Chapter 252: Athena: Have I Fallen For Him?
Athena’s chestnut eyes were fixed on Saint Monique.
This wasn’t about doubting Lord Jie Luo… not at all.
She was simply worried that that despicable Qin Chu might have used some kind of magic to influence her. Lord Jie Luo, a true gentleman, would never do such a shameless thing. Only that shameless Qin Chu, who had threatened her before, was capable of such an act.
That bastard had used Lord Jie Luo’s soul fragment to threaten her, forcing her into shameful positions and acts, even using vulgar words and violent slaps to humiliate and torture her.
Unpleasant images flashed through her mind, and Athena felt her cheeks burning.
In short, that guy was a bastard.
If it was Qin Chu, anything was possible, so she had to confirm it with the Holy Maiden.
She clenched her hands nervously.
Saint Monique looked at her with a puzzled expression, “My dear Inquisitor, what happened? Why would you ask such a question?”
Athena forced a smile and said, “It’s nothing, I’m just a little worried that our Hero might have… influenced my mind… without me knowing.”
Saint Monique lowered her eyelids, and after a brief silence, she opened her eyes again. “I see,” she said, “then let me examine you.”
She walked over to Athena.
Although Saint Monique wasn’t young, she didn’t look it. Her hands, as slender and fair as Athena’s, gently touched her forehead, then she closed her eyes.
Athena felt a strange power flowing into her body, spreading quickly.
Her body trembled slightly, then returned to normal.
Mana radiated from Saint Monique, a strange mist filling the room.
This continued for a while before she finally removed her hand.
“How is it?” Athena asked.
Saint Monique shook her head. “Athena,” she said, “your body, your mind, your soul, everything is normal. There’s no sign of any manipulation or control.”
Athena breathed a sigh of relief.
Saint Monique, as one of the strongest humans in the Heavenly Continent, her magic skills were exceptional, far surpassing her own.
If she said there was nothing wrong, then there was nothing wrong… If even Saint Monique couldn’t detect it, then it could only mean that the other party’s strength far surpassed even the Holy Maiden of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess. What level would that be? Level 100, or even higher?
If that was the case, then resistance was futile.
Athena’s anxiety gradually subsided. She didn’t even know what she had been so worried about… Was it because Qin Chu hadn’t manipulated her, or was it because of… Jie Luo?
Then, a strange question suddenly occurred to her:
If her mind hadn’t been manipulated, then why was the image of Qin Chu becoming increasingly clear in her mind, lingering like a persistent ghost?
He was a shameless bastard who had even used Lord Jie Luo’s soul fragment to threaten her.
She should hate him, so why did she keep thinking about him?
Suddenly, Athena’s face turned pale, her body trembling with a sudden fear.
Could it be that… after all this time… she had actually developed some kind of… affection… for that scumbag who had threatened and tormented her?
No, that was impossible. There was only Jie Luo in her heart, there was no place for Qin Chu, absolutely not!
Athena’s eyes widened, her pupils flickering, her breathing becoming rapid. She bit her lip, as if denying something. Seeing her like this, Saint Monique was puzzled.
“Athena, what’s wrong with you today? What happened?”
“You’ve never been so distracted before.”
Hearing her voice, Athena took a deep breath and suppressed her thoughts.
Perhaps she was just overthinking it?
Falling for Qin Chu?
Ha, that was absolutely impossible.
Even if all the other men in the world were dead, she would never fall for that pervert who enjoyed humiliating her.
Besides, hadn’t Saint Monique just confirmed that Jie Luo hadn’t tampered with her mind? So, there was nothing wrong with her feelings for him.
Her love for Jie Luo wouldn’t change, no matter how many years passed. No one could replace him in her heart, no one!
Athena took a deep breath, her expression returning to normal. “Sorry, Holy Maiden,” she said, “for making you worry. I’m fine.”
Saint Monique looked at her skeptically, then smiled. “It’s good that you’re fine… But, my dear Inquisitor, you can always come to me if you have any problems.”
“I understand.”
“Then, Inquisitor…” Saint Monique’s gentle expression vanished, “how are Saint Son O’Niens and Saintess Inas?”
O’Niens and Inas?
A look of disdain appeared on Athena’s face, and she said coldly, “Trash.”
That was her evaluation of the Saint Son and Saintess of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess.
Saint Monique smiled wryly. Couldn’t Athena be a little more discreet?
“O’Niens is a complete waste. Growing up with every advantage, unlimited access to potions and Saint Quartz, and at his age, he’s only level 79, and he’s actually smug about it. Doesn’t he know he’s an idiot?”
“And his personality is arrogant and conceited. Although I also dislike the Hero, at least he pretends to be polite…”
Athena paused slightly, a strange thought crossing her mind. Actually, it wasn’t just pretending…
Then she shook her head forcefully. No, no, she couldn’t think about those things again.
It was all because of that Qin Chu, making her so strange.
Saint Monique didn’t think much of it, taking Athena’s head shake as disapproval of O’Niens.
“O’Niens is also arrogant and domineering towards the Hero, completely oblivious to the difference in their strength.”
“And Inas is the same. Although she’s much stronger than that idiot O’Niens, her personality is just as bad. As a member of the Hero Squad, she’s always clinging to O’Niens.”
“And O’Niens, and those clerics you arranged, even caused a conflict with the surviving soldiers, even wanting to execute all seven thousand of them…” Athena rubbed her forehead in exasperation, “Honestly, I can’t imagine how someone could be so stupid!”
That’s right, the lives of commoners weren’t lives.
This was a truth accepted by all members of the upper class and the clergy.
But they had to know when to be discreet.
They needed these commoners to fight against the Demon Beasts. Executing thousands of survivors, weren’t they afraid of a mutiny?
Saint Monique’s mouth opened slightly.
She seemed shocked by this information.
She knew that O’Niens and Inas were foolish, but she hadn’t expected them to be this stupid.
“And then?” she asked.
“Violet, a member of the Hero Squad, intervened. She trampled O’Niens underfoot, slapped Inas, and confiscated the weapons and armor of everyone in the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, to prevent them from causing more trouble.”
Athena curled her lip. The Church of the Earth Mother Goddess had lost all face, but Saint Monique didn’t seem angry at all, her expression calm.
“In short, those two idiots have to be dealt with, or they’ll cause more trouble for the Church. Speaking of which, isn’t this your goal, to have the Hero or the Demon Beasts get rid of Inas and O’Niens?”
Saint Monique glared at Athena, “Athena… I know you’re smart.”
“But being too smart can be annoying.”
“And please, you’re not a young girl anymore, stop acting like one, it’s disgusting!”
This was a critical hit for Saint Monique.
As they spoke, a middle-aged woman, her face filled with rage, her eyes burning, stormed out of the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess like a tempest.
Athena raised an eyebrow, “The former Holy Maiden, Florence. What do you think this mama’s boy is going to do?”
She stuck out her tongue slightly, glad that Florence hadn’t heard her call her son an idiot. Otherwise, she would definitely attack her.
She was once an outstanding woman, powerful, influential, and resourceful, but when it came to her useless son, O’Niens, she became a completely different person.
Everyone felt that her love for him was excessive, almost twisted.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Saint Monique said impatiently, “That useless O’Niens was beaten up, couldn’t fight back, so he ran to his mommy to complain…”
Her tone was filled with disdain.
Saint Monique didn’t even want to dwell on this topic. That good-for-nothing O’Niens wasn’t worth discussing.
She had more important things to discuss with Athena.
Her expression turned serious. “Athena,” she said, “do you remember the oracle I told you about last time?”
Athena’s face changed, and her body trembled slightly.
Not many people knew about the oracle received by the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, but Athena was one of them.
And the oracle was simple:
Kill the Hero!
The First Hero, Jie Luo, was already dead, so it was clear who this “Hero” referred to.
Qin Chu.
When she first heard this from Saint Monique, Athena, although puzzled, had readily accepted it.
But now, recalling the oracle, she felt a strong, inexplicable resistance.
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