Chapter 217

Chapter 219: Mad? Come at me then!?(Please Subscribe!)

“It seems we’ve reached a conclusion, Ishtar~ I win.”

Within the top room of the tower shrouded in darkness, Loki’s narrowed divine eyes opened slightly as she declared her victory.

Tch! That useless FuliNi!

She was supposedly the “strongest” Familial Group under my command, yet she lost to a Level 4 kid…

Izay, the Level 5 top-tier Adventurer, felt her pride deeply wounded while sharing the room with Loki.

How could a Level 5 possibly lose to a Level 4?!

Yet such an improbable event happened right before her eyes!

Seeing Loki’s kid comfortingly consoling the fox-eared girl, making her smile again, Izay felt herself about to explode with anger!

If it weren’t for not wanting to give Loki a laugh, she’d probably be throwing a tantrum by now.

Seeing Izay’s infuriated expression, Loki found it rather amusing.

This is what you call… impotent rage~

Who was it that was so boastful in front of me just moments ago? Can’t crack a smile now, can you?

“How come you’re silent now, Ishtar? Did your mindset break? Or are you planning to back out of our bet?”

In the pitch-black room seemingly occupied only by the two goddesses, Loki tossed the sheepskin scroll with the guild seal in her hand, looking teasingly at Ishtar.

“—!”

Shaking with rage, losing her usual composure, anyone could tell the Goddess of Beauty was on the brink of going berserk.

Through gritted teeth, Ishtar responded: “I know!! I won’t back out—!”

The next moment, the pipe in her hands snapped into two.

“—Then good, I’ll inform the guild. Tonight’s incident was a misunderstanding; please have that girl withdraw from the group later.”

Loki calmly stated her demands, speaking as if it were a trivial matter like eating or drinking.

Taking several deep breaths, likely adjusting her emotions over the loss of her “ace” Familial Group member.

After a long pause, Ishtar finally replied.

“Better do it immediately!”

Better a short pain than a prolonged one, having made up her mind, Ishtar turned towards the door, clearly heading downstairs to the Sky Garden.

“Alright!”

Loki acknowledged, but didn’t leave immediately.

Only after Ishtar had completely exited the room did she put away her sly smile and looked around.

“Asifi dear, you’re still here, right?” Loki lowered her voice, sounding somewhat embarrassed.

She had been chatting with Ishtar all along, forgetting about the guard who came with her.

Even though this person helped her deal with some unknown follower of Ishtar while climbing the stairs, she felt somewhat indebted.

However, the princess responsible for guarding didn’t seem to care about this point, responding instantly when Loki’s soft voice fell silent.

The diligent princess had been there all along, just unseen.

Upon receiving the response, Loki’s face regained its smile, teasing a couple of times to the air before leaving the room slower than Ishtar.

Similar to the situation with Izay, Loki’s side also progressed smoothly.

As a dangerous figure in the heavenly realm, known infamously as the “Trickster Goddess,” her “communication” with Ishtar was extremely simple.

Plus, there was the support from the guild which could be used as a threatening card, forcing Ishtar to comply even if unwilling.

But perhaps as a final act of defiance.

Ishtar proposed a “bet” to Loki.

A simple form of gambling based on the situation of the battlefield below.

If Loki’s child could break through and defeat them despite Ishtar’s Familial Group’s interference, Ishtar would willingly let go of the person.

But if they couldn’t, then Loki must retreat, and Ishtar wouldn’t hold tonight’s losses against her, treating the whole thing as if it never happened.

Both scenarios, regardless of win or loss, seemed disadvantageous to Ishtar, but this was already the best outcome.

Because the guild explicitly prohibited deities from harming their own Familial Groups, violators would surely be severely punished.

Meaning that in the case where this matter reaches the guild, Ishtar naturally held a disadvantaged position and couldn’t expect more.

If she wanted to continue existing in Orario, she couldn’t change this disadvantage.

Loki retreating peacefully was already the best result.

But things don’t always go as planned for the gods.

Her Familial Group lost.

Faced with a Level 4 kid from Loki’s side, her entire Familial Group was defeated, almost wiped out.

Naturally, the bet was lost.

Ishtar had to transfer Haruhi to Loki and suppress the events of tonight independently.

Finally, the guild… would probably slap her with a “failed harm” label and issue a minor warning.

After all, (the former) victim Haruhi was unharmed, and although Ishtar’s Familial Group lost all combat ability, their connections and resources remained intact, still reigning as the gray-market overlords of Orario.

No incident, no offense.

The pigs at the guild were most adept at handling matters like these.

…

The two goddesses descended the stairs, bumping into Izay who had just finished the battle, along with Haruhi he brought along.

Around them lay unconscious battle prostitutes.

“Yo~ Izay, great job!”

Approaching her child, Loki openly gave a thumbs-up without any reservations.

Instantly, the suppressed violent emotions of Ishtar resurfaced, her beautiful face turning pale, blood pressure rising.

“Ishtar…my lady…”

Murmuring softly, the fox-eared girl still harbored instinctual fear towards this goddess, shrinking her small body behind Izay.

“Loki, Ishtar deity.”

Izay lacked such emotions, calmly greeting the two goddesses.

Even though he basically offended her tonight, he wasn’t intimidated at all.

We have backing, how’s that?

There stands Loki, what can she do to me?

Mad? Come at me then!?

Unaware of Izay’s thoughts, Ishtar was currently ignoring him. Who wants to look at a kid causing trouble?

Ishtar didn’t want to unnecessarily add to her irritation.

She directed her gaze towards Haruhi, her expression unreadable.

“…Haruhi, you’re no longer my Familial Group member. This charmless goddess is your new deity. Follow me, we’re preparing the conversion ceremony.”

“!? ”

An instant of immense disbelief filled her heart, especially hearing Ishtar personally say she was willing to set her free. The shock was unimaginable for the young girl.

Even as Ishtar went off to find a room to prepare the conversion ceremony, she hadn’t fully recovered, her little mouth agape in a cute manner.

Such a situation made both Izay and Loki exchange amused glances, subsequently leading the still dazed girl into the temple with Ishtar to conclude the night perfectly.

Chapter 220: Conflicting Testimonies? What Went Wrong!? (Please Subscribe!)

Only Ishtar, Loki, and Haruhi entered the inner chamber.

It was a sealed room on the fortieth floor of the Main Goddess’s Brothel. Yize waited outside the door for the results.

Inside the room, despite being illuminated by magic stones, it was still dim. This room had no windows, the door tightly shut, ensuring no confidential information leaked.

The three prepared to execute the ritual.

Seated on a chair, Haruhi partially removed her crimson maple kimono, revealing the back marked with “Ability Values.” Then Ishtar pricked her finger with a needle, dropping divine blood onto the seal formed by “Sacred Texts.”

Following this, her finger traced specific motions on Haruhi’s back, instantly emitting a faint glow across the entire seal. Subsequently, the original “Ability Values” began flickering.

At this moment, Loki immediately took over, dropping her divine blood onto Haruhi’s back.

From the point where the blood landed, large ripples spread out. Rows of divine texts gradually changed color and shape, ultimately forming a jester pattern.

Below the pattern were symbols representing the main deity’s name “Loki” and the true name of the contract recipient Haruhi, leaving a mark as testimony.

“Conversion.”

A ritual where one exits their previous Familial Group and transfers to another faction, re-establishing the covenant.

If the previous main deity refuses outright, this ritual cannot be completed.

Even if someone improperly acquires the blood of that deity, without the deity’s personal presence, it’s impossible to erase the traces of divine blessings.

Unless drastic measures send the deity back to the heavens, which would naturally cause another incident.

And now, with the “Loki Familia” imprint placed, it signified the fox-eared girl, Sanjo Haruhi, officially becoming a member of Loki’s Familial Group.

“Loki Goddess… does this humble woman truly have the qualification to become your Familial Group member? I am merely a prostitute…”

Though restricted by Ishtar, Haruhi wasn’t entirely cut off from the outside world. She was well aware of the reputation of the largest faction in Orario – the “Loki Familia.”

Even though the matter had already become a fait accompli, the young girl still lacked confidence, or perhaps was uneasy.

“No worries! Haruhi is a cute beauty, that alone is enough, and your magic, super strong! Ais and the others might get excited upon seeing it? Who wouldn’t want to experience the feeling of leveling up beforehand?”

“And furthermore… apart from learning some wonderful knowledge, haven’t you only interacted with Yize? You haven’t had intimate contact with other males, right?”

On the contrary, Loki appeared utterly unconcerned.

Considering the three factors mentioned earlier, she couldn’t find any reason not to accept Haruhi.

“Treasure Hammer” —— a magic (witchcraft) that allows temporary “level enhancement,” isn’t it powerful?

Feeling that giving it to Fen and the others might allow them to spar with that mighty warrior.

This is practically strategic-level magic!

Moreover, Haruhi hasn’t leveled up yet, her abilities haven’t been adequately trained under Ishtar’s ivory-tower-like protection.

Once she levels up, maybe she could develop more skills? Or even provide the effect of “Treasure Hammer” to multiple targets simultaneously?

By then, Loki could stand atop the gods of Orario and proclaim: “I, Loki, am absolutely invincible!”

Perhaps imagining that scene, Loki couldn’t help but rub her hands together and chuckle.

“Yes…yes…” Hearing the words of her current main deity, Haruhi suddenly blushed, covering her face with her tender hands, softly uttering: “This humble woman… has already become Master Yize’s person…”

“—!?”

Suddenly, Loki stopped laughing, question marks appearing above her head.

What nonsense? Could you possibly mean that literally? How did she not know about this?!

Clearly! Loki remembered Yize telling her that Haruhi could only be considered a novice with rich theoretical knowledge, she should still be quite “pure”!

Did Yize deceive her?!

No no, children cannot lie in front of deities, she hadn’t detected any deception in Yize’s words back then.

So… the problem lies with this little lass?

What exactly happened? Their testimonies don’t match!

Looks like she needs to ask Yize later…

Making the decision in her mind, Loki maintained a calm exterior while dealing with the little fox girl, her thoughts already wandering, getting gossipy.

Beside them, Ishtar exchanged her smoking pipe, skillfully puffing on the tobacco, silently tidying up her things, preparing to leave the room.

…

During the conversion ceremony, outside the room, the luxurious corridor of the high tower continued.

The nighttime corridor was somewhat darker.

Under the illumination of the magic stone lamps, something massive approached, its shadow swaying under the light.

“Hahaha…hahaha…”

Like the prelude to a frog’s attack, the creature croaked.

“Persistent, aren’t you?”

Noticing the sound, Yize raised an eyebrow.

You’ve been thrown down the stairs, yet you’ve climbed back up?

Good grief, not even manga protagonists are this stubborn.

This sound could only belong to the toad he struck down earlier using magic.

“Panacea, huh? Tsk… this is why fighting adventurers… especially high-level ones… is such a hassle.”

Yize was certain that the enhanced “Starfall” he unleashed earlier, combining two magical charges, nearly consumed one-fifth of his mana, surely leaving the toad heavily injured!

Even if the damage wasn’t fully realized, she shouldn’t have been able to move within a short time.

Let alone falling from the fortieth floor.

The only explanation was that the toad used high-grade Panacea, and in considerable quantities!

Only thus could she recover so quickly.

After all, battling high-level adventurers is also a competition of consumables.

Sometimes, when adventurers face equally matched opponents, it’s hard to decide the winner through raw strength alone, leading to a contest of endurance.

Yes, precisely referring to spiritual medicines and similar consumables.

Whoever carries more medicine has a greater chance of winning. It’s that simple.

High-level adventurers’ high income ensures they have ample reserves of high-grade spiritual medicines! Injuries heal quickly with a dose of medicine.

“Die, brat!! This time! I’m definitely going to kill you—!”

With the approaching sound, the enormous silhouette rapidly closed in, its shadow even covering Yize’s figure.

“Roarrrrrr!”

“Clang—”

The thunderous clash of iron weapons erupted, sparks flying from the collision.

“Earth of the Heart” activated!

The abruptly heightened strength attribute allowed Yize to withstand the attack from below without being at a disadvantage.