CK Simulation, Creating the Style of Tsukino Fumi

Page 116

In the end, all Quinn could do was offer an awkward but polite smile.

“I can’t convince anyone else to acknowledge you, Nero Claudius. If you want to gain the approval of others, you can only rely on yourself.”

[You didn't explicitly reject her, but the implied refusal was obvious. Nero's expression immediately turned dejected. However, she didn't give up hope. She probably understood your implication: that although you didn't approve of her, you didn't oppose her either, just like the Roman nobles who supported her rise to power because of the promises of benefits they made.]

You belong to the neutral faction, making you someone she can try to win over.

“I understand, Your Majesty.” Realizing Quinn’s attitude, Nero’s brief moment of disappointment quickly faded before he regained his previous confident demeanor. “Now, as the current Emperor of Rome, I have a question: Why has Your Majesty appeared at this moment? What is your relationship with those Christians?”

As he asked this question, Nero's attitude was humble and respectful, but even more so, wary. This was the normal reaction of a human being, a normal emperor.

Such an attitude would be offensive to the gods and would anger many of them, but it was just right for Quinn. If Nero had unconditionally believed in his identity, Quinn would have been happy, but he would have thought that Nero was a person without his own opinions. But now that she had shown sufficient vigilance, Quinn felt that she was a qualified emperor.

“I have a connection with the Christian God, but as for His followers… I’m not familiar with them, and I don’t intend to maintain any connection with them,” Quinn said truthfully. “On the contrary, why do you think I would have any connection with Christians?”

"I've heard some rumors that a new prophecy has emerged among Christians. In this prophecy, a new prophet named Europa will succeed the so-called savior and continue to guide them. Rome, however, has been abandoned by their gods and will soon descend into chaos and destruction. If Christians do not wish to perish with Rome, they must heed the teachings of this prophet..."

Nero recounted in great detail all the stories she had received about Christians and the new prophets, including her mother's attitude towards the matter. As she spoke clearly, all eyes in the room turned to Quinn.

Because the prophecy was so specific, it was basically like revealing Quinn's identity, as if afraid that people wouldn't know that he was the so-called prophet and savior.

And Quinn...

He hesitated.

His core objective in coming to this era was simply to obtain some materials to repair the Moon Chariot and fulfill his promise to Ayaka Sajou. Originally, due to his background, he would have been fine with dealing with the Sixth Beast as well. After all, he and the Sixth Beast couldn't be said to have a good relationship; in fact, they were mutually disgusted. Quinn was still holding a grudge against the Sixth Beast for possessing Europa II. Therefore, he had no objection to accepting the commission to drive away the beast.

But... when did I ever promise to guide Christians? Is this how you assign extra tasks?

[Your deathly pallor said it all. Nero, seeing this, felt a weight lifted from her heart. She immediately invited you and your party to stay overnight at the palace, hoping to use this to get closer to you, but you declined. You didn't intend to have too much involvement with this future ruler. In case it affected the progress of pan-human history and caused a singularity, it would be virtually impossible for you to use Chaldea's spirit particle transfer in the future. Besides, you weren't without a place to go except the Roman palace.]

Having heard your refusal, Nero had no choice but to leave temporarily. She promised you that you could enter the palace to see her at any time if you wished, and after giving you her keepsake, she turned and left.

[And you, only after Nero has completely disappeared from your sight, slowly walk towards the gates of the Medusa Temple.]

As you exert your strength, the heavy temple doors slowly open, releasing a rich aroma of incense. Years of Roman offerings have transformed this temple, imbuing it with a powerful divine aura. Even without entering, you can feel the weight emanating from the depths of the doors—a pressure as imposing as the seven hills of Rome, enough to make any modern magician instinctively kneel to avoid offending the temple's master.

Based on your understanding of Medusa, your rudeness in barging in like a robber, relying solely on brute force, is enough to anger the goddess who dwells there. After all, what she hates most is someone entering her territory without a word.

【However……】

Arcueid looked up at the temple's dome, her gaze sweeping over the Roman columns, so wide apart that a dragon could move freely between them. She examined the murals on the walls depicting the story of how the goddess of the land founded Rome. As the half-moon of the Moon King, she could communicate directly with Earth and freely access its history, and she already knew this temple intimately. Yet, upon witnessing this crystallization of Roman art and wisdom, Arcueid still couldn't help but sigh in awe.

"So this is the abode of the gods. No wonder that guy always wanted to stay on Earth. These gods really know how to enjoy life. It's just a pity that the Age of Gods is coming to an end. Her condition is visibly worse."

Yes.

Although a rich divine aura still permeated the ancient and majestic temple, capable of overwhelming most who entered with its immense power, Quinn and his companions, upon entering, could clearly sense the temple's master's weakness. (The remaining text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

The Age of Gods has ended. Changes in the Earth's environment and the dissipation of the true ether no longer support the gods remaining on the planet's surface. Even the gods, who are native to Earth, cannot adapt to such enormous environmental changes, especially in the Mediterranean, a land where mysteries disappear the fastest. The disappearance of mysteries is far more rapid than in remote islands like Britain.

The reason why the goddess of the nation appeared less and less often before the Romans was now explained.

It wasn't that the goddess abandoned Rome, but rather that she could no longer walk freely on the earth as she once did.

[The Medusa you expected, who would be furious and ready to punish you, the villain who dared to trespass into the goddess's boudoir, did not appear. All you heard was a long and peaceful slumber.]

Medusa was already asleep and naturally would not respond to any calls.

Chapter 276 Sleeping Beauty

Following his past memories, he passed through the antechamber supported by Roman columns painted with serpentine reliefs and entered the globular hall. The figure of the serpent goddess was reflected in Quinn's eyes. Her long, subtle breaths stirred the still-burning incense smoke in the air, causing it to swirl around her mountain-like body.

Medusa is in really bad condition.

When the Greek simulation ended, Medusa, due to her newly acquired divinity, gained the ability to change her body at will, no longer needing to walk in the form of a serpent goddess. Now, she has reverted to her original form as a Gorgon monster, and not only that, even the scales on her body appear unusually dull.

Having seen Mordred, a god-level spirit origin requiring a true aether environment, enter the mortal realm, Quinn could also realize Medusa's current state. In contrast, Mordred, who was humanoid from the beginning and whose spirit origin had only changed, Medusa, as a primordial goddess, had a greater need for true aether.

In the age of gods, when the environment was suitable for deities to roam the earth, she could freely change her physical form using the power of her divinity without paying any price, because true ether was free in that era. However, with the decline of mystery and changes in the planetary environment, true ether is no longer free. If Medusa wants to change her form freely again, she needs to use her own power, but her power is not inexhaustible.

To conserve her energy and return to her original form, entering a deep sleep in the manner of a snake hibernating is the best option for her if she does not enter the inner sea of ​​the star again.

As for why Medusa hasn't entered the Star Sea yet... it's probably because she's worried about Rome.

Thinking of this, Quinn looked at Arcueid, "One more time?"

Arcueid nodded upon hearing this, a flash of golden divine light appearing in his eyes. The entire environment of the temple underwent a transformation, with dense true ether rising from the ground beneath the temple floor and filling the vast space of the temple. This was the effect of the manifestation of imagination.

Arcueid, who can communicate directly with the planet, is a favorite of Earth's will. In this era where the age of gods is beginning to fade but has not yet completely ended, it is much easier for her to manifest the environment of the age of gods than in modern times. She simply wants to send a request to the planet, and Earth itself begins to mobilize resources to meet her needs.

As the environment changed, Medusa, who had been sleeping, began to breathe rapidly, and the scales on her enormous snake body regained their brilliant, colorful glow.

"Um……"

A deep, panting breath escaped from the serpent god's mouth, drawing everyone's attention. Perhaps because she hadn't been exposed to such a high concentration of true ether in a long time, Medusa's cheeks flushed with a charming blush. With her eyelids trembling slightly, the goddess displayed an astonishingly alluring charm, even attracting the attention of fellow women, Sajō Aika and Mordred.

But soon, Aika Sajou realized what was happening and closed her eyes. Mordred, unaware of what was going on, was about to watch the whole process of this Sleeping Beauty waking up when a pair of large hands covered her eyes.

The next moment, Medusa opened her eyes, and everything in sight turned into cold rock. Only Arcueid and Quinn were unaffected, but the obvious stiffness in their bodies still made them somewhat uncomfortable.

When the goddess's brain finally awoke from its slumber and took in the stone-turned temple hall, she realized what she had just done. The iridescent light that filled her eyes quickly faded, and the curse of the petrifying demonic eye that had been projected also ceased with the goddess's command. With the continuous projection of the demonic eye gone, the temple began to repair itself.

Quinn released his hands from Mordred's eyes, allowing his vision to return to its previous state. He saw the entire petrified temple, and Mordred felt a chill run down her spine. "This Demon Eye..."

Mordred's voice caught Medusa's attention. Realizing that there was someone else in her boudoir, the goddess felt a surge of anger. She turned to look at the source of the voice, wanting to see who dared to sneak in without her knowledge. But when she saw Mordred's face, her anger immediately dissipated.

Ancient memories dormant in the goddess's mind began to resurface. The scene of almost being killed on the Island of No Return flashed through Medusa's mind. In those past days, she was not yet a goddess, but a monster hated by everyone. A man from afar wanted to take her away from the Island of No Return. She refused and was beaten up. The one who beat her the hardest was the blond man in front of her.

As past memories flooded back, Medusa noticed that there was another figure behind the golden retriever.

"...I'm in the underworld?" Medusa blinked.

No, you're still alive.

"That's good. I thought I was dead too. So, you've been resurrected?"

Medusa showed no excitement at the long-awaited reunion with Quinn. She calmly asked Quinn why he had reappeared, her gaze sweeping over Mordred, Arcueid, and Sajou Aika. The combination of the three—one adult female and two young girls—reminded her of herself and her sisters. It seemed that Quinn had been surrounded by such women for a long time, making her nostalgic for the past.

"It can't really be called a resurrection. My situation is a bit complicated. I'll explain it to you later. What about your sisters?"

"In Olympus, the Olympus within the Star Sea, there are not many gods left in the mortal world. The sisters are not strong enough, and if they force themselves to stay here, they will disappear."

Medusa and Quinn's conversation was as bland as the daily greetings between neighbors after returning home. This detached and calm conversation left everyone present puzzled. Both Arcueid and Sajou Aika knew something about Quinn's experiences in Greece and were well aware that Medusa was Quinn's wife there. Logically, the couple's long-awaited reunion should have been filled with passion or nostalgia, but this conversation, which seemed devoid of any emotional exchange, appeared so cold.

However, Europa II and Mordred had already sensed something was amiss. In contrast, the two, whose romantic experience was limited to theoretical knowledge, came from normal family backgrounds and had witnessed their parents' displays of affection. They had already sensed the subtle harmony between Medusa and Quinn. In their eyes, the relationship between the two had transcended the realm of passionate love, even surpassing the still lingering affection between Morgan and Artoria.

The two people know each other so well that they know each other inside and out. If one of them lifts his butt, the other knows when to drop his pants. Under such circumstances, any explanation or clarification is meaningless. At this point, they are less like husband and wife and more like family members who have been together for a long time. They can fully tolerate and accept each other's strengths and weaknesses and have become accustomed to it.

In fact it is.

To be honest, life in Britain was Quinn's first love—sweet but short-lived. When he reached the top, everything came to an end. The time he truly spent with Morgan, Artoria, and others was not long; he only left a near-perfect image in their hearts. In Greece, however, Medusa truly accompanied Quinn throughout his entire complete 'life.' She knew Quinn's strengths and weaknesses. In her eyes, Quinn was a whole person, and naturally, she didn't have any perfect aspirations for him.

And that's the most terrifying thing.

Mordred couldn't understand how she could defeat such an enemy... no, why should she defeat her?

I'm here to join this family!

While Mordred was lost in thought, Quinn's conversation with Medusa came to an end.

[Your reunion with Medusa has given you a complete understanding of the current state of the Greek gods. Most of the gods you once knew have entered the Inner Sea of ​​the Stars. Only a small number of powerful gods who had a good relationship with you remain in the mortal world. Medusa is one of them. In addition to her, the gods of war and love, who had close ties with Rome, also reside in the mortal world. But most importantly, Jupiter remains.]

[This doll you created replaced Zeus after your death, and with the consent of the other gods, became the new king of the gods. Since then, she has lived in the temple on the Seven Hills of Rome. When the gods wanted to enter the Sea of ​​Stars, she was one of the few gods who wanted to stay. But not long ago, Jupiter lost contact, and the city of Rome, which was originally blessed by the gods, gradually lost its original divinity with the disappearance of this king of the gods.]

To ensure the longevity of the Roman Empire, Medusa had to temporarily assume Jupiter's authority, using her divine power to bless Rome. However, this task, which was based on the power of the divine king, was too burdensome for Medusa. As a result, the prosperity of Rome, built on the grace of the gods, faded with their departure. Medusa was already doing her best to maintain the city's good weather and abundant harvests. Therefore, she was powerless to control actions such as Christian missionary work, which were extremely offensive to the local gods.

As Roman emperors changed hands, Medusa's abilities dwindled. By the time of Nero's father, Medusa spent most of her time asleep. Naturally, she was unaware of Nero's temporary assumption of the throne. In other words, Nero's concerns were unfounded.

[Not only that, you also learned some news that was somewhat unexpected.]

The relationship between the Catholic God and the Greek gods was not hostile; at least, according to Medusa, Jupiter had met that god once and they even made a pact.

Chapter 277 What's wrong with the woman?

"When the Greek gods decide to enter the inner sea of ​​stars and cease to govern humanity, a prophet will enter Rome to spread His faith. At that time, the Greek gods remaining on Roman soil will no longer interfere with human beliefs, allowing mortals to choose their own future paths. And if in the future a prophet claiming to be a savior visits Jupiter, Jupiter will need to help him solve a problem. This is the agreement that Jupiter made with the gods of Christians and Jews, that outsider who does not belong to Earth."

Medusa explained the secret to how Christians could preach in Rome without any hindrance, as if she were telling an ancient story. The onlookers looked at each other in bewilderment, and Mordred was full of questions.

At the time of her birth, Catholicism was already the most powerful religion in continental Europe.

At that time, missionaries and priests throughout Europe were already spreading the word about how their God used his great power and how their saints performed miracles to subdue the faiths of various pagans and convert people all over Europe to believe in the one God. As a result, Mordred's impression of Catholicism was always filtered through an invincible lens, as if the one God had won the faith of the entire European continent by defeating other pagan gods with absolute force and divine power.

Now, a completely new answer is presented to her.

The One God is an outsider; He is not a deity originally conceived on this planet, nor is He subject to Earth's rules. Naturally, with the disappearance of the gods who originally lived on Earth, He became the only being in the world capable of performing miracles. Under these circumstances, Catholicism, which openly displays its extraordinary power, became the most competitive religious faith in Europe.

This almost overturned Mordred's worldview, but Europa II had already guessed it. After all, the more one studies magic, the easier it is to understand the truth of this world, and naturally one will also have some knowledge of the most mysterious gods in this world.

Most magicians, such as Medea and King Solomon, who belonged to the traditional school, would thus become priests of the gods. They possessed the most ancient divine magic and held the secrets of the gods. However, there were also more heretical factions, such as Morgan and Merlin, whose power originated directly from the planet and themselves. Their relationship with the gods was more like that of collaborators. As for Europa II...

In a sense, she was an even greater heretic among heretics, using the power of the gods on one hand while pursuing only herself on the other, and naturally she would not be influenced by these things in her judgment.

Through Mordred's eyes and ears, Europa II noticed certain easily overlooked parts of Medusa's words. So, she applied to take over the account. Mordred, feeling guilty towards Europa II, would not refuse his request, especially since she needed some time to process the shock to her values ​​brought about by this information.

As her spirit origin changed, Medusa, who had been focusing her attention on Quinn and trying to explain the changes in the gods over the years, suddenly shivered. When she looked at Mordred again, she found that Mordred, who had just been a young girl, now had a demeanor somewhat like Jupiter, but what was more obvious was her spirit origin fluctuations, which were no less than those of any chief god.

"Jupiter replaced Zeus and made a deal with God... You mean Jupiter and Zeus were not one?" Europa II narrowed his eyes.

Europa II's sudden appearance not only made Medusa uncomfortable, but also sent a chill down Quinn's spine, who was otherwise calm. Even though Europa II was looking at Medusa at the moment, he could still feel his son's peripheral vision glancing at him.

“That’s right, she and Zeus are not one; she is actually Quinn’s artificial woman…”

“An artificial goddess.” Before Medusa could utter a word that would easily infuriate Europa II, Quinn immediately explained, “Zeus wanted me to create a gift for him, so I used the divine steel of the gods to create an artificial human and collected the blessings of the twelve chief gods for him, thus creating an artificial goddess. She can be considered a second Zeus born from the combined efforts of the Greek gods. In a sense, she can be regarded as the Roman Zeus, but in essence, they are two different individuals.”

However, Quinn's explanation only earned him a death stare from Europa II. During Medusa's conversation with Quinn, the story of Quinn's past relationship with a priestess named Dione was mentioned. Any magician could see the implications of the name Dione, and naturally, Europa II could guess that Quinn also had some unspeakable relationship with Zeus.

Combined with Quinn's flustered explanation, it was hard for her not to guess the general relationship between Jupiter, the new god-king, and her father, which made Europa II feel somewhat displeased.

The atmosphere immediately became awkward, but fortunately, Europa II did not directly express his dissatisfaction. Instead, he quickly asked the second question, "An artificial god-king, interesting. Let's leave that question aside for now. What I'm curious about now is that you seem to have only mentioned the price that the Greek gods had to pay. So, in the agreement between Jupiter and God, what did God pay?"

“I don’t know. The only participant in that negotiation was Jupiter, who is the god-king of the pantheon. The other gods had no right to participate. The only thing I and the other main gods know is that the promise that the outsider made to Jupiter was very tempting. Jupiter agreed to the contract without consulting the other gods at all. Under normal circumstances, Athena would definitely have pressed for answers, but the situation was special at that time. Most of the gods had already decided to enter the Inner Sea of ​​the Stars.”

A promise that would be practically free for the Greek god of machines, yet incredibly tempting to Jupiter… what it contains is really hard to guess.

Europa II's gaze grew increasingly dangerous, and the sweat on Quinn's forehead became more and more noticeable.

Now, Quinn can almost assert that the so-called prophet and savior mentioned in the contracts of these two top gods most likely refers to himself. After all, the simulator gave him the savior as his origin this time. Considering the previous simulations of origin, it is clear that this origin is a private customization by the one true god.

Considering the eccentric nature of the One God, Quinn had reason to suspect that the One God was trying to get something for nothing.

however……