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"What do you want?"
Apollo answered immediately.
"Everything in the Apollo Familia… and your return to the heavens."
That was Anos's demand.
He had no intention of tolerating a god like Apollo constantly eyeing him.
Better to send him back for good.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Freya's obsession? He could tolerate that, barely.
But Apollo?
Absolutely not.
"Hell yeah! I support this!"
One of the gods shouted, thrilled by the escalation.
"Hey handsome, why not join my familia instead? I can guarantee your safety."
A goddess covered her lips with a teasing smile, her gaze openly predatory.
"Apollo! If you back down now, I'll look down on you forever!"
"Yeah! Do it! Familia War!"
The message was clear.
Cause chaos.
Make it interesting.
That was all the gods cared about.
What they didn't know…
Was that Anos's goal to go beyond just sending Apollo away?
"Fine! No problem!"
After a brief moment of thought, Apollo agreed.
He threw his entire familia onto the table as if it were nothing, He didn't even consider the possibility of losing.
In his mind, defeat wasn't an option.
Over a hundred members.
Against a single Level 3.
If they couldn't win that, what was the point of having a familia at all?
What he didn't realize…
Was it that his familia wasn't as strong as he believed?
And his opponent was far stronger than he imagined.
"Apollo, get ready to crawl back to heaven!"
Hestia stood firmly at Anos's side.
No matter what he decided, she would support him.
"Oh? Or maybe I'll be the one taking your man."
Apollo ran his tongue across his lips, staring shamelessly.
Hestia almost lost control on the spot.
With both gods agreeing—
The Familia War was officially set.
The date…
One week later.
…
After the banquet ended, Anos was immediately surrounded by goddesses.
Many of them weren't the pure, untouchable types people imagined.
Some were more than willing to pursue fleeting pleasures with someone they liked.
And someone like Anos?
Perfect.
Looks. Presence. Talent.
And maybe… recruit him afterward.
But Anos had already anticipated this.
He pretended to leave—
Then slipped back into the hall.
"Hm?"
Someone was waiting.
A blonde girl.
"Ais?"
He was genuinely surprised.
Had she figured this out?
"Anos…"
Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of tension in her eyes.
She believed he could win.
But the conditions of the war…
Defense.
Alone.
It worried her.
Wouldn't attacking be better?
"You were waiting for me? How did you know I'd come back?"
Anos smiled.
He could tell she had been waiting But logically, she shouldn't have been able to predict this.
"I was thinking about what you said… about heroes."
"What are they, really?"
Her expression carried faint confusion.
"Then don't think about it for now."
Anos glanced at the moon above.
And briefly… toward someone watching from afar.
"…Okay."
Ais nodded.
She set the question aside.
For now.
She believed she would understand someday.
"Anos… do you need help?"
She asked again.
"Why do you think I chose defense?"
He countered.
With so few people, defending seemed like the worst choice.
"How come?"
"Because I'm lazy."
He answered seriously.
"…What?"
Ais blinked.
That was… not what she expected.
"If I defend, their win condition is defeating the leader."
"They have to come to me."
"I just wait."
Anos smiled.
In truth, he was also curious.
He wanted to test this world's magic system.
It was limited in how people normally accessed it But he had already analyzed and reconstructed its principles.
It wasn't perfect and slightly different from the original But it worked and he wanted to try combining it with the system from his previous world.
"I see…"
Ais nodded slowly.
It sounded convincing.
Somehow.
"You really don't need me?"
She asked one last time.
"Of course not."
Anos smiled.
He understood what she meant.
She was willing to temporarily join his familia.
Even bring others.
Fight.
Then leave afterward.
But that wouldn't work.
If they couldn't stay, there was no point.
And he didn't need help.
One person was enough.
…
Elsewhere.
Takemikazuchi Familia.
A girl in traditional attire sat quietly, lost in thought.
"Mikoto, what's on your mind?"
Takemikazuchi asked.
He had noticed her unusual behavior since returning from the banquet.
"…Lord Takemikazuchi."
She hesitated.
Anos Kanzaki.
That name…
It sounded like someone from her homeland.
Could it be?
Was there someone else like her in Orario?
The thought wouldn't leave her mind.
"Are you thinking of going to see him?"
Takemikazuchi asked knowingly.
"…Yes. I can't ignore it."
She nodded.
She felt compelled.
If they truly shared the same origin…
Then she wanted to help.
"Then go."
He agreed easily.
He was that kind of god.
If they were connected, helping was natural.
…And if she could recruit him?
Even better.
"I understand."
Mikoto made up her mind.
Tomorrow.
She would go.
If he truly was someone like her…
Then she would do what she could.
And maybe…
Just maybe…
Convince him to join them.
…
Back with Anos.
Before returning to the familia, he went to collect his earnings.
Even though Ais and Tiona had been out shopping, the rest of the Loki Familia had been working hard.
Which meant—
More profit.
Looking at the bag of over twenty million valis in his hand, Anos sighed.
"Still not enough."
Reputation took time.
Not every familia had the resources or insight of Loki Familia.
His goal wasn't just to pay off a few hundred million.
He wanted—
Billions.
"Tomorrow will be better."
His divine wine would hit the market.
And when it did—
Orario's economy would feel it.
"Hestia, this is what I made today."
Back in the living room, Anos placed the heavy bag in front of her.
Hestia stared.
Her eyes locked onto it.
"Anos… you said this is what you made today?"
She wiped the corner of her mouth.
Completely stunned.
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