Got Engaged to the Man They Call Ugly - Chapter 5
Her eyes began to dart around wildly.
…Was that museum truly the root of all this? If so, then all of this happened because of that cursed keyring?
Oh my god. No, wait. These were actual gods. Oh my…
“Elinne the Mortal!”
A voice thundered out, snapping her back to reality.
Vishtar was glaring at her, her face twisted with irritation.
“If you indulge in one more worthless thought, I’ll personally cast you into the depths of hell.”
“Y-Yes! I’m sorry!”
She bowed her head immediately.
Whatever else happened, hell was the one place she absolutely did not want to go.
“Very well. Then I shall now speak of my promise. Of course, I assume you’ll choose me, but tradition must be followed.”
Apparently appeased by the swift apology, Vishtar’s expression softened.
“If you offer me the Golden Apple, I shall grant you a betrothal to the most beautiful male God, my beloved son, Kashayn. And though you are but a pitiful mortal, I shall bestow upon you the right to become a citizen of Venus, my kingdom of Beauty.”
The most beautiful male god?
That one, at least, she could recall right away.
It had to be the same figure from the statue she saw in the museum.
‘Kashayn…’
She couldn’t remember the exact face, but what she did remember was how unimpressive his body was for someone allegedly hailed as the greatest beauty.
A proper man, in her opinion, should have a well-toned physique, broad chest, and wide shoulders.
The face might be acceptable, sure, but the body was definitely not her type.
‘…Come to think of it, maybe the body type is kind of similar?’
She cast a skeptical glance at Vishtar, standing before her.
Her face was as befitting the Goddess of Beauty, and was undeniably perfect.
But the way she was twisting her body to emphasize her curves looked almost silly. Her shoulders appeared narrow, and compared to the two statuesque goddesses flanking her, she seemed a bit… short.
“You, you insolent mortal…!!!”
A booming outcry jerked her consciousness back into place. Startled, she blinked and looked up just in time to see Vishtar fuming.
“You dare think I lack majesty? That—that—what did you just think?!”
Gasp. Right. She could read minds.
“Waaah, I’m so sorry!”
Panicking, she waved her hands in the air.
“N-no, I mean… you’re gorgeous! Absolutely, incredibly, breathtakingly beautiful! It’s just that… maybe, like… some tiny parts don’t quite match my personal taste…”
“Taste? Did you just bring up taste in my presence?! You lowly wretch!”
“Enough!”
A voice like a piano’s final chord crashed over them all.
“The fault is yours as well, Vishtar, for reading her mind uninvited. Cease this at once. Now is not the time.”
The Goddess in full heavy armor who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
Her presence was so commanding that even Vishtar clamped her mouth shut, flinching.
“…Very well, mortal.”
As Vishtar quieted, another voice slipped in as if it had been waiting. It came from the woman adorned with a peacock feather in her hair.
She was wearing a frothy, cloudlike dress that looked as though it might fall apart at any moment.
And yet, thanks to her exceptionally voluptuous figure, the outfit suited her almost too well.
“I am Heril, Goddess of Family and Fertility. If you offer me the Golden Apple, I shall grant you the blessing to bear sons destined to be kings, no matter who you wed.”
She spoke in a soft, but sly tone.
“I shall also gift you a body that feels no pain during childbirth. One so resilient, you could conceive again the very next day.”
…Was that really supposed to be a good thing?
Elinne stared at Heril, dubious, but Heril, clearly proud of her offer, smiled with utmost confidence.
“Now it is my turn.”
Just as Elinne was getting dizzy from it all, the Goddess in heavy armor finally stepped forward. Her voice, in contrast to the earlier command, was calm and even.
“I am Nerva, Goddess of Wisdom and War. If you give the Golden Apple to me, I shall grant you wisdom great enough to perceive the truths of all things. I will also take you in as my foster daughter.”
That’s… a really good deal. The wisdom alone was an incredible offer, but to also become her daughter?
Her ears perked up. She was more than a little tempted.
