It took a while for Freya to regain her human form, and in that time, she clung to me like a needy cat, her body pressing against mine, her lips leaving heated kisses across my skin. Her fingers traced over me possessively, as if trying to assure herself that I was real, that I hadn't vanished the moment her world changed forever.
"You know the room in the tower was destroyed again," I remarked with a smirk.
She froze for only a second before resuming her kisses, this time along my neck, her breath hot against my skin. "Can't you just use magic to fix it?" she murmured, completely unconcerned. If repairs were needed, she could simply pay for them—or more likely, have someone else handle it.
"You caught me." I chuckled.
"Mm, I always do."
"Now, get dressed. I still have things to do."
I gave her ass a light smack, earning a delighted moan and a smoldering look from her. Her violet eyes burned with restrained desire, her lips curling into a teasing smile.
It really was a perfect ass—not that I was surprised. She was a goddess of beauty, after all. Even if her charms didn't affect me, that didn't mean she wasn't breathtaking.
Still, she pouted, but with a snap of her fingers, her clothes shimmered into place. She clearly wasn't happy about it, but at least she was behaving—for now.
We exited the inner world and returned to her destroyed room. With a flick of my wrist, my wand appeared in my hand. A single motion was all it took to restore the damage, everything returning to pristine condition. I also pulled on my shirt, much to Freya's visible displeasure.
As I adjusted my collar, she was already examining her status plate, taking in the changes to her body and soul after becoming a member of my peerage. Her fingers brushed over the asauchi now resting at her side, her eyes gleaming with fascination.
A knock at the door interrupted us.
"Goddess, is everything okay?" Ottar's deep voice rumbled from the other side.
Freya barely glanced at the door. "Yes, Ottar. Everything is fine. No need to worry." Her voice was calm, collected—as if she hadn't just undergone one of the most profound transformations of her existence.
A quiet sigh of relief came from the other side.
Ottar wasn't stupid. He had learned his lesson after more than a few beatings. More importantly, he had heard my voice. If I had meant Freya harm, there wouldn't be much he could do to stop me.
Freya latched onto me again, her voice dropping into a husky whisper. "Darling, shouldn't we consummate the marriage?"
"With Ottar listening? Fat chance. Besides, I can sense others coming over—have fun dealing with them." I gave her a quick kiss and apparated away before she could protest.
Freya stood there for a moment, stunned, before pouting and stomping her foot. Sure enough, she could sense gods and goddesses approaching, likely drawn by the divine energy she had unleashed—again—for the third time this month.
---
As for me, I was now examining my remaining peerage pieces. I had a Queen, two Rooks, my Knight bound to Kingdom Hearts, and three empty Pawn pieces.
"Well, I figured it's about time."
I had been putting it off, but I didn't feel like waiting any longer. Another Pawn appeared in my hand, and after making a few adjustments, I vanished.
---
I arrived in a new world, and information flooded my mind. Rain poured from the sky, cold and relentless, but what truly caught my attention were the two figures lying on the ground.
A small dog and a red-haired boy with pale skin and purple, ripple-patterned eyes.
They both struggled to look at me before I waved my hand, sending them into a deep sleep. With another flick, I transported them to my pagoda for safekeeping.
Then, I swung my fist.
The ground nearby shattered, revealing a strange, plant-like creature with a white, human-shaped body. It barely had time to react before my Dark Devilgod Tiger appeared.
"Assimilate."
Gray energy engulfed the creature as I absorbed it into my hand. Knowledge poured into my mind, and I felt a subtle shift within my body.
"Not bad."
But I wasn't done yet. Spreading my senses, I searched for my true target and vanished.
---
I reappeared in a dark alleyway.
A small figure huddled in the corner, wrapped in tattered brown rags. She looked no older than five or six—thin, frail, and too quiet. Blue hair clung to her damp skin, and amber-colored eyes peered up at me, wary but resigned.
She had noticed me the moment I arrived, yet she didn't move—only stared.
"Hello there," I said gently. "Would you like some food?"
A large, ripe peach appeared in my hand. Her gaze locked onto it immediately.
She nodded.
I stepped closer and crouched down, extending the fruit toward her. "Can you tell me your name?"
She hesitated for only a second before taking a small bite, chewing quickly as if afraid it would vanish.
"Konan," she murmured between bites.
I smiled. "That's a beautiful name. Would you like to join my family? I have a big house, plenty of food, and you'll have a lot of big sisters to take care of you."
Konan had always been one of my favorite characters from the Naruto world—fiercely loyal to the very end. Given a different path, she could flourish.
She looked at me, then at the half-eaten peach in her hands. Swallowing, she gave a small nod.
"Okay."
She had been living on the streets for too long. This was the first real meal she'd had in days.
"Great. Come on then." I extended my hand, and without hesitation, she took it.
I would give her my blessing soon. I was even debating whether to offer her a peerage piece.
But first, there was something else I needed to do.
---
We arrived at the pagoda on the tenth floor, where a table of steaming food was already waiting.
"Eat as much as you like, but be careful not to overeat," I warned. "There's plenty, and if you eat too fast, you might get a stomachache."
Konan nodded, her amber eyes locked on the warm food before her. "Okay."
"Good." I patted her head gently. "I'll be right back."