"The name 'Enyo' started spreading in Orario through the mouths of adventurers. I remember the Guild captured a few of them, but those guys were tough—they blew themselves up with explosives before they could be taken alive."
What Hephaestus knew was just scraps of information, and even that only came after the fact.
"The news about the Evilus started during the era when Zeus and Hera dominated Orario. I remember those stubborn fools even clashed with Zeus and Hera once. But after getting completely crushed, they quieted down."
"They showed up again around... what, one to six years ago?"
"Seems like they reemerged after Zeus and Hera left Orario."
"They only pick fights with the weak."
Hestia summed up the nature of the Evilus with a single line.
"Exactly."
Hephaestus couldn't help but laugh. She wholeheartedly agreed with Hestia's assessment. Those rats had stayed true to their core philosophy—bully the weak, fear the strong.
"Gods have all the time in the world. They can afford to wait out a crisis. And for them, the biggest threat was always the Zeus and Hera Familias. That's why they kept their heads down until those two left Orario."
"Tch, what a bunch of scumbags."
Hestia let out a disgruntled sound, her mood growing more sour by the second.
She sighed in frustration. If it weren't for all this mess, she could've spent more time with Bell.
And it was all because of those Evilus bastards. If they weren't around, she could've gone on a proper date with Bell.
The last time they went out during Monsterphilia, she saw how many Spirit-created monsters were slaughtering ordinary children in Genkai.
Given how tense things were now between Orario and Evilus, even gods leaving the city could be targeted.
Going out for a date under those conditions? That'd just be asking for trouble.
That's why, ever since then, Hestia hadn't stepped outside—not unless Bell was with her.
"They really are awful."
Even Hephaestus felt disappointed.
At least Hestia and Bell had traveled outside the city together as adventurer and goddess. But she and Bell had never even left the house together. To be honest, she was pretty fed up with the Evilus too.
"Shorty! Hephaestus! I'm back!"...
The annoying one had returned.
Hestia and Hephaestus exchanged a look, both seeing the same helplessness in each other's eyes.
They didn't actually mind Loki living in the same house.
There was little distance between goddesses, and although Hestia and Loki had some personal grudges in the past, those tensions had eased significantly once their Familias started working together.
It was just Loki's personality that wore on them.
Both Hestia and Hephaestus preferred peace and quiet, while Loki was the hyperactive type. Naturally, the three goddesses didn't mesh well.
The quiet-loving Hestia and Hephaestus often found Loki's energy overwhelming.
Just like yesterday—sure, they understood Loki was thrilled and excited that her child had defeated the Spirit. But did she really have to repeat it so many times?
They just couldn't keep up with her pace.
And now, when they looked over, they noticed that Loki hadn't come alone—Hermes was with her too.
"Hermes, did you go and annoy Loki again?"
"...???"
The moment Hestia opened her mouth, Hermes was full of question marks.
"Hestia, why do you assume I did something to Loki? Can't Loki and I just have a normal relationship?"
But Hestia just gave him a deadpan stare.
"Loki absolutely can't stand the sight of you. Don't you realize that? And would you really go looking for her without a reason?"
'How do all of you know my habits so well?'
Hermes twitched at the corner of his mouth, starting to get a sense of just how disliked he was among the goddesses.
With a deep breath, he asked, "Hestia, why do you all hate me so much?"
To that, Hestia looked genuinely confused.
"Hermes, we don't even need a reason to hate you."
"Do I need to bring up how you used to spy on goddesses bathing back in Tenkai? After coming to Genkai, you've been hanging around the Pleasure District, even getting involved with Ishtar. How exactly am I supposed to treat you?"
"Every goddess knows you always try to delay things down here. And when you can't delay, you'll still find a way to stall. Do you really think you're well-liked in Genkai?"
Everything she said was entirely reasonable. She didn't use a single insult, but still managed to tear Hermes down completely.
"I don't want my child to be influenced by you. Even if he was influenced by Zeus, I still don't want him learning from you."
"..."
That line hit Hermes hard.
Seriously, even a god has feelings, you know?
Of course, all of that summed up why the goddesses of Orario disliked Hermes so much.
Most goddesses couldn't stand his lack of self-restraint.
They were generally more reserved and didn't want their children picking up on Hermes' behavior—so naturally, they were repulsed by him.
But there was one more key reason every goddess disliked seeing him.
"You never make time for goddesses unless something big happens. Only then do you show up."
"Bell-kun just finished his expedition, and now you come running. Do you really take me for an idiot?"
"Start explaining what's going on."
If anyone fit the saying "no gain, no move," it was Hermes.
That's why Hestia was curious—what exactly did Hermes come to her for?
Normally slow to react, even Hestia's brain was starting to work in overdrive.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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