"Ensuring the quality of the assault on Orario should have been part of Dionysus's plan. The deities and spirits of Evilus were likely persuaded at first, which led to the earlier series of actions. But now, something has gone wrong."
"The spirit's refusal to cooperate?"
Hestia asked cautiously, and Bell nodded in confirmation.
"That's right. Because of that refusal, the Evilus gods must have realized that 'Enyo' is just as uncontrollable as the spirits. And right now, everything within Evilus is unfolding according to 'Enyo's' plan. But would those gods really obey someone who hides their face and identity?"
"They wouldn't."
Freya let out a disdainful smile. She knew the nature of gods far too well.
She understood how obstinate and proud they could be. To make them stand on the side being controlled? Even if the one pulling the strings shared their goals, it would still leave a bitter taste in their hearts.
"Gods have always been a group that refuses to be tamed. They'll follow those with stronger charisma or admire those with distinctive character. They might wear an indifferent expression, but deep down, every one of them carries pride."
"If Dionysus were willing to step forward himself, I believe the gods of Evilus would listen to his plans—so long as his strategy better dismantled the rule of the surface gods. But Dionysus doesn't trust those people."
"As gods, they came down to Genkai to enjoy the game among mortals, not to become chess pieces controlled by others. That's their bottom line—a line none of them would ever cross."
"Yet Dionysus has stomped right over that line."
From the moment she learned that Dionysus was "Enyo," Freya understood that a split between "Enyo" and Evilus was only a matter of time.
Dionysus and Evilus had an irreconcilable contradiction. He openly flaunted his identity as a 'player,' even trying to manipulate other 'players.' That was an unforgivable taboo.
Freya hadn't expected Dionysus to be so blind to such a simple truth. Or perhaps he did understand—but his arrogance made him believe that the worms of Evilus weren't worth following the same rules.
"Pride."
With just one word, Bell captured the essence of the conflict between Dionysus and Evilus.
The deities of Evilus, steeped in Pride, resisted being treated as pawns and would fight back with the most violent means. Perhaps from that moment onward, their target ceased to be Orario and instead became Dionysus, the god pulling the strings behind the scenes.
He was certain that Evilus's resentment toward 'Enyo' had been simmering for a long time—especially after he happened to build a fire nearby. The incident involving the Spirit had been the pivotal point where the conflict began.
The collaboration between the Spirit and Evilus was actually brokered by 'Enyo' as the intermediary. At the time, under his manipulation, the Spirit believed he possessed the power to control souls, even going so far as to tear apart its own soul to escape. The result was that the Spirit could only recall its guardian from the outside. Otherwise, attempting to restore its missing soul in the Deep Floors would have exposed it to grave dangers.
The Spirit summoned its guardian to protect its weakened self, yet Evilus remained unaware of this. This inevitably fostered resentment toward the Spirit within their ranks. Coupled with his earlier dealings with the Guild, Evilus's hostility toward the Spirit only grew stronger.
"The Evilus's resentment toward the Spirit, coupled with their distrust of 'Enyo,' has driven them to bypass all arrangements involving both parties and initiate their current operation."
"However, if the Evilus's movements are so transparent that even outsiders can discern them, then their plans concerning 'Enyo' certainly aren't a secret either. Therefore, 'Enyo' will undoubtedly be involved in this operation of Evilus.
"Loki, you need to be cautious."
Bell's warning annoyed Loki, who was sitting on his lap, prompting her to prop her chin up with both hands.
"Ugh! So I'm always treated like a pushover, huh?"
Bell responded by carefully soothing her.
"After all, within all of Orario, the only familias he finds troublesome are yours and Freya's. Freya's familia rarely ventures into the dungeons, and their entire cohesion revolves around Freya herself. Unless she gives the word, her familia won't casually enter the dungeons."
"And if Dionysus were to confront Freya about this, what do you think she'd say?"
This question made Loki pause briefly. She cleared her throat, lowering her voice slightly, striving to make it sound more elegant.
"'Ottar, throw this guy out.'"
Bell's face twitched. Considering Freya's increasingly piercing glare, he managed to suppress his urge to laugh.
"Though the process probably wouldn't be that direct, Freya likely wouldn't casually involve herself in this matter. Of course, Dionysus knows this too, so he wouldn't approach Freya directly—otherwise, he'd likely get shut out."
But the bigger reason was probably that Dionysus and Freya simply had little common ground. Bell couldn't help but mull over that key factor in his mind. Compared to the hard-to-approach Freya, Loki was clearly much easier to get close to.
In every sense, Loki was truly held by the throat by that Dionysus, who had pinpointed her weak spot. The massive disruption at the "Monsterphilia," followed by the retaliatory investigation targeting her—all of it was likely part of that god's scheme. The recent revelation about his own familia being wiped out was probably just another ploy meant to specifically target her.
Loki was seething as she listened. As the Trickster Goddess in Tenkai, she was the one who usually targeted other deities. Who would have thought a Dionysus would dare to strike at her? Did he really think she was a pushover?
Yet, her boiling rage began to cool slightly.
"His goal must be to eliminate the current leader of Evilus, right?"
"Exactly. By eliminating the top leader, he can regain control of Evilus. And if he kills a deity from Evilus this time, his reputation for righteousness will surely spread throughout Orario. After that, he'll likely gain access to more covert operations—after all, slaying an Evilus deity proves his justice beyond doubt."
"Pfft! That guy sure knows how to scheme."
Even Loki couldn't help but admire the fellow's cunning—though that was as far as her admiration went.
...
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