Watching Freya leave—
Hestia showed no panic at all. Instead, she gently parted her lips and asked:
"Raven-kun~~"
"If we go up against both top factions at once, what are our chances of winning?"
"Absolute victory,"
Raven answered, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.
As long as he absorbed the power of the Loki Familia and the Freya Familia—
His own faction would undoubtedly become the strongest in Orario.
After all...
If a Familia had to grow step by step, the pace was just too slow.
Since he had a cheat, he naturally had to take the best shortcut.
"Let's go back."
"There's still something I need to do."
Sheathing his Thousand-Feather Magic Sword,
Raven once again carried Hestia and moved from rooftop to rooftop with ease.
Returning to East Main Street, about two kilometers from the arena—
"Is that…"
"Mikoto, Daphne, Cassandra?"
At that moment, the three girls were confronting a praying mantis monster.
"GRRRROOOOAAAAAHHH!"
Mikoto let her Eastern katana ring with a sharp screech before smoothly sheathing it.
With just that one move—
She ended the monster's life.
The gathered civilians around them erupted in cheers and applause.
Raven jumped down from the rooftop and landed in front of them.
"Lord Raven?"
"Goddess Hestia?"
Mikoto looked surprised.
Setting Hestia down gently, Raven looked at them curiously:
"You all came to see the Monster Festival too?"
"Yeah~, that's right!"
Cassandra nodded cheerfully.
Hestia smiled and asked with concern:
"Mikoto, Daphne, Cassandra—you're not hurt, are you?"
"We're fine, Goddess Hestia."
Daphne replied with a light smile.
"Alright."
"I've got something else to take care of."
With that—
He left Hestia in their care, then vanished into a shadowy alley.
Finding a quiet, secluded spot—
And confirming there were no eyes or ears nearby—
"[—Divine Authority]"
The Lv.9 Juggernaut emerged from his divine space.
"Go keep them entertained."
"But don't hurt innocent civilians."
The Juggernaut nodded.
Its blood-red eyes shimmered briefly.
Its reverse-jointed legs flexed—and in the next instant, it vanished.
As for Raven—
He too disappeared into the shadows.
He had one more task to complete.
To hunt down the elusive White Priestess—Filvis.
...
Meanwhile—
On a broad avenue at least 50 meters wide—
The monster suppression teams had finished their clean-up and regrouped there.
Even the Lv.4 Man-Eating Flowers had been instantly defeated by Shakti and Ais.
Since all the released monsters were under Freya's charm—
Thankfully, no civilians had been hurt.
"This cleanup would've taken longer without help from the Sword Princess."
"Thank you."
Shakti bowed in gratitude.
"…It's fine."
Ais shook her head, unbothered.
However—
A massive shadow suddenly dropped from above.
"GRRRRAAAAARRRRGHHHHH!!"
The blood-red Juggernaut, at Level 9, let out a deep growl.
In the next instant—
Its thick, long tail swept violently at a nearby building.
The structure collapsed in an instant, dust and debris flying everywhere.
From within the wreckage, a warrior leapt out to face the sudden threat.
"Ottar the Boar King?!"
Shakti exclaimed in surprise.
"A…dragon?"
Ais's pupils shrank.
That massive frame, resembling a dinosaur's skeletal structure, was clearly that of a dragon-type monster.
No hesitation.
Ais unsheathed her Desperate Sword.
"—Awaken (Tempest)."
Her battle chant took on a deadly edge.
"[—Aerial Accelerate.]"
The sound of rushing wind—
An intense burst of magical pressure surged as she launched herself like a lightning bolt.
But—
The Juggernaut's reaction speed was faster.
Its crimson eyes gleamed.
With a single casual swipe of its cursed claw—
It blocked her wind-cloaked piercing thrust.
"…So strong."
That was Ais's conclusion in that brief clash.
During their standoff—
The Juggernaut used a little more force and swatted her away entirely.
The stone pavement shattered with a thunderous crash.
"Sword Princess?!"
Shakti gasped.
"Step back, Sword Princess."
"Leave this to me."
Ottar didn't underestimate the enemy. He began his chant:
"—Mercy of the Silver Moon, golden fields of battle."
"—Grant me the strength to charge as the Boar of War."
"—I bear the will of the goddess; let me charge forward."
A tremendous magical force burst from his body.
"[—War Boar (Hildisvíni).]"
A dazzling golden light converged around Ottar's greatsword.
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