The first floor of the Crimson Church was silent as Hephaestus stepped out of the elevator. The entire place was cold and unwelcoming as always. There were no windows to let sunlight in, no fireplace to warm the floor or brighten the shadows. The only illumination came from the dim, gloomy lights overhead, the ceiling bristling with mechanical arms like a metal spider's nest that never made sense.
It could never be called welcoming. The atmosphere was quiet, dim, and faintly unsettling rather than homely. Perhaps it needed change; after all, she was no longer a stranger in Luthar's world. With that thought lingering, she walked the length of the hall, moving through the corridors and finding nothing new.
Soon, she found Natasha emerging from her room with a stack of documents in her arms.
"Hephaestus?" Natasha asked, surprised. "Did Luthar return with you, or is he still on the other side?"
"He arrived as well," Hephaestus replied. "Unfortunately, he is still in the lower lab."
She paused, then asked, "Where are Freya and Lily?"
"They left earlier to settle matters with Soma Familia," Natasha answered. "If I remember correctly, they were talking about quitting."
"What about the Black Widows?"
"Inside the room," Natasha replied. "Freya ordered all of us to remain inside and avoid meeting anyone until she finishes resolving the issue with the documents."
Hephaestus nodded, understanding the need to remain inside the church until the administrative matters were handled.
Meanwhile, below their feet, Luthar completed the last cross-reference and dismissed the final screen of data. The problem of divine blood remained unsolved, but he shifted his focus to constructing a separate research site, isolated and away from the city.
After powering down the machine, he left the lab and took the elevator upward. After a short ascent, the doors opened, and he stepped out into the hall where Hephaestus and Natasha were talking.
At the same time, in another district of the city, Freya and Lily stood before the gates of Soma Familia.
Both had cloaked themselves, though for different reasons. Freya wore a long grey mantle that wrapped around her from head to ankle, concealing her form and suppressing her charm. Lily, on the other hand, wore a crimson cloak that hid the armor beneath it, the fabric falling almost to her boots. If not for her face visible beneath the hood, she might have been mistaken for a teru-teru doll—a small charm traditionally hung to ward away misfortune and invite clear skies.
Ignoring the curious glances of passers-by, Lily examined the entrance of Soma Familia. Nothing had changed.
Cracked flagstones. Weathered walls. The sour scent of wine drifted through the air. It was exactly as she remembered it.
She exhaled once through her nose.
"This place still smells like someone tried to bathe it in alcohol," she muttered.
Freya regarded her from beneath the grey hood. "Are you certain you do not want my help?"
Lily rested one hand on the weapon beneath her cloak. "No. I can handle it."
Freya nodded and followed her inside without another word.
Inside, the main hall was dim. Members of Soma Familia moved like people who had already surrendered to routine and disappointment. Their expressions were vacant, their shoulders slumped, their eyes hollow from exhaustion and withdrawal. No one spared the newcomers a glance. They continued their tasks in silence, as if the world had already abandoned them—and they had long since stopped resisting.
Even if someone recognized Lily's face, they ignored her. She and Freya continued forward in silence. They passed through the main hall and reached the captain's chamber, now occupied by Soma himself. He sat behind a low table with half-closed eyes, his posture making it clear he would rather be anywhere else.
When Lily approached the center of the hall, Soma did not turn his head. Only when Freya stepped into the room did he stir. His eyes opened—slowly, without urgency—and he studied the two cloaked figures.
"Who are you?" he asked, voice dull from disinterest. He had spent so long drowning himself in wine and isolation that names and faces no longer mattered.
Lily stepped forward and spoke clearly. "I am Liliruca Arde, Soma-sama. I have come to request release from Soma Familia."
Her tone was steady and without ceremony.
For a moment, Soma simply stared at her. Then he reached for the thick ledger at his side. The worn pages turned beneath his fingers as he searched for her name. When he found it, he paused. His gaze shifted to Freya standing a step behind Lily, her presence quiet but unmistakable.
"You wish to join Freya Familia," he said. It was not a question. It was an assumption.
Lily shook her head. "I will be receiving her blessings, but I am not joining any Familia."
Soma's expression gave nothing away. "That is… an unusual statement."
He picked up ink and paper. Without argument, threat, or persuasion, Soma filled out the necessary entries.
He gestured for her to step closer. Then he placed his hand lightly on Lily's back. A soft glimmer of Falna faded from her body—the divine bond dissolving at the god's will.
"It is done," he said.
"Lily blinked once. She had prepared for resistance, for denial, for demands. Instead, there was only weary efficiency.
Soma closed the ledger.
"I will submit the paperwork to the Guild. From now on, you are no longer one of my children."
Not a farewell. Not a blessing. Only the practical reality of a Familia that had already lost everything important.
Lily bowed her head slightly. "Thank you."
As both of them prepared leave the place, no one stopped them. No member spoke.
The hall watched in silence—eyes filled with the dullness of a Familia already defeated long before this moment.
Freya placed a hand on Lily's shoulder. "Let us go."
They stepped back through the gates. The heavy wood closed behind them, shutting away the darkness and resignation of the Soma Familia.
Outside, Lily finally exhaled. "That was frustrating. I was hoping for a fight or maybe a rejection so I could blast the entire place."
Freya's voice was quiet. "They didn't have anything left to oppose you."
Lily looked at the Familia one last time and understood that the moment she killed the captain of Soma Familia, everything was already over.
The place she feared is already gone.
"Let's go," she said.
Together, they walked away leaving Soma Familia behind like a fading memory.
Authors note: 45+ chapter of tpm .16 chapter of TBFW exclusive to Parteon.
3 advanced chapter of Chosen by a Goddess of love what should to get members. As of now im mostly making 60$ even that is decreasing. I wish there was some work to support myself so don't have to care about the donation but there is no work for me.
If you have some extra money you can support me on patreon if you don't have then you can still go there it's still have novels for free like TBFW which is exclusive to patreon and Chosen by a Goddess of love
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tip via Ko-fi if which let me receive 95% of your donations . But there is no extra content for that it's more of a one time donation but if there is enough condition I could start uploading there
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