CH. 372: Refusal

"Let me tell you how I came to this conclusion." Freya raised a finger. "The deities in Ishtar's harem."

"Did they confess it?" Asahi frowned.

He should have killed those gods to avoid this trouble. Well, it wasn't like he wasn't getting some amusement out of his current situation.

"It was just odd to see a god of freedom shutting himself in his home. It happened after Ishtar's departure, so I forced him out of his house and investigated."

"Hmm. So you charmed him?"

"I did."

"That doesn't say anything about another world."

"The spear you showed them, A curse capable of making gods cower like kids—nothing like that exists in this world. Arcanum doesn't have any properties like that as far as I'm aware of."

Asahi scratched his head. 'Gae Bolg is too strong for this world.'

"Then there is your charm. Ishtar might be unaware of this, but your charm is stronger than me."

A couple of days ago, she tried charming Ryuu in Syr's disguise, which yielded zero results. She was unaware of the ring Ryuu wore to nullify charms and such attacks.

Hephaestus turned to Asahi with an incredulous gaze. "She might be right..."

She had experienced his charm firsthand in her office that day. He wasn't trying anything, yet she was enthralled by him.

"He is the partner of the strongest god though," Astraea muttered. "It only makes sense."

"Enough about my charm, Freya. What do you want from all of this?"

He wasn't fully sure about her ulterior motives for doing this. She hadn't shown obsession over him like she did to Bell. Heck, she didn't try harming him or anyone around him.

"What I want..." Freya's grin widened as she squinted her eyes. "I want you."

Three words were enough to express her unhealthy amount of obsession.

Freya's eyes glowed as she slowly approached Asahi and cupped his face. "Reveal your soul, my Odr."

She was dying to get a glimpse of his concealed soul. No soul ever escaped her 'Discerning Eye' except for him. He came out of nowhere and ignited a spark of curiosity when Freya had become utterly bored at the top of Orario. Everything about him was shrouded in mystery. A fresh breath of air in her predictable, dull life.

Freya's charm came crashing down on everyone as a subtle scent—a stark contrast to Ishtar's sensuality—filled the room. Hephaestus stared into space with blank eyes. Just then, Chika crawled out of her hair and formed a translucent barrier around Hephaestus, saving her from Freya's influence.

"Thanks, Chika." Hephaestus heaved a sigh of relief. The full might of Freya's charm even got a goddess charmed.

Chika rubbed her head before retreating to her new home, Hephaestus's hair.

Astraea and Asahi, on the other hand, were immune to Freya's charm.

"Pardon?" Asahi tilted his head. "Are you the Devil who is after my soul?"

"I might be. You and your lovers resisted it so effortlessly," Freya whispered. She had seen it before, even so she was amazed. "You're fascinating."

"Don't just casually touch a married man." Asahi brushed off Freya's hands. "What's this Odr you keep talking about?"

Freya turned her eyes away, feeling strangely embarrassed under his innocent gaze. "Hehe, it's a secret."

Asahi didn't miss the sudden change in her mood. "Why do you want me though? I know I'm handsome and all, but it shouldn't make the Goddess of Beauty descend from her divine throne."

Freya seemingly disregarded his sarcastic tone. "Be my wind and guide me to your world."

She had seen everything there was to be seen in this world. She craved to see the land beyond. What kind of wonders did it hold? Will there be more gods like Asahi who used their strength without restrictions? Her curiosity burned brighter than the sun itself.

"I refuse."

As if he'd release a calamity on the post-apocalyptic world, where undead and humans would fall under her charm without exception. Maya's world would also have no one to contend against Freya's charm. She might even conquer the DxD world on her own. She was a walking disaster, whose whims were ever-changing like the wind.

"Just once?" Freya's tone became softer as she requested. "A short trip."

"Nope."

"Only one hour." Freya pleaded as she leaned in to reveal her cleavage. "Think about it."

"Not happening." Asahi's rejection was merciless.

"Even if I make you the king of this world."

It was an offer not many could deny. Then again, not many could hope to conquer the world, but Freya could achieve it effortlessly. It was Freya's last and the best offer in her arsenal.

"No."

The result was still the same.

A frank rejection.

Freya's mood sank as she settled her butt on the table and folded her arms on her chest. "What would it take?"

Before Asahi answered, Loki looked up and pointed her finger at Freya, grinning foolishly. "You don't know shit about him."

"Indeed," Astraea agreed. "If he wanted something, he would have taken it."

"Astraea already visited his world. He promised to take me and Fei Fei there." Loki's grin widened, rubbing salt on Freya's fresh wounds. "How does it feel to lose again? Definitely not good."

Freya's expression became gloomy, fueling Loki's happiness further. Finally, she got a victory over Freya that made her rival furious.

"Even I have my limits," Freya whispered, clenching her fists. "Asahi Marikawa, WHY Loki and Hephaestus?"

The fact that her rivals got what didn't get through pleading provoked her ego. She couldn't find what she lacked compared to the two goddesses.

"I am BETTER than them."

(She is salty, ufufu.)

Asahi shook his head. "Hate to break your fantasy bubble, but you are not better than them. It's not even a comparison. Loki, despite her tricky nature, cares so much about her Familia and her children. You know she was going to sell herself so her Familia could be the best in Orario. Can you do that for your Familia?"

Freya fell silent. She nurtured her Familia to stay on the top, not to bring her Familia to the top. Her love for them wasn't enough to sell herself. Her children would sell their bodies and soul for her without a second thought.

Loki stared at Asahi as her eyes opened in surprise. She never thought Asahi thought this highly of her, not after she tried to offer herself.

She snuggled her face in her folded hands.

'Good grief…'

Asahi wasn't done yet. "As for Hephaestus, I don't know her that well. BUT she is a considerate woman, who looks out for Astraea. She is a great friend to Astraea and a beautiful woman. I don't need another reason."

Hephaestus's mouth opened, but she couldn't say anything. 'Why are you saying that after I tried to form a rift between you and Astraea? ...How am I beautiful?'

She felt like Asahi's perception was skewed, seeing her as more beautiful than Freya, the literal goddess of beauty.

"I see." Freya's response was short, unlike the myriad of feelings running through her chest.

"I think I've said enough," Asahi said with a shrug. "Can you stop Ottar over there? I don't like when people direct their killing intent on me."

"Ottar—"

A fierce gale blew as Ottar's giant fist grazed Asahi's cheeks. "Asahi Marikawa, I challenge you to a duel."