Moran directly shifted his consciousness into the Simulator.
The simulation instance that had originally been gray and unclickable regained its luster, waiting only for him to click in and begin the second simulation.
"Second simulation..."
Many beautiful figures flashed through Moran's mind.
Carrying the longing in his heart, he touched the panel.
Greek Heroic Age Simulation Confirmed
However, before the simulation began,
the Simulator displayed a special prompt window for Moran.
Notice Regarding Simulations Overwriting Reality—
The following is information the host needs to know. After every simulation, the Simulator will render a judgment. Only simulations that achieve an EX rating are qualified to overwrite reality. Simulations rated below EX are, by nature, closer to Lostbelts. Achieving an EX rating also comes with bonus rewards. This Simulator wishes for the host to achieve an EX rating as soon as possible. The purpose upheld by this Simulator is for the host's life to become so fulfilling that there is no longer any need to use the Simulator.
Moran quickly understood the meaning of the notice.
In other words, what he experienced in the simulation was not a fictional process akin to data projection.
The simulation process was more like the mechanism of a Fantasy Tree.
Once his simulation met a certain standard, it could directly rise from a Lostbelt into reality.
It would directly overwrite Proper Human History.
"I see. That means I can leave behind traces of my own in this world as well. I only need to make the Lostbelt sufficient to replace reality. This really is..."
Moran could not help but smile in wonder.
He had not expected the Simulator to operate through such a mechanism.
Achieving an EX rating would allow a Lostbelt to overwrite reality. By then, even the Throne of Heroes would record Moran's deeds.
At that point, if he were summoned as a Heroic Spirit,
it probably would not be impossible.
Simulation initiated. Anchor deployed. Greek Heroic Age selected. Simulation commencing immediately. Fixed skills carried by the host detected. Recording— The host may still select three skills. Randomly drawing from the simulation's skill pool. Please select three skills from the list below to bring into the simulation. Available skills: The Possession of the Golden Fleece (EX), The Aesthetics of the Hunt (B), Mending All Flaws (C), The Valor of Heroes (B+), Mana Burst (B), Monstrous Beauty (A), Bravery (A)
Once again, he faced a difficult skill selection.
The Simulator provided detailed descriptions for all seven skills.
As a hero, Moran now had different insights from his first run, and he made his choice much faster.
"I've chosen."
Moran looked at the three skills he had selected.
He had not simply picked whichever ones had been strongest in the first run.
This time, he had a goal.
The skills were chosen to advance that goal, so he selected the three that would have the greatest effect.
The Possession of the Golden Fleece (EX): The Golden Fleece, symbolizing wealth and the ideal of happiness, has been obtained by you. As its holder, you will never be troubled by wealth. The Golden Fleece can heal the wounds of the injured merely by letting them look upon it. If thrown onto the ground, it can also summon Dragon Kind.
The Valor of Heroes (B+): The crystallization of martial prowess acquired through the feat of the Argo's voyage and twenty years of battlefield slaughter. Even taking an enemy commander's head from amidst ten thousand troops is effortless. Greatly boosts leadership. Your heroic charisma will become a Flame of Hope guiding people onward.
Monstrous Beauty (A): You possess a peerlessly handsome face. Even soldiers slaughtering one another in a war between two nations would cease their fighting because of your beauty. Your handsomeness has reached an almost monstrous level. Once revealed, it will affect those around you.
Moran had a different idea for this simulation.
He did not intend to leave the Invisible Island. Instead, he decided to use a roundabout method to break the rumors spread by the Gorgon Sisters.
He had not possessed that ability in his first run.
These skills were all crystallizations formed from the experiences of his first run.
Now, he had the possibility of putting this idea into practice.
Skill selection complete. Greek Heroic Age, simulation begins—
The process was the same as during the first simulation.
It merely felt very similar to what was known as Rayshifting.
Moran's consciousness vanished into a sheet of white light. When he regained his senses, he smelled a familiar scent.
It was the smell carried by the sea breeze.
Moran was still born upon the sea.
The merchant couple who gave birth to him marveled at the child's exquisite appearance, able to imagine what an astonishingly beautiful man he would grow into.
They prayed to Poseidon for their child to survive.
But this time, the course of events was somewhat different.
Moved by the sight of your parents desperately trying to keep you alive, you chose to intervene. Though you had only just been born and were far too weak, you still activated your Demonic Bloodline, letting blood flow through the umbilical cord. Relying on the immense mana you possessed from birth, you created Sea Serpents. Two Sea Serpents were fighting upon the sea. Amid the chaos, the cradle carrying you fell onto the surface of the ocean. You had no way of knowing the final outcome of the battle. Listening to the heart-wrenching cries amid the thunderstorm, although your parents did not die to the sea monsters, they still lost you. Having consumed too much mana to create the monsters, you fell asleep in the cradle as the waves carried you onward.
Poseidon's protection still remained.
The beginning had changed slightly compared to the first run.
But the result was still similar.
After drifting across the sea for an entire week,
you caught the incomparably familiar scent of an island.
At that moment, you knew that you had once again returned to the Invisible Island, the place that filled you with such nostalgia.
"Oh my, this child..."
Stheno held the child she had picked up from the beach.
Looking into his bright eyes,
she did not know why, but both sorrow and joy welled up within her, as though this were not their first meeting.
She could not bring herself to dislike him.
She wanted to keep holding him in her arms and never let go.
Although Stheno found it somewhat strange,
she still willfully brought you back to the island and introduced you to Euryale and Medusa.
From the very beginning, there was no barrier between you.
At a speed that even the Gorgon Sisters found inconceivable, they accepted the fact that you had become family.
Twelve years passed in the blink of an eye.
By now, the Gorgon Sisters could no longer live without you. You were someone they could not do without.
"Moran, why are you here?"
Medusa found Moran among the trees.
She and Moran were responsible for Stheno and Euryale's meals. Today was another day no different from usual.
"Um... well... I'm actually ready!"
"Ready? Have you already prepared dinner for Elder Sister and Second Sister?"
"Yeah! Um, the ingredients I gathered are over by the beach!"
Moran leaned against the bushes with a subtle expression.
Faint, restless movements could be heard from within the bushes.
Medusa could not help but worry at the sight. "Moran, are you feeling unwell somewhere? Or..."
"N-No, I'm fine!"
Moran immediately perked up.
This made Medusa feel extremely strange.
There also seemed to be a strange scent floating in the air.
Just as she wanted to move closer and inspect Moran's condition, a voice that made her soul tremble rang out.
"Oh my, Medusa, haven't you prepared my dinner yet? Do I need to remind you about even such a trivial matter?"
"E-Elder Sister!?"
"How lazy, Medusa."
Stheno emerged from the bushes beside Moran at some point.
This left Medusa unable to think.
Terrified of her two elder sisters, Medusa's nerves tightened. She failed to notice that Stheno had emerged from the bushes beside Moran.
All she could think about was preparing dinner for Elder Sister.
"Oh my, she ran away~"
Stheno raised an eyelash and feigned surprise.
Watching Medusa flee in such a panic,
she found it very amusing.
But honestly, Stheno herself was nervous and thrilled too.
"Stheno, could you tell me beforehand next time you want to play like this?"
"Hehe, weren't you enjoying it too?"
Stheno smiled sweetly at Moran.
She seductively licked the crystalline white dew from the corner of her lips, her flushed red cheeks, slightly intoxicated, utterly enchanting.
As though she had not had enough.
"You are my toy alone. For countless days and nights to come, you must comfort me. Hehe, you are not allowed the right to refuse."
Stheno spoke words befitting a goddess.
The harshness within them had long since faded away.
Perhaps they sounded like an order.
But in Moran's eyes, it was merely the coquettish willfulness of a girl in love.
Before you continue