The soft, moist contact between them sent a shiver through Medusa, a sensation she had never experienced before.
Lost in the moment, she felt something slip into her mouth, nimble as a darting fish.
Instinctively, she followed its lead, their tongues entwining in a dance that left her breathless.
At the same time, she realized she was enveloped in the man's embrace.
His warmth was intense, reliable, carrying a distinctly masculine aura.
It wasn't the familiar, cozy comfort she felt with her sisters but something entirely new, a sensation that stirred between a man and a woman.
The unfamiliar yet intoxicating scent of him, the strange allure that made her heart race, pulled Medusa deeper into the moment.
It wasn't until moments later that she registered the scandalous position she was in: nestled in a man's arms, doing something she had never done before.
Though she had no prior experience, she found herself inexplicably drawn to the feeling.
Why was that?
Was it because of his comforting words and acceptance?
Or was it the strange, lingering sense of safety she felt in his embrace, a security that seemed unshaken even in the face of a goddess like Athena?
For so long, Medusa had strived to protect her sisters, transforming from a gentle goddess into a resolute warrior.
Yet now, she felt that despised weakness creeping back into her heart.
No, I can't let myself falter like this.
With a sudden turn of her head, she broke free from the minutes-long entanglement of lips and breath.
But her feeble struggles didn't free her from Alaric's arms. Instead, he held her even tighter.
"…Why did you do that?" she asked softly, finally pulling herself from the dizzying haze. "This overly tall body of mine isn't cute at all. Why go this far?"
Though innocent in matters of the heart, as a goddess embodying the "ideal maiden (youth)," Medusa understood the significance of Alaric's actions.
Her voice was barely a whisper as she questioned him.
"To prove your charm as a woman, of course," Alaric replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I just wanted you to know that even this body of yours is cherished by someone."
His brazen words, almost criminal in their boldness, were somehow acceptable to Medusa.
"…You're quite the meddler, aren't you?" she muttered, her face a mask of feigned annoyance.
But her next words betrayed her true feelings.
"I don't think you'll gain anything from this… but if you like, this body is yours to command."
Had he succeeded in winning her over?
Even Alaric hadn't expected such a spontaneous act to yield such results. His words of affirmation had struck a deep chord with the self-doubting Medusa.
Could Aphrodite's blessing really be *that* effective?
Of course, that was just Alaric's self-amused jest.
Though Medusa had never seen herself as "beautiful," believing her sisters' petite frames were the epitome of beauty and despising her own towering figure, it wasn't just anyone who could sway her with a few compliments like "you're beautiful."
Alaric's success stemmed not only from his words but from his genuine understanding of her past, his acceptance of her, and his promise to protect them all.
In any era, for any woman, a sense of security was one of the most alluring qualities a man could offer.
While its importance varied, it was always a factor.
To Medusa, Alaric was undeniably dependable, at the very least, he had effortlessly bested her in combat.
As Medusa quietly savored the embrace, an unexpected voice broke the moment from behind.
"Medusa, my dear sister… how could you? You *knew* this man is exactly my type, and yet you sneaked off to steal a march on me? That's just too much!"
The sweet, mischievous complaint, dripping with playful charm, came from Euryale, the embodiment of the "perfect maiden."
"Hehe… so our youngest sister has grown up and found a man she likes?" came another voice, elegant and tinged with a subtle pride, yet undeniably captivating.
It was Stheno, the "perfect woman." "But no, stealing a man from your sisters? Even you, Medusa, must face punishment for that."
The voices of her sisters sent Medusa into a panic.
The lingering authority of her older siblings made her hastily break free from Alaric's embrace, stammering as she tried to explain.
"…W-Wait! Sisters, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, it was him… no, I mean, it was me… no, not that, ugh…"
Her flustered, incoherent words drew a chuckle from Alaric. Her adorable reaction was too much.
Despite her imposing stature, in front of her petite sisters, she was like a scolded child.
That contrast was irresistibly charming.
Patting Medusa's shoulder, Alaric teased, "Don't worry. Even with two sisters, I won't reject you."
His words nearly brought Medusa to tears.
Please, don't make this worse right now!
Euryale and Stheno, meanwhile, were stunned by Alaric's remark.
What kind of man was this?
Was he seriously declaring his harem intentions in front of all three of them?
And did he just say "reject"?
As goddesses embodying the "ideal woman" and "ideal maiden," were they really only worthy of *not being rejected*?
The audacity was staggering…
There were too many things to critique, and they didn't know where to start.
Euryale immediately rushed forward, playfully pummeling Alaric's chest with her small fists.
Watching her sister act coy in the man's arms, Medusa floundering helplessly nearby, and Alaric's affectionate yet indulgent gaze, Stheno let out a quiet sigh of relief.
From what she'd seen, this man wasn't difficult to handle.
No, rather, he was surprisingly reassuring.
What pleased her most was that he didn't seem to despise Medusa for her past actions, unlike those self-righteous "heroes."
In fact, he seemed genuinely fond of her youngest sister and showed kindness toward her and Euryale as well.
That was enough.
Even if Stheno could sense his undeniable attraction to all three sisters, what did it matter?
His gentle demeanor reassured her that their future under the Magic Network would be far from harsh.
For Stheno, her only wish was for the three sisters to live happily together forever.
For that goal, she was willing to make sacrifices.
And if it was with this man, it didn't seem so bad.
After all, he was someone chosen by three powerful goddesses.
As the "ideal woman," it wasn't strange for her to gravitate toward a strong partner.
At that thought, Stheno felt an unexpected warmth stirring within her.