Chapter 118: Ch 117: My Goddess

[Congratulations. You have successfully paid off your debt.]

[Current Coin Balance: 0]

Aiden let out a sigh at the welcoming notice on the system screen. He could not help but feel like a burden had been taken off his shoulders.

Initially, he had come from a semi-rich family, and he had never needed a credit card or a loan. He might have worked part-time to support his hobbies, but he had never been in any real danger of being buried under debt.

But this time, it was different. The situation had been dangerous enough to the point where he could have been swept under its burden.

’Tsk, this is all the system’s fault for leading me astray. It told me I could repay my debts if I sold God Vital’s artifacts.’

Well, he could have recovered from the debt, but the Star Defender seemed too precious to be sold just for anything.

But now that Aiden was finally free from the crippling debt, he finally felt like he could look around and truly appreciate this place.

The cave looked old from the outside, but it was well-maintained and clean from the inside. There was a lot of stuff, but it was organized well. It was all being done with magic.

Even the sides Aiden had just littered with books in order to find useful things were starting to put themselves back together.

"Is this place fascinating you so much that you are not even paying attention to me? This is making me feel so lonely."

Goddess Apophis snuck behind Aiden before she wrapped her arms around his middle and pulled him back.

They were similar in height, but his goddess was much more physically powerful. But that power was not reflected in her human form, which looked delicate and soft. Her hands tickled his sides as they lightly moved up and down his arms.

Aiden wanted to turn around and look at his goddess, but she held him in place.

"Aiden, my beloved Apostle, you can ask me for anything and I will grant it to you. Do not ever forget this fact, alright? You are the reason I am still alive."

Goddess Apophis reminded Aiden of this often enough, but it felt special right now.

It was as if she was confessing to him about a secret and asking him to keep it in his heart. He did not respond, waiting for his goddess to finish speaking.

Her hands, that were soft until now, suddenly clutched his arms with a strength that made him flinch.

"Since you are mine, I would like you to remember whom you belong to as well. You can help others and look at them, but don’t get unnecessarily close to them. I won’t want to lose a useful pawn because they got...intentions toward you."

That was a threat which made Aiden melt against his goddess. She was just too attractive when she made threats like this.

’Something must be messed up inside my mind for me to find this comforting.’

Aiden knew he was not normal, but at this moment, he did not care.

"Of course, Goddess Apophis. I am all yours. No matter how much I get closer to other people, it will all be for your sake."

Goddess Apophis smiled after hearing Aiden’s answer, and there was something almost frighteningly satisfied about the expression on her face. It was the kind of smile that made Aiden wonder whether he had just said exactly what she wanted to hear or accidentally signed away the rest of his freedom.

"That is a good answer. You really are my beloved Apostle."

Her arms tightened around him, and Aiden felt her chin rest gently against his shoulder.

The warmth of her body was comforting, but the way she held him made it clear that she had no intention of letting him go anytime soon.

"You know, sometimes I wonder what I would have done if you had never appeared before me."

Aiden turned his head slightly, curious about the sudden change in her tone.

"What would you have done?"

Goddess Apophis remained silent for a few seconds before she answered.

"I would have continued waiting. Perhaps for another hundred years. Perhaps a thousand. I would have watched my territory decay, watched my name disappear, and eventually allowed myself to fade away."

Her voice was strangely calm as she spoke about her own death.

"But then you came. You gave me faith when I had none left. You gave me people when I had no followers. You gave me a future when I had already accepted that I had none."

Her fingers slowly moved across Aiden’s chest, almost as if she was making sure he was still there.

Aiden felt his heart tighten at her words.

"And now?"

"And now I have something I refuse to lose."

The gentle smile returned to her face.

Aiden’s face warmed, and he looked away in embarrassment.

"You are my precious treasure. The one thing I cannot afford to lose at all cost. I even have my essence deep inside you. You are more precious than every artifact in my old lair. More valuable than my territory. More important than my name."

Her answer came without hesitation. Goddess Apophis leaned closer, her lips almost touching his ear.

"And unlike an artifact, I can hold you."

Aiden shivered slightly at her tone, but he did not stop her. He wanted to hear what she had to say to him even more.

"And if someone tries to take you from me, I can destroy them."

There was no hesitation or humor in her voice this time. She meant every word.

Aiden slowly turned around and looked into her eyes. Those beautiful snake-like eyes were staring directly at him, filled with affection and something far more dangerous beneath it.

"I know. But you do not have to worry. I am not going anywhere."

He reached up and gently placed his hand against her cheek. Her expression softened immediately.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Goddess Apophis closed her eyes and leaned into his palm.

"Then I will believe you."

For a moment, everything was peaceful. Then she opened her eyes again and there was a terrifying storm brewing inside them.

"But if you ever break that promise, I will find you."

Aiden’s smile froze.

"Even if you run to the end of the world, hide inside another god’s territory, or somehow escape into another realm, I will find you."

She smiled sweetly.

"After all, you are mine."