Suppressing the strongest Familia single-handedly!
The might of the "Berserker" shook all of Orario. Adventurers and Gods frantically searched for his whereabouts, only to find nothing.
This frenzy showed no signs of subsiding. Roy had fled to the dungeon, carrying that distinct sense of—I may be gone from the Labyrinth City, but the city is alive with tales of me.
---
Soon, someone came to their senses. Why did the "Berserker" fight with the Freya Familia in the first place?
Goddess Freya!
The Gods, bored out of their minds, pieced together the entire sequence of events. The "Berserker" had initially been searching for the "Hostess of Fertility" tavern on Daedalus Street, which suggested that the individual was mentally unstable.
But he claimed that Goddess Freya was working at that tavern. The matter fermented and grew increasingly serious.
This provoked the Freya Familia to move against the "Berserker," resulting in a crushing defeat with dozens of high-level adventurers dead.
Under normal circumstances, the entertainment-obsessed Gods would never observe with such meticulous detail. But this matter concerned their beloved Goddess Freya...
Their lower heads controlling their upper heads, numerous suitors wished to examine every detail with a magnifying glass.
Thus, the Gods arrived at a relatively reasonable deduction: the "Berserker" was suspected to be infatuated with Goddess Freya, hence his mental instability as a high-level adventurer.
And then things became interesting.
The Gods' breathing grew ragged, their eyes gleaming with excitement. The "Berserker" possessed the special skill "Crimson Eyes," capable of seeing through all magic in the world!
This skill had penetrated the concealed magic of Allen and Hedin from the Freya Familia—highly reliable.
Therefore, the "Berserker's" claim that Goddess Freya worked at the "Hostess of Fertility" was most likely true as well!
This was the influence of power.
Possessing the strength of a peak Level 7, an adventurer of this caliber would hardly joke with them.
It was common knowledge that children of the lower world conducted themselves with seriousness and rigor—unlike these Gods who sought amusement.
Roy had transformed into the "Berserker" with two objectives: to deliver a resounding slap to the Freya Familia, and to elevate his own credibility to expose Freya!
Both goals were achieved with resounding success.
The effects were readily apparent. The number of citizens, adventurers, and Gods appearing at the entrance of the "Hostess of Fertility" tavern multiplied at a visible rate.
Everyone craned their necks to peek inside the tavern, hoping to identify Freya's true form.
But the miracle of "Goddess Metamorphosis," even the Gods could not penetrate. Only the Three Virgin Goddesses might possibly see through Freya's disguise.
The gray-haired girl stood at the door, smiling bitterly: "My Lords, Lady Freya truly does not work here. Please do not be deceived by rumors."
"Little sister Syr, I believe you are Lady Freya in disguise," a male God said with a lecherous grin.
Many male Gods swept their wicked gazes across the gray-haired girl, inducing a chill of disgust.
Though the "Berserker" had not named names, the information he exposed was substantial.
For instance, Freya had utilized a certain Familia member to employ a disguise magic that even Gods could not penetrate...
Honestly, many Gods had already determined in their hearts that Syr Flova was Freya.
The reason was simple: the Falna—Divine Blessing!
A God could not bestow a blessing upon themselves.
Most within the "Hostess of Fertility" tavern were former adventurers possessing Falna. Those without blessings were few and far between, making them immediate targets.
And Syr Flova was one such individual.
The gray-haired girl was exhausted from being tormented by these Gods.
Ordinary adventurers would at most glance over. Only these idle Gods wished to come observe her for twenty-four hours a day.
Yet she could not request leave.
The Gods had already grown suspicious. Taking leave at this juncture would be no different from covering one's ears while stealing a bell. Who had Freya disguised herself as? Truly difficult to guess!
"All of you, get lost! Don't interfere with our business!" Mama Mia, the diminutive giantess, roared like a lion.
Deafening, causing ear-splitting pain.
Adventurers and Gods fled in terror, though they continued to hide at street corners observing.
Finally, Freya faced her ultimate challenge. The tall, red-haired Goddess—Loki.
Loki swaggered inside and sat down, her perpetually narrowed eyes opening to regard the gray-haired girl with keen interest.
The gray-haired girl smiled bitterly in her heart.
Loki was among the most troublesome Gods she recognized, comparable to the Three Virgin Goddesses.
Setting aside appearance and divine presence, no matter how skillfully Hörn imitated her, Loki's extraordinarily sharp observational skills would immediately see through it. Thus, the Gods' Banquet and the Denatus were always attended by Freya personally.
Freya had disguised her two identities exceptionally well.
Her true self: noble, elegant, lustful, and wanton. The gray-haired girl: sunny, cheerful, lively, and generous.
Loki frequently visited this tavern with her Familia members. Originally, she harbored no suspicion toward the gray-haired girl.
But once certain matters were connected, various doubts seemed to leap forth automatically.
The longer she stared at the gray-haired girl, the broader Loki's smile grew. Finally, she could endure no longer and burst into uproarious laughter, "Hahahahahaha—"
Loki collapsed onto the table, already laughing hysterically.
Not merely from seeing through Freya's true identity, but from witnessing Freya exposed by another. Seeing the other party suffer filled her with excellent cheer.
The gray-haired girl's complexion turned extremely ugly.
These past few days had been utterly terrible!
Familia members crushed by the "Berserker," herself harassed by adventurers and Gods, and now her identity seen through by Loki.
All of it caused by that "Berserker!"
Mama Mia's face showed helplessness as she shut the tavern door. At this point, there was no other choice.
The adventurers and Gods waiting outside wore excited expressions. In truth, when the Freya Familia moved against the "Berserker," it was equivalent to a tacit confession.
Syr Flova was Freya!
Inside the tavern.
The gray-haired girl did not revert to Freya's form, but the aura emanating from her entire being was already indistinguishable from Freya's. Her crystalline index finger twirled the hair beneath her earlobe, playing with it.
"Goddess Metamorphosis" only allowed her to exchange appearances with Hörn—it was not something that could transform into anything desired.
The moment she was exposed, the game was over!
Seeing that the gray-haired girl did not even bother to act anymore, Loki wore a sour expression. She had failed to notice before, which meant she too had been fooled by Freya.
But considering that Freya was the party suffering the greatest loss in this incident, Loki's mood was like drinking cool, refreshing wine on a scorching summer day—utterly comfortable.
Freya's mood was the complete opposite. She wished to drag out that "Berserker" and tear him to pieces!
Had they not been in the tavern, Freya would already be cursing violently, so furious her vision darkened.
The sharp perception of a God also made her sense something amiss. Throughout thousands of years, Level 7 adventurers were exceedingly rare. Suddenly appearing was a peak Level 7 suppressing all others, and he was her crazed fan?
Who could believe such a matter?
Someone was scheming against her!
Loki also noticed this, asking with a smile: "Who have you been causing trouble with recently?"
Loki was exceedingly curious—who could make the arrogant Freya suffer.
Freya lowered her head in thought. After a long while: "Too many, somewhat difficult to count."
"You're quite the slut yourself, staring at other people's children all day!" Loki snapped. She thought of a certain idiom—too numerous to be recorded!
Freya's amorousness—in essence, her promiscuity—was well-known fact among all Gods.
Once discovering a lower world child to her liking, she would immediately launch her offensive. With her unparalleled "Beauty," she would claim them, and countless had become her captives.
"But the major recent movement should be that child's trial," Freya murmured, recounting her scheme against the Astraea Familia.
"You actually set your sights on 'Ryuu' as well? The Astraea Familia has so few children remaining, and you could still bear to strike? Serves you right for being exposed!" Loki unleashed a barrage of verbal attacks upon Freya.
"This isn't something I can control," Freya said like a willful, spoiled little girl.
Desire and possessiveness accompanied the emergence of the "Authority of Beauty," equivalent to a symbiotic relationship.
Freya's beautiful eyes gazed seriously at the red-haired Goddess. "Loki, I have a request for you."
Loki wore a disgusted expression. "Say it first—don't bring me trouble!"
Freya said: "Go test the sprout of justice of the Astraea Familia!"
"?"
Loki furrowed her brows. "You believe the one scheming against you is a child of the Astraea Familia?"
Freya shook her head. "No, I will investigate one by one. Only Astraea is somewhat troublesome."
"So you're pushing the trouble onto me?"
"I trust you. Your observational skills surpass all Gods—even I cannot avoid them."
The two Goddesses conversed within the tavern.
"Fine, I will go to Astraea's side to inquire, but not for you." Loki finally agreed, rushing out with great excitement.
"You little brat, I've finally caught you!"
Loki emitted an excited voice. Her Ais had suffered at Roy's hands, hiding at home in dejection for several days. Riveria's condition these past few days had also seemed strange, her mind wandering while attending to matters.
Everything had occurred after becoming involved with Roy. Having finally caught Roy once, Loki would strip him bare down to his undergarments!
A strange glint flashed through Freya's beautiful eyes. She could see the color of lower world children's souls.
Roy's soul color... how to describe it.
Murky, dark, brutal, cunning, sly, and flickering with bloodlust filled with killing intent—as if the aggregation of all sins in the mortal world.
Not a trace of the clarity and purity of lower world children could be seen. This was her primary reason for harboring malice toward Roy. That youth was utterly unworthy to stand beside that fairy maiden with such resplendent soul light.
From Roy's soul color, it could also be seen that the party possessed an extremely strong vengeful spirit!
Thus she could not help but suspect him.
But he should not know of her scheme. No, how could that be called a "scheme"? She was clearly helping "Ryuu" restore her beliefs and ideals of justice.
____________________
If you think this story is fun and interesting and you want to read the next chapter earlier than the daily release, you can visit: patreon.com/dzeref887