Having witnessed the entire process of the War Game, the calmest one present had to be the "Goddess of Beauty," Freya. The overall course of events had instead developed steadily in a direction that aligned with expectations.
After all...
'Gale.'
Ryuu had joined the battlefield. But what truly came as a surprise was probably the new adventurer Ron and the formidable strength he displayed.
According to information disclosed within the Adventurers' Guild, it had only been about one month since Ron became an adventurer, yet he was able to easily overturn Hyakinthos Clio, the strongest member of the Apollo Familia.
'Interesting...'
Even as a deity, she still found it hard to believe the miracle Ron had created. Even under the same conditions, the children of her own Familia...
Freya had a premonition that they absolutely would not be able to achieve such a level.
'He really let... Hestia pick up a bargain.'
'Orario should become lively from here on, right?' She looked toward the magnificent Labyrinth City before her, a radiant smile blooming across her exquisite face.
However, if there were gods who rejoiced at the birth of a miracle, naturally there were also gods who fell into silence because of the defeat in the War Game—such as Loki, who had participated in the high-stakes gamble.
The sky was really about to collapse...
When a Familia conducted an expedition, if there were no particularly significant gains, the total income would probably only reach about fifty to sixty million Valis, and various costs would still have to be deducted.
And now?
Just because of the War Game between Apollo's Familia and the shorty's Familia, she had ended up carrying such a massive debt.
She could not imagine that when Finn and Riveria returned to Orario, before they even finished tallying their harvest, they would receive that sky-high IOU from Hephaestus.
'They'll probably kill me, right?'
Just imagining that scene made Loki's heart tremble violently. She could only look toward her close friend Hephaestus for help. "Ahem… you should know what I want to say, right?"
"Of course."
"Setting aside the five million Valis covered by the equipment collateral, how do you plan to pay me the remaining twenty-five million? If you don't have enough cash…"
"You could also consider selling some Familia assets."
'No one believed in you, yet Ron—you were the most outstanding!'
Now—Hephaestus no longer seemed to feel much resistance toward all the trouble Ron and his unreliable goddess had caused her.
At least, every price paid had brought returns.
With the "War Game" serving as the basis for the gambling pool, most of the participants were the gods of Orario. Aside from the small number who had bet on the victory of the Hestia Familia—Takemikazuchi, Demeter, Miach, and the like…
They had made pure profit.
By conservative estimates, it amounted to five hundred million Valis. Although that sum was only barely enough to forge three pieces of First-Class equipment, the fact that it could make her happy made it worthwhile.
Noticing Loki's expression gradually stiffening, Hephaestus kept an easy smile and did not relent on this matter, since it also involved the forging materials for the "glintstone" and the "glintstone staff."
"How do you plan to pay?"
"Well…"
"How about this—since we've known each other for so long, the equipment used as collateral doesn't have to be returned. Just treat it as if I never participated in the gambling pool of this War Game."
"What do you think?"
Even worried that the other gods present might hear her, Loki deliberately lowered her voice. But the only response she received was the calm smile on her friend's face.
There was no answer, yet the final answer had already been given.
"If other gods were all like you, then what would be the point of setting up a gambling pool?"
Knowing clearly that Loki truly did not have the authority to dispose of that much Valis, Hephaestus gently shook her head. She could hardly say that she had never intended to take the money in the first place.
Noticing the increasingly ashen look on the other's face, she did not continue to keep her in suspense.
"Are you interested in making a deal?"
"Not only can I waive the Valis you owe from the bet, I can also pay your Familia a sum of compensation—more than what you expected."
"Go on."
As if grasping the last life-saving straw, Loki did not hesitate in the slightest. Any hesitation would have been disrespectful to that astronomical debt. As for the compensation exceeding expectations, she had absolutely no doubt about her friend's financial strength.
And even—
Was the gambling pool set up for this War Game between Apollo's Familia and the shorty's Familia actually aimed at her from the beginning?
As a god, she was naturally not foolish enough to that extent. With only a moment's thought, she already had a rough answer.
"I might not necessarily be able to complete it smoothly."
"I need a branch from the Great Sacred Tree. I want to personally forge a magic staff. Not only will your debt be forgiven, but I will also pay you an additional fifty million Valis."
"How about it?"
A branch from the Great Sacred Tree.
And, as the god who presided over forging, Hephaestus personally forging equipment—
Loki quickly sensed that something unusual was hidden within this matter.
She narrowed her eyes and weighed it in her mind: "Equipment worthy of you forging it personally… there probably aren't many in Orario, right?"
"I can't help getting excited when I see something like that."
"I can't guarantee it completely. At the very least, it has to pass Riveria's approval—you know that as well. To obtain a branch from the Great Sacred Tree in the Elf Secret Realm…"
"At the very least, the consent of the Elf King is required."
Loki did not give a clear answer.
She merely harbored a faint suspicion deep in her heart. Recalling the scene at the banquet, she let out a helpless sigh. "When you set up that gambling pool back then…"
"Was it intentional?"
"?"
"You knew I don't get along with the shorty, so you deliberately mentioned betting on her in front of me. That way, the final result would develop in the direction you had envisioned."
Facing Loki's complicated gaze, Hephaestus did not evade it in the slightest. Of course, she did not admit anything. "Loki, then all I can say is that your personality… is far too suspicious."
"Damn it!"
So it really had been a deliberate setup.
As a god, Loki naturally understood the principle of "a bet is a bet, and you must accept the loss." In the end, things had not reached the worst possible outcome. It was just that regarding the matter of the Great Sacred Tree's branch, she would indeed have to put in more effort. No matter what, she would have to make Riveria agree…
"So, the one you need help forging the magic staff for—could it be that… monstrously talented new adventurer in the shorty's Familia, Ron?"
"That's right."
"…"
The suspicion in her heart was confirmed once again.
Loki's mood became rather complicated. It was naturally impossible for her to resent Ron because of these matters; she was not as narrow-minded as Apollo.
It was just that when she recalled the figure of that striking young man, she rarely let out a crude curse: "Damn it. From now on, anything related to that monster must absolutely be avoided. If he can crush Hyakinthos Clio, then his own strength…"
"Has probably already reached the level of Lv3?"
'The seed of a hero?'
No!
Judging from Ron's path of growth, he might already have stepped onto the road of a hero. And as a latecomer, he would probably soon catch up to their own Ais…
"The future Orario."
"Although I really don't like that guy Ron, because of his appearance, just how lively will it become…"
"I'm looking forward to it as well."
Standing up and overlooking the entire city, Hephaestus gazed down with deep eyes and nodded slightly. Without a doubt, through today's War Game with Apollo, it was proclaiming to the whole world that a brilliant new star was rising.
For those adventurers who lived in this era, those who had once been called the geniuses of Orario… would probably only just reach the threshold of chasing after Ron.
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