- Okay, I guess this is what they call a boss room, right?
Rayner whistled as he gazed at the enormous Greco-Roman temple before them. Its structures were completely intact, making it look as though it had been built only recently. The floor was made of smooth, polished white ceramic tiles, while the pillars featured golden details, and the ivory vases and statues were impeccably polished. At the center stood a statue of what appeared to be an ancient Greek goddess, naked and striking a triumphant pose.
- This is kind of scary...
Yumi seemed concerned, especially since she could sense an immense power coming from somewhere near the temple.
- Well, as long as you can feel that the fragment is here, that's what matters. I'm just disappointed that I won't get to beat the crap out of some devil.
Erika said this while gripping her axe, ready to deal with whatever might come their way. After all, she could sense something in the area as well, but ever since they had entered the vicinity, they hadn't spotted a single monster.
- I've been wondering, how exactly do these creatures spawn? Doesn't this seem a little surreal? If we consider them monsters that live here just like the animals back in our world, they should inhabit some kind of biome. But there doesn't seem to be anything here for them to eat, assuming they even need food in the first place. Based on my analysis and everything I've seen up to this floor, I can conclude that these creatures don't eat and seem to exist just like NPCs.
Vanya's observation made Rayner scratch his head.
- So what? We're going to have to kill them anyway by the end of the day.
- You still insist on explaining complicated stuff to that idiot? Although, in this case, even I was confused. I'm not really into video games and that kind of stuff either.
Erika replied, surveying the surroundings with her keen eyesight.
- I kind of get it, though... I've noticed that too. These monsters behave just like monsters in an RPG. So it's possible we're actually in a virtual environment. I really hope that's the case!
Yumi said with a certain degree of hope, but Vanya didn't seem to agree.
- At first, I thought that was the most realistic possibility, and I still consider it somewhat plausible. But the pain I've felt in some of our fights, the fear, the taste of the food, and so on... At some point, we'd realize that this was all fake, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Vanya spoke just as they heard a noise coming from the front of the room, where the statue stood.
When the four of them noticed, a woman had suddenly appeared right in front of them out of nowhere.
Rayner was the first to react. He grabbed his spear and thrust it toward the woman, who dodged the attack as if by magic without even moving from her spot.
- My aim isn't that bad!
Erika leaped forward and, with a quick movement boosted by the speed in her legs, lunged at the woman. The force of her attack tore apart part of the floor, yet the woman remained completely unharmed right in front of them.
They noticed that she looked remarkably similar to the statue, and Yumi began to recall something.
- Y-You look like... Persephone or Aphrodite...?
Yumi began examining the beautiful woman before them. She was over 1.70 meters tall, with a slender, pale body, large breasts, and thick thighs. She wore a white silk dress that revealed part of her legs and featured a vulgar neckline. Her long red hair curled at the ends, and a thick braid ran down the back of her head.
- Huh? Comparing me to that bitch Aphrodite is an insult! I'm much more beautiful and delicate, don't you think, handsome?
The woman walked toward Rayner, who swung his spear at her repeatedly, only for every attack to be dodged. She seemed to move at the speed of light.
- Are you gay? I know plenty of men are, but even they usually can't resist me!
The woman approached Rayner and, grabbing his spear, lifted it upward. With her other hand, she gently caressed the man's face.
- You have some kind of ability related to this temple, don't you?
Vanya quickly realized that the woman's dodges weren't natural and didn't even attempt to attack her.
- At least there's one thinker in your group. The short one seems intelligent too, though she's rather insecure.
- Thank you... (?)
Yumi said this, but immediately regretted it and blushed.
- Are you the boss here? Come on, let's go outside and settle this one-on-one. I want to see something.
Erika pointed her axe at the woman, who merely laughed indifferently.
- Even though I do have an advantage inside this temple, you wouldn't last five minutes against me out there.
- Wanna bet?
Erika infused her axe with mana and spun it between her fingers.
- Relax! If I wanted to fight, I would've attacked you already! I overheard your conversation earlier and found it quite interesting.
Rayner pulled away, brushing the woman's arm aside, and began studying her thoughtfully.
- What part? I don't even remember what we were talking about.
- The tower's "monsters"! Didn't you say we didn't seem "natural"? Well, it's not that I'm a monster, but ever since I woke up here, I really haven't needed to eat, use the bathroom, or do anything like that! Maybe that's because I'm a goddess, obviously, but the fact is, I only have vague memories. I remember spending my days in the heavenly pantheon, using and abusing my power to manipulate humans and messing around with other people's lives, picking fights with Aphrodite, and occasionally mocking Hermes. But after that, I don't know what happened! I actually have very few memories. All I know is that I was placed here, and day after day, I simply keep "waiting" for someone. So far, I've only "seen" two groups pass through, but they all ignored the fact that I had a Grail fragment here. So I guess I can consider you my first official visitors.
Everyone was astonished, not only by the woman's strength but also because this was the first time they had encountered an intelligent "monster."
There was no way, right? Until now, they'd never encountered a monster with intelligence, let alone one with such incredible agility. And on top of that, she claimed to have memories? What the hell was going on? Vanya began to break into a cold sweat as she considered the possibilities surrounding this bizarre encounter.
- And how can we trust you? Anyone can lie, even a monster.
Rayner discreetly channeled mana into his hand, preparing another attack.
- Believe me if you want! I'm here to try to have a conversation. First of all, you humans claim to be so civilized, don't you? Pfft! Ever since ancient times, it seems you've never changed. Everyone thought humanity would evolve, but all you have are a few fleeting powers that are nothing compared to what "we" possess.
Persephone's words left everyone speechless because, in truth, the Returners were no match for the strongest demons in a one-on-one fight.
What if there are creatures even stronger than the demons? Then conquering the tower wouldn't make any difference...
Yumi began reflecting on the matter as well, but Erika nudged her after noticing the worried expression on her face.
- You're not going to get scared just because she dodged our attacks, are you? We can just get out of this temple and figure something out.
Erika spoke with an expression of anger and contempt directed at the woman.
- Hey, aren't you even going to hear what I have to propose?
- Since when do we negotiate with the enemy?
Rayner replied sharply.
- And why do you think I'm the enemy? Like I said, I was "placed" here.
- Okay, but what do you want, then? A banquet of fruit and some little ritual like your cattle used to perform?
Erika replied sarcastically.
- I do miss that, actually. But right now, I just want to GET OUT OF HERE!
- So you're saying you can't leave this temple.
Vanya rested her hand on her chin while avoiding Persephone's gaze.
- No. Neither can I nor my siblings.
That statement alarmed the others.
- What the hell do you mean, siblings?
Rayner asked as he looked around. Paying closer attention, he noticed that there were other temples scattered throughout the area.
- You think I'm alone here? At least those bastards are stuck in this hellhole with me. That's the one thing that makes me feel better.
- Now that I think about it, I'm sensing more Grail fragments, even if they're weaker...
Yumi began to break into a cold sweat.
- Yeah, well, those bastards have their own "treasures" too. Anyway, they're not nearly as easy to negotiate with as I am, so consider yourselves warned.
- Are they as strong as you?
Vanya asked, dreading the answer.
- Hm? I hate to admit it, but I'm just a grain of sand compared to them, haha! I've never been much of a fighter, nor have I ever liked putting in any effort. But if you run into Poseidon and Zeus, I'm sorry, my friends, but you're done for.
Everyone was stunned.
- And you'd hand over the Grail fragment if we managed to get you to "leave"?
Erika asked.
- Absolutely! I'd even give it to you willingly.
Rayner seemed interested and his eyes widened.
- Please, forget that idea.
Vanya replied, elbowing Rayner in the shoulder.
- Okay, but how are we supposed to free her?
Erika asked.
- Besides, there's still the matter of the other gods...
Yumi added.
- As for my siblings, I can teach you how to fight them. As you've seen, we're only powerful inside our temples. Beyond that, each of my siblings has a weakness. For example, the next temple over there belongs to Aphrodite. She'd never lose to any man, but against a woman more beautiful than her, she'd let her guard down. She's extremely jealous and easily loses focus.
Rayner looked at the three women beside him, but he couldn't imagine any of them being even remotely more beautiful than Persephone. Vanya gave him another elbow jab, this time hitting him in the stomach.
- Well, out of you three... I think the short one has the best chance of competing with her.
Persephone looked at Yumi, who immediately turned red.
- M-M-Me?! I'm definitely the ugliest one here!
- No, you're not! You're young, you have smooth skin, and you're exactly the kind of beauty the Greeks adore. She's always hated younger, more delicate women. You definitely have a chance.
- Okay, and what about the others? — Erika asked.
- Next is that bastard Poseidon. He's weak against electrical attacks and he's slow, so if someone faster than him...
- Rayner, you can coat your spear with electricity, right?
Vanya asked, and Rayner puffed out his chest proudly.
- That's something I'm really good at! And I'm fast, too! Leave that pushover to me.
- Your confidence is going to get you killed, you know that?
Erika glanced at him sideways.
- Next is Apollo. He's weak against poison. Does any of you have a technique like that?
- I have poisoned darts.
Vanya held her weapon, seeming ready to take on that battle.
- Well, this is where things get more difficult, because the next three are the strongest... especially Athena. Her weakness is someone impulsive who disobeys rules and refuses to follow orders.
- Well, I've always been an anarchist, and I don't give a damn about anyone else.
Erika swung her axe the way she usually did.
- Now, the next one is Dionysus. He seems weak, but he's just pretending. His weakness is women. In his case, I think he likes curvier women with large breasts.
Persephone glanced at Yumi, who blushed once again and lowered her head, feeling secretly offended.
- Then it's going to have to be Vanya. Just look at her boobs compared to mine. She just needs to act a little more vulgar.
Erika looked at Vanya, who also blushed and seemed irritated.
- Tch. Don't ask me to do the impossible, but if there's no other choice...
- And Zeus is the freaking last one? Leave him to me! He's the strongest, right?
Rayner wore a confident expression.
- Your confidence really is going to get you killed, my friend. But unlike the others, Zeus doesn't have any weaknesses. I don't even know how to help you with him.
- Wait, why can't we just attack them all together?
Erika pointed out the obvious, but Persephone immediately ruined her strategy.
- Because ever since you set foot in this place, you've had only two hours left to deal with all the temples.
The four of them widened their eyes in shock, but Vanya asked:
- And what happens if we don't finish within two hours?
Persephone paused, then smiled with an expression that seemed almost sinister.
- The Grail fragments will evaporate.