Refusing My God’s Advances

"Really? Considering your aura, I will take you up on this offer. Not that I have anything to lose from this and everything to gain!" Apollo laughed and then snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, I was sitting at a table with Apollo across from me. We were sitting in a more intimate part of the shop, surrounded by a myriad of sculptures and paintings that lived and breathed the essence of creativity and inspiration. Now seemingly more focused, Apollo leaned forward, his expression one of earnest excitement mixed with a touch of pride.

"Artifacts," he began, his voice carrying the warmth of a summer breeze, "are not merely objects of beauty or power. They embody stories, emotions, and the essence of the divine and magical realms from which they originate. In a way, they are like concentrated forms of the universe's vast narratives, each holding the potential to unlock abilities, powers, or insights that can significantly alter the course of one's journey."

He picked up a small, intricately carved statue from the table, which seemed to pulse with a soft, inner light. "Take this, for example. To an untrained eye, it may appear as a simple sculpture, a piece of art. But it is, in fact, an artifact of Lumina, the realm of light. If placed in your residence or base of operations, it gives you and the others living there the ability to use basic light magic. This is not very much, but I think that you can understand where I am going with this?"

Now, that was something. These were like guild artifacts that could boost all the guild members' abilities and powers, but this seemed a bit more intense. Sure, I could do that with my phones and the satellites they were connected to, but that only worked if they had the phone with them. While the phones were strong, they were not indestructible and could also be lost or stolen. Soulbound didn't mean it couldn't be stolen; it just meant it would be useless to anyone but the owner.

"Yes, I see what you're getting at," I replied, intrigued by the notion. "Artifacts basically sit on display at your base, but they enchant the members living in the building as long as the artifact is at the base. Now your shop makes perfect sense," I said with a self-satisfied smile, but then Apollo cleared his throat.

"So, how about making me something faster than I could explain?" the god asked, and I pointed a finger at him and activated my printer.

"I can make it almost instantly, but I want to check out my Item Gacha first. I don't really have any good materials currently that would suit you. Most of the stuff that I have is dark or of low quality. Since you provided me with valuable information, I will give you a valuable gift, or at least Hades considered it as much," I explained as I opened my system menu to get to my Material Lottery page. Still, this time, it was Apollo's turn to put up his hand.

"Hold the divine toothbrush! Did you just say that you made something similar for Hades, and he approved of it?!" Apollo almost shouted at me, but then I felt the god in question appear beside me before I saw him. His misty appearance always seemed to be accompanied by a drop in the temperature, but I thought he was supposed to be keeping his distance.

"Yes, it is I, my dear friend! As you can see, Leon has made me this illustrious black and red suit that can not only wreathe me in fire but also give me burning wings that I can use to fly!" Hades bragged as he caused flames to cascade over the new suit I had just made him.

The envy in Apollo's eyes was almost palpable, the warm glow of his aura intensifying as if to compete with the fiery display Hades had just showcased. "Well, I'll be a minstrel's muse! You've outdone yourself with that one, Leon. And here I was, thinking my radiance was unmatched. But I see now that your crafting skills are capable of capturing even the essence of the underworld's flames."

Hades, not one to miss an opportunity to rub salt in a wound, especially when it came to his fellow deities, smirked and added, "Oh, it's more than just flames, Sunspot. This suit enhances my aura, making me even more irresistible to mortals and gods alike! Can't you feel my irresistible charm even more than normal?! And let's not forget the convenience of flight. Beats having to use those old chariots, doesn't it?"

The banter between Apollo and Hades, fueled by rivalry yet tinged with a certain camaraderie, was amusing to witness. The contrast in their personalities and domains - the sun god's luminous presence versus the underworld's somber ruler - only added layers to their interaction, highlighting the diversity of divine craftsmanship and the importance of artifacts in this world.

Now eager to not be outshone by Hades, Apollo turned his attention back to me. "Alright, Leon, let's see what you can craft that might rival the gift you've given Hades. Remember, I am the god of the sun, music, poetry, and the arts. My artifact must reflect the brilliance and beauty of these domains. Something that not only holds power but also embodies the essence of creativity and inspiration. Something that makes a statement as bold as the sun itself."

"Yeah, sure? Do you want the sun woven into it while I am at it?" I asked sarcastically, but Apollo gave me a thoughtful look.

"Is that an option?" he asked, beaming with sincerity, which made me put my hand to my face and roll my eyes.

I turned and ignored the two gods, who started talking amongst themselves. This was my last shop, but I was interested in purchasing some artifacts. I was going to have to put some real effort into this suit, and maybe I could score myself not only approval but a sweet discount on the stuff in Apollo's store. Hades had told me a single item was worth more than his shop, so it should be reasonable to request it.