The so-called Denatus (Gods' Assembly) began as a whim by a group of bored gods looking to kill time. Initially a small circle for gossip, it evolved into a platform for sharing information and city-wide policies in cooperation with the Guild. The naming of titles (aliases) was now a staple of the event.
The venue remained the same: the 30th floor of the Tower of Babel. The hall occupied the entire floor, with massive pillars supporting a high ceiling and glass walls offering a view from 30 stories up.
Ganesha, wearing his elephant mask, greeted old friends with his booming voice. In a corner, three goddesses drew everyone's attention. Freya, with her silver hair and breathtaking beauty, was the most prominent. Beside her was Hephaestus, with her red hair and black eyepatch, waiting patiently. Astraea sat between them, dressed in her usual elegant white.
In a far corner, a male god with orange hair sat lazily, hiding under his hat while reading documents. This was Hermes.
"Whoa! Look at the turnout this time!" one god exclaimed. "It seems the Dark Faction attacks have decreased, so everyone has the energy to gather."
Despite Freya's presence, many eyes turned toward Astraea—some with teasing looks, others with admiration for her Familia's recent success. Astraea sighed and turned to her companions.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Danmachi : Mage's Infinite Journey (168 Chapters – Ongoing)
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"Long time no see, Freya, Hephaestus."
"I've been hearing a lot about your child lately. That level-up speed is staggering," Hephaestus noted.
"Indeed," Freya added with a giggle. "You've found quite an extraordinary child, Astraea. I'm almost envious."
"Roland is indeed special," Astraea explained. "But Alise and the others found him, not me."
"Do you have a title in mind for him?" Freya asked curiously.
Astraea smiled confidently. "I do. He usually likes to keep a low profile, but his personality has become quite firm lately. This title will suit him perfectly."
"I'll give you my vote then," Hephaestus said. "After all, he supported my Familia by commissioning a weapon from Tsubaki."
"Everyone is so expectant," Freya joked. "But if your title is boring, I might suggest one of my own."
"Please have mercy," Astraea laughed.
Soon, the Goddess of the Hour stood up. Loki, with her twin-tails and squinting eyes, took the center stage. "The Denatus officially begins! And the host this time is ME—LOKI!"
Cheers and applause erupted. Hephaestus was surprised. "Loki is hosting? I thought it would be Ganesha."
"She probably finds this one too interesting to miss," Freya noted. "After all, Roland's promotion is the talk of the town."
Loki quickly moved through the agenda. "First, information exchange. Anyone got something interesting?"
Hephaestus spoke up about strange damage on the 24th floor. Another god mentioned someone releasing divine power in the dungeon recently.
"Isn't it obvious the Dark Faction is planning something?" Loki grunted. "I AM GANESHA!" the elephant god nodded gravely. "They've been too quiet. They're planning a big mess."
The mood turned serious. The Dark Faction was a persistent threat, and the duty of protecting the city fell on the gods present. After the serious talk, the meeting shifted back to lighter topics.
Loki summarized the points. "Alright, Heffy's dungeon anomaly and the Dark Faction... the Guild will likely call on you for investigations. My Familia is already looking into it."
"Understood."
Loki continued to lead the meeting until the final, most anticipated segment arrived.