Hearing Apollo's voice, Asfi's body went rigid, and she shot a pleading look toward Hermes.
"Hermes, the child Asfi's carrying just joined my familia. I'd really prefer you didn't see them," Hermes said calmly and effortlessly. "So, my apologies, Apollo."
Among the gods, it wasn't all that common to openly show desire for another deity's child, to try and snatch them away. After all, most gods in Orario cared deeply about how their children in the mortal realm perceived them.
But Apollo was different.
"No, no, it's quite alright," Apollo replied, the pleasant smile on his face now twisting into something else. "But Hermes… is that girl behind Asfi-chan really a member of your familia?"
Even if it was just a fleeting glimpse, in that single moment—Apollo had seen a soul as dazzling as the sun.
Brilliant, clean, beautiful, untainted by anyone else's influence. The aura of the earth around her was fresh, sweet, and utterly pure.
It was a presence untainted by divine power.
Because of that, Apollo was more than eighty percent certain that the girl on Asfi's back hadn't joined any familia yet.
Apollo's words didn't make Hermes flinch. His smile was perfect—a perfectly crafted fake.
Apollo let out a soft, dismissive sound. "Hah. You might be trying to hide something, but that kind of radiance can't escape my eyes."
"So, aren't you going to let me see this child you haven't 'tricked' into joining your familia yet?" Apollo crossed his arms, looking at Hermes with confidence.
"Ara~, you caught me, did you? I really was trying to trick this child into joining my familia. But, well… unfortunately," Hermes sighed and shook his head helplessly, "this child was actually scouted by Loki and was planning to join the Loki Familia."
"Even though I told her she could use all my familia's resources freely, she still didn't agree."
Hearing "Loki Familia," Apollo's brow furrowed. "Hermes, if you don't want to hand this child over to me, you can just say so. We could always settle this with a duel over her."
"But there's no need to drag Loki into this, is there?"
If possible, Apollo didn't want to get involved with Loki. The reason was simple:
He couldn't win against her.
Hearing Apollo's words, Hermes' lips curled upward. "Apollo, now you're just blaming me unfairly. You have to understand—this is a child I secretly lured away from the Loki Familia."
"If Loki hadn't been busy today, she would've already given this child her Falna."
"I originally planned to get her drunk and trick her into agreeing to join my familia. Who would've thought her alcohol tolerance would be so weak? She passed out after just one glass."
"Even I don't have the heart to force a Falna on a child while she's drunk. So right now, I'm just trying to sneak her back before Loki notices she's missing."
"Of course, if you don't believe me and really want this child, I can hand her over to you. But members of the Loki Familia saw me with her. If Loki comes asking for me tomorrow, I won't hesitate to tell her you were involved."
"After all, the strongest member of my familia is Asfi, and she's only Level 2. We're no match for the Loki Familia."
"But if you have the courage to face Loki's familia, Apollo, then I'll gladly hand this child over to you."
"Asfi," Hermes said with an easy smile, gesturing for her to take a couple steps forward.
Meanwhile, Apollo frowned, staring at that glimpse of gold on Asfi's back, feeling deeply conflicted.
Because of the angle, Apollo couldn't see Alice's face.
So even though her soul shone brilliantly in his eyes, Apollo also cared deeply about appearance—not just the soul.
But of course, the main thing holding him back was what Hermes had said.
He and Hermes went way back, and Apollo knew Hermes' personality all too well.
If what Hermes said about the Loki Familia was true, then he really couldn't afford to provoke them.
As radiant as Alice's soul was, something he couldn't easily let go of, destroying his entire familia just for her would be more trouble than it was worth.
The level of brilliance Alice currently displayed didn't seem worth going up against the Loki Familia.
Of course, that was only if what Hermes said—that this child had been chosen by Loki—was true.
Seeing the conflicted expression on Apollo's face, Hermes' smile grew even wider.
"Since you don't believe me, Apollo, why don't we ask the child herself what she has to say? Whether Loki really invited her or not. You can even ask if Alice-chan would be willing to join your familia."
"If she says she wants to join your familia, then even if Loki comes asking, I'll back you up. And if she's willing, then even if Loki's unhappy, she won't do anything too extreme."
Hermes' words struck a chord with Apollo. Convinced, Apollo gave a slight nod. "Then wake the child up and let's ask. Even if she's drunk, whatever she says should be more honest that way."
Seeing that Apollo agreed, Hermes breathed an inward sigh of relief and walked over to Asfi.
Making sure that even if Alice lifted her head, Apollo still wouldn't see her face, Hermes asked softly:
"Alice-chan, Alice-chan, we can't find your way home. Can you wake up for a bit?"
Alice's head was still muddled. She was slumped over Asfi's back, her face buried against Asfi's shoulder.
Hearing Hermes' voice, Alice turned her face vaguely toward him.
Hermes' face was right there.
Her brain was working so slowly. Just as she started processing Hermes' question, he cut her off.
"Alice-chan, did Loki invite you to join her familia?"
"Loki?" Alice's mind was still stuck on the 'lost on the way home' part. She answered instinctively, "Yeah, she invited me. A while ago. It's me—"
"Mhm. What about Apollo, Alice?" Hermes quickly interrupted before she could continue. "Have you heard of the Apollo Familia?"
"Apollo?" Hermes' interruption threw her chaotic train of thought into even more disarray, but her memory retrieval was still clear.
"Apollo… I know him. Hestia mentioned him. He proposed to her, but he's a really nasty guy. Back in Heaven, he was like a preening peacock, but after coming to the mortal world, he got even worse."
"Went from a peacock to a common pheasant."
Alice murmured vacantly.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
20+ advanced chaps on my patreon.
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.