Chapter 49. You Have Always Illuminated My Path Forward
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Freya should consider this a complete failure, but why does she look like she's already won, and to the point where she's ecstatic?
No surprise, it's Freya, operating on another level!
"No, it's simply that she's letting her lust overpower all her other emotions," Loki waved her hand with a look of disgust. Then, without missing a beat, she casually draped her arm over Cyd's shoulder. "So, when are you going to let me draw up your status?"
"Ha! Why do you act like Cyd is already in your Familia?" Hestia charged at Loki, but Loki held her at bay with one hand on her forehead.
"Because obviously, it's going to be me," Loki sneered at the gods around her, who were itching to move. "Who dares to compete with me? Huh?!"
"Damn it! There she goes again, showing off the strength of her Familia!"
"I refuse," Cyd placed his hand on Loki's face, his disdainful gaze making her expression falter.
"You little brat, you're not seriously planning to ghost all the gods after eating and drinking for free, are you?" Loki grabbed Hestia's face, lifting her up. "Just so you know, Hestia will be working herself to death paying off this banquet's bill!"
"Ha! Aren't we the guests? No way guests should pay!" Hestia waved her fists.
"We're all guests," Loki shamelessly puffed out her chest.
"Well, we did have fun watching a good show today," one god scratched their face.
Loki's expression froze. Her grand plan of using Hestia's inevitable debts to force Cyd into choosing a Familia was starting to collapse.
"Yeah, yeah, it was just a small expense," said another god in an expensive suit, wiping sauce-covered fingers on it, much to the horror of his attending Familia.
"Cyd doesn't seem interested in joining any Familia anyway, so we'll just raise him collectively," Hermes slyly whispered among the gods.
"That's true. Just watching this kid makes us happy. Competing for him feels a bit much."
Nearby, the competing Familia children shed tears of frustration.
"Exactly, exactly, the Pure White Hero shouldn't be swayed by our desires."
"You guys are giving up way too easily!" Loki was bewildered. First, they insisted on doing whatever it took to get Cyd, and now they're all quitting. What the heck?
"What else can you do?" Hestia stepped back a few paces, arms crossed, after escaping Loki's grip. "You wanted to make Cyd submit with brute force, but look who's already down. You plan to move him with your "flat" charm?"
"I'll win him over with sincerity!" Loki's face twitched.
"Bell, look, this is what insincerity looks like," Cyd pulled Bell close, pointing at Loki. "Remember, most of what comes out of her mouth is probably fake."
"Really?" Bell tilted his head.
Loki's eyebrow twitched uncontrollably, especially when she saw Ais standing next to Cyd, tilting her head in the same way, studying her. Loki was close to snapping.
"Why don't you try a beauty trap?" Hermes whispered with a wicked grin next to Loki. "Use your precious princess to lure the Pure White Hero. I bet your little princess wouldn't mind being the bait."
Of course, the more likely outcome is that she'll lose her heart to the hero. In fact, she probably already has.
Loki's face froze stiff.
"Yeah, look how your little Sword Princess loves following the Pure White Hero around. Why not let her persuade him?"
"Better hope you don't lose her while you're at it."
"Come to think of it, I've heard they sneak out together at night. She's probably already lost, right?"
"True! Loki, I recently bought a nice hat. I think it'll suit you."
The gods, ever mischievous, began to tease.
"Ragnarok for you lot!" Loki trembled with rage. "You're all dying here today!"
Before she even finished her sentence, Loki leaped at the root of the chaos—Hermes.
"I'll sacrifice you first!"
"Oh, crap!"
Hermes, startled, grabbed a roasted chicken nearby and hurled it at Loki.
"Don't come any closer! I'll make you pregnant in a second if you do!"
"Thud—"
The chicken hit the face of a muscular man wearing an elephant mask.
"This is… an insult!"
The man's muscles bulged, ripping his clothes apart, but as he charged at Hermes, he accidentally knocked two other gods into a cake.
And so... the chaos began.
The gods abandoned their initial elegance, their expensive attire reduced to rags. Yet even in this mess, they continued to laugh. By the way, Hestia initially refused to join the fray since her outfit was rented—until Loki's dirty hands clawed at her.
Hestia was now in the fight.
Apollo chuckled lightly, picking up his erhu. He rested the bow on the strings and began playing a light-hearted melody, seemingly calming the confused servants huddled together.
Cyd blinked, glancing up at Apollo, who sat on the second-floor railing playing his erhu. He took a step towards him.
Noticing Cyd's gaze, Apollo's hand faltered. The cheerful melody carried a tinge of sorrow.
You don't want me to come closer, do you?
Cyd paused and withdrew the step he had taken.
That's enough…
Apollo lowered his gaze.
Gods shouldn't get too close to humans. The more one loves someone, the more one should stay away. Arrogant gods always believe they can fix everything. Because of this, they often make mistakes they cannot undo. While these mistakes may not matter much to gods, they can change everything for mortals.
It's their duty to watch from afar.
But living too long, they can't help but be drawn to these short-lived yet radiant people.
Would mortals be happy?
He had never considered this before, but now all he wanted was to watch Cyd from afar.
He had vowed to light the path forward for him, yet Cyd had fallen into true hell. His blessing... was worth nothing. It was just one more burden dragging his beloved child into the abyss.
"If that's what you think, I'd be sad," a voice said as a hand wearing a wrist guard pressed down on Apollo's bow. The orange crystal on the wrist guard glowed warmly. "This power, representing the sun, has always warmed my soul. This blessing has indeed illuminated my path, even in a world where time didn't exist, so…"
Cyd let go of the bow and smiled softly.
"Thank you, my first god who blessed me."
Apollo opened his mouth, though he had already resolved to watch from afar, already decided not to let him come closer. And yet…
Apollo released the bow and reached out to ruffle Cyd's hair.
"You really are…"
"Thud—"
The bow fell to the ground.
"…a kid who leaves me no choice."
Apollo smiled wryly, rubbing Cyd's head.