Seeing Horn standing there, Takumi's head practically sprouted three question marks.
"Horn? Rare sight. When I went to Freya Familia before, I didn't see you anywhere."
"Y-you know me…"
The moment Takumi said her name, Horn's expression finally cracked—just a trace of warmth and allure slipping through the ice.
She was one of the very few in Freya Familia, besides Alfia, allowed to stand close to Freya herself. But Horn wasn't a combat member, and she rarely showed her face in public.
Up to now, she and Takumi hadn't really interacted.
The only "connection" was Horn's contract with Freya—through it, she'd witnessed Takumi's brilliance, tasted the overwhelming love burning in Freya's heart.
And somewhere deep in her subconscious, she'd fallen for him too.
She just refused to acknowledge it.
Now, all Takumi did was say her name—and she was already close to losing control.
Takumi answered her doubt with a mild, easy smile.
"In you, I see Syr's shadow… but is it really strange that I know you, Miss Horn? You're part of Freya Familia—someone like you is hard to miss."
Hearing the first half of that, Horn nearly shattered on the spot.
But she forced it down, lowering her head so her eyes—already misting over—wouldn't meet his.
She drew her left eye shut, voice barely above a whisper.
"If that Lady hadn't met you… and I had met you instead… that would've been better."
For the first time, Horn—who'd devoted herself completely to Freya—let herself want something selfish.
But once the words left her mouth, she snapped back into her cold mask.
She looked up again, face composed, and produced an envelope.
"Please accept this."
"A letter?"
"It's from a certain Lady. Read it carefully."
That was all she said.
Then Horn turned on her heel and strode away, long sleeves swaying—her back trembling like she was terrified she'd lose control and throw herself into Takumi's arms.
Takumi watched her go for a long moment, seeing the 99 above her head, before finally looking down at the envelope.
"An alternative kind of tsundere… pretending to be cold."
He chuckled softly.
"Honestly? It makes her even cuter."
He'd love to see what kind of struggle Horn showed when she was beside Freya.
But first—the letter.
Even through the paper, he could smell a faint fragrance.
The envelope wasn't expensive. The wax seal had no faction emblem.
It looked like the kind of cute, delicate stationery a girl would use.
"A love letter. This is definitely a love letter."
"And getting a love letter from someone else… that's actually a first."
Unlike his earlier wariness toward Freya, Takumi's mindset was far more relaxed now.
At this point, Freya couldn't imprison him even if she wanted to.
And if she really decided to go crazy later…
Worst case, he'd tame her on the spot.
Just like Hestia: if she got jealous, he'd make her drink more milk.
Drink enough, and eventually she'd stop being jealous and start being addicted to milk instead.
With that thought, Takumi broke the seal and opened the letter.
It was written neatly in the common tongue:
To Mr. Takumi:
Tomorrow's Hope Festival—please go on a date with me. I want you to be alone with me.
—Syr
"Festival…"
Takumi muttered, remembering what day it was.
They'd defeated Evilus again and foiled the remnants' plot. The gods had declared it the "Day of Light," and they'd decided tomorrow would be a celebration.
Honestly, the gods were ridiculously idle.
They threw festivals and banquets for every little thing—eat, drink, and party like it was their job.
He criticized them for exactly half a second before guilty self-awareness kicked in.
Because… his own life was kind of the same.
If he wasn't throwing a party, he was on the way to one.
"Whatever. I'm a god now—if I'm not eating and partying, what, am I supposed to go to work?"
He shook that thought off and focused again.
Syr wanted a date.
He had no intention of refusing.
But scheduling would be a problem—on a festival day like this, the number of appointments he needed to juggle probably wouldn't be just one.
"I'll let Hestia and the others recover at home for now… and tonight I'll have to put in extra effort."
Decision made, Takumi was about to fold the letter—when a wave of warm fragrance drifted over him.
He looked up.
Meteria.
Full-figured, mature, and radiating that soft, grown-woman warmth—she walked into view.
The moment their eyes met, her cool, elegant face curved into a teasing smile.
Compared to before, when she still carried a hint of shyness, Meteria now moved with effortless, mature confidence.
"Takumin—Hephaestus told me to come get you… what are you reading?"
But the second she leaned in and peeked, that "mature" aura shattered instantly.
Her curious, nosy little head tilt made her look more like a teenage girl again.
"This is… a love letter?!"
Meteria squealed.
She didn't get jealous—she wrapped Takumi up in a warm, indulgent hug instead, pressing him into her chest.
"My Takumin is getting love letters now, huh… she's the waitress from the Hostess of Fertility."
Having visited that pub a few times, Meteria recognized Syr right away.
She pinched Takumi's cheeks, eyes bright with curiosity.
"Takumin, how do you even know her?"
"Strictly speaking… I've barely met her."
Takumi scratched his cheek, unable to explain.
Because the real answer was: she's Freya, and she's been watching me.
How was he supposed to say that?
Meteria, of course, had her own interpretation.
She hugged him tighter, pushing him deeper into her cleavage like she was hiding him there.
"Mmm… my Takumin really is loved by everyone~"
"But being this popular is such a pain… too many people want to steal you."
Then, very casually, she dropped another bomb.
"Even my sister… she's been thinking about asking you out alone too."
"Ah?"
Takumi's scalp went tight.
Meteria blinked innocently, then leaned close to his ear, voice turning into a whisper.
"Because of my skill… what I felt before? My sister felt it too."
"...What?!"
Takumi's brain went cold.
"So that's why Alfia's been… pushing me lately…"
Meteria smiled sweetly, completely unashamed.
"She's just shy. If you're a little more forward, she won't refuse."
She sounded like she was encouraging him—cheering him on.
Takumi didn't know what to do with that.
And as if reading his panic, Meteria giggled.
"I just don't want you to get stolen by too many people. My sister won't say it out loud, so I'm worried she'll end up waiting too long."
"Ahem—okay, stop. I'm going to Hephaestus."
Takumi coughed, decisively cutting the conversation off before it veered into territory that would absolutely not be safe for public consumption.
Besides—he still had to deal with Freya.
Adding Alfia on top of that?
He was running out of clones.
...
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