Gongs and drums echoed, and the sound of bells reverberated through the air.
"The War Game is over! The Little Rookie has claimed victory!!"
"Hestia Familia pulls off a stunning upset! Their love cannot be stopped!"
The commentator shouted with excitement, while the god Ganesha raised his fist in the fervent atmosphere.
"Ohhhh!!"
The city erupted in deafening cheers.
"Silly fox, he won."
Inside the brothel, Aisha turned around with a smile. Once again, she was certain that her bet had been the right one.
"Cranel-sama..."
Haruhime murmured softly, her emerald eyes brimming with tears. She stared blankly into the void, her divine mirror reflecting the entire battlefield. Yet the heroic figure of the youth lingered unforgettably in her mind.
...
"Did Bell Cranel win...?"
Dionysus muttered to himself, lost in thought. Behind him, Filvis felt the same. Beneath the elf maiden's fair complexion, a faint, almost imperceptible smile played across her lips.
Filvis didn't yearn for a reunion, nor did she seek repayment for the boy's life-saving favor. For her, merely keeping watch over him was enough.
Amidst the crowd's cheers, Dionysus glanced at his Familia member. The god furrowed his brow slightly, but soon his face shifted back to its usual smile.
...
"That boy is incredible! No wonder he caught Eina's eye!"
Guild clerk Misha joyfully hugged her friend.
"Bell..."
Amid the cheers, Eina shed her shyness, genuinely delighted for the young man. Seeing the new adventurer she had mentored now standing on his own made her feel both proud and excited.
...
"I feel like I've met someone truly extraordinary..."
Welf remarked with a smile.
"Did you get cold feet? Lili won't back down. Even if I can only help Bell-sama with the tiniest bit, I'll be satisfied."
As members of the Dungeon exploration team, both Lili and Welf were still level 1. For them, the battles Bell had experienced felt like a completely different world. But Lili wanted to repay the boy who had saved her.
Objectively, even though her intellect was limited and her level too low, Lili had a unique transformation magic. She was certain she could contribute her strength at a critical moment.
"We both need to work twice as hard!" Lili declared earnestly.
"You're absolutely right. We've known all along that Bell is formidable. How could we just give up like this?"
Welf's heart burned with fighting spirit.
...
Inside the casino, the god of gambling and high-stakes wagers cheered loudly, while those who had bet on Apollo Familia wailed in despair. Countless betting slips were torn to shreds and tossed into the air like fireworks.
"Thanks, nya."
Chloe wagged her tail, accepted a large sum of money, and returned to the tavern with a smile. The fervent atmosphere remained unchanged.
"I bet tens of thousands on Little Rookie! Bring the finest wine!"
"Damn it, I lost! I want wine too!"
Adventurers wore expressions as different as night and day, yet all unconsciously guzzled the fine wine.
"Chloe, where'd you go?!" Mia shouted.
"Sorry, just had a little business, nya~ Where'd everyone else go, nya?"
Chloe chuckled softly, pondering how to use this money to cause the boy some "trouble."
"That clumsy girl Ryuu. Ever since she came back, she keeps breaking plates. Just now, she was so engrossed in something she spilled all the wine we were preparing. I sent her off to reflect for a while."
Mia recalled the useless elf's appearance and sighed lightly.
"I see. That's why Lunoire looks so exhausted, nya..." Chloe looked at the human girl sympathetically.
"If you know, why aren't you helping me?! Seriously, why isn't Syr around during such a busy time?!" Lunoire picked up her tray and began complaining.
"Syr took leave. Probably for that boy."
Mia glanced toward the distance, saying no more.
...
Tower of Babel, 30th Floor.
Freya silently observed the bustling gods. Some offered blessings, others were curious about the boy's abilities and questioned relentlessly. Some goddesses inquired about matters of love, seemingly harboring thoughts about Bell Cranel.
Amidst the heated discussion, Apollo remained utterly silent. His face was deathly pale, utterly unable to accept the reality reflected in the divine mirror.
"Apollo, you should be prepared for this outcome, right?" Hestia spoke coldly.
"No... impossible! My love could lose to a mere mortal?!"
All that sorrow and love Apollo had gathered was utterly shattered by just five people.
"Hmph, that was merely your one-sided delusion. It wasn't love at all."
Hestia retorted.
"What do you know?! You're just a virgin goddess—what do you know of love?!"
Apollo clutched his head, his face contorted, the laurel wreath on his head falling to the ground.
"Exactly. You are a virgin goddess. One day, you too will tear apart that boy's harem..." Apollo uttered words like a curse.
As one of the three great virgin goddesses of the heavens, Hestia would surely betray that youth, denying him his path to a harem.
"Hmm..."
Hestia felt a pang of resentment. If those shameful, lewd acts became routine, could she truly guarantee she wouldn't utter any excessive words to the youth? Moreover, Hestia hadn't even faced her own feelings for him.
"So it is! I will wait until that day comes. Even if I leave the labyrinth city, I will await Bell's arrival!"
Apollo declared his resolve. This was his divine decree, and also his declaration of unwillingness to accept defeat. One day, the boy would be driven away by Hestia, left with nowhere to return. At that time, Apollo would have his chance.
As the two gods argued, Freya slightly furrowed her delicate brows and spoke coldly.
"That day will never come."
"Wh-what?!"
Faced with the Goddess of Beauty's sudden declaration, Apollo froze in shock.
Ignoring his astonishment, Freya continued, "Hestia, if the day ever comes when you tire of Bell Cranel, let him join my familia."
"Huh?!"
Apollo and numerous other gods cried out in astonishment.
The condition for joining Freya Familia was simple: an invitation from the goddess herself.
Yet most of them were individuals with tragic backgrounds. Driven by pity and regret, Freya refused to witness those with heroic potential from the Genkai meet their end. Thus, she intervened to aid them.
But for her to declare her interest in the youth before the assembled gods—this was unprecedented.
Apollo was rendered speechless. Faced with Freya's promise, the already fragile divine decree dissolved like a bubble.
"Apollo, just give up on that idea... or else you might get taken down by the King..."
"Even Freya has set her sights on that little rookie?!"
"That boy... does he have some kind of special advantage against goddesses and Elves?"
The gods plunged into heated debate once more. Most didn't consider romantic motives—after witnessing his previous battles, nearly every deity desired the youth as their own.
Apollo felt utterly defeated. Even if Hestia drove the boy away, Freya Familia—the city's strongest—would stand in his way. He collapsed to his knees, weeping bitterly.
Hestia gazed at the coldly beautiful goddess of beauty and offered her thanks.
"Freya, though I never wished for it nor believed this day would come, I still thank you."
Faced with this gratitude, Freya merely smiled faintly, offering no reply. She stared out the window, seemingly impatient, eager to depart sooner.