"Lady Aphrodite, I am Alice Louis Eve Naphal. As you can see, I am a witch!"
After giving Roy a somewhat reproachful glance, Princess Alice's expression turned solemn. She rose from the sofa, lifted the hem of her skirt, and curtsied gracefully.
Initially wary and scrutinizing of Alice's appearance, Aphrodite found it difficult to maintain her haughty demeanor upon encountering the courteous Princess Alice. Reluctantly setting aside her divine airs, she spoke in a voice so melodious it could enchant any man or woman:
"...I am Aphrodite, mortal! But for now, do not call me by that name. You may address me as Stella!"
"...Judging solely from your skills as a witch, you possess unexpected talent. Even in the Age of Gods, you would rival Medea."
Aphrodite studied Alice carefully, subtly putting some distance between herself and Roy—both to preserve her divine dignity and to avoid letting Alice see her clinging to him like a delicate bird. With a faint, composed smile, she spoke with restraint.
"To receive praise from the most beautiful goddess is truly an honor, Lady Stella!"
Alice beamed like a flower in bloom, covering her mouth with a delicate laugh while skillfully flattering Aphrodite.
Aphrodite, clearly fond of such a charming woman, once again displayed the grace and elegance befitting a goddess. Amidst the flight to America, she engaged in pleasant conversation with Princess Alice.
With her high emotional intelligence and silver tongue, Alice could effortlessly converse even with a prideful goddess like Athena. Faced with the vain Goddess of Love and Beauty, she wove a tapestry of flattery, showering Aphrodite with praise that left the goddess thoroughly delighted.
Seeing the two women dive into intimate conversation, Roy was content to relax. He picked up pen and paper, continuing to sketch and analyze magical formulas. Occasionally, he caught his name in their hushed exchanges, and the two women would glance his way before bursting into laughter. Roy merely chuckled, unbothered.
In this amicable atmosphere, the private jet carried them from Italy back to America.
"Welcome, Roy! We meet again so soon after parting."
At the airport, Annie Charlton—clad in armor and wearing a mask—laughed heartily as she strode forward to greet Roy, embracing him in a bold, friendly gesture. From her boisterous laughter and demeanor, few would guess that beneath the mask lay a woman.
"I've come this time to ask for a favor, John."
Roy smiled, addressing Annie by her alias, and gave her back a light pat during their embrace.
"Last time, it was thanks to you, Roy, that I resolved a troublesome issue. Now that you need my help, it's the perfect chance to return the favor. Honestly, you could've just called—I'd have come to Italy. With Lord of the Flies no longer causing trouble, I've been rather idle."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Annie's masked gaze shifted to Aphrodite and Alice, who had arrived with Roy. Her eyebrows arched playfully beneath the mask as she remarked with amusement:
"...Every time I see you, Roy, you're surrounded by women of different charms. Last time it was Athena, and now it's the Goddess Aphrodite."
"...Come to think of it, I once slew Artemis. If you had encountered Artemis instead, the lunar goddess might very well be by your side now. Truly befitting of a Demon King—never letting any goddess you meet slip away."
Only another Campione of equal standing could tease Roy like this. Although, given Roy's current power, defeating Annie Charlton wouldn't be particularly difficult. However, Roy wasn't the type to judge others solely by strength. Moreover, since they shared the same status as Campiones, they were rare equals who could converse on level ground.
Though Annie was a woman, there was no ambiguity between her and Roy. Their relationship was more akin to newly acquainted friends. For such a rare friendship, as long as no major conflicts of interest arose, Roy would cherish it.
"Don't compare me to that bumbling, bowl-cut airhead of a Campione!"
Aphrodite shot Annie a look of disgust—a reaction born from the divine curse of hatred that clung to all Campiones, repulsive to gods. Apart from Roy, who masked this curse with his Face of God, neither Divine Ancestors nor Heretic Gods could ever harbor fondness for Campiones.
"John, spare me the teasing. If my actions align with the title of Demon King, then yours are downright suspicious—never showing your true face, outright rejecting confessions from women who admire you. I'm starting to wonder if you prefer men over women."
Roy's words carried a double meaning: insinuating she might be a lesbian while also hinting at the possibility of her true identity as a woman beneath the mask.
This single remark left Annie Charlton flustered. The North American Campione quickly conceded defeat, realizing she was no match for Roy's sharp tongue.
"Let's end the small talk here. As our host, Annie, would you kindly find us a quiet place to discuss matters in detail? My visit this time concerns the Last King."
Roy's expression turned solemn as he whispered this to Annie Charlton.
Behind her mask, Annie's demeanor stiffened at the mention of the Last King. She gave an almost imperceptible nod before replying, "...Please follow me to the car. As the greatest enemy of all Campiones, I've been researching him extensively lately—even visiting old friends in the Netherworld. But every immortal and Heretic God dwelling there avoids the topic of the Last King like the plague."
"It's a covenant among the gods. Those reclusive Heretic Gods would never divulge detailed information about the Last King. At most, they might drop vague hints or indirect clues."
Roy explained this to Annie as they approached the waiting luxury car.
Roy, Annie, Aphrodite, and Alice all boarded the vehicle, and the convoy soon departed the airport.
Roy's Clairvoyance could pierce the past, but only within the 'physical world.' In realms like the Netherworld—where time held no meaning and the mind reigned supreme—his eyes were powerless, rendering him unable to gather sufficient intelligence.
That was why Roy had come to seek out Annie Charlton, the Campione who had slain Oberon, the Fairy King of European legend, and taken his place. As a Campione who had become the "Fairy King," she maintained good relations with many fairy monarchs of the Netherworld. Roy intended to utilize the fairy kings' mastery over "time" to complete his grand ritual.
***
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