Failed Goddess[CHAPTER 4]

I collapsed.

Ahh, my head hurts!

"Good morning, mortal! How are you feeling now?" 

I had fallen unconscious in the palace, but where the hell I AM ? Slowly, I opened my eyes, wincing at the sudden brightness that flooded my vision. It took a moment for my senses to adjust, but as my nose caught a whiff of something sweet and intoxicating, I heard a voice—a melodious, enchanting voice that made my heart skip a beat. 

As my eyes finally focused, I beheld a woman with hair that cascaded like a midnight waterfall, long and flowing. Her eyes were deep and mysterious, dark as onyx, sparkling with a hint of mischief tempered by ancient wisdom. Her skin glowed with a warm radiance, and her curves were maddening—enough to make the world feel small, yet gentle enough that a single touch could send shivers down my spine. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

"A woman? No, a goddess! Yes, you must be the goddess of beauty. I worship you."

"Hahaha! What a funny young man you are. You're right in a sense, but I am not the goddess of beauty. I am Raven, the goddess of grimoires."

Raven, goddess of grimoires? Wait, goddess? Am I dead?

"Excuse me, most beautiful goddess. Am I dreaming, or am I truly dead? Can you tell me how and why I am here?"

"Well, technically, you're not dead. You've been summoned here because your help is needed. Remember that circle? I was the one who orchestrated that. So yes, I summoned you from your world to the realm of gods. Welcome, human."

Am I dreaming? Let me pinch myself... Ouch! Ouch! It's real. What the hell?!

"Oh, he's awake!"

As I tried to process this overwhelming beauty before me, another figure caught my eye—another woman, younger and radiating an aura of fiery intensity. Her hair was a striking crimson, and her eyes glowed like molten lava. Her skin seemed to emit heat, and while she wasn't as voluptuous as Raven, her figure was undeniably captivating. The curves she possessed were subtle yet alluring. If Raven was a goddess, then surely this fiery beauty was one too.

"Creep! Why are you staring at me?" 

Creep? Did this fiery goddess just call me a creep?

"Why would I look at oranges when I have watermelons to admire, you idiot?"

"What did you say?" she shot back, her expression a mix of shock and amusement.

"Hahaha! He's really funny."

Yup, the oranges may be sour, but the watermelons are sweet.

"Can someone please explain what is happening and why I'm surrounded by goddesses?"

"Let me explain, mortal. I am Raven, and this girl is Alzeria..." 

After what felt like an eternity of explanations, I learned that the fiery goddess, Alzeria, was in grave trouble. To save her kingdom from certain doom, she needed my help. Apparently, if she failed to capture four dragons, her entire realm would perish along with her. Her kingdom was stuck in an iron age, barely developed and civilized, and my task was to accelerate its progress. 

To my shock, I also discovered that half of Alzeria's magical energy had somehow transferred to me due to the unauthorized summoning ritual. This meant I was no longer just a human—nor was I a hero, as heroes were summoned through a specific ritual. Instead, I found myself somewhere in between: a semi-god. Was this a promotion from human to semi-god, or a demotion from living to being dead?

"So, I understand why you summoned me here, but I have a few more questions and some conditions that need to be agreed upon."

"Why would I agree to your conditions? I am a goddess, not a vendor. I summoned you to get my work done."

"First of all, you're a failed goddess. Listen to me: I was ready to enjoy my life, luxuriously earned, but you dragged me here into a life-or-death situation filled with an extraordinary amount of work—against my will, no less. And as you mentioned, you only have half of your magical energy left, which means you can't perform the summoning again. So, you don't have much choice, do you? If I don't work, you're already doomed."

The air hung heavy with tension as I faced her, the enigmatic woman whose beauty was intensified by an aura of danger. She was undeniably captivating, but something about her was unsettling—like a riddle wrapped in a warm, alluring smile

"But if I work with you, then at least we have a chance of survival,"

"Alzeria, this man does look like a pervert, but he's got a point,"

The woman—clad in a vibrant red dress—stirred with an unsettling energy. She might not possess the sharpest intellect, but the other lady, lurking in the shadows, radiated a fierce wisdom. I recognized the danger she posed and knew I had to tread carefully around her.

"What's on your mind? What are your questions and conditions?" 

"No. There isn't. The ritual is irreversible.

I sighed, contemplating the depths of my predicament. If I was to survive in this strange realm, I had to establish my terms. "Alright, listen. Here are my conditions".

"First, I will be the supreme ruler of my kingdom, and I will do as I please."

"And what else?"

"Second, both you and the red chick will serve me," I continued, feeling somewhat emboldened. "Lastly, I demand magical powers before I can traverse to the other world."

An incredulous laugh bubbled from her lips. "How dare you! Do you not understand who we are? We are goddesses! You can only command two wishes, and even that second wish is a blatant no. Even if I were to agree, there is no obligation for big sis Raven to comply with your lustful demands."

"Fair enough," I admitted, a wry smile creeping onto my face. "But let's be logical here. She loves you, doesn't she? If I don't assist you, you'll perish, and I'm betting she wouldn't want that."