The Babel Tower.
Standing at the center of the Labyrinth City, this ancient sealed structure suppresses the entire Dungeon. Over thousands of years, it has evolved into a bustling commercial hub.
This chalk-white tower, reaching toward the heavens, still harbors forbidden areas accessible only to deities.
The top floor of Babel Tower.
Here stands the throne befitting only the Familia that rules the entire city. A silver-haired Goddess of unparalleled beauty, dressed in revealing black lace, silently gazes at a corner of her domain.
She had grown accustomed to everything — managing complex Familia affairs, handling foolish deities who fawned over her, basking in her own beauty. This should have been her dream life, yet a single glance this morning had unsettled her thoughts.
"Kael..."
The Goddess of Beauty, Freya... no, Horn whispered a name that lived only in her memories.
Six years ago, after their parents' death, Horn and Kael were sent to Maria's Orphanage near the Soma Familia.
Horn, three years older than her brother Kael, shouldered the responsibility of raising him.
While fighting beggars and stray dogs for food, she encountered that divine being — beautiful, powerful, and confident. In that moment, she was irresistibly drawn to that noble beauty.
By chance, the Goddess appeared before her again, and Horn gathered her courage to rush forward, "Can I become as beautiful and powerful as you?"
"Of course!" The Goddess of Beauty Freya, with eyes that could see through souls, nodded easily, "Then, let's make an exchange! Name, life — become my likeness."
Horn succeeded. She received the blessing and awakened the only mystery in the lower world — the transformation magic "Vana Seith". This special miracle could transform one completely into a deity, save for the Arcanum.
At the same time, Horn received a new name: "Syr".
Her life transformed. The Goddess became Syr, learning to be an ordinary shop clerk. Meanwhile, Horn studied the Goddess's every word and action, her habits, replacing her on the throne and moving among the deities.
The price was freedom. When she had finally mastered everything and regained her liberty, she returned to Maria's Orphanage only to find her brother gone. Some said he had died.
Indeed, in this era, children dying in the slums was commonplace. Her brother had been so fragile, always clinging to his sister — how could he possibly survive alone?
"It's my fault..." Horn sank into self-blame, "How unfortunate to have such irresponsible parents, and then a sister like me."
Later, wallowing in her guilt, she received punishment when the Goddess began complaining about her negligence. She ventured into the fighting wilderness until reaching Level 2.
Now...
"He's... still alive." "Freya's" luminescent eyelashes lowered, her turbulent thoughts reaching across the city through the window.
The girl at the street corner felt the Familia member's thoughts for the first time — something that should have been impossible.
"But he's... dying." A crystal tear fell from Horn's eye.
For the first time, she understood the Goddess's feelings, and for the first time, she yearned to escape from this "prison" called Babel Tower.
Among all deities, the Gods of Beauty were the most capricious yet also the most dangerous. They need not follow the laws of the lower world; their unparalleled charm and allure alone could overturn the entire world.
Freya was the finest among them. In heaven, the virgin Goddesses "watched over" her. In the lower world, mortals confined her to a pedestal in the name of reverence and nobility.
Thus, the girl Syr Flova was born. And the instigator of it all — Horn.
Now, for the first time, she wished she wasn't a Goddess but simply a girl. Their emotions resonated in this moment.
The Goddess shared her feelings, "Go! The whimsical queen suddenly feels like taking a tour today."
Atop Babel Tower, Freya's eyes widened, her gaze piercing through the towering buildings to meet with the silver-haired street girl standing at the tavern entrance.
Syr smiled and waved, her lips moving inaudibly, but Horn knew it meant "go quickly".
At this moment, the Goddess standing in the high heavens vanished; all that remained was a sister worried about her brother's safety.
With a clang, the table was knocked askew, the wine glass on it crashing to the floor.
Before Ottar standing outside could react, Horn donned a black cloak and rushed down from the throne.
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Northwest Street of Orario.
At noon, "Freya", completely shrouded in black gauze, stood before Dian Cecht's clinic. Due to the Evilus's activities, patients streamed in constantly, their faces etched with worry.
After catching her breath from rushing here, "Freya" slowly ascended the three steps and entered the main hall.
Inside, the small Great Priestess held a test tube of red liquid, using a dropper to add a single drop to an ordinary high-grade elixir. Strange bubbles rose, bursting into emerald mist rich with life force.
Upon seeing the woman shrouded in black robes with her eerie presence, the Priestess's brows furrowed slightly.
"Excuse me... Goddess..."
"I want to inquire about something." "Freya" paused before slowly removing her hood, "The patient Shakti brought in this morning — which ward are they in now?"
"Ah... Frey..." Airmid's breath caught as she stammered, entranced by the beauty Goddess's charm.
Noticing the sudden silence in the shop, old man Dian Cecht, who had been drinking tea and playing with birds on the second floor, descended.
Upon seeing Freya's true appearance, he exclaimed, "Why — why if it isn't Lady Freya! Your presence graces our humble establishment!"
Dian Cecht's eyes sparkled with the shape of Valis.
"What brings you here today? Potions? Or perhaps prosthetics?"
Horn's transformation magic, which even deities couldn't see through, had prompted him to show the hospitality befitting the city's largest faction.
"Neither."
"Could it be you've grown tired of those male Gods and want to have some fun with this old man? Hehe, that wouldn't be impossible." Dian Cecht's face flushed as he fidgeted with his fingers.
"...You misunderstand. I simply want to know where that kid who caused the city's unrest last night is now." Freya stroked her chin, fixing the old man with a cold look.
"That boy? He's already gone."
"Gone?! Dead?" Freya's tone grew heavy, her face instantly darkening.
"Oh no, their captain took him away."
"What about his treatment?"
"Airmid provided basic care." He paused before adding, "Though that kid is peculiar. I don't believe he's in any real danger. Hm?"
Before Dian Cecht could finish his explanation, Freya had vanished down the street.
He stroked his beard thoughtfully, "Hmm, could she have taken a liking to that boy? Well, with such terrifying vitality, even I'm intrigued. And that blood..."
Little did he know that his dramatic pause had nearly led to the destruction of the Soma Familia.