'Freya, Goddess of Beauty.'
As one of the Hostesses of Fertility, the elf woman was used to seeing gods in taverns. The most frequent visitor among them was Loki. But this goddess—Freya—wasn't the type to show up casually. In fact, she had only seen her at banquets, and even then, only when accompanying her own Familia God.
'This goddess is just like before... she still has that overwhelming, timeless presence.'
Instinctively, the elf averted her gaze. Not looking directly at the Goddess of Beauty was the simplest way to avoid the risk of being bewitched.
Freya's charm could shake a person to their core. Staring too long would cloud one's mind, overwhelmed by her allure. That charm was potent enough to affect the psyche. In a way, it was a kind of poison.
This poison known as "charm" was no less deadly than any physical toxin—colorless, scentless. Only the highest grade of Abnormal Resistance might offer protection. But since the gods descended to Genkai, not a single adventurer had ever reached that level. Naturally, no one could truly resist the charm of the Goddess of Beauty.
'But why has the goddess come down from the Tower of Babel today? And dressed like that?'
Freya wore a plain cloak, her face and outfit lightly disguised—subtle enough that most wouldn't recognize her at a glance. It was clearly a private outing.
'With tensions between Orario and the Evilus burning as hot as they are... why would she come down at a time like this? Is she using herself as bait to draw the Evilus out?'
But then again, it was hard to believe the Evilus would fall for such an obvious trap.
Anyone with the slightest sense would see through it instantly. The elf didn't believe anyone would walk right into something so blatant.
"Is that child still not here yet?"
Freya's sudden words caught the elf off guard. She froze, then realized something.
'Is Freya planning to meet someone?'
Before the elf could react, Freya slowly turned her head.
"Pardon me, Goddess Freya."
The space Freya had been watching suddenly tore open, and a figure in a white cloak stepped calmly through the rift.
Gulp—
The sound of someone swallowing snapped the elf out of her daze, just in time to witness the space itself being ripped apart.
Behind the figure, the air had split like a demon had bitten into reality—an unsettling, grotesque gash. The pitch-black void beyond had no edge, no boundary. Even through the skin, she could feel its sheer danger.
But what unsettled her even more was the person who had created it.
Space magic was almost unheard of—so rare it was nearly mythical. Was this really magic? The elf couldn't help but question it.
In all her years as an adventurer, she had never seen anyone use spatial magic—let alone feel such an intense, visceral threat from a spell.
"I thought you'd take a little longer to arrive."
Freya's voice broke through her thoughts, and the elf quickly forced down the overwhelming sense of dread that still lingered.
Clearly, this person was the reason Freya had descended from the Tower of Babel today.
"Hestia and Hephaestus didn't throw a fit about coming along?"
"Ahem, Hephaestus-sama isn't that childish. And as for Goddess-sama, she's quite tolerant."
"Hestia's tolerance, huh... She's always had an especially broad mind—both physically and mentally."
"I know what you mean."
'Are Hestia-sama and Hephaestus-sama connected to this person too?'
The elf woman studied him carefully, but she couldn't recall anyone like him. His face was partially hidden under his hood, making it hard to see clearly, and more importantly, she didn't remember any adventurer who could use spatial magic.
In Orario, adventurers with exceptional talents usually stood out. Because of that talent, gods often granted them unique titles. Those who received such titles were typically well-known throughout Orario.
Yet she couldn't remember any adventurer with spatial magic. From what she knew, those with rare abilities were usually quickly discovered and thrust into the spotlight.
So why couldn't she recall him?
In truth, she wasn't the only one. The others standing nearby were also racking their brains, trying to remember if they had ever seen someone like him before.
"Take a seat. There's still much I'd like to talk about."
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Bell didn't hesitate in the face of Freya's invitation and sat down across from her.
As she looked at Bell seated before her, Freya smiled and pulled back her hood, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty—one that could lead people to ruin.
Even someone as composed as Bell couldn't help but be awestruck by Freya's appearance.
"Bell, I've taken off my hood. Are you just going to keep staring at me like that?"
Her words made Bell pause. He sighed lightly, then lifted his hand and removed his own hood.
His face was still marked with youth, but the more one looked, the harder it was to remember its exact features—like a fog was clouding it.
Freya looked at him with a hint of admiration.
"To think you've mastered it to this extent... But still, that's not very polite."
Bell let out a faintly exasperated breath and erased the Cognitive Obstruction from his face.
"Please forgive my caution, Freya-sama. Ever since I arrived in Orario, I've learned to be cautious. In public settings like this, it's even more inappropriate for me to show my face openly."
"...You really are overly cautious in this regard."
Most of the children in Genkai became adventurers for fame, women, or wealth. But the one sitting before her was clearly different. Freya tilted her head with curiosity and asked,
"Bell, others come to Orario for fame and fortune. What about you? What brought you here?"
"Me?"
Bell thought for a moment. It wasn't like he had a grand reason for coming to Orario. But if he had to give one...
"I originally came to Orario because of my grandfather's death. The man who raised me—he was a dirty old man, sure, but also a good one. One day, while working in the fields outside the village, he was attacked by a vicious bear. When I heard the news, I was stunned. That's when I realized just how fragile human life can be."
As the memories resurfaced, Bell couldn't help but speak from the heart. That perverted old man had died so suddenly... maybe it was that shock that triggered the return of his past-life memories.
...
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