Chapter 200: The Falna is Secured
—You should stop using a sword.
If it were that bristling cat or any of the others from Freya's Familia, Kobayashi would have definitely thought they were just being sarcastic and looking for trouble. But he knew that Ottar, with his calm and composed warrior's personality, must have had another meaning.
Lying on the ground, he looked at Ottar without saying a word, his puzzled expression silently asking for an explanation.
And Ottar didn't keep him in suspense, stating bluntly, "Your finger dexterity is very high, and their trembling speed is very fast. This is your advantage."
From Ottar's observation, this was his subconscious action.
Every time he swung his sword, his fingers would always react a step ahead of his wrist, constantly trembling at an unnaturally high frequency. It was unknown if it was a trait or something else. Since their fight had been short, this was all he had been able to see.
Even so, that was quite an exaggeration.
Kobayashi was suddenly enlightened.
Compared to using a longsword, Ottar was telling him to play to his strengths. His flexible fingers would bring him a huge improvement.
Lying on the ground, he held up his hand. With a slight tremble, his fingers turned into an afterimage, much faster than a certain vibrating wand on its highest setting.
How can I defeat an enemy with my fingers?
He began to think.
I can't just be like a certain Eagle, practicing a claw technique that trembles several times a second, giving the enemy an intense sense of excitement in a short time and then making them pass out from pleasure, can I?
Hiss—
Is it... not impossible?
But this move has a high requirement for gender. And what if the other party isn't sensitive?
Ottar, seeing him fall silent, his appearance pensive, said plainly, "Daggers, hidden weapons... those kinds of weapons... are not a bad choice."
And he, lying on the ground, was still thinking.
He had no attachment to weapons. He had switched from a bow to a longsword before. For him, as long as he could win, it didn't matter what the weapon was or how strange it was, he could accept it.
It was just that... he felt that there was a weapon that was particularly suitable for him, but he couldn't remember it.
At this moment, RyuZU walked over and helped him up.
As an attendant, she was most diligent. If he hadn't repeatedly gestured with his eyes just now, she would have used her time stop the moment he was thrown to the ground by Ottar.
Ottar's body, which had been tense and secretly on guard against her, unconsciously relaxed after seeing that she had made no move.
He actually relaxed?
Ottar clenched his fists, his eyes lowered.
His warrior's intuition told him that the seemingly weak woman before him carried a pressure different from that of an ordinary person, and her body exuded a strange aura.
It seemed to be a warning, and also a threat.
In short, she was very dangerous.
As expected, the initial guess was correct. Even if she had only made one move, and even if it was only for an instant, all eight of them had felt that this girl was dangerous to the extreme. Even with the eight of them protecting her, Goddess Freya could very well be in danger.
Although the goddess had not given the order, if the other party were to make any strange moves, he would definitely be the first to take out Kobayashi!
For Freya, he was willing to do anything!
He gave RyuZU and him a deep look, then turned and left.
The goddess's mission was complete. There was no need for him to stay.
Kobayashi rubbed his aching back, not stopping him from leaving. In fact, even if he had wanted to, the other party wouldn't have paid him any mind.
"How embarrassing, Master Kobayashi."
"...Why do you say that, Miss RyuZU?"
"Because you were hopping around like a flea, Master, but you were thrown to the ground in a single encounter. Don't you think that's amusing?"
"That was 'guidance.' A 'spar.' Not a life-and-death battle."
He stubbornly argued. Even if he said he was holding back and not using his full strength, RyuZU still had an "oh, right, right" expression, which was honestly a bit infuriating.
"Well then, what was with that 'I've just had an epiphany' look on your face just now?" she asked.
"Actually..."
He told her what he was thinking.
And after she heard him, she said with her usual sharp tongue, "So it was that problem. You really are forgetful, Master. Haven't you met someone with very flexible fingers before? Coincidentally, his weapon also suits your requirements."
"...Who?"
"The man who, back then, forced Leone and Miss Akame to take a shower at noon."
"Lubbock!"
His eyes lit up.
The Teigu that Lubbock possessed was called "Cross Tail," a string-type Teigu. It could be spread out as a trap or a barrier to detect enemies, and it also had the ability to bind and cut. Just as its nickname implied, it was ever-changing. And he relied on his own nimble hands to use it skillfully.
How did I not think of that before? [Perfector] and [Cross Tail] are Teigu that are very compatible.
If the two were to be combined, they would surely be able to display a power far beyond that of an ordinary person!
No, I can't!
The thought of using one more Teigu was erased from his mind as soon as it appeared.
Three Teigu already made him very sensitive. If he were to add another one, it would surely increase the burden. He would become limp before he could even have his fill with the other party. It wouldn't be good if he were to be called a "one-pump chump."
But it wasn't as if there was no solution.
In Orario, there were several gods of the forge—Hephaestus, Goibniu, and so on. As long as he had enough money, it wasn't impossible to own even a divine weapon. And it wouldn't bring a burden to his mind. How wonderful would that be?
Thinking of this, a smile curled up on his lips.
Seeing this, RyuZU said with disgust, "Master Kobayashi, please restrain your sleazy smile. If you are seen by others, they will think you have the same strange hobbies as Lady Darkness."
"Don't lump me in with that perverted knight, please!" he reprimanded her, and then, with her support, he returned to his room.
The next day.
He got up early and went to pay a visit to Freya.
On the one hand, it was to see her off and say goodbye. On the other hand, he still wanted to try and see if he could seek the essence of the Falna from her. After all, this was his true purpose.
He arrived at the top floor of the mansion.
The bristling cat Allen was still standing guard outside the door. He bared his fangs at him with dangerous eyes, but he just made a threatening, warning gesture and did not directly attack him.
Under her summons, he came to her bedchamber.
Unlike the hazy, dreamlike atmosphere of the night, the early morning sun filled the room. The goddess on the main seat had a holy aura, a complete reversal of her seductive meaning from the night.
Her beauty radiated out, and he was slightly stunned.
She did not blame him for his lapse. After all, she had seen that look of amazement countless times. Her arm was draped over the armrest of the chair, and she was leaning laztily on it. In a lazy tone unique to the early morning, she said, "To come and see me so early in the morning... what is it?"
"Yes, Goddess Freya."
He came back to his senses and stated his purpose.
He did not hide or hint.
In front of a god with hundreds of millions of years of experience, and a goddess of wisdom at that, rather than using concealments and hints that might displease her, it was better to be direct.
"Falna?"
Hearing his request, she couldn't help but raise her beautiful eyebrows and ask curiously, "I remember you said that you would not serve other gods?"
"That is correct. But the goddess I serve is, for certain reasons, unable to grant me her Falna, which is why I am appealing to you," he said, bowing.
Freya narrowed her eyes.
Her divine power and her eyes told her that he was not lying.
But this was interesting.
The Falna was originally developed by the sky god Ouranos and several other gods to give the mortals of the lower world a chance to become stronger. After the gods had descended to live with the mortals, the Falna had been given to every god as the foundation for establishing a Familia.
Of course, this did not mean that all gods had the ability to grant it. For example, the gods who were still in Tenkai had no need for it, so they hadn't learned it.
In that case, has the god he serves only just descended to the mortal world?
"The Falna is not a rare thing. It's a convenient thing that you can get just by making a trip to Orario and saying a word to Ouranos in the Guild," she said lightly.
His expression turned a little ugly.
Not to mention that Aqua couldn't come to the world of Danmachi, even if she could, it was impossible for her to go and see Ouranos.
If the other party were to say something like, "Who are you? I don't know you!" then it would be a huge joke.
"Well, it seems the god you serve is unable to go to Orario," she said, as if she had guessed it. Otherwise, for something as common as the Falna, why would he appeal to her?
He naturally went along with her words. "You are correct, Goddess Freya."
Then he looked at her with an expectant gaze.
And she did not disappoint him. She simply drew a few strokes in the air, and then a piece of parchment quietly appeared.
Then, as if pulled by gravity, it fell into her hand.
"Divine power..."
He was stunned.
One of the rules of the gods' descent was that they could not use their divine power. But her action just now, no matter how you looked at it, seemed to be using it.
"Oh my, it seems your goddess has also told you about not being able to use divine power," she said with an enchanting smile. "I did not use my divine power in Orario, and I have my ways of concealing it. But I am finally relieved. It seems your main god has properly told you these things."
This goddess... she was testing me just now!
The moment he thought he had achieved his goal and had relaxed, she had silently set a trap for him! If he had shown any abnormality, he would surely have been suspected!
He suppressed his rapidly beating heart.
"Here."
"...Thank you, Goddess Freya."
With an expression of mixed feelings, he reached out and took the parchment.
He couldn't read the words on it. It should be [Hieroglyphs]. He would have to let Aqua study it properly when he got back.
At this moment, a commotion came from outside.
"Tsk."
The cat-man Allen let out an obvious click of his tongue.
He and she both looked towards the door. Soon, a figure rushed in. It was Ari.
"What... what is the meaning of this?!"
The girl who had been freed from slavery, rushed in and accused the goddess. Is she that brave? Does she not know who is in front of her? Is she getting full of herself just because she's being doted on by the Goddess of Beauty?
Just as he thought she would be angry, he hadn't expected the goddess to be so magnanimous towards the one she fancied.
She said smugly, "To leave without saying a word... that's not something a prince should do. Even in a royal education, they should have said that you must say goodbye to your benefactor."
Ari's expression stiffened, but she ignored the fact that he was still present and shouted, "What... what are you planning! You promised to let me go last night..."
"I did say I wouldn't stop you from acting, but I never said I wouldn't go with you."
Her meaningful smile from last night had given the answer.
"You're going with me?! Wh-what are you talking about..."
"I said last night that the only one I care about is you. So I want to watch you. I want to stay by your side and observe you."
Ari almost forgot her royal status, her eyes wide in disbelief.
What is this goddess talking about?
She couldn't understand at all.
He, on the contrary, scratched his head.
It seems it's just as I thought. She thinks the upcoming journey is her and Ari's sweet trip. I'm just an eyesore of a third wheel. That's why she's sending me away.
Her declaration of favor was not yet over.
"I want to see how your soul will change, or if it will become even more dazzling—and I also want to confirm... if you are qualified to become my Odr (partner)."
He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
As expected of the Goddess of Beauty. Too willful and free. And that heavy love... could Ari accept it?
As expected, just as he had thought.
Ari, who was very wary of the goddess's entanglement, retorted emotionally, "Don't be ridiculous! For the sake of my country, I must return to the generals who are still fighting as soon as possible! I have no time to deal with a goddess's willfulness—"
"Travel expenses."
The goddess's words extinguished her anger.
And she pressed further, "You plan to leave this city, but do you have a clear plan?"
"..."
"I understand you don't want to owe me any more favors, but what can you do on your own? I don't know where you plan to go, but you can't get there on foot, right? If that's the case, how do you plan to cross the desert?"
"..."
Her words hit the nail on the head. Ari opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
But she wasn't as useless as she had said. At the very least, she was a prince. If she revealed her identity and sought help...
As if seeing through her thoughts, she said, "By the way, Bofman said that the situation in your country is unstable, and many merchants have already defected to the invading enemy. If someone were to claim to be the missing prince, rather than taking the risk of helping to hide you, it would be better to sell you out for a profit."
"Wh...!"
Whether it was her overly optimistic attitude, or her "clutching at straws" idea, it was all shattered by the smiling goddess.
"An underage girl wandering aimlessly... you might just get caught and become a slave again, you know."
Her words carried a hint of intimidation.
But it had to be said, it was very effective.
"Aaaah!!!"
Ari let out an anguished groan. She was completely cut off by the other party.
And she, maintaining her elegant smile, negotiated, "If you agree to let me accompany you, I am not unwilling to provide assistance."
Ari suddenly raised her head.
But she wasn't looking at her, but at him, who was standing beside her.
That man had said... as long as you can bring pleasure to a god, you can get an unimaginable reward. And for her to be so entangled with me... does that mean...
"Repayment."
"...What?"
She spoke suddenly, and Ari was a little stunned.
"You promised that you would definitely repay my kindness for saving your life. I want you to fulfill that promise now."
"I..."
This sentence was a fatal blow to her.
Just as she had said, this was a promise she had made herself.
She wanted to mess up her hair, to curse at her for being unreasonable, but his words kept swirling in her mind. In the end, she suppressed the impulse and helplessly lowered her shoulders.
She said in a muffled voice, "I did indeed say that, and I have also received your life-saving grace... I... I accept your proposal."
"Is that so? That's wonderful."
In the end, she was still being played in the palm of her hand.
In conclusion, she was just offering too much.
"It seems the negotiations are over," he said, interjecting after their conversation had ended. He bowed to her. "Since that's the case, then I will take my leave of you here."
"Huh? You're not coming with us?" Ari was a little surprised.
He smiled slightly. "Because I've already obtained what I was looking for."
"Is that so..."
Ari nodded.
She had a good impression of him, who had secretly reminded her. Hearing that he was not coming with them, her expression was a little regretful.
"Prince Ari."
"Y-yes."
He called her name formally, which made her, who had just returned to her original name, a little unaccustomed.
And at this moment, he added, "Prince Ari, I don't know what difficulties and trials you will encounter next, but no matter how bitter the road ahead, as long as you are walking in the right direction, no matter how rugged, you will be closer to happiness than just standing still."
"..."
"And so, I will use a blessing from the goddess I serve as a farewell gift."
"A blessing?"
"Yes!"
He looked up slightly, giving her a bit of encouragement. "May you begin as a small, and end as a great."
"Begin as a small, and end as a great..."
Ari murmured, repeating the phrase.
She was now just a girl who had just been transformed from a slave, and her ultimate goal was to drive out the enemy and rebuild her country.
Wasn't that just "beginning as a small, and ending as a great"?
She took a deep breath, then placed her hand on her chest. With the formal greeting and expression one would give to a god, she said, "Thank you for the god's blessing. I will definitely not fail His expectations!"
...No, that was just a pleasantry. She doesn't have any expectations of you.
He remembered the scene when Aqua had said this to him. It was just her going through the motions and being perfunctory.
And Freya, who was watching all of this from the side, pouted slightly.
Oh no, she seems to be jealous.
(End of Chapter)