At the entrance of the grand hall stood a silver-haired goddess and Ottar-san, my admiration.
"Ah, is that...?"
"That's Freya-sama, Bell-kun. You've heard of the Freya Familia, right?"
The divine aura emanating from the goddess triggered a shadow response. Magic surged around my body, counteracting the 'charm' effect she emitted.
The Freya Familia. Alongside the Loki Familia, it's one of the largest factions in Orario. While its numbers aren't as many as Loki's, its members are said to be the finest in Orario.
"Ugh!?"
Suddenly, Hestia-sama's twin tails trembled, not metaphorically, but actually. She had been shoveling food into her mouth but spun around sharply, then lunged at, well, more like attacked, Bell with great force.
"Don't look at Freya, Bell-kun!!"
"Huh!?"
"When children gaze upon the 'Goddess of Beauty,' they instantly become enthralled and get 'charmed'!"
Looking around, other Familia members were also staring open-mouthed, captivated by the goddess, men and women alike.
"Huh? Toki, are you okay?"
Bell, struggling with Hestia-sama, asked me as I was still looking at Freya-sama. I glanced at Hermes-sama and received a nod, so I answered.
"I have a skill that nullifies 'charm.' That's why I'm fine."
"W-What!?"
Hestia-sama was shocked by this.
"What kind of skill could possibly nullify the 'charm' of the Goddess of Beauty!?"
She broke away from Bell and confronted me. Her loud voice caught the attention of the other gods nearby.
"Nullify Freya-sama's 'charm'?"
"Is that a bluff?"
"But judging by her reaction, it really seems like she isn't charmed."
"What Familia's child are you?"
"Um, Hestia-sama, I really can't answer that..."
"Please, just this once!"
"No matter how much you beg, it's impossible. So please don't start begging here."
"What!? You read my mind!?"
Oh, she really was about to do it...
Bell desperately stopped Hestia-sama from going down on her knees, with Takemikazuchi-sama joining in to help.
"Well, even without 'charm,' that goddess is still captivating."
"As expected of my child. You understand, don't you!"
"Child of Hermes, huh?"
"So that's the Shadow Devil!"
"Yeah, if it's the Shadow Devil, it makes sense."
...I wonder what the gods really think of me.
"This is the second time since Ganesha's 'Banquet'... It's truly rare for Freya to show her face so publicly."
"W-What does that mean?"
"Usually, Freya-sama stays at the top floor of Babel and never appears in public. Some male gods even go to the 'Feast' hoping to catch a glimpse of her."
"Well, if the Goddess of Beauty roamed around normally, it would cause chaos every day."
At Hephaestus-sama's muttering, Bell, who was still stopping Hestia-sama, asked again. Hermes-sama and I added some explanations.
So she usually stays on the top floor of Babel, huh. Then those strange feelings I sometimes had every two weeks, was that Freya-sama's gaze? It wasn't hostile or affectionate, just a simple look... If that was her, then she must have incredible eyesight.
As I pondered this, Freya-sama walked toward us. Her gaze was fixed on... Bell?
"So you're here, Hestia. And Hephaestus too. Has it been since the Divine Assembly Denatus?"
"Glad to see you well."
"Ah... Freya, what brings you here?"
While Hephaestus-sama returned the greeting, Hestia-sama stopped the kneeling stance and stood up defiantly.
"I just came to say hello. I saw such a rare gathering of faces and felt drawn here."
Freya-sama said this, casting sidelong glances at the male gods. Hermes-sama melted under her gaze, Takemikazuchi-sama cleared his throat, and Miach-sama complimented her, "You're beautiful tonight as well."
Following Asfi's advice: "If the Goddess of Beauty appears and Hermes-sama starts acting all lovestruck, kick him hard." I delivered an even stronger kick to Hermes-sama's leg than before.
"Gah!?"
"Hermes-sama, sorry! Asfi told me to do this."
"N-No, it's fine. I'll have a serious talk with Asfi later. But that was no joke...!"
Returning my gaze to Freya-sama, she gently extended her hand to Bell and stroked his cheek.
"Tonight, won't you let me dream?"
"No way!!"
At almost the same moment as Freya-sama's question, Hestia-sama shouted, swatting her hand away and standing protectively in front of Bell, then started scolding him.
"Why are you blushing, Bell-kun!?"
"S-Sorry!!"
"Listen, this goddess is like a monstrous dragon that eats any man she sees!! If someone like you, a rabbit, spaces out, you'll be gobbled up in an instant!!"
"Yes...!!"
In my mind, I pictured a dragon smiling seductively and a rabbit staring entranced... Not entirely inaccurate.
"Oh, what a shame. Looks like I upset Hestia, so I'll be going now. Goodbye."
"Wait a moment, Freya-sama."
Just as Freya-sama turned on her heel, Hermes-sama stopped her. Hm? Did she have some business? And when did Hermes-sama come back to life?
"This is my proud child I introduced at the Divine Assembly Denatus."
"...What!?"
Hermes-sama pointed at me, introducing me. I couldn't help but let out a weird noise. Did he really call out Freya-sama just to introduce me? How much does he want to show me off!?
"So this is the child..."
There was something I'd been thinking deep down for a while… Lately, I felt like the titles I used might've been a bit misleading. But this time, I'm going to make it up!
Declaration of Admiration
At the entrance to the great hall stood the silver-haired goddess and Ottar-san, my idol.
"Ah, isn't that...?"
"That's Freya-sama, Bell. You know the name of the Freya Familia, right?"
The divine presence radiating from the goddess caused shadows to flicker. Magic surged around me, shielding my body and canceling out the 'Charm' effect she emitted.
The Freya Familia. One of the largest factions in Orario, right alongside the Loki Familia. Though smaller in number than Loki's, their quality is said to be unmatched in all of Orario.
"──Huh!?"
Suddenly, Hestia's twin tails trembled, not metaphorically, but really shook. She had been stuffing food into her mouth but suddenly spun around and lunged fiercely at Bell… or rather, leapt at him.
"Don't look at Freya, Bell!!"
"Huh!?"
"If children stare at the 'Goddess of Beauty,' they're instantly captivated and get 'Charmed'!"
Looking around, I saw other Familia members with their mouths agape, mesmerized by the goddess, men and women alike.
"Hey, Toki, are you okay?"
Bell, wrestling with Hestia, glanced at me and asked. I flicked a glance at Hermes, who nodded, so I replied:
"I have a skill that nullifies 'Charm.' So I'm fine."
"W-What!?"
Hestia was the one who got shocked by that.
"What kind of skill cancels the 'Charm' of the 'Goddess of Beauty'!?"
She stepped away from Bell and approached me, her voice loud enough to catch the attention of the other gods.
'She nullifies Freya's Charm?'
'Is that a bluff?'
'But judging by how she looks, she really isn't affected.'
'Which Familia is she from?'
"Um, Hestia, I really can't answer that..."
"Come on, please!"
"Even if you begged on your knees, it's impossible. So please don't start kneeling here."
"What!? Y-You can read minds!?"
Oh, she really was about to do it...
Still, Bell desperately stopped Hestia from bowing. Takemikazuchi-sama, who taught her how to do it, joined in as well.
"Well, even without Charm, that goddess is captivating on her own."
"As expected of my child. You get it!"
'Hermes' child, huh?'
'So that's the Shadow Devil!'
'Yeah, Shadow Devil makes sense.'
...What exactly do the gods think of me?
"This is the second time since Ganesha's 'Feast'… It's really rare for Freya to show her face publicly like this."
"W-What do you mean?"
"Usually, Freya-sama stays on the top floor of Babel, never showing herself. Some male gods even go to the Feast hoping for a glimpse of her."
"Well, if the 'Goddess of Beauty' wandered around daily, it'd be total chaos."
At Hephaestus's comment, Bell stopped trying to restrain Hestia and listened while Hermes and I added more context.
Still, the top floor of Babel... Could that strange gaze I occasionally felt every couple of weeks be from Freya herself? It wasn't hatred or affection, just a simple gaze. If it is her, she must have amazing eyesight.
While I was thinking this, Freya-sama walked toward us. Her gaze was on... Bell?
"So, you're here, Hestia. And Hephaestus as well. Has it been since the Divine Council Denatus?"
"Good to see you well."
"Ah… Freya, what brings you here?"
As Freya greeted Hephaestus, Hestia stopped bowing and stood up defensively.
"Oh, I just came to say hello. It's rare to see such a gathering, so I decided to drop by."
She gave a sidelong glance at the male gods. Hermes melted at the look, Takemikazuchi cleared his throat, and Miach praised,"You're beautiful tonight as well."
Following Asfi's advice, 'If the Goddess of Beauty appears and Hermes starts acting all lovestruck, kick him hard', I delivered an even stronger kick to Hermes's leg than before.
"Gah!?"
"Hermes, sorry. Asfi told me to do this."
"N-No, it's fine. I'll have a serious talk with Asfi later. But that was no joke...!"
Turning my gaze back to Freya, she gently reached out and stroked Bell's cheek.
"──Would you let me dream tonight?"
"──No way!!"
At almost the same moment, Hestia shouted, swatting Freya's hand away and standing protectively in front of Bell. Then she scolded him.
"Why are you blushing, Bell!?"
"I-I'm sorry!?"
"Listen, this goddess is like a monster dragon who eats men up the moment she sees them! If someone like you just zone out, you'll be gobbled up in an instant!"
"Yes...!!"
The image of a seductive dragon smiling and a rabbit entranced by it flashed through my mind. Not entirely wrong.
"Oh dear, looks like I upset Hestia's mood. I'll be going then. Goodbye."
"Wait, Freya-sama!"
Hermes stopped Freya as she turned to leave. Huh? Did she have something else to say? Also, when did Hermes come back?
"This child is the one I proudly introduced at the last Divine Council Denatus."
"...Huh!?"
Hermes pointed to me as he introduced me. I couldn't help but make a strange noise. Seriously, he stopped Freya just to introduce me? How proud of me is he!?
"So this is the child…"
Freya stared at me closely, her gaze almost licking me. I felt uneasy, but since I was introduced, I couldn't avoid saying my name.
Steeling myself, I stepped forward... Only for Ottar-san, who had been standing behind, to step in front of Freya.
"Ottar?"
Freya's voice held confusion at his sudden move.
"...It's been a while."
The moment Ottar spoke those words, every hair on my body stood on end.
"Oh? Toki, you know the 'Mighty Warrior'?"
Hermes asked. Trying to calm my pounding heart, I answered:
"Yes, we crossed paths once in the dungeon, "
"Earlier than that."
"Huh!?"
That made me genuinely surprised.
Earlier than that meant six years ago, when I tried to assassinate this man.
"...You remembered me?"
"You injured me. It left an impression."
The entire hall went silent.
'You actually injured that mighty warrior!?'
'How the hell did you do that!?'
"It was a surprise attack, and I only left a scratch..."
I muttered an excuse as the crowd buzzed again, then exhaled and calmed my heart.
"...I became an adventurer because I admired you."
'Ooooh'
The hall stirred once more. Hermes was surprised, too, this was the first time I told him this story.
"So? Now that you've become an adventurer, what do you want?"
Freya's voice came from behind Ottar.
I closed my eyes, clearing my mind of distractions.
"...If I may be so bold."
I opened my eyes and looked straight at my idol.
"I want to challenge you, the Mighty Warrior."
Time seemed to freeze in the hall, silence so deep it felt unreal.
"...Hmph."
That silence was broken by,
"Ufufufu! Ahahaha!"
The laughter of the Goddess of Beauty. She covered her mouth with one hand and laughed elegantly while clutching her stomach.
"Fufufu, Hermes, your Familia's child is far more interesting than I expected."
"I-I didn't expect this either…"
Sorry, Hermes-sama, but I had to say it.
"What will you do, Ottar? Grant this child's wish? I can even ask Apollo to put on a show if you like."
"No, that won't be necessary."
He looked straight into my eyes as he answered. That made me really happy.
"Even if we fought now, it wouldn't be a contest. That's something he understands better than anyone."
Because back then, it was a surprise attack at night. That's how I managed to wound him. No matter how much I challenge him now, I wouldn't stand a chance.
"Come up to this level."
My eyes widened. That wasn't a word spoken to Freya, it was encouragement for me.
"When that time comes, I'll grant your wish."
With that, Ottar stepped back. I silently bowed.
"Well then."
Once Ottar returned, Freya finally turned and left.
"...This time, I thought my heart was going to stop."
"Sorry, Hermes-sama."
"No, don't worry about it. More importantly, "
Hermes turned to me with a look of a god enjoying a game.
"I'm counting on you, my son."
He patted my shoulder.
"You can count on me, my god."
This time, I bowed to Hermes.
==========
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