After watching the battle between the two Goddesses, Adam couldn't help but applaud in excitement.
Indeed, Goddesses are beings who fixate on small details. At the slightest disagreement, they'll banish you without a chance for mercy or negotiation.
Ruthless and decisive!
Fortunately, he had always kept himself in check — otherwise, he really would have become her enemy.
A cold wind blew across the tower. Whether from the wind or something else, Adam felt a chill. He didn't dare speak.
The balcony fell silent. Freya was just like Ishtar, standing here overlooking the panorama. But where Ishtar saw prosperity, Freya saw decay.
They were mirror images, though in terms of madness, Freya was the worse of the two.
"I'm sorry, did I frighten you?"
She smiled, her gentle voice soothing Adam's tense nerves.
She once again wrapped her arm around the Hero's. She was truly the victor now — the ultimate winner who had driven away the one coveting her favored child.
"Well... I can't deny I was a bit scared." Adam ceased his constant flattery.
After all, excessive flattery only devalues oneself — whether for himself (the Hero) or for Freya (the Goddess). The title of Hero would weep at such behavior.
So he used a joking tone to cleverly test her mood.
"Hehe, I'm sorry, I didn't want it to be this way either." She covered her mouth as she laughed softly, her eyes dancing with endless charm.
Leaning gently against Adam, she enjoyed her 'reward' for victory.
She was in a good mood. Even if brief, she was content.
Yes, very brief — because both her loyal guards and Adam's close Familia companions were rushing here at full speed. Their time alone was running short.
After the brief calm, the silence was broken by heavy breathing. The entire Hestia Familia appeared before Adam, led by Hestia herself!
Just as he had thought, these idiots were too worried about his safety, rushing here without a second thought.
And not just them. Bell carried Haruhime on his back, with Ottar following behind. This Boaz, overly concerned about his deity, had rushed up here with these 'irrelevant' small fry.
"Huff... huff... huff—! Adam! I'm so glad you're okay!" Hestia's face lit up with joy.
Seeing him unharmed, she let out a long breath, her tension melting away.
Though she knew her Hero was strong, the Ishtar Familia might have possessed some hidden killing technique. After all, if something as outrageous as the Killing Stone existed, who knew what other dangers lurked?
"Adam!" Hestia began to greet him further.
But upon noticing the Goddess clinging to his arm, her expression twisted with undisguised disgust and aversion.
"...Ugh, why is Freya here too?"
Though incredibly rude, her instincts were sharp — Freya was indeed a dangerous Goddess to deal with.
"Adam—!!!" Beatrice rushed forward, throwing herself into his arms.
Unlike Hestia's hesitation, Beatrice showed no restraint. Even though she trusted in Adam's strength, she couldn't help worrying after hearing all the panicked rumors.
Fresh from her rescue, free from her cage, she no longer needed to suppress her feelings. The tsundere high Spirit immediately embraced her contractor, her concern evident.
She was very attached to Adam.
"Mm, Betty, it's okay, I'm fine." With one arm still held by the Goddess, he could only use his free hand to pat Beatrice's back reassuringly, "You should trust me, Beatrice."
"...I wasn't worried at first, but those idiots... hmph, Betty has never cared about Adam!" As she spoke, her tsundere nature emerged once again.
Adam could only humor her, "Yes, yes, I know Betty believes in me."
"Hmph." She let out a tsundere snort, but hugged him tighter — like a lonely Spirit afraid he might disappear.
In Hestia and the others' eyes, this intimate interaction was an everyday occurrence they had long grown used to. But for the still-sensitive Freya, patience was wearing thin.
"Oh my, so you're the Spirit contracted to the Hero... what an adorable little girl."
Though Freya's tone remained gentle, the cold wave that swept over gave Adam an odd sense of déjà vu.
"Eh?" Beatrice was dazed.
She showed signs of being charmed!
Sensing danger, Adam stepped forward, shielding Beatrice from Freya's strange gaze before she could fall further under the spell.
"I apologize, Goddess Freya, she's a bit nervous." Adam bowed, "But you're right, Beatrice is indeed my contracted Spirit — she's just not very mature yet."
Immature as in young. It was a good excuse. After all, in legends, Spirits were beings who guided Heroes; how could they always hide in the back?
"...Ah, is that so." Freya responded halfheartedly.
She glanced at her now-empty side, missing its former warmth. Then, seeing Adam's protective stance before Beatrice and his resolute expression, her mood soured instantly.
After driving away one strong rival, had another appeared?
Even knowing the natural closeness between Beatrice and Adam, she couldn't help but feel angry.
Looking at Hestia, she saw the other goddess trying — and failing — to shield her children from Freya's beauty. The comical attempts only made them more eager to look. Only that "Rabbit" remained unaffected by her spell.
How boring. Though Bell's soul was pure and radiant, a rare gem in this world, the Hero's unique soul attracted her far more.
Growing weary, Freya remembered her purpose here: dealing with Ishtar. That goal achieved, she saw no reason to linger.
"Hestia, I'll be taking my leave now. Ottar, let's go."
"Yes, Goddess Freya."
Without waiting for any response, Freya strode away with Ottar following close behind.
"Oh! Oh, alright!" Hestia stammered, caught off guard.
The two parties parted ways with nothing more than this brief exchange.
Though the incident appeared to end here, its true impact was far from over.
The aftermath of these events would prove far more serious than Adam could have imagined.
✧✧✧
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