(Titus's Point of View)
"Where is Draco, the Whore of Babylonia?!" I demanded, pressing my blade to Aphrodite's throat.
"Who?" Aphrodite's eyes flickered with confusion. "I don't know who you're talking about."
I clicked my tongue in annoyance and grabbed her by the hair.
"Ah!" she cried out, but I didn't loosen my grip.
Staring intently into her eyes, I said firmly, "I'll ask you one last time. Where is the Whore of Babylonia? Don't play ignorant. I can sense her curse within you."
Indeed, the main reason I confronted Aphrodite in my reality marble was that I had detected Draco's curse emanating from her. In Morgan's quest, I encountered Aurora and initially couldn't understand why her magical energy was so strong. After some... intense interrogation, I learned she had made a deal with Draco, who granted her the power to stay on the surface despite her lack of magical strength.
So, when I met Aphrodite and sensed the same kind of malice I'd felt from Aurora, I knew Draco was, or had been, in Greece.
"I really don't know who you're talking about..." Aphrodite sobbed, tears and snot covering her face.
Perhaps she was like Aurora, inherently evil but ignorant of the consequences of her actions. No, that couldn't be it. Aphrodite was a goddess; she understood human emotions. This meant she was either a skilled liar or genuinely unaware of being corrupted by Draco.
"You..." I glared at Aphrodite as she cried and begged for mercy.
I stood up, resigned to my next move. I raised my spear, ready to sever her arm as a lesson, when a voice echoed in my mind.
[Artoria: Unkie, it's best not to harm her too much. We can't afford to make enemies of the gods yet.]
'Sigh, she's right.'
If I harmed Aphrodite, it would provoke the Olympian gods, a situation I couldn't afford, especially since I wasn't sure if Draco was in this dreamshift. So, after considering other possible outcomes with my Eyes of Fate, I released Aphrodite and dematerialized my spear. But I couldn't just let her go without consequence.
"Drop your blood on the contract," I instructed, tossing a piece of paper before her. It was a Geis, a magical contract designed to bind two individuals. However, this was no ordinary Geis; it was crafted using the finest Creation Runes. Aside from chief gods like Odin or Zeus, no one could nullify it.
"What is this?" she asked.
"A contract to make you my bitch," I replied bluntly.
Aphrodite's eyes widened in disbelief, and she sneered, "I am the goddess of love, a true Olympian! Do you really think—"
SWING!
Her eyes slowly moved to her severed arm.
"Aa...ah..." Tears formed in her eyes again as she trembled, looking at me in shock.
"This isn't a request; it's an order," I said calmly, yet firmly. "Now, let's see how tough the Goddess of Love can really be."
---
Eventually, Aphrodite signed the contract and agreed to provide me with all the information I needed. I wasn't overly concerned about her plotting against me since the contract forbade it. Moreover, given her pride, I doubted she would complain to other gods. What would she say, that she was defeated by a mortal?
"Hippomenes, why do you bear such resentment towards me?" Aphrodite asked as she dressed herself.
"It's not personal resentment. I despise all your kind for the countless lives you gods have destroyed," I replied. "You manipulated Medea, didn't you?"
At the mention of that name, Aphrodite paused, then snorted, "Hmph! I merely answered Jason's prayer. It was Medea's own inherent wickedness that led her to those deeds."
I approached Aphrodite and looked into her eyes. She tried to avoid my gaze out of fear, but I held her chin and lifted her face to meet mine.
"Aphrodite, you gods are not human. You're merely aliens who were granted Authorities by the World. So stop meddling in human affairs," I whispered, leaving her stunned and speechless.
After walking for a while, I spread my arms and caught Artoria in my embrace.
"Unkie, you looked so cool when you tortured that whore! Kya~!!" Artoria exclaimed, rubbing her face against my chest.
"Oh..." I was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. Well, if it made her happy, then I was content.
"But unkie, you look upset. Are you still worried about Draco?" Artoria noticed my troubled expression.
"Yeah... she might be in this era too," I replied, rubbing my temples. "What a drag."
Initially, I thought this mission would be challenging, but now everything seemed so complicated. Draco and her curse had the power to corrupt anyone and alter their fate. For instance, if she cursed Artoria, it could have changed the outcome of the rebellion by Mordred. This meant that the World or Alaya couldn't intervene to correct history. Draco's powers mirrored mine in that sense.
"Unkie, you're such a worrywart," Artoria sighed. "I've already placed several trackers in many places. Yes, she was here, but I don't think she's currently present. Remember, Draco can't meet you until her matureness comes into play."
It was true. The Whore of Babylonia might travel to different places, but she couldn't meet me due to Tamamo's curse. This suggested that she might have corrupted gods, but she arrived before me.
And Artoria was right; it was a waste of time worrying about Draco for the time being. If Aphrodite didn't have any information, the only logical conclusion was to meet the divine trinity of Olympus—Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Only they could provide answers.
"Sorry to make you worry. Let's get going," I smiled and caressed Artoria's cheek, but for some reason, she didn't move.
"Unkie, you know I'm trying to be as useful as I can. And I don't think I'll get a second chance alone with you," Artoria said, her cheeks rosy.
"Hoo~?" I grinned and lifted Artoria by her butt. "My little Artie wants a naughty reward from her unkie?"
"Moe~! Stop treating me like a child! Hmm!!" Artoria pouted but then moaned as I started massaging her ass.
"If you say so, then I guess I could relax my morals for five minutes," I smiled. "I am all yours, Artoria."
As if hearing golden words, Artoria's eyes beamed with light, and she wrapped her limbs around my body.
"Unkie, I love you the most!" With those words, she sealed my lips in a kiss.
---
(3rd Person's POV)
"How dare a mere mortal play with this goddess?!" Aphrodite paced back and forth in her palace on Olympus.
Who was Hippomenes?
When Aphrodite first encountered Hippomenes, she answered his prayer. However, this Hippomenes was an entirely different person, as if someone else had taken over his body. Moreover, he seemed to know the well-kept secret that all Olympian Gods were aliens to the world—a secret that should never be revealed.
"Whom did he ask for golden apples again?" Aphrodite mumbled.
It appeared that she was missing many memories. Who was the woman for whom Hippomenes had sought Aphrodite's help? Aphrodite had no idea.
The only recollection Aphrodite had was some conversation and that... torture.
"I have to inform father about him. He shouldn't stay—" At that moment, a surge of pain tore through her brain. "Aaa!!"
Aphrodite writhed in agony, her Spirit Core nearly shattered by the relentless pain of the curse. She lay on the floor, tears streaming down her face, cries of distress escaping her lips, echoing her torment.
"Milady!" Suddenly, a nymph—Aphrodite's servant—rushed to her aid. "What is happening to you?"
"I…" When Aphrodite regained her senses, she found herself on the floor. Trying to recall what had just happened, she couldn't say anything. It seemed like she had experienced some kind of pain, yet her body was fine. What the hell had happened?
Aphrodite also attempted to recall whom she was talking about but couldn't remember the person's name. It was at that moment she realized she couldn't conspire against Hippomenes.
"Where is Ares?" Aphrodite inquired about her current lover, Ares.
Aphrodite reached a conclusion—Hippomenes was Ares's son. She could easily discern the scent of strong men, and Hippomenes happened to smell just like Ares.
Aphrodite realized she had to find out if Ares had any connection to Hippomenes. Both Ares and Hippomenes harbored resentment towards the gods, and if they were aligned, the feared Olympus ragnarok might become a reality.
"Lord Ares? Wait, Lady Aphrodite, your face!" a nymph exclaimed.
Ignoring the nymph, Aphrodite made her way to the arena where Ares often lingered. As she walked, she couldn't understand why everyone was looking at her like a clown.
Upon reaching the arena, instead of finding Ares, she encountered Apollo. Aphrodite cursed her luck, as she held a strong dislike for both Artemis and Apollo—the former being a virgin goddess and the latter her brother.
"Where might Ares be?" she inquired urgently.
"Peace, be calm. You've just betrayed Hephaestus—"
"Where is Ares? This is urgent!" Aphrodite interrupted Apollo, fixing a stern gaze upon him.
"He's ventured forth to convene with a different pantheon," Apollo disclosed.
"But hasn't our father decreed a strict edict to avoid fraternizing with gods from other realms?" Aphrodite questioned, aware of the stringent rule against interfering in the affairs of foreign deities.
"Do you genuinely think Ares, among all deities, heeds the counsel of others?" Apollo laughed softly.
Aphrodite observed Apollo for a moment before exhaling deeply, realizing she still failed to fully comprehend Ares.
"By the way, has adopting the guise of a jester become the latest fashion in your brothels?" Apollo abruptly shifted the conversation, struggling to contain his mirth.
Confused, Aphrodite materialized a hand mirror and saw her face. To her shock, she found her beautiful face marked with weird glowing drawings. Anger disfigured her face as she howled, "CURSE YOU, HIPPOMENES!!!"