"So, Ottar... you lost, didn't you?"
The Goddess of Beauty gently swirled the red wine in her glass, an unreadable smile playing on her lips.
"..."
The burly boaz clenched his fists tightly. But after a few seconds, he slowly loosened them.
"Yes, I lost..."
"She clearly held back. Otherwise, I might have lost an arm."
Since the defeat had already happened, there was nothing more for Ottar to say. Admitting it was enough.
After this... he would likely spend a long time immersing himself in hunting monsters.
"Do you have nothing else to say, Ottar?"
"For example... when you fought her, did you feel anything unusual?"
Freya turned to look at him seriously. Her expression was unusually solemn. After speaking, she said nothing more, clearly waiting for his answer.
"Yes."
Ottar had clearly sensed it as well and began recalling the details of the battle.
"Although she was powerful—powerful enough to defeat me—for some reason... she didn't feel as strong as I imagined..."
"During the fight, the power she used... seemed to come mostly from that sword."
In most situations, her Prana had not displayed overwhelming destructive force. It felt more like support. Elise had mostly used it to enhance effects, conceal herself, and the like.
In comparison, Est's elemental abilities were far more eye-catching. They would generally be considered true power—though in reality, they were.
"The sword?"
Freya thought carefully. Among the children of the Astraea Familia, aside from Elise, there did seem to be a white-haired child...
Which meant...
It wasn't only the obvious Elise. There was another hidden child?
"I see... Astraea, I've learned something quite extraordinary."
She had originally thought that having one child like that in Astraea's Familia was already astonishing. Who would have imagined there was someone even more formidable?
Mortals could not lie to gods. What Ottar said must be the truth.
But there was also a problem.
If the matter itself was false, yet Ottar believed it to be true, then a god could not see through it to uncover the real truth.
Freya believed she had already grasped the essence of the matter.
But what was the truth?
Who knew?
"Lady Freya, there is a god outside requesting an audience."
At that moment, a guard's voice came from beyond the door, causing Freya to pause. At a time like this?
"Who is it?"
"It is the goddess Astraea."
"Astraea?"
She had actually come knocking herself?
That piqued Freya's interest. Astraea had surely come because of Elise—but what was her ultimate goal?
"I suppose we must meet."
With that, Freya set down her wine glass and rose from her chair, a trace of gravity in her steps as she walked toward the door.
She needed to make some preparations.
...
Time returned to the moment after Elise's battle with Ottar ended.
Elise withdrew the Sacred Demon Sword from Ottar's arm. She had still been wary of a follow-up attack.
But Ottar seemed completely immersed in his own world, staring blankly at his wound. No matter how she called to him, he did not respond.
For some reason, his natural regeneration had also slowed. Blood flowed down the gash in his arm. If it wasn't treated in time, it might leave severe aftereffects.
In the end, Elise had shown mercy with that strike.
If she had truly applied force, she could have taken one of Ottar's arms. But what would the consequences be?
A newly registered adventurer—Elise—already possessing overwhelming strength, defeating the Fierce Warrior Ottar and severing his arm!
Such news would undoubtedly spread across the entire world of Orario. Elise would draw the attention of the entire world!
Whether good or bad...
The good didn't matter. But if she were targeted by organizations like the Evilus remnants, her leveling time would be drastically extended...
Although Elise was not short on time, this world still had the threat of the Black Dragon!
If things dragged on endlessly, what would happen when the Black Dragon emerged?
So the matter of defeating Ottar absolutely could not spread!
Otherwise, her quiet growth period would be gone... I was planning to step into the spotlight only after my Level was a bit higher...
"Sigh..."
Looking at Ottar in his dazed state, Elise let out a breath. Though he had been somewhat mad earlier, seeing him like this—like he had lost his soul—was rather pitiful.
The blow to his spirit from that battle was likely greater than the physical damage.
For now, she should treat him. Otherwise, he might lose too much blood and faint.
Strega Ability: Purification!
Holy Attribute: Healing!
Warm light appeared around Elise and the Sacred Demon Sword, shining upon Ottar's wound.
Under the illumination of that holy radiance, Ottar's regenerative ability seemed to awaken once more. The wound gradually began to close.
What is this?
Originally, Ottar's eyes had been dull and lifeless. But within the warmth of Elise's holy light, his awareness slowly returned.
"You...?"
"Don't speak yet! You exhausted too much strength in that battle. You need proper rest."
Before Ottar could finish, Elise interrupted him.
"I'm sorry..."
Looking at Elise using her power to heal him, Ottar fell silent for a moment before finally making his decision.
A Level 6 Fierce Warrior apologizing to a Level 1 who did not even have a title.
Crack crack crack—
This expression is amazing!
For an instant, delight flickered across Elise's face before vanishing just as quickly.
"Eh~"
Hearing Ottar's apology, Elise appeared unexpectedly cheerful, as if the previous battle had never happened.
"You're actually a decent person, aren't you?"
Ottar himself was indeed decent—as long as it did not involve Freya.
"You are strong. I am not your match..."
"When I return, I will inform Lady Freya and the others—"
Before he could finish, Elise cut him off again.
"Wait, Ottar!"
Her expression turned serious.
"Could you keep this matter confidential for now?"
Elise needed to discuss with Astraea. The impact of her defeating Ottar was simply too great!
"Very well. I can refrain from telling others. But Lady Freya must know of this."
"That's fine. We'll talk about it then!"
That very day, Elise hurried back to the Familia's residence and explained everything to her patron goddess, Astraea.
And so, Astraea personally went out to meet Freya in a private discussion.
And a negotiation.