Copy Skills with Affinity!

Chapter 178

Divine Authority (3)

“…Oh, she’s doing it. She’s really doing it.”

“Never thought I’d live to see something like this.”

“……”

When I heard those murmurs coming from outside, I rubbed my forehead in a daze.

Katya and Milene were over there, looking like they would immediately settle into spectator mode if someone handed them popcorn and drinks.

I didn’t know when or how they heard the news and rushed all the way here, but they were watching with great interest as the Mountain God and Noel sat across from each other with a desk between them….

“……”

And considering that I was the one who had provided this spectacle, it was only natural that I felt an overwhelming sense of self-loathing.

As I endured the dizzying sensation and tapped my forehead, I recalled the conversation from not too long ago.

It had happened shortly after I went up Mount Demon Sealing and persuaded the Mountain God that I would return the god he had been serving.

-There’s no reason to trust what you’re saying… but I’ll play along for now.

The Mountain God, still in his enormous form, said that—and then suddenly began to shine. The next moment, a tall woman stood before me with her arms crossed, glaring at me.

…With animal ears and a tail still attached.

-…What is that?

If you were going to turn human, why stop halfway like that?

I had asked with that feeling in mind, but the Mountain God’s answer was ridiculously simple.

-This is far more intimidating, isn’t it?

-…Excuse me?

-You humans always look soft and fragile. I have to leave at least some of my original form to prove my dignity.

I still remembered how she said that while lazily swaying her tail behind her.

Rather than feeling intimidated or dignified, my first thought had been that she looked cute.

Anyway.

The real dangerous part of the conversation came afterward.

-More importantly, you. You said you were engaged?

-Excuse me?

-Then I should see who your partner is. Guide me.

…I had only a brief moment of confusion at how she knew I was engaged and what had happened, before her next words turned that confusion into fear.

-You came all this way without even knowing whose divine beast you’re speaking to?

Of course, I already knew that from extensive investigation.

Scratching my head, I answered.

-That would be the god of love and union…

The moment I said that, a flash of realization struck me like lightning.

…Even now, I vividly remembered trembling in fear while simultaneously feeling the gaze of Cretin behind me, looking at me in disbelief, and the Mountain God’s gaze that seemed to say there was no point continuing.

Out of all things, this was the divine beast of a god who literally held the title ‘God of Love.’ She could easily figure out a person’s romantic situation with her eyes closed.

-Then by seeing your partner, I should be able to gauge your level as well. Guide me.

…I couldn’t argue with that, so I ended up bringing the Mountain God to Noel just now.

It felt like an eternity had passed since this hellish atmosphere formed, with the two of them staring silently at each other, assessing one another.

A tension like walking on thin ice hovered over the table.

Normally, this was the moment when I should introduce them, but the air was so heavy that I couldn’t even dare to open my mouth. It felt as if something was sizzling and boiling between them. The current flowing between them was terrifying.

More precisely, it was Noel’s aura that was overwhelmingly fierce. Just looking at the feathers along the Mountain God’s tail standing stiffly was enough to tell how foul her mood was….

“So, what exactly do you do?”

Noel was the first to open fire.

Expressionless, without even a change in tone, yet clearly carrying a warning that her attitude would depend on the answer.

“I heard you wanted to see ‘Mr. Aiden’s fiancée.’”

It was a question filled with the intent of asking why she wanted to see Noel Astrea Simus as Aiden’s fiancée, not as ‘Lionhearted’ Noel Astrea Simus.

But the Mountain God’s response was even more impressive.

Instead of responding with equal hostility, she simply rested her chin on the table and asked back lazily.

“I just wanted to see your level.”

“……”

“If it’s too low, I’ll get rid of you. It’d be annoying.”

“……”

“If the guy who boldly claimed he could give me exactly what I want is wrapped around some insignificant woman’s finger, that’d piss me off quite a bit.”

From the side, I could see Katya and Milene’s eyes and mouths widening at the same time.

…To me, it looked exactly like the reaction of an audience watching rappers exchange brutal lines in a diss battle, which only made it more infuriating.

“I wondered what nonsense you were spouting after barging in like this.”

But Noel, who heard all that, didn’t seem particularly angry. She simply responded calmly.

“You can provoke me all you want, nothing will come of it.”

“…Hm?”

“I’m confident, you see.”

Noel spoke plainly.

Rather than being unangered, it was more like she had dealt with so many people like this that she had even gained composure….

“……”

Should I be happy about that, or sad?

“At the very least, even if Mr. Aiden is a womanizing, lust-driven playboy who flirts with every woman he meets, I’m the only one he’s ever brought up marriage to.”

“……”

“If you really want to provoke me, at least climb up to a similar level before you speak.”

…Was that trust in me, or distrust?

As I mulled over that strange impression, I looked at Noel as she spoke.

“…No, more importantly.”

Rather than just being angry, it felt like I was hearing her true thoughts for the first time.

It was like—she could somehow tolerate me flirting with other women, but as long as I didn’t cross a certain line, she could hold herself back at just the level of irritation.

“…Huh.”

…Back then.

When something that wasn’t Noel had entered her body in the Holy Crown Kingdom.

Hadn’t she taken on a somewhat similar stance?

“……”

Something began to itch at the back of my mind.

It felt like I was missing something important.

“…Hmm.”

But before I could focus on that thought any further, the Mountain God let out a long sigh, pulling my awareness back to reality. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

As I watched Noel’s reaction and continued turning that thought over in my head, I noticed the Mountain God’s eyes twist slightly.

Her expression clearly carried the feeling of, ‘Even after all that, she’s not taking the bait?’

A chill crept up my spine.

In other words.

She had started this conversation to provoke her, but now that it wasn’t working, I had a bad feeling she was about to escalate things further.

And the Mountain God’s next action brought that unease into reality.

She grabbed the back of my neck and lifted me straight onto her arm.

Of course, she didn’t just place me there casually—it was a posture I knew all too well.

One arm supporting my legs, the other behind my neck.

…The kind of cliché pose used in media when the protagonist lifts the heroine into their arms.

From the sidelines, I could see Katya and Milene’s mouths hanging wide open.

“Alright then, I guess I’ll go do it.”

“…Excuse me?”

“…Excuse me?”

This time, even I couldn’t hold back from questioning her.

Do it?

Do what?

What exactly was she talking about?

“If your only point of pride is that the others haven’t even made it to engagement yet, then why not try something you haven’t done yet?”

“……”

“I’ll take my time and find out what that is. Something you haven’t done yet.”

“……”

What kind of nonsense was that?

I stared blankly at the Mountain God.

No, I get that she wants to provoke her, but saying it that blatantly would just have the opposite effect—

“Put him down.”

—Or so I thought.

But hearing Noel’s voice, now carrying a far colder edge than before, made me reconsider.

The tips of her ears were slightly red, as if she had imagined something, but aside from that, the killing intent she was directing at the Mountain God was unmistakably genuine.

And the moment the Mountain God saw that, she grinned, as if she had finally gotten the reaction she wanted.

“Come at me.”

At the same time my body was tossed aside, golden light burst forth from Noel’s body, illuminating the surroundings.

At the same moment, the Mountain God’s human form instantly reverted to its original state. While her torso and other limbs still retained a human shape, the arm holding me transformed into the massive foreleg of a beast, meeting Noel’s power head-on.

Soon, as the two forces collided, shockwaves rippled outward.

The entire building rumbled and shook, and the lighter materials around were scattered in all directions.

“Oh, they’re doing it. They’re really doing it!”

“…Sister, why are you so excited?”

…Even in the midst of all that, there were people in the outfield treating this level of clash as mere entertainment.

Of course, their attitude was a bit strange, but honestly, I didn’t think this situation was that serious either.

From the beginning—

‘There’s no killing intent.’

Both Noel and the Mountain God knew that this wasn’t a fight where they intended to kill each other.

It was more like Noel had instinctively responded to the Mountain God’s blatant provocation.

Just seeing how they exchanged a single move before cleanly withdrawing their energy made that clear.

The moment the Mountain God returned her arm to human form, Noel also frowned and hesitated, stopping her follow-up attack.

After all, for someone as upright as her, it would be impossible to swing her sword when she felt no hostility from her opponent.

And as the Mountain God carefully observed that, she smiled with satisfaction and spoke.

“…Not just the power you wield, but even your behavior—you’re practically Karva’s incarnation. For a human, you’ve managed to seduce quite the thing.”

“…Excuse me?”

Apparently not the response she had expected, Noel tilted her head and asked back.

“Well, I’ve already seen everything I wanted to see. And it’s clear you’re not just spouting nonsense about reviving a god.”

The hostility from moments ago was completely gone as the Mountain God spoke casually and turned her back.

Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, she turned her head slightly.

“Oh, and.”

“…?”

“I think that kind of mindset… trying to understand that crazy playboy over there, is a good thing.”

“…Excuse me?”

“That way, you’ll feel a little less like killing him later.”

“……”

“That guy, before long, is going to try and seduce a ‘real god’ as well—”

“…Let’s talk about that later.”

The moment I cut her off mid-sentence, it was practically driven by pure survival instinct.