The next day.
As soon as dawn broke, Cain got out of bed.
Leaving Hestia, who was still lingering in bed, he went to the adjacent room and knocked twice.
Click!
A golden haired Renard stepped out.
"Good morning, Lord Cain."
"Good morning, Haruhime."
Cain nodded slightly and returned the greeting.
After Ishtar was sent back to the Heaven, Haruhime's Falna, like Aisha's and the others', was sealed.
However, unlike Aisha and the rest, Cain directly brought Haruhime back to the Hestia Familia.
Although Hestia had quite a few complaints about Cain bringing a Renard home, she still helped Haruhime unseal her Falna and allowed her to join the Familia.
Cain said, "How has your rest been? I've been busy these past few days. If there is anything you haven't adapted to yet, just tell me."
Haruhime replied, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Cain. Everything has gone smoothly since I arrived at the Hestia Familia. Lady Lili and Goddess Hestia have also been helping me."
"That's good."
Cain brought Haruhime to the front yard of the Familia residence and found Bell already standing there.
"Good morning, Mr. Cain!"
Compared to yesterday, Bell had already changed into adventurer equipment and looked much more energetic.
After returning Bell's greeting, Cain brought him along and left the Familia residence, heading south through Orario.
While walking, Haruhime and Bell seemed slightly awkward with each other. After a brief silence, they both turned to look at Cain.
Haruhime asked, "Lord Cain, where are we going today?"
Cain replied, "The Freya Familia."
The Freya Familia?
Haruhime froze in surprise.
However, before she could say anything, Bell beside her suddenly exclaimed.
"The Freya Familia? Could it be that Freya Familia that stands alongside the Loki Familia as one of the two greatest Familias?"
Cain said, "Yes. What about it?"
Bell quickly shook his head.
"It's nothing. I'm just surprised. I didn't expect Mr. Cain to have connections with the Freya Familia."
Bell was very familiar with the name Freya Familia.
During the time he spent searching for a Familia, he had heard the name of the Freya Familia almost every day.
However, Bell had a certain degree of self awareness. He knew he could not even join an ordinary Familia, so he had never dared to approach a powerful Familia like Freya Familia.
Bell asked, "Mr. Cain, the opportunity to grow stronger that you mentioned yesterday, does it refer to going to the Freya Familia?"
Cain nodded.
"The Freya Familia has a place called Folkvangr. It is very suitable for training a newcomer like you."
Folkvangr?
Standing beside them, Haruhime tried hard to recall.
She vaguely remembered the name. If she was not mistaken, it was the place where the Freya Familia conducted training.
Although calling it training might not be entirely accurate.
According to what Aisha had told her, it was closer to a battlefield of slaughter.
Starting every morning, members of the Freya Familia from Level 1 to Level 4 would gather in Folkvangr and fight each other until only one person remained standing.
In terms of training efficiency for adventurers, the effectiveness of Folkvangr was indeed top tier.
However, allowing Bell, a complete beginner who had only received his Falna yesterday, to participate...
"Hmm?"
Seeing Haruhime looking at him with a strange expression, Bell tilted his head in confusion.
"Miss Haruhime, what's wrong?"
Haruhime shook her head.
"It's nothing. I was just wondering whether you can persevere. That place is very dangerous."
"No problem! Mr. Cain already told me it would be dangerous! I will definitely work hard!"
Bell clenched his fists tightly, his expression filled with determination.
According to what Cain said, he had experienced eighty one trials before reaching his current level of strength.
If Bell wanted to become as strong as him, he had already prepared himself mentally. No matter how dangerous the situation became, he would endure it.
"We're here."
At that moment, Cain's voice interrupted their conversation.
After leading the two of them to the end of the South District street, a vast grassland appeared before their eyes.
"This is Folkvangr."
...
"Lady Freya, Cain has arrived."
Hedin entered Freya's room to report.
"Cain?"
Freya slowly opened her eyes.
Although the appearance was the same, the person currently sitting there was not the real Freya, but Helun who had activated her magic.
Of course, this was only temporary.
Under the effect of the magic, Freya, who was currently working at The Hostess of Fertility, would soon take control of the body.
"What does Cain want?"
"...He claims that he has already broken through to Level 3 and wants to come to Folkvangr to test the results."
"Oh?"
Freya showed a trace of surprise.
"Level 3?"
Hedin's expression was complicated.
"That is what he said. I do not think he would lie about something like this."
Freya fell silent.
If she remembered correctly, it had not even been a month since Cain broke through to Level 2.
Breaking through to Level 3 within such a short time was truly astonishing.
However...
"Send him away."
Freya issued the order calmly.
"He made me take the blame for the destruction of the Ishtar Familia. There is no need for us to accompany him in training anymore."
After two days of rumors spreading through Orario, most of the gods now believed that Freya was the one who sent Ishtar back to the heavens.
After all, it was the Freya Familia that launched the first attack, which weakened the combat power of the Ishtar Familia headquarters.
Under such circumstances, the most likely culprit would naturally be Freya, the one who ignited the conflict.
But as the person taking the blame, Freya knew very well who the real culprit was.
It was Cain.
Through Allen's investigation, she had already learned about Cain's movements on the day of the incident.
Unsurprisingly, the ones who sent Ishtar back to the heaven were Cain and Takemikazuchi.
Of course, even after discovering the truth, Freya chose not to expose it. Instead, she helped conceal it.
The reason was simple.
Not long ago, Cain had provided Ottar and the others with information about the remnants of the Dark Faction (Evilus).
Freya disliked owing favors.
Instead of letting Ottar and the others repay the favor little by little by acting as sparring partners, she preferred to settle the matter in a single action.
After ordering Hedin to drive him away, Freya prepared to withdraw her consciousness and continue enjoying life.
But at that moment, Hedin spoke again.
"Lady Freya, Cain just mentioned that regardless of the outcome, he hopes to meet you."
"Meet with me?"
Freya showed a thoughtful expression.
From Hedin's report, it was obvious that Cain was aware that shifting the blame might expose him.
Yet he still insisted on meeting her.
Did he believe he had something that could make her owe him another favor?
Thinking of this possibility, Freya became interested.
"Bring him in."
"Yes."
Hedin turned and left the room.
After a while, he returned with the three of them.
"Lady Freya, Cain has arrived."
"..."
"Lady Freya?"
Seeing that she did not respond for a long time, Hedin looked at her in confusion.
Freya: (O>O)
Hedin: "?"
What kind of expression is that?
Having followed Freya for so long, this was the first time he had seen her display such an insatiable look.
That burning gaze, filled with hunger and longing as if she wanted to devour someone whole, was chilling.
Following Freya's gaze, Hedin looked toward the person standing beside Cain.
Bell.
Bell: "..."
Too scary. This is terrifying.
Feeling Freya's burning stare and Hedin's sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through him, Bell trembled slightly and lowered his head.
But just then, Cain's voice rang out.
"Raise your head, Bell."
"Standing before you right now are the gods and adventurers at the pinnacle of Orario."
"Don't you want to become as strong as me?"
"If you lack even this much courage, then no matter how hard you try, you will never reach even one percent of my level."
"I... I understand!"
Bell gathered his courage and raised his head.
Although he was still afraid, he did not run away this time. Instead, he looked directly at Freya and Hedin.
Seeing this reaction, Hedin showed a trace of surprise, while Freya's gaze grew even more intense.
As the atmosphere in the room gradually became tense, Cain spoke again.
"Nice to meet you, Goddess Freya."
Cain stepped forward and stood between Freya and Bell, blocking her line of sight. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I am Cain, Captain of the Hestia Familia."
...
This guy is in the way.
Freya narrowed her eyes and slowly regained her composure.
"I have already heard your purpose from Hedin. You want to participate in the Folkvangr for training."
Cain replied calmly.
"More precisely, I want to use Folkvangr to test my strength. If it proves insufficient, I would also like to ask the First Class Adventurers of your Familia to assist in my training."
"No problem."
Even though Cain's words carried a trace of arrogance, Freya generously ignored it.
The previous order to drive him away had already been forgotten.
After agreeing to his request, her gaze once again moved past Cain toward Bell standing behind him.
Perhaps realizing that staring too directly would appear suspicious, she asked in a more subtle tone,
"Are the two people behind you your companions?"
"In a sense."
Cain gestured toward Haruhime.
"This is Haruhime, a newcomer who recently joined the Hestia Familia."
Then he paused deliberately before introducing Bell.
"As for this one, his name is Bell Cranel. He is a newcomer who joined the Soma Familia yesterday."
Freya repeated softly,
"He joined a Familia yesterday?"
Cain nodded.
"Yes. Although he has no combat experience, I believe Bell has great potential. I brought him here this time so he could observe Folkvangr."
"By the way, Goddess Freya. If I sweep through Folkvangr today, could I transfer my slot to Bell and allow him to train there instead?"
Hedin: "?"
Listen to what you are saying.
Hedin narrowed his eyes and was about to reject the request firmly.
"That will be fine."
Freya spoke first.
After agreeing to Cain's proposal, she turned toward the blonde elf beside her.
"Hedin, you will be responsible for Bell. Also prepare a private room where he can rest."
Hedin: "..."
This is bad.
Our goddess has clearly been enchanted by someone.
T/N- Bell is cooked.
...
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GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.