Some time later.
The banquet resumed after that short interruption.
Bell sat at a table with Goddess Astraea seated beside him, while Goddess Hestia and Artemis sat opposite them.
Many adventurers and gods sent discreet glances toward their table, but he ignored them. Instead, he focused on the wide variety of food spread before him.
He had taken tiny portions of every dish so that he could taste everything without bursting his stomach.
Bell was engrossed in the food when Goddess Loki and Ais walked up to their table. Goddess Loki's voice was filled with chaotic glee as she wrapped an arm around Bell's shoulders.
"Kid... You really have balls of steel to say that to the King's face. You didn't know, but you just made my day... Hahahaha." Goddess Loki laughed, slapping his back mischievously.
"Hey! Loki, hands off my Bell!" Goddess Hestia exclaimed with outrage.
"Since when was Bell yours, Hestia? I heard he's a member of Astraea's Familia." Goddess Loki said, continuing to slap his back.
Goddess Hestia had no comeback to that; she could only fume silently while looking at Bell with a wronged expression.
Before he could speak, Goddess Astraea beat him to it.
"Loki." One word, and Loki stopped abruptly, pulling her hand back.
"Tch. You're still a killjoy, Astraea. I'm not going to steal your child with a few extra touches." Loki grumbled while sitting on a nearby chair.
Ais walked over to stand behind her.
"Speaking of stealing... Hey, Kid! What's up with you and my Ais-tan? Are you trying to steal her from me?" Goddess Loki asked after a moment, reminded of earlier when Ais had rushed over to hold him back.
Four gazes snapped toward Ais simultaneously.
Ais's expression remained unchanged, though inwardly... she was likely dying of embarrassment.
"Stealing from you, Goddess Loki? Who would dare? If I tried, wouldn't you bring your whole Familia to give me a piece of your mind?" Bell spoke without flinching. His words were those of a terrified person, yet his expression did not even twitch.
"I like your style, kid! Either you're scared shitless and acting composed, or you really don't give a single damn." she said, intrigued.
"Want to find out?" Bell looked straight into Goddess Loki's eyes, a teasing curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Damn! You really don't fuck around, kid. You remind me of that old geezer Zeus, always ready to throw down at the drop of a hat." Goddess Loki found him more and more pleasing to the eye.
"I was just joking, Goddess Loki. I'm a civilized person; why would I throw hands without a reason?" Bell spoke honestly. He had been joking earlier—or was he?
"Sure, sure. Tell that to the King, with whom you were about to brawl right here not long ago." Goddess Loki replied with palpable sarcasm.
"That... That was personal." His eyes frosted over at the reminder.
"What happened?" she asked, curious for the inside scoop.
"Let's just say... he hurt someone close to me... and I don't take kindly to that." He spoke without emotion.
"Even if he is the King?" Her voice was filled with barely contained euphoria.
"Even if he is the King." His voice did not waver.
"Kid, you have to come to our Twilight Manor someday. It'll be fun to see how you mesh with my children—except Ais-tan, of course... she's mine." Goddess Loki cackled.
.
Just a short while ago, I was stopped at the gates of Twilight Manor, and now... I'm being invited inside. How the times change.
A weakling can become strong with time.
A beggar can become rich overnight.
A big shot can become impoverished abruptly.
The world is in constant flux.
The ones above right now can fall below.
The ones below right now can climb up.
So... why do I care for these things, if... they are merely temporary?
.
Nothing fundamentally changed within Bell after reaching this conclusion.
Yet... he felt more whole than ever.
Even if he were swallowed by hell itself, he would keep walking forward.
Because...
Effort was infinitely more important than winning or losing.
A small smile emerged on his face as he rose from his seat, approaching Goddess Astraea.
He asked, offering his hand to her,
"Shall we dance?"
Goddess Astraea rose from her chair and took his offered hand, her voice brimming with delight.
"We shall."
He led her to the dance floor. His arm wrapped around her waist, his other hand intertwined with hers, and her free hand came to rest on his shoulder.
Bell was a novice at waltz.
Yet...
[Instinct] awoke with a start. Golden strings enveloped the dance floor.
He began to move with her in perfect rhythm. With every movement, golden strings swirled around them within his vision.
Bell's smile grew. His eyes locked with her indigo orbs, his movements intensifying.
Golden strings revolved within his ruby pupils.
What Goddess Astraea saw in his eyes... took her breath away.
Countless brilliant strings surrounded them as they danced, each string a different version of the future.
In one... she stepped right.
In another... she stepped left.
In one... they waltzed slowly.
In another... they waltzed at a fast pace.
In one... she was twirled by Bell.
In another... she twirled Bell.
Countless versions of them materialized across the dance floor in her gaze, each performing a different waltz.
They were not the only ones dancing.
Their future versions were dancing too.
Together.
...
..
.
Offstage.
"Astraea... always gets first dibs on everything. I want to dance with Bell too." Goddess Hestia spoke while looking at Bell and Astraea enjoying themselves with envy. Her teeth sank into a handkerchief she had grabbed from nearby.
"Hey shorty! That's mine, don't leave too many bite marks on it." Goddess Loki spoke up a moment later.
Hmm... It's yours? I'll chew it into shreds then... hmph.
Goddess Hestia bit even harder into the cloth.
Meanwhile...
Goddess Artemis stared at the stage, her knuckles white from clutching her dress too hard.
Orion... You better choose me next... or else, I'll show you why I'm called the Goddess of Hunt.
Simultaneously...
Ais Wallenstein looked toward Bell and Goddess Astraea, her expression as blank as ever, if one ignored the slight furrow of her brows.
Bell... Idiot.
...
Bell danced without a care in the world, enjoying himself to the fullest...
Unaware of the danger awaiting him off the dance floor.
...
..
.
***
[300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[8 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]
...
[Author's Thoughts]
Bell is going to have so many headaches in the future. Having a real harem is not so easy after all.
If he didn't proceed carefully, who knows if the women would tear him to pieces, taking a piece each with them.
Only Ais-tan is the best!!!