Chapter 61 – The Game Gets More Complicated (POV Freya)
The evening breeze blew gently, making my transparent black and red dress flutter.
From my throne at the top of Babel Tower, Orario stretched out below like a living tapestry...
beautiful, yes, but also predictable.
Boring.
During my time in Orario, I'd watched the same show over and over.
Humans moving in monotonous patterns, seeking power, seeking love, seeking meaning in their short little lives.
Ottar stood straight behind me like a living statue, my loyal knight who never questioned my will.
But my thoughts weren't focused on the city below, they were on one chaotic little soul.
One anomaly that had managed to disturb the boredom I'd been feeling for centuries.
The corner of my mouth lifted slowly as I remembered the past three days.
My initial plan had been so simple, so elegant.
After seeing that boy's storm of a soul for the first time...
when Ryuu beat the hell out of him and after I saved him with a drop of rare Elixir.
My plan was perfect in its simplicity.
I'd use my disguise, Syr, to approach him gradually.
An "accidental" meeting on the street, an innocent smile, an invitation to eat at the Hostess of Fertility.
I'd trap him with kindness and charm, make him open up that fascinating soul to me willingly.
Like a butterfly drawn to a flower, he'd be attracted to Syr's beauty and slowly become mine.
But my new toy apparently didn't want to play by my rules.
For a whole week after the incident with Ryuu, he avoided the area around the Hostess of Fertility like it was the plague.
The paranoia planted by Ryuu's attack had turned him into an overly wary animal—
constantly looking over his shoulder, avoiding crowds, walking in unpredictable patterns.
How interesting.
Trauma can drastically change someone's behavior, even small trauma.
But this trauma also made him prey that was hard to reach.
Hard to make him and Syr meet by coincidence.
Because he didn't want to come to coincidence.
So I decided to go to him.
I changed my plan to be more proactive.
Syr would "accidentally" bump into him on one of his routes home that I'd been monitoring.
Simple, effective, and should've successfully opened the first conversation that would become the foundation of our relationship.
But I never, in thousands of years of observing human souls, expected his reaction.
He choked me.
The trembling hands of a Level 1 traumatized kid, gripping my disguise's throat with surprising strength.
And in that moment...
I felt vibrations from his soul that had been dim from trauma, now blazing wildly.
Red from anger, gray from fear, black from paranoia.
That colorful storm spun at a speed that amazed me.
It was the most beautiful spiritual sight I'd witnessed in a very long time.
But in the middle of that emotional storm...
I felt something else.
Something that truly fascinated me and...
surprised me a little.
He didn't like me.
Not burning hatred or love turned into obsession.
But clear, instinctive dislike and suspicion directed at Syr.
This was the perfect anomaly.
Humans are usually charmed by Syr's appeal.
The innocent face I'd crafted so carefully, the smile that could melt even the hardest heart.
But...
Maybe on a subconscious level, that boy sensed something wrong with Syr.
Some humans have stronger instincts than usual, able to sense danger or abnormality even when they can't explain it logically.
His instinct that could see something was wrong behind my mask of innocence.
Like a rabbit smelling a wolf even when the wolf's disguised as a sheep.
He could smell the predator.
How fascinating.
Maybe his soul had extraordinary sensitivity.
That's when I realized normal approaches would never work with this boy.
He was too wary.
Too suspicious to be tamed with ordinary kindness.
That's where I completely changed my game.
If I couldn't make him like me, then I'd make him need me.
I'd destroy him to the lowest point possible...
until he had no one left,
until the whole world hated him.
until he was completely alone in the deepest darkness.
Then, in the middle of that absolute despair, right when his soul was about to break.
Syr would come as the only savior, the only light in the darkness.
The first step was to weaken the opponent socially.
Let the world tear him apart first...
through tongues and rumors.
Nothing's more deadly than gossip that stabs at pride and honor.
One word, and his entire reputation would be destroyed forever.
One scream, and he'd become a pariah in all of Orario's eyes.
The rape accusation wasn't a sudden or emotional decision.
I weighed all the consequences carefully.
I knew the risks...
his soul could shatter into pieces under that kind of pressure.
Not all souls are strong enough to survive total destruction.
But I bet on the core of silver steel I saw at his center...
an iron will to survive that wouldn't break easily.
A soul like that wouldn't shatter.
It would be forged into something stronger, more beautiful.
And the results... ah, the results exceeded my expectations.
For these past three days, I'd made sure my plan ran perfectly like an orchestra played by a maestro.
I'd ordered Allen to "relocate" all witnesses from the Ryuu incident to other cities with huge compensation...
they thought they'd gotten lucky, when they were just pawns I'd swept from the chessboard.
I'd used my influence to slow down and mess up all the bureaucratic processes related to this case.
Building an invisible labyrinth around that boy.
However, there were a few things slightly outside my expectations.
Little Hestia and her half-elf advisor, Eina Tulle, turned out to be more persistent than I'd imagined.
They were even starting to suspect Ryuu—
a development that was slightly dangerous.
I couldn't let my Syr disguise be exposed.
That identity was too valuable an asset to waste.
I felt...
It was time to speed up the process a bit more.
My plan was to pressure Ganesha to convict that boy guilty faster.
That way, Hestia would be increasingly cornered and forced to ask for help from the big familias.
And of course, Freya Familia was the most logical choice for a problem this big.
"But where's Ganesha?" I looked toward the Ganesha Familia headquarters in the distance, a large building with flashy elephant decorations.
"He hasn't been seen for several days. Where'd that god go?"
Ottar finally spoke for the first time in the past few hours, his voice deep and steady as usual.
"The last report mentioned he'd return today from business outside the city, Goddess Freya."
"Good," I nodded with satisfaction.
"Prepare a formal invitation to speak with him. It's time to—"
I was just about to tell Ottar to prepare a formal invitation when I felt it...
a bombastic and slightly dramatic divine aura approaching the top of the tower quickly.
An aura that was very familiar and very...
theatrical.
I smiled.
How perfectly timed.
"Looks like he's coming himself," I whispered to Ottar, who just nodded without shifting his gaze from his position.
Right then, Ganesha's large figure appeared out of nowhere.
His robe fluttered dramatically in the evening wind.
His golden elephant mask gleamed in the setting sunlight.
"GANESHA IS HERE!" he shouted with his booming voice, as usual.
But I could sense something different about his aura.
Tension.
Restlessness.
This wasn't a usual social visit.
I greeted him with my sweetest smile...
the smile that had captivated gods and humans alike.
"Ganesha," I greeted him, my voice as melodious as heavenly music that could calm even the most troubled soul.
"What a pleasant surprise. I was just about to invite you to talk."
He seemed hesitant for a moment...
something that rarely happened to this always-confident god.
Ottar quickly provided a chair across from me, then stepped back to his original position.
"Is there something I can help you with?" I asked in an innocent tone, tilting my head slightly—a small movement I made look very charming.
Ganesha sat with slightly stiff movements.
Behind his elephant mask.
I knew clearly from his eyes, he was choosing his words.
"Freya," he said finally, his voice no longer bombastic as usual.
"I came to discuss a case my familia is handling. The... rape case."
I raised my eyebrows with a perfect surprised expression.
"Oh? Which case? I heard Orario's been pretty busy with various incidents lately."
"The case involving the Hestia Familia member. Kaen."
That name came out of his mouth heavily, as if he didn't like saying it.
"Ah," I nodded with a face showing slight sadness.
"Yes, I heard that very sad story. A young man attacking an innocent girl... how awful for that girl."
Ganesha shook his head.
"Freya, I'll be straight with you. I'm not sure that boy is actually guilty."
My heart became slightly wary, but I maintained my innocent expression.
"Not guilty? But the evidence is pretty clear, isn't it? There were eyewitnesses, there were marks on the victim..."
"That's the problem," Ganesha shifted in his chair.
"All that evidence is too... perfect. Too clean. In my experience handling various cases, situations like this rarely happen naturally."
He stared at me with an intensity I could feel even though his eyes were hidden behind the mask.
He was indeed a god, he knew it seemed like I'd done something.
"Besides, I know that boy's character from Guild reports. He has no history of violence, even tends to avoid conflict. Suddenly doing something extreme like this? It doesn't make sense."
A sly smile crept across my face as I walked to the edge of the balcony.
"Someone's character can change, Ganesha. Pressure, trauma, frustration... all of that can make people act unexpectedly."
"Maybe so," Ganesha nodded.
"But my intuition tells me something's not right here. And as a god of justice, I can't let someone who might be innocent get punished."
I turned to face him, my expression changing to slightly shocked and...
disappointed.
"So, what do you want from me, Ganesha?"
"I want to free that boy, I mean Kaen."
A direct request I totally didn't expect.
This could ruin my entire plan.
"Free him?" I put on a perfect shocked expression.
"Ganesha, do you realize what you're saying? The victim is one of the staff at the Hostess of Fertility... part of my family. You want to free the person who attacked her?"
My tone changed, showing slightly controlled anger...
a natural emotion for a goddess who felt her familia was attacked.
Anyway, Mia Grand was a former captain of Freya Familia.
Attacking her employee was the same as attacking Freya Familia.
"Freya, I understand your feelings," Ganesha said carefully.
"But justice must come before personal feelings. If he's not guilty—"
"If?" I cut him off, my voice rising slightly.
"I know Syr—she's a very innocent girl, there's no way she'd lie about something like this. And you want me to ignore her suffering just because of an 'if'?"
I stood and walked away, turning my back to him while hugging myself.
A movement that showed mixed emotions.
"I can't, Ganesha. I can't free that boy."
"If he goes free, won't Freya Familia become a laughingstock in Orario?"
The atmosphere became tense.
I could feel the struggle inside Ganesha...
between his desire to uphold justice and his understanding of my position as a goddess who felt her familia was attacked.
This was basically testing Ganesha—whether for one person he'd make his familia suffer.
"Freya," he said finally in a gentler tone.
"What if we find a middle ground?"
I turned around, my expression showing interest though still wary.
"Middle ground?"
"I'll act as mediator between you and Hestia. We'll hold formal negotiations... Hestia can present her defense, and you can voice the victim's interests. If there really is no doubt, the process can continue. But if there are things that need clarification..."
He paused for a moment, letting the implications of his words sink in.
"I know this isn't easy for you, Freya. But this is the best way to ensure justice for all parties... including Syr."
I put on an expression of deep thought, as if considering this difficult proposal.
In my heart, the corner of my mouth lifted slowly.
This could actually strengthen my plan.
A direct meeting with Hestia would give me a chance to control the situation more directly.
"Negotiations..." I murmured softly.
"With Hestia as the defender, and me as... the victim's representative?"
"Exactly. And I'll make sure the process is fair for all parties."
I was silent for a long time, playing the role of a goddess forced to choose between personal emotions and greater justice.
"Alright," I said finally in a heavy tone.
"For the sake of justice, and to make sure there's no doubt in this case... I agree."
Ganesha looked relieved.
"Thank you, Freya. I know this isn't easy."
"But there are conditions," I added in a firm tone.
"This negotiation must be done formally and fairly. No emotional pressure or manipulation from any party."
"And only the three of us meet without other gods."
"Of course."
"And the negotiation results must be final. If Hestia can't provide convincing evidence, this case will proceed without further delay."
"Agreed."
Ganesha stood from his chair, looking much more relieved than when he arrived.
"I'll arrange a meeting between you two in a few minutes... That's enough time for Hestia to prepare her defense."
"Very fair," A thin smile carved across my face, hiding my satisfaction.
After Ganesha left with much lighter steps, I returned to my throne while smiling with satisfaction.
That conversation went better than I'd imagined.
Negotiations?
How perfect.
This was even better than my original plan to make Hestia come begging.
Now she'd come with hope.
I leaned back in my throne, feeling deep satisfaction.
The plan had evolved into something more elegant.
Ganesha thought he'd found a fair middle ground, but actually he'd just given me the perfect stage.
In the upcoming negotiations, I'd play the role of a reluctant goddess who actually wanted to protect her familia member but also respected justice.
Hestia would come with desperate arguments, and I'd destroy them one by one with irrefutable evidence.
And when she finally gave up, when she begged with tears in her eyes, only then would I offer the last "solution"...
One she couldn't possibly refuse.
Because if she refused, it meant she'd become an enemy of Freya Familia.
How beautifully this game was developing.
I'm curious about that man's expression when he finds out that Syr was the one who put him in prison.
Who'll enter his life every day.
This is getting more and more fun.