The day after converting Lili from the Soma Familia, Hestia attended an emergency divine council, the Denatus.
She had tried to stall by pretending to be ill, but Hermes somehow stopped her.
The other gods were bored from waiting an extra day, but since it was only one day, most agreed not to make a fuss, and the meeting began.
"If we win, we want Bell Cranel." Apollo declared outright as soon as he signed the required documents alongside Hestia.
"Let's be clear about this from the start. I don't want to hear any annoying excuses later. If Hestia wins, we'll accept whatever demands she makes."
While Hestia stayed silent, the secretary god recorded the statement verbatim.
The discussion then shifted to the format of the contest.
"One-on-one. The Familia representatives will settle this duel in single combat."
Hestia said this, facing Apollo across the table.
"We'll use the arena, in front of the crowd. That's the most exciting way, right?"
Honestly, this was the only way Hestia thought she could win. Although Lili had just joined, the Hestia Familia only had two members. If multiple battles happened, they had almost no chance.
Miach and Takemikazuchi supported Hestia's suggestion, and a few other gods at the round table agreed.
"Come on, Apollo, "
"The opponent is Ox Slayer, the bull killer, right?"
"He's definitely a tough one, especially in single combat."
Meanwhile, some neutral gods shouted teasing remarks at the silent Apollo.
"The Familia is so small because, Hestia, you haven't been actively recruiting until now. That's your fault."
But Apollo, as if expecting it, countered Hestia's argument:
"We have no reason to accommodate your complaints about having fewer members."
With a smirk, Apollo's words made Hestia groan in frustration.
"Let's be fair and decide by drawing lots."
In the end, Hestia couldn't argue, and Apollo's proposal was accepted.
Each god at the round table wrote down a war game format they wanted to see and placed their choices in a box that had been prepared for some reason.
Soon the lottery was ready, but who would draw the lot became a matter of dispute.
"We can't trust any slips influenced by Apollo."
"...The same goes for us. Miach and Takemikazuchi, please restrain yourselves."
Hestia and Apollo exchanged glances as they surveyed the table.
"Hermes." Hestia called out.
Hermes, who always acted neutral, seemed a safe choice.
"No, even Hermes should step aside." Apollo rejected immediately, surprising Hestia with wide eyes.
"Why?"
"Hermes defended you just the other day. This time, we can't trust him either."
"…Well, that's true."
"Then Loki."
"What do you mean by 'then'?"
"Loki's out too. He seems to have some feelings for Hermes' child from the last 'Feast' I held."
"W-What kind of feelings?! N-No, I don't care about Toki at all..."
"Sure, sure, tsundere tsundere."
"Hey! Who's tsundere here?!"
More gods were suggested, but Hermes interrupted every time, because their clans or the gods themselves had some connection with Toki.
"Wait, your place knows the 'Shadow Devil'?"
"Asked yesterday, they've apparently helped each other. Didn't know that."
"My kid even asked for love advice, and it worked out with his current partner."
"'Shadow Devil' is seriously amazing."
No one wanted to draw the lot. Then Hermes raised his hand.
"There's only one here who barely knows that kid... what do you say?"
"Well, that works."
"If we keep going like this, it'll be nightfall."
"Alright, it's settled then. Could you do the honors, Freya-sama?"
Hermes' words froze the gods around the table, and Freya herself was surprised.
"Me? Is that really okay?"
"There's no one else left to draw. Please."
"Understood. Are the two of you fine with this?"
"…Fine."
"…Alright."
Freya stood, and the god closest to the box quickly rose to bring it to her like a Svartánt. Freya smiled gently, and the god immediately grew flustered.
Freya's pale fingers reached into the box and smoothly drew a single parchment.
The gods held their breath as Freya read it quietly, and then smiled.
She revealed the contents aloud:
"Siege Warfare."
Bam!
Hestia slammed her fist on the round table.
"Ha ha ha ha! This is the most divine and fair lottery decision ever. No objections allowed!"
Apollo's triumphant laughter echoed through the room.
Siege warfare. Whether defending or attacking, it required many personnel. It was the format Apollo had written down.
"Defending a castle alone is impossible. We'll give the attacking side to Hestia."
Grinning, Apollo handed over the attack role to Hestia.
However, in reality, defenders hold a huge advantage in siege warfare. It's said attackers need three times the number of personnel as defenders.
While Hestia clenched her teeth, turning bright red, Hermes spoke up.
"Apollo, I have a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Can my child, Toki, join Hestia's side?"
Apollo was dumbfounded by the straightforward request.
"You know why you got Hestia into this war game in the first place, the tavern incident, right? My kid was involved in that. Because of that, I promised Toki they could participate on Hestia's side."
Apollo was exasperated.
"That's impossible. This is a game between me and Hestia. There's no reason to let your child, who's unrelated, join."
"Come on, consider it a favor from a friend of the gods in the heavens."
"Hmph. No need to entertain that."
Apollo turned away, rejecting Hermes' request. Other gods were puzzled, since when was Hermes this pushy?
"This is tough…"
Hermes scratched his head and looked at Apollo.
"Then there's a possibility that the war game itself might be canceled…"
Apollo immediately reacted to those words.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean exactly what I said. Your Familia might collapse before the war game even begins, causing it to be called off."
Hermes grinned confidently and continued.
"That kid, Toki, is seriously agitated right now. He's holding back because of the promise we made, but if he can't join… well, worst case, he might just wipe out the entire Apollo Familia."
"Hmph, that's just bluffing."
"That kid wiped out an entire Familia in a surprise attack a year ago, without any 'blessings' from me. Now that he's leveled up to Level 2 with my blessing, I think it's more than possible."
Apollo was left speechless at Hermes' words. Their long acquaintance from the divine realm made it clear: Hermes was telling the truth.
"Then you should control him! He's your child!"
"That's easier said than done. He's resistant to divine authority. It's a real challenge to keep him in line, even if I go all out."
Hermes boasted cheerfully about his child, leaving the other gods at the round table stunned. A child resistant to divine authority? They couldn't deny it, after all, even Freya's famed"charm" didn't work on him.
"If I try to restrain him with my other children, there will definitely be casualties. If my children start fighting each other, I'd rather just watch from the sidelines."
Apollo's face gradually flushed with frustration.
"That kid took out a Familia in a vengeful ambush a year ago. I think that Familia was just a little smaller than my current Apollo Familia, wasn't it?"
"Hey, isn't Hermes acting a little too pushy today?"
Hestia whispered to Miach beside her.
"Seems like it."
"Probably just angry because his kid is being underestimated."
Miach nodded in agreement, and Takemikazuchi spoke up with certainty.
"Angry?"
"He's smiling, but his eyes are completely furious. I've never seen him like this before."
As a warrior, Takemikazuchi was skilled at reading people, predicting their next moves and current thoughts. Though not close with Hermes, their occasional interactions allowed Takemikazuchi to notice this change in him.
"If you still won't agree… then I have a condition for letting Toki participate."
"A condition?"
"No fighting between Toki and your Familia leader, Phaebus Apollo, the Radiant Child of the Sun."
"What!?"
"If they fight… then Hestia loses."
He glanced at Hestia.
"…Fine. If Toki fights your leader, I'll accept my loss. After all, that's what an ally is for, isn't it?"
Hestia now understood why Hermes had stopped her from faking an illness earlier: to confirm Toki's participation and prevent any attack on the Apollo Familia.
"Hey, Apollo, why are you so paranoid about this?"
More voices chimed in to support Hermes.
"Hermes already said it: Shadow Devil wiped out a Familia in a surprise attack a year ago. But with this war game, that won't happen, right? So Shadow Devil's just a Level 2, like anyone else. No reason to be so cautious."
Others around the table, even those under Apollo's influence, agreed with Loki's comment.
"Just one Level 2, right?"
"They can't do a surprise attack this time."
"Fine…"
Surrounded by opposition, Apollo clenched his teeth and gritted out:
"Fine! I'll allow Shadow Devil to participate. But no fighting Hyacinthus, and if my Familia is attacked before the war game starts, it'll be a forfeit for Hestia."
"If my Familia is attacked, then Apollo's side loses, right?"
"Agreed! Hermes, satisfied now!?"
Apollo glared at Hermes' fake smile.
"Since we've accepted your demands, only Shadow Devil may assist, correct?"
"…Yeah, that's fine."
Following Loki's suggestion to discuss the schedule with the guild, the Divine Council disbanded.
As Hermes received words of encouragement, Apollo kept glaring until he left the room.
Remaining were Hestia, Hermes, Miach, Takemikazuchi, and Loki.
"Sorry for the trouble, Hestia."
"No worries. Toki's been a great help, and he saved me yesterday too. I owe him more than I can say."
"Thanks too, Loki."
"No problem. Besides… I'm curious about Toki's skills."
"Oh, right… it's going to be broadcast live, isn't it?"
Hermes folded his arms, deep in thought.
"Well… no need to go all out against Apollo's side. Maybe we should put some restrictions on the fight?"
"Restrictions!?"
"Well, it's fine, right? It's only the little guy who'll take damage anyway."
Hestia grumbled, but Hermes clearly wasn't paying attention.
"Alright then, I'll go home and discuss with Asfi. Some training is definitely needed."
"…Hey, Hermes?"
Loki looked up at Hermes with a sideways glance.
"Can I help train Toki?"
𓂀═════════════𓂀
Author's note: Actually, in the original story, the helper isn't Toki but Ryuu. To all Ryuu fans out there, sorry for taking away Ryuu's moment of glory!
I welcome any thoughts or feedback.
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