Chapter 66

If one wishes to thrive in Greece, mingling with a beautiful woman should be avoided; the more beautiful she is, the more likely she is to sow the seeds of trouble! This isn't just a cautionary tale—Greek mythology is rife with tragedies sparked by women.

Although regret wasn't in Cyd's vocabulary, Atalanta's troubles had already caused him enough grief.

"I definitely don't want that!" Cyd shook his head firmly.

"Hmph, are you...?!!" Aphrodite's mouth fell open in disbelief. "Why?"

"Because it would be too troublesome," Cyd replied earnestly.

"What kind of reason is that? She's the most beautiful woman in the world!" Aphrodite exclaimed, visibly frustrated.

"Well, even if you say so," Cyd shrugged.

"Finally, you're the most superficial among us three," Athena laughed. "Does he lack women? He's constantly surrounded by princesses, female hunters—women aren't exactly in short supply on his journeys."

"I might as well be surrounded by beautiful women," Cyd rolled his eyes. "And don't forget, you three are still competing for the title of the most beautiful goddess in the world, and you're not exactly delivering."

"But she's the most beautiful woman in the world," Aphrodite insisted reluctantly. She couldn't fathom why any man would reject such an offer; after all, aren't men creatures driven by their baser instincts?

"Well, the winner and loser are clearly defined," Athena extended her delicate hand towards Cyd. "Give me the apple."

"Why?" Cyd blinked.

"Didn't I win?" Athena's expression stiffened. "You rejected Aphrodite's offer, so you must value wisdom over wealth. Even if it's of little use to you, it's still beneficial."

Cyd's expression turned peculiar. Who truly held the upper hand in this beauty contest?

Athena, who had maintained her composure, seemed reluctant to tread on Aphrodite's and Hera's toes to get her hands on the apple.

"Is this really so important?" Cyd wondered aloud.

Both Athena and Hera exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.

"Can we speed this up?" Aphrodite impatiently gestured. "If you choose me, the offer of the most beautiful woman still stands."

"Fine, but honestly, I think this competition is fundamentally pointless," Cyd concluded.

The gods around him gasped in shock, while Hermes widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Are you suggesting...?" Athena squinted. "That we're just stirring up trouble?"

"You're not wrong!" Cyd, along with other gods, echoed the same sentiment.

"What do you mean by that expression?" Hera arched an eyebrow.

"First, everyone wants to be known as the goddess of beauty," Cyd pointed out as he placed the apple on the table. "But I can't quite understand why."

"Exactly, shouldn't this apple rightfully belong to me?" Aphrodite insisted earnestly.

"Well, all three of you seem very confident in your beauty," Cyd dismissed Aphrodite's narcissistic speech.

"That's to be expected." × 3

"This is where things get tricky..."

"But isn't it strange?" Cyd tilted his head curiously. "Why fight over this apple? Shouldn't your beauty speak for itself? Why the need to prove it?"

The best way to deal with these self-assured goddesses was to play along with their egos!

"Goddess Athena, you possess wisdom and war prowess. Your beauty transcends physical appearance—men, women, children, and elders alike are drawn to your wisdom. Isn't this the greatest proof of your allure? Isn't this more valuable than a hollow title?" Cyd's intelligent words caught Athena off guard, and she smiled knowingly.

"The Queen of the Gods, Hera, you epitomize nobility in this world. Beauty is just one of your many attributes. Surely, you're worth more than this Golden Apple, which could diminish your worth just by possessing it," Cyd continued, raising Hera's chin.

Seeing Athena and Hera pleased with his flattering remarks, Cyd relaxed quietly. These two were smart; they could see through the superficial intentions of the Golden Apple. By solving this conundrum without losing face, he had given them a graceful way out of the tiresome charade.

However, Aphrodite seemed genuinely invested—she truly believed that possessing the Golden Apple would make her the most beautiful goddess in the world.

Fortunately for Cyd, Aphrodite wasn't known for her intelligence. Dealing with a fool was always easier than dealing with the wise.

"Aren't you the embodiment of beauty itself?" Cyd posed a simple question that immediately threw Aphrodite into a maelstrom of contradictions, making her forget her obsession with the Golden Apple.

"Now..." Cyd reached out to grab the Golden Apple and held it firmly in his left hand. "Who wants this Golden Apple?"