Loki was genuinely surprised by what Tsunayoshi said. "So you finally noticed!"
"...Huh?" Her reaction made Tsunayoshi blink. "You knew… so Loki-sama, you've known from the start?"
"Of course I knew. Tione's reactions are pretty straightforward. One look and I could tell she was drawn to you." Loki smirked. "Honestly, I wondered more than once if you were just pretending not to know. But looking at you now… yeah, you really didn't."
She had prodded him a few times before, and those small tests convinced her he truly had no idea how strongly Tione felt. That was why hearing him say it today actually startled her. She even felt a little relieved: at least his brain wasn't a steel plate, blind to something as obvious as 'liking.'
Seeing that oddly relieved look on Loki's face, Tsunayoshi was speechless. Was she celebrating that his mind could still register feelings like "love"?
"Loki-sama, shouldn't we talk about this whole 'liking' business now?"
What he cared about was what Loki intended to do, now that she knew Tione liked him.
"If she likes you, she likes you," Loki said lightly. She looked down at his serious expression and burst out laughing, pinching his cheeks. "You're thinking: if I knew, why didn't I do something about it, right?"
"I don't really get it," he admitted. "The way you've acted before—so possessive—doesn't match what you're doing now."
Loki kneaded his cheeks harder, almost venting as she worked her fingers, and only after a long moment did she speak again. "As a goddess, I'm tough by nature. Possessiveness is basic equipment for gods."
"I always have a strong possessive streak toward the children I favor." Her eyes softened. "With you, it's even stronger."
That only made him more confused. If her possessiveness for him was stronger, why hadn't she moved to shut down Tione's feelings?
Catching his train of thought, Loki tweaked his face again. "Gods do have a fierce desire to keep the children they fancy to themselves. But most of us have limits to that possessiveness. You can use Freya as a reference."
"Freya… isn't she famous for being 'romantic'?" he asked.
"That's just a line people tell themselves. You know better than that, don't you?"
He sighed. "There's that tale where Freya 'rescues' her children—specifically the four from the little folk. They were enslaved by a dwarf. Freya offered a trade; the dwarf demanded, 'Four people, four days with me.' In the story, she agrees, and later tells the four it was 'worth it.'"
"Pfft!" Loki failed to hold back a laugh. "That woman sacrificing herself for four little folk? That's funnier than Ishtar suddenly reforming."
"How would a so-called virgin sell herself to a random dwarf? She used Charm, toyed with a few idiots who couldn't see through it. If she really gave her first time to a dwarf, then I'd say Ishtar is a pure maiden."
Loki sneered at the legend but understood why it existed. A story within a story, with Freya center stage—layers upon layers.
"If Freya were really that easy to bed, Ishtar wouldn't be so jealous of her," Loki added. "If they were the same kind of public carriage, what's there to envy? The truth is, Ishtar knows exactly how Freya plays—and she's jealous because Freya achieves what she can't. Freya's kept herself 'pure,' while Ishtar actually has physical ties with plenty of male gods."
The gap was obvious—no wonder Ishtar seethed.
"That woman uses extreme methods to seek out souls that shine," Loki said, more matter-of-fact now. "In the end, those children gather around her. That's her way. And they probably never learn the truth, which suits her playful temperament."
She noticed that Tsunayoshi didn't look surprised and raised an eyebrow. "Heh, so she got exposed, did she?"
He nodded. "In terms of narrative pacing, it felt like a forced whitewash."
"Because she got popular, right?" Loki didn't look surprised. "That's how it goes. The story will emphasize her 'specialness,' popularity climbs, and soon the wave pushes the plot itself. Stories aren't ruled by a single will; outside factors often matter a lot."
Tsunayoshi waved a hand in front of her face. "Loki-sama, you still haven't told me why you're letting Tione's feelings slide."
Loki blinked, then chuckled, lowering her gaze to the head resting on her lap. "I mean I have my own obsessions too—just like Freya has hers."
"I don't enforce strict rules on my children in general… but I do have expectations for the one I like the most."
He heard the subtext clearly: she meant him.
"I've always taken 'partners' lightly. The word itself feels like a game to me," Loki said. "Gods don't have a single 'most beloved child'—certainly not to the point of swooning."
"I used to scoff at the idea… but then I actually met someone who changed that. That was beyond what I imagined."
"So my tolerance for you is greater. If you turn out to be a little fickle, I can accept it. In fact, I think extra emotions are seasoning for life."
"I do like the word 'new,' after all." Loki's smile tilted. "And besides—no matter who else is by your side, the one who stays the longest will be me."
"The rest are just condiments in your love life."
(End of Chapter)
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