The Fate Between You and Me

(Heartfelt thanks to 'Mikoto-nee' for the 10,000 reward! And to 'Shattered Whispers. Annihilation,' 'Haha Wait,' and 'Life Silver Home' for their rewards!)

"Whoosh—!"

Amid a flash of lightning, Noah, transformed into a bolt of electricity, returned directly to the old bookstore. He slipped through the window into his room, dispelled the lightning, and slowly returned to human form.

"Did you return victorious?"

Almost at the same moment Noah regained his human form, a voice filled with icy chill and proud confidence rang out from a corner of his room.

"It seems the means I left behind truly helped you greatly."

Noah paused, turned his head, and looked toward the corner of the room.

There, a petite silver-haired girl had somehow changed into ancient Greek-style robes. With her back to Noah, she merely turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze with a pair of dark, dim eyes.

Meeting Athena's gaze, Noah slowly nodded. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke softly.

"Have your injuries healed?"

"The power of steel left within my body vanished along with its master," Athena replied without turning around.

"Therefore, there was no need for me to continue sleeping. As the immortal and indestructible Earth Goddess, recovering from a few injuries was not difficult."

Though she said recovery was not difficult, Athena did not say that she had already recovered.

Considering the Goddess's pride, Noah did not find that strange at all.

This was a Goddess who could strike back even in adversity, conceal her power within the body of steel—her natural enemy—without being discovered, and ultimately become the cause of her opponent's true death.

Even if her injuries had not completely healed, Athena would probably force herself to endure them rather than reveal weakness before Noah, her fated enemy.

Of course, given Athena's power, Noah had