Chapter 33: The truth

"So as per condition, you and your members are now part of the Hestia Familia"

Ingvild says, reading the contract and the words stated in their oath before looking at the two Goddess in front of her.

"Why am I here?"

Freya asked confused as she was called out by Ingvild together with Loki when the event ended.

"That's because as stated in the contract, the goddess that will participate in the event will merge from the winning Familia. It didn't specifically said who the goddess is, it just says that 'the goddess' so basically it doesn't matter who you are, if you lose, you'll be a goddess under our command"

"T-this is..."

Freya stuttered in shock before looking at the grinning Loki beside her.

"Loki... You tric-"

Freya angrily shouts at Loki but was knocked out by Justice from behind with a large smirk on her face.

"So... Loki, it looks like everything is going according to your plan doesn't it?"

Ingvild asked with a light grin on her face from underestimating the Goddess of Mischief sitting opposite to her.

"You saw through it? when?"

Loki asked with a wide smile on her face while slightly opening her closed eyelids, staring at the purple haired girl elegantly sitting on the soft sofa of the new residence of the Hestia Familia.

"I had my suspicions when you gave me the terms of the contract... But I wasn't sure enough that's why I didn't mention anything, but I got to say... you're acting skills are quite magnificent isn't it, Loki?"

Ingvild said before taking out the contract that Loki renewed a day ago before the event even began.

"I thought I found it strange that you of all people fell right into an elaborate trap... it seems that you purposely fell for it"

"Hoh? What makes you think so Ingvild Leviathan?"

Loki asked with a curious expression on her face as she leaned closer to the table.

"First: You could've just asked us to give a simple command for our oaths to end but you never brought it up when you confronted us in the past... Instead you suggested a fight between the factions of the your and the Hestia Familia" (Ingvild)

"Two: You knew that we didn't belong to the Hestia Familia, but you didn't say anything to them and just shrugged it off, because if Freya knew this, she will do everything she can to pull us at her side at all cost" (Ingvild)

"Three: Your members are... purposely leaving multiple openings for us to attack like Finn and Rivera, I know for sure that they will react instantly if such situation arise but no... They took the hit, and caused panicked among the Freya Familia members" (Ingvild)

"Four: The equipment of your members and sword Ains used was... lacking in quality that's why Justice was able to easily break it into pieces..." (Ingvild)

She says before taking out a shattered piece of blade from Ains' sword.

"Five: I think you already know how powerful we really are since your core members 'bump' into us inside the dungeon multiple times... every single day... don't you think that's a bit suspicious? Since the members you've placed against us is... someone we can easily handle, if you placed Rivera or Finn against me along with the entire group of lvl 4-5s, My chances of winning would've significantly decreased but you didn't and placed them against Justice who is immune to majority of the spells that exist" (Ingvild)

"With those I can conclude... you want both of us by your side no matter what the means you use be it merging with our allies or having us in your Familia" (Ingvild)

"You switched out their equipment so they wouldn't break during the fight, and you purposely ordered your members to lose to cause panick among the Freya Familia members... The only thing that wasn't included in your plan was Kuro, who suddenly appeared in the Hestia Familia" (Ingvild)

"You changed the conditions to make you look frustrated and desperate to Freya to make her lend her aid to you, because we all know Freya's personality... she wouldn't help anyone with the kindness of her heart but only if someone caught her eye and that is... both me and Justice" (Ingvild)

"I didn't realize it until the matches was over by piecing every piece of information and clues you've given to us.. so you did a pretty good job hiding it from all of us, Loki" (Ingvild)

"You pushed Freya into a corner where she couldn't escape, you knew that she was planning something to make it so that we belong to her faction... That was the reason why she let the captain and vice captain of her Familia to participate with their full equipments... She plans to pressure you to give us up to her" 

Ingvild explained with an amused smile on her face while Justice was laughing her lungs out behind the sofa Loki was sitting at.

"F-fueeeeee?"

Haruhime muttered from confusion as she couldn't understand what was happening along with Bell and the shocked Hestia who was staring at Loki's direction.

"... Hahaha, Quite sharp of you Ingvild, it wasn't a mistake to place all my bets on the two of you... You're right, that is what I aimed for but it is true that I didn't expect you to recruit another monster in your group but you forgot one thing Ingvild Leviathan"

Loki grinned widely as she stared at Ingvild with amusement visible in her eyes while crossing her legs on the sofa.

"Indeed... You already knew that Freya had her eyes on us... So that's why you formulated a plan where: she wouldn't take us, and be sure that we will be on your side... by gaining our trust in a way where you surrender you entire Familia to us, from the looks of it your members already knew about this"

"Spot on, Ingvild!!"

Loki clapped her hands as she endlessly praised the purple haired girl in front of her with a genuine smile on her face.

"But... there is one thing that I don't understand..."

Ingvild says with a uneasy expression on her face as she held in chin in deep thought before asking her question.

"Why would you go so far to do this, Loki, you're familia is powerful enough to stand against the Freya Familia so... why? You already had a solid standing in this town"

She asked while eagerly waiting for her answer. Loki suddenly removed the smile on her face as it was replaced with a serious expression, staring directly at Ingvild eyes.

"That's because... a voice told me ..."

-Flashback (2 months ago)-

'Due to the order of the 'creator', I the primordial being of Chaos will erase your dimension from existence from the blunder that one of the goddess of your world has done, but it can only be saved if you are able to follow the commands of the 'creator' and that is... force the Freya Familia to be enslaved to Lucias Frey. As an aid to your quest, the 'creator' will implant a seed of loyalty to each of the goddess and gods, and you will receive the help from Hephaestus and the other major Familias that she trust'

A deep but feminine voice that contains no emotions whatsoever said before disappearing from Loki's head. Implanting fear at her heart from the sudden interference of such a powerful in their dimension.

"What did Freya do to incite the wrath of the 'creator'..."

Loki asked herself as cold sweat ran down her back as she hurriedly got off from bed to immediately formulate the plan and meet the other goddess that will aid her with this problem.

"... Freya... you going to kill us all"

She says before quickly going out of Twilight Manor to meet with Hephaestus and the other goddesses in a hurry

-Flashback End-

"That's all what happened"

Loki told her story to the two shocked girls inside the room from hearing her name, especially Justice since she was directly created by the 'creator' herself without any assistance to the other Origin like her... She never told any of the Original Angels,Spirits, Demons, or even the Biblical God about what happened to the other being, but one of the spirits tried to delve deeper into the matter, only to be erased by both Chaos and Order.

"The 'creator' is interfering with Lucias?... Why?"

Justice muttered in a anxious and worried tone since if 'that' being is involved, there's a chance that something big will happen to Lucias.

"You'll find your answer in the future, my child"

A familiar cold and emotionless voice echoed inside Justice head, confusing her further from her actions till now... Why did she create the spirits? The Original Demons? The Original Angel? She never told them their purpose, but she created them... She is not the person to create something that doesn't pose any significance to her, only the Biblical God will do such a thing.

Justice decided to throw it at the back of her head, and focus her concern on Lucias... She didn't know why the 'creator' is getting herself involved with Lucias but she will do everything she can to protect him. That's the oath she took when Lucias saved all of them from the seal.

"Wait... Freya already knew about Lucias' existence?" (Ingvild)

Ingvild asked out of pure curiosity.

"No... She learned his name 2 days before the match began" (Loki)

"Then how come?" (Ingvild)

"The 'creator' already knew everything before you even entered this dimension... Be it past or future, she saw everything" 

Loki answered as a shiver ran down her spine from the though about the limits of her powers...

"Wait... Why did you desperately want us as our ally? If you're only tasked to enslave Freya to him?"

Ingvild asked in confusion while looking at her scratching her head in embarrassment.

" Because your leader has such a powerful backer behind his back, we all decided to follow him..."

"Huh? Backer? We didn't even know that 'that' being is getting involved with us"

"... That's because she will not tell anyone about her plans to the person itself or the people that she deems as insignificant"

Loki said while placing her index finger on top of her lips, indicating for her to stay silent and not say nor ask any more further information about 'that' being.

"All you have to know is... the 'creator' wants something from Lucias Frey"

Loki said before standing up from the sofa and exiting the room without turning back but stopped to say her next words.

"The other goddesses and gods that will follow Lucias Frey, will prepare everything to move ourselves to your dimension... If you have any other things to do, I suggest you do it quickly"

"You..." (Ingvild)

"Before we even met you, we already decided to submit ourselves to Lucias Frey... But not all the gods and goddesses are informed of such events, only a few handpicked Familias know about such things... We look forward to be working with all of you in the future, Ingvild Leviathan"

Loki said before exiting the church of the Hestia Familia as she walked towards the Twilight Manor to prepare everything that they'll need before they all move towards Lucias dimension.

"... 'The seed of loyalty will immediately activate as soon as you make physical contact with Lucias Frey'... huh?"

Loki muttered as she entered the Twilight Manor, greeted by her Members and 7 Goddess inside her manor, waiting for news about the progress of their plan.

"We succeeded so everyone prepare everything before we move to our new home!" (Loki)

"Hai!"

Her Familia along with a few Goddesses shouted in unison before going their separate ways leaving both Loki and Hephaestus inside the hall of the manor.

"... You didn't tell them everything, right?"

Hephaestus asked while crossing her arms close to her chest as she stared at the Goddess near her.

"How can I tell the true reason why we need to follow him?"

"..."

"... 'Become Lucias' sword and shield, teach him everything you know about Godhood, and... die for him if needed to improve the growth of his Strength and Prestige'..."

Loki repeated the last words of the primordial being of Chaos before passing by Hephaestus, waking towards her room with a serious expression on her face.

"... Lucias Frey... I wonder what kind of man you are" (Loki)