"So, Loki-sama, is there something you need?"
"Not at all."
Loki's face showed no trace of emotion. Bell couldn't read anything from her expression and had no choice but to look away.
Though he didn't know Loki-sama's purpose, having her watch over things here wouldn't really cause any problems.
'The outside is stable. No one is trying to get in.'
Bell had already sealed off the interior of that space and set up sensory traps. Anyone attempting to enter from outside would immediately trigger them, alerting him at once.
Of course, he wasn't aiming to catch a couple of small fry—he wanted to see if he could hook something bigger.
The reason he was overseeing this entire operation himself was twofold: first, only he could freely move in and out of that space due to its unique nature; second, he wanted to keep intelligence leaks to an absolute minimum.
Everything was conducted in secret, just to see if anyone would take the bait.
"Waiting for the fish to bite."
Bell's heart froze for an instant before settling again.
"As expected of Loki-sama, to anticipate my thoughts."
His words were straightforward praise, but Loki only rolled her eyes.
"With the way you operate, it's not that hard to figure out."
That made Bell realize even more why so many chose to act from the shadows. Once you stood at the front, your patterns became exposed, and your future actions lost their element of surprise.
In truth, Bell's methods weren't difficult to predict. If you assumed caution, you'd usually be right.
To avoid exposing his strength, he relied mostly on pre-set traps, forcing enemies to walk into them rather than charging out to drag foes in.
But after one or two failed ambushes where the enemy wasn't completely eradicated, people would naturally grow wary, making intelligence gathering much harder.
If Loki could think this far, then Evilus, unless they were complete fools, would likely catch on after a few encounters.
Even so…
'It's not a big problem.'
Yes, there were flaws—but nothing serious.
Bell knew he still had plenty of hidden cards. Even if Evilus grew cautious, they could never predict powers he hadn't revealed.
In all of Orario, the only one with the ability to read an opponent's power before it was shown was Cassandra. No other adventurer could do that.
As long as he kept his trump cards hidden, he could still strike with complete surprise.
"It's not a big problem… right?"
"…"
Bell stayed quiet for a moment, silently acknowledging how different Loki was from other gods—even from Hestia or Hephaestus.
"So, Loki-sama, did you come here to read my thoughts?"
"No, no, no. Your mind isn't that easy to read. If it were, that lovesick girl would've had you dancing in her palm long ago."
Loki could only analyze Bell based on his personality.
A cautious person was cautious in every direction. Once you figured out which way that caution pointed, it was easy enough to guess some of his actions.
But those guesses were limited to his behavior. His inner thoughts—those, she couldn't touch.
"You're like a natural god-blocker. Every god can read the hearts of children from the Genkai—that's why mortals can't lie to us. Gods can immediately tell when they're being deceived."
"But you… you're the one exception."
Loki turned as she spoke, even stepping ahead of Bell.
"That's why that love-struck girl is so persistent."
"Though honestly, I think you must've been an Incubus in your last life. Otherwise, how else would you have managed to attract the attention of three goddesses in this one?"
Bell couldn't exactly admit he was a soul from another world. Instead, he frowned and retorted,
"Incubus? That would be nothing short of a disaster."
"For a boy, isn't that a good thing?"
"...It's nothing but a curse."
Bell never believed being too attractive was a blessing. To him, it was a curse—a disaster.
"The truth is, I only care about a few people. I don't need to divide my attention among countless women."
"Ah~~"
Loki looked at Bell as if he were some strange creature.
"I thought having three goddesses chasing after you would've made you lose yourself."
'Do I really look that foolish?'
Bell had always considered himself someone with strong self-control. The affection of goddesses was something to be cherished—and in his heart, there were only two who truly mattered.
Having the love of two goddesses was already more than enough. As for others, Bell would deliberately keep his distance, just as he did with Sanjouno Haruhime.
"So, Loki-sama, what exactly do you take me for? Some priceless treasure?"
"I'd like to think I have enough self-discipline not to lose my bearings just because three goddesses fancy me."
With that, Bell shot her an exasperated glance.
He was genuinely at a loss. He'd always conducted himself with restraint, so how could anyone think he was some idiot who didn't even understand his own place?
"So my child was rejected just like that? That girl is still clinging to her obsession, you know."
Loki said it on purpose.
She supported her children's romances and wanted to see them find love, but she couldn't bear to watch one of them leap into a hopeless abyss.
Bell said nothing, only remaining silent.
"This was inevitable. That's why I kept my distance from her from the very beginning."
His heart already belonged to the goddesses he loved. There was no room for anyone else.
Bell knew full well how lucky he was—to be loved by both Hestia and Hephaestus.
For them, he was destined to walk a path unlike any ordinary adventurer's. Perhaps even the path to becoming a god.
And because of that, he couldn't allow his heart to wander toward other girls—the outcome was already set in stone.
"Loki-sama, shouldn't gods understand that better than anyone?"
"Chasing after people and things forever out of reach… it's nothing but wasting your own life."
"Is that so?"
Loki studied the unwavering determination in Bell's eyes, but there was amusement flickering in her own. The firmer his resolve, the clearer it was that a small part of his heart still wavered.
Had he not harbored those hidden thoughts, he wouldn't need to be so stubborn.
People only cling tightly to what they've already chosen. Toward what they truly don't care for, they can't even be bothered to take a stance.
...
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