"A War Game!"
The moment Astraea agreed to a War Game, heads began popping out from around corners, fountains, and even the trees lining the streets.
They were gods.
Like hunting hounds with an uncanny sense for excitement, wherever something interesting happened, they were never absent.
The gods erupted in cheers.
Unlike the previous War Game with the Rudra Familia, this one would definitely take place aboveground. Whether someone was a mule or a horse—drag them out and see for yourself!
Brimming with excitement, the gods rushed toward Babel Tower. Holding divine assemblies for two consecutive days was rare even for these thrill-seeking deities.
Babel Tower, 30th Floor.
In an astonishingly short time, even more gods had gathered than the day before. Among them was the unmistakable figure of Hermes.
"Yo, Hermes, you're back?"
"So where did you wander off to this time?"
Hermes had excellent rapport among the gods—he could strike up a conversation with just about anyone.
"So, what are the rules of the War Game?"
"No idea yet. That depends on them."
Hermes and the other gods focused their attention on the two central figures—Astraea and Apollo.
Apollo spoke smugly,
"Considering that the Astraea Familia is short on numbers, how about we make this a one-on-one format—three versus three?"
"Huh?"
The gods looked shocked. Apollo, showing consideration for the other side? Was Ragnarök coming tomorrow?
After all, the Astraea Familia's Gale Wind was Lv.4—someone the Apollo Familia had no answer to!
Only Hermes saw through the scheme. For the War Game to happen at all, Astraea had to agree. That meant the rules had to appear winnable—at least on the surface.
"So it's his handiwork… a Trojan Horse," Hermes murmured.
The image of a certain young man flashed through his mind. A single infiltrator could sometimes achieve more than ten thousand soldiers—and even gods who prided themselves on discerning lies had failed to notice. Truly frightening methods.
"…Very well. I agree."
Astraea's expression remained calm.
That child truly was audacious—bold enough to scheme even against gods. By offering himself as bait, drawing Apollo's attention, and using Daphne to deliver this Tian Ji horse-racing strategy straight into Apollo's hands…
With both gods agreeing to the rules, the rest of the gods had no objections. Whatever the game was, as long as it entertained them, it was fine.
The War Game rules were set—
A best-of-three arena match!
The Starry Court.
To prevent Apollo from lashing out in desperation, Ryuu stayed by Astraea's side as protection, while Roy remained in the courtyard, maintaining his Muramasa Sword—no different from sharpening a kitchen knife.
It was a low-grade weapon. There was no need to be overly delicate.
[Iron Longsword: Durability 65%]
After an entire afternoon, the Muramasa Sword's durability had improved somewhat. Still, restoring its sharpness properly would require a professional blacksmith.
At the same time, Roy replayed scenes of sparring with Ryuu in his mind, refining his combat techniques against human opponents.
The most critical point of this War Game was whether he could defeat Hyakinthos, a Lv.3.
If he slipped up at the last moment, it would be truly embarrassing.
"…Um—"
As dusk approached, a timid voice came from the gate. Roy turned toward it.
A blue-haired girl stood outside the fence. Her long hair covered half her face, her back slightly hunched, giving her a timid, withdrawn air.
It was Cassandra.
When she met Roy's gaze, her legs trembled visibly.
Yet she didn't run.
Roy walked over. "What's wrong?"
Tears fell from Cassandra's eyes like tiny pearls.
"Please… save Daphne."
"Talk while we move."
Roy frowned, taking Cassandra with him as they left the Starry Court.
With everyone's attention focused on the divine assembly at Babel Tower, security around the Apollo Familia estate had loosened. Sneaking in wasn't difficult.
Cassandra pointed toward a building behind iron bars.
"Daphne is in that warehouse."
Cassandra possessed a prophetic ability known as Precognitive Dreams. Because of this skill, Apollo had taken notice of her and forced her into his Familia. She had joined only a few days before Daphne, was still Lv.1, and her stats were extremely low.
"Don't make a sound."
Roy picked Cassandra up, bent his knees, and leapt lightly over the three-meter-high iron fence.
It was Cassandra's first time being so close to a man. The scent of masculinity overwhelmed her, and her face flushed red like an apple—she nearly cried out.
After setting her down, Roy strode into the warehouse.
Inside, a reddish-brown–haired girl lay amid scattered weeds. Her eyes were shut, her breathing weak. Her body was covered in bruises, her skin swollen and mottled purple.
Cassandra broke down, sobbing quietly.
Roy's face darkened.
On the way here, Cassandra had already told him what had happened.
Daphne had helped Apollo devise his plan—and in response, Hyakinthos had grown suspicious and beaten her to the brink of death.
Roy crouched down to examine Daphne's injuries, his brow furrowing deeper by the second.
The superficial bruises were the least of it. Her limbs had been broken, and her internal organs had suffered blunt trauma.
He had underestimated Hyakinthos's jealousy.
What Hyakinthos did wasn't just out of loyalty to Apollo—it was envy.
Since childhood, Hyakinthos had suffered from a strange illness that disfigured his appearance, causing him to be shunned. After Apollo cured him, his looks were restored, and he became a fanatical devotee.
Gratitude twisted into obsession, and he developed intense jealousy toward anyone Apollo favored.
Roy's expression was icy as he took out a Panacea, worth five hundred thousand valis per vial. He uncorked it and, without hesitation, poured it into Daphne's mouth.
The potion slid down her throat, and a soft green glow soon enveloped her body. Her ragged breathing gradually steadied.
"…You have to win…"
Daphne slowly opened her eyes. Her dull, exhausted gaze met Roy's, and from her cracked lips came a whisper barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
Then she lost consciousness again.
Roy took the severely injured Daphne and Cassandra away from the Apollo Familia's territory and settled them in an inn where they wouldn't be found anytime soon.
As for the long term—there was no need to worry.
"Don't worry. It'll all be over tomorrow."
Roy roughly set Daphne's broken bones to prevent misalignment, then left behind another Panacea and one hundred thousand valis.
Two Panaceas were more than enough to save her life.
Standing by the window, Cassandra watched Roy's departing figure. Recalling the contents of her prophetic dream, she felt a chill.
Hyakinthos had angered a lion.
The moment Roy stepped out of the inn, the calm in his eyes froze over. Deep within, flames burned fiercely.
Daphne had acted on his behalf—yet Hyakinthos had abused his authority and beaten her nearly to death.
The nature of this War Game had changed.
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