Type-Moon: The Human Love Simulator [142] [DDD!]

December Double Drop!

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Meanwhile, Hestia debated whether she should contact Athena.

As the goddess of wisdom, the mother of heroes, and Suren's guide, Athena's unparalleled intellect and understanding of him made her the ideal person to solve this problem.

However, Hestia hesitated.

The reason was simple: Athena had a habit of monopolizing everything. If she came into the picture, she'd likely exclude Hestia before accomplishing anything.

Especially now, with her new divine authority as the Patron of Craftsmen, granted by the gods, Athena had become even more authoritative—a divine wildcard with the power to distribute blessings as she pleased.

In the kitchen, Hestia casually picked up some simple ingredients and said, "Suren, cooking isn't just about making delicious food. It's about mastering the control of heat and technique. But most importantly, it's about intention."

"Just as mortal wishes and faith create us gods, imbuing intention into a dish gives it… soul!"

"I just care about eating, not some 'soul food,'" Suren replied bluntly, killing the mood. Annoyed, Hestia turned her head, ignoring him.

Suren's sharp eyes remained fixed on Hestia, watching and memorizing every move she made.

Cooking, and even eating, had never interested him, so he struggled to understand Hestia's passion for culinary art or her talk of intentions and soul.

To him, food was simply food. No matter how much effort one put in, some people just couldn't cook well.

Under Hestia's skilled hands, the meal was soon ready.

"This is amazing! As expected of you, Hestia—your cooking is fantastic!"

Suren polished off the entire dish with relish, only to immediately replicate Hestia's signature dish as if 3D printing it.

Even Hestia's slight adjustment of her skirt during cooking was perfectly mirrored. Apart from their gender, Suren's imitation was so flawless that it seemed like he was her shadow.

The replicated dish was completed.

Suren tasted it meticulously, finishing every bite, then looked up with a puzzled expression. "It's strange… Hestia, I followed your process exactly, yet it still doesn't taste as good.

"Are you using divine powers?"

"…" Hestia gave him a sidelong glance and said, "My dear Golden King, if I had used divine powers, don't you think you'd have noticed?"

"And why would I notice that?" Suren retorted, rolling his eyes. "My perception is reserved for important matters. Right now, I'm exploring my preferences, so I deliberately avoided using extraordinary abilities."

"Still, if you're not using divine powers, it seems there's truth to this idea of 'intention' being a powerful force."

Acknowledging Hestia's perspective, Suren began earnestly researching culinary techniques.

Within a single day and night, he approached Hestia again. "I've got it. I've replicated the exact taste of your cooking, but it still feels pointless to me."

On the table beside him was a meticulously prepared dish. As Hestia leaned in to smell it, her eyes widened in amazement—it was truly indistinguishable from her own cooking.

How was that possible?

Every individual's soul, will, and emotional state while cooking varied infinitely. The potential combinations were endless, extending to the very limits of the universe.

Yet Suren had somehow managed to perfectly recreate her work within a single day. And then he dismissed it as unimpressive.

"Suren, why don't you take a break?"

Hestia didn't know how many simulations Suren had run to achieve this outcome. Seeing him so indifferent despite his success, her heart ached.

He was a hero she deeply admired, a man whose resolve inspired her submission. She didn't want to see him like this.

The Golden King, who brought smiles to gods and mortals alike, seemed so lonely, so desolate.

He showered everyone with unconditional love and responded to all gods with boundless tolerance. Yet, not a single person or deity could ease his melancholy.

Hestia wanted to stand by his side, to truly help him—not just in achieving his vision of the Golden Age, but also in freeing him from his sorrow.

Thus, the goddess of the hearth asked softly, "Suren, you are the most revered figure in Greece. You have everything. Why, then, are you so troubled?"

"Hah, Hestia… My love is for this world, and my desires are also for this world."

Suren sighed. "If I cannot restrain my overwhelming love, it will inevitably destroy the world.

"That's why I must find my own personal desires, my… humanity."

"…"

With his back to Hestia, Suren didn't use his heightened perception. He remained unaware of the alarmed expression that overtook her face. It was as if she had encountered an unexpected and terrifying revelation.

"S-Suren, Athena has summoned me. I'll head over to her now," she stammered, her voice trembling slightly.

Suren, thinking it was just Athena's intimidating aura, chuckled to himself. He found it amusing how even among gods, Athena could command such fear.

Once outside the Golden Palace, Hestia's expression hardened. She turned back to gaze at the palace, or rather, at Suren within.

"Suren, I didn't think you'd know about the parallel world…"

Hestia let out a weary sigh. I thought you had reconciled with yourself when you answered Zeus' questions differently. Turns out, you've just been suppressing your nature this whole time.

"Athena knows you better than anyone. It's time to consult her about what's happening to you."

Among gods, it was difficult to conceal things from one another. The Olympians, being interconnected and attuned to the earth, found it especially challenging.

Hestia's golden eyes scanned the city, surprised to find Athena already in Athens, residing in her temple.

She made her way there and pushed open the doors to find Athena directing the nine Muses in a performance rehearsal.

"Athena… What are you doing?"

Hestia almost reached out to touch Athena's forehead, wondering if the goddess of wisdom had lost her mind.

The Muses, Greek patronesses of art and performance, were often invited to perform for gods or even demigods. Athena, though a goddess of arts, had never personally engaged in performances.

"Oh, someone wanted to see me lead the Muses in song and dance," Athena replied matter-of-factly. "I figured I should rehearse so I don't embarrass myself and tarnish my divine authority as the goddess of art."

Athena spoke with such righteousness that Hestia couldn't help but laugh. "You? Athena? Since when do you care about criticism? Don't you usually resolve such issues by dropping an island on the complainer?"

"Never heard of it," Athena replied, feigning ignorance.

The two goddesses shared a brief laugh before Hestia dismissed the Muses and turned serious.

"Suren has glimpsed the parallel world—the first cycle, with its terrible ending."

"…" Athena's brows knitted tightly. "How could Suren know about the bad ending of the first cycle?"

"That explains his strange response to Zeus' questioning."

"But Suren's magical prowess is extraordinary. Observing parallel worlds wouldn't be too difficult for him, though interfering with them would be another matter…"

Athena trailed off, her thoughts clearly deep in analysis.

"Even with Suren's mastery of the Five Great Magics," Athena continued after a moment, "he hasn't fully perfected them. Without accessing the Root, he can't complete them in their entirety."

"Each of his magics operates partially. He can observe parallel worlds, but not interfere with them. He can glimpse the past, present, and future simultaneously, yet no matter how hard he tries, he can't alter a predestined outcome."

"Even his materialization of souls—normally meant to transform souls into physical matter—functions in reverse for him, allowing him to transform matter into destructive spiritual energy capable of annihilating the material world."

Athena paused, her voice softening. "But there's something Suren has never told anyone—not even me."

Her golden eyes darkened slightly, reflecting a weighty secret.

"If he were to combine the Five Great Magics in their inverse forms, he could refine and burn the entire world. That fiery destruction would generate boundless energy—enough to wield an unimaginable amount of magical power."

"With it, Suren could reshape reality itself. He could rebuild the heavens and the earth, crafting a new beginning for all creation."

"To preserve the Age of Gods?" Hestia asked, her tone heavy with doubt.

"No," Athena said. "To create an eternal Age of Gods."

Hestia stiffened, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean he could—"

"But he won't," Athena interrupted firmly. "He doesn't dare. Instead, he sealed away that possibility and fled the first cycle, choosing to begin this second one. Even so, his overwhelming love for the world continues to drive him, pushing him toward the belief that burning everything is the only way to ensure the eternal beauty of the Age of Gods."

Athena's words carried an undeniable finality, leaving Hestia in stunned silence.

Finally, Hestia asked, "Athena, if Suren knows about the first cycle, then our priority now should be stabilizing his mind. We can't let him slip into the abyss."

"You're the one who understands him best—do you have a plan?"

"…"

Athena's expression grew thoughtful as she murmured, "So, Suren… that's why you made such a peculiar request of me. I thought you'd finally opened your heart. Instead, you're probing your own desires?"

She sighed, her gaze distant. "Hestia, Suren understands me far better than I understand him."

"I was captivated by him, enthralled by his ambition and his boundless love for this world. He's so far beyond me—so grand, so magnificent—that I could never fully grasp the depths of his heart. And yet, I willingly became his captive, submitting to his vision for this world."

"His ambition, his desires, his immense love—I've witnessed every step of Suren's journey. And the Suren I chose to support is the one whose obsession borders on terrifying: the Golden King of uncompromising conviction."

Athena's voice dropped, heavy with emotion. "It's like staring into the abyss, knowing the abyss stares back at you."

"You…"

Hestia stepped back, visibly shaken. "Athena, are you saying you support Suren's plans? Even if he destroys the Age of Gods? Even if he makes choices that will haunt him forever?"

"What else can I do?" Athena said, a faint smile on her lips.

"Suren is wiser than I am. He can see what I cannot. With my limited wisdom, all I can do is trust him and support him."

"If Suren's actions appear incomprehensible to us, then it's simply because neither you nor I are capable of understanding his intentions."

"Moreover, Hestia, how can you be certain that Suren would regret his choices?"

"…I was wrong to come to you, Athena," Hestia said after a long pause, her disappointment evident. "The Suren I believe in is the one who declared, 'I seek equality between humans and gods. I will establish new rules for this world.'

"The one who vowed to hold the gods accountable, to make everyone smile, to create a more beautiful world—the Golden King I admire!"

"That Suren would never destroy everything he's built. He wouldn't crush his efforts into dust. I still believe in the Suren who dreams of bringing happiness to all."

"Both you and the Suren I see now are betraying that ideal."

Hestia's tone grew firmer as she continued. "Until now, Suren has restrained his overwhelming desires to avoid destroying the world or the Age of Gods. If you won't help, at least don't interfere. Don't let this world turn into the tragedy of the first cycle."

"Ah, Hestia, poor, pitiable Hestia…"

Athena shook her head, her smile faint but cutting. "With such a limited perspective, how could you possibly understand the true Suren?"

"His self-restraint now and his boundless indulgence in the future—both are part of his plan."

"All I can do is support him. Whatever Suren does, I trust he has his reasons. I trust his actions have meaning, even if we cannot comprehend them."

Athena turned away, her tone dismissive. "You may leave now, Hestia. Don't block the preparations I'm making for the performance he requested."

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Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!

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