Got Engaged to the Man They Call Ugly - Chapter 23

“Aren’t you going to write back?”

The Messenger God Helmen, who had been observing her ever-changing expressions with great interest, asked with a grin.

He was delighted and had just finished laughing himself silly over how sulky Menelaon had looked lately.

“If you are, I can deliver it for you.”

“I’m not. Would be a waste of paper.”

Elinne replied curtly, folding the crumpled letter without care.

She didn’t have the ink to spare for some pervert.

“…Pwahahahaha!!”

Helmen, who had been staring wide-eyed, burst into laughter.

“Haah, ha… So it’s true. Menelaon’s been whining that you’ve changed into someone else entirely. And you really have! This is hilarious.”

He laughed so hard she worried his wings might fall off, gasping between fits of cackles. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.

“Can I tell him that word-for-word? I’m dying to see his reaction.”

“Sure. And also let him know I never want to see his face again.”

“Of course! I’ll deliver it without missing a single syllable!”

With the brightest expression she’d ever seen on him, the Messenger God Helmen spread his wings and flew off.

* * *

With peace returning to her daily life, Elinne began diligently reading through the histories recorded in the Library of Nerva to strengthen her divine power.

She even pored over parts she’d usually skim, and new questions began to form.

“Um, Lady Nerva.”

She brought one up casually during their usual tea time.

“There’s something I’ve been wondering about. May I ask?”

Nerva raised an eyebrow mid-sip, silently giving permission.

“It’s about the golden apple wager. Why did you even do it?”

She wanted to know why three such high-ranking gods had fought so fiercely over a single golden apple, and why just giving one away had caused such a dramatic fallout.

“I mean, I doubt it was just about figuring out who the most beautiful goddess was. I’m curious.”

More than anything, Nerva didn’t seem the type to engage in such petty wagers for a title like most beautiful god. Maybe the other two, but not her.

“Isn’t it recorded in the library?”

“It is. But…”

The three gods quarreled for years over the Immortal Lands. Vishtar secretly pleaded with the Supreme Deity to rig the wager in her favor, but lost. The victor, Nerva, claimed the Immortal Lands.

…What even are the Immortal Lands?

She looked that up too.

【Immortal Lands: Former territory of the Titans. Specifically, the Fire Giants. Formed from an eternal flame that can never be extinguished.】

It seemed like an ordinary volcanic region. Nothing special.

In fact, it was unstable, filled with boiling magma and occasional eruptions of superheated water, making it a hazardous place.

They fought over that?

It made even less sense.

A land of undying flame.

Sure, it sounded valuable.

But in Elysion, where every season felt like spring, even autumn didn’t exist, let alone winter, what value did a place like that even hold?

Unless the plan was to gather all of Metis and host a giant campfire.

“I’d like to know why the Immortal Lands mattered so much to the gods.”

“Curiosity is the gateway to wisdom, but it won’t make your divine power stronger.”

…Nerva truly did know everything. Then again, with Monetta as her vassal, that made sense.

Hiding her guilty expression, Elinne quickly added,

“It’s not for divine power. I just… want to be helpful in any way I can.”

“What help could you possibly offer?”

“Not much, I know. But maybe if you ever feel like venting or something, I could listen. Talking like this in a relaxed setting might help ideas come to you…”

It was a polite way of saying she was curious, and wanted to be told anyway.

“It is true. Sometimes a good idea comes when you take a step back.”

But Nerva seemed pleased, smiling gently.

“There’s some merit to that. Very well. I’ll tell you.”

But she never got the chance.

“Lady Nerva!! Frost Giants at the northern wall!!”

In a blink, her serene expression vanished.

It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had just been sipping tea so gracefully.

Now, in an instant, the Goddess of War stood clad in brilliant, blinding armor.