Loki turned out to be even cuter than I expected. …No, really, way beyond anything I could have imagined.
After the dance, Loki-sama and I headed toward Hermes-sama. I led him carefully to the end, then released his hand."Ah." Loki-sama let out softly.
"That was quite impressive, both of you."
"Thank you, Hermes-sama."
Hermes still held down Hestia-sama, and I remembered that Bell and Ais were still dancing, so we had to keep Loki in check for now. I glanced back to see Loki-sama standing there, looking dazed and frozen.
"...Loki-sama?"
I waved my hand in front of his face. No response.
"Hey, Loki-sama?"
I called a little louder, but still no reaction.
"Toki, try whispering in Loki's ear."
Hermes gave me a sly grin and suggested the idea, so I gave it a shot.
"Loki-sama?"
"Wah!?"
He jumped back, honestly, that stung a bit.
"W-what was that for all of a sudden!?"
"I've been calling you, but no response, so I tried Hermes-sama's advice…"
"From Hermes?"
Loki looked toward Hermes, who was still grinning mischievously. Seeing this, Loki punched Hermes square in the face. Hermes stumbled backward a few steps, and in doing so, he accidentally released Hestia-sama.
"Hey, runt, help me out here!"
Loki was clearly angry.
"Alright, alright. I'll help you with this once."
Hestia-sama's twin tails were flying wildly as the goddesses grabbed Hermes by the shoulders and dragged him off toward the corner of the hall. Moments later, Hermes's screams echoed through the room.
Hestia then tried to charge at Bell and the others, but I stopped her just in time.
"What are you doing, Toki!? Let her go!"
"Sorry, I just want to help a friend with their love life."
Looks like I ended up being the one to hold back Hestia-sama. That meant I couldn't hold Loki-sama, but to my surprise, Loki quietly moved closer to me.
"H-hey, Toki?"
"Yes?"
"D-do you want anything?"
"...Why the sudden offer?"
"Well, you've always helped me, and today was quite the experience. I thought maybe I should thank you."
"I'm not really expecting anything in return…"
"Come on, just say it!"
Loki pressed forward, cheeks red, and I thought for a moment. …Ah, I know.
"Then I want a new title, something other than 'Shadow Devil.'"
"Hm? You don't like that name?"
"Well, 'Shadow Devil' is basically another name I go by, but it's got a bad reputation…"
That name came about because I once ambushed and destroyed a rival Familia. It's a fitting title, but it does give off a dangerous vibe.
"I've ranked up recently, so I thought it'd be nice to have a title that suits an adventurer."
"...Alright. I'll think of something by the next divine meeting, Denatus."
"Oh, and if it's not too much trouble, please keep it short. Long titles are hard to announce."
'Shadow Devil,' huh…'
'Guess I better put some real thought into this...'
'No long names, huh? That kind of restriction might be interesting...'
The gods overheard our conversation and started murmuring thoughtfully. …Well, they don't need to take it that seriously…
"G-Gods!? What are you all doing!?"
Bell and Ais returned to the center of the hall. Bell had just finished leading Ais in dance and was now approaching us.
"I held back Hestia-sama until you and Ais finished dancing."
"Uh, uh, thanks?"
"Well, good luck from here."
He released Hestia's restraint. Once free, she glared at me, then immediately pounced on Bell.
"Bell-kun! Next time, dance with me!!"
At that, Loki's eyes suddenly snapped open, and he lunged toward Ais.
"Ais-san, dance with me too! No refusals! If you want, you can be the guy!"
The two goddesses pressed their will on their followers with fierce determination. Bell gave a wry smile, and Ais hesitated but moved her hands to respond.
"──Everyone, enjoying the party?"
Suddenly, a voice interrupted.
Apollo-sama appeared with his attendants, stopping in front of Bell and the others. The elegant music had quietly ceased.
"If you're having fun, that's good to hear. It makes the effort worthwhile."
His words drew a crowd, and soon a circle formed around Apollo-sama.
"Sorry to be late… Hestia, my child was in your care recently."
"What do you mean?"
Hestia tilted her head at Apollo's smile. Apollo's eyes widened.
"Are you pretending not to know?"
"Pretending? No, I heard Bell didn't lay a finger on your child."
Hestia shrugged in response to Apollo's accusation, but he ignored her and smiled again.
"My child was gravely injured by yours. I want compensation."
Hestia was shocked by those words.
"That's nonsense! Like I said before, Bell didn't touch your child! I heard it straight from Bell himself!"
"But my beloved Luan came home that day in a state I couldn't bear to see… My heart almost shattered from sorrow!"
Apollo clutched his chest dramatically, then spread his arms in lamentation. His attendants feigned tears as well. A small, shaky figure approached nearby.
"Ah, Luan!"
Apollo rushed forward. It was a small person from the dwarf tribe, Pallum, wrapped head to toe like a mummy in bandages.
"Ow, it hurts, it really hurts~"
Seeing this, I couldn't help but worry and hurried over to Bell.
"Hey, did I really beat him up that badly?"
"No way, no way! Honestly, if you went all out, it wouldn't have ended that easily!"
The crowd that had been murmuring fell silent at Bell's words.
"Hey, what do you mean by that?"
"Well, if Toki had fought seriously, he wouldn't have even been able to walk home!"
...I couldn't deny that.
"Besides, Toki didn't even fight back properly then. That dwarf Pallum was just used as a shield by Toki."
"That's still pretty dangerous, though."
The gods present could tell Bell wasn't lying. Apollo, glaring coldly, cleared his throat and turned back to Hestia.
"In any case, my child was beaten badly by the one your Hestia sent. There are plenty of witnesses, you can't deny this."
With a snap of his fingers, several gods and guild members stepped forward from the circle. They all confirmed Apollo's claim with sly grins.
"Wait, Apollo."
Hermes approached, apparently recovered.
"I heard from Bell that it was your side who started the fight. Also, Toki came back so dazed he couldn't walk alone. Blaming only Hestia is misplaced, isn't it?"
"Aha, Hermes, defending Hestia, huh? It's useless. I have many witnesses here. The truth will soon be clear."
Apollo dismissed Hermes' plea. Given the numbers, Apollo's side held the advantage.
"Since your guild members were harmed, I can't just back down. It's about the pride of the Familia. Hestia, will you continue to deny responsibility?"
"Enough! I will never admit to that!"
"Then it can't be helped. Hestia, I hereby challenge you to a War Game."
Bell, Hestia, and I froze at the words.
A "War Game" is essentially a divine proxy war, a duel between rival Familias. Using their followers as pieces, it's a total battle where everything is at stake. The winning god can claim anything, even the life, of the losing god. A war disguised as a game.
"Apollo's gone too far!"
"That's outright bullying!"
"I kinda want to see it, though."
The gods who loved excitement eagerly sided with Apollo.
"If we win... your follower, Bell Cranel, will be ours."
I understood everything then. The tavern incident, this 'Divine Banquet', was all a scheme to draw Bell in.
At that thought, a deadly aura radiated from me.
The guild members immediately stepped forward to protect their god, but most were trembling.
I glared at Apollo and summoned a dagger in my hand,
"Toki."
A light tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Hermes smiling at me.
"I just remembered something urgent. I'm leaving now."
"...Understood."
Reluctantly, I suppressed my murderous intent and vanished the dagger.
"Get ready to leave ahead. I'll stay and talk with Apollo for a bit."
Without a word, they nodded and headed for the exit.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
"Now then, Apollo. Sorry to interrupt your fun, but I'm heading out."
"...Ah, yes, very well."
"Also, a word of advice."
"Advice?"
Apollo forced a smile and looked at Hermes.
"You've angered the demon child. Expect a worthy concession."
With that, Hermes turned and left.
"Oh, and one more thing."
He glanced at Luan nearby, who was still shaken by my aura.
"You're badly hurt. Be careful not to trip or fall."
Then Hermes finally departed the hall.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
Later that night, in a wealthy residential area, a black horse pulled a carriage for two. The driver, dressed formally, was me, Toki.
"Toki."
"...Yes?"
"Don't provoke the Apollo Familia."
At first, I didn't understand what Hermes meant. Then it dawned on me, and I opened my mouth to protest.
"In return, you'll enter the War Game on behalf of Hestia and Apollo."
But Hermes cut me off before I could speak.
"...Can you do that?"
"Apollo and I go way back. Somehow, I'll talk him around."
I couldn't tell what Hermes was thinking inside the carriage, but something felt different this time.
"...Apollo, you mocked my follower."
Hermes murmured quietly so I couldn't hear.
This time, I was merely a pawn to sully Bell's name. Hermes was surprisingly angry about that.
"You will pay the price."
The clip-clop of hooves echoed as Hermes and I sat in the carriage, both burning with quiet rage.
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