Chapter 74

Chapter 74 – Love Fight (?) 2

Beware of children, women, and the elderly.

This was a golden rule I personally etched into the new doctrine scripture and martial arts manual known as the Heavenly Demon Teachings.

However, foolishly, I forgot this very rule I had inscribed, and nearly faced reincarnation again today.

A woman and a child.

Moreover, thinking I could just fend off a hero who starred in solo episodes and was part of a renowned adventure team in this chaotic mythological world with just my body.

With a heart resigned to my karma, I thought this, too, would pass and endured for a moment.

Atalanta, upon the instructor’s declaration of rest, suddenly snapped to her senses and was shocked to see me half out of my mind.

And then Atalanta, who dragged me to a forest a little away from the training ground, apologized to me, saying she didn’t even know why she did it, and like a tamed beast, she burrowed into my arms and wouldn’t let go.

And when I told her that I was now entangled with Apollo and Artemis and was trying to solve Hermes’s riddle to find a way out, Atalanta looked like she wanted to dig herself into the ground out of shame.

“Sorry...”

“Ah, ahahaha...”

Knowing that she had lost reason, Atalanta was tearful with embarrassment and apology.

Soon after, she buried her head in my chest again, hiding her face.

Even though I might not have had much experience with relationships, I was still aware that I had just had my first real fight with someone I cared about.

And considering that this fight had been with none other than Atalanta, a hero who had starred in her own standalone episodes and featured prominently in various mythological adventures in this chaotic world, I couldn’t help but feel satisfied that our first fight had ended on a relatively happy note.

Moreover, I could guess why Atalanta had gone berserk, and instead of being angry, I felt very proud of her.

“You swallowed the martial arts of that Crazy Demonic Warrior, so you endured well enough.”

“Crazy... Demonic Warrior?”

First, I needed to explain the detailed situation to Atalanta.

“Atalanta, listen carefully. You’ve been feeling something strange during your martial arts training lately, right?”

“Oh? Y-You knew?”

As expected, Atalanta had also started to notice the demonic martial arts gradually revealing themselves in her own martial arts.

She nodded and listened attentively to my story.

So, I explained to her about her current state and the Crazy Demonic Warrior that had started to bloom within her and its origins.

“So... you mean, the essence of one of your master’s martial arts is within me?”

“That’s right, probably some force acted during the headbutt incident last time...”

The headbutt incident.

As she recalled the disaster that occurred right after our disastrous first meeting, she lowered her head again, perhaps feeling embarrassed.

Seeing that, I chuckled and gently stroked her head as I continued speaking.

“Where I come from, martial arts aren’t just combat techniques or skills; when they reach their peak, they possess a will of their own. Perhaps your compatibility with his martial arts was good.”

The imagery is indeed a mysterious and strange place.

It is my unconscious mind, yet another part of my consciousness; the part of me that exists there is both me and not me.

A world of subconsciousness that is separate from my mind yet one with it; that place is called the imagery.

If the stages from third-rate to superlative are considered the stages that transcend the human body, then the stages beyond the superlative and the Enlightenment Stage deal with the realm of the human mind and soul.

The moment you completely control that imagery and merge consciousness and unconsciousness.

The mind reaches beyond the consciousness of the Heavenly Point and Heavenly Qi, which is called the Nature Realm or Heavenly Demon Realm.

Even though I was still in a young body, I could skillfully control my imagery because my soul remained somewhere up above.

However, the fact that Atalanta unknowingly stole my martial arts from my mind meant that the Crazy Demonic Warrior, who was rarely angered in my mind, willingly responded to her.

However, Atalanta was still young, and as the essence of those martial arts was just blooming within her, her emotions towards me, the original owner, must have intensified, causing her to go berserk without realizing it.

“Oh my, you two must have been quite compatible. I was really startled for a moment.”

“Sorryyyyy...”

Normally, martial arts form a shape with a technique and establish a frame with a formula to complete a form.

But Atalanta, unusually, formed a frame before establishing a shape, and the form of the martial art she originally learned was changing according to the frame.

If she were an ordinary martial artist with internal power, it wouldn’t be strange for her to suffer from qi deviation due to the discord between the shape and the frame.

Atalanta was a Greek who had not mastered internal qi, and since the Crazy Wind Spear technique originally did not require internal qi, it seemed to pass smoothly without any harm.

However, it was not without any side effects; the borderline twitching of her hands and feet and the strange light reflected in her ruby eyes were proof of that.

“Maybe it’s because new techniques and realizations are coming in. It seems like your body and mind are becoming a bit sensitive while adapting.”

“Stop! This is the Forest of Nymphs. Unauthorized men are not allowed to enter!”

“Please state your identity and purpose of visit.”

Suddenly, nymphs sprang out from both sides of the trees and blocked me.

Unlike the usual nymphs with their light attire and bright, cheerful image, these two nymphs were heavily armed with wooden armor and spears, leaving no gaps.

“Excuse me, I heard that a Nereid nymph is staying here recently.”

“A Nereid nymph?”

“Ah! You mean Lady Nesneria!”

“Then you must be the famous...”

“No wonder, the youngest princess of the renowned Nereid nymphs has come ashore...”

At the mention of Nereid nymph, the gatekeepers instantly spoke of Neri’s name.

Judging by the affection on their faces, it seemed that Neri, the youngest and beloved among countless sisters, was also dearly cherished here.

Whatever flights of fancy they were having, the previously stern atmosphere had vanished, replaced by the giggling of young women, making me smile wryly.

“Could you please inform Lady Nesneria that Dianes requests an audience with her?”

“Got it!”

“Please wait a moment!”

Is being excited about someone else’s romance a universal trait? The two stern nymphs vanished into the forest in an instant.

“Hmm, what should I say?”

Sorry for not being able to visit you all this time?

You’ve become even more beautiful since I last saw you?

Neri, as I had observed, had an oddly childlike side, yet sometimes displayed an inexplicably mysterious aspect.

No matter how young and delicate she might be, she was still a spirit of the sea.

Because of this, I racked my brain, more nervous than during Hermes’s riddles, trying to think of something that could ease Neri’s heart.

After waiting for a while.

I saw the gatekeepers who had gone inside to deliver the message returning from the other side.

But the faces of the returning nymphs... why do they look so fierce?

“Enemy of the nymphs!!”

“Scoundrel!”

“Heroes are indeed like this!”

“E-Excuse me?”

Before I knew it.

The nymphs, with their faces twisted menacingly, lunged at me with their spears(?).