The man who spread his mantle wide and proudly announced himself—Loki—his appearance caused tension to run across Rias and the others' faces…
The only one who remained unchanged was Issei, who didn't seem to fully grasp the situation.
"It's been a while, God Loki. Why are you in a place like this?"
'It's probably nothing good,' Azazel asked as a representative.
"Well, you see, I'm displeased that our chief deity's temple is ignoring our faction's intentions and making contact with other mythological factions... So I've come to crush it."
'Don't screw with me! As if I'd let someone like him destroy the path to peace we've painstakingly carved out!'
"That's quite a bold statement, Loki."
Azazel glared at Loki, filled with anger. But Loki laughed gleefully at that.
"Ku fufufufu, Governor of the Fallen Angels, my business is only with the chief deity's temple. If you and those Devils there quietly withdraw, then for today... I will do nothing. What will you do?"
"'For today...,' huh... You're clearly planning to do something later."
"That can't be helped. Your Biblical Faction is hated by the other mythological factions, after all."
"We're hated? What do you mean!?"
Issei snapped at Loki. Loki glanced at him and sneered.
"It can't be helped. After all, it was your faction that originally set foot into mythological territories across the world, spread the Bible, and expanded your influence. Do you really think the mythological factions who had their own territories trampled upon and their power diminished wouldn't hold a grudge?"
A god's power is proportional to the number of their believers. Therefore, gods engage in missionary work through their followers to expand their influence. And it was the Biblical Faction, possessing over thirty percent of the world's population as believers, that had expanded its power the most... 'Well, I certainly can't say we aren't hated, no matter how you put it.'
"Even if you tell me that... Take that up with Michael or the dead God."
Just as he tried to pass the buck to Michael regarding that issue,
"That excuse won't work. Your faction, which hid the death of the God of the Bible, deceived the world, and did as you pleased, suddenly tries to form alliances with other mythological factions the moment you make peace and consolidate into a single 'Biblical Faction'... Don't you think that's rather opportunistic?"
'Tch. He's hitting a sore spot.'
"If you ask me, you lot seem like nothing but foolish children who hid their parents' death, squandered the inheritance, and as soon as they couldn't make ends meet, started asking the relatives they'd been ignoring to 'let's get along.' It's utterly foolish to deal seriously with such people!"
"... (Grind)"
Azazel gritted his teeth in frustration. 'What this guy is saying is logical…'
The Three Factions had concealed the death of the God of the Bible in order to maintain their respective powers. If they hadn't, they would likely have either been absorbed by other mythological factions or destroyed without question.
However, that was merely for their own convenience. From the perspective of other mythological factions, those who thought like Loki were overwhelmingly in the majority.
Rather, those who were favorably inclined, like old man Odin, were the rare exception.
"There is certainly merit to what you say. The sin of these people who hid the death of the God of the Bible and deceived the world is grave."
At some point, Odin had stepped onto a magic circle and appeared outside the carriage…
"Old man..."
"However, it is also a parent's duty to forgive a child's sin. As a chief god, I shall forgive their foolishness."
Somewhat unexpectedly, the old man said this as he confronted Loki.
"...You mean to let bygones be bygones and accept the Biblical Faction?"
"Indeed. You must have noticed as well that since forming the peace, these people have exchanged technology and knowledge and are developing rapidly. That very movement is what I had hoped for. For a thousand years since the death of the God of the Bible, we have been stagnant. Ideally, I would have wanted this to emerge from our own Norse Mythology, but the times have already begun to move, centered around the young ones here. This flow must not be stopped. That is precisely why I pushed past the opposition and am trying to form a peace with the other mythological factions for the sake of the future."
For beings like them with lifespans exceeding ten thousand years, a thousand years was not a terribly long time. Yet it was true that during that period, they had deceived the other mythological factions.
Even though it was only natural to be condemned for it, Odin was nevertheless trying to join hands with them for the sake of the future—even while facing opposition within his own faction.
Knowing the old man's feelings, Azazel, as one of the leaders of the Three Factions, felt humbled. Rias and the others also had solemn expressions. Rossweisse, in particular, was choked up with tears of gratitude.
"And besides, being with these people is far more enjoyable than being with you, and when we get along, they get me service at the shops with the big-breasted ladies!!"
With this… It was all ruined.
"I see... So that is the true intent of the chief deity's temple... How foolish... I can no longer bear to listen. Very well. I will bury all of you together, nice and friendly!!"
A pitch-black aura rose from Loki's body. 'It's huge!' So immense that it made Shalba and Creuserey, enemies they had fought before, seem pale in comparison. 'As expected of a god, I suppose...' Issei swallowed nervously.
"Let me ask you one thing! Loki, are you connected with the Khaos Brigade!?"
When Azazel pointed a finger and asked, Loki's face twisted in displeasure.
"Do not lump me together with those foolish terrorists! That is disrespectful, Governor of the Fallen Angels!!"
As Loki raised his right hand toward Azazel, a magic circle materialized. At that moment,
Zugaaaaan!!
A holy wave struck Loki. Wondering what had happened, they turned to see Xenovia in a stance, having just swung Durandal.
"I thought a preemptive strike would work..."
She said this calmly. 'No, that wasn't a rocket start, that was a false start!'
"...It seems to have been ineffective. As expected of a Norse god."
Returning their gaze to Xenovia's words, they saw Loki floating in the air as if nothing had happened.
"Foolish... I am a god, after all. There is no way a Holy Sword would work on me."
'What do you mean?'
"A god is, in essence, the ultimate holy being. Hitting that god with holy waves isn't going to have any effect."
Azazel answered Issei's question. 'But wait a minute! Does that mean that not only Xenovia's attacks, but also Yumi's and Irina's attacks won't work?!' Unable to help himself, Issei looked toward the two of them. Apparently, understanding Azazel's explanation, they were biting their lips in frustration.
"It's useless! I am a god, after all! The attacks of mere Angels or Devils cannot harm me!!"
As Loki thrust out his left hand, an unknown, tremendous pressure began to gather there. 'That's bad!' Issei's instincts screamed danger. 'If he releases that—this is bad!!'
"Guyverrrrr!!"
At that moment, Kazuki Fuwa, equipped with Guyver, jumped out in front of them and unleashed a black hole…
For Loki, Imagine Tom Hiddleston's Loki from "The Avengers".
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