"It would appear you owe a certain bastard an apology; for once he wasn't actually up to no good from what we've just heard." That monotone voice drawled out to cut through the silence born from the shocking story they had just been told by Alexis. Recounting her own experiences.
One goddess was unwilling to admit that as she snorted loudly with her arms crossed under her honestly stupidly sized chest. "No reason why he couldn't be doing bad stuff along with Vi!"
The bartender merely let out a long sigh while massaging her forehead - clearly unwilling to even begin talking about the bias of that pint sized horror. If anyone could easily change her mind… She wouldn't be remembered bitterly as a tyrant that was what reality needed even if nobody particularly wanted her.
I, of course, also agreed with the pointlessness of arguing with the all powerful goddess who could probably nuke this planet with a sneeze. Instead I turned towards the (surprisingly) less stubborn obstacle in the form of Alexis. First time I have likely ever said anything like that.
"So before you passed out she talked about the infinite and the god-hunters?" Deciding to cut straight to the point while also turning towards the goddess who was making strange faces to the bartender who looked at her like one would when looking at an idiot. "Could you also… Un-erase my men?"
She just let out a little "ah" as if remembering they had even done that in the first place; clapping her hands together as my veteran soldiers kind of just "poofed" back.
Each of them stumbling with heavy breaths.
Alexis did tilt her head at the sight (having no clue what happened prior to her waking up on the floor) but that didn't stop her from snorting at me. "I just repeated what I remember happening. Hard to pick up everything when I'm having the bloody life choked out of me by a fucking monster of a woman!"
As should have been expected, my sister being as polite as always, she was not very receptive to me trying to get as much out of her brief encounter as I possibly could.
"But how would she know you had any connection to the god hunters; she should not have known I joined them or that you were related to me. At least not under normal circumstances but…" It was at that point where the true god finally stopped trying to pick a fight with the owner of the club they were in.
At some point appearing on a stool behind Alexis where she'd stand atop it which allowed her to abruptly grasp the girl's shoulders. That made the girl jump much to my own amusement. "Ara~ ara~ seems like you are really putting that cute little noggin' of yours to work my previous and oh so fragile tutee!"
Could have done without the constant degrading remarks, however.
"There is one instance when she would have certainly put her all into researching about you and that is if she was hunting after the same thing. Why should she do all the work when she can just steal someone else's place when they are just before the finish line~?" She said with a teasing smirk.
Ignoring how smug she was acting; it was impossible for me to say that she didn't have a pretty damn good point there. I don't know nearly enough about this supposed enemy. All I knew was that they took my eye and strangely appeared to lurk just out of sight from then on.
As if a hunting dog lurking till their target let their guard down and thinking of her like that began to make things slowly click into place.
Choosing to not pay attention to my sadistic teacher I found myself beginning to pace around the room with a hand cradling my chin. "I've been looking at this as if it is all just one thing happening after another with no rhyme or reason but now it's beginning to add up. All along it's been about the treasure that those two lovers have hidden away somewhere."
There was a confused "eh" by Alexis however I already anticipated she wouldn't have read any of the reports I had been sending out to my immediate family. Hell she likely didn't read the ones any of our family had sent her. I know for a fucking fact she hadn't sent any of her own out.
That was her cross to bear when mama got to her.
"If you wanted to escape from an overbearing family where would be the first place you'd want to go as a rich little princess with only money and strength to your name." Immediately pointing at Alexis who confusedly pointed towards herself. Tilting her head as she gave it some thought.
Seemingly not realising the reason why I asked as she answered pretty quickly. "I dunno but probably the furthest country that I could, so I guess an airport?"
"Ah but if there were no airports you'd only be able to go… By sea. So if you, as someone who wanted what that princess had, wanted to cut that princess off you'd go to the biggest port there is. What a shame that a certain goddess was far too trigger happy and blew up that idea." Side eyeing the nameless god.
One who has the audacity to just giggle as if she'd heard the funniest joke there is.
"It's true I was in the wrong place at the wrong time - adding to the confusion - but from her perspective it would have been suspicious. So it only makes sense to leave a tail on them. Imagine the shock when they end up going to the god-hunters then leave to protect the very same princess?" Shaking my head.
My luck really was shit.
To not only land between a dick measuring contest between those two but even to then get slugged by one for "looking" like someone else. Only to then get dragged in further. "Obviously she thought I had a job so looked into people related to me then tried to kidnap them to get her prize with ease!"
My announcement was met with a flurry of claps from a far too energetic goddess who seemed to be over the moon with my deduction. Even going as far as to wipe some fake tears from her eyes. Though she didn't even take the time to use her water-kinesis to actually have water flow from her eyes.
Guess that was too much effort despite how effortless she made it appear when she was kicking my ass with a few currents of water.
"Makes a lot of sense to me which means we'll need to face that mean demon some time in the near future so you two will need more training~!" Her happy exclamation caused me to shiver while Alexis looked at me strangely. Clearly not understanding the sadism of this shortie.
Looking at my sister suddenly gave me a genius idea that I quickly lept on; that may or may not have involved throwing her under the proverbial bus but that would officially make it not my problem. Quickly making my thoughts known to those present. "Alexis hasn't even learned your footwork yet!"
"Ara~ that isn't too bad considering all she needs to do is spread her legs and take it~!" Proudly saying that with her arms crossed and nose pointed to the sky.
At least until a familiar blue-haired bartender slapped her across the back of her head causing her to fall off the stool and collapse onto the floor below. Clicking her own tongue as she looked down on the goddess with contempt. "Don't say such things in such a fashion."
"What; to better block things it's best to have a wider stance!" Pouting as she rubbed the back of her head like a child who had been one sided-ly wronged.
All the while the veins on Alexis' forehead gradually grew more pronounced.
"What can a stupid bimbo loli teach me about anything!" Only made sense that she would erupt at some point, however I could only let out a long sigh while massaging my temples, even if the true god seemed far more amused. "I think I like this one~."
Her smile sent a shiver up my spine as she looked at Alexis with "kindness" that felt more like a predator sizing up how many bites it would take to get to the marrow of their next meal.
Surprisingly it was actually the owner of the club who spoke up in the goddess' defense; returning back to leaning her elbows against the counter as she sucked on a hard candy. "Unlike you, who got knocked on your ass almost immediately, that brat is one of the few who can stand toe to toe with the demon. At the very least she should be able to teach you to last at least one round with her… In terms of skill I guess."
No amount of training could overcome a vast chasm of skill unless you were some kind of genius monster whose mind worked faster than their body.
Who could stand up to a dragon with the body of a mortal?
Alexis growled at the comment but she wasn't so prideful that she couldn't admit when she found herself completely outclassed in something she once thought herself unbeatable in. I myself couldn't quite understand her story. Overpowering her I could understand but out-skilling her?
Still it seemed there was no escape from this training session. Although the bartender wasn't finished as she tapped the counter to get everyone's attention before she continued to speak. "The plan is that you two get a quick ass beating by this bimbo then I need you to head out and make sure you get the job done before something bad can happen."
Made sense.
What didn't make as much sense was that a butterfly seemed to be very annoyed with the goddess as it began fluttering around us aggressively.