What Aphrodite spoke of was truly terrifying, words that almost made Asterios feel a fear and worry born from his very heart.
Overthrow the God-King Zeus?
Was he to do such a thing?
“The gods lead humanity to walk the right path and follow the proper way.
This is the correct principle, and I think there is nothing wrong with it.
God-King Zeus has not made any mistakes so far, so why overthrow him?” Asterios used these high principles to block the question.
Hearing this, Aphrodite burst into laughter, unable to help but tease whether Asterios actually believed that.
Was what Zeus did really without issue?
“At least ten thousand years ago, he stood up to face the white destruction, and that is enough.
I do not wish to deny this merit, nor do I wish to deny his love for humanity.” These words actually left Aphrodite speechless.
Her laughter stopped, and then she said helplessly, “Yes, yes, you’re right about everything, there’s absolutely no problem with it.
Back then he was the most serious one, while it was us useless fellows who were guilty of underestimating the enemy and being careless, and by the time we realized it, all was lost.” Aphrodite recalled that great white war from ten thousand years ago.
They were defeated in that war, their True Body Machine Gods were all destroyed, and eventually they drifted to this Greece.
It took a long time to recover to their current state; it was truly an experience one would rather not look back on.
“You~ why are you being so rational?!
Sometimes people need to be a bit more emotional, don’t they?
Love and Beauty don’t talk logic with you; that momentary throb of the heart is enough to decide everything.” However, Aphrodite was still somewhat dissatisfied.
In her eyes, this child often seemed to be feigning understanding.
Occasional irrationality only occurred in emergencies, such as when he saved Atalanta today.
Aphrodite had been in disbelief when she caught sight of that scene.
This little guy actually erupted with such powerful fighting will and strength, as rage and wildness completely dominated his body and mind.
That was exactly the kind of person Aphrodite favored; only such a person truly seemed human.
Someone who would give their all for what they cared about, who would act on emotion, and who would fall into an emotional frenzy.
Aphrodite had almost never seen this side of Asterios before, until she saw his fury today.
To be honest, it was incredible.
Even Aphrodite felt those two Centaurs were quite pitiful; they were just chasing a mortal girl to have some fun, yet they were smashed into bits by Asterios and thrown who knows where.
So he also had such a hot, sensual, and restless side in his heart; that was what Aphrodite thought when she saw that scene.
And she appreciated this side of Asterios, finding him very much to her liking.
“It is precisely because my strength is so great that I cannot be completely dominated by wildness and emotion.
If I truly become like that, I fear that one day I will make a terrible mistake.” The benevolence he showed now, his care for others, seemed strangely redundant to Aphrodite.
But she didn’t say much, because Asterios had experienced too little.
Once he truly integrated into this world, would he still be able to maintain his current mindset and calm?
No one knows that.
Aphrodite was no prophetic Prometheus, but she was very much looking forward to what Asterios would become after experiencing the ways of the world; that would be so interesting.
Thinking about it, she suddenly reached out her finger to touch Asterios’s shoulder.
Lightly stroking his skin with her elegant nails, the sensation, like an electric shock, made Asterios’s body jump.
His face began to turn red and hot; after all, this contact was a bit too challenging for him.
This was the direct flirtation of the Goddess of Love and Beauty; another person or god would likely have been driven mad with excitement and tackled Aphrodite to the ground, seeking a night of pleasure.
Asterios being able to remain composed until now was already an extraordinary feat.
Seeing him become nervous, Aphrodite suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled.
At this moment, something appeared in her hand…
something Asterios didn’t recognize, but if people from the future saw it, they would probably recognize it easily.
It was a cigarette.
The cigarette lit itself spontaneously.
Aphrodite first took a sip of wine and then leisurely began to smoke.
After all, she was in a good mood now, and if she didn’t smoke, she’d feel like something was missing.
The scent from the burning cigarette wasn’t choking at all; instead, it felt like incense.
Asterios felt his spirit relax a bit, perhaps from the effect of the alcohol or the cigarette.
“Once you, little guy, have gained enough experience in the mortal world, if you can still maintain such a calm heart, then I can only sigh in admiration.
But I think this world won’t give you that chance.
This isn’t decided by the gods, but by the laws of the world itself.” Aphrodite said this and flicked the nearly finished cigarette aside, which extinguished automatically the moment it hit the ground.
Then she picked up the wine glass, took a big gulp, and tilted her head back to swallow it all.
Asterios watched her throat move; every inch of that snow-white skin was full of temptation.
“You cannot remain unmoved by external things forever, Asterios.
Today’s events are proof enough~ Looking forward to our next meeting, boy~” Aphrodite vanished after saying that.
Facing this goddess who comes and goes like the wind, free and easy, Asterios couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile and asked the person from the distant future, “So, is this a trial I must undergo?” [That depends on how you view it.
Mara Papiyas also tempted me three times, but did not succeed.
If this is a trial you should undergo, then so be it.
However, I think she shouldn’t be of any harm to you.] The temptation of desire, the threat of violence, and doubt about one’s own cultivation—these were the trials The Awakened One underwent under the Shala Trees.
Eventually, he resolved them one by one with immovability, fearlessness, and a smile.
The Awakened One’s compassion and wisdom were fully revealed at that moment, and he finally attained Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.
Now that even his friend said so, Asterios no longer felt there was any problem with this matter.
He should think about this question carefully and then find a way to resolve it.
After all, speaking of the matter itself, he should solve the problem rather than escape.
Aphrodite was not an evil goddess; that was what Asterios believed.