Chapter 23

OURANOS POV, AFTERNOON:

He lay sitting upon his stone throne like an ageless sentinel. The hallowed chamber in which he resided seemed to resonate with his presence.

Suddenly, thanks to the profound depths of his Arcanum, Ouranos detected the presence of another deity passing through the Guild boundary. A ripple of disturbance spread through the Guild members, their voices a cacophony of panic and frustration. Complaints filled the air.

"Not this again!" one voice lamented.

"It is the second time this week!" another exclaimed.

"Please stop!!" begged a chorus of others, their words carrying a blend of apprehension and annoyance.

Royman raised his voice above the tumult. His words were a plea and a warning, delivered with a measure of desperation, "This is a sacred path that leads to the Temple of Ouranos. P-please, leave here!"

In the midst of this commotion, the intruding deity spoke. His voice, dry and unwavering, cut through the chaos like a blade. "I have something to report to Ouranos."

Royman continued to resist the intrusion, "No, absolutely not! Please comply with the official procedure!".

Ouranos, internally sighing at the antics of the Guild personnel, decided to intervene. His words, solemn and commanding, reverberated through the chamber, "It is no matter. Royman, let him pass."

The voice of the Guild's guardian fell silent as if overruled by the sheer weight of Ouranos' decree. An unspoken acknowledgment of the deity's will.

As the intruding god descended the stone stairs toward the chamber, Ouranos contemplated the unusual turn of events. Why had Goibniu, of all gods, chosen to seek him directly? It was an act contrary to his typical demeanor, one that usually shunned involvement beyond the familial circle.

Ouranos' ageless thoughts swirled, his divine mind already weaving the intricate threads of possibilities. Whatever this visit heralded, it was undoubtedly of great importance.

Goibniu completed his descent of the stone stairs, his posture unyielding and his demeanor that of a deity unaccustomed to wasting words. His presence, though physically short and robust, exuded a sense of dignified authority. His thin face held a hawk-like intensity, and his white hair cascaded just beyond his ears, mingling with a voluminous silver beard that concealed his mouth. Physically, the deity resembled a dwarf more than a human.

Without a preamble, Goibniu began to relay his message. His speech was deliberate and concise, cutting dry through the air "I came here to report that yesterday, early in the morning, my familia saw an unidentified deity returning to the heavens in the deep forest Seolo..."

I see...So they saw Fels' ritual...

Acknowledging the blacksmith deity's report with a simple, "Thank you for your prompt report," the blue-eyed deity allowed the silence to settle between them.

Goibniu wasn't the type to carry on a conversation, either, so both stood there in silence. A soft breeze of dry air traveled from the four torches surrounding Ouranos.

Breaking the silence with unwavering determination, Goibniu conveyed his expectations. "I don't think I need to say it... Don't involve my familia in this matter." His words were firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

As always, the blacksmith deity wanted to keep out anything happening around him and isolate his own familia from outside matters.

Ouranos, equally resolute, offered his assurance. "I will see to it.".

With that, Goibniu made his intent clear. "As long as our mutual agreement holds, we can continue to cooperate," he stated cryptically before turning to leave the stone chamber.

o-O-o

LILI POV, NEXT MORNING, THE DAY OF THE ATTACK ON SOMA FAMILIA:

Shalltear and Lili found themselves in a modest wooden inn on East Main Street. Their room was simple, featuring a wooden table with two chairs and a bed separated by a wooden partition with diamond-shaped holes. The room lacked extravagance, and even the building's structural elements were visible with a casual glance.

They sat at the table adjacent to a large, five-foot-tall window, which provided ample natural light during the day. Sipping tea, Shalltear asked, "Are you sure you don't want to stay in a more upscale inn?" She was referring to the beautiful red brick buildings they had passed on their way here.

The chestnut-haired girl replied while sipping her tea, "Lili thinks it's fine. We're only staying for one day, after all."

Shalltear then reviewed their plan for the day, saying, "Let's go over the plan for today...Now that we booked an inn, I'll head to Gita to confirm that the rumor has been spread. Afterward, I'll return here and wait with you."

Lili completed the silver-haired female's explanation, saying, "...And when Lady Shalltear goes out to attack the familia, Lili will request room service for two. They'll likely deny it at such a late hour, but it will serve as our alibi."

They were discussing the initial part of the plan to attack Soma Familia and their alibi plus witness, which consisted that they were calmly in the inn the entire night, without any further incident nor anything that caught attention negatively.

Shalltear nodded in agreement, her expression softening. She gently took one of Lili's hands into her own, a comforting gesture.

"I'm sorry I can't bring you with me, but I want to ensure your safety. I have to handle two places in succession, and I'd be less worried if you're not part of the operation," the silver-haired female explained with genuine concern in her voice.

Lady Shalltear seems more careful since the encounter with Loki Familia...

The chestnut-haired girl nodded with a hint of sadness in her eyes. However, her expression turned serious as she made a request. "But Lady Shalltear, you must promise Lili something..."

Curious, the silver-haired female tilted her head and whispered, "What is it?"

Lili's eyes burned with pure hatred as she said, "To make sure Lord Soma suffers."

Shalltear's eyes narrowed with anger, but then she broke into a wide, sadistic smile. "Of course, Lili, of course...I have something special planned for him." Her expression showed a deep, vindictive satisfaction.

o-O-o

SHALLTEAR POV, AFTERNOON:

She entered the serene atmosphere of Cafe Wish, scanning the cozy interior for Gita. She found Gita with Love sitting in a corner, savoring coffee with milk at a wooden table. The cafe's elven wood and decorations added to the tranquil ambiance.

With a cheerful greeting, Shalltear joined them, saying, "Good afternoon~, Gita, Love.".

Love, always full of mischief and cheer, was the first to notice her, responding with an enthusiastic, "Shalltear! Hello, meow~!" the catgirl scooted over to sit beside Gita, making space for the silver-haired female.

Gita, with her typically reserved demeanor, replied in a slightly subdued tone, "Ah, you're here.".

Shalltear couldn't help but chuckle at the dog-girl's usual lack of a conventional greeting, remarking, "I'm never going to get a normal greeting from you, Gita, am I?"

Love, ever the extrovert, interjected, "Gita might seem unfriendly on the outside, but she's kind inside, meow!" She hugged the dog-girl from the side, causing Gita's cheeks to turn a shade of red, and her dog-like tail began to wag vigorously, creating a tap-tap-tap-tap-tap against the wooden chair.

As Love released her, Gita regained her composure, though the lingering blush on her cheeks suggested that the catgirl's sudden affectionate gesture had left its mark.

Gita retrieved a pouch filled with coins from her cat-eared brown backpack and placed it carefully on the intricately crafted wooden table. She slid the pouch forward, her voice tinged with an apologetic tone as she explained, "The investigation failed. I am refunding the amount I still have on me."

Love, sitting beside Gita, chimed in with a sorrowful tone, "Umm... Love asked, but nobody knows either, meow."

Huh! Isn't that a nice surprise? Thank you Love for helping me expand the rumor even further~.

"Huh? What happened?" she asked, her voice filled with fake confusion.

Gita let out a sigh and began to explain, "As far as I can tell, nobody is targeting Soma Familia. There's talk that they might be involved in some shady business, but they're more infamous for causing problems at the Guild's exchange." She paused to take a sip of her coffee and continued, "They often criticize the appraisers and make a scene, demanding more money. And recently, it seems one of their members caused a disturbance with the goddess Loki at the Guild."

Hmm...I have the opportunity to frame them as responsible for what is gonna happen...Do I want to?...Yes, especially after the stupidity they did yesterday...What a way to generate bad blood...

With a contemplative expression, she finally asked, "Then... could Loki Familia be after them?" Her arms were crossed, and she pondered the possibilities.

Gita shook her head and responded, "It is unlikely... That person just ran away from Loki like a scaredy-cat."

Love joined in with a concerned tone, adding, "That's right. Loki Familia is much stronger than Soma Familia; they wouldn't make a move to anger them, meow!"

I guess I can't frame them...

She then spoke up, trying to downplay the situation, "It probably was nothing, just a rumor after all."

Gita made a gesture with an open palm and explained, "To be clear... The information is full of holes, so it can't be sold as a product... Take your money back."

Shalltear, however, pushed the pouch back towards the dog-girl and said firmly, "Keep it. Even if you think the information isn't valuable, you confirmed that the rumor is unfounded."

Thank you for helping me spread the cover for my offensive~

Gita sighed softly, accepting the pouch once more. "Very well, if you insist," she conceded, returning the money to her cat-eared brown backpack.

Now Shalltear only needed to wait until nightfall to execute her plan against the evildoers.

It is time to give them hell~!