[Kazuma's POV]
"A hero...?"
"Did he just said another world?"
"Impossible! I don't even know that possibility before Freya brought that topic."
"But... He is not lying?!"
"How could this happen?!"
I heard all that murmurs and shocked comments while tried my best to hold my grin.
Damn! Even I thought that line was really cool.
A mysterious entity who suddenly came, defeated the strongest force with unknown ability, and then turned out to be someone from another world.
Isn't that like super-duper protagonist moment?!
My cloak fluttered behind me, dancing dramatically as I said the cool line. Adding the so called protagonist aura.
No one know that I secretly activated {wind breath} just for that dramatic effect.
They must think it's all natural since the real protagonist always did the same. And no one questioning it.
I lifted my head, looking at the beautiful goddess with weird dress at the deity bench.
Freya, the infamous Goddess of Beauty. Ruler of the powerful Freya Familia, the one that on par with Loki familia.
The different between them is while Loki is giving her familia all the controls, Freya familia is moved by her own interest.
I heard some bad rumours about her, even now I feel some dangerous feeling from her.
Totally not a good idea dealing with her.
But I know it will be more problem to openly showing my dislike towards her.
What a troublesome woman.
And the most troublesome thing is her member, Ottar. The one with {King} as his title, the only level 7 adventurer in Orario.
I'm not sure I can dealing with him.
"Looks like I guess it correctly." Freya said with a mischievious grin.
Crap! Did she already taken an interest in me?!
To be honest, I'm not against a beautiful goddess but after going to another world and saw many beautiful women with twisted personality I learned that the most important is her 'innner beauty.'
If you talk about beauty alone, Aqua could easily became one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.
But! There is no way I could have even a slightest romantic feeling for her. Even if she is the last women in the world I'm not gonna develop a romantic feeling for her.
Yeah, totally no way—
"... Thanks so much, Kazuma."
Arrggghhh!!! That moment after defeating demon king came to my mind.
Not count! That's just one skip beat because of the heat of situation.
Anyway, my point still stood.
No matter how beautiful they are I couldn't be easily fooled.
"Since Loki didn't seems interested to bring you, how about you join my familia, a hero from another world?" Offered Freya.
"Wh-who said I'm not interested with the brat? I just want to confirm it first with my child. Yeah, just that! I only gives my child a chance to decide it. And looks like Finn agreed." Loki nodded. "Yosh, kid. Welcome to my familia."
Hmm...
Looking at the situation.
Am I on the good stance now? Looks like I become some rare 'talent' that everyone wants to recruit.
Then—
"Even after many praises I'm still not good enough for Loki familia. Hiks."
Let's teach this cocky goddess some lesson.
"O-Oi! I never said it! You are dramatizing it. Finn, please do something here!" Loki turned to {Brave} asking for help.
Finn sighed, he probably knows all this would happen from Loki's cocky behaviour.
Not my problem though.
"As you can see, Loki may has some twisted behaviour but trust me she has her good points. She planned to bring you from the beginning." Finn approached me. "Furthermore, usually I'm the one who is responsible for most of the things in familia. I can promise you that we will treat you fairly as a part of our familia if you willing to join us."
Finn... you sure act more adult then your useless goddess despite having a childlike appearance.
Seeing you like that... I can't help but imagine your struggle.
"You have suffered a lot, right?" I said with understanding face.
My tears fall from my eyes.
Finn giving me a wondering looks, as if he don't get what I meant.
Probably just act to keep Loki's feeling.
Yup, that's definitely the truth.
"About that, could I also join in this offering?" Said some blonde man with feathered hat from deity bench.
"Who are you?" I said.
To be honest, I don't know every familia in Orario. I may knew the majority of it, but not all.
"Ahaha... My name is Hermes, you may not knowing me since I'm rarely in Orario. My familia usually explorating outside, traveling across the world. And let's be straightforward, I interested in your teleport magic. It will really help us if you could sent information in blink of eye with teleportation."
"My familia is no match against Loki or Freya familia, but I can give you different offer. As long as you willing to help us with teleportation I can let you do all you want, giving some pocket money, or if you want to join our travel we are more than happy to welcoming you."
"Oi, Hermes! Do you seriously want to oppose me and Freya?" She barked, pointing at him like she'd just caught someone stealing snacks from her hidden stash.
Loki looked annoyed, but not murderously so.
The same couldn't be said for Freya.
She hadn't moved. She didn't speak. She just watched silently with that eerily calm smile, like a snake patiently waiting for a mouse to take one step too far.
"I don't mean that." Hermes raised both palms, a sincere surrender gesture.
"No need to get aggressive. I'm not trying to start anything." His voice, smooth and diplomatic, echoed across the chamber. "But let's be real here. Normally I'd keep quiet. I know how things work in Orario. But this boy's ability? It's priceless."
He turned to face the crowd of gods directly, raising his voice slightly to be heard.
"In fact, I'd say his value might not be any less than Ottar, the {King} himself."
That one landed like a thunderclap.
Gasps filled the courtroom. Even Ottar, standing not too far behind Freya with his usual stony expression, raised a single eyebrow.
Hermes went on, confidently. "Since Loki Familia and Freya Familia are roughly equal in power, this boy could very well be the piece that tips the scale. If either of you takes him in, it won't be long before that familia becomes the undisputed strongest in Orario."
He paused, letting the implication hang in the air.
"So," he said with a bright smile, "What about just let me take him, maybe bring him outside Orario, and continue the fair rivalry between the two strongest familia?"
...
...
Did he just say I was as valuable as Ottar?
That Ottar?
The Level 7 Hulk who could go to floor 50 solo and probably arm-wrestle dragons?
Man, I knew using that wind effect would pay off.
Damn you weird hat! No need to draw anymore attention for me, especially not from Freya!
This guy... is dangerously persuasive.
And apparently, I wasn't the only one listening.
Because in the next instant, the floodgates opened.
"If everyone else is making offers, then so will I!" came a sultry voice from the corner.
I turned carefully and saw Ishtar, smirking like she'd just found a new toy.
"Join my familia, kid. And I'll give you a place where every day feels like a dream~."
Pass.
Hard pass.
I may interested if you talk about real dream with no real responsibilities like the 'succubuss thing.'
But, totally not the real deal!
Call me coward all you want but I'm not ready for it!
After hearing Hermes' statement, other deities started giving me many offers.
"Just so everyone knows," I declared, "I'm only interested in joining a Familia where I can laze around all day, get free food, pocket money, and do absolutely nothing!"
And the room?
"…Just that?" a few gods asked in disbelief.
Looks like that's a cheap standard?
But let's think about it, no matter how precious I am, if I do nothing isn't that will make my value meaningless?
So, keeping me first and break the promise later?
What a politicians...
The courtroom had turned into a goddess bidding war.
It was overwhelming.
Too many gods.
Too many offers.
Too many potential red flags.
I mean, aren't they afraid that Freya may do something if I just joined a random familia? Loki may be fine, Hermes usually works outside Orario, so they probably gonna do something about it, but others?
Please, don't make me a reason for your downfall!
Freya was still watching me with that hungry, amused smile.
I couldn't say no to her outright. That might trigger her to send Ottar after me.
But I really didn't want to say yes.
I needed a way out.
What should I do? Is there something?
Anything...
A loophole.
A gamble.
Oh yeah, that's it!
"Alright, alright!" I raised my voice, holding up both hands. "I appreciate all your divine interest in this humble adventurer, truly. But with so many offers… I just don't know who to pick."
"I'm sorry to all other deities," I said with a sorrowful looks, "but I will only choose between Freya-sama, Loki, and Hermes."
First, let's save the dumbs who seek their own downfall.
"Then I will write the three choices on the sticks, and I'll pull one at random. No tricks, no cheating."
Loki narrowed her eyes. "You're scheming something, aren't you, brat?"
I grinned, and continue speaking.
"One stick for Loki. One stick for Hermes. And three sticks for Freya-sama," I added with a gracious smile.
Loki immediately burst into outrage.
"Oi! What's with that obviously rigged setup?!"
"Rigged setup? No, it's just a show of my gratitude to Freya-sama, also my heart still hurts from your rejection, Loki. Please don't reopen the wound."
"You're such a drama queen!" Loki snapped.
Hermes laughed quietly in the background, clearly enjoying the show.
Freya?
She just smiled.
That's terrfying smile.
Could you please stop it?
Of course I'm not say it out loud.
Anyway.
I sealed the top with a piece of cloth, shook it with all the flair of a game show host, and held it up high.
"Anyone suspicious of cheating can verify it themselves," I declared.
Truthfully, I wasn't cheating. For once. This really was pure luck.
But then again…
Luck was my specialty.
I took a deep breath.
That's right. I'm going all-in on Luck.
Because if there's one thing I've learned after dying, reincarnating, dying again several times, and nearly being jailed in a fantasy city…
If you can't solve it with your power, just believe in your luck!
Please, guide me, Eris-sama.
I reached into the cup.
And drew a stick.