Chapter 251: Athena Nears Collapse
Athena was in agony, clutching her head, soft moans escaping her lips.
Before she had made the comparison, everything had seemed normal, her deep love for Jie Luo, his undeniable charm.
But now, doubts plagued her.
Even considering his… proclivities… Qin Chu, since arriving in this world, had captured a Phantom Demon, eliminated hundreds of Demon Beast spies, diligently cultivated his strength, cleared a Demon Beast nest, suppressed the corrupted Grand Prince, purified Karsus, and led the soldiers to victory against the Demon Beasts. He was undeniably effective, hardworking, and dedicated.
Jie Luo, on the other hand, had remained in the Imperial City, venturing out only once.
And the members he had chosen for the Hero Squad…
She herself, with her unique constitution, a living Mana battery, had been targeted by an evil mage and then rescued by Jie Luo. She was perhaps the most normal among them.
Sylph, the elf, had been captured by a wealthy merchant to be sold as a slave to a perverted noble, but her powers had awakened, and she had slaughtered the merchant’s entire family… Although brutal, it was understandable.
Ekaterina, a former mercenary, had once massacred an entire noble family after being harassed by their son.
Loseweisse, although the Saintess of the Holy See, maintained a facade of purity and innocence, but Athena knew that her heart was darker and more vicious than anyone else’s.
Ronald, the son of a fallen noble family, obsessed with appearances and decorum, had once dismembered a child who accidentally soiled his clothes.
Karsus, needless to say, had slaughtered his entire family. Although it was attributed to the influence of dark powers, Athena could see the inherent cruelty and bloodlust within him, amplified by the darkness.
Benson, seemingly honest and loyal, had been the most powerful bandit leader in the Heavenly Continent before joining the Hero Squad, robbing countless caravans and nobles, killing the men and taking the women captive. He was incredibly narcissistic, and any woman who dared to speak to him was suspected of harboring romantic feelings for him. He often forced his captives to declare their love for him, their heads rolling if they hesitated. He also had a penchant for collecting women’s undergarments… Loseweisse, too, had been a victim of his… hobby.
Muse the Mad, her title spoke for itself. Before joining the Hero Squad, she had been a soldier on the front lines, but her temper was explosive, and once enraged, she would attack indiscriminately, friend and foe alike.
The seemingly cute and innocent Twin Thieves, Eileen and Airi, were masters of stealth and assassination, but their methods were incredibly cruel. They didn’t just steal valuables, but also liked to take trophies from their victims: an eye, a nose, an ear, even a heart…
Thinking about it, Athena realized that almost all the members of the former Hero Squad were… disturbed.
Almost all of them had blood on their hands, some even guilty of heinous crimes.
The more she thought about it, the more distressed she became.
Why had Jie Luo recruited such people?
And the members Qin Chu had recruited: a princess, a Saintess, a Saintess candidate, a Grand Mage from Sage Mountain… all seemingly upstanding individuals.
The more she compared them, the greater the disparity between Jie Luo and Qin Chu seemed.
No, this wasn’t right, something must be wrong.
She loved Lord Jie Luo.
He was the only one she loved…
Athena repeated these words in her mind, trying to reaffirm her belief, a belief she had clung to since his death.
But now, another man had defiled her body, invaded her heart, stealing a piece of the love that belonged only to Jie Luo.
This was unbearable, threatening to shatter the very foundation of her being.
She gasped, her body drenched in a cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably, pained cries escaping her lips… A powerful resistance, both physical and spiritual, surged within her.
Jie Luo, Qin Chu, Jie Luo, Qin Chu… the images of the two men flashed through her mind.
After a long while, her cries subsided, her body still, only twitching occasionally. Finally, she raised her head, her face pale, her hair disheveled, her thin robe soaked with sweat.
A twisted, almost manic smile appeared on her face.
Hehe… Hahahaha…
She loved only Lord Jie Luo.
She shouldn’t doubt him.
Even if some of the members he recruited were deeply sinful, it must have been because he wanted to redeem them. Yes, that must be it. Hadn’t they all been obedient while he was alive? And after his death, Karsus had quickly lost control!
So, Lord Jie Luo wasn’t wrong, he wasn’t wrong, he wasn’t wrong…
Athena clenched her fists, her teeth almost drawing blood, her expression fierce. She had to hold onto her belief, or her will would shatter.
But… the seeds of doubt had been sown, and they wouldn’t be easily eradicated.
The image of Qin Chu lingered in her mind.
After a long while, she finally regained her composure. She took a deep breath, stood up, tidied her appearance in the mirror, dried her sweat, and headed towards the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess.
…
With her usual charming, elegant, and confident smile, Athena swayed towards the Church, her voluptuous figure drawing countless gazes.
Her high-slit mage robe revealed her long, shapely legs, her sexy black high heels clicking on the stone pavement.
She was a true enchantress, the kind that could drive a man mad.
The young nobles, recognizing her, couldn’t help but stare, their mouths watering.
But few dared to approach her. They just nodded politely from afar.
They knew that although Athena was approachable and flirtatious, making them think she might be interested, any attempt to get closer would be met with a cold rejection.
She arrived at the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, a mocking smile playing on her lips as she looked at the grand, opulent building. How much Mana had been squeezed from the believers to build such a extravagant temple? She had always been curious about that number.
Shaking her head slightly, she entered. Although she wasn’t wearing clerical attire, the Earth Knights at the gate didn’t stop her.
Athena had special privileges within the Church, able to meet with the Holy Maiden without prior notice.
She walked through the familiar corridors, bypassing the luxurious palace, and arrived at a small room behind the sanctuary. She pushed open the door.
Creak…
Inside, a voluptuous woman, exuding mature charm, opened her eyes.
She was tall and curvy, her body seemingly soft and inviting.
She wore an earth-yellow robe adorned with platinum threads, a symbol of her authority as the Holy Maiden, a staff clutched in her hand… This was Saint Monique, the Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess.
She seemed to have been praying, kneeling on the floor. She frowned slightly at Athena’s intrusion, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
“Athena,” she said, “you should learn to knock. It’s not that difficult.”
Athena nodded. “I will next time…”
Saint Monique sighed. She had heard that before, but Athena never remembered. Teaching her to knock was probably more difficult than creating a new Super-tier magic spell.
After a pause, she continued, “So, my dear Inquisitor… what brings you here?”
Inquisitor, that was Athena’s position in the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess.
Similar to an Inquisitor of the Holy See, but with a different focus. She was responsible for investigations, for gathering intelligence, not for trials and judgments, although she occasionally had to perform those duties as well.
Athena had intended to ask Saint Monique for some holy water.
But the words that came out of her mouth were different, her voice suddenly serious:
“Saint Monique, has my mind been manipulated, my spirit influenced, my soul controlled?”
“I suspect I might be under the influence of some kind of power.”
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