"What are you all talking about? Let me join in too."
Freya walked gracefully over to the two goddesses. Although the ones she addressed were Loki and Astraea, her gaze kept drifting toward Elise.
"You're still the same as ever, you lovestruck idiot!"
Seeing the expression on the face of her friend and rival, how could Loki possibly fail to understand what she was thinking?
Obviously, Freya had taken a liking to someone else's child again.
And the target was undoubtedly Elise, standing beside Astraea.
Everyone present could tell that Freya coveted Elise. They simply chose not to say it aloud.
"Lovestruck idiot! Can't you show at least a little restraint? Every single time, I'm the one handling the aftermath for you. Can't you think about me for once?"
"And another thing! I could smell your scent from way across the room. At least deal with that already!"
Loki pinched her nose while waving her hand around dramatically, looking utterly disgusted.
If it had been any other god, Freya might have issued a slight warning to remind them that the strength of her Familia was not something anyone could casually provoke.
But Loki was different.
Freya knew Loki was merely complaining.
The two Familias had cooperated countless times before, and severing that relationship would be far too wasteful.
Besides...
Taking down the Loki Familia would be an enormous hassle, and Freya had no interest in dealing with that trouble for now.
"Loki, I've already been very restrained lately, you know?"
Freya lightly touched her cheek, looking almost like a lovestruck young maiden.
"Even the number of favors I've asked you to handle recently has decreased quite a bit, hasn't it?"
Within Orario, whenever Freya took a liking to a child, she would always find a way to pull them into her Familia. In that regard, she was rather similar to Apollo.
And because of her deep cooperation with Loki, Freya was even better than Apollo at cleaning up the aftermath. Practically no one could ever catch her by the tail.
But recently, Loki had noticed that this lovestruck goddess seemed different.
Normally, Freya would ask Loki for help every so often.
Yet now, a very long time had passed without any movement at all.
So that's why this lovestruck idiot has been acting like a completely different person lately. Turns out she's found an even better prey.
Loki felt she had already guessed most of the truth. Given Freya's personality, it was entirely possible.
Later, she would casually remind Astraea about it.
Do not misunderstand.
Loki was not helping Astraea because they were close.
Nor was it because she was some kind-hearted god.
The most important reason was simple:
Interesting.
Yes.
Interesting.
Although Loki currently acted like a clown, countless gods in Heaven feared her.
Because Loki...
Was an Evil God.
With nothing but her own power, she had once thrown all of Heaven into utter chaos. That was the true Ragnarok of Heaven.
Although Loki's strength among the gods was not especially outstanding, no one dared fight head-on against a genuine lunatic who feared nothing.
The reason she had started Ragnarok in the first place was most likely because she found it amusing.
Just imagining Freya, that lovestruck fool, enduring everything for so long solely for one person, only to ultimately fail because of some unexpected accident...
Loki could already feel herself wanting to burst into laughter.
If she could see the disappointed expression on Freya's face, it would absolutely be worth it.
As long as Loki learned about something, she would involve herself in it.
Just like Ragnarok, Loki never cared about the outcome.
She only cared about enjoying the process.
For now, she absolutely had to keep this hidden from Freya. Otherwise, she might miss seeing that wonderful expression later.
"If you can really keep this up forever, then my children and I will finally have some peace of mind."
"And Astraea, I've heard about what you've been doing lately too. You've apparently been spending a lot of time taking care of children over in Daedalus Street... The old you wasn't like this, was she?"
"It's simply become one of my interests, Loki..."
Just then, another commotion erupted near the entrance.
Loki helplessly covered her forehead.
"That idiot finally showed up, huh? How did she arrive even later than you, Freya?"
"Aren't you both goddesses of beauty? And you're really just going to let her act even more arrogant than you?"
Looking toward the dark-skinned goddess entering from outside, Loki immediately began stirring up trouble.
But Freya did not fall for it at all.
"Precisely because we are both goddesses of beauty, I should give Ishtar some room, shouldn't I?"
"Wow! That's completely the attitude of someone superior! If Ishtar heard you saying that, she'd absolutely explode from anger! Hahaha!"
Elise avoided interrupting conversations between gods whenever possible.
She merely looked silently toward Ishtar.
After waiting this long... you've finally arrived.
Enjoy this banquet while you still can, Ishtar.
This will be your final banquet in the mortal world...
Most people's attention was focused on the two goddesses of beauty, so almost no one noticed Elise's thoughts.
Only Freya, who had been secretly observing Elise the entire time...
And a certain male god in the distance who had only recently finished being "disciplined."
"Thank you all for coming! I offer my gratitude to everyone here! Asking who I am?"
"I am Ganesha!"
With the appearance of the two beauty goddesses, the atmosphere of the banquet instantly heated up.
The male gods all stared greedily at the bodies of the beauty goddesses, further deepening Elise's understanding of just how terrifying gods truly were.
Back then, merely the aftereffects of Freya's charm had almost made Elise lose herself.
If she had fully endured it head-on, then not only her body and mind, but likely even her soul would have become a puppet.
"What a shame..."
Elise gently touched her eye.
What she had originally believed to be charm was no longer something she intended to use lightly after learning the truth.
Devouring a soul...
And then installing a fake replacement afterward...
That was simply too cruel.
"Still... being able to charm others would be nice too..."
Elise only muttered softly to herself, with no intention of letting anyone notice.
Unfortunately, there was someone present who paid extremely close attention to her.
Freya looked at the exposed half of Elise's face and revealed a meaningful smile.
"Ottar, do you know tonight's plan?"
Although Ottar had remained silent the entire time, his massive physique was impossible to ignore.
"I do not know. Lady Freya only informed me that she would be going out with you tonight... Please take good care of Lady Freya."
"I see..."
The fewer people who knew about the plan, the better.
Since Ottar did not know anything, he could not lie.
Even if another god questioned him, they would gain no useful information.
As the banquet gradually approached its end, the gods continued chatting among themselves, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
Elise looked down at her palm.
A tiny black bead rested there, within it burning what appeared to be pitch-black flames.
"My apologies, Lady Goddess..."
Elise crushed the bead directly in her hand, reducing it to ash.
At the same time, she glanced toward the direction of the Pleasure Quarter once more.
The fire...
Had begun burning.