The news Loki brought struck Thor like a thunderbolt from the clear sky.
His pupils dilated instantly as he stared at his brother in disbelief.
Not long ago, Odin had stood before him in full vigor. With a single spell, he had stripped Thor of his divine power and cast him down to Midgard.
How could it be that, in the blink of an eye, that father—the great king of gods—was gone?
"This isn't true…" Thor shook his head violently. He didn't want to believe it. He refused to believe it.
In his heart, he even hoped Loki's brows would suddenly relax, that his hands would spread wide, and that he would grin and say his usual line—
"Ta-da! A surprise! Come now, brother, I am the God of Mischief."
But this time, Loki wore an expression of deep sorrow.
He pressed both hands against the table.
"Because of your decision, Laufey has declared war on Asgard."
"And you know well—ever since Father grew old, there are times when his body weakens."
"Now war has reignited. Coupled with the pain of losing a son… that is why Father…"
Loki slowly closed his eyes.
It had to be said: Loki's acting was flawless.
Every flicker of expression, every shade of tone in his voice, carried the weight of truth. Not a single flaw could be found.
Thor, however, was left stunned, unable to accept such a reality.
"…Thor. What do you intend to do now?"
The room sank into silence. No one knew how much time passed before Loki asked the question, heavy with gravity.
"I…"
Thor opened his mouth, but guilt and sorrow choked his words.
Return to Asgard with Loki?
But he was no longer the God of Thunder. With only a mortal body, what could he possibly accomplish there?
Would he just hide behind Loki, protected until he grew old and died?
And worse—he was the cause of his father's death.
He didn't deserve to go back.
After a long silence, Thor finally forced out a full sentence.
"I want to stay here… until I die."
Thor had made his decision: a permanent exile. He would never return to Asgard.
"Thor."
Loki's tone grew heavier, as though disapproving of such a choice.
But the more he pressed, the deeper Thor's guilt grew—and the firmer his resolve to stay away.
At this point, Thor's mind was no match for Loki's cunning.
Seeing Odin's true son so fallen, so broken, actually soothed Loki's jealousy.
"…Since this is your answer, I'll respect your choice."
At last, Loki pretended to yield. He stepped back slowly, as though ready to leave.
Thor answered heavily in return, asking only that Loki protect Asgard, make it stronger, make it flourish.
Loki nodded once in acknowledgment, then walked out.
Even without an umbrella, the raindrops curved away from him, unwilling to touch his clothes.
But just as Loki was about to depart for Asgard, he felt it—
A spiritual force.
Blanketing the land. Watching.
And he, too, as a god, was under its gaze.
His pride flared in anger. His very dignity felt insulted.
Loki's eyes narrowed as he sought the source of the psychic presence.
There was no question.
The only one in this research facility who could wield such spiritual power so freely was Senju Haruto.
Naturally, Haruto didn't regard Loki as anything worth worrying about.
Even when Loki noticed the surveillance, Haruto didn't bother concealing himself or retreating.
From the start, he had observed everything openly, without hesitation.
By the time Loki pinpointed him, Haruto had already been watching his every move.
Using magic, Loki slipped through the facility unhindered until he reached Haruto's quarters.
This was the one place without an agent stationed outside.
Coulson had arranged it deliberately. After all, he couldn't imagine a scenario where Haruto needed the protection of ordinary agents.
"…It's you?"
A golden flash shimmered and then faded.
Loki appeared directly before Haruto and immediately recognized him—the man who had lifted Thor's hammer.
"You know me?" Haruto gave him a calm glance, his voice casual.
"The mortal who raised Thor's hammer."
Loki let out a low chuckle.
So this was the one spying on him, the Trickster God. Yet the man had revealed himself without meaning to.
Now that Loki saw clearly, he believed the truth: Haruto must have only just acquired the hammer's power and still couldn't control it.
Originally, Loki had been furious, thinking Haruto had stained the majesty of the gods.
But then a thought struck him.
A mortal with divine power, yet still ignorant of how to wield it—
Perhaps such a man could be molded.
Perhaps he could become Loki's most loyal guard.
Haruto, hearing this evaluation, understood instantly—Loki had no idea he was the Sorcerer Supreme.
If he had known, Loki would never have spoken in such a tone.
Still, Haruto couldn't be bothered to answer.
He simply watched, expressionless, as Loki began his little performance.
Loki spread his arms.
With a burst of light, his black suit shifted into magnificent Asgardian robes.
The umbrella became a scepter.
A horned helmet gleamed upon his head.
There was no doubt—Loki revealed himself in full splendor.
"I am your god. I am—"
But before he could finish the second sentence, flames burst into life at his feet.
A ring of fire expanded outward, linking to another dimension.
Before Loki could react, his body dropped straight down into the portal.
The fiery ring snapped shut behind him.
Haruto gave the empty floor a cold glance, then casually picked up a tablet and started watching a movie from this world—
Death Date.
Only when the film ended did Haruto twitch a finger, reopening the fiery ring on the ceiling.
Thud!
The so-called God of Mischief fell through, crashing heavily to the ground.
The spell hadn't harmed his body. But it seared his pride.
The humiliation cut deeper than any blade. Before Haruto, his divine dignity was worthless.
"…What did you just say you were again?"
Haruto shot him a sidelong glance, his tone mocking and indifferent.
"I'm not a thing—I'm a god! I am Loki, the Trickster God of Asgard!"
Loki scrambled to his feet, roaring furiously.
"You dare make a fool of me?!"
...
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