The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Dark tapped the table lightly, unable to hide his curiosity, wanting to ask Ollie what Apollo had said.

　But after Apollo left, Ollie fell into deep thought. She lowered her head, bit her lip, and pondered deeply, clearly having encountered a problem.

　Dak did not disturb them.

　Pleasant music gradually filled the hall; it was Apollo playing the lyre.

　"The robe is always so elegant and charming."

　In the adjacent hall, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, sat at an exquisitely carved dining table, resting her chin on her hand and gazing at Apollo, who was playing the lyre.

　Pandora Doragon sat opposite the robe, his expression not particularly relaxed.

　Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, is not an easy goddess to get along with, whether in mythology or after seeing her in person.

　The beauty and charm of the robe are said to appeal to both men and women, and this is indeed the case.

　Even Pandora couldn't help but want to praise him when she saw him in person.

　However, despite the praise, she was not so easily bewitched by Aphrodite, who had not used her divine power.

　"Since you like Apollo so much, why don't you confess your feelings to him?"

　After careful consideration, Pandora finally spoke these words.

　Aphrodite didn't lower her slender hand that was supporting her chin; she merely smiled softly and whispered, "You don't understand. I am the goddess of love and beauty; appreciating beauty is my duty. For example, I also admire your..." fickle lover!

　Pandora swallowed those words back down her throat.

　But Aphrodite seemed to have already anticipated what she was going to say, and suddenly covered her mouth and giggled.

　Then, she said in an ambiguous tone, "I don't have the habit of breaking up couples I once blessed."

　It would be best if there really wasn't one!

　Pandora declined to comment.

　Kalista, a fourth-year student sitting next to Pandora, trembled with fear.

　She could clearly sense that she had strayed into the eye of the storm.

　Despite being a well-known social butterfly in the college, she was actually quite timid and cowardly in this situation, only wanting to cling to her senior's leg to avoid making a mistake that could cost her her life.

　Aside from wanting to use this experience to increase her own "value," she had no other overly greedy thoughts.

　But to their surprise, Aphrodite sat down directly opposite them as soon as she appeared.

　The pressure she felt was beyond comprehension!

　Back to the topic.

　Aphrodite looked at Pandora and asked rather formally this time, "So, you really don't want to become my 'Chosen One'?"

　Pandora said very calmly, "I will rely on myself to walk the path of God."

　“Truly ambitious,” Aphrodite said, a hint of melancholy in her voice. “Do you know how many people with the same ambition I’ve met throughout these endless years, and how many of them have actually become gods?”

　Pandora replied directly, "That's none of my business."

　Aphrodite smiled, then suddenly said, "Isn't it just that you don't want to fall behind him? Let's change the subject. I can be your supporter. Hmm, even closer, teacher, what do you think?"

　Pandora, the "teacher," raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why?" Words like support, sponsorship, and investment are far less weighty than the word "teacher."

　When the word "teacher" was mentioned, she finally couldn't help but be moved!

　But she always believed that those who offered unsolicited favors were either up to no good or had ulterior motives, and she never hesitated to assume the worst about others.

　Aphrodite smiled slightly and said leisurely, "Is it enough that you are the first couple I have witnessed since I awoke?"

　Pandora slowly shook her head.

　She actually believed it to some extent, but it was impossible for her to agree to it so readily.

　Aphrodite blinked, her strikingly long eyelashes trembling slightly, and suddenly said, "What if I were to fall for you?"

　“…” Pandora closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Seriously.”

　Aphrodite chuckled and said, "I'm telling the truth."

　But as soon as she finished speaking, she added, "Actually, it's like this. The day I was about to wake up, I suddenly dreamed of a magic mirror. I asked the mirror, 'Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?' The mirror said… 'Of course, it's Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty!'"

　"That's enough!" Pandora said, somewhat annoyed.

　“Hi.” Aphrodite smiled and hummed an unknown song, then suddenly her face hardened. “Now that we’ve come this far, if you still disagree, I’ll have to pursue your crime of disrespect!”

　With just a slight threat from Chi, Kalista, who was standing next to Pandora, immediately tensed up and grabbed Pandora's sleeve, shaking it as if begging her to agree quickly.

　Pandora's expression slowly faded, and she looked directly at the "Goddess of Love and Beauty".

　Aphrodite looked at her, their gazes locked, neither yielding. After a long while, Pandora seemed to suddenly notice something, her expression softening abruptly, and her tone changing: "What you say, teacher, isn't impossible."

Chapter 1673 Darkdemon and Athena's Divination (1/3)

　Chapter 1673 Darkdemon and Athena's Divination (17,000 words)

　From "chosen ones" to investors, and then to students.

　While these three stages cannot be described as sequential, they do indeed differ in terms of intimacy.

　However, the closest ones should actually be the "chosen ones," not the "students."

　The so-called teacher-student relationship is based on emotion, the relationship between investors and investees is based on interests, and the relationship between "chosen ones" and gods is based on divinity and laws. Which one is more "close" and which one is more "distant" is obviously obvious.

　Aphrodite's suggestion to Pandora to "become teacher and student" was merely a secondary option after the "Chosen One" choice was ruled out. It was a compromise between the two sides.

　For Pandora, this result is actually quite remarkable.

　She wasn't a reckless fool who disregarded everything; she knew that blindly going against Aphrodite would not end well.

　Moreover, her decision to comply with Aphrodite's wishes this time was partly based on her own desires.

　Otherwise, this ambiguous "teacher-student" relationship is actually unnecessary.

　She roughly understood Artemis's intentions and felt that this was actually for the best.

　Upon suddenly receiving Pandora's consent, Aphrodite's expression instantly brightened, as if flowers were blooming in the air around her, making it exceptionally bright.

　Pandora sighed inwardly. She didn't really like the "goddess of love and beauty." To her, outward beauty was never as important as the power to protect her family.

　But... let's just consider it a thank you for her blessing.

　The conversation between Aphrodite and Pandora ended there. They had only temporarily established a relationship and did not pursue it further. Aphrodite clearly understood the principle that "haste makes waste." Now that the initial goal had been achieved, it was better to slow down and wait until the relationship between them was closer before finalizing it.

　Anyway, there's plenty of time for the tea party, so there's no rush.

　Furthermore, establishing a "relationship" with Pandora can only be considered a private matter. As for Pao's official business, it is not yet finished—she still needs to confirm a "chosen one," even if it is just a pre-selected candidate.

　The twelve Poirotians were, after all, a group, and there were some things she had to cooperate with, even if she had no interest in them.

　Otherwise, when Xiu actually has a need, the other gods will not do their best.

　Although their relationship wasn't entirely harmonious, they at least maintained a bottom line in their teamwork and built an unbreakable bond of trust.

　Since Pandora has explicitly refused to become his "chosen one," the robe must find another.

　Aphrodite's gaze involuntarily turned to Callista, who was standing next to Pandora.

　Then, Aphrodite silently looked away. That's right.

　Pao is indeed a person who appreciates good looks. But he's not just someone who appreciates good looks.

　He couldn't bear the embarrassment of having such a "chosen one"!

　……

　After a while, Aphrodite appeared before Vigo and Janice.

　For well-known reasons, although Aphrodite invited many people to her tea parties, there were actually not many potential targets for the "Chosen Ones".

　While training a mage capable of guarding the area from scratch wouldn't be particularly difficult for the Twelve Celestials, who would choose to start from the beginning if given the choice?

　Especially for a deity like Aphrodite, who has little interest in magic, it's even less likely that she would spend that time on it.

　No, it's not that I have absolutely no interest.

　After gaining a basic understanding of magic, Aphrodite has developed a considerable interest in "Costume Change Cards".

　In short, she had to find someone with a foundation in magic to be the "Chosen One" no matter what.

　Among the attendees, those with the strongest magical foundation, besides a few from St. Marian Academy, were the few she had guessed about from the "Zodiac" maid corps!

　Speaking of the "Zodiac" maid corps, it has basically become one of the talent pools of general knowledge within the twelve zodiac gods.

　In some ways, they are even more popular than the students of St. Marian College.

　Because the maids of the "Zodiac" have basically all undergone combat training and have very high combat skills, their loyalty and execution are far superior to those of the students who have not yet been released from the pen.

　What's even more remarkable is that the best among these maids all have a foundation in magic. Although they may lack theoretical knowledge and alchemy skills, they are highly experienced in practical application.

　Their only flaw is their lack of magical talent. Even though the Duke's mansion used various methods to enhance their potential, they still fall short compared to true magical geniuses.

　However, any perceived "talent" deficiencies can be completely eliminated once one becomes a "chosen one".

　So, if you really can't find a target, just pull a few from that group of maids to make up the numbers.

　—That's exactly what Aphrodite did.

　Moreover, because she acted quickly, she also managed to snag Vigor and Janice, who are both exceptionally beautiful!

　As for how the twelve celestial beings came to notice the "Zodiac" maidservant group...

　That story begins with the "prophecy" of Apollo, the "god of light." After all, Apollo was not fully awakened, and the current period was a special time when the course of fate was quite chaotic. Therefore, although the robe made a "prophecy," the information it obtained was extremely limited, and it was impossible to pinpoint the ultimate target.

　Apollo was a perfectionist.

　Having already made a "prophecy" and locked in the best choice for the "Chosen One," he would never casually choose a replacement.

　So, during a routine meeting, Pao revealed his troubles and took the initiative to seek help from other gods.

　Hermes' "prophecy" was actually directed at Ori. Furthermore, Hermes had previously made a pact with Ori.

　With Hermes' help, Apollo directly targeted the Duke's maids.

　Then, the twelve gods were extremely surprised to discover that there was such a talent pool hidden here.

　The twelve gods are not omniscient or omnipotent; they need to gather relevant information in advance if they want to find a target that suits their needs.

　Since such a talent pool already exists, they naturally wouldn't let it go.

　Thus, the maid corps of the "Zodiac" was guessed again and again.

　The Duke's mansion has always diligently trained its maids. At first glance, it seems like the wedding gown of the twelve celestial beings.

　But as long as the guesses aren't too many, it's actually a win-win situation. "...

　Returning to Aphrodite.

　When facing Vigo and Janice, Chi didn't stand on ceremony and directly stated his requirements.

　If possible, Aphrodite would certainly prefer to finalize the "Chosen One" spot now, rather than waiting several months or even the next World Cup.

　After learning that they had been invited, Vigo and Janice had already mentally prepared themselves to be chosen as "God's Chosen".

　In the end, Vigo chose to refuse, while Janice agreed, which is why Vigo was able to refuse so readily.

　She is the current head maid of the "Pisces Palace".

　Janice is proficient in many related skills, including diplomacy, etiquette, beauty, jewelry, and music. But her only genuine passion is fishing.

　She's a genuine angler.

　However, none of this has anything to do with becoming a "Chosen One".

　Her real problem is that even after using various means to enhance her potential, she still failed to gain the approval of the [Pisces Gold Saint Armor].

　This means that her career path will most likely end here.

　Becoming one of the "chosen ones" of the twelve gods is undoubtedly a shortcut to paving one's way.

　She had no reason to refuse.

　She had initially hesitated about becoming a "Chosen One." But Vigo brought her a message from the Duke.

　"Becoming a 'Chosen One' and continuing to serve the family are not contradictory." Of course, her loyalty is not to the Dimon family, but to the Duke and the young master.

　Aphrodite was overjoyed after confirming that Janice was indeed willing to become the "Chosen One".