Chapter 400: Attracting the Young Athena
A petite figure suddenly appeared on the night street.
Normally, there would be fewer pedestrians on the streets at night.
However, this particular street had more pedestrians than during the day—aside from the peak commuting hours.
The reason for this was that after a long day of work, the newly descended night was the time for countless office workers to indulge in a little pleasure and reward themselves.
On such a street, this petite figure went completely unnoticed by anyone.
This seemed somewhat eerie, as the petite figure, though young—appearing around thirteen or fourteen years old—was an unbelievably exquisite girl.
Her cuteness was almost beyond human comprehension.
Yet, it was as if no one could see her.
What was truly bizarre was that when someone walked toward her, seemingly about to collide, they would pass right through her?
No, it wasn't like passing through a ghost. Instead, the person would inexplicably veer aside to make way.
People on the path of the young girl would actively step aside.
"Hmm, the snake is still in this city,"
the girl murmured to herself.
She had sensed her snake, with the initial reaction appearing in the suburbs of a city called Milan, before the sensation disappeared.
Then, less than an hour later, she sensed it again, in another city, also in the suburbs.
Another half hour later, she sensed it once more, in yet another city, this time at an airport.
Finally, the latest sensation was in this city.
Thus, the girl could confirm that this was a provocation from the other party.
Each time she sensed it, the other party immediately concealed it, luring her to follow.
So, this was a trap. Was there a Campione among humans planning to defeat her?
Yes, the girl was a Heretic God.
Of course, it might not necessarily be someone trying to defeat her. It could also be purely for the purpose of using her to achieve some goal.
For example, deliberately provoking her to unleash her wrath upon this city.
Thus, the holder might be some extreme terrorist among humans.
However, this was only one of the less likely possibilities the girl considered. In any case, it was clear that she was being deliberately lured for some purpose.
Although she could no longer sense the [snake], she could confirm it was currently in this city—she just didn't know the exact location.
"Huh? Lord Renji, are you saying Athena was jealous of Medusa's beauty and schemed to turn her into a snake demon? Is this goddess really that despicable?"
Such a voice caused the silver-haired young girl to pause her steps slightly, turning her gaze toward the two figures walking toward her—a young man and a maid.
The owner of the voice was the maid.
"This is one version of the story I know. There's another version, also about Athena being jealous of Medusa, where Athena deliberately takes on Medusa's form and engages in all sorts of lewd acts to frame Medusa as—"
"Nonsense!!!"
A chilling voice spilled from the silver-haired girl's lips, causing the temperature around them to plummet instantly.
This wasn't just a figure of speech—the air had genuinely grown colder.
Moreover, something bizarre occurred: the surrounding light dimmed as if about to be swallowed by darkness, even though the illumination remained just as bright.
"Oh? So you think I'm spouting nonsense? Then, little miss, what version of Athena's story do you know?"
Renji asked curiously, gazing at the adorable figure before him.
She wore a thin sweater and a short skirt, her slender legs clad in black thigh-high socks.
Her silver hair, not entirely concealed by the blue knit cap, swayed gently in the faint breeze and seemed to shimmer as it reflected the ambient light.
No, it wasn't just reflecting—it appeared to glow from within.
He had deliberately fabricated that version purely to capture the girl's attention.
From a distance, he had already noticed something unusual about her.
Upon drawing closer, her reaction to his mention of Athena and Medusa seemed more intense than that of an ordinary person, as if she were hearing someone talk about herself.
Thus, her exaggerated response to his made-up story made Renji suspect that the girl before him was a Heretic God drawn by the Gorgon.
After all, when Erica brought the stone over, she had repeatedly lifted the magical barriers, which could easily attract related Heretic Gods.
So, was this loli Medusa?
If so, something felt off. If she were Medusa, she shouldn't have reacted so strongly or angrily.
Her anger seemed directed at his slander of Athena...
"Oh? So you said that deliberately to get my attention, didn't you?"
The silver-haired girl had also realized this, narrowing her eyes slightly as she looked at him.
Her pupils suddenly transformed, sharp and owl-like.
"Hmm~"
The maid couldn't help but shiver, trembling under the invisible divine pressure emanating from the silver-haired girl.
Yet the man beside the maid remained unaffected, which made the silver-haired girl gaze at him with even greater interest.
"My snake was taken by you, wasn't it? You're the one deliberately provoking me, correct?"
The silver-haired girl was convinced this was the case.
"So, who are you?"
"This one need not—"
"Tell me your name, and I'll give you what you want."
Renji interrupted her.
His words caused her gaze to grow even colder.
"Do you know who you're speaking to?"
"If you don't say it, I won't tell you where that thing is."
"Hmph, this one—"
"Maybe I'll just find a way to load it onto a rocket and launch it into space."
This further interruption made the silver-haired loli before him glare fiercely.
"This one is Athena!"
The silver-haired girl—Athena—introduced herself with clear displeasure.
Why didn't she simply seize him immediately?
The reason was she couldn't confirm whether the Gorgon was on him.
If she truly attacked him and he had companions who could send the object into space, it would be troublesome.
"Athena? A little girl?"
Renji looked at the loli goddess with some surprise and amusement.
The term "little girl" in his words made her frown in displeasure.
"This is not this one's true form, this one—"
Her voice cut off abruptly as Athena stared blankly at the object she had caught, thrown to her by him.
"Why give it to this one?"
"Didn't I say? I'd give it to you as long as you told me who you are."
This left Athena stunned. Was it really that simple? No ulterior motive?
"State your true purpose!"
"Simple. I want you to become my subordinate!"
The moment these words fell, the world seemed to freeze.
Frozen by the overwhelming pressure released from that small figure.