CHAPTER 86: A SATISFYING GIFT

The moment Azel’s vision cleared, he blinked rapidly, almost convinced the system had thrown him into a dream.

The goddess was there, but not dressed in the flowing divine garbs of yesterday.

No — what she wore could barely be called clothing.

A bikini.

Though it was not like a regular bikini at all.

The fabric clung to her curves like a lover’s caress, thin strands of cloth doing the impossible task of covering what could hardly be covered.

Her breasts threatened to spill from the flimsy cups, the swell of soft flesh rising and falling with each breath.

Her hips curved out in perfect symmetry, leading down to long, sculpted legs that shimmered faintly with divine light.

Azel froze.

He had thought he glimpsed her beauty before through her dress, but this — this was something else.

This was truly the splendor of a goddess.

His throat went dry, and his eyes betrayed him, running shamelessly down her figure until they landed on the perfect roundness of her ass.

"...Beautiful," he muttered without even realizing.

The goddess twirled on the spot, her silvery blond hair whipping playfully, her voice a melody as she said.

"I didn’t hear you."

But she had heard him.

She was relishing every second of his stunned admiration.

Her skin prickled with the strange, ticklish warmth of being desired — something she had not felt in eons.

Azel shook his head as if waking from a trance and spoke louder, "I said you’re beautiful."

This time, he didn’t hesitate.

He stepped forward in one smooth motion, closing the distance between them.

His hand slipped confidently around her waist, tugging her against his chest.

The goddess gasped softly, her body stiffening for an instant before melting into his embrace.

His voice was low, sincere, heavy with intent.

"So very beautiful."

If she had been a normal woman, her knees might have buckled from the sheer weight of those words.

But she was a goddess — immortal, revered, untouchable.

Or so she liked to think.

Her cheeks burned like a ripe peach as she pressed closer, using all of her summoned courage, she leaned toward his ear so he couldn’t see her flustered face.

"Only you can see me like this," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.

Her words dripped with temptation, sweet and dangerous. "I can even let you see beneath... if you’d like."

Azel stiffened. "Beneath?"

"Yes, beneath, you could touch me anywhere you want or even make me — got you!"

Before he could even process, the scenery warped.

The divine chamber vanished, and in its place stretched a golden beach under a blazing sun. L

Sand shifted beneath his feet, warm and soft, while the sea roared faintly in the distance.

[The concentration of Holy Mana in the air is dense.]

[Your core is now absorbing the mana in the air.]

Azel’s gaze shifted.

The goddess stood ahead of him, still in that scandalous bikini, laughing — her voice like chimes in the wind.

"Look at how ready you were to see beneath my clothes," she teased, pointing at him with a victorious grin.

Azel’s face heated.

He rubbed the back of his head, awkward yet defiant.

"Well, I didn’t want that," he said.

The goddess blinked, almost stumbling. "...Wait, you didn’t?"

"Yeah," Azel replied with a calm shrug. "You’re not the kind of woman who’d just open her legs for anyone, are you?"

The goddess nearly shouted.

"No, I wouldn’t!"

Her pout was adorable, though she didn’t realize how much it betrayed her flustered heart.

Inside, however, she was a mess.

’I would do it with you because I like you,’she thought desperately, ’but I can’t let you think I’m desperate.’

Men didn’t value what was easy...

Rain’s memories made that clear.

Her lips pressed together, conflicted.

The longer she stood near him, the harder her heart pounded.

She had lived countless years, untouched by mortal desire, but this... this man was different.

He had pulled color into her otherwise boring eternity.

Countless times of watching humans, selecting Saintesses, watching heroes face calamities and those couldn’t even be as enjoyable as this.

She wanted him.

And yet she wanted to be valued more than that.

"My heart hurts," she muttered under her breath, though she forced a smile when Azel looked back at her.

Then his voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. "Oh, that reminds me."

The goddess tilted her head. "Hm?"

’System,’ Azel asked silently, ’can the kebabs be brought here?’

[Yes, Host.]

’Good. Bring them.’

A package shimmered into existence in his hand.

Azel tore it open, and at once a wondrous aroma filled the beach.

Spiced meat, grilled to perfection, the smoky-sweet fragrance carried by the sea breeze.

The goddess froze.

She knew that smell.

Through her faint link with Rain, she had once caught the scent when the girl passed by food stalls, but Rain had been too stingy to buy any.

The goddess had longed for it secretly, a silly wish buried beneath her pride.

"You... got this for me?" Her voice trembled.

"Yes," Azel said casually, though his lips curved into a smile. "I wasn’t sure if I could bring food from the human realm into this place, but—"

He didn’t get to finish.

The goddess launched herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck.

She pressed her lips to his cheek once, twice, then again and again, showering him with kisses like a storm of affection.

"Thank you, darling~ I love you~ I love you~" she sang, her voice drunk with joy.

Azel blinked, utterly stunned.

Nothing had prepared him for being kissed to death by a goddess in a bikini over kebabs.

’Perhaps the way to a woman’s heart is truly a kebab,’ he thought wryly as he offered her the first skewer.

The goddess’s eyes lit up.

She bit into it eagerly, her divine composure shattered as her lips sank into the tender, juicy meat.

Flavor exploded across her tongue, it was savory, smoky, tinged with sweetness.

Her eyes fluttered shut, and a tiny, embarrassing moan slipped out.

"This... this is divine," she whispered, licking the sauce from her lips.

"You’re divine," Azel said without missing a beat.

Her face turned crimson.

She swatted at him half-heartedly, her heart thundering in her chest.

’He’s going to kill me at this rate...’