Inescapable Regret and Guilt-Please Send Flowers! Please Send Monthly Tickets!

The altar before them was piled with dazzling offerings like gems, so many that they were almost blinding.

It was clear just how dearly the people loved them.

Euryale lay beside her. "Still, being served feels pretty nice~ No matter what kind of difficult task we give them, those children are ecstatic to complete it. Watching them work so hard—isn't that the duty of a goddess?"

"By the way, Euryale, hasn't Medusa been sticking to Moran lately? She seems even clingier than before."

"Now that you mention it, she has. They're excessively close. That foolish little sister has changed quite noticeably too. Her body has somehow grown another third larger than before. She's practically a gigantic mountain."

A look of amazement appeared on Euryale's little face.

She and Stheno had been born as perfect goddesses from the beginning, with no possibility of further growth.

Medusa was completely different from them.

She was someone who grew and changed with time.

"Hehe, things are getting more and more interesting. Still, this island doesn't allow for private space. Stealing a toy from her sisters' hands—Medusa is truly both lazy and arrogant."

"Huh? Are we going to urge that foolish little sister along? It has been a while since I last saw that adorable troubled expression of hers. Hehe, what kind of difficult task should we give her this time?"

The two sisters lazily stretched their waists.

In high spirits, they walked out of the temple.

The Pelasgians' faith was so devout that they had built more than one temple. Each of the three goddesses had her own temple.

However, the greatest concentration of faith was still in the main temple.

It was the grand hall of the Mother Goddess, built in the image of Medusa as she was now.

"The number of people is increasing every day. The population has risen from a hundred to over a thousand. It's time to consider expanding the territory and building a city. We also need more houses to take in more outsiders and newborns."

Moran carefully planned the future of The Invisible Island.

To be honest, things had not gone entirely smoothly.

The Invisible Island itself was merely an exceedingly ordinary island, without any remarkable or special features.

Its resources were very limited.

At first, you had personally and strictly planned resource gathering, preventing excessive exploitation from draining the future dry.

Fortunately, the Pelasgians' faith was firm.

Always obedient and submissive, they had learned to plan for the future and continued to believe in the Mother Goddess.

That hardship had now been rewarded.

The clearest proof was the Mother Goddess's radiance shining upon them. Medusa's protection had granted the people favorable weather, and their crops no longer failed completely.

The people had also grown stronger because of that blessing.

The most obvious signs were the reduced occurrence of illness and the soaring survival rate of newborns. The Mother Goddess's protection had greatly improved everyone's constitution.

"If we expand the city-state... we could use Thessaly as a reference..."

Moran was still considering serious matters.

A faint rustling sound crept out from the darkness.

A snake tail, thick and sturdy like a hemp rope, approached him like a hunter lying in wait.

It launched a sudden ambush in an instant!

Yet Moran immediately reached out and caught it.

"Medusa, I'm considering how to expand the city-state. If you're bored, you can come help share the burden."

"Hmph, compared to handling these trivial matters, do you really think they're more important than me?"

A sacred and flawless beauty entered the hall.

Her purple hair swayed with a lifelike rhythm, while golden wings radiated a brilliance rivaling the sun.

A few golden scales clung tightly to her fair skin.

From head to toe, she exuded an aura of nobility and elegance.

"You're so willful. Do you know that goddesses from other nations would never be so merciful toward their priests and envoys... Moran, only you are worthy of me being like this..."

Medusa's voice was sweet enough to melt gold.

Waves rippled through her purple eyes.

The world reflected in her gaze held only Moran's figure. Her slightly parted crimson lips exhaled warm, sweet breath.

This was the greatest effect of the people's gathered faith.

Medusa's monstrous side had been completely suppressed, while her divine side had grown tremendously.

It was the form of a goddess that had once been forgotten.

Medusa's appearance seemed to have returned to the days when she was the Mother Goddess, and her divine authority had also increased significantly. All of this was the direct result of your guiding the people to strengthen their faith.

Though her appearance had undergone obvious changes, within, she was still the Medusa who loved you deeply.

Before he realized it, that serpentine body had already wrapped around Moran.

Like a snake that had bitten down on its prey and refused to let go, Medusa's body coiled around him with love.

This frightening sight was an everyday occurrence for Moran.

Rather, it could be considered a kind of flirtation.

"Mm... Let me guess... you were lonely?"

"Ugh... I wasn't...!"

Medusa's pretty face flushed crimson.

Even though her serpentine body was wrapped around him so tightly, she was still embarrassed enough to turn her blazing cheeks aside.

Her snake tail continued to sway anxiously and disobediently.

A faint smile appeared on Moran's face.

Even if her appearance had become that of such a noble, elegant, and immaculate goddess, at heart, she was still the easily embarrassed Medusa.

When it came to someone she cared about, she was all offense and no defense.

Chapter 40: Inescapable Regret and Guilt—Please Send Flowers! Please Send Monthly Tickets!

"After growing into this form, based on the vague memories my sisters and I have, I've regained quite a few of my former authorities. But using them still feels exhausting... I've always had a personality that dislikes troublesome things..."

Medusa used serious matters to divert her embarrassment.

Her power and very existence were now immense.

Though she could not compare to the gods of Olympus, at least her former strength was gradually returning.

"If Moran weren't by my side, I couldn't handle these goddess affairs at all. My sisters are the type who only know how to accept things. Without you, I can't even imagine how things would proceed..."

"So you really were lonely?"

"Ugh, ugh, ugh... I was lonely! Yes! I was lonely! So what!? I'm a goddess too, after all. Can't I complain once in a while like my sisters do...?"

Medusa spoke as if she had simply given up.

As her form returned to its origin.

Her personality became more straightforward than before, and there were subtle changes in both her behavior and attitude.

However, Moran knew one thing.

No matter what Medusa became, he would never dislike her.

"Alright, city planning is something for the distant future. I've already trained a group of subordinates who can manage affairs in my place. No matter how important the matter is, I can't let my goddess feel lonely."

As Moran spoke, a wicked smile appeared on his face.

Under the influence of Monstrous Beauty, even his bad smile possessed the power to enthrall countless people.

However, Medusa had long since fallen in love with Moran.

She did not resist at all when Moran caressed her cheek.

Medusa knew it was impossible for this man to make her fall for him again, because she knew she had already sunk too deeply.

So, for someone who had already fallen for him.

There was no such thing as falling for him a second time.

Twenty years passed.

For the three sisters, who were goddesses, this was merely an instant. But for mortals, it was an extremely long time.

A new generation of islanders had already grown up.

During this time, under your leadership and governance, The Invisible Island gradually expanded from a village into a town.

As the number of people who believed in the Mother Goddess continued to increase, and as The Invisible Island and the surrounding waters became ever more abundant.

Gradually, someone proposed the idea of founding a nation.

You knew that doing so might draw the attention of the gods, but as The Invisible Island grew stronger, it would eventually have to enter a national system. It was merely a matter of time.

There was also something else that surprised you during this period.

It was Medea and Atalanta, who had come to the island.

The moment you saw them, your heart tightened.

"Princess Medea, may I ask what brings you to this small island? Or does Colchis wish to establish diplomatic relations with us?"

Moran displayed proper manners and etiquette.

Part of his heart had long since fallen into turmoil, and he was relying entirely on his powerful mental fortitude to keep up appearances.

As he looked at the beautiful and captivating princess before him.

Your memories from the first simulation were also awakened.

How many times had you fallen asleep beside her, only to wake with the same happy smile?

No matter when it was, she had always supported you.

At the end of the previous simulation, Medea had made only one request.

Yet you had failed to keep it.

To save the person he loved most, he could not return, nor could he give the girl he had promised a long-awaited wedding.

Thinking of her waiting alone for her husband to return home.

All the regrets from the first simulation turned into shame.

Like silver needles, they pierced your heart.

At the same time, something seemed wrong with Medea.

"...Huh... what... is this...?"

Medea could not help reaching toward her cheek.

What she touched was a warm, moist, crystalline tear.

"S-Sorry... I don't know... I don't know why this is happening... I've lost my composure... How strange... I..."

Medea wiped the tears from her cheeks.

A sorrow and loneliness from some unknown place, along with the joy of bitter hardship finally ending.

Filled her chest at that moment.

Without her realizing it, tears filled her eyes, and the instant she saw Moran, they began flowing uncontrollably.

She could not understand why this was happening at all.

There was no reason for it, and she could not make sense of it.

"...Medea."

Moran's heart ached at the sight.