"Ahhhhhhh!"
A man's voice screamed in agony.
Alice watched as Shanghai swung her shield, striking the man so hard he coughed up blood.
"Lord Zanis!?" Seeing the figure burning on the ground, Lili's pupils contracted, and she cried out in shock.
At the same moment.
Another figure leaped down from the second floor of the mansion.
Alice looked up; it was Ais. She figured Ais must have been the one who threw Zanis out.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
Zanis's agonized screams continued as the flames consumed him.
After landing, Ais noticed Alice and gave a slight nod. Seeing Ais, Alice responded with a soft smile.
"Is Loki upstairs right now?" Alice asked Ais.
"Mm. Riveria and Lefiya are there too," Ais replied.
"Then let's go up together," Alice suggested.
Ais shook her head. "I need to keep an eye on that guy."
"Is that so? Then we'll head up."
"Mm."
Ais was the silent type, so Alice didn't press further. She led Hestia and Lili into the mansion and upstairs.
Ais quietly watched Alice's retreating figure. Only after Alice had disappeared from view did she turn her attention back to Zanis, who was still engulfed in flames.
By now, the fire on Zanis's body had died down, and the burns weren't too severe.
After all, Zanis was a Level 2 adventurer, however mediocre.
The fireball Hourai had tossed hadn't been infused with much magic power, so it didn't cause critical damage.
But his appearance was truly pitiful.
His clothes were mostly burnt away, his skin showed large patches of burns, and the hair on his head was completely singed off.
Inside, Zanis seethed with resentment, but he was acutely aware of his powerlessness, especially when facing the Loki Familia.
However, when he thought of the money he'd made from selling the comics, he could only swallow his pride and endure this humiliation.
After all, whether it was the Loki Familia or Alice, the most they could do was take their frustration out on him.
Getting the money back? Impossible.
It was a shame that the comic sales had to end now, but their popularity was already declining. Even if he continued selling, he probably wouldn't make as much as he had in the first couple of days.
A regrettable outcome, but it couldn't be helped.
Zanis knew exactly what his fate would be, but as long as he had the money, that was enough.
--+--
Inside Soma's room.
Soma looked at Loki through the long bangs covering his eyes, his brow furrowed. "Loki, you burst into my room and had my Familia's captain thrown out. What is the meaning of this?"
Soma, who had finally gotten his hands on a large batch of ingredients, had been eagerly brewing his wine when Loki barged in. Then the Sword Princess beside Loki grabbed Zanis and flung him out.
"Yo~ Soma. Long time no see." Loki looked at Soma with a wide grin. "I'm here to have a little chat about one of your Familia members taking something of mine and making a profit from it."
Hearing this, Soma fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"I've left all Familia matters to Zanis. If you have any issues, you can take them up with him."
Having said that, Soma lowered his head again and resumed stirring the large vat before him.
Seeing Soma's attitude, Loki let out a deep sigh.
"You really are a hopeless case, aren't you? I'm telling you, your Familia member took my property to line his own pockets. Don't you have anything to say about that? You are their patron god."
Loki's tone grew complex as she stared at Soma.
But Soma's attitude remained unchanged; he said nothing.
"Ah..." Loki sighed again, then adopted a cold expression and an icy tone. "I see. In that case, I assume you won't interfere if the Loki Familia directly launches a crusade against the Soma Familia."
At Loki's words, Soma's hand paused minutely in its stirring.
Noticing this slight hesitation, Loki, who had been watching him closely, allowed a smirk to touch her lips. "Oh ho~ So you do care somewhat if your Familia gets wiped out."
"Do as you please."
Just as Loki thought her threat might have elicited some reaction, Soma indifferently dismissed it.
That was when Loki fully understood.
"Even if it means you get sent back to Heaven, it doesn't matter?"
"..."
"Fine." Loki's expression was now utterly cold. "Riveria, go to the Guild. Inform them that the Soma Familia stole from the Loki Familia and engaged in large-scale profiteering. The Loki Familia now formally declares a Familia War upon the Soma Familia."
"The losing Familia will be forcibly dissolved, and its patron god will be immediately returned to Heaven."
Originally, Loki hadn't intended to go this far.
But Soma's attitude had genuinely angered her.
Upon receiving Loki's orders, Riveria's expression remained placid. A mere Soma Familia was nothing. If the Guild approved the request today, she could single-handedly annihilate them with ease.
However...
Riveria shot a deep look at Loki, sighing inwardly. This was the first time Loki had ever expressed a desire to have a god sent back to Heaven.
After all, even with the Zeus and Hera Familias in the past, they had only been disbanded and the two gods exiled from Orario, not forcibly returned to Heaven.
But now...
It was clear Loki was truly furious.
"Understood. I will depart immediately." Riveria turned to Lefiya. "Lefiya, protect Lady Loki. I will move quickly and strive to return within the hour."
"Yes! Understood!" Lefiya replied earnestly.
Just then.
The door to Soma's room burst open again as Hestia dragged Lili inside.
"Loki! Hold on a second!"
"Hmm? Shortstack? What are you doing here?" Seeing Hestia, Loki raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting her presence.
But when Loki spotted Lili beside Hestia, her face instantly changed.
"Don't tell me! Is Alice-chan here too!?"
As soon as the words left Loki's mouth, Alice walked in through the doorway, a smile on her face as she looked at Loki.
"Yo, long time no see, Loki. I read the manga you drew. Apart from the plot being a bit clichéd, the rest was pretty good, you know."
Hearing Alice's words.
Loki's mouth fell open, and she let out a cry of despair.
"No!!!!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
20+ advanced chaps on my patreon.
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If you guys wanna check it out.