Chapter 115: Between Life and Death
BOOM!
The Goddess of Life’s head snapped to the side as the punch connected cleanly with her cheek.
Golden light scattered from the point of contact like shattered glass, and her body was forced several meters backward through the void before she caught herself.
For a brief second, the entire space fell into absolute silence.
Azara’s red eyes widened in absolute shock ’Does this bastard have a death wish?’
The Goddess of Life raised a hand to her face, touching the spot where his fist had landed.
A faint mark of disrupted divine light lingered there for a moment before fading.
Her gaze flickered back to Klein, and her eyes narrowed in anger “…A mortal like you actually dared to hit me.”
Klein shook out his hand once, still floating in place “That was for the aphrodisiac. I am sure you are the one who put it.”
Azara’s fingers tightened at her side, and a faint layer of energy gathered around her hand, ready to intervene if Goddess of Life, Eudora, tried to attack Klein.
Eudora glared at Klein in displeasure “You accuse me so confidently. Based on what, exactly? Proximity? Timing? Or simply because you cannot imagine anyone else capable of it?”
Klein met her stare without flinching “It’s just my gut feeling.”
Azara was dumbfounded that he actually hit her because of his gut feeling ’This guy really has some problems in his head.’
He clenched his fist, feeling the residual energy from hitting her face “I don’t know why you did that or what other motives you had.”
“…But I swear I will fuck you one day for that.”
Hearing his words, Azara sighed inwardly ’Why is he so confident that he can offend a Zenith God and live peacefully?’
Eudora fumed in rage that a mere mortal actually dared to hit her, but what’s more irritating is that she couldn’t do anything against him
’If I did something… I am sure Her Excellency won’t forgive me… just what does this mortal have that everyone is obsessed with him?’
Azara’s gaze moved between the two of them, and her expression remained cold.
She made no move to stop Klein’s words, nor did she offer Eudora any assistance.
If anything, there was a faint trace of satisfaction watching Eudora get humiliated.
’But why is she not taking any action against him…’
Eudora’s voice came out sharply “…You truly have no fear.”
Klein shrugged “Fear is useful when it keeps you alive. Right now I’m already dead. Changes the math.”
Eudora’s fingers curled at her side “You should pray that your ’gut feeling’ never places you in front of me outside this protected space.”
Klein’s faint smile returned “I’ll keep that in mind. Right after I figure out why a goddess felt the need to drug a mortal through her own Saintess.”
Looking at him, Eudora uttered “It was for my own amusement… I was trying to make you have sex with my Saintess so you two could get closer.”
His gaze narrowed in anger upon hearing her words “Yeah… I am definitely fucking all of your holes one day, you damned bitch.”
Eudora’s eyes flared.”How dare you use such derogatory terms toward a Zenith Goddess?”
Golden light erupted around her body, and Azara’s eyes sharpened.
Death energy coiled faintly around her fingers, ready to intervene if Eudora’s power crossed the line from display into actual attack.
Eudora took a step closer through the void “You are nothing more than a fleeting existence. A mortal who should have been grateful to even stand in the presence of divinity. And yet you speak to me as if I were some street woman.”
Klein looked at her with steady eyes “Shut up, thot. You used your own Saintess as a tool.”
“You slipped an aphrodisiac into her cake so I would lose control and fuck her for your entertainment. You don’t get to demand respect after that.”
“If you wanted me closer to Eleanor, you could have done it without using an aphrodisiac. Instead, you treated both of us like pieces on a board for your amusement.”
“So yes… I will remember this. And one day, I will make sure you regret it in the most personal way possible.”
Eudora’s expression twisted between rage and disbelief “You threaten a Zenith Goddess with sexual domination? Have you completely lost your mind?”
Azara spoke in a dry voice “He never had much of one to begin with.”
Eudora’s golden aura pulsed harder, and for a moment it looked as if she might lash out regardless of the consequences.
Then, with visible effort, she forced the light back under control.
She glared at Klein, “…Enjoy this temporary protection while you can. Outside this space, words like yours are not forgiven.”
Klein looked at her without a trace of fear or respect.
“Fuck off, bitch.”
Golden light flickered once at Eudora’s fingertips before she crushed it.
“…You will regret this.”
Klein gave a small, uninterested shrug “Add it to the list.”
Eudora’s gaze stayed on him for a second longer, and then she turned her eyes toward Azara “You should teach your mortal better manners before someone else does it for you.”
Azara’s reply was cold “Enough chatting. Leave.”
Eudora’s form began to dissolve into motes of golden light, and her final glare was locked on Klein as she faded from the black space.
The pressure of her presence vanished with her, leaving only the endless quiet of Death’s space behind.
Klein exhaled slowly and shook his hand out once more “Does she have some kind of charm or what? I felt weird just looking at her.”
Azara stared at him “Any mortal who looks at her face will instantly fall in love with her. That’s why I closed your eyes that day when she appeared.”
Hearing this, Klein hummed under his breath “No wonder.”
Standing up from her throne, she muttered “You insane bastard, on what confidence are you offending her like that? Do you have a relationship with other Zenith gods?”
Klein pointed at her without hesitation “You. I know you will protect me.”
Azara looked at him in utter silence “…If she really wants to hurt you, even I couldn’t stop her.”
She took a step closer “I am one of the three Fallens of the Underworld. I alone am not a Zenith.”
“Only with my sisters do I become a Zenith God.”
“So don’t go around provoking other Zenith Gods, thinking that I will protect you. That assumption will get you erased.”
She continued “I am really surprised that Eudora didn’t try to harm you today. Consider yourself lucky.”
“The next time you insult a Zenith Goddess to her face, I will not be able to stand in front of you and make it disappear.”
She folded her arms, “Do you understand what I am telling you, or are you going to answer with another joke?”
Klein was quiet for a few seconds, then gave a small nod “…I understand.”
Azara gave him a skeptical look “Do you?”
“I do.”
A short silence settled between them.
Then Klein spoke again, more quietly “For what it’s worth… I know I pushed too far with her. I was angry.”
“That aphrodisiac could have ended a lot worse if Orpheus hadn’t been there. But I shouldn’t have assumed you could cover every consequence.”
Azara huffed under her breath “…At least you are capable of recognizing it after the fact.”
“Do not grow attached to the idea that I will always appear. There will be places and moments where even I cannot reach you in time.”
“If you continue to treat gods like ordinary enemies, one of them will eventually answer you in a way I cannot prevent.”
Klein nodded once “I’ll be more careful.”
Azara looked at him for a moment, then she turned slightly and sat back down on her throne, crossing one leg over the other.
“…See that you are. I have no interest in collecting your soul earlier than necessary.”
Klein floated a little closer to the throne, “That almost sounded like you prefer me alive.”
Azara rested her cheek against her fingers and closed her eyes briefly.
“Do you want me to make you stay here for a decade?”
The threat was delivered in a flat, almost lazy tone, but the weight behind it was real.
In this space, a decade could pass with nothing more than her decision.
With a soft chuckle, Klein asked “Anyway, did you like the wine I gave you the other day?”
Azara opened her eyes at that, and for a moment she looked at him, as if deciding whether the question was worth answering.
“…I did,” she replied at last. “It was acceptable.”
Klein’s smile widened slightly “Just acceptable? I went through some trouble getting that one.”
Azara shifted her resting position against her hand, “It was better than the usual offerings left at forgotten altars,”
“Most mortals leave blood, ash, or empty prayers. You left something that actually had taste.”
Klein floated a little closer to the armrest of her throne, “I’ll take that as high praise coming from you.”
Azara’s eyes narrowed faintly, “Do not grow complacent. One decent bottle does not erase the fact that you are still an annoying presence.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Klein replied with a smile. “But if you liked it, I can bring something better next time.”
She regarded him in silence for a few seconds.
Then she closed her eyes again, returning to her previous posture.
“…If you insist on leaving things, choose properly. I have no use for cheap sentiment.”
Klein’s voice softened just a little “It wasn’t sentiment. I just thought you might like it.”
A moment later, she replied “…It was fine.”
Klein smiled to himself, not pushing further.
He floated back half a step, “I’ll find a better one next time, then.”
Azara did not open her eyes, but the corner of her mouth tightened almost imperceptibly, as if she were resisting the urge to comment further.
“…Do as you like. Just do not die on the way to deliver it.”
Klein chuckled softly “I’ll do my best. Now send me back… my wife must be waiting for me.”
Looking at her, he muttered with a soft smile “Thank you for answering, Azara. And for not letting her do anything.”
She closed her eyes for a brief moment “…Do not make a habit of thanking me. It is unpleasant. Just leave already.”