Not long after leaving the inn, Loki and the members of Loki Familia arrived at a restaurant in Melen, the arranged meeting place with two important gods. Njord, the god responsible for the city of Melen, and Kali, the war goddess they had just faced in battle, were already waiting there. As Loki spotted the two, a sly smile crossed her face. "Ah, looks like I don't need to hold two separate meetings," she said with a satisfied tone.
Inside the restaurant, the three gods sat at a round table tucked in the corner. Njord, with his brown hair and an expression full of regret, sat quietly, while Kali, smaller and more aggressive in appearance, leaned back casually, eyeing Loki with interest. Loki looked pleased, even though she knew this meeting wasn't just a simple formality. Meanwhile, the members of Loki Familia stayed outside the restaurant, giving the gods space to talk privately.
As soon as they sat down, Loki quickly started the conversation in a relaxed but firm tone. "Alright, Njord, let's begin with the question that's been on my mind," Loki said, staring sharply at Njord. "You're the god responsible for Melen, this city is under your care. But why did you smuggle Violas into the sea?"
Njord, who had been calm until now, lowered his gaze. A clear expression of guilt appeared on his face. "I know, Loki," he said in a low voice. "I should've taken better care of this city. But... the Violas I let into the sea preferred to eat other monsters rather than attacking humans. It made it safer for the fishermen to work without worrying about being attacked by more dangerous monsters."
Loki let out a long sigh, her face showing deep disappointment. "You really didn't think this through, did you?" she said coldly. "Don't you realize, Njord, that Violas are monsters that can reproduce rapidly? Worse, unlike most other monsters, Violas can be controlled by members of Evilus." Her voice sharpened, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Njord bowed his head even lower, his guilt even more evident. "I... I didn't think the problem would escalate this far. I just wanted to protect the fishermen and the townspeople from the danger of other monsters," he said quietly, his voice filled with regret. "I focused too much on a short-term solution without considering the long-term risks."
Loki stared at Njord for a moment, deep in thought. After a few seconds of silence, she shifted her gaze, now more serious. "So, I want to know where you got these Violas from. Who brought them here?" Loki asked, her voice calmer, though the tension between them remained.
Njord took a long breath before answering. "A while ago, I met someone... someone who seemed to know a lot about the underground water channels connecting Orario and Melen. He offered to smuggle the Violas into those canals. At first, I hesitated. But after hearing how the Violas could control the population of sea monsters, I... I agreed to accept the offer."
Loki listened carefully, not surprised but still on alert. "Someone, you say?" she asked sharply. "Do you know who this person was? Were they part of Evilus?"
Njord shook his head slowly. "I... I'm not sure. He didn't mention his affiliation directly, but from the way he spoke, I sensed something was off. At the time, I was too focused on the short-term results and didn't dig deeper into who he really was," he replied, bowing his head again as he became more aware of his mistake.
Loki, listening to all of this, looked unsatisfied. "So you have no clue who he is?" she pressed, hoping Njord could provide more information.
But Njord could only shake his head. "I truly don't know who he was, only that he was from Orario and had extensive knowledge about the secret canals connecting this city to Orario."
The atmosphere grew even more tense after this confession. Loki, who had been calm earlier, now wore a more serious expression. Kali, who had been silent and observing the whole time, finally chuckled, seemingly amused by the drama unfolding before her. "Looks like this city has more secrets than we thought," she said with a sarcastic tone.
Loki snorted, her eyes still fixed on Njord, though it was clear she hadn't ignored Kali's remark. "We need to investigate these canals and find out who offered the Violas. But for now, Njord, I want you to stop dealing with these monsters. This is already dangerous enough."
Njord simply nodded, fully aware of his mistake. "I'll make sure no more Violas enter the sea around Melen," he promised, his voice heavy with guilt.
After listening to Njord's confession, Loki quickly turned her attention to Kali, sitting across from her. With a sharp and suspicious gaze, Loki wasted no time getting to the question that had been bothering her. "Now it's your turn, Kali," she said in a more serious tone. "Why did you attack my female members, especially Tiona and Tione?"
Kali, the small but dangerous goddess of war, merely smiled smugly, as if the question was nothing more than a joke to her. "What's wrong with that? Argana and Bache were Tiona and Tione's seniors back when they were part of the Kali Familia," she replied lightly. Her smile indicated that she had no regrets about her actions, as if she was even proud of pitting them against each other in battle.
Hearing this, Loki leaned forward, staring more intently at Kali. With one finger extended, she pressed it firmly toward Kali as if issuing a warning. "Listen, Kali, they're both part of my Familia now. Don't try anything funny again. Tiona and Tione are no longer in the Kali Familia, and you'd better remember that," Loki said firmly, making it clear there was no tolerance for interfering with her Familia's members.
Kali, unfazed by Loki's warning, merely shrugged and leaned back further into her chair, still looking relaxed and confident. "Calm down, Loki. We just wanted to settle some old scores. But honestly, you already know, right? This isn't just about the past," Kali said mysteriously, with a wicked smile still on her face.
Seeing Kali remain calm, Loki frowned, sensing something bigger was happening. "What do you mean? Does this have something to do with Ishtar Familia?" Loki asked, now suspecting a broader conspiracy.
Kali chuckled softly, pleased that Loki was starting to suspect the right thing. "Yes, in fact, we're working with Ishtar," Kali answered, glancing out the window. "Ishtar has big plans to take down Freya. While she's busy dealing with her biggest rival, we're here to distract you and your Familia."
Upon hearing this revelation, Loki's gaze sharpened. She knew Ishtar had long disliked Freya, but this alliance clearly posed more risks than she had anticipated. "Ishtar wanting to take down Freya? That's nothing new," Loki muttered thoughtfully, her hand touching her chin. "But how does she think she can win against Freya? Ishtar doesn't have any members strong enough to rival those in Freya Familia."
Kali's smile widened, as if she was waiting for Loki to reach the correct conclusion. "Exactly, Loki. Ishtar knows she can't face Freya with normal strength. That's why she has a secret weapon. Something that might give her a chance to go up against the strongest goddess in Orario," Kali revealed with a mysterious tone, clearly enjoying Loki's growing confusion.
Loki sat upright, feeling a sense of unease creeping into her mind. "A secret weapon? What does she have?" Loki pressed, now even more suspicious of Ishtar's grand plan.
However, Kali merely shrugged, pretending not to know more than what she had already said. "That's something you'll have to find out on your own. I don't want to spoil Ishtar's surprise," Kali replied with a small laugh, treating the entire conflict as if it were just a game to her.
Loki stared at Kali sharply, unimpressed by her casual attitude. But now, more than ever, Loki knew that the situation was far more complex than she initially thought. Something big was happening, and Ishtar was clearly not just an ordinary rival. If she had a secret weapon to use against Freya, it meant a far more serious threat was brewing beneath the surface.
"We'll investigate this further," Loki said decisively, though she knew this was only the beginning of something much larger. "You can tell Ishtar we won't just stand by and do nothing."
After the intense conversation at the restaurant, Loki stood up from her seat, ready to leave. Before stepping out, she turned once more toward Kali, her expression firm. "Remember, Kali, I don't want to see your Familia members fighting with mine again, especially Argana, who still seems bloodthirsty," Loki warned.
Kali, who had remained calm and relaxed throughout, let out a long sigh. "They're useless now," she replied indifferently, as if what happened to her members no longer mattered to her. A small, cynical smile played on her lips.
Curious about Kali's calm demeanor, Loki glanced outside through the restaurant window. She saw Finn, who seemed to be in an uncomfortable situation. Argana, the Amazon who had just been defeated, was aggressively flirting with Finn. Meanwhile, Tione stood between them, trying to block Argana, though she couldn't hide her jealousy. Finn could only shake his head, clearly confused about what to do, though he maintained his usual calm demeanor.
"Amazon..." Loki muttered to herself. Kali, noticing Loki's gaze, grinned and commented as if it were a normal occurrence, "You know, Loki, Amazons are always attracted to men who defeat them. It's in their nature." Kali seemed satisfied with the small chaos happening outside.
On the other side, Gareth was busy as well. He was surrounded by several Amazons who kept chasing after him, despite his efforts to evade them with heavy steps and loud laughter. The Amazons were clearly drawn to Gareth's strength, known as a formidable warrior. However, Gareth could only grumble as he walked faster, trying to escape from them.
Meanwhile, Shirou, sitting on a bench outside with Lefiya, was completely ignored by the nearby Amazons. Unlike Finn and Gareth, who were the center of attention, Shirou was left alone, likely due to his more passive role in the battle against Kali Familia.
Lefiya, sitting next to Shirou, noticed the situation and smiled slightly. She leaned closer to Shirou and whispered softly but playfully, "You're lucky, Shirou. We ran off that night. Otherwise, you might be chased like them too."
Hearing Lefiya's teasing, Shirou blushed and fell silent for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to the night when they both fled after saving Lefiya. On one hand, he felt grateful for avoiding an awkward situation like Finn and Gareth's, but on the other, he was also relieved that his quieter role had kept him out of the aggressive Amazons' attention.
With a small smile on his face, Shirou looked at Lefiya. "Yeah, I guess I was lucky that night," he replied softly, though deep down, he knew he preferred being in a peaceful situation with Lefiya rather than caught up in the chaos and confusion of flirtations and drama.
Seeing her members being relentlessly teased by the Amazons of Kali Familia, Loki began losing her patience. With a sharp look directed at Kali, she crossed her arms and said, "Hey, Kali, that's enough. Get your members out of here before they cause more trouble."
Kali, seemingly unconcerned, merely shrugged. However, with a lazy nod, she called out to her members. "Alright, you lot, let's go," she said flatly, though a mischievous smile still lingered on her face.
As the Amazons of Kali Familia began to leave, Argana, unable to resist one last tease, turned toward Finn and, with a playful smile on her face, blew him a kiss. Finn, accustomed to all forms of teasing and antics, awkwardly dodged it, shaking his head, clearly uninterested in Argana's antics.
Once Kali Familia had finally left, Loki quickly gathered all her members for a short briefing. "Okay, gather around for a bit!" she called out in her typical cheerful tone, even though she knew her members were tired and eager to relax.
As the members of Loki Familia gathered, Loki could sense their energy starting to wane. It was clear they wanted a vacation and to enjoy the rest of their time in Melen without having to think about battles or other problems.
Noticing their holiday spirit, Loki gave a sly smile. "I know you're all itching to relax," she teased her members. "So, I have a surprise for you. I'm going to rent a big ship, and we're going to sail out on the sea! How's that sound?!"
Upon hearing the announcement, the atmosphere shifted immediately. Tiona, who loved the idea of sailing, cheered with excitement. "Wow! This is going to be fun!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up as she eagerly imagined the thrilling adventure aboard the ship.
However, before the excitement could rise further, Loki quickly added, her sly grin widening. "But hold on! The ship we rented isn't just for relaxing." She paused, letting their curiosity grow before continuing in a mysterious tone. "Those who join the voyage will also be fishing... and exterminating Violas in the sea!"
Tiona's cheerful expression quickly turned to one of surprise, followed by the rest of Loki Familia as they began to realize this trip might not be as relaxing as they had hoped. "What? Exterminating Violas?!" Tiona exclaimed, though despite the surprise, her adventurous spirit never wavered. "Well, that sounds fun too!"
Meanwhile, Shirou, standing next to Lefiya, could only smile slightly. He knew that with Loki's plans, there was always an element of surprise that drew them into a new adventure. Lefiya, who had initially hoped to relax in Melen, looked a bit anxious. "E-Exterminating Violas?" she whispered softly, though she knew that in Loki Familia, no one ever truly got a complete vacation.
Loki just laughed at their reactions. "Come on, get ready. You can relax after we deal with a few sea monsters," she said, waving her hand as she led the group to prepare for their voyage.
Finn and Riveria stepped forward, approaching Loki and the others who were getting ready to sail. With his usual calm yet firm demeanor, Finn addressed everyone. "Sorry, we won't be joining the voyage this time," he said. "Riveria and I need to help the Guild handle some corruption issues they're facing. There's a lot that needs to be sorted out."
Riveria, standing beside Finn, added, "It might not be done in a day, but we need to ensure everything is in order. Hopefully, you can enjoy your time without any problems." Her expression remained serious, but her tone conveyed trust in her companions.
The other members who also wanted to relax bid their farewells. Loki, with her sly grin, waved them off. "Alright, leave the sea adventure to us! You take care of the politics on land, and we'll handle the sea monsters!"
And so, Loki led the remaining members to the harbor. Bete, Lefiya, Aiz, Shirou, Gareth, Tiona, and Tione followed behind her. When they arrived at the harbor, Loki proudly pointed to a large, sturdy-looking fishing boat that seemed ready for their voyage. "Behold, our ship!" she exclaimed enthusiastically, ushering everyone aboard.
As they began boarding the ship, the members of Loki Familia admired the size and condition of the vessel. Tiona jumped around excitedly, inspecting every corner of the boat, while Aiz stood on the deck, enjoying the gentle sea breeze. Shirou, who had never been on a ship like this before, was visibly impressed by the large fishing boat.
However, once everyone was on board, Loki seemed momentarily confused. She looked around and asked with a slightly awkward tone, "Wait a minute... who's going to captain this ship?"
Bete, standing nearby, grumbled in annoyance. "You should've rented the ship with a captain. This is a waste of time." His expression showed his displeasure, though he remained on board without any intention of leaving.
Gareth, known for his laid-back nature, offered with a hearty laugh, "Well, if no one else wants to, I can captain the ship! How about that? I'm sure I can handle it!"
Tione, looking a bit doubtful, glanced at Gareth skeptically. "Do you have any experience sailing, Gareth?" she asked, a bit concerned about his sudden offer.
Gareth laughed loudly, patting his stomach. "First time, of course! But I'm sure it's not that hard. We just need to follow the wind and keep the ship balanced, right?" he joked, as if steering a ship was as simple as walking down a road.
Loki rolled her eyes in disbelief but then stepped forward with her signature dramatic flair. Standing at the front of the ship, she struck a dramatic pose, raising her arms high and shouting, "Ship, set sail!"
The atmosphere became lively as Gareth stepped up to the helm, ready to try his hand at being the ship's captain. Although some members had their doubts, everyone couldn't help but laugh and feel the growing excitement. With Loki leading in her typical fashion, their sea adventure had just begun.
With Loki at the helm, their ocean journey officially started. Shirou, standing near the deck, was assigned to pull up the anchor. With his battle-trained strength from fighting in the Dungeon, he quickly hauled up the anchor's chain. Once the anchor was raised, the ship began to move slowly, gradually leaving the dock and setting out into the vast ocean.
However, problems soon arose. The ship swayed heavily from side to side, forcing some of the Loki Familia members to grab onto something to avoid falling. Gareth, who had taken the role of captain, was struggling to control the wheel. "Whoa, this ship is off balance!" he yelled, trying to steer, though it was clear he wasn't used to handling such a large vessel.
Tione and Tiona held back their laughter, watching Gareth panic while trying to steer. Tione, who had been skeptical from the start, shook her head. "I figured this would happen…" she muttered, while Tiona seemed more entertained than worried.
After a few more rough sways, Gareth finally started to get the hang of it. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he grinned with satisfaction as the ship began to sail more smoothly. "See, I told you I could handle it," he said proudly, though some of the others still seemed doubtful.
Meanwhile, Loki was busy with her next plan. She carried a large bag filled with Magic Stones, which would later be used as bait to lure the Violas, the sea monsters they were after. With an eager smile, she placed the bag safely on the deck, ready for use once they reached the open sea.
Elsewhere on the ship, Shirou stood near the deck with Aiz and Lefiya, enjoying the sea breeze gently brushing against their faces. The fresh air and the vast ocean view gave them a sense of peace after all the tension of their battles on land. Shirou gazed out at the calm sea, occasionally glancing at Aiz and Lefiya, who were also soaking in the moment.
But the peace didn't last long. Loki, with a mischievous grin, approached the three of them carrying three large fishing rods. "Hey, you three, don't just stand there enjoying the view. It's time to work! This is your golden chance to catch some sea monsters!" she said, handing each of them a fishing rod.
Shirou accepted the rod with a slightly puzzled look. "Catching sea monsters… with a fishing rod?" he asked, staring at the rod in his hand, trying to imagine how a large monster could be caught with such a simple tool.
Aiz, more accustomed to wielding a sword than a fishing rod, took hers without saying much. Meanwhile, Lefiya held the rod cautiously, looking awkward but willing to give it a try. "Will this really work?" she asked, uncertain.
Loki, brimming with confidence, just laughed. "Of course! You'll see soon enough. These waters are full of surprises!"
With the ship now sailing steadily, they headed further into the deeper part of the sea. The sound of waves crashing against the sides of the boat was calming, while the sea breeze brought a refreshing chill. As they waited, they began preparing for their fishing adventure, though in their hearts, they all wondered what kind of sea monsters they would soon be facing.
For the first poll, since I have too few Patreon members, I'm opening the illustration poll to the public.
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