— Loki, long time no see!
'Oh, for the love of…' Loki's stomach twisted in disgust.
Hermes.
She turned, forcing her face into that divine mask of dignity she despised. Her half-lidded eyes met the other God's easy smile with pure displeasure.
He stood there exactly as she remembered: lean and infuriatingly composed, his blonde hair tousled just enough to look intentional, the small feathered hat tilted at a smug angle. His light-orange eyes glimmered with that blend of charm and mischief. The loose traveler's clothes suited him far too well, and of course, there was that feathered hat that never seemed to leave his head.
Basically, a more refined, masculine version of everything Loki was, if one ignored her… less saintly impulses. Even their vibe was similar.
— Oof, such disdain. And why is Her Lady of Trickery so irritated today? — Hermes greeted. He removed his hat and placed it over his chest in a formal bow before returning it to its rightful place atop his head.
— Go bother someone else, you shitty mailman. I don't have time for your little games. Finn, let's go! — Loki replied, turning to continue on her way.
'As if I'd ever want to deal with that lunatic. Every time he opens his mouth, something bad is happening or is about to, and it's always your ass on the line. That's what you get for answering directly to the city's big boss and being good at your job.'
Hermes laughed, the sound echoing lightly through the vast hall.
'No! Don't say anything, don't open your mouth, I'm not listening!' she screamed internally.
Hermes tilted his head, clearly amused by her silent desperation.
— Really? — He stopped in the middle, building suspense.
'WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM!!! LOKI, DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ANYTHING HE SAYS!!!'
— And here I was thinking you'd be interested in hearing what Ouranos is planning for that boy. But if you're not, I suppose I'll just have to find some other fool to trick.
Loki froze.
'The fish took the bait.' Hermes smiled, not even trying to hide it.
The mention of Ouranos was the perfect bait.
A god who almost never meddled in anything beyond the Dungeon; a god who had sworn never again to bestow his Falna or build a Familia; the first to descend to this world, one of the oldest and most powerful beings in the heavens.
And he was paying attention to some low-level child from a random Familia?
It reeked of conspiracy.
And what could stir the heart of the goddess of lies more than a good old conspiracy?
Hermes couldn't see her expression, but Loki's face contorted like someone struggling against a divine constipation.
— The boy? What do you mean? What's so special about him? — Loki turned her head just enough to glance over her shoulder.
— I don't know, you tell me. — Hermes smiled.
— After all, you've already met him, and I barely know his name. Luki Bryan… or something like that.
Loki finally turned fully toward him, half-lidded eyes fixed on the Messenger God. Her posture made it clear she was wrestling with herself: frustration battling with the need for information.
— Spill it, Hermes. What do you want?
— Me? Want something? My dear, I'm after nothing. You're the one looking for something. — Hermes placed a hand over his chest, feigning innocence.
He smiled, entirely in control.
Loki clenched her fist.
This was exactly why she hated dealing with him. Even if she was better and stronger in nearly every divine aspect, in the mortal world Hermes was at least a formidable opponent. His ability to gather information, maintain unbreakable connections, and command vast network, even catching the attention of big fish like Zeus and Ouranos, wasn't something higher divine stats could simply overpower.
No matter how good Loki was with words, if the cards weren't in her hands, she couldn't play. And Hermes always held the deck.
— Tell me what you know about Ouranos's plans. We can discuss the payment later. — Loki demanded, giving in to her frustration.
Hermes didn't answer right away. Instead, he cast a meaningful look toward Finn and Asfi, who stood slightly apart but still within earshot.
— Patience, Loki. What I want to discuss… is not for everyone's ears. Especially not for the ears of executives quite so attentive. Asfi, please check the conditions of the main hall for me. If I need anything, I'll call you.
The captain of the Hermes Familia recognized the silent command, bowed briefly, and stepped away.
— Finn… — Loki said.
Finn gave one last subtle look at Loki and Hermes before whispering something in the goddess's ear and moving off.
PA!
Loki clapped her hands.
— There. Now we're alone…
Hermes, meanwhile, observed their surroundings, sensing something had shifted but unable to pinpoint what.
'Yep, Loki's as strong as ever, I wouldn't have noticed that something had changed if I hadn't seen her doing it. The perks of having several high-level adventurers in her Familia.' Hermes thought, feeling a stab of envy.
Once privacy was secured, Hermes leaned slightly toward Loki, his tone turning more serious.
— This isn't just about a boy, Loki. It's about the world. — He gestured vaguely toward the distant Dungeon, its presence palpable even from inside the hall.
— The world is changing, Loki, faster than we can control with our little divine hands tied by our hunger for novelty. Soon, more than ever, we'll need heroes to guide the new era, or chaos will devour everything.
Loki remained quiet for a few moments, absorbing the information. Obviously, as a goddess and influential figure in the mortal world, she could see that a "change of era" was coming, but gods like Ouranos are better at sensing these kinds of things than she is, more precise.
— And what does that have to do with Hestia's Level 1? He can barely take care of himself. If he were that special, we wouldn't be having this meeting. — Loki retorted, skeptical but intrigued.
— Ah, but that's the beauty of it, isn't it? The uncertainty that drew us to this world. — Hermes shook his head in admiration.
— Believe it or not, Loki, but it seems his potential is immense, greater than many heroes of the past, and perhaps even comparable to "him". Honestly, it's astonishing he went unnoticed for so long. He's a blank canvas with all the right pigments.
— What?!!! — Loki exploded in disbelief.
— Let's ignore the fact that you just said that kid has more talent than my Ais-chan, but comparable to "him"? Are you even listening to yourself, Hermes? People like that man don't appear once in a thousand years. — Urgency crept into her voice.
Hermes didn't give a direct answer; instead, a mysterious smile curved his lips.
— Not me, him… — Hermes pointed upwards.
Loki was still fuming, but seeing his expression, she had no choice but to quiet down and listen.
Noticing she was paying attention, Hermes continued:
— First of all, let's make something clear. Ouranos stated very firmly, when I asked the same question, that the boy has only the potential, not the actual talent. Maybe that makes it easier for you to accept.
— And if you heard me right, yeah, I don't fully buy it either. As you said, that guy is simply too ridiculous. How can a mere mortal reach that level without divine intervention? To face that Dragon and even earn its respect to the point of refusing to heal its lost eye… Sure, he had help from that spirit, but still…
Loki stayed silent. Even without Hermes saying a single name, she knew exactly who he was talking about.
Who could she not, when her most talented Child and dream girl was his daughter, and the very couple that asked for she to take care her? She might be an alcoholic, but not to the point of forgetting something that important.
— Then why are we having this conversation, anyway? — she asked.
— Well, after… god knows how many years— pfff~ — Hermes burst into laughter at his own joke midway.
Loki simply stared, completely unimpressed. No time for jokes.
— Sorry, sorry, couldn't help it… Where was I? Ah, right. As I was saying: after so long observing mortals, I've learned that when Ouranos believes in someone, he's usually right. And we should always keep an eye on them.
— Hestia's Child might become someone on the same level as the first one — ushering in a new era for this world… or he might be swindled over to the "dark side of the force" and drag this world downward instead.
Loki pinched her chin between her thumb and index finger, her elbow propped on the opposite hand wrapped around her waist, expression tightening with calculation.
— And, like benevolent gods, we should guide the boy so nothing unfortunate happens… or at least keep him far away from the worst-case scenario.
— Exactly! See, I knew you'd understand. — Hermes put on a little show as if she had answered the golden question correctly.
— Heh… — Loki let out a dry, unimpressed puff of air, the kind that said "don't get cocky" without needing a single word.
— Ok, shitty Postman boy, there's just one thing that i'm not getting.
Hermes smiled innocently, as if to say, "Go ahead."
— Why are you telling all this to me? You don't seriously expect me to go out of my way to babysit some boy who isn't even part of my Familia, do you? Just like Ouranos knows nearly everything under the sky, he should also know I don't offer my services for free. So come on—what's on the table fo-
A roar cut Loki off.
— I AM GANESHA! The meeting of the Gods and Familias is officially open!
The booming voice of the God of Order silenced the hall. Loki had no choice but to swallow her crucial question.
Hermes smiled, with that perfect timing. He gave Loki a light tap on the shoulder.
— Looks like the main show is starting, Loki. We'll talk later, once the stage is clear. For now, enjoy the performance and find out yourself what you think of the boy. — He moved away with light steps, leaving Loki simmering with frustration and unfinished words lodged in her throat as Ganesha began speaking.
The assembled Gods were already taking their positions. All attention shifted to Ganesha, the elephant-masked deity standing on a plain platform. His voice, though deep, carried with the authority necessary to silence the assembly.
— I AM GANESHA! Thank you to all Gods and Familias assembled here today. The purpose of this gathering, as you should already be aware, is both singular and urgent: the rescue of the adventurer Luki Bryan, of our dear friend and sister-in-godhood Hestia's Familia.
Ganesha paused, allowing the weight of the announcement to settle across the hall.
— The situation is clear. A Level 1 adventurer is stranded deep within the Upper Labyrinth. A circumstance that, in the past, might have been dismissed as routine… now poses a mortal threat to that child's life.
Murmurs rippled through the table of gods. Uncertainty. Doubt. And above all, discouragement.To most of them, the boy might as well have already been dead. So why bother? Why risk anything for a lost cause?
If they had come at all, it was only because of old friendships, the debts they owed, and the respect they held for Hestia.
Perhaps they had assumed this would be nothing more than a formality, assemble a small search party, send them to poke around the upper floors for a few days, then quietly abandon the effort. But now that they were here… now that the reality of the situation was laid bare before them… they had begun to realize exactly what such an operation would entail.
And their enthusiasm was gone.
Ganesha watched the shift in atmosphere carefully. He let the uncertainty spread just long enough.Then, he struck.
— I AM GANESHA! I know many of you are feeling uneasy about this operation. But before we begin discussing plans, I would like your full attention for a moment. — His voice boomed, cutting through every whisper, forcing every gaze back to him.
Then, as if everything had been orchestrated from the start, he stepped off the stage.
A low hush settled over the hall as Ganesha stepped aside. For a moment, no one moved; the gods exchanged uneasy, uncertain glances, tension stretched across the room like a string pulled too tight.
Footsteps
Then soft, composed footsteps echoed faintly through the hall. Every head turned toward the sound as a petite figure emerged from the shadows at the back, her white robe drifting with each deliberate step and her blue ribbons trailing behind her like threads of solemn resolve. The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Hestia.
But not quiet, she was different now, still the same as before but...
What had happened to her? Where was the playful, carefree goddess everyone knew? Her eyes, expression, and posture radiated a gravity and composure seen only in beings of true authority, weight enough to make even the oldest gods straighten in their seats.
It was only now that many of them seemed to remember who she truly was: one of the first who came to be, older than most gods gathered there, older even than Zeus; a divine sovereign among sovereigns, one whose former power stood equal to the kings of the great pantheons, one of the few who could claim to have witnessed the birth of the universe itself.
And now, that absolute being was utterly serious about her goal.
Then, she stepped onto the stage.