In this crossover anime/manga series, my romantic choices in my head are a bit strange.

Although Ishtar is a villain in the show, maintaining good hygiene is essential in order to earn more money, and it's clear that this path is not her responsibility.

It's not her responsibility, meaning very few people notice it. If Haruhime ever comes, she can be taken away through this path…

Lin Tian pondered to himself and silently memorized the route.

"What are you thinking about? How to face Astraea? Don't worry, our God won't concern himself with your private life. A transaction between two people is not her business."

"No, I meant... I forgot to pay." "Pfft—Really?! You don't pay after you've had sex with me?"

Kaguya chuckled. Since Lin Tian had already left with her, she no longer wanted to maintain that elegant demeanor that didn't suit her taste, and she stopped hiding her true nature.

Lin Tian did indeed notice this. Kaguya was wearing a simple kimono, casually tied at the waist with a silk ribbon, the hem of the kimono barely reaching her thighs.

She leaned forward and stretched her arms back as if she were running, just like the ninjas in Naruto, causing her buttocks to stick out backward as well. White fabric covered her center, leaving only half of her full, fleshy buttocks exposed, with a pair of exquisitely beautiful breasts tightly outlined in the middle.

"How can it be called prostitution if you don't pay? We are truly in love, Miss Kaguya."

"Oh ho~ You fell in love after meeting for less than three hours? I'm doing the same thing with Mr. Lin Tian as that prostitute, and I've known Mr. Lin Tian for much longer. Does that mean I love Mr. Lin Tian more?"

"It's different. Love cannot be measured by numbers. Regardless of when we met, my love for you is the same for both of you!"

"Tsk. So you really want to sleep with me, huh? No wonder you kept staring at my ass. You like those things that much?" Kaguya stopped in front of a brightly lit mansion. "If there's a chance, I wouldn't mind being with you~ But now..." Kaguya's lips curled into a slight smile, her sharp edges softening between her teeth: "This is Astraea's base. Are you ready?" "Yes."

Lin Tian followed Kaguya into the courtyard. Only when they got closer did they realize that the bright lights were just an illusion; the lights in many of the small rooms had been extinguished, with only the living room and one room on the top floor still lit.

Kaguya cautiously entered the living room, turned off the lights, and tiptoed upstairs, whispering to Lin Tian:

"Lady Astraea is a very gentle goddess. Why do you think the living room lights are on?"

"...Because they're waiting for their child. Kaguya, as the vice-captain, you haven't returned yet, and Lady Astraea is very worried about your safety."

"Your insight is good, but you're only half right. Even if it weren't for me, the vice-captain, she would be watching over any member of the Familia like this before they returned. Even a pervert like you, understand?" Tsk. So what if he glanced at it a few times? He didn't even touch it, and besides, it wasn't you who showed it to me. Kaguya arrived outside the room, standing quietly by the door, gesturing for Lin Tian to open it and go in. Lin Tian took a deep breath, placed his hand on the handle, and gently turned it.

Click.

"Hmm... are you the child Kaguya was talking about?"

The room was small and minimally furnished, containing only a large solid wood desk, a wooden armchair, a desk lamp, a large bed, and a bookshelf piled high with books. The walls were clean, without any unnecessary paintings or decorations. Behind the desk was a small window. The armchair was facing away from the window, and Kaguya's goddess Astraea sat in the chair, smiling as she watched him.

She had long, flowing flaxen hair, gentle, deep blue eyes, and a soft, natural complexion with a perpetual rosy glow. She wore a strapless dress in blue, gold, and white, with a black ribbon wrapped around her neck to support her full breasts. Her arms, clad in long white gloves, were slender and graceful, and the skirt folded and interlaced, making her appear extremely elegant and poised.

"Yes, Goddess Astraea."

Lin Tian closed the door and knelt on one knee before Astraea in a knightly salute. "Heh. May I ask why you address me that way, instead of calling me God?"

"Calling her 'Goddess' seems like a deliberate avoidance of the topic. Everyone in Orario knows that Astraea is the goddess of justice and hates evil the most. Calling her 'Astraea' seems like a lack of consideration for closeness, as that is a title that can only be used by members of the Familia."

“You could have said ‘not knowing your place’.”

"Because the goddess Astraea considers the members of her familiars as family." "Heh..."

She skipped over this pointless topic and examined Lin Tian's attire: "Why don't you take off your armor?"

"Because this face cannot be seen by any god." Upon hearing this.

Not only Astraea became curious, but Kaguya, who was eavesdropping outside the door—knowing that Astraea wouldn't blame her, and that it was more like she was being completely open about it than eavesdropping—couldn't help but pay attention.

The gods must not see him? But that prostitute named Lina, and even he himself, have already seen his face.

"Could it be a family ban?"

"Only gods can't see this," Kaguya chuckled inwardly, continuing to eavesdrop openly.

"A face that the gods cannot see." Astraea pondered for a moment, her expression turning serious. "Although I've thought it might be because I'm too ugly to be seen, Kaguya has already mentioned your special qualities to me." "You've reached level Iv4 without relying on the gods' favor."

Do you know what Kaguya and the others went through to reach IV4? "No."

"The Great Conflict. Even that talented monster, Alphia of IV7, died in that war. After experiencing all that, Kaguya and the others were able to advance to V4, while you are just an ordinary human." What is this "Great Conflict" nonsense?

Lin Tian realized this was a scene he hadn't had time to watch, so he took the initiative to change the subject:

"What is the reason that Astraea believes the gods should not discover this?"

"Hatred. Hurt. Malice. Interest. Jealousy. Toys... There are many reasons, but you are now standing before me, and I have ruled out some answers."

"One last question for you, Black Knight Lin Tian. Do you trust me, and do you trust Astraea?"

She placed one hand flat on her chest and looked intently at Lin Tian. Unbelievably, she was speaking to him as an equal!

"I trust it."

"...That's good. I won't ask about his true appearance anymore; I already have the answer in my heart."

They found out so quickly? Is this what a god is like?!

"Lin Tian, ​​since this is Kaguya's request and you have passed my test, I will now brand you with Astraea's mark. Are you willing?"

Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Imprinting Ceremony, Lin Tian's Ability is...

So simple?

Lin Tian felt both relieved and a little disappointed. He had been hoping that Astraea would forcefully remove her helmet, fall hopelessly in love with him after seeing her true face, and then have sex with him right in front of Kaguya, who was guarding the door. Sigh, if only he had had a choice, he would have definitely chosen that option!

Thinking about this possibility, Lin Tian felt even more compelled to upgrade his system as soon as possible.

"I am willing!"

Astraea nodded and then drew the curtains:

"Since you don't want to show your true face, but getting the brand requires showing your back. Is your back okay?"

"No problem."

Lin Tian unfastened his upper body through the gaps in his armor. Considering that he was lying on the bed, wearing only leg guards would not only be uncomfortable but also look strange, so he took off the leg guards as well, leaving only a pair of shorts that went past his thighs, revealing his muscular upper body.

"Unusual clothing, where are you from?... Relax and unwind."

As Astraea inquired while guiding Lin Tian on the points to note during the ritual. The goddess's gentle hand lightly touched his skin, her slender fingers tracing the clearly defined muscles as if in a flirtatious manner, sending a shiver down Lin Tian's spine.

"I am a stranger in a foreign land."

"Stranger? From the Far East, the far north?"

"Hmm... It's in the eastern part of the Far East, so it must have come from the west."

"They crossed oceans. Did that barbaric continent on the other side develop human intelligence so early?"

"They're just some tribes."

Lin Tian's body gradually relaxed, and Astraea gained a basic understanding of his situation. He had just arrived in Orario and was unfamiliar with everything; he only wanted to accept the favor because he had heard that joining a god's kin could grant him greater power.

As the goddess of justice, Astraea disapproved of simply gaining power. She firmly believed that great power must be controlled by an even stronger heart to maintain the balance of the world. However, after learning that Lin Tian gained power to fight a threat and that several illiterate women had accompanied him on his journey from afar, her initial reservations were dispelled.

What bad things could someone do with power gained in the name of protection? Astraea's grip tightened; she wasn't just groping randomly, she had finally figured out the workings of Lin Tian's body.

When the gods bestow blessings, they consider three key aspects of the human body: one is the vital energy and blood, which generally refers to the area around the lower abdomen; another is the upper limit of physical fitness, which is considered in terms of blood flow around the heart; and the third is the assessment of mental strength, which is generally located near the brain.

Astraea is an extremely powerful goddess. Even if Lin Tian completely covers his head, she can still deduce his overall condition through feedback from other parts of his body, and that overall condition is...

"You are outstanding. You are among the best in every aspect of humanity. Many children in the clan who have upgraded their abilities cannot compare to you."

"You flatter me."

However, she had some doubts. In layman's terms, life force and blood essence refer to reproductive ability and the intensity of hormone release—taking Kaguya as an example, her life force and blood essence are extremely strong but hidden, making her an excellent progenitor, yet few men realize her allure; only the most elite males can glimpse it. This belongs to the T1 level. If we compare her to the goddess Freya, her life force and blood essence are extremely strong. Both are very powerful, but the essence of life for both Kaguya and Freya is concentrated around their lower abdomen.

But why did she feel that part of Lin Tian's life essence was connected to his head? What, did you have a little Lin growing on your head? That's too bizarre! His mental strength was simply excellent, but his physical constitution was problematic. The human body is supported by blood, and the main blood supplier is the heart. We've heard of organ transplants, but no ordinary human has ever had a heart transplant; the heart is extremely important. His physical potential can be seen from the strength of his heart.

But Astraea vaguely sensed that Lin Tian's center of gravity wasn't in his heart. It was actually in his right hand!

"That's strange, but it's nothing serious."

A powerful energy emanated from his right hand, complementing his heart and gradually strengthening his body. This was a good thing, so Astraea put aside her doubts and began to set up the inscription for Lin Tian.

She placed her finger to her lips, gently biting it with her pearly teeth. Golden, shimmering blood slowly dripped from her fingertip, elongating outwards. This was the essence of a god; not every god could casually sign off on a clan, but each required a portion of their human form's spiritual energy.

"It might hurt a little, just bear with it." "Okay."

Golden blood traced a line through the air, then traced intricate and dazzling patterns on Lin Tian's back along her fingers. As the ritual progressed, the reactions within Lin Tian's body intensified; he felt every cell in his body throbbing. This was no ordinary ritual.

Something went wrong!

Astraea also realized that something was wrong, because blood was starting to seep from Lin Tian's pores on his back.

"This...this is...?!"

A hint of panic flashed across her face, but the reserve instilled by millions of years prevented her from showing any sign of distress in front of her child. She gritted her teeth and continued carving, trying to find a solution. But the blood seeped in more and more, gradually soaking the sheets.

What should we do?! Should we...should we stop?

"Lady Astraea! No, no, don't stop! It's not enough!"

"Not...not enough...?" "Blood...not enough blood!"

Lin Tian knew the reason: the system within his mind had started to function. His unawakened…? ?? '…' now had a progress bar! And following the pull of the divine blood, Draig's power and the ordinary skills within the system began to tremble slightly, gradually converging. Since it was awakening, what did a little blood matter? Finish it! "Huh? Not enough blood?"

Astrea was dumbfounded. She had never heard of a child needing more than a single drop of divine blood for awakening. Because the gods anticipated humanity's infinite potential, they also worried that their own divine blood might actually limit human potential. Every drop of divine blood in a human form far exceeded the known limits of humanity as assessed by the divine realm. And you're telling me you're not enough?

Outrageous!

…But Lin Tian was indeed extraordinary, and Astraea had personally confirmed this. Thinking of this, she gritted her teeth and separated another drop.

Three minutes passed. "Not enough! Still not enough!" Another drop was dispensed. "Still not enough!" (Zhou Taiyin) Astraea gritted her teeth, "Three drops!"

As a result, Lin Tian's body seemed to be a bottomless pit, constantly absorbing her divine blood. Finally, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Tian's body stopped bleeding, and the wounds began to heal on their own. The clan mark shone with an increasingly dazzling light.

"Just a little bit more, Astraea! Just a little bit more!" But I really don't have a single drop left. If that's what Loki said.

Astraea's maternal instincts are top-tier among all the gods. Although Lin Tian isn't officially her child yet, the mark is already halfway complete and almost finished. How could she bear to see her half-child complaining about not having enough to eat?

Astraea's blood circulated within her body, forcibly expelling a pool of golden blood. After completing this step, her face was pale, her skin wrinkled, faint dark circles appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her azure eyes dimmed, making her look extremely haggard.

Heart's blood is also divine blood, the highest level of divine blood. The core of their human form as gods is this heart's blood. Giving some of it to Lin Tian is equivalent to giving him half of her life.

Fortunately, all her efforts were worthwhile. After merging with Lin Tian's body, the mark of the Goddess of Justice finally appeared completely on Lin Tian's back, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief. The mysterious runes looked incredibly fascinating, and she couldn't wait to see what kind of abilities her child possessed!

She leaned closer and carefully read the ancient divine script.

Lin Tian's strength: 0

Stamina: 0

Dexterity: 0

Agility: 0

Mana: 0

Magic: Tyrant Dragon Chant: I, awakened as the second Heavenly Dragon of the God-Seizing Domination—laughing at the infinite, worrying dreams—I, shall become the Crimson Dragon Tyrant—and sink you into the Crimson Lotus Purgatory!

Skill: Rare Skill: Uncontrollable Charm Curse. It combines all charm traits and has an extremely high charm attack on any female creature. It has an EX-level charm attack on higher humanoid life forms. The greater the difference in life form, the stronger the amplification. The greater the age difference, the greater the affection generated.

Rare Skill: Proud and Dreamlike Burning Dragon (1/2)

Crimson Lotus Dragon, True Crimson Heavenly Dragon, Dreamlike Radiance of Infinite Splendor, Great and Mighty Red, Dragon that Shatters Illusion and Annihilates Ideals, Radiant and Dazzling Second Heavenly Dragon. It possesses a hidden [Dragon] attribute, an exceptionally high level that amplifies the essence of matter in all aspects. After fusing with the White Dragon, it can ascend to the Infinite Path.

Rare Skill: The Glorious Life of the Pink King

"Desire solidifies into substance, representing the highest crystallization of racial bloodline."

"If the king does not go to war, the emperor will not attend court."

"Experience cannot be gained through normal combat, nor can great achievements be built by confronting powerful enemies. A specific 'bedtime' mechanism will be added, whereby the monarch can enhance the strength of both sides through specific 'bedtime' encounters; the higher the mutual favorability, the greater the enhancement."

"Dreig! You..."

Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Promise with Astraea

Astraea's gaze grew increasingly strange. Three rare skills—she should be happy about her child's exceptional talent… but she just couldn't feel happy.

Is this even an adventurer?! I spent so much divine blood, and I've really raised a father figure!

Literally, she now fully understood why Lin Tian wouldn't let her see his true face. Which god wouldn't be bewildered by such a sight? Given their perverse tastes, they'd probably dismember him and then savor every inch of his skin… How terrifying!

And the hidden "dragon" attribute—could this child possess dragon blood? There's also a sealed black dragon beneath the dungeon; anything associated with dragons is a huge problem!

And then there's the last skill, which is what's really giving Astraea a headache. "What kind of freak is this... sigh."

A humanoid self-propelled cannon against gods + getting stronger with each upgrade + having a built-in "enemy of the world" debuff, kid, you're invincible.

Astraea sighed, converted the ancient divine script into Orario's common language, and handed it to Lin Tian. Actually, she didn't even need to hand it to him; Lin Tian's body was already in turmoil.

[Wow! Udraig is free! Udraig has actually been freed from that God-Slaying Gear!]

[My friend! I thought you were just saying it casually, but it's only been two days! And you've already kept your promise!]

[When it comes to keeping promises, I, Draig, acknowledge you as the strongest! Alright, alright, now that I'm out, let me out!]

Drag's tone became increasingly arrogant, but she remembered Lin Tian's kindness and did not do anything excessive - that's right, after being completely freed, Drag's voice returned to normal, she was indeed a female dragon!