After hearing Horn's plea, Freya fell silent, as if sinking into thought.
Inside her own mind, facing Freya directly, Horn's heart pounded with nervous dread. She didn't know whether her near-mad wish would be granted.
In the end, Freya agreed but she set conditions.
"When your lie is exposed, you will concede."
"And from that moment on, you are not allowed to make a move on that child."
"From then onward, you are never to appear before that child again."
Freya's face carried full divine authority as she delivered three rules in an absolute tone.
To Horn, those conditions weren't punishment.
They were joy.
From the start, Horn had no real power to choose. So no matter what Freya demanded, Horn still felt like she'd won.
Seeing the relief on Horn's face, Freya only smiled faintly.
She didn't believe her "stand-in" could ever compare to her.
Giving Horn one chance was simply a way to make her face reality.
Freya narrowed her beautiful eyes like she was teasing her.
"Good luck."
"I'll enjoy this banquet in my own way."
In her consciousness form, Horn bowed deeply.
When her awareness returned to her body, a flicker of killing intent flashed through her eyes.
Because Horn had hidden her true goal.
Yes—she had fallen for Takumi. Completely.
But her loyalty to her goddess was absolute too.
And as Horn recognized her own heart twisting under the weight of love, she made a decision that was both devotion and madness.
She would wager her life on an assassination plan against Takumi.
…
"Hm?"
Far away in his villa, Takumi suddenly lifted his head, as if he'd sensed something from Horn's direction.
Because of [Love Curse (Red)], his perception of every romantic target was absurdly sharp. Even though Horn had only just formed the thought, Takumi caught a thread of malice.
The weird part was that malice was tangled inside dense, overflowing love.
"Tch… wants to kill me, but also loves me."
"That's why I hate yanderes."
He rubbed his head and sighed, not taking it seriously.
Honestly, with Horn's strength, even if Freya herself tried to assassinate him, it wouldn't threaten his life. Horn's little scheme meant nothing in terms of actual danger.
And once Takumi's brain started turning, the rest came together quickly.
Based on what he knew of Horn's personality, he could basically guess her reasoning.
Her faith in her goddess was colliding with her love for him.
"She's probably thinking of assassinating me, then killing herself."
"That way she atones to Freya, atones to me, and dies together with me."
"Three birds with one arrow… what an insane yandere girl."
Takumi almost couldn't believe he'd deduced something that absurd but it fit too cleanly.
If he kept going, he could probably even predict when she'd strike.
But that kind of near-precognition felt boring.
Life needed a little uncertainty. Otherwise, where was the fun?
…
Takumi didn't hide tomorrow's plan from Hestia and the others.
When he said he was going on a date with Syr, Hestia slammed the table and shot up.
"Another festival?! No way—you should be going with me!"
Smack!
Takumi slapped her, sending ripples through the air, and grumbled, "Haven't you gone with me enough already?"
Hestia's cheeks were flushed bright red, but she still pouted.
"However much it is… it still doesn't feel like enough."
"Nonsense. Who was the one saying it was too much before?"
"..."
One sentence killed Hestia's fire on the spot.
Still, she lifted her chin stubbornly like she was prepared to accompany him to the end of time.
Nearby, Haruhime's tail swished as she and Lili looked over Syr's letter again.
"Mmm… it's Syr from the Hostess of Fertility." Haruhime's eyes turned watery as she murmured it. "She confessed so boldly… I'm jealous."
Takumi just rolled his eyes.
Girl, you've already gone all the way—why are you still romanticizing confession letters?
"If you want, Haruhime, Lili, Hestia… then later, whenever there's a festival or holiday, I can take you on dates too."
"Orario probably has tons of events like that."
Takumi said it plainly while eating dinner.
The three of them immediately started daydreaming—especially Hestia, who nodded so hard she looked ready to sprain her neck.
"Hehe… festivals and holidays are pretty frequent…"
"If we could go out every time… hehehe~"
She was practically drooling already.
After dinner, Takumi stood up—fully intending to make sure Hestia drooled as much as she wanted, and that Haruhime and Lili didn't get spared either.
If he didn't wear them out tonight, they'd absolutely interfere tomorrow.
Pulling the bowstring to its limit without snapping it was a challenge…
But with his ridiculous control, Takumi achieved it perfectly.
…
The next day, with no one able to serve him, Takumi washed up himself and put on a pure white suit—similar to what he'd worn for the banquet.
As he left for the festival, Hestia—legs trembling—still forced herself upright.
"AAAH!! This is a goddess's pride and glory!!!"
"…"
Lili and Haruhime barely opened their eyes, then closed them again.
They were completely out of fuel.
If Hestia wanted to pride and glory her way through the day, that was her problem.
Takumi stepped out onto the street.
The sky was a bright, clear blue, and a fresh breeze passed through.
"The gods really know how to pick a day. This is perfect festival weather."
Across Orario, goddesses used magic-stone devices to broadcast gentle voices to every corner.
[As you can see, the weather is calm and beautiful today—perhaps even the capricious Sky God is in a good mood.]
[Though the Goddess Festival is still some time away, this year has brought us so much fear… and sorrow.]
[To the gods, a year passes in the blink of an eye… yet what happened within that brief time—I will never forget.]
On the towering dais stood Astraea, Artemis, Freya, and Demeter.
Among them, Demeter—speaking with a clear, resonant voice—lowered her gaze.
That flawless face turned faintly lonely, as if remembering those who had died.
The entire city fell into silence.
Then the goddess lifted her head again, her expression brightening into warmth.
She looked over the people below, smiling.
[But sorrow of the past is ultimately replaced by the hope of today!]
[A new hero has been born upon this earth, and Orario will welcome a better tomorrow!]
[So let us seize this day and celebrate—on behalf of those children who have already departed as well, let us give thanks for the blessings of the world!]
[I hereby declare: the Hope Festival will be merged with the Goddess Festival. Starting today, the celebration officially begins!]
"WOOOOOO!!!"
The moment Demeter finished, Orario erupted.
Thunderous applause, cheering—and fireworks launched by the city's organizations lit up the sky.