Liebe said, "The Underworld itself is separated along with Níðhöggr's body. The lowest floor is Níðhöggr's head. 24 and 23 are the neck. 22 to 9 are just the main body. Not to mention, 9 to 1 are just the tail alone. And the piece found in the Arctic—it's far too small to be part of the main body. For that, it needs to be at least 100 times larger. From what I'm guessing, it's perhaps a finger or a small end of the tail. And as Níðhöggr reunites with parts of its body, the Underworld—at least 40 years ago, floors 25 and 24, 2 and 3 and 4, 6 and 7 and 8, 12 and 13 and 14, 16 and 17, 20 and 21, 22 and 23 and 24 are connected. It won't be long till her body is complete once more."
Licht said, "And you are helping Horn get Níðhöggr and Loki's flesh?"
Liebe said, "Yeah."
Licht said, "Are you crazy or have you lost it? Do you have any idea what you are talking about? If Horn gets the power of both Loki and Níðhöggr, there will be no stopping her. Do you have any idea what she might do next? She can destroy the world. Bring down Celestial Island. Yeah, we will be on the list next. If Níðhöggr can command the Abyssal monsters, there will be no stopping her from devouring the world."
Liebe said, "Don't worry. It's like me saying if you got too strong, you will be hard to manage, am I right? I trust her."
Licht said, "Yeah, trust the thing that can eat the world. Sure, sure. What do you want me to do next? Marry a guy?"
Liebe said, "I was actually planning that, seeing your luck with girls."
Licht said, "Don't. But please, just tell me you have a good reason to trust her."
Liebe said, "Of course I do."
Licht said, "Great. Now mind sharing that?"
Liebe said, "Easy. Because she is my friend."
Licht said, "Yup, we are doomed. You used to have plans for everything."
Liebe said, "Yeah, I gave up on that crap. Like every plan I made went through, but the pain just didn't stop. So I will wing it—like my theoretical exams."
Licht said, "Great. We are doomed. Dig me a grave."
Liebe said, "Already did. It's below the dildo room."
Licht said, "Yeah, I take that back. If you dug my grave, it means I won't be able to rest easy. And Mai, please get me a drink. Whisky, please."
Mai said, "Sure."
Licht said, "Make it extra strong. I need it after hearing Liebe's words."
Liebe said, "You're welcome."
Licht said, "That wasn't a compliment."
Licht said, "But are you really sure about this?"
Liebe said, "Yeah."
Licht said, "Now answer me truthfully. Where did you meet Horn, and what exactly is your contract?"
Liebe said, "I found her when I went to Mikill as a kid. I sensed extreme sorrow in a dying snake, so I brought it back. It was tiny, so I helped it. And the snake was dying. She asked for my flesh, and I gave her, and she turned into Horn. She asked for my wish. I was just a kid, so I wasn't serious, but I said, 'I guess being the strongest would be fun.' And I asked for her wish. She said, 'Flesh of Níðhöggr and Loki.' And she said, 'If you can bring me the flesh of Níðhöggr, I will do whatever is necessary to grant the way to be the strongest. But the path will be thorny.' And since I was a dumb 5-year-old, I let her bite my finger, and the contract was made. But when Grandpa died, this contract became absolute as I trained with Horn to grow stronger."
Licht said, "Great. 5-year-old you cursed us. I hate the past, Liebe."
Liebe said, "Yeah. But basically, she will show me the way to the strongest. So it was a promise."
Licht said, "OK. And now, what is Horn truly? If she is a fae, how is she alive? Faes shouldn't be able to survive for a thousand years. No creature should."
Liebe said, "Loki is alive, isn't he? Same for the immortals."
Licht said, "Immortals are exceptions. Exceptions aren't examples."
Liebe said, "A combination of giant and other creatures."
Licht said, "OK. And also, how will you give her Loki's flesh? No one in the world knows where Loki's prison is located underground. Not to mention, we can't just start searching roots since the World Tree has hundreds of thousands of roots which span across all continents."
Liebe said, "I know where Loki's prison is located."
As Licht spat in Liebe's face from shock, he said, "What? Where? When?"
Liebe said, "It's in Mikill."
Licht said, "Oh thank god. You don't know. Mikill is basically a subcontinent-sized country."
Liebe said, "I know exactly where. It's in a location where multiple roots of the World Tree meet."
Licht said, "But how did you know that?"
Liebe said, "From my grandpa's diary. Do you know who the Sinners are?"
Licht said, "No, not really."
Liebe said, "In the past thousand years, only 8 people were able to see the Underworld and the Celestial Realm. These people came to be known as Sinners. Among which, Domr Faust is known as the Strongest Sinner."
Licht said, "What?"
Liebe said, "35 years ago, when Mother let out Loki and Loki went on his rampage, the entire Mikill military and every giant alive tried together but failed. Grandfather was the one who found him and put him in a new prison where he rests for eternity. And the location of the new prison was known by him and only a handful of trusted giants, who all perished. But I know the location. It's in his diary."
Licht said, "Liebe, do you have any idea what this means?"
Liebe said, "Yeah. That we can free Loki whenever we want and recruit him to join our team."
Licht said, "Oh hell no. We have to burn that diary. Loki can't be let loose."
Liebe said, "But why? He isn't bad. He is sad."
Licht said, "Do you have any idea what happened 35 years ago? Aunt Lilith was only able to beat Loki because a seal was there to stop his magic. But after he broke that seal, my dad and Aunt Lilith weren't able to stop him. Everyone in Black Rose couldn't beat him. My dad and everyone were beaten like nothing. Not to mention, at that time, only Domr was able to beat him, and he was backed up with the power of the previous vice captain, Dogedo. And he died. Not to mention the spirit of every giant in Mikill. Before we were born, Loki is a monster beyond comprehension. My dad calls Loki the worst monster of them all. If he gets free, he will burn the world to the ground, kill everyone."
Liebe said, "Or maybe look for Níðhöggr and join our team. He isn't bad, just misunderstood."
Licht said, "And even if he is good, your grandpa was the one who put him back. He will hold grudges."
Liebe said, "Come on, you worry too much, dumbass. Trust me, alright?"
Licht said, "Fine. But if anything goes wrong, I will be the one who kicks you in the nuts. Now where is Loki's prison located?"
Liebe said, "All it says is: 'The prison is that freedom is held on the edge of 8 spears. As the gods of dawn and dust reunite, the darkest god of war and mischief shall be let loose.'"
Licht said, "Great. Not location. Just a riddle."
Liebe said, "Oh, the coordinates of the prison are given right here."
Licht said, "You could have goddamn said that from the start."
Liebe said, "Well, yeah, but I can't read it."
As Licht saw it, it was in a different language.
Licht said, "What the hell is wrong with this diary?"
Liebe said, "Yeah. It didn't take me this long to decode this diary for nothing."
Licht said, "Thank god to Grandpa Domr for that. Otherwise, it would be you just running off to Mikill."
Liebe said, "Guess so. Not to mention, it's encased hundreds of km beneath ice, so just starting to dig won't help."
Licht said, "Yeah."
Liebe said, "I was thinking of something."
Licht said, "Yeah?"
Liebe said, "I'm not actually ready for the dating game yet, but I need at least 6 months."
Licht said, "Alright."
Liebe said, "I was thinking, how about around December, the entire team goes on a vacation to the Empire for like a week and just let loose?"
Licht said, "Sounds fun."
Liebe said, "Alright then. And maybe 6 months later, I can start dating again?"
Licht said, "Again? What do you mean by 'again'? Wait, were you involved with someone?"
Liebe said, "No, not really."
Licht said, "Alright. It's a mixer. Want to be my wingman?"
Liebe said, "Sure. A wingwoman sure would be nice right about now."
Licht said, "What are you talking about?"
Liebe said, "Nothing."
Meanwhile, far away on a winter island, Horn, disguised as Liebe, went to meet someone. As they met, the person said, "You aren't Liebe Faust. But take this gift to Liebe Faust." As she gave Horn a file and some papers.