I had just finished talking to Frank and stepped out of the tavern.
Dusk had already settled in. The beautiful moon rose high, illuminating the distant mountain ranges.
I wanted to spend the night again in the suite at the O Dystychís Casino. But my intercom was flooded with messages from Artia. I immediately contacted her.
—Artia, did something happen?
[Grand Marshal, you finally answered—there's been an emergency!!]
—Tell me.
[Miss Melissa left the house I was monitoring in tears and went to the temple.]
—Did something happen to Nana!?
[I don't know, Marshal… the emergency is that a man with blue eyes entered the temple, and when I approached to observe, he threw something at the drone. I lost the connection.]
—That bastard… how long ago did this happen?
[About forty minutes ago, Marshal.]
When I heard that, I realized it was almost exactly the amount of time it took me to get here and talk to Frank.
—Damn it… Melissa is in danger.
[What kind of danger, Marshal?]
—If she falls into the abyss, she'll never be the same.
[I don't understand, Marshal.]
—You don't need to understand, Artia… Quincy, raise everything to the maximum. We're going to Ataxia. Now.
[At once, Master.]
***
Forty minutes earlier.
City of Ataxia.
Temple of the Goddess of Wisdom.
Melissa was crying uncontrollably, kneeling before the altar, pouring out countless pleas. The statue of the goddess remained imposing… and utterly indifferent.
Her sobs and prayers only grew louder. She wanted nothing more than a miracle—she wanted Nana back. The elderly woman, full of years, had suddenly stopped breathing and passed away just minutes after Sam had left.
Melissa: —Sniff… why did they take her away?… I don't understand… what did my parents do for this to happen to me?… Why is my life hated by the heavens?
At that moment, her skin prickled as she felt someone enter the temple. Whoever it was, she could feel them approaching.
Melissa tried to convince herself it was a worshipper, an acolyte, or Agatha—who was negotiating with the Governor to build the orphanage. But terror seized her when she looked back.
It was him.
The mysterious stalker.
Her voice broke.
Melissa: —P-please stay away from me… the goddess will curse you if you try anything.
A smile full of arrogance formed beneath the hood as he advanced toward her.
Vagabond: —That bitch wouldn't dare touch me.
Melissa's pupils dilated as she felt the threat crystal clear. Terrified, she stepped backward until her back hit the golden altar.
Melissa: —D-don't come closer… p-please.
The hooded man's blue eyes gleamed with lust. Ignoring her fear completely, he spoke with disturbing cynicism.
Vagabond: —Relax. You're going to enjoy this.
When he got close enough, Melissa reacted without thinking and slapped him hard across the face.
The skylight in the temple revealed him more clearly—and with greater horror. His magnificent face was exposed under the moonlight, radiant and cruel. His eyes burned with rage and desire.
Vagabond: —I wanted you to agree willingly. Now it'll be the hard way.
He grabbed her violently, hurting her fragile skin in the process. He began tearing apart her priestess robes as she screamed in panic, begging for help.
Melissa: —N-no… help!!
Looking at the statue of the goddess she had served with all her heart, she pleaded with unspeakable words to be saved. Noticing this, he leaned in and whispered in her ear.
Vagabond: —That bitch can't do anything.
Her desperation grew. She didn't want to be defiled by a man like him—especially not in a sacred place like the temple.
Melissa: — No! Please, stop!
It hurts. Please, it hurts!
Her screams were ignored by everyone who heard them. Even the goddess ignored her.
The world ignored her voice.
Tears streamed down her face as her attacker continued. In a broken whisper, she begged:
Melissa: —Please… someone… Sam… save me.
***
This was a personal record.
I had never moved this fast in my life.
I completely forgot about the scenery, the villages I passed through.
But on my way to the Temple of Ataxia, everything finally connected.
I understood.
I remembered who Melissa was.Who that man was.And whose temple this truly was.
Melissa was Medusa.
The Goddess of Wisdom was Athena—goddess of wisdom, strategy, and war.
And the vagabond was, without question, Poseidon, god of the sea.
The myth of Medusa is tragic.
She was born with unparalleled beauty, desired by men and envied by women.
To avoid trouble, she became a priestess in Athena's temple. But she caught the eye of a god with a personality like Zeus's—Poseidon.
According to myth, Poseidon and Athena once competed to become the patron deity of Athens. Athena won. Poseidon never overcame the humiliation of losing to a goddess he deemed weaker.
So he turned his attention to one of the virgin priestesses of Athena's temple.
He desired her like all men did—but chose to violate her.
The priestess fled into the temple, but Poseidon caught her and raped her before Athena's statue.
Athena, unable to punish Poseidon because he was stronger, chose instead to punish Medusa—turning her into a monster. Half serpent. Her beautiful hair became vipers. Any living being who met her gaze turned to stone.
Transformed into a monster, Medusa fled to the Gorgons' cave so she wouldn't harm anyone. Though she was mortal, the Gorgons accepted her as a sister.
There, her hatred for Athena, Poseidon, and all men bloomed. Any man who entered or wandered into the cave was petrified by her hand.
Until Perseus, son of Zeus, was sent by Athena—and beheaded Medusa, ending her tragic life.
The rest belongs to another myth.
Melissa—the girl I met, the young woman who struck me so deeply—was gentle, kind, and beautiful…
And you're telling me she's destined to become a monster because of two beings who call themselves gods and behave like immature, idiotic children?
I won't allow it.
I won't let that happen. I don't care.
If my interference affects the game, the system, fate itself—I don't give a damn.
The future? Consequences? None of that matters.
She may be an NPC, but emotions like these cannot be programmed.
This is reality—even if it's virtual.
A soul like Melissa's—one that has endured so much pain and remains intact—must be protected above all else.
Because if she's destroyed, I'll feel it as if it happened to me.
And that… I will never forgive.
Life forced me to be strong.
Please… let her be safe.
Let her be SAFE, DAMN IT.
I finally reached the City of Ataxia and rushed toward the temple.
But a crowd had gathered outside—bonfires lit, pitchforks raised.
[Master, we've arrived.]
—Lower everything to ten percent.
[Understood, Master.]
[Basic Skill «Infinite Speed» is no longer active.]