--- Ren's POV ---
Have you ever witnessed a war unfold before your eyes? Better yet, have you actively participated in one?
Few have lived to recount such harrowing tales, and even fewer have experienced multiple wars in their lifetime.
However, I am not among the ordinary. I have engaged in two wars, but the disparities between the two were as vast as the abyss itself, if I may say so.
Why, you ask?
In my first war, I was a relentless killing machine, the sole embodiment of the military force. I decimated camp after camp, and more than twenty generals met their demise beneath my feet.
Do I regret obliterating the enemy without mercy? No, I don't. The terrified screams of soldiers as they discarded their weapons and fled for their lives are but a faint memory.
They conveniently turned their backs to me, unaware that I easily ended their lives with a single stroke of my sword, severing their heads completely.
You might wonder, wasn't the whip my primary weapon?
Well, it's a bit awkward to admit, but since becoming the Prime Harmonic, I rarely found the need to employ the whip. I suddenly found myself standing at an unparalleled apex, unmatched by any other. And honestly, it hardly mattered.
The war was not fueled by excitement, nor did I harbor any personal desire to claim lives. Those who opposed my objectives were mere nuisances, obstacles to be eradicated.
It was a tragic war, where millions perished, their lifeless bodies staining the earth for kilometers, engulfed in the nauseating stench of blood. The sight was so chilling that even my own Generals trembled in fear.
...Compared to that war, this... feels like a child's tantrum, with parents playfully reprimanding them.
No one perished, even after hundreds of seasoned adventurers clashed with ill-equipped soldiers.
Naturally, I brushed them aside with ease. Having established my true identity as Ren Von Seraphis, acknowledged and recognized by the Guild, I now held the position of a first-class executive within the Loki Familia, and to top it off, I was "level 6". Engaging in brief skirmishes and effortlessly asserting my dominance over various camps, I found myself completely ignored by Freya, while Ottar couldn't seem to take his intense gaze off me.
Seriously, man. I understand your eagerness to spar, but I have no interest in facing off against you. So kindly take your leave before I'm compelled to teach you a lesson as well.
With the "responsibilities" befitting an executive, I assumed my role alongside the other members of the Familia.
In fact, the strongest adventurers stood by, observing the spectacle as if it were a mundane television drama. Only when a General advanced did they choose to intervene.
"...Sword, now at a 20% discount! Witness its incredible cutting power!"
They even set up stands to sell their wares to the defeated soldiers.
Some went so far as to offer healing services in exchange for money...
How shameless can they be, searching for profit like this?
...After witnessing this chaotic war, my attention shifted elsewhere. I positioned myself near the gate, patiently awaiting the arrival of that fool.
Soon enough, Ares and...
Marius. Yes, I simply had to consult the Archive for a moment.
They presented themselves employing a rather foolish approach, resorting to the use of hoods as a feeble disguise in their attempt to infiltrate Orario...
It seemed that no matter the universe, Ares' foolish antics could never be laid to rest.
Numerous options lay before me, yet I chose to wait for Hestia to make her appearance.
As anticipated, I caught sight of Hestia pushing a cart, in search of ingredients for Jagamarukuns.
What an imbecile. All because of the whims of a dimwitted shopkeeper, a Goddess had left Orario in pursuit of a handful of ingredients.
I sighed, as the situation was now confirmed. I resolved to bide my time until Ares executed his "grand" plan, for I trailed just a few steps behind him at that very moment...
--- Hestia's POV ---
"Would you even date a gorgeous Goddess that was in love with you?"
"No...I'd refuse."
The echoes of his words reverberated within me, causing immense pain.
Can you fathom the agony of hearing the person you love to speak in this way? It pierced my heart and shattered it into fragments.
I'm not naïve; I understand Bell-kun's profound respect for Gods.
But in matters of love, words hold incredible weight. I didn't want to face him at that moment. I longed to find solace in contemplation. How could I alter Bell-kun's perception...
Suddenly, my thoughts were disrupted as I found myself forcefully spun through the air, utterly bewildered by the swift motion.
The world seemed to spin around me, leaving me speechless and disoriented. Anticipating a loss of consciousness, I was taken aback when these sensations abruptly dissipated.
Instead, I felt a firm grip around my waist, and when I looked up, I beheld a man with ordinary features—brown hair, brown eyes—an epitome of averageness.
Confusion consumed me, and I desperately wished for him to release me. However, my confusion escalated when I witnessed the man placing his shoe on none other than Ares, intensifying my bewilderment.
What transpired in those fleeting seconds?
As I surveyed the crowd, their expressions etched with disbelief, I realized that...
I was in the presence of a stranger who defied explanation.
"Release me, mortal! You know not whom you defy! I am Ares, a God! Show proper respect!"
Ares' indignant words drew my attention back to him, though comprehension eluded me...
"Respect? Ha! You are a disgraceful deity. What do you think you're doing? Attempting to infiltrate Orario and abduct a Goddess as if it were child's play? You've come this far simply because Orario's adventurers don't give a damn about trash like you! We tolerate your presence solely for the benefits it brings. Now, return to whence you came!"
Without pause, the man delivered a resounding kick to Ares' face, propelling him through the air at an alarming velocity. I couldn't help but gulp anxiously at the sheer force of it.
Fear clutched my heart, yet a peculiar sense of suspicion lingered.
Something about his appearance felt curiously unreal, though I chose not to probe further.
Perhaps he adopted a disguise to conceal his unsightly features?
I resolved to respect his boundaries, even if it meant maintaining a sense of unease. Lost in my thoughts, I patiently awaited his release, unaware that it was not forthcoming, with all eyes fixated on us.
"And as for you, foolish Goddess, daring to venture beyond Orario's borders alone? Despite your many years, your intelligence seems to lag behind. I shall escort you back to your Familia."
The man declared, his words shattering any semblance of pride I held as a Goddess.
I yearned to speak, to refute his claims, yet my voice betrayed me, refusing to utter a single word.
What had I been thinking? In the Lower World, I am but a mortal. Leaving Orario voluntarily would be akin to abandoning the sanctuary of home, despite the wolves lurking just outside the door.
With a heavy heart, I bowed my head, consumed by self-reflection.
His insolent words nearly caused some to tremble in fear. After all, Gods and Goddesses were divine beings, and the notion of insulting them was not inherent to their existence.
Certainly, some Gods fostered special connections with mortals. Some fell in love, and some treated their offspring as their own. But even then, boundaries existed...
Yet this man seemed determined to shatter them all...
But what vexed me further was the undeniable truth in his words. Consequently, I found myself devoid of the inclination to mimic Ares and engage in a futile tirade about my divine status. Frankly, such an act would only be...
Embarrassing.
"...I will follow you to my Familia's residence. Please... release me for the time being."
I voiced these words while the man regarded me silently for a brief moment before granting my request, allowing me to regain my freedom. We made our way back, while no one uttered a single word...
---
Author's Note:
You can join the Discord server! I just made a poll!