At the very top of Babel, moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the entire room in silver.
Freya stood before the window with a glass of red wine in her hand. The deep crimson liquid swayed gently inside the crystal glass, gleaming beneath the moonlight like blood.
She wore a long white dress, her silver-white hair cascading down to her waist. There was no expression on her beautiful, cold face, but something flickered within her eyes.
Not curiosity.
Not anticipation.
Scrutiny.
Behind her, Ottar, the strongest adventurer in Orario, knelt with his head lowered. His voice was deep and respectful.
"Goddess Freya, we've confirmed the Ishtar Familia's recent movements."
"Speak."
Freya's voice was soft, yet carried unquestionable authority.
Ottar remained silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts before continuing.
"The Ishtar Familia has been watching the Demeter Familia constantly, from morning until night without stopping. Their informants are stationed all around the Familia's home, monitoring everyone who enters or leaves."
"Ishtar appears determined to get Genichi. She wants to locate him and find an opportunity to make her move."
Freya slowly ran her fingers along the wineglass, her knuckles tightening slightly.
Her brows drew together.
Of course she knew what Ishtar was planning.
That woman never took an interest in any man unless he possessed something she wanted.
And Genichi had resurrection magic.
Ishtar wasn't targeting him because he was Genichi.
She was targeting him because he was the owner of resurrection magic, a useful tool she could exploit.
"That woman."
Freya's voice was quiet, carrying a trace of coldness.
"She still doesn't know when to stop."
Ottar kept his head lowered and said nothing.
He knew all too well about the hostility between Freya and Ishtar.
Two Goddesses of Beauty who could barely stand each other.
Freya rarely went out of her way to provoke Ishtar. She considered herself above competing with that woman.
Ishtar was different.
She was always looking for an opportunity.
Always probing.
Always testing Freya's limits.
Freya turned back toward the window and gazed out over the city beneath the moonlight.
Her eyes seemed to pass through the layers of buildings, through the streets and alleys, past brightly lit taverns and houses, until they settled on the Demeter Familia's home.
There, Genichi sat quietly in the living room with a cup of hot tea in his hand.
His expression was calm, but a hint of exhaustion hid deep within his eyes.
Freya could sense his soul.
That multicolored black.
That light shining from within filth.
That stubborn will struggling desperately to survive.
She wanted to keep watching him.
She wanted to see how much further he could change.
How much brighter he could shine.
His soul was the most complicated, contradictory, and fascinating one she had ever seen.
It wasn't pure white.
It wasn't a deep, uniform black.
It was a chaotic blend of countless shades and colors, constantly shifting and impossible to define.
Every transformation made that soul more dazzling.
Every struggle made its light burn brighter.
She didn't want to miss a single moment.
Not one change.
Not one flash of brilliance.
And yet Ishtar had dared to set her sights on Genichi.
That crossed Freya's line.
A fierce conflict unfolded within her.
Should she intervene?
Or should she stay out of it?
If she acted, eliminating Ishtar's threat would be easy.
She could use her power to protect Genichi.
She could suppress that woman with her Divine Authority.
But if she did, Genichi would lose an opportunity to grow.
He would lose the courage forged by facing danger.
He would lose the experience of solving his own problems.
Freya didn't want him to become a flower raised in a greenhouse.
She didn't want him relying on her strength.
She didn't want him to lose that stubborn determination to struggle forward on his own.
But if she didn't intervene, Genichi would have to face Ishtar's charm alone.
He could fail.
He could fall under Ishtar's control.
He could become that woman's servant.
And if that happened, Freya might lose the chance to observe him forever.
After a brief hesitation, Freya made her decision.
"I won't interfere."
Her voice was soft, but firm.
Ottar raised his head, surprise flashing through his eyes.
"Goddess Freya, are you certain? If Ishtar truly makes a move against Genichi, he won't be able to resist the authority of a Goddess of Beauty."
Freya shook her head.
"If he can't overcome even this, then he isn't worth this much of my attention."
"My soul does not need a lover to admire it."
"My gaze does not need a worthless man to carry it."
"He must cross this obstacle himself. Overcome it himself. Prove his own worth."
Ottar fell silent.
He understood what Freya meant.
She had never acknowledged anyone easily.
The fact that Genichi had managed to attract her attention at all was already extraordinarily rare.
If he wanted to remain within her sight, then he would have to continue showing enough strength and potential to deserve it.
"However..."
Freya's voice lowered, and coldness flickered in her eyes.
"That woman Ishtar could use a lesson."
The corners of her lips lifted faintly.
She wouldn't personally step in and solve Ishtar for Genichi.
But there was nothing stopping her from creating a few problems for Ishtar and preventing her from focusing entirely on him.
"Ottar."
Freya's voice was soft.
"Yes."
"Arrange something. Cause the Ishtar Familia some trouble. Nothing too serious."
Ottar nodded.
"Understood."
He rose and left the room.
The sound of his footsteps gradually faded down the corridor until they disappeared.
Silence returned.
Freya remained standing before the window, gazing out at the night.
Complicated emotions flickered within her eyes.
She didn't know why she wanted to help Genichi.
She didn't know why she wanted to buy him time.
She didn't know why she was willing to invest so much attention in him.
She simply felt that the boy was worth it.
Not because of his strength.
Not because of his potential.
Not because of his usefulness.
Because of his soul.
That multicolored black that fascinated her so deeply she couldn't look away.
"Genichi..."
She murmured the name softly, almost as though calling to someone far away.
"Don't disappoint me."
No one answered.
Moonlight spilled through the window, stretching her shadow far across the floor.
The corners of Freya's lips slowly rose into an expectant smile.
(End of Chapter)
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