Crossover: The Problem Human of [Arcadia]

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"Step down, brat."

The voice was cold, heavy with authority and pressure.

A towering figure appeared before everyone—a demigod with a body sculpted in the image of classical Greece, radiating raw strength and heroic beauty. Perseus.

"Ancestor Perseus…" Aishelia lowered her head, voice laced with unwillingness.

But Perseus barely spared her a glance. Instead, his eyes slid toward Oskar.

"Oskar. I hear one of the successors is your descendant?"

"Yes, Father." Oskar rose immediately, speaking with reverence.

But she quickly added, "However, that child made a critical blunder in the contract with [No Name]. He's no longer suited to be the leader."

Perseus walked straight to the sofa, sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and folded his arms.

"[No Name]… a nameless community? Why ally with such trash?"

Arkeos quietly corrected, "Father, not just any nameless group. It's the one that used to belong to the famous poet—Canaria."

"Oh?" Perseus's eyes flicked with interest. "Them… No wonder."

He turned back to Aishelia, his tone sharp.

"I heard the knight of Little Garden we spent so much to acquire was taken away by this community's leader. Is that true?"

Both Oskar and Arkeos went silent, deliberately ignoring the question, clearly leaving Aishelia to answer for herself.

She rose, facing the overwhelming presence of the demigod, and admitted, "Yes, Lord Perseus."

Perseus's response was cold, almost dismissive.

"My stance is the same as before. Step down. Let the other heir lead."

Arkeos couldn't help but protest, "Father, Laius is not fit—"

After all for him, a man who put selfish desires above the community's interests could hardly be called a proper leader.

But Perseus only smiled with pleasure. "No, he's perfect. A true hero must use any means necessary."

Arkeos fell silent. If Perseus had chosen Laius, then nothing he said could sway the will of the constellation.

He could only sigh inwardly, lamenting for Aishelia. Even now, he didn't understand why Perseus seemed so intent on forcing her aside.

Perseus frowned at Aishelia's silence.

"Well? Why haven't you announced your abdication yet? Cat got your tongue?"

This domineering posture came naturally to Perseus. The famed hero of Greek myth had never been known for courtesy.

At that moment, Ryo stepped forward with a sigh, moving past the sofa to stand in front of Aishelia.

But before he could say anything, her hand caught his.

Ryo glanced back at her, only to see Aishelia shake her head. She then pulled him behind her and faced Perseus herself.

Perseus narrowed his eyes at her cold gaze. "You dare oppose me? Oppose your ancestor?"

His expression darkened, rage smoldering in his eyes.

"Old man, times have changed!"

For once, Aishelia let her temper snap, cursing outright.

One elder after another, lording past glories over her as if her own achievements meant nothing—she was sick of it.

Her voice was sharp, her stare icy as she declared, "I am Aishelia Perseus. As long as I live, I am the leader of [Perseus]. You'll take nothing from me."

"How dare you!"

With a roar, Perseus smashed the sofa to splinters and rose to his feet.

"I'll say it once more. Step down now."

"Sorry," Aishelia sneered, "but I don't take orders from barking dogs. If you want to command me, then send the upper gods themselves."

Perseus burst into harsh laughter.

"Interesting. Very interesting. No wonder you managed to push [Perseus] into the four-digit ranks. That spirit… reminds me of myself in my prime. Fine! Then I'll let you die with clarity."

A golden scroll appeared in his hands. At once, warm radiance spilled forth.

War, wisdom, art, craft, law, order—layer upon layer of divine concepts manifested across the parchment.

They coalesced into countless figures, all chanting a single name: {Pallas Athena.}

{You are the exalted goddess of wisdom. You are the divine of strategy and war. You are the founder of law, the guardian of order. We praise you. We sing your glory…}

Aishelia's face went pale. Her voice trembled. "The Oracle of the Athena…"

The worst possibility had come true.

Perseus's rebellion wasn't his own whim—it was sanctioned by the Greek gods themselves. By Athena.

"Why…?" Aishelia whispered in disbelief. "Why would the Main God—?"

Perseus's voice was flat, without mercy. "Stand down, knight. The will of Athena is absolute."

Aishelia staggered back a step, but then felt her arm pulled. Startled, she turned to see Ryo holding her back.

He looked at her pale face, so different from her usual proud poise, and sighed. "Just as you predicted… you really dragged me into a mess this time."

Even he hadn't expected Aishelia's abdication to come directly from Athena's command.

That changed everything. He'd suspected Perseus, but never Athena. After all, Aishelia was her chosen knight. Who could have guessed the goddess would turn first?

It was unthinkable.

"I'm sorry," Aishelia whispered. But even she knew her apology rang hollow.

[No Name] in its weakened state couldn't afford to oppose Athena. Yet Ryo had been dragged into this because of her.

He scowled, muttering under his breath, "Guess this means you'll have to marry me to pay me back. Not that it helps—I'll be bleeding for this either way. Tch. Damn unlucky."

Aishelia only gave a bitter smile.

Ryo turned back to Perseus. "Hey, Perseus. How about giving me some face? Let's both take a step back."

Perseus frowned, studying him. "And who are you? Since when did [Perseus] gain someone like you?"

Ryo kept his voice calm. "I don't know what command Athena gave you, but we need Aishelia to remain as nominal leader. So how about we compromise?"

With a snap of his fingers, he dispelled the illusion over Arkeos and Oskar, revealing his presence to them fully.

Their pupils contracted in shock, both rising to their feet.

"What's going on?" Perseus demanded.

Arkeos leaned close to whisper, "Father, that's him. The new leader of [No Name]. Canaria's heir. Ryo Yagami."

"Oh?" Perseus's brows rose. He hadn't expected this young man to be the one.

Ryo smiled lightly. "So now my words should carry some weight, right?"

Perseus smirked with interest. "Nah~ But Canaria's heir, hmm? Fine, let's hear you."

"..."

"I need [Perseus] to sign an contract with us. That's the only choice right now. So, on my account, let Aishelia remain as figurehead leader. Then we can talk terms."

Everyone knew that with Athena's decree, Aishelia holding real power was impossible. Perseus was bound by the will of the Main God.

That was why Aishelia stayed silent. No matter what, the tide couldn't be turned. Even if she and Ryo killed everyone here, the outcome wouldn't change.

Perseus laughed uproariously.

"Interesting words. But no. I refuse!"

He sneered, "And just what is your 'face' worth? Are you Zeus? Indra? Who the fuck are you to lecture me?"

Ryo's eyelid twitched. He exhaled slowly, then raised a massive fist. "True, I'm not near these powerful gods. But killing you? That, I can manage."

Perseus's expression went cold as he rose to his full height. "Oh? Then try me."

A heartbeat later, countless beams of light surged forward, crashing over Perseus and swallowing him whole.

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