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Chapter 120: Thick-Skinned Hermes
"That adventurer over there has been quite famous for a while, they're really strong... The faction gathered in that corner has a terrible reputation, you need to be careful of them..." Strolling through the banquet hall, one could spot numerous famous adventurers everywhere.
There were beautiful Elves who looked as if they had been dragged there against their will, towering Dwarves squirming uncomfortably in their formal suits, fiercely handsome Beast Persons, and athletically toned Amazons.
Aside from the flawless deities, the hall was packed to the brim with smartly dressed demi-humans.
Knowing that Aiden wasn't very familiar with Orario's upper-crust circles, Naaza stayed close by his side, quietly introducing him to the prominent adventurers and Familia factions.
"You've arrived." A familiar voice called out from a relatively quiet corner.
They had run into God Takemikazuchi and Yamato Mikoto, who had been waiting for them. Without a doubt, Takemikazuchi was another ally Aiden had invited to bolster their ranks.
However, since his Familia was marginally wealthier than the Miach Familia, they hadn't needed the Focalors Familia to provide a carriage or clothing, allowing them to arrive a step earlier.
Today, Takemikazuchi was clad in a sharp, deep blue tailcoat.
Beside him, Yamato Mikoto looked distinctly flustered. She wore a sleeveless, lotus-root-purple gown. The dress borrowed elements from a traditional kimono's crossed collar, exposing her delicate collarbones and a small patch of smooth, white skin.
The long skirt featured a perfectly placed high slit. With every anxious shift of her weight, a flash of her calf, clad in a white stocking, peeked through.
For someone so accustomed to conservative, traditional garb, the glamorous and slightly revealing gown made her incredibly self-conscious. A faint blush refused to leave her cheeks.
"Hey, Take! Oh, even Miach is here. That's a rare sight." Just then, a red-haired goddess wearing an eye patch strolled over, a wine glass in hand. She greeted Takemikazuchi and Miach familiarly. It was the Goddess of the Forge, Hephaestus.
"Ah, Hephaestus. Why are you alone?" Takemikazuchi responded with a warm smile.
"That child of mine marches to the beat of her own drum. She abandoned me and went off to wander around the hall by herself." Hephaestus shook her head in fond exasperation.
Her gaze then shifted to Aiden and Focalors. "We meet again, kid. And this must be your patron deity, Focalors? Hello, I'm Hephaestus."
She nodded to Aiden before offering her hand to Focalors with open, unpretentious grace.
Focalors shook it elegantly, a flawless, socially poised smile gracing her lips. "Hello, Hephaestus. We never really crossed paths up in Heaven, but down here in the lower world, your reputation precedes you. You lead Orario's greatest forging Familia, after all."
"My, my, my! Look at all of you gathered here! Make some room, let me join the fun!" A loud, boisterous voice cut in without warning.
Aiden turned to see God Hermes strolling toward them, practically beaming. His eyes were crinkled into happy little crescents; he was clearly in an excellent mood.
"Ah. Hermes. Gods above." Seeing the approaching deity, Takemikazuchi immediately scowled, making no effort to hide his absolute disgust.
Following beside Hermes was the bespectacled, intellectual Captain of his Familia, Asfi.
To suit the banquet, she had shed her usual, mobility-focused adventuring gear for a custom-tailored, deep-sea-blue gown. The fabric was a dark, lustrous silk that rippled like starlight under the chandeliers.
The design didn't rely on cumbersome lace or bulky crinolines, instead utilizing clean, sharp lines to accentuate her lovely figure. The high collar made her look dignified and austere, while the intricate silver embroidery along the neckline and cuffs perfectly highlighted her aristocratic aura.
"Lord Hermes, please keep your voice down..." Asfi hurried to keep pace, her tone laced with helpless admonishment as she let out a customary sigh.
"Why are you even here? It's not like we've ever been on good terms," Takemikazuchi said, glaring at him with open disdain.
"Whoa now, Take! Didn't we unite as one to overcome those hurdles in the past? Don't go singling me out for exclusion!"
Delivering that bright, cheerful excuse, Hermes instantly slipped past Takemikazuchi and popped up right in front of Aiden, a disgustingly intimate smile plastered on his face.
"Hey there, little Aiden! That suit looks mighty fine on you! And this must be Focalors, correct? Ah, what a stunningly beautiful goddess! Failing to make your acquaintance in Heaven was undoubtedly my greatest loss."
He threw out a casual greeting to Aiden before turning his burning gaze onto Focalors, showering her with loud, exaggerated praise. Barely had the words left his mouth before he smoothly leaned down, reaching for Focalors' hand to plant a kiss on her knuckles.
"Mmm. And I believe that not knowing you was my greatest stroke of luck." Focalors smoothly took a half-step back, withdrawing her slender hand to perfectly dodge Hermes's grubby paw. At the same time, she expertly positioned Aiden as a physical shield between them.
"Ah! My heart breaks! How cruel!" Having failed his attempt to grope her, Hermes clutched his chest, putting on a show of agonizing heartbreak.
"Lord Hermes, stay away from my Goddess." Aiden extended his arm, physically blocking the god's path with a look of utter revulsion.
"Alright, alright." Hermes sighed, but immediately switched targets. His eyes landed on the beet-red Yamato Mikoto. "Oho? If it isn't little Mikoto! Are you nervous? Being so adorably cute, it'd be a real shame to waste it by being so tense all the time!"
"C-cute...?!"
Flustered by the sudden, point-blank compliment, Mikoto became completely unglued. Her cheeks turned so red they looked ready to drip blood.
Seizing the opportunity, the shameless Hermes leaned in, delicately picked up Mikoto's gloved hand, and planted a light kiss on her slender fingers.
Bang!
That kiss was the final straw. The already boiling Mikoto erupted like a volcano.
Smack! Thud! And she wasn't the only one. Takemikazuchi, practically vibrating with rage, brought a vicious fist crashing down on top of Hermes's head. Simultaneously, Asfi, who had been trailing behind him, deadpanned lifted her foot and drove her sharp heel directly into her own deity's shin with ruthless precision.
Caught in a flawless three-hit combo, Hermes let out a pathetic shriek and crumpled to the floor in agony.
Watching Hermes writhe around on the carpet, Aiden flashed a look of sheer schadenfreude. It was incredibly cathartic.
"The crowd is really swelling."
"Well, since the children are attending alongside the gods, it's bound to be livelier than a standard banquet."
Nearby, Miach and Hephaestus completely ignored the farce playing out on the floor, calmly sipping their wine and chatting.
Meanwhile, a steady stream of new guests continued to pour through the doors, and the ambient roar of conversation in the banquet hall swelled ever louder.
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