A Certain Multiverse's Holy Right

"Lord Roy!"

Erica and Liliana both exclaimed in alarm upon hearing Roy's audacious words.

To mortals, a Heretic God is akin to a natural disaster, an overwhelming calamity. To a Campione, they are destined enemies—encounters between them always end in one's death.

Never in the annals of history had a Campione spoken of cohabiting with a Heretic God.

Allowing a Heretic God to stay in their residence seemed utterly unthinkable to Erica and Liliana. To them, Roy's statement was nothing short of madness, leaving both knights dumbfounded.

Even Athena had not anticipated such a declaration. Her amber eyes, reminiscent of serpents and owls, widened in shock. She parted her delicate lips, exhaling softly, her expression frozen in disbelief.

"This is the first time I've heard such absurd and bold words," Athena said after regaining her composure. "Roy Crowley, I must assert this: you possess the bearing of a hero and the strength of a demon king. If you had existed in ancient times, you would have been hailed as a great hero, a formidable ruler.

"...To dare, as a Campione, to declare cohabitation with a Heretic God—should I call you audacious or foolish? Or perhaps, like Zeus, you've been struck by lustful desires for me, born of some impure intentions."

Athena's amber eyes, brimming with wisdom, flickered with mockery. "...Since time immemorial, male steel heroes have defeated us female earth goddesses, casting us down as serpents and dragons. Some became their wives, others their daughters. Even after all these years, it seems the pattern has not changed."

Hearing Athena's remarks, Erica couldn't help but show a skeptical expression. After spending more than a year with Roy, she had come to understand him well. He was no ascetic monk. Instead, he lived true to his desires as a demon king. In some respects, he was even rather… unconventional. For instance, his casual suggestion that both she and Liliana share his bed had left them no room to protest. (T/N: Naruhodo)

Yet, to extend such desires to a Heretic God? That was beyond the pale. The relationship between a Campione and a Heretic God was inherently one of enmity. Anything else was thought impossible due to the primal instincts that drove them to oppose one another.

"Goddess Athena, aren't you being a little too self-absorbed?" Roy smirked, gesturing toward Erica and Liliana. "Look at my two knights here. Can you really compare with them when it comes to physique?"

Roy's teasing finger hovered briefly as though measuring Erica and Liliana's figures, his gaze playful but deliberately mocking as it turned back to Athena.

"Hmph… this body is not my true form," Athena retorted, her small, pale face flushed with indignation. "Were you to behold my true body, you would not dare harbor such thoughts again."

Despite her dignified words, there was an unmistakable hint of embarrassment in her tone, her expression betraying a mixture of frustration and shyness.

Athena was a noble deity, one of the rare virgin goddesses in Greek mythology. For Roy—a mortal, albeit a Campione and self-proclaimed "king"—to jest so boldly felt nothing short of irreverent.

"Let's move on," Roy said, brushing aside the banter with impatience. "Will you agree to my terms or not?"

Athena paused to compose herself, her wise and calculating gaze locking onto Roy. "…To cohabitate under one roof with me. Are you not afraid that I might strike you down at any moment?"

"Look outside at the snow-covered Alps," Roy replied smoothly. "It's a beautiful scene, serene and majestic. I've already said this: for today, we set aside talk of fighting and enjoy the fleeting pleasures of this moment. Romance, not bloodshed, will be our focus today—but only today."

Roy gestured with his eyes for Liliana to prepare another cup of coffee, his demeanor nonchalant.

Athena neither rejected nor agreed immediately. Instead, she tilted her head slightly and asked with curiosity, "…And beyond this promise, what is the agreement you wish to propose?"

"It's very simple. Fulfill your promise, and I will hand over the Gorgoneion, restoring your true form as 'Athena.' After that, we'll fight as a Campione and a Heretic God. If I kill you, I will usurp your authority. If I defeat and capture you, you will become my prisoner—my property—for the rest of my life.

"...Similarly, if you kill me, our fated battle will end as it must. And if you defeat and capture me, I will become your possession for the remainder of my life. What do you say, Athena? Fair, isn't it?"

Roy leaned forward, his face closing the distance to Athena's petite and lovely visage. Her delicate floral fragrance filled his senses as he articulated his challenge word by word.

Athena did not shy away. She locked her sharp gaze onto Roy's peculiar double pupils, her tone biting: "...You indeed harbor improper thoughts about me."

"I don't deny it. Like your father Zeus, who ruled over thunder and the sky in Greek mythology, I, too, aspire to become the master of the sky! But all this hinges on a single prerequisite—defeating and capturing you. That is infinitely more difficult than simply killing you. So, tell me, Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, are you afraid to accept this wager?"

Roy's expression grew haughty, his voice laced with provocation.

"Do not try to provoke me. I am Athena, the goddess of heavenly wisdom. Your schemes and traps are plain to me," Athena replied with icy composure. "But wisdom tells me this is the simplest way to retrieve the Gorgoneion. Beyond this, it will merely be a battle—a confrontation between a Campione and a Heretic God..."

"...But I am the Unyielding Athena, Queen of the Ancient Mediterranean. I once personally severed the head of a Son of Fool in a distant age. Since you wish to settle matters through force, as the 'Goddess of War,' how could I refuse?"

Although Athena's voice was youthful, it carried an imposing gravity, a blend of ancient authority and pride that sharply contrasted with her childlike form.

Roy chuckled at her decision, his amusement evident. "...Goddess Athena, aren't you worried that I'll renege on my promise?"

"It is of no consequence. If you break your promise, I will cut you down. The end result remains the same... Moreover, as I have said repeatedly, I am the goddess of wisdom and can discern a person's true nature.

"…Roy Crowley, I see through your character. While you harbor the ambition and immense desires of a demon king, you are also a man who does not lightly break his word. Like the heroes of ancient epics, you will honor your commitments even in the face of death. Forgive me, and I shall grant you the heroic death that is your due."

Athena's tone softened, carrying a trace of lament. Though she despised the steel heroes, she would not deny their valor and virtues. As a goddess, she could only offer high praise for such traits.

"Ha, hearing such praise from Goddess Athena, I can't help but feel a bit embarrassed."

Roy rubbed his nose sheepishly. "...I, too, trust your integrity, goddess. I believe you will honor your promise."

"Of course. I am Athena, not one of those deceitful and ignoble evil gods who know nothing of honor. My promise is inviolable, or else my divinity would fall!"

Athena's voice was resolute, her words like an unyielding decree.

"Rest assured, Goddess Athena. Though I am a Campione, I am still a mere mortal. My lifespan will last only a few hundreds of years at most. When I die, your freedom will be restored," Roy said with arrogance.

Athena laughed at his words, a rare, genuine sound of amusement escaping her lips. In a playful yet dignified tone, she countered: "...You seem quite confident of your victory. This arrogance is an insult to me. But, rest assured as well—should I indeed fall to you, the day you perish, I will not continue to live either. As the goddess who commands the powers of the underworld, I shall accompany you into the afterlife."

"Such a bold declaration of love, Goddess Athena. You're making it hard for me to handle."

Roy leaned back slightly, pretending to recoil at Athena's bold remarks.