The Assembly of the Gods was a gathering held every few months in Orario.
Gods gathered, chatted about their recent "harvest," and showed off their children's growth.
In other words: idle gods getting together to gossip.
Because of that, it was also used to settle disputes.
Such as… War Games.
"You're calmer than I expected," Hephaestus said.
"Huh? Why would I be nervous?"
"You're saying that, but you used to wail whenever you ran short on money."
"Eh? Was I that bad?"
"Ten times worse than I'm saying."
On Babel Tower's thirtieth-floor hall, Hephaestus and Hestia stood in a corner, talking.
"So what's the situation? How did this suddenly turn into a conflict with Soma?" Hephaestus asked.
"It's not really a conflict," Hestia scratched her cheek. "I just can't stand Soma's attitude toward his children. Lin Dong said he had a way to deal with it, so…"
"So you supported it."
"Mhm."
"That's reckless even for you."
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow.
She'd heard about Soma's apathy and Soma Familia's oppressive internal structure.
But no matter what, it was Soma Familia's internal business. Outsiders had no right to interfere.
Starting a War Game simply because you "can't stand it" and someone says they "have a way"… was the height of divine caprice.
"Hey—Hephaestus! Shorty!" A new voice rang out. "There you two are. I've been looking forever!"
Hestia turned sharply.
"Ugh. The annoying one is here."
Loki approached, dressed unusually well today—a proper suit, red hair tied back, faint perfume on her skin.
She was clearly dressed for a party.
As Loki drew near, Hestia's hostility became visible.
"Loki! What are you doing here?!"
"I was going to mock someone for attending in casual rags," Loki said, eyes flicking over Hestia, "but looks like I underestimated you."
Loki leaned in and touched the blue dress.
"Even the fabric is sky-silkworm thread. That stuff's pricey. Where'd a shorty like you get the money?"
"None of your business!"
"Alright, alright." Loki grinned. "Then I'll ask something else."
"You know what a War Game is, right?"
"Of course."
"Then why accept a War Game with Soma Familia?" Loki asked, baffled. "You can't possibly win."
Soma Familia was an old-established Familia with two Level 2s and many Level 1s—numbers and experience.
Hestia Familia had been founded less than a month ago and could be counted on one hand.
The gap was absurd. Loki couldn't understand why Hestia would agree.
"You aren't secretly suffering down here and trying to find an excuse to go back to Heaven and keep being a shut-in, are you?"
"How could you say that?!" Hestia snorted. "I accepted because I have absolute confidence we'll win!"
"Win? Seriously?"
"Of course!"
"How many members do you have?"
"One."
"Level 3?"
"No. Lin Dong is Level 1."
"..."
Then what are you 'confident' about?!
Loki's eye twitched. She truly couldn't read Hestia anymore.
Hestia looked weak beyond belief—yet carried a bizarre, unshakable certainty.
"Soma's here!"
"Ohhh! Finally! I was getting sleepy!"
"Soma, over here!"
The hall erupted.
Hestia and the others stopped talking and looked toward the entrance.
A man in loose robes entered amid the cheering.
His long hair had gone untrimmed and covered his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but the gods' noise swallowed his words.
"Everyone," a silver-haired goddess said softly from the round table. "Quiet down."
It was like someone pressed a mute button.
The hall fell silent in an instant.
"Oh? Freya, you're here too," Loki said, grabbing a seat.
She had been hunting Hestia the moment she arrived and hadn't noticed Freya.
After greeting her, Loki looked toward Soma, who still stood blankly.
"Hey! Why are you standing there? Get over here. Meeting time!"
"...Hello," Soma said quietly, walking to the table.
"Alright!" Loki pulled out a small hammer and tapped the table, gathering attention.
"Everyone's here. I'll act as host."
"First, confirm both sides' intentions."
"Soma, Hestia—are you both certain you want a War Game?"
"I have a question."
"Confirmed!"
Two voices answered one after the other.
Loki paused, eyebrows lifting toward Soma.
"What's your question?"
"Why a War Game?" Soma asked calmly, looking at Hestia. "I didn't initiate it. Your child did."
Hestia pulled out a prepared crystal sphere.
A projection of Zanis appeared in midair, waving his arms and shouting:
"Bring your goddess and start a War Game!"
The gods weren't idiots. They could tell the clip was taken out of context.
But gods loved entertainment.
So none of them pointed it out.
"Soma," Loki said, "anything to say?"
"That was Zanis acting on his own," Soma replied flatly. "It has nothing to do with me."
Soma might be hands-off, but he was still a god.
When Zanis asked him to attend this meeting, Soma already sensed something was wrong.
Now he was sure Zanis had been caught.
But… Zanis being caught had nothing to do with Soma.
Soma only wanted to brew wine in peace. War Games were an annoyance.
"Well, well. Unexpected complication," Loki said, glancing at Hestia. "Hestia, Soma doesn't want to participate anymore. Thoughts?"
A War Game was a Familia war.
It required both the captain's agreement and the deity's consent.
But just as Zanis didn't want his collusion with Evilus exposed, Soma had his own fatal weakness.
"I can make Soma Wine taste better," Hestia said, revealing her second card.
It was like Soma woke from a long sleep.
His presence shifted instantly.
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"If I'm lying," Hestia said, "then after the War Game ends, I will accept any punishment."
"I understand," Soma said, turning to Loki. "I agree to the War Game."
"Both sides confirmed!" Loki struck the table with the hammer.
"Next: decide the War Game format!"
"Soma, Hestia—you two are the principals. You may decide the format yourselves."
"Draw lots," Soma said.
He didn't know what Hestia's true confidence was, but she was clearly prepared.
In this situation, he would not accept any proposal led by her.
A random draw was fair.
"Draw lots," Hestia agreed.
The gods quickly prepared a box filled with slips of paper and placed it on the table.
"Alright! The lot box is ready!" Loki rubbed her hands.
"As host, I'll—"
"Loki," Freya cut in softly, "let me draw."
"Oh? Sure. You draw." Loki pushed the box over, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Under countless gazes, the silver-haired goddess reached in, selected a slip, and unfolded it.
Capture the Flag
....
My Patreon : patreon/RuneA
If you want to read the novel in advance, you can subscribe for early access. I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in
I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length. If you're following a particular series, please wait your turn a little
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it