At the top of Babel Tower, Freya stood before the window, fingers wrapped tightly around her wineglass. Her knuckles had gone white, and the deep-red wine inside the crystal glass sloshed violently, nearly spilling over the rim.
The elegance and composure she normally carried were gone. In their place was a suppressed fury that seemed ready to erupt at any moment.
Her teeth ground together, and flames of rage burned in her eyes as though she wanted to reduce the entire world to ash.
"Ishtar."
The name came through clenched teeth, filled with barely contained hatred.
"How dare she?"
That bitch Ishtar had used Charm across nearly all of Orario.
She had altered the memories of gods and adventurers alike, making them believe Genichi belonged to the Ishtar Familia, making them believe the boy had been hers from the very beginning, and making them believe every accomplishment he had achieved had been done under her banner.
It was underhanded, shameless, and utterly insane.
But Freya had to admit one thing.
It worked.
Those caught beneath Ishtar's influence would not doubt it.
They would not question it.
They would not stop to think.
They would simply accept the memories Ishtar had planted within them and regard them as truth, as though those events had always happened that way.
Freya drew in a deep breath and forced herself to suppress her anger.
Originally, she had only intended to teach Ishtar a lesson.
She wanted that woman to restrain herself and understand that Genichi was not someone she was allowed to touch.
She had never imagined that Ishtar would not only refuse to back down, but would instead escalate things to such an outrageous degree.
That bitch had truly gone mad.
Jealousy and ambition had completely consumed her reason. She no longer cared about anything else.
Still...
The corner of Freya's lips slowly curled upward into a faint smile.
What Ishtar had done this time might not necessarily be entirely bad.
It could serve as a test.
A test to see whether Genichi could overcome this trial.
Could he remain clear-headed under Ishtar's Charm?
Could he continue walking his own path even after the entire world had forgotten the truth about him?
If he succeeded, then his soul would surely undergo another transformation.
Some of that filth would be washed away.
Some of that darkness would fade.
And perhaps the brilliance buried beneath it would become even clearer.
When that happened, Freya would finally be able to see his soul more clearly.
She wanted to know what truly lay beneath that colorful madness and darkness.
And if he failed?
If he genuinely fell under Ishtar's control and became that bitch's puppet, then Freya would lose interest in him.
A soul that could not even overcome the Charm of a Goddess of Beauty was not worth wasting her time on.
Freya's fingers tapped gently against the windowsill, producing a steady rhythm.
Although she had already made her decision, the anger in her heart had not faded.
Ishtar had crossed a line.
Not because of Genichi alone.
It was because that bitch had dared to run wild on Freya's territory.
Orario was her hunting ground.
It was where she observed souls.
It was her sacred place for searching for brilliance.
For Ishtar to unleash Charm throughout the city and rewrite everyone's memories was the same as obscuring Freya's sight and slapping her across the face.
"Ishtar..."
Freya murmured the name, coldness entering her voice.
"You're still useful for now, so I won't touch you yet."
"But once Genichi's trial is over, I'll make sure you understand the meaning of regret."
She set down her wineglass and closed her eyes.
It was time to assume another identity.
Syr, an employee of the Hostess of Fertility.
That identity was Freya's window into Orario.
It allowed her to approach interesting souls.
It was the pair of eyes she kept hidden within the mortal world.
Light flashed.
Freya disappeared.
The top floor of Babel Tower became empty, leaving only the wineglass resting on the windowsill as proof that anyone had ever been there.
At the Hostess of Fertility, Syr stepped out through the back door wearing a simple waitress uniform, a gentle smile on her face.
She walked toward the counter, where Mia was wiping down glasses.
"Mia, I'd like to take some time off."
Mia looked up at Syr, surprise flashing through her eyes.
"Time off? Didn't you just start your shift?"
Syr smiled.
"I have something personal to take care of. I'll come back once I'm finished."
Mia nodded without asking any further questions.
Syr turned and left the tavern.
The streets of Orario were crowded with people.
Sunlight spilled across the stone-paved roads, making the stones polished smooth by countless years of footsteps gleam beneath the light.
Her first destination was the Demeter Familia.
The place was already nearly empty.
Only a handful of ordinary Familia members remained behind, cleaning the residence with confused and uneasy expressions.
They did not know what had happened.
They did not know where their goddess had gone.
All they knew was that members of the Ishtar Familia had come here, and afterward, everything had changed.
Syr did not enter.
She merely watched from a distance.
They were gone.
They had escaped long ago.
Next, she went to the Astraea Familia.
It was empty as well.
The revived members of the Familia were nowhere to be seen. Even Gojouno Kaguya and Alise were gone.
The entire residence stood deserted, with nothing but the sound of wind passing through the courtyard.
Syr stood before the entrance of the Astraea Familia, her expression gradually darkening.
She searched almost all of Orario.
From north to south.
From east to west.
She found no Genichi.
No Demeter.
No Astraea.
No Artemis.
No Hephaestus.
None of them were anywhere to be found.
They had all disappeared.
Syr murmured softly, unable to completely conceal the disappointment in her voice.
"They must have left Orario."
She raised her head and looked toward the distant sky.
The sunlight was brilliant, and there was not a cloud in sight.
Yet inside, her mood was anything but bright.
Genichi was gone.
Why had he left?
Was it simply to escape Ishtar's Charm?
Or was there another reason?
Would he return?
When would he return?
And if he never came back, where was she supposed to find that soul again?
Syr's fingers slowly tightened, her nails pressing into her palms.
She had spent too much time and effort on Genichi.
Watching him.
Observing him.
Waiting for his soul to transform.
She could not simply lose him like this.
She could not allow him to disappear from her sight.
She could not allow him to become nothing more than a passing memory.
"Genichi..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I have to find you."
Deep within the Great Tree Sea, Genichi stood in an open clearing with Demeter, Astraea, and Artemis behind him.
His gaze remained fixed on the ancient ruins in the distance as he considered what to do next.
He had no idea that Freya was searching for him.
He simply stood there beneath the open sky, waiting for Hestia to descend to the Lower World.
Waiting to obtain the Authority of the Sacred Flame.
Waiting for the moment when he could strike back.
"Genichi."
Demeter's voice came from behind him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Genichi shook his head.
"Nothing. I was just wondering when Hestia will finally descend."
Demeter walked to his side and gently took his hand.
"It'll be soon. Uranus gave you his word."
"He won't break it."
(End of Chapter)
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