Chapter 23. You're Hopeless...
---
"This is… war!"
Loki, sitting on a bench with a large sword slung over her shoulder, glared menacingly at the small, dilapidated chapel before her. Passersby curiously glanced at Loki, wondering why she looked as if her mortal enemy resided in this broken-down place. But seeing the group of LV5 and LV6 adventurers behind her, people quickly withdrew, not wanting to get involved.
Unfortunately, the ever-innocent Ais didn't notice the tense atmosphere. She simply stared intently at the church door. Though her expression remained as blank as ever, Loki could tell she was excited.
Damn it!
Creaaak—
The church door opened, revealing Bell, who scratched his head and yawned as he noticed the heavily armed group of adventurers.
"Um…" Ais raised her hand.
"Eek!"
Bell, startled like a frightened rabbit, jumped back and slammed the door shut.
"Teacher! Someone's here to cause trouble!"
Even outside, they could hear him clearly.
Ais's hand trembled, and her expression grew slightly dejected.
"Ha!!!" Loki's eyes widened as she leaped up and pounded on the church door with all her might. "Hey! Open up, you broke-ass goddess! If you don't come out, I'll buy this place and make you sleep on the streets!"
This was intolerable!
Hestia, who had been planning to play dead, jumped up in rage.
Bam—
The door was flung open, and Loki's fist landed squarely on something large and incredibly elastic, bouncing her punch right back.
Thud—
Loki clutched her nose and stumbled back, falling on her rear.
"This is provocation! Absolute provocation!" Loki wailed like a child throwing a tantrum on the ground.
Not wanting to embarrass themselves further, Finn signaled the Amazonian sisters to intervene.
The sisters exchanged a glance before each grabbed an arm and dragged Loki back to her chair.
"It seems… lively," Cyd said, helping Hestia standing up after Loki's punch had knocked her over, then looking at Loki and her group of adventurers.
"Tea… Teacher… This isn't about being lively," Bell, who was clinging to Cyd's waist, trembled.
"Bell… Bell-sama… We're doomed…" Lili, who was clutching Bell's waist, shivered.
Ais's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward to stand before Cyd. "Please teach me."
Cyd glanced past Ais at Loki, who was glaring daggers at her.
["I'll kill you!"]
Her expression seemed to scream that sentiment.
"Did your goddess agree?" Cyd tilted his head.
Creak—
Loki's face contorted, as if she were being forced to admit to something humiliating in front of everyone.
It was excruciating!
"Mm," Ais nodded firmly.
Like the final blow, Loki collapsed onto the chair, tears streaming down her face like ribbons of seaweed.
"Hehehe…" Hestia covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
She didn't know what was happening, but it made her very happy!
"Well… come inside," Cyd patted Bell's head.
"Hah? Why would I step foot into your rundown place?" Loki scoffed.
"Alright!" Ais's eyes brightened as she eagerly stepped forward.
"Waaah! Don't leave me behind, Ais-chan!" Loki jumped up from her chair, chasing after Ais.
…
"So…" Cyd sipped some water, eyeing Loki, who was sitting on the couch, squirming with distaste. "Could you sit still for a moment?"
"Please! Don't associate me with that poor goddess!" Loki crossed her arms defensively. "The sofa I sit on is worth more than this entire church! Ugh… I'm allergic to poverty!"
"Ha!!! You washboard!" Hestia couldn't hold back and lunged at Loki.
"Go to hell, you idiot!" Loki shouted as the two goddesses began to wrestle.
Cyd silently took another sip of water.
It seemed like Loki wasn't so much disgusted by poverty as she was intent on provoking Hestia. As for the reason…
Cyd glanced at Loki's flat [chest] and sighed.
It was said that gods were unimaginably old, and it seemed they would never grow any further.
Sigh…
"What are you looking at!" Loki shouted, clutching her [chest].
"Jealousy is ugly, but in your case… I can only feel pity," Cyd sighed.
"Hahahaha!" Hestia burst out laughing, her chest bouncing in a way that made Loki want to cough up blood.
"Waaah… Ais-chan!" Loki cried out, trying to cling to Ais, who was behind her, but fell flat.
"Please… help yourself…" Ais, somewhat clumsily, refilled Cyd's empty cup, then looked at him with anticipation.
Cyd stared at the steaming water for a moment before setting it aside.
"Mm…" Ais lowered her head, looking a bit dejected.
"Ais-chan…" Loki slumped back onto the couch.
"So… why are you here, anyway? And stop staring; my little white rabbit's heart is very fragile," Cyd raised his voice. "Bell, come here!"
After being surrounded by Loki's LV4 and LV5 adventurers for what felt like an eternity, Bell finally crawled out, trembling, and hid behind Cyd.
"What a shame~" Tiona Hiryute, the Amazonian sister, sighed, disappointed. "I wanted to see what kind of adventurer could break Ais's record."
Bell shuddered. Being stared at by powerful adventurers was terrifying, especially when they seemed curious rather than hostile.
Just now! Someone had even undone his belt!
"Please don't mess with my little white rabbit," Cyd reached up to ruffle Bell's hair.
"Can you teach me now?" Ais waved her hand anxiously in front of Cyd.
"Are you sure she agreed?" Cyd pointed to Loki, who was biting a handkerchief she had produced from who-knows-where.
"Mm!" Ais nodded firmly.
Cyd raised an eyebrow. She wasn't lying.
Then why did Loki look like she regretted her decision to the core?
With Ais's naïve nature, it was unlikely she had tricked Loki.
"Could you explain?" Cyd looked curiously at Loki.
Loki shed two lines of bloody tears.
"Mm, I think I understand," Cyd nodded.
Most likely, when Ais had gone to ask Loki, she had said the same thing she did when asking Cyd. Loki, unable to resist Ais's offer of "I'm willing to do anything," had agreed on the spot.
"No! You don't understand!" Loki cried out, covering her face. "Ais-chan promised to wear the clothes I picked out for her! And she agreed to wear any kind of clothes in the future! She even agreed to go on a date with me! Do you think any god could resist that temptation? No way!"
"You're hopeless…" Cyd took another sip of water.
"Too hot."