Orario and balance 2.306

At the table in the meeting room at Hitomi's company, were Atena, Brunnhilde, Hitomi and Edgar astonished drinking the estus that Viggo had invited them. The latter looked at them with a soft smile on his lips. He never tired of seeing people marvel at the taste of this drink that replenished the strength of the soul and healed wounds.

—This, this is incredible, Viggo— Hitomi said with a wide smile as she held her cup in her hands. Viggo nodded with a smile and drank leisurely from his glass.

Athena looked at Viggo and thought that Viggo's knowledge was beyond mundane. This drink shouldn't even exist in this world.

Brunnhilde drank in small sips while looking at Viggo. She didn't get bored of appreciating either of them.

Finally, Edgar, next to Viggo, finished his glass and then looked at Viggo, who was sitting next to him. Viggo gave him a brief glance, nodded kindly, and Edgar nodded in response without knowing why he did it. His mind had been completely absorbed by this divine drink.

—Well, with this I welcome each of you— said Viggo —I have gathered you because I need your help in the projects that I have already mentioned. Hitomi directing the company in the sale of supplies for the improvement of armor. Edgar helping and advising Hitomi in the commercial part. Brunnhilde will be the captain of the Atena family and will guide the adventurers. Finally, Athena, advising everyone present and granting her blessing to the future adventurers of the Athena family—

—Thank you for the opportunity, Viggo— said Atena, she looked at Hitomi to her right and said —nice to meet you, Hitomi, if you could introduce yourself and tell me about your projects it would be very helpful—

Hitomi stood up without letting go of the cup with estus and introduced herself, explaining her situation with a little embarrassment by saying that she was a slave, but she does not explain why she came to that situation. That would be like digging a grave for her reputation. However, her speech gained strength when she explained the sale of chemicals to reinforce the armor, but the highest point was the use of the printing press.

—Advertising, it is something that is not known, but that is already having a good reception in Orario. Our first three customers have been satisfied— said Hitomi.

—Is the machine made by Viggo?— asked Atena.

—Yes, but I received help from my father, he is an experienced and skilled man— Viggo replied with a confident look —however, he only helped me with the test model. Now I'm working on a broader model that will help us produce five times what we can print now—

—That's good. I have a plan— said Atena, Viggo nodded, and she continued —as you are trying to awaken your divinity, I think it would be good to prepare Orario for that moment. This implies that you climb the tower of Babel every day and launch your solar ray as you told me—

—Yes, but that would imply that I must do that every day—

—As you explained to me, two hundred days should be enough—

—Yes—

—In that case— said Athena, passing her gaze from Viggo to Hitomi and continuing —I need you to print pamphlets with questions and some assertions that anticipate Viggo's arrival to divinity. Thus, when people know the reason for the constant bursts of sunlight at the top of the tower of Babel, they will easily accept Viggo as king of the gods as inevitable—

—I understand, but— Hitomi said somewhat embarrassedly —our financial situation—

—Don't worry— said Viggo —this is something outside the business you're doing. This can be considered with an order from a customer, for which I will pay you—

—I understand—

Athena nodded and looked at Edgar —I understand you have a wide social brush and understand how gossip works— she said.

—Yes, madam— said Edgar in a respectful tone of voice —since I was ten years old, I have participated in the social life of the nobility of the empire. I understand what people care about and how to communicate it—

—In that case I would like that while supporting Hitomi, you think of a way to communicate information relevant to the city as you include certain comments that publicize the existence of Viggo and the possibility of a king of the gods appearing—

—I understand the idea, but I'm not sure—

—Don't worry, I'm here to know what needs to be done. I will guide you and you will—

—I understand, ma'am— Edgar replied confidently, feeling great support coming from Athena's words.

—Madam, I understand— Hitomi said as if she had suddenly found a great treasure —I understand what you want to do, but won't it be dangerous?—

—It's dangerous to the extent that we try to manipulate society, but if we lead them in the right direction, none of this will harm them. Plus, if such a project works, your advertising system will scale to the next level—

—Yes, I imagine—

Athena nodded, looked to her left, and saw the beautiful, winged girl with gray hair and two braids framing her face —Brunnhilde, for now I will ask you to help Viggo. He already informed me of his ability and with the guidance of my divinity associated with wisdom, we can find the right adventurers. From then on, any questions you can consult with me, I will help you with the best of my ability—

—I want you to help me beat Rosewisse— Brunnhilde said with a serious expression.

Hitomi listened to Brunnhilde and thought of Semiramis. She looked at Athena and said —Me too, I want to beat Semiramis—

Athena smiled and said —If it is within my means, I will advise you to be better and stronger. However, to beat someone you need three things. Wisdom, which is knowing what you must do. Skill, knowing how to execute what you must do. Finally, virtue, which is the determination to accomplish what you must do no matter the difficulty—

Athena looked at Viggo and the latter smiled, nodded, raised his glass with estus as if offering him a toast and took a long sip. Then he looked Athena in the eye, and she smiled delightedly at Viggo's attitude.

Athena looked at Hitomi and Brunnhilde, both looking at her with determination. Athena smiled because they had a long way to go. She looked at Edgar, but it seems that he was the only one who didn't have any ambitious projects or someone to challenge.

Atena continued to talk to everyone. Viggo stayed on the sidelines, since he would be aware of everything that Hitomi, Edgar, and Brunilda were going to do, but he would not get in the way. His problem was in the depths of the dungeon, in Midgar, and forty years in the future. With this, he had laid the foundation for the empire, the development of his family, and a playground for his children, all demi-gods. He only had to keep a wise grip on all these things and the future would be better than as he had seen it through his clairvoyance. He could have looked to the future. Knowing what's going to happen and doing something to correct it was scary. Because, if it got worse, only despair would remain. Viggo looked down, clenched his fists tightly, and wondered if he was doing the right thing.

Suddenly, Viggo heard footsteps approaching him and looked up. To his surprise, Hitomi, Edgar and Brunnhilde were gone. He heard a door close, looked to the right and saw that they were coming out of the meeting room. Then he looked forward and saw the beautiful Athena, with hip-length purple hair, white dress, and gold corset with a large ruby in the center.

Athena stopped in front of Viggo and held out a hand to him. Viggo left his glass on the table, took Athena's hand, and stood up. He had to lower his face and she lifted him so that their eyes matched.

—Very nervous?— asked Atena in a soft voice.

—Worried, I'm afraid that none of this will work and the future won't get better. If so, not only my son and brother will die. Everyone will go to the trash, and I will not forgive myself in a thousand lives— Viggo replied.

—You invited me into this world for something, Viggo Dragonroad. If you are willing to do your best for this world, I will do the same—

—Thank you—

Athena nodded and said —Now I would like you to take me to Bishamon. We haven't seen each other for a long time—

—I see, as goddess of wisdom and war, they know each other—

—Something like that, it's fun to play chess or shogi with her—

Viggo smiled and led her to the exit. Once they got into the carriage, they headed to the northern region of Orario.

Athena watched through the window the streets pass and the adventurers wandered from side to side —Viggo— she said.

Viggo, who was sitting next to Athena, turned his face to look at her and asked —Yes?—

—Soon become king of the gods— said Athena —it's too beautiful a world to be extinguished without having demonstrated its full potential—

—That's what I want to do—

Athena nodded, turned her face, and looked into his eyes. They both looked at each other for a few seconds, Viggo brought his face closer, but Athena held it down.

—Just in case, I wouldn't want to hit my teeth again— Atena said with a funny smile. Viggo nodded, continued to bring his face closer and kissed her. After that, they separated and went quietly all the way, looking at the streets of Orario and the adventurers.

Once they arrived in front of Bishamon's house, where the members of the Bishamon family also lived, they got off the carriage and looked at the house. Then they looked to the left and looked at Viggo's large mansion, with four blue domes in the corners and a huge one in the center of the third floor. The extensive gardens, flower islands, wide paths and a lot of gardeners maintaining them.

The door of Bishamon's house opened, and out came a girl with black hair, slanted eyes dressed in a light blue kimono. She shouldn't have been more than six years old, but she looked agile in her movement and with a watchful eye.

—Taki, thank you for having us— Viggo said with a kind smile.

—Thank you very much for your efforts, Viggo-sama— replied little Taki, pausing and bowing heavily.

Taki continued to move forward, took out a bunch of keys, and opened the door. She looked at Athena respectfully, but instead of gaining admiration for her mature attitude, she won the affection of the goddess, who crouched down and looked into her eyes.

—I'm glad, I'm Athena— she said.

—I'm Taki— she replied —the master told me you were her friend, thank you very much for coming—

—You're welcome, please, guide me to where Bishamon is—

Taki nodded, waited for Viggo to come in, closed the door, and led them both into the house. They went up to the second floor with an architecture in the purest style of the Far East and when they opened the sliding door with paper squares, they saw the goddess Bishamon reclining with a huge belly.

—Wow, never imagine you this way— replied Athena.

—Me neither, but you know, Orario is a world full of possibilities— Bishamon replied.

—Aren't you too big?—

—They're twins—

Athena opened her mouth wide but could only respond with a chuckle. She came to Bishamon's side, sat down in seiza and looked at her —so it's going to be a little difficult for us to play chess or shogi—

—Just wait for me a little, I'll beat you with my eyes closed—

—I hope so, I'm afraid life in Orario has spoiled you—