transforming into one of solemn determination.

"Athena's wisdom tells me you are an exceptionally dangerous Campione. In my current state, I am certainly no match for you. Yet, all I seek is the Gorgoneion. Even knowing this may be a trap, I must still step forward with fearless resolve!

"...I am the goddess of war and wisdom. Forgive me, for there is no alternative. Either we fight, and I reclaim the Gorgoneion by executing you, or you kill me and seize my authority. There can be no third path! Of course, if you are willing to obey my commands, that would be an ideal conclusion. Yet, knowing the nature of Campione, I know this is an impossible option."

Athena's sharp gaze bore into Roy. Her amber pupils began to transform, taking on the cold, vertical shape of serpentine eyes. Across from her, Roy's double pupils glimmered with their own enigmatic, uncanny aura.

Erica and Liliana stood at the ready, their bodies tense with trepidation. Although they believed in Roy's overwhelming strength, the unpredictable nature of battles between Campione and Heretic Gods made it impossible to lower their guard. Any mistake could spell disaster.

"Let us fight, Son of Fool, Roy Crowley! My heart burns with the fervor of battle—a Heretic God's instinctual enmity toward a Campione. Show me the cursed blood that stains those who slay my kin. This is our fate!"

Divine power surged around Athena, magnificent yet foreboding. Light seemed to dim and dissolve into the darkness surrounding her, even the glow of the firewood in the villa growing faint in her presence.

"I hate that word—fate!" Roy interrupted her, his voice firm. "It implies that no matter what I do, I'll always be shackled by its chains, living in eternal frustration." (T/N: Sunless, is that you?)

Power surged from Roy, far surpassing Athena's. His energy suppressed the divine force radiating from her.

"Don't lie to me, Athena! Does your nature as a Heretic God truly compel you to battle me?"

The instinctual enmity between Campione and Heretic Gods was a known truth—an unyielding compulsion driving them to clash. A Campione's very existence acts as a radar for Heretic Gods, and vice versa. Their encounters always culminated in bloodshed, with one lying dead at the end.

But Roy detested this immutable destiny. After acquiring the authority he called The Face of God, he had delved deeply into understanding and utilizing its power. This ability, which allowed him to influence others' perceptions of him, was more than a mere curse or blessing. It could render him sacred or profane in the eyes of others, depending on its application.

Initially, this power caused uncontrollable hostility from Heretic Gods, as they instinctively perceived him as a threat. Yet Roy learned to turn this ability inward, altering not others' perceptions but his own essence, nullifying the primal enmity between Campione and Heretic Gods. This mastery had allowed him to coexist peacefully with King Solomon, even after the latter had become a Heretic God in Jerusalem.

This ability now bore fruit once again. As Roy's words echoed, Athena's divine power began to recede. She nodded in apparent confusion, her tone thoughtful. "...You are indeed unlike any Campione I have encountered before. I feel no fated hostility toward you, and even my authority over battle seems uncertain.

"…I can only muster my own will, but I cannot generate the enmity that stems from our roles as Campione and Heretic God."

Roy's expression remained calm. He casually tossed the Gorgoneion onto the table, the relic clinking against the surface. "...Your nature isn't compatible with mine. Killing you won't bring me much benefit. Here is the Gorgoneion. If you desire it, take it—but you must fulfill a promise and agree to a condition."

Erica and Liliana opened their mouths to object but fell silent as Roy raised his hand, signaling them to remain quiet. His gaze remained fixed on Athena.

Athena's eyes lingered on the Gorgoneion. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke with measured resolve. "...Wisdom tells me this may be a favorable proposal. State your promise and condition. If they align with my interests, I will agree. If not, then we shall settle this matter through combat here and now."

Roy's gaze shifted to the snowstorm outside the window. Tapping his fingers lightly on the table, he replied, "...The snow is heavy tonight—hardly suitable weather for a battle. My request is simple: promise that we won't fight today. If we must, let it wait until tomorrow. And, Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, tonight you will stay here with me."

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{T/N: Bro is sus.}