In almost an instant, Freya's entire Familia—who had been stationed at Babel Tower—rushed toward the Hostess of Fertility with sky-tearing speed.
The onlookers, who had been trying to understand the fireworks, snapped back to attention.
"Was that really Goddess Freya just now!?"
The men, still dazed moments before, awoke with wide eyes and pounding hearts, each filled with regret.
"I should've stared longer."
Yet, despite their regret, they acknowledged their restraint in not rushing forward recklessly.
"Freya-sama!"
Allen, the most anxious Cat Person, landed first. He couldn't hold back and shouted their Familia God's name as he burst through the tavern doors.
Bang!
The tavern's entrance crashed open.
Seeing Freya safe, Allen's panic eased somewhat.
But when his eyes fell on the assassin writhing on the floor, he struggled to hold back the urge to tear her apart.
That woman was the Evilus who had dared to attack Freya-sama.
Allen dropped to one knee.
"Freya-sama."
Freya gave a slight nod, then regarded the struggling woman with a glint of cold in her eyes—but she deliberately restrained herself.
"Allen, take this woman to the Guild. Don't kill her—she only has one month left to live. Let her spend what's left in peace."
"Yes, Freya-sama."
Allen blinked, his gaze filled with hard-earned restraint. Still, he followed Freya-sama's directive. He crouched, seized the woman by the collar at the nape of her neck, and dragged her toward the exit, almost dragging her along the ground.
This was Allen's method of controlling his killer instinct.
Attacking Freya-sama was the utmost disrespect—had she not intervened, Allen would've pierced this woman's heart here and now.
As Allen hauled the assassin outside, Ottar and the others finally arrived.
Freya emerged from the tavern behind him.
The onlookers outside couldn't peel their eyes away.
Her figure was both willowy and voluptuous; her beauty was captivating, and her presence utterly untouchable. Those were the qualities that kept every man mesmerized.
"How beautiful."
It was an unconscious remark—one of the highest compliments a man could give a woman.
Unfortunately, Freya had long grown used to such praise. Coming from hearts clouded with impure desire, it only served as irony. After all, even a passing streetwalker would draw the same reaction from those same men.
Such shallow compliments held no meaning for her.
"Let's go, Ottar."
"Yes, Freya-sama."
...
Elsewhere, after dealing with the Evilus ambush, Bell returned early to the Familia.
Waiting to greet him were Hestia and Hephaestus—both wearing stern expressions that sent a chill down his spine.
"You're back?"
"Ah... yeah, I'm back."
Bell couldn't shake the feeling that Hestia was being unusually cold. Clearly, the meeting with Freya had affected her more than she let on.
Understanding this, Bell decided not to stall. If he kept avoiding the issue, he'd be spending the next couple of nights on the couch.
"Nothing unusual happened when I met with Freya-sama. The meeting took place at her base in town—the Hostess of Fertility. Also, while scouting the day before, I discovered that the Evilus had already learned about Freya-sama's movements."
"How could they have known a day in advance...? Wait—she leaked it herself!?"
As the thought occurred to her, Hestia's eyes widened in realization.
"Don't tell me she used herself as bait... just to test you?"
Bell gave a wry smile and nodded.
"I think Freya-sama wanted to assess how strong I've become—so she deliberately exposed her entire operation."
"She's still the same manipulative schemer."
Hestia pouted. She hated underhanded tactics like that, which was exactly why Freya was her least favorite person to deal with.
"Well, she is a goddess of love. Her authority reflects that. Besides... Freya-sama's personality is kind of like mine."
"Like yours?"
Hestia and Hephaestus blinked in confusion.
Bell sighed and clarified, "I mean the cautious part."
But Hestia looked utterly unconvinced.
"Are you saying Freya is just as mentally broken as you are?"
"...Hestia, please don't treat my caution like it's some kind of illness. I just like to leave myself a margin of safety—it's not a sickness, it's just prudence."
Seeing Bell push back so firmly, Hestia could only sigh and put on a serious face.
"So, Bell-kun, what made you think she's like you?"
Bell's expression grew solemn.
"I noticed how Freya-sama revealed so much of her own movements, yet didn't hesitate to show up at the meeting point—despite the obvious risk. It was a reckless move... on the surface."
"But when the Evilus leaders launched their ambush, I saw it clearly. Freya-sama had already detected their approach. She was simply waiting to observe my response."
"And what does that tell you?"
Hestia fell into thought, but Hephaestus furrowed her brow and spoke up first.
"Freya isn't just manipulating people—she's calculating the risk and keeping it within her control. What looked dangerous was actually something she was prepared for."
"Exactly."
But that realization only deepened Bell's unease.
"Freya-sama's command of her authority goes far beyond Ishtar's. She may even have trump cards we know nothing about. That might be why she can act so brazenly."
"Bell-kun!"
Hestia raised her hand.
"What if Freya knew from the beginning that you'd step in to stop things? What if she's not just controlling the situation—but actually reading hearts?"
That question left Bell speechless.
"If that's true... then Freya-sama is going to be even more troublesome than we thought."
...
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