To the residents of the town, it was called the oasis mansion, and true to its name, it was built in the middle of the island at the heart of the oasis, its majestic dome bringing to mind a palace. It was constructed of a white stone that reflected the sun, inlaid with golden decorations to create a dazzling image. Surrounded by date trees, it was the largest building in all of Leodo. It could house hundreds of itinerant entertainers and play host to a days-long feast.
It was the most fabulous of villas that only the wealthiest of people— more specifically, the town's wealthiest merchant—could afford to live in. However, at present, that luxurious estate had been claimed by a certain goddess as her own.
"What are you doing? Food and drinks all around, please." In the great hall of the villa.
An extravagant fountain—a sculpture of a water elemental pouring water
—inside the manor was trickling away in the background as Freya's sweet soprano voice rang out. She was sitting atop a sofa set several steps above the ground, looking down as well over a hundred former slaves hungrily devoured the dishes being brought out one after the other.
Both because of having been forced into slavery due to the impact of the war as well as due to the careless management of the slavers, they had not had a filling meal in a long time. They downed glass after glass of water and wine while grabbing meat and fruits with their bare hands and stuffing their faces.
However, it was not an unsightly scene of people abandoning all manners and reason but a scene of exultation at being alive. They were no longer bound by chains or manacles. Freed from their shackles by a goddess's whims, they were in high spirits, tears flowing as their withered spirits were reinvigorated.
"Mr. Bofman! We don't have enough people!"
"I know! Reach out to people from the other trading companies! Tell them we'll pay for it if we have to—just get them over here!!!"
Meanwhile, the merchant Bofman and his trainees were caught up in a chaotic furor. They had brought the slaves to the estate, bought up all the food they could find at the bazaar, and were preparing countless courses for everyone as if it were a banquet. But the employees of the estate—whom Freya had also inherited from the previous owner of the estate—were extremely understaffed. Anyone could tell by the way they were running dishes around the estate, and employees of the Fazoul Trading Company were being forced to pitch in as well.
"Was it some mortal philosopher who said that wealth is not for feeding your own ego but feeding the hungry? Hmm, if Loki heard me saying that, she'd probably laugh herself to death."
The first thing she had done after acquiring the oasis mansion was to provide a bit of charity to all the slaves she had freed. Not so much out of a philanthropic impulse, but as the bare minimum of resolution to follow through on what she had done. If she had bought up all the slaves and wrecked the market because it was an eyesore only to come out the next day and say, "All right, you may do as you please," then her grace would have been called into question. To her, beauty was not simply a lovely appearance. It was fundamentally based in a character that was befitting a sovereign. And most importantly of all, they were now all her property. So given that, she would accept them all with a smile and have them attend to her as she saw fit.
"Lady Freya, please have some!" "Oh, thank you."
One of the slaves who Freya had saved was holding out a tray with a colorful assortment of fruits. The brown-skinned beauty paled in comparison to a goddess, of course, but she was nonetheless blessed with looks that would charm many a man. However, it was clear from her eyes that she was enraptured by the goddess. And not just her. All of the beautiful men and women who were set to be sold as the playthings of the wealthy were attending Freya. Not because she had demanded it but of their own volition. Some poured wine, and others fanned her with giant leaves. They were obviously entranced by her, vying for the chance to wait on her hand and foot. At any moment, someone might have led an elephant in to perform for her.
But Freya had by no means truly enthralled them. They were merely filled with a deep sense of loyalty and respect for the alluring goddess who had saved them. It was a scene that occurred purely due to the queenly presence, the absolute charisma that Freya wielded.
An observer could almost hear Freya saying "A harem? A reverse harem? As if either could possibly satisfy me." The lurid fantasy of having dozens of beautiful men and women serve them was one that every mortal had surely dreamed of at least once, and each and every one of the people around Freya was entranced by the silver-haired goddess just as deeply as the members of the familia that had sworn loyalty to her.
It was the pinnacle of luxury.
"Lady Freya, thank you for saving us!"
And there, a young boy and girl approached the goddess. There was no one who would scold them as rude for speaking out of turn. Their pure, earnest thanks were what everyone felt.
"What are your names?" Freya asked.
"M-my name is Y-Yona!" the nervous boy responded. "I'm Haara!" the younger girl answered cheerfully.
"I see. Those are nice names. But Yona, Haara, you don't need to thank me, because I only freed you all for my own sake."
That was the unvarnished truth. She had not had any kind of merciful or charitable intentions in granting them their freedom. It had all been self- centered, just the whim of a fickle goddess. Yona and Haara tilted their heads, not really comprehending what she said, but they quickly adjusted themselves.
"Ummm, Lady Freya…there was something I wanted to ask!" "Hee-hee, go ahead. What would you like to ask?"
"Can we join your familia?"
The boy and girl responded with an admirable question. They probably wanted to repay the goddess who had rescued them in their time of need. Faced with those adorable children, Freya responded with a pure smile and no ulterior motives.
"No, not yet. First, you should help out at Bofman's company." Freya admonished the children with a smile.
"Wah?!" Bofman, who was rushing around, stopped in his tracks at suddenly being called out.
She fully intended to leave all the slaves she had bought with the Fazoul Trading Company when she returned to Orario.
"Your souls are still just seeds. They're not even developed enough to be called immature. I love beautiful flowers and adore sparkling jewels. So first, you must gain some experience in this desert land."
The qualifications to join Freya Familia were entirely based on the goddess's mood. Freya looked not just at ability but at the sparkle of a person's soul and chose only those capable of becoming Einherjar. That was why they were the pinnacle. That was why they were the strongest. Freya Familia was a place where those who only had talent and nothing more would quickly become stepping-stones for their peers in the intense internal struggle that unfolded every day. If immature, undeveloped children were thrown into that, they would undoubtedly be struck down and meet a tragic end. Because of that, Freya was strict in her choices, allowing only those beings capable of becoming suitable followers of hers to join.
At the same time, she made the choices she did because she appreciated the children, because she loved them, and most importantly, because she had hopes they might show her something new and unknown.
"And once you've grown more, when your souls begin to bloom, if you catch my eye…when that time comes, I'll gladly welcome you into my familia," Freya added as she reached out a hand and stroked the little girl's cheek.
"Y-yes, ma'am!" Haara responded, her voice brimming with joy and determination.
Judging from the brilliance of those children's souls currently, if they
were to bloom, it would only be after around ten years. However, perhaps with the potential inherent in mortals, they might betray her expectations and reach their prime in just five years or maybe even sooner. If that came to pass, Freya would gladly welcome them in, whatever their age. She always kept her word. That was the kind of goddess Freya was.
"Lady Freya, if it pleases you, I'd like that, too!"
"Please allow your humble servant to sit at the lowest seat of the table of your followers!"
The children's requests opened the floodgates, and even the adults began approaching with their supplications. Freya maintained the same stance as she had with the children, while promising to welcome those who were capable and caught her attention as noncombatant members—those who would not receive her ichor and not gain a status. In short, they would be believers who would support Freya and her familia. She had not particularly been expecting this development, but it ultimately meant she was able to increase her network of supporters outside the city.
Despite the fact that a clear line was being drawn between them and the goddess, the former slaves' devotion to Freya did not waver in the slightest. Every one of them approached the goddess who had saved them and thanked her with an unpracticed formality generally reserved for addressing royalty.
At some point, the feast turned into an audience of people lined up before her.
"Bofman, hire any of these children who wish to work for you. If their loyalty to me is true, then they should rise in stature and become great successes. After I return to Orario, I'll leave this estate to you, so do as you please...Bofman, are you listening?"
"Y-yes, of course, Lady Freya…"
Having finally finished everything, Bofman shakily returned to Freya, exhausted. It was finally sinking in just exactly what it meant to be subjected to the whims of a goddess—just how heavy a load it was to serve as Freya's companion. Absurd and unreasonable requests were the norm. With naught but a single command, he would find himself carrying out tasks that by any measure of common sense should have been impossible.
The various costs incurred would be paid back later from Freya Familia's deep pockets, but even still, he was being forced to bear a significant burden and pushing his limits. He had gained an emaciated look that was a common
affliction among the people who tried to curry favor with deities in a calculated fashion.
"L-Lady Freya…my trading company, of course, but I personally have spared nothing in my dedication…so if you might find it in your heart to grant me a reward at such time as your desire has been fulfilled, I would be eternally grateful…gweh…hee-ho-ho…!"
And because of all that, it was inevitable he would continue to hope for some extra return. His eyes were glued to the goddess's bare legs that he could practically smell as he laughed with a creepy, raspy voice. Freya turned around, feeling almost a sense of wonder as four shadows silently appeared.
"What do you think you're doing, swine?" "Did you wish to be castrated, swine?" "I'll carve out those eyes of yours, pig." "Filthy pig."
"Gweeeeh?! W-wait! Wh-what are you…?! Stop! My arm! It doesn't bend that waaaaa—gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
The loud, satisfying sound of a kick landing rang out, followed by a dull thump as Bofman's swollen body was slammed headfirst into the ground. Immediately, he was placed in a submission hold that threatened to create some new places where his limbs could bend as his whole body creaked.
Four prums were pushing him down to the ground in a pose exactly like that of a pig splayed on all fours.
"Oh, you were here?" Freya asked.
"We combed through the entire residence to be sure no assassins or suspicious elements were here," Alfrik, the eldest of the Gulliver brothers, responded.
From the moment their patron goddess had bought the oasis mansion, they joined Ottar and the others in investigating the grounds from top to bottom, and upon discovering a fool so rude as to look the wrong way at the goddess, they brought down the heavens' wrath upon him.
Leaving the restraint and torture of Bofman to his brothers, Alfrik removed his sand-colored helmet, revealing his clear blue eyes. And then he looked down at the man below him as if he had caught a glimpse of the vilest sewage imaginable.
"Filthy swine with ulterior motives are not fit to be at Lady Freya's side.
May we have a little time to punish him?"
"As long as he's still useful. Don't finish him off. He is necessary as my eyes and legs here in the desert."
"Understood, milady."
Alfrik saluted and then he and his brothers forcibly carried Bofman away. "Lady Freya?! Please save meeeeeeeeeeee!" Bofman called out a
strangled cry for help as he was hauled off.
The former slaves were startled by the sudden appearance of the Gulliver brothers and started sweating bullets in terror even after they left. It was not hard to imagine the fate that would befall the foolish merchant dragged outside. Their decision, which was the wise response, was to forget what they had just seen and continue to pay their respects to Freya.
"—Oh, so you came."
And then, she appeared right as the line was starting to peter out. Brown skin and disheveled black hair. The girl with such pretty purple eyes. Ali, the slave girl Freya had fallen for at first sight—the person who had the potential to be the goal of this journey, her Odr.
"…Thank you very much for saving me earlier."
There was a nervous tension to Ali's expression as she said her thanks by mimicking the form that the others had used. Freya's eyes narrowed as, for just a second, the girl seemed about to put her hand to her chest before stopping herself and bowing inoffensively instead.
"Ali, how is your body doing?"
"Thanks to you, I'm doing much better…"
She had been freed from bondage and brought along to the estate as a result of that, but her face looked much healthier, probably because of getting enough water and food. But something about the way she spoke was awkward. It almost seemed like she was uneasy or on edge about something. Nonetheless, though, Freya's smile widened, as if even that awkwardness was amusing.
"Then tonight, come to my room," she said, putting a finger beneath the girl's jaw and pulling her in.
"!"
Their faces were so close that the slightest shift might have had their lips touching. The goddess's silver eyes reinforced the command. Ali's body quivered as the alluring goddess looked into her eyes from so close—but again, she rejected Freya's gaze. Biting her lips, her cheeks flushing, Ali
forced herself to look away, fleeing the goddess's charms. A simple girl who had not even been granted a deity's blessing, let alone leveled up. There was no more holding back Freya's curiosity—or her sadism.
"My shopping was a bit extravagant today, but—you were my heart's desire."
"Gh…?!"
"Which is why you won't be getting away," Freya whispered in Ali's ear as she let the girl go.
Ali staggered back, but her face was badly twisted. There had never before been a mortal who looked like that while being allowed to bask in Freya's presence, which only served to increase the goddess's anticipation. As the former slaves' shocked gazes focused on the girl, Freya stood up from her seat.
"Clean yourself up for tonight. And when you come to my chamber, wear something to show off your lovely figure."
Freya instructed Bofman's trainee girls to take Ali to the bathing area. Ali was stunned, and for just a moment before the attendants reached her, she quickly scanned the surroundings. Seeing that, Freya let an "Ahh" slip out as if she had just remembered something and gave the girl a warning.
"I said you wouldn't be getting away before, but to be clear, that was not a threat, just a simple fact. My followers are even now watching over this estate. So don't bother trying anything silly…" Freya said as she left the room, seeming to be enjoying herself.
Her words and smile left the girl utterly astounded. Outside the residence, the sun started to set. The night was only just beginning.
Desert nights are chillingly cold. It was common knowledge in the sandy regions of the world that the intense heat of the noonday sun vanished dramatically come nightfall.
However, that was not the case for Leodo.
It was all thanks to the oasis. The water took more energy to heat up than the earth, and once it was warm, it took longer to release all its heat and cool down. The water absorbed the light of the noon sun and released the heat at
night, so at any place with an abundance of water, the difference between day and night lessened. On top of that, the palms and other foliage around the town also had the effect of trapping some of the heat radiating from the ground as the air cooled down, moderating the evening chill. Because of that, the night in Leodo was easier to endure than most anywhere else in the western Kaios.
That was why Freya could comfortably wear a thin negligee in her room
as she waited for the girl to arrive. "Should be any moment now."
Enjoying herself as she sipped the expensive wine that the Fazoul Trading Company had procured, the goddess checked the time.
The location was her bedroom, which had been cleared of people. The chamber on the highest floor of the oasis mansion was dimly lit by magic- stone lamps. The orange light blended with the night air, creating a dreamlike mood. Lounging in a luxurious chair, the goddess recrossed her seductive legs as she suddenly turned to the person beside her.
"Bofman, are you okay?"
"Y-yes, Lady Freya…I'm okay…This filthy swine would never do anything rude in milady's presence…"
The only other person in the room was Bofman. When Alfrik and the brothers released him, he was badly worn down. At a glance, he seemed quite haggard, almost like he was on death's door. He had surely endured a harsh punishment imposed by the brothers.
As evidence of that, he was being quite careful not to look directly at Freya's chest, despite the fact that her night gown was quite boldly cut around her bosom. If it were the earlier him, he would have been gulping audibly, but for now his fear was winning out.
…Well, it was not that he was scared of her body so much as her followers' excruciating punishment, but it left her with mixed feelings to see him trembling like a scared piglet around her like that.
Before long, the door opened. "…Pardon me."
Ali was brought in by the attendants. Her figure had changed dramatically from that of the pitiful slave earlier. Her disheveled hair had been brushed out nicely, and she was wearing a neat regional dress. Every nook and cranny of her body had been cleaned, and a hearty amount of perfumed oils had been
applied. The faint scent of jasmine wafted through the room. Her flawless brown skin was more than a match for the finest silk. Even Bofman, who was scarcely glancing at Freya, was taken aback by her beauty. It would've been difficult to find many slaves as beautiful as she.
"Welcome, Ali. You've become quite lovely. I hardly recognized you," Freya commented.
"Thank you…"
"Or was it that you intentionally dirtied yourself up in order not to stand out?"
"…"
"Hee-hee, don't look like that. It was just the thought that came to mind, is all."
While the attendants bowed and left the room, Ali approached Freya's chair, unable to hide her stiff expression. It was clear she had her guard up against the goddess of beauty, who had grown attached to her. Freya observed the girl closely as she set her wineglass down on a small side table.
"…What did you want of me?" the girl asked, wringing the words out carefully.
However, her attempt to cut to the chase was denied when Freya moved on to something else altogether.
"Ali, do you deplore the current political situation? Or do you perhaps resent what is happening currently?"
"…?"
"The war between Shalzad and Warsa that caused you to be enslaved… what do you think of it?"