Chapter 26. The Gods Go Wild
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"Today, I will prove to Bell... that as his goddess, I can help him!"
Hestia clenched her fists, recalling the look on Bell's face as he saw her off this morning—an expression filled with the despair of someone awaiting execution.
But it's okay, Bell. You've already proven yourself. Now it's my turn to help you make a name for yourself!
"I think 'Wild Rabbit' is a good fit~. He looks like a harmless little bunny at first glance, but he's surprisingly fierce."
"How about 'Mad Rabbit'?"
"That sounds super fun!"
"Hey! Has no one considered 'Goblin Slayer'? I heard that kid loves killing goblins!"
"That one sounds good too!"
Sorry, Bell! Your goddess is useless!
Hestia trembled as she lay slumped over the table.
Hephaestus patted Hestia's shoulder.
She was pleased with Hestia's recent progress. It was as if she had finally bid farewell to her lazy past, working earnestly every day. But now, all Hephaestus could do was offer a comforting pat on the back.
It wasn't that Hephaestus lacked influence, but this was a voting system. No matter how fitting her suggested title might be, these gods would only vote for the most absurd ones because they were gods who acted on whims. They preferred to do whatever they wanted rather than take things seriously.
As for whether others would be troubled... what did they care? In fact, they enjoyed watching others get frustrated.
At least a few of her godly friends had already shed tears of blood.
"I should've seen this coming," Hestia muttered, holding her head, especially upon realizing that Loki was the one hosting this event.
The only one who could possibly turn things around was Freya. If she proposed a title, the male gods would undoubtedly rush to vote for it. But that woman was just sitting there, enjoying the show.
"Then it's decided. We'll call him the 'Mad...'" Loki raised her hammer with a look of glee.
Prepare yourself, little runt!
"Let's call him 'Hero's Apprentice.'"
Accompanied by a melodious tune, a young man carrying a two-stringed instrument pushed open the door and walked into the chaotic meeting room. His golden hair, shining like the sun, gently swayed.
"Oh my~! A new face, I see~," Loki said sarcastically, sitting in her chair. "Aren't you the one who never participates, O Poet Apollo?"
"It's not that I don't participate; I just haven't been interested," Apollo replied calmly as he sat beside Hestia.
Hestia blinked, then awkwardly scooted closer to Hephaestus.
"So now you're interested?" Loki crossed her arms. "Even though you usually do all those weird things?"
"They're necessary," Apollo responded evenly, without anger.
"Being a wandering bard? Singing praises day in and day out? It's amazing you even managed to gather a Familia," Loki sneered.
This Apollo was truly an oddball. Despite being a god who descended with Zeus, he hadn't immediately established a Familia, instead choosing to sing praises.
The Pure White hero... an utterly unbelievable concept. Such a person couldn't exist in this world, yet Apollo insisted on singing about one. The stories of hope he shared began to take effect, and people who yearned for such a hero started gathering around Apollo, praying alongside him.
At first, no one paid attention to Apollo's Familia because they were too weak. They had no intention of fighting, not even strong adventurers. But by the time others realized, Apollo's Familia had grown too large to ignore, encompassing all sorts of professions. Rather than being nurtured by Apollo, it was more like people voluntarily gathered there, especially tired adventurers seeking solace.
If Dionysus' Familia was built with a divine wine that even gods couldn't resist, Apollo's Familia was built with stories of hope and his otherworldly music.
This could be a problem...
Loki rested her chin on her hand, scrutinizing Apollo.
Apollo, who usually didn't participate in their antics, seemed serious this time.
Though her Familia was one of the strongest, rivaling Freya's, even if the two of them joined forces, they couldn't withstand an "assault" by Apollo's Familia.
Like the irresistible allure of Dionysus' divine wine, Apollo's stories and music could sway people's hearts. The difference was that Apollo generously taught his songs to his children, whereas Dionysus was a silent recluse.
Hestia's eyes widened.
This might work!
Bell wouldn't have to be called the "Mad Rabbit"!
"So why call him the 'Hero's Apprentice'?" Loki asked, clicking her tongue.
"Because... his teacher is," Apollo's lips curled into a faint smile as he lightly touched his two-stringed instrument, "the greatest hero in this world."
"You're kidding! The only hero Apollo recognizes is..."
"The Pure White hero has truly appeared! Why didn't my children know about this?!"
Freya's lips curled upward, then twisted slightly.
There was no need to hold back anymore!
Apollo's endorsement was the final trigger. The Pure White hero, beloved by all gods yet belonging to none, had finally appeared in this world!
This was the perfect moment!
"Oh-ho~! That tone, it seems he's not part of your Familia," Loki slowly stood up.
Apollo's smile faded slightly as he lowered his gaze. His tone became more somber, "I am unworthy of him. Our presumptuous love..."
"So he isn't tied to any Familia yet!" Loki interrupted, raising her voice.
In other words, anyone still had a chance to make him their child!
"Bang—"
Hestia leaped onto the table.
Cyd was currently staying at her house. As long as she acted quickly!
"Bang!!"
Mid-air, Hestia crashed face-first into the table.
"Wh-why..."
Hestia looked in disbelief at Hephaestus, who was holding her leg.
"Uh... sorry," Hephaestus said as she climbed over the table under Hestia's despairing gaze. "I couldn't resist when I heard about such a promising child!"
Meanwhile, Loki had already sneaked over to the door.
"That child is at Hestia's place!?"
"Charge!"
"That child is mine!"
The gods... went wild...
"You... you can't take my child!" Hestia shouted as she chased after the rampaging gods.
In the now chaotic meeting room, only Apollo and Freya remained.
"That child isn't some cheap treasure that's first come, first served," Freya said, slowly standing up and elegantly straightening her dress. "Acting in such haste will only scare him off."
Apollo held his two-stringed instrument in silence.
"Aren't you the least bit anxious?" Freya leaned in closer to Apollo, bending down. Her snow-white cleavage was fully exposed in his line of sight, and even a god couldn't resist her alluring scent.
But Apollo remained unresponsive, still clutching his instrument.
"Tch, if you're not going to compete for him, then I'll gladly take that child for myself," Freya said with a laugh, covering her mouth.
"You won't succeed," Apollo said, closing his eyes. "No god ever has."
"I've never failed," Freya replied, tossing her hair confidently as she left the meeting room.
"Our presumptuous love..." Apollo leaned back in his chair. "Pushed you to the brink of despair, yet you still came to me. How... should I face you?"
"Our Pure White Hero."