Chapter 19: Liliana's Secret
Early the next morning, as the dawn light gradually rose, the city that had been filled with feverish indulgence and neon lights the night before now seemed as if it had been washed clean. The noise and desolation had evaporated without a trace. The outside world appeared exceptionally peaceful—no birds chirping, no sound of the wind, no noise from traffic. The streets were remarkably quiet. Everything seemed immersed in the refreshing morning air, as if afraid that making even the slightest sound would break this tranquility.
Inside the room, amidst the melodious strains of a symphony playing from the radio, Shirou, sleeping on a soft, large bed, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze shifted slightly as he observed the ceiling and the magnificently structured chandelier outlined with gold thread. His vision swept across the room's surroundings, finally resting on an exquisitely framed oil painting hanging on the wall.
Only the most luxurious suites would have such decor.
The scene in the oil painting depicted a shirtless man sitting high upon a throne above the clouds. He held a staff in one hand while the other rested atop a cloud. His expression was solemn and dignified, and an eagle beneath the throne looked up at the man with devotion.
Based solely on these characteristics, Shirou—who had already prepared by studying most Western mythologies, especially Greek mythology—could immediately think of who it was.
The third-generation King of Gods in ancient Greek mythology—Zeus.
As the third-generation King of Gods, Zeus was the supreme celestial deity who ruled over all things, the head of the Twelve Olympian Gods, and the greatest god in Greek mythology. Zeus was known as the "King of the Gods" or the "King of Olympus," and was also the God of the Sky and Lightning. When he was in a good mood, the sky would be bright and clear; when he was angry, the sky would be covered in dark clouds, with thunder and lightning crashing down.
Because the ancient Greeks and Romans worshipped Zeus, they claimed him as their ancestor in their myths. Many deities of Olympus and many Greek heroes were children born to him and different women. He used lightning as his weapon to maintain order between heaven and earth, and the bull and the eagle were his symbols. His two brothers, Poseidon and Hades, ruled the oceans and the underworld, respectively. The constellation Zeus guarded was Sagittarius.
"I wonder if the one appearing over there will be this 'King of Gods.' If it really is him, things might be a bit difficult."
As the King of Gods, the domains Zeus presided over were lightning, the sky, power, and all creation. Considering these aspects, it was truly hard to say whether Shirou could contend with Zeus while currently possessing only a single Authority. Although Shirou indeed craved a battle to test the Authority " Doomsday Proclamation " he had obtained from Nidhogg, if the
disparity in strength was too great, he wouldn't be able to weaken the opponent enough to use that power.
Thinking about these things, Shirou changed his clothes and stood up. He cast a casual glance at the window, and the curtains automatically pulled back to both sides.
"...Regardless, if I truly encounter this King of Gods, I'll just have to give it my all."
Fortunately, Shirou possessed the "Third Star Particle Body" combined with the double enhancement of being a "Godslayer." Not only could his physical strength rival that of a "Heretic God," but the magical energy provided by his perpetual motion engine allowed him to fight even more recklessly.
After tidying his attire, Shirou prepared to leave the room.
After Erica arrived last night, Shirou, noticing that Liliana seemed slightly unusual, had sent Liliana to stay with Erica so they could bond, ensuring no rift would form between them in the future. Just as Shirou opened his door, he saw the two Knight Princesses already standing there waiting.
"Good morning, my King!" ×2
Shirou checked the time; it was only six in the morning. Many people were still at home, tucked into their warm beds and immersed in dreams.
"It's about time. Let's head over to Mount Olympus and take a look."
"Yes!" the two Knight Princesses replied immediately.
Shirou walked in front while Erica and Liliana followed closely behind, whispering something to each other as bell-like laughter drifted over from time to time. It seemed their relationship was as good as ever.
The transportation they used was a black luxury business van prepared by the local magic association. Although Shirou's own speed was much faster than the car, it was not yet certain if a Heretic God had actually appeared at Mount Olympus, so taking a car was fine for now. Moreover, with two lovely Knight Princesses along for the ride, the seemingly dull journey became much more interesting.
"My King, the most likely entity to appear at Mount Olympus this time is one of the Greek gods. Many of these gods have weaknesses. We could send people to probe the identity of the god appearing there before we head in..."
Liliana spoke her thoughts with an incredibly serious expression. However, Erica interrupted her at that moment.
"Are you questioning the King's strength, Lily?"
Erica's words caused Liliana's expression to panic instantly. "N-No! I'm just offering a strategy for the King!"
Shirou found it quite amusing to see Liliana's face flush and her expression become flustered at a single casual remark from Erica. It seemed Erica also quite enjoyed this way of teasing her friend.
After finally managing to explain herself, Liliana was slightly out of breath. Just as her heart began to relax, Erica spoke again.
"Lily, since you've already become the King's knight, don't you have any 'token' of your loyalty?"
But this time, Liliana did not act like a "goose" and let Erica bombard her; she fought back without backing down.
"Huh? I pledged my loyalty to the King a step before you, Erica. You're not jealous, are you?"
"What—me, jealous!?"
Although Erica maintained a polite and elegant smile on her face, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Hmph! Since you say you were the first to pledge fealty, Lily, then you should be able to let the King feel a knight's loyalty more tangibly, shouldn't you? Whether in heart or in body~"
Hearing Erica's words, Liliana's cheeks turned crimson, the red spreading all the way to her ears, as if steam were rising from her head.
"E-Erica! What kind of nonsense are you talking about!?"
Liliana looked at Erica in disbelief, feeling incredibly ashamed of the words she was saying. However, Erica, having caught a weakness this time, did not stop at all. Instead, she pressed on with a frantic offensive.
"My, my~ You get so shy just from being teased a little~ That's not how you are in the novels you write, is it? Clearly, your heart craves the King's favor so much; wouldn't it be better to just say it boldly?"
"Uwaah... ERICA!!!"
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