All of us—Fenrir, Linnie, Loki, and I—were gathered in a silent room. The only sounds accompanying us were our breathing and the faint echoes of Loki's magic, ensuring our discussion remained safe from eavesdroppers.
I sat at the corner of the table beside Fenrir, while Linnie was right next to her father. I tried to maintain my composure amidst the tension that had surrounded us ever since we initiated this discussion.
Loki gazed at us coldly. "This is not your concern. This is a matter of our kingdom," he said, his voice flat yet piercing.
I shook my head slightly, meeting his gaze with seriousness. "No. We're certain that the spy came from Asgard, not any other kingdom."
"Oh? And what makes you so sure? Do you have any proof?" Loki shot back sharply, folding his arms and leaning back against his chair.
Though I kept a neutral expression, beneath the table, my fists were clenched tight. It's going to be difficult to convince him.
This discussion had already dragged on for two hours. Yet, we were nowhere near a resolution. We hadn't even moved past the argument about where the spy originated from, let alone discussed the culprit.
Loki was adamant in his belief that the spy came from another kingdom, while Fenrir and I were convinced that the spy was from Asgard. Unfortunately, our only concrete evidence was Fenrir's sense of smell.
And since we had agreed beforehand to keep Fenrir's true identity a secret from Loki and Linnie, we couldn't use that as our argument.
Wait… that's right. I could turn his own words against him. Why didn't I think of this before?
I took a deep breath, a confident smile forming on my lips. "We might not have evidence. But what about you? Do you have any proof that the spy is from another kingdom, Master?"
Loki visibly flinched at my counterattack. Clicking his tongue, he averted his gaze.
My grin widened. Now I was sure—he had no concrete proof of another kingdom's involvement in Utgard.
"You're right that I haven't found proof yet. But you should know something," Loki finally responded. "The fact is, I have caught spies from other kingdoms here before. That's why I personally screen everyone who enters my palace. I verify them with my magic."
"Then why was a spy still able to infiltrate this place?" I quickly retorted, narrowing my eyes at him in challenge.
"You've got some nerve, haven't you?" Loki sneered, though his smile was forced.
Someone like Loki was incredibly stubborn. Unless I used his own arguments against him, he would never acknowledge the possibility that he was wrong.
Raising an eyebrow, Loki's lips curled into a cold, ironic smile. "So, you're accusing me of having no proof? Then tell me—what reason do you have to claim Asgard is behind this? Do you expect me to believe your baseless accusations?" His voice rose slightly, laced with challenge.
I fell silent for a moment, steadying my heartbeat, which had started to race under the weight of his words and sharp gaze.
I had to admit—Loki was quick-witted. He had swiftly analyzed my debating tactics and turned them against me. He knew I couldn't provide concrete evidence either.
But I wasn't someone who gave up easily. Taking a deep breath, I straightened my back and responded calmly, "Then let me ask you this, Master Loki. If your security magic is truly flawless, how did a spy manage to slip past it?"
A loud crack echoed through the room as Loki slammed both hands onto the sturdy wooden table. The sharp sound startled Linnie, making her jolt in her seat.
Loki's eyes burned with intensity, like embers ready to set everything in their path ablaze. But I didn't flinch. I met his glare with narrowed, unwavering eyes.
"Father, please stop!" Linnie suddenly pleaded, her voice gentle yet firm enough to cut through the tension. "You two… this isn't getting us anywhere. We're here to find a solution, not to point fingers."
Loki glanced at his daughter briefly, his breathing heavy, but he said nothing. Silence blanketed the room once again.
Then, Fenrir, who had been quietly sitting beside me, suddenly let out a deep sigh. All eyes turned to her.
"I suppose there's no other choice, huh?"
Her voice was quiet, yet for some reason, it felt like she had resigned herself to something. Like she was about to take a step forward, no matter the consequences.
I turned to her quickly, eyes widening. The serious expression on her face made my pulse quicken. She wouldn't really—
Fenrir placed a hand on my shoulder, offering a small but resolute smile. "It's okay," she murmured, as if reassuring me that whatever happened next, she was ready for it.
I could only stare at her in silence as she slowly stood up, turning to face Loki and Linnie.
"There's something I need to tell you." Her voice was deep and deliberate.
Loki narrowed his eyes at her, his gaze skeptical. Meanwhile, Linnie pursed her lips, tilting her head slightly as if trying to anticipate what Fenrir was about to reveal.
"My name isn't Fenrys," she declared, her voice as sharp as the ring of a blade. "I am Fenrir, the child of Loki and Angrboda, the wolf of destruction sealed away by the gods in the valley of Lyngvi."
Linnie gasped, her mouth falling open. Her crimson eyes widened in shock, as if she had just heard something impossible. "No way…" she murmured in disbelief.
But Loki's reaction was entirely different. He didn't look surprised at all. Instead, a small smirk appeared on his face, like someone who had just confirmed a long-standing suspicion.
"So, my guess was right," Loki muttered under his breath, though loud enough for everyone to hear.
Fenrir grinned, flashing a hint of her fangs. "Let me make this clear. I know there's a spy because I can recognize the scent of Asgardians. I may not remember their faces, but their scent is something I will never forget."
Loki listened closely, his smirk softening into something… warmer. An expression rarely seen on his face.
"Then, I believe you now," he finally said, acknowledging our truth. "Well, to be honest, I was mostly trying to make you reveal yourself, Lady Fenrys—no, I mean, Lady Fenrir."
From the corner of the room, Linnie suddenly raised her hand, her face puzzled. "Wait… Am I the only one who didn't know?" she asked innocently, making all of us chuckle.
Unfortunately, the laughter didn't last long. The tension quickly returned when Loki asked in a low but pressing voice, "So, do you know who the spy is?"
"Of course. The spy is—" Fenrir suddenly stopped mid-sentence. She glanced at me with her golden eyes, as if silently urging me to answer.
But I deliberately stayed quiet, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. Teasing Fenrir in the middle of all this seriousness was too entertaining to pass up.
Seeing that I wasn't going to speak, she nudged my shoulder. But I remained silent, feigning an innocent expression as if I knew nothing.
She nudged me again—this time a little harder—trying to force me to talk. But I still refused, simply blinking at her with amusement.
"Hey, Yatagarasu, don't just sit there quietly!" she hissed, leaning close to my ear, her voice filled with frustration.
I stayed still, my feathers—no, my shoulders—shaking slightly as I held back a grin.
And then, unable to hold back her irritation any longer, she grabbed my shoulders and shook me roughly, yelling, "You're so annoying, you know that?! Just spit it out already, you irritating bird! How many times do I have to nudge you?! I swear I'll eat you if you keep this up!"
I couldn't hold it in anymore. A wide grin broke across my face, followed by a laugh that slipped out naturally.
"Alright, alright. I was just having a little fun."
Clearing my throat, I straightened my posture, my expression shifting back to seriousness.
A small smirk played on my lips. "Yes, I remember the culprit clearly," I finally said, making every gaze in the room turn toward me.
A heavy silence hung in the air, blanketing the room with unspoken tension. Every eye was on me, waiting for the truth to be revealed.
And for a brief moment, it felt as if the entire world had paused—leaving only our quiet, expectant breaths filling the void.