This chapter would be a little bit shorter. Thanks for reading!!!

CHAPTER 7: AROUND APOLLONIA

Under the dark moonless night.

The receptionist of the tavern herself reserved room 302. Her shift had already ended, so it was time for her to rest for tommorrow. But, instead of availing the soft comfy bed in the room, she was huddled on the wall on the right side of the room, with her right eye pressed to one side.

She was waiting for the show to commence, and when the actors all went to bed..........

"Thanks for the food. Ehehe."

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"I'm starting... this is my first time."

"Master.... don't... mmm... this is my first time too..."

"Does it hurt? I'll be more gentle."

"Please.... no more..... iyah!!"

"Don't squirm... It only makes me harder to.... "

"Y-yeah... that's the spot.... ahh.."

"Don't hold it in. Let it be."

"But I.... ahh! No more!! I can't!! haah!"

"I'm almost there."

"Ahh.... aahh!!!"

"I'm gonna finish it."

"M-master! Your getting rough!! Gold can't!! I-!!"

"Haah!!!!"

"IYAAAAAHH!!!"

"STOP IT YOU TWO!!!!!!!!!"

Tishia was covering her ears, her cheeks red like a tomato. The erotic sounds coming from Gold had her retreat in a corner of the room. Alter, in turn, gave her an incredulous look.

"Huh? I'm just treating Gold's power deficiency."

"That's not the problem!!!!!!"

Alter had used Magic Mod, trying to repair the broken magic circuits that flowed through Gold. It was his first time trying to do so, making a few few mistakes that brought some pain to the little goddess. He managed to repair some in the end, but continually doing so showed some bad effects, so he abruptly stopped.

Gold was limp, unable to move due to the pain. But she didn't complained as long as it was her master. On the other hand, even though Alter had already explained it, Tishia still couldn't try to ignore the erotic sounds that Gold produced.

"haah... haa..... pervert goddess..."

"Who's the pervert!!!!"

The night ended with Alter sleeping on the floor.

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It was early morning the next day. Only few people were already awake around the city. But on the dark alleys in the slum area of Apollonia, the silhouettes of four people were outlined by the magic lamp that lit the streets.

"Where are you going, little mice"

"Stop moving. You're surrounded."

"So, peacefully raise your hand and-"

"WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?!"

The man with red hair shouted. His job was that of a trader, and he was a rich one at that. But three people right now are arresting him.

"We know you're the leader."

But the black haired boy saw through his disguise. His records were supposedly clear. Any kinds of evidence have been erased. And all sort of alibis have been under effect. He did not even used magic so that nothing would be traced. But here he was, easily tailed and cornered by three kids.

"YOU THINK I"M SCARED OF KIDS?!!"

He unsheathed his knife. It was sporting a scarlet blade, and an obsidian stone at the pommel. Classified as a rare weapon, it was the strongest among his arsenals. A knife that could cut through a dragon's hide. But one of his opponents showed hers, making his face contort in despair.

"You're going to use that toy, against mine?"

The golden haired little girl asked in ridicule. She raised her right hand and the space in front of her distorted, and a black bladed scythe with a golden shaft appeared.

The red haired man's legs gave up, and he surrendered unconditionally. The terror that the scythe gave off was reflected on his face.

"Its a mystery why should we even bother with this petty job, master."

"Ahaha. It reminded me of the old times when its just the two of us back then."

"...... you're leaving me out..."

The quest that was similar to this event was supposed to be harder than usual. It took Alter ten days to finish it in the death game, not knowing where and who to find. But now he cut corners and went directly to the mastermind, skipping the entire process.

"Now, tell us where you hid the stolen goods."

"I-I don't know what your ta-"

"Should I judge you right now?"

Bloodlust filled the entire area as Tishia's eyes glowed white. The man, knowing that his life would end if he kept silent immediately confessed every detail of the robbed goods.

"Master, you forgot something."

"Hmm?"

"'Bonus Objective', wasn't it?"

"Oh!"

Alter drew near the red haired man and whisphered something.

"!!!!!!!!!"

"If you don't give me that, I'll let the goddess of justice there to judge your soul instead."

"G-goddess of justice?!!"

"Tishia."

Alter made a sign, and Tishia followed what they had rehearsed earlier. She activated her sword of light, Claiomh Solais, and the scales of justice appeared above her head, Such act made the man wet his pants. This kind of threatening can't be resisted by mortals.

"Don't.... please don't....

"So?"

"......Temple.... A house to the right of the temple. Colored green. In the gray locker....."

"Thanks a lot!! Tishia, take care of this guy!! Let's go Gold."

The two gods ran off the direction of the temple, leaving Tishia stupefied and screaming.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHH?????!!!"

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"Ahaha. It really is the real thing!"

Alter was holding a brown folded paper. It was the reward for the supposed bonus quest.

"Treasure map!!!"

He was the first player to stumble upon this bonus quest, when he and Gold interrogated a criminal NPC a bit more cruelly than normal. It was mostly due to his high 'Persuasion' skill and Gold's 'Intimidation' skill. When combined, both of them do wonders.

"Where does it leads to, master??"

"It points to some island in the south area of the Hellenic League. The nearest city is called , it says."

"Serifos....... it rings a bell, master."

"Indeed."

"Should we stop there?"

"Well, it depends on the route of our ship. But we'll definetely go there."

"Let's go back to claim the goods for our rewards."

"..... what are you hurrying for?"

"Ice cream!"

It seems the goddess of time developed a love for Imperial Ice Cream.

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"Th-thank you so much!!! If not for you, I would've been bankrupt..."

The culprit and all his associates have been arrested by the 7th Legion. The goods have been restored, and the three gods given their just rewards. Now with enough sum to spend along, they have two more days before the voyage to the Hellenic League commences.

"Where do you plan to go, you two?"

"Shop for clothes. And you?"

"I'll go and visit the blacksmith."

Tishia and Gold went to find and be able to replace their worn out clothes. Alter decided to go sightsee the blacksmith's shop.

"Wow..... these are neat!"

Alter was ogling the weapons that were lined up in the blacksmith's display. Back in his time, Alter did not learned the blacksmithing skill, and entirely relied on to a subordinate. The prices were high, but he did not plan to buy because he had his beside him, along with several more weapons 'gathering dust' in his inventory.

"You like 'em boy?"

The blacksmith noticed Alter's interest in the weapons, and he planned to brag about them. Talk about pride.

"Is this made from quicksilver? Its beautiful!"

"Oho? You have a keen eye for swords, young 'un. That's actually infused with , and is deadly against those mischievous fairy folk."

"Cold Iron, huh? First time I've heard of it."

"Its recently discovered metal. The need to drive off monsters along the Imperium had risen drastically."

"What's the best item you have here?"

"Best item, huh? Wait for a bit."

The blacksmith returned after fetching something. In his hand was a sharp-looking knife that had a green colored blade, with a bronze handle. It looks like a ceremonial knife, but as the blacksmith demonstrated, it cut through a steel ingot in one slash.

"Impressive."

"Isn't it? Its made of the legendary metal called Orichalcum. Imperial Shields, or Hellenic Armors, there are no metal existing that this baby can't cut."

The blacksmith declared. Alter just smiled, but the blacksmith's pride was provoked.

"You don't believe me? It could cut through your weapon with ease! Show it!! I'll replace it later with one of my superior works, for a discount."

"I.. don't think you could..."

Alter gave up after the old man refused to back down. Some other customers drew near for a demonstration. This was the blacksmith's plan, to let them know the quality of his works and attract more buyers. Alter raised his Tyrfing horizontally, and the orichalcum knife was slashed against it.

'TIINK!!'

".........."

"Sorry, old man."

The orichalcum blade was cleaved cleanly into two, the severed part stuck to a wall after the impact. The black blade of Tyrfing vibrated as if laughing at the old man. Alter quickly went away due to the numerous stares he felt around him, leaving the old man standing still in shock.

Alter went inside the temple, where statues of gods that were celebrated in the Imperum decorate the center. He drew near a statue's pedestal, looking at the long inscription.

Circa 600-900

Empress Iulia

Princess Aiustia

Lady Graydia

Lady Tremum

Princess Ionia

Alter was puzzled at the meaning of the names inscribed. Looking at another statue, this one a heavily armored soldier, it was also similar.

Circa 600-900

Prince Gallus

General Antonicus

General Vesivius

Princess Lilliana

"Its the same. What does this list mean?"

He asked a passing priestess to clear his doubts.

"Excuse me but, what do these names mean?"

"You don't know? Are you a foreigner, dear stranger?"

"Yes. I am...."

"That means the persons chosen by the gods' spirit to be the next goddess from the calendar year 600 to 900."

"Eh? Gods' spirit?! Chosen? Aren't gods immortal beings?"

" You must have a wrong concept on the immortality of gods.

The priestess explained that immortality of the gods meant that the essense of the god itself doesn't disappear from the world after the person's, but choses its next vessel that was psychologically compatible with it. Though she also said that there were some exceptions, and those gods have lived through the Dark Ages.

Alter, hearing of this, thought that meeting these gods would allow him to uncover the mystery behind the development of the world. He also thought that these essences could have forced those normal people to live the life of a god. He was angered at the thought, wondering if it could be true.

"Do you have any records of history after the Dark Ages??"

"Sorry, but the earliest records after the Dark Ages were the founding of the Empire. The blank period was heavily debated by scholars around the world."

It seems this priestess was very knowledgeable, Alter thought. He thanked the priestess, and after viewing the statues a little bit more, he left to return to the Tavern since it was getting dark.

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A few minutes before Alter decided to leave.

"Hey, Justitia......"

"Its Tishia."

"....... how could you tell its good?"

Gold was wondering how Tishia could choose clothes even if she was blind. Tishia smiled at the inquisitive child and answered her.

"Remeber how I cannot see things in your point of view?"

"Mmm"

"I could still feel the outline of different objects. Each one has individual auras that I could tell apart,"

"Ooh. Such fine skill. But that doesn't answer how could you choose beautiful clothing...."

"I....... I actually can't... sorry..."

"Don't worry. Since master specifically told me to be GOOD to you, I'll help you choose BEAUTIFUL clothes."

"T-thanks..."

Tishia could not help worry about Gold's emphasis on those words while emitting hostility. As for Gold, even though she really planned on playing a prank, she mustered all her reasoning to stop and follow her master's orders, choosing fitting clothes for Tishia. Tishia suddenly stiffened, though.

"!!!!!"

"What is it?"

"I just sensed some hostility..."

"Apart from me?"

"......apart from you."

"Well that's troubling.... where is it?"

"...its gone. I can't detect it anymore."

"Probably some rats that were angry for their nest being destroyed... don't mind it"

Gold was talking about the group that they cornered for stealing the merchant's goods, but Tishia thought otherwise.

"We should still be prudent."

"Yes~ yes~"

In the end , with a fashionable short cape and a hood, Tishia bought a red and white travelling wear that emphasizes her figures and drew stares from the surrounding, while Gold bought a black frilly dress and a small hat fashioned for a noble child, looking exactly like a gothic loli.

Satisfied with their new attire, they visited a few more stalls, before returning to the Tavern to meet Alter.

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At a dark place.

A person cloaked in red was running quickly, barely avoiding detection from some enemies. The small passageway ended and the figure appeared before a place covered in grass. It was a field for pasture. The figure used the underground aqueducts to quickly travel to this place, as if it was running from something.

The wind blew off the cloak that covers the head, revealing a woman sporting a red hair that only extended until her neck. She has very beautiful features, like a princess in legends, but what was most peculiar was her eyes.

Vermillion eyes that shone like burning blood. She stared back to where she saw the girl with auburn hair along with a small child for a companion.

"Tishia.... so this is where you were hiding."

And the woman left, her destination the headquarters of the 7th Legion.

-Chapter End-