Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Under the sun, there was seldom anything new in the Acropolis, but this time was an exception.

An entire city was stumped by a game, and it might even evolve into the smartest people in the Mortal Realm being baffled by a game, a truly unprecedented event.

As expected, this was bound to become yet another Legendary story passed down through the ages and relished by people, although it did not involve slaying demons or quelling disasters. Its associated Fame might well be no less than that of the former.

In fact, among certain groups, this was even considered a bonus.

"So what changes will this bring about?"

"Compared to those before her, she doesn't have as many distractions..."

Laine pondered silently in his temporary residence, looking at the sun outside the window.

Different from a millennium ago, if the original sun drawn by the Golden Chariot was just a metaphor, with the two connected by some special means of movement, the current one was a genuine Sun Chariot.

A light source was suspended at the rear of the frame, and although it might not be as large as the original sun, it was closer to the ground.

What hung there now was the 'Dusk Sun', its rays carrying a sense of decay and ruin. It was an aspect of authority that even the ancient God of Sun had not controlled during his lifetime; or perhaps, it was precisely because he was shattered that the sun henceforth acquired this symbolic attribute.

"Non-gods becoming quasi-gods, there is indeed a precedent for this."

"Perseus was such a case; he slew the Gorgon under the guidance of All Gods, possessed Divine Blood, and eventually ascended—though he never had a realm of authority exclusive to himself, just like the various other constellations that later ascended. Moreover, it seems their actions were restricted; often, there are only records of their ascension, without any substantial legacy."

"Pandora... she was the same."

"The disasters of the Mortal World originated from the All Gods, and she merely played the role of a tool in this context. So, until a millennium ago when I left, she had shown no signs associated with gaining authority."

"So, the so-called 'great achievements,' 'great Fame' actually cannot directly bring about true authority—at least not on their own. Something is definitely missing, something that I have overlooked..."

"And Heracles, I wonder if he has been born yet."

The great hero wasn't the only immortal mortal, but he was indeed the only one suspected to have possessed the authority of Strength. Moreover, the authority of Strength has an owner; theoretically, there is no situation other than the world itself where godhood is usurped.

So the origin of this 'Heracles' is very debatable. Or is it truly just a title, and he never actually possessed real authority?

I hope that's not the case, for if it is, it would be bitterly disappointing…

Creak—

"Hmm?"

As Laine was lost in thought, the door was pushed open, emitting a slight noise.

It has to be said, the bearing design of this era was truly average. From the palaces of the Deity down to the doors of the Mortal Realm, it seemed there were no doors that didn't make a sound.

"Aiven, I'm back~"

Andrea strode through the door and into the room.

She looked left and right, then, as expected, saw the familiar figure at the table.

"Back so soon? It seems you've got what you needed?"

Without looking up, Laine didn't expect any surprises over such a small matter.

The gap in eras was so vast, Andrea was certain to win by a landslide, as long as she didn't get too nervous and mess up herself. However, Laine's indifferent attitude cooled the Little Princess's excited mood considerably.

"...Yes, I beat Odysseus, the Prince of Qatar I mentioned to you yesterday, who is quite famous."

"After he lost, I did as you said, announcing that these challengers were too poor in skill, and that in the future, I wouldn't accept competitions from ordinary people, nor would I wait there anymore."

Biting her lip, Andrea sat opposite at the table. After calming down, she also felt a bit worried. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

"The head of the Acropolis church, who is also a friend of the Chief Shepherd, intends to meet me and invite me to participate directly in the final round of the grand contest... I won't be recognized, will I?"

"Under normal circumstances, you certainly would be, even if appearances differ, some habitual actions could still be recognized by acquaintances. After all, you haven't undergone any professional training. But when you make such a big name for yourself, people are less likely to connect you with the missing Princess."

"After all... whatever skills you have, your acquaintances would be all the clearer about them."

"..."

Laine's implication was clear, "You were so weak before, and the difference from now is apparent at a glance, no one would naturally equate you with the former Andrea."

Although it was the truth, it still felt like an arrow to Andrea's heart upon hearing it.

"I get it, you know everything, don't you?"

With a hmph, the Little Princess lay down on a small bed nearby, sprawling out in the shape of a star.

"But speaking of which, why exactly did you come here and get me to join the competition? What good does it do you if I win the championship?"

"That's a secret."

Laine said indifferently, with no intention of providing an answer.

"That's what you said before, can't you come up with something different to say?"

"Then... it's destiny."

"...Aren't you a Bard?"

"Bards can prophesize, that makes sense. Just consider that I am here to save Athens and incidentally... bring peace to the world?"

He laughed a little while saying that and shook his head slightly.

World peace... there probably wasn't a wish harder to fulfill than this in the world.

······

Time flowed like water, and the trajectory of the Sun's movement also kept changing according to the star charts.

Because of the pomegranate seeds she once consumed, Queen of the Underworld, Persephone, could only stay on Mount of the Gods for the first half of the year, while the latter half would be spent in the Netherworld, and with her departure, the entire world would begin to enter deep autumn.

The short two-day game competition was now known to everyone in the city and was even spreading to more distant regions.

People called it 'Leah's Game' and speculated about Andrea's origin.

After all, she had been invited to attend various soirées more than once in recent days, and her impeccable conduct proved that she had received a good education. Coupled with the strong aura of her bloodline, it all attested to her extraordinary origins.

However, no one could truly uncover Andrea's backstory, not even Odysseus who, despite his earlier failure, now frequently visited her. Andrea's history was like a puzzle, shrouded in layers of fog.

But these were all just preludes to the grand competition; days went by and preparations were in full swing.

Thousands of contestants with vastly different cultures and identities couldn't possibly stream into the completed venue all at once and then take turns to decide the winner.

To save time and space, Athenian officials temporarily drew from the accumulated cases and puzzles in various subordinate cities and prepared hundreds of topics.

In alleys, districts, parks, squares, and even in front of theatres, courts, and churches, competitions of all sizes began non-stop, day and night.

There were no judges and no one to announce the winners; only soldiers responsible for maintaining order. When a match ended, the audience present cast anonymous votes, reflecting the essence of Athenian classical republicanism.

The victors from each competition continued to face off against other victors, while losers did the same with each other. In the end, each contestant's total number of victories was tallied to determine who qualified for the final showdown.

This was a scene rarely seen in other kingdoms of the era, or even other parts of Athens, because understanding the debates, the process of solving mysteries, or judging the fairness and legality of verdicts all required a certain level of cultural literacy and refinement.

Apart from the largest sanctuary of the Church of Knowledge in the Mortal Realm, the location of the Parthenon Temple, no other city boasted such a widespread literacy rate.

And standing on the towering city walls, a middle-aged man with a hint of irritation in his eyes looked down at the city, feeling somewhat reassured in his heart.

He had come here alone. In fact, as the Monarch of the Kingdom, he hadn't paid much attention to the progress of the grand contest until today.

He had many issues on his mind, and the disappearance of his youngest daughter was actually just an insignificant part among them. Because Theseus was well aware that Andrea's kidnapping was merely a facade; what it really represented was the discontent of traditional All Countries and their worshiped Gods.

Athens was too new, its geographic location too advantageous, and many of its chosen practices too unconventional.

PS: Didn't bring my laptop, so there are fewer words later. I'll make up for it emmm