CH. 373: Conditions

Ottar's bottled-up rage exploded when he saw Freya's gloomy expression. He stepped up to protect her honor and challenged Asahi, despite hearing of Asahi's strength from Freya.

"Ottar, what are you doing?" Freya asked, eyes narrowed on the Boaz man.

The giant man hung his head in front of his goddess. "Lady Freya, I will not back out now."

Freya had brought up Ottar since he was a scrawny kid. He wouldn't back out once he set his eyes on something. This was a challenge she didn't want him to take.

"Well, that escalated quickly," Asahi said. "How about we do it in public?"

First Ishtar and now Freya, he was sick of being blackmailed by these deities. He might as well show everyone he wasn't afraid of anyone, whether they are deities or adventurers. What better way to show it than beating the big man everyone hailed as the 'King.'

The four goddesses and the Boaz realized what Asahi's words entailed. Astraea only gave a worried look, showing no intention to stop him. She knew no one in her Familia wouldn't go against Asahi's decision. She might be the deity of the Familia, but Asahi had become a leader without any of them realizing it.

"I agree," Ottar responded as he turned his back on Freya.

Freya clenched her fists. "Listen to me, Ottar. If you want to fight him, do it with everyone." Freya turned to Asahi. "Since you aren't going to hide anymore, let's make it an official War Game."

"Official War Game?" Asahi frowned. "You want to drag my Familia into this?"

"Are you afraid?" Freya's lips curled into a grin. "Once your identity is out, Orario and every nation will be out to recruit you. They will try every underhanded tactic you can think of. I don't need to say more, do I?"

She had tried to observe Asahi for weeks, but she never found him out on the streets or in the dungeon floors. What she found was the incredible growth of everyone in Astraea Familia and the high-quality equipment of the women Asahi was related to. It was easy to see his consideration for his women.

"Not if they are dead before laying a hand on my people," Asahi declared, confidence brimming in his voice. "I'll participate in place of everyone in my Familia."

"You might be a god from another world, but my children are no slouch."

"Demigod," Loki corrected Freya. "Ya will eat your words, muahahaha."

Loki was fully convinced of Asahi's strength. She had seen him take down monsters with ease and heard his feats in the dungeon through Riveria and Finn. It was hard to see him losing against Ottar.

"We shall see." Freya gave a charming smile, seemingly unbothered by Loki. "It'll take me two days to convince the gods and prepare the arena."

"Oh, that's cool. What about the prize?" Asahi grinned. "Don't expect me to fight for free."

"My condition is still the same. You lose, you take me to your world with you. No time limits whatsoever."

"You're as selfish as ever."

He didn't hate her per say, considering she had been searching for her happiness in her own way. The fact she hadn't tried to harm him or anyone around him was rather unusual. So he had to put more thought into deciding the conditions.

After all, his victory was guaranteed.

"Hmm… let's see. You'll give up on your Babel residence and become my maid. That should be enough."

Ottar shut his eyes, digging his nail into his palms. "How dare—"

"That's completely fine with me," Freya interrupted Ottar with a stern voice and gave him a wink. "You just have to win."

Ottar nodded. "I will."

If he couldn't win alone, he would overwhelm Asahi with numbers.

Freya giggled cheerfully as she sat back on her chair. "There you have it. I can't wait for the match."

"Ya mean ya can't wait to be his slave." Loki chuckled. "It'd be my first time seeing a goddess of beauty working as a maid."

"Hehe." Freya looked unconcerned as though she didn't mind being a maid.

'Strange,' Asahi thought. 'She didn't put up much of a fight against my conditions… don't tell me she likes working as a maid?'

(Ufufu.)

Ottar left with heavy steps with only one goal in his mind—training himself and his Familia members as much as he could.

"We should also leave," Astraea said.

"It's dark outside. Stay here for the night," Freya offered with a wide, suspicious as hell grin before she licked her lips. "We have plenty of rooms for you~."

Hephaestus, Loki, and Astraea joined in giving Freya skeptical looks.

Asahi could see this going one way—Freya crawling into his bed at night. "I'll pass."

"Come on~. Don't be shy like that." Freya propped her chin on an elbow, toying with her hair with a finger. "Is the demigod scared of a mortal goddess?"

"Asahi, let's stay." Astraea glared at Freya, irritated by her attempt to undermine Asahi's courage. "I will share a room with Asahi."

"Pervert," Loki retorted, pointing at Astraea's chin. "Ya just want to sleep with him."

"I-I don't." Astraea glanced left and right, convincing no one of her words. "Someone needs to be there to protect Asahi…"

"How convincing." Freya giggled. "Actually, I can protect Asahi if you want~."

Asahi patted Astraea's head, silencing her attempt to fight back. "Don't mind if I accidentally do something."

Astraea became too cozy to think straight, so she just nodded her head.

Hephaestus ignored the cheerful atmosphere, gently prodding sleeping Chika with her finger.