69novels Page 127
Page 127
Although this is not the Roman palace, as the emperor's estate in a province, it possesses considerable defensive capabilities. To silently breach these defenses and arrive here is virtually impossible, unless…
Nero swallowed hard, instinctively wanting to feel safer near Quinn, and reached out to try and put his arm around Quinn's neck.
This made Jupiter's face grow even uglier, his eyes flashing with obvious lightning. Countless bolts of lightning crackled in the air, and the hazy mist in the room was shrouded in dark clouds by the lightning. This extraordinary change in the environment made Nero realize that the woman in front of him was no ordinary person.
The Roman emperor's brain was working frantically at this moment. The pressure on her skull was like an eagle's claw gripping the skull of a young beast, instantly squeezing the alcohol out of her brain sulci and dripping it as cold sweat. Her drunkenness was evaporated by the lightning, and what was reflected in her pupils was no longer the warm mist of an ordinary bathhouse, but a moving storm—Jupiter.
Nero realized the identity of the person in front of her, and her whole body slumped down. She looked at Jupiter, whose half-body was immersed in the hot spring just like her, but the surface of the hot spring was as if it had been pressed into a whirlpool by the hand of the gods. The liquid first knelt down and then rippled. The thick mist automatically split into two in front of her, leaving a corridor just wide enough for her to see clearly, so that Nero could see Jupiter's appearance.
Just like the tallest statue in the center of the Roman Forum, no, it's as if that statue suddenly came to life, stepped down from its pedestal, and casually tucked the thunder into its arms.
Her soaked robe clung to her body, dazzlingly white, with clearly defined lines—the curves of her shoulders, collarbone, and chest all the way down to her waist—representing the ultimate limits of "strength" and "beauty" in the mortal realm.
Nero's mind was still sluggish, but she could hear her own heart pounding like a war drum. She completely forgot her current situation and was utterly immersed in the majesty and appearance of the god-king before her.
"stand up."
"What?" Nero, still in a daze, vaguely heard someone speak from the other side, but couldn't hear clearly, so he instinctively asked.
"Get up right now, don't lie on top of him!"
Jupiter's furious words shook the earth—this was not a figurative statement, but a physical one. As Jupiter shouted, the entire earth trembled, and the violent shaking finally brought Nero back to his senses.
Nero felt a pang of guilt and quickly climbed off Quinn. While she was indeed troubled by the situation in Jerusalem and wanted to seek guidance from Quinn, the patriarch of gods, choosing the hot springs as her meeting place and deliberately drinking heavily revealed her personal desires. In other words, from the beginning, she had planned to take advantage of Quinn while intoxicated. (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another text.)
After all, Quinn was just too much to her liking, and she found it hard to resist touching him.
Her guilty expression infuriated Jupiter even more. As Zeus's successor, Jupiter had never understood Zeus so well. Before this, she had always despised Zeus's behavior of punishing mortal kings for trivial matters. But now, she really wanted to curse Nero so that he would know what the wrath of a god-king was.
But she didn't take action, not because she was morally upright, but simply because Jupiter felt the blessing Medusa had left on Nero.
It was a very basic blessing that could protect the holder from illness and poison throughout their life. In the age of gods, such blessings were commonplace. For the gods, bestowing such blessings upon believers was just a matter of course. However, if the one bestowing the blessing was Medusa, it would be a different story. For that goddess who was not very comfortable interacting with others, such a basic blessing could prove a person's status in Medusa's heart.
Without a doubt, the woman in front of him who tried to touch her creator and had ill intentions towards her creator had been regarded by Medusa as a child who needed to be taken care of, and was deeply loved by Medusa. Medusa was one of the few beings in this world besides Quinn who could make Jupiter care.
Jupiter still held some respect for the goddess who was like his mother, and would not easily cast any curses on those she cared about.
As for Quinn, taking advantage of the stalemate between Nero and Jupiter, he seized the opportunity to emerge from the hot spring.
Quinn wanted to chuckle as he watched Nero, who stood awkwardly rooted to the spot under Jupiter's gaze.
You were just acting recklessly because you were drunk, why aren't you continuing now?
However, despite the laughter, Quinn, as a beneficiary of the situation, did not kick Nero when he was down. He reached out and patted Nero on the shoulder, speaking in a tone of someone who had been through it all, "Alright, now that the problem has been solved, get some rest, Nero. I've finished what I needed to do in Jerusalem, it's time to return to Rome."
Upon hearing this, Jupiter's gaze immediately shifted to Quinn, his eyes filled with such displeasure that they seemed to turn into sharp swords. Now, it was Nero's turn to seize the opportunity to escape.
Just kidding, she didn't want to stay here any longer. Anyone with eyes could see the relationship between Jupiter and Quinn. Nero was already very satisfied that the god-king hadn't held her captive. If she dared to stay any longer, she would be somewhat ungrateful.
Nero has run away, leaving you alone to face Jupiter's wrath.
However, when only you, Jupiter, and Mordred remained in the entire spa, Jupiter's anger quickly dissipated, and he even showed a hint of anticipation, wanting to bathe with you.
[Clearly, your doll is still so easily satisfied, which makes you laugh.]
You certainly can't refuse this invitation.
As for Nero, who fled in disarray, she had clearly taken your teachings to heart. The next day, when she met with the governor of the local province, she finalized a new tax plan. This policy was almost identical to that of the province of Britain, fully demonstrating Rome's tolerance towards foreign provinces.
[If we only look at this one decision, the course of history is now completely different from what we originally thought. But clearly, history is not so easily changed, and the fact that human reason has not responded to this change speaks volumes.]
When the Roman mission returned to Rome after its tour of Jerusalem, you heard some very unpleasant rumors.
[Shortly after Nero left Jerusalem, the Jews and Greeks clashed, and a considerable religious dispute broke out between them.]
Chapter 304 An Unexpected Visitor? Not an Accident
They ate the flesh of their victims, pulled out their tendons, smeared their bodies with their blood, and dressed them in clothes made of their skin. Many were sawed in half from head to toe, while others were thrown to wild beasts or forced to fight each other like gladiators. A total of 22 people were killed.
[This is a record by the Roman historian Theo of the crimes committed by the Jews of Cyrene against the local non-Jewish peoples during the Jewish rebellion in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, as documented by the Roman historian Theo.]
The exact details of this history are impossible to verify, but there is no doubt that the suffering endured by the Jews during the Roman Empire had its reasons. While the Roman rulers' mistreatment of the Jews was undoubtedly cold-blooded and ruthless, the core reason for their tragedy lay in the Jews' own irrational emotions, such as isolation and prejudice, inherent in their national character.
This isolation and stubbornness could not be resolved even when Nero implemented benevolent policies that went against the normal course of history.
Because of their adherence to monotheism, which contradicts the tenets of polytheism, Jews have been isolated by many surrounding peoples since ancient times. This isolation stems from their faith, and therefore, conflicts between Jews and polytheistic peoples have been constant. In the original history, the first Jewish rebellion was a conflict with the Greeks, compounded by the deliberate obstruction of the then Roman governor and the empire's harsh taxes.
But now, Nero's benevolent rule has greatly reduced the possibility of a Jewish rebellion.
The reduction in taxes, the shift from direct Roman rule to Jewish 'autonomy' over the governors, and the unique administrative arrangements of the Roman overseers were all gifts promised to the Jews by Nero. These gifts fully demonstrated Nero's intention to protect and tolerate the Jews. Normally, under these circumstances, the quality of life for the Jews would be far better than in the normal course of history, and naturally there would be no reason for rebellion. This was a genuine attempt to appease this isolated people with their unique faith.
However, it is clear that the Jews misunderstood Nero's meaning, or rather, the Jewish leadership misinterpreted Nero's intentions.
They seemed to believe these policies were Nero supporting their original customs and practices. Therefore, when the Jews clashed with the Greeks again over religious issues, they no longer tolerated the situation as before, attempting to resolve it by bribing Roman officials. Instead, they directly displayed their aggression.
Believing they had the emperor's support, the Jews began to retaliate unscrupulously against those who had oppressed them in the past. Many temples worshipped by the Greeks were desecrated, and the businesses of numerous Greek merchants who refused to trade with Jews were confiscated. Fortunately, the atrocities committed by the Jews during the Second Jewish War had not yet occurred. Even so, the Jews' behavior was still heinous; they made no attempt to conceal their vengefulness and exclusivity, and did not care about the opinions of other ethnic groups.
And this happened only on Nero's way back to Rome.
This turn of events has exceeded your expectations.
You're not surprised that the Jews who benefited would do things that happened in history; after all, the favor of an emperor can't change the overall situation. But you also didn't expect that the Jews would become so unscrupulous so quickly.
But in a sense, this is exactly what Nero wanted to see.
Therefore, Nero did not quell the rumors that were beginning to spread throughout the Roman Empire, even though these rumors had already raised questions in the Roman Senate about her newly established policies. But no matter how much the Senate questioned her, it couldn't stop Nero's actions, because...
Jupiter returned to Rome with you. The return of the God-King became further proof that Nero was the chosen emperor of Rome. Moreover, the task you assigned to Medusa before leaving Rome to accompany Nero on his tour of Jerusalem was also perfectly completed by Medusa. At this moment, more than one god has gathered in the city of Rome.
Today, the only fact that the people of Rome can see is that under the rule of the great chosen emperor Nero, the gods, who had long been far removed from the mortal world, have reappeared on earth, and Rome has once again received the favor of the gods.
As for you...
This was a memorable reunion, perhaps, maybe?
Pantheon.
Several virtual projections stood in the center of this ancient building. The mechanical figures covered with dazzling wires were exactly the same as Quinn remembered. Through these virtual projections, Quinn seemed to be able to glimpse the era when the gods walked on the earth. Even though the years had passed and the times had changed, these ancient mechanical gods were still willing to answer his call. This made Quinn truly feel the favor that the Greek gods had for him.
This feeling of being favored by God is wonderful, so wonderful that it can make anyone's character become lofty and proud.
The fervor and excitement emanating from the gods' eyes felt like a perfect dodge in an Indian AAA game. Quinn couldn't escape the feeling of the world focusing on one person, and this sense of exhilaration even gave him an urge to give these gods a good hug.
If the only gods present here were the God of War and the God of Love, Quinn would certainly have done so, but unfortunately, they were not the only ones present.
"Europa".
The deep, husky voice made Quinn feel a strong sense of gravity, and also caused a dangerous glint to flash in Medusa's eyes, who had summoned the gods.
"I still regret it."
The owner of the voice spoke words of repentance, but the fanaticism in his eyes made everyone and even the gods present feel uneasy. Even Jupiter was no exception. The puppet that belonged to Quinn was standing in front of Quinn, like a panting kitten in its spiny dragon form, glaring at the figure who had appeared there without being invited.
"If I hadn't set those tests for you back then, would you have stayed by our side all this time and eventually gone to the Inner Sea of Stars with us? I've been pondering this question for a long time."
Zeus, Dione, whose face was almost identical to Jupiter's, stood before the goddess of love and war, their gazes meeting Quinn's.
This being, who in a sense is Jupiter's "mother," tries to close the distance with Quinn in an extremely humble tone: "Please forgive me, Europa, I swear, I never intended for you to sacrifice yourself; I only wished for you to become the most perfect person in all of Greece."
Chapter 305 What do you mean by "If I don't go with you, I'll be burned to ashes"?
"So, what kind of drama is this now?"
Mordred stealthily moved closer to Arcueid and Sajou Aika and asked them in a low voice.
The atmosphere was oppressive, as if the air was clenched into a fist by an invisible hand, with not a breath of wind escaping between the fingers. Quinn did not reply, and the gods remained silent. Even Medusa showed some resemblance to her former monster form, her serpentine hair hissing. This situation made Mordred uneasy, and she instinctively wanted to join her kind. The few kind she could find on this field were Arcueid and Sajō Ayaka, who were also from the modern world.
“Hmm… how should I put it…” Arcueid’s gaze at Dione was also quite subtle. She was the only one among the three who knew what Quinn had done in Greece. “That Dione, she used to want to sleep with Quinn.”
Upon hearing this, Mordred's expression turned very strange.
"What do you mean by wanting to sleep with the Master?"
"She is Zeus."
Sajō Aika continued, "The Root Princess can't see through Quinn's past, so naturally she can't foresee Quinn's future and past. But everyone else is a blank slate in her eyes. She can easily see through Dione's identity and knows that this woman who looks exactly like Jupiter is the legendary Zeus. Therefore, when she sees Dione showing that complicated expression of love and hate towards Quinn, Sajō Aika can hardly stay calm."
"Zeus..."
Mordred's expression immediately turned complicated. She found it hard to imagine that Quinn could be associated with Zeus. After all, the god's reputation in mythology was... well, not exactly good. Considering the current situation, she just felt something was off.
The sharing of information among the three little ones did not affect the conversation between the gods. Dione was still trying to express her apology, while Jupiter did not want the other to get any closer to his creator. The gods of love and war witnessed this scene without saying a word, because Dione was there largely because she knew about their movements. After all, Medusa was very obedient. When Quinn told her to call the gods of war and love, she only contacted these two gods who had an inseparable connection with Rome and were regarded by the Romans as their parents.
As for Quinn...
Dione's appearance was not in your plan, but you don't find it strange.
[After all, as the shadow side of Zeus, Dione naturally possesses an omniscient perspective. Just as Jupiter could see the changes in the past, present, and future, Dione could do the same. Even if these gods couldn't see your future as a time traveler, it wouldn't be difficult for them to determine your appearance by observing the movements of other gods.]
Your feelings towards Dione are complex.
[Because your relationship with Zeus isn't bad. Even though you had brief disagreements in the past, those disagreements were like the conflicts between a teenager and their parents. No matter how unpleasant the arguments were, they couldn't deny that the disagreements stemmed from love and care, and were one of the ultimate experiences of goodwill.]
You don't mind accepting Dione's apology; you're just hesitant. You're observing Dione's expression and can see a strong possessiveness on her face. You're afraid she might influence your plans, which isn't impossible.
[Because, even in modern times, there have been cases of humans being taken from the mortal world to the inner sea of stars because they were favored by certain beings.]
“I have never held a grudge against you.” After much deliberation, Quinn reached out and pulled away Jupiter, who was standing in front of him. “Great God, if you came here merely to apologize, I am happy to accept your apology, but I think that is definitely not your purpose in coming here.”
"The Sea Within the Stars." You're here, there's no plum blossom, no empty forest, there's no...
Dione blurted it out.
"I'm here to take you, Jupiter, and Medusa back to the Inner Sea of the Star. Before long, Earth's environment will no longer be suitable for the gods to live in. The gods who continue to remain on the surface will eventually lose their power due to the change in environment and disappear from history. Your passing made me realize this. I voluntarily gave up my divine position and let Jupiter succeed me because I felt that I was no longer suitable to be the leader of the gods. From then on, I retreated behind the scenes and existed only to protect the gods."
Dione spoke to herself about her thoughts and purpose: “I know about the agreement between Jupiter and that god who, like me, does not belong to this planet. I have no intention of stopping you, but I hope that after you achieve your goal, I can continue to protect you, and you will no longer be troubled by the crisis of the burning of humanity.”
Human principles are burned?
The familiar word activated Quinn's memory, and the time traveler's expression immediately became quite interesting.
No, we've already ruined Type-Moon, how can anyone still care about the incineration?
“I don’t believe it.” Without the slightest hesitation, Quinn said, “Now all the Holy Grail Wars are under the watchful eyes of the Clock Tower and me. I know all the affairs of Chaldea, big and small. Animusphia has no reason to participate in the Holy Grail Wars anymore. Apart from him, King Solomon can no longer be summoned by anyone else, and the Human Order Incineration should no longer have the opportunity to appear.”
Yes, ever since you obtained the Greater Grail of Fuyuki City, the source of this Holy Grail War, dismantled the Holy Grail War rituals into universal magic, and handed them over to the Clock Tower, any magician on Earth has been qualified to establish a Holy Grail War. They only need to apply to the Clock Tower and obtain approval to form a Holy Grail War.
This act of popularizing secret rituals is tantamount to directly undermining the original mystique of the Holy Grail War in the realm of magic.
[Indeed, this is true. After you revealed the secret of the Holy Grail War, many magical families applied to the Clock Tower for plans to form a Holy Grail War. In order to test the validity of the Holy Grail War, the Clock Tower approved them and conducted a rigorous review. The Clock Tower recorded all the details of these numerous Holy Grail Wars and shared the information with you.]
Based on this information, with the universalization of the Holy Grail War, rituals of the scale of the Fuyuki City Grand Grail War are no longer possible. The most direct manifestation of this conclusion is that the quality of Servants summoned by mages who participated in these Holy Grail Wars is continuously declining.
Initially, some mages were able to summon Servants of similar caliber to Spartacus and Flander III, but soon, those mages participating in the Holy Grail War could only summon some nonsensical phantoms, characters who wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder in the Fuyuki Holy Grail War.