Alone Inside A Sandbox Part 2

My hand trembles as I pick up the knife sitting on a rack. It's scary how well the grip

fits my hand.

It's a custom-order weapon designed to perfectly fit the size of my palm and the length

of my fingers. The armor is the same. It's all precisely measured.

A full kit perfectly suited for the adventurer Bell Cranell is lined up before me.

But there is no gear inscribed with Welf's mark.

And there is no Hestia Knife.

"…Uuaaagh…"

My voice quivers, and my throat threatens to clamp shut right then and there.

It's not just the gear. There's no trace of the me who belonged in Hestia Familia. Only

the Bell Cranell of Freya Familia.

I feel sick. My legs start to tremble.

A me I don't recognize is staring back through the mirror.

I can't slump to the floor or even collapse on the bed. I just stand there beneath a red

light shining through the window.

Outside, the sun is setting in the west, and twilight is coming.

Hestia was walking by herself.

She had separated from her followers. They seemed worried, so she had lied about

having business with a god that she couldn't put off.

"Bell…? Who are you talking about, Lady Hestia?"

That was what Lilly had responded after they had woken up last night.

After Freya's alteration, Hestia had crouched, struggling to steady her senses. That had

been without doubt the most intense and destructive charm ever unleashed on the

mortal realm, and even with the force of her vestal divinity, she had still been shaken

by its passing. When she was finally able to stay steady on her own two legs, the sun

was starting to set, and everything had already changed.

The people around her were enjoying the festival as if nothing had happened, and

Hermes was nowhere to be seen. The gravestones of weapons that had been erected

around her were replaced by the unconscious bodies of her followers.

When she dashed to their sides in a panic, she discovered they weren't hurt at all.

Shortly after, they started waking up.

It didn't take long to realize they had forgotten everything that had happened.

About the attack by Freya Familia… and about Bell.

"For Freya's power to be this…"

Hestia was stunned, realizing that all of Orario had been transformed into Freya's

sandbox.

After returning to their home, she tried to confirm the situation in a way that did not

rouse her familia's suspicions, but in each case, Bell had disappeared entirely from

their memories. Lilly had been saved from Soma Familia by Welf, Welf had made

Mikoto's weapons, and Mikoto had saved Haruhime all by herself. Their memories

were all conveniently modified, all missing the one crucial figure linking them all

together, and there were more than a few contradictions, but none of them noticed

any of those inconsistencies. They continued to mistakenly believe that there was

nothing strange about it at all.

Their thoughts were all being forced to conform to a strict rule set, a clear sign of the

aftereffects of being charmed.

None of them felt anything off about the current Hestia Familia even though it could

not possibly have come into being without Bell.

Hestia and Bell's familia no longer existed.

"Gah…!"

Paying no heed to people around her still busy with cleaning up after the festival,

Hestia clutched her head and almost screamed. Rage, sadness, emptiness,

powerlessness—she wanted to vent it all in a violent shout.

Bell had surely experienced that same urge countless times already.

Put into the same position he must have experienced every time he agonized over such

adversity, Hestia could finally grasp the depth of his pain, but that was little comfort.

The boy whom she so wanted to understand was not there anymore.

"Hestia? What happened? What are you doing in a place like this?"

"…! Hermes!"

Hestia's face swung up when she heard that voice.

There stood the god she had wanted to meet when she had been out with her familia

and investigating things under the guise of helping the festival clean up.

"Hermes… about yesterday…"

"Hm? Yesterday?"

"Umm, do you… happen to remember anything…?"

"You're being a little vague. There's no need to hold back with me. We know each other

better than that."

Hestia, who had not been charmed and still retained her senses, was even now being

watched. And she would probably continue to be watched going forward as well to

prevent her from endangering the sandbox that Freya wanted to maintain.

Surely someone was listening to this very conversation. She had to watch what she

said. Hermes was all smiles while Hestia carefully chose her words and finally asked

her question.

"…Do you know Bell?"

"Bell? Come on now, of course I know him."

For a brief moment, Hestia felt a rush of hope when she heard him reply in that bright,

cheerful tone.

"He's one of Freya's followers. The record holder who's the talk of the city!"

"Ghh…!"

And it was immediately replaced by despair.

"Reaching Level Four in half a year is unheard of. But it's a beacon of light that could

signal that the prayers of the mortal realm, and even our greatest wish, might be

fulfilled. The world demands a hero, right?"

Hermes, who had given her advice and support up until right before the world

changed, the trickster god who knew the identity of the parent who had raised Bell.

She had approached him in the hope that if it was him, then just maybe—but it was

not meant to be.

Talking so cheerfully about Freya's possession, he had clearly also fallen prey to her

charm. Just as he had feared in the moments before the city's alteration.

"When the time comes, give this to me!"

Hestia clenched the fragment of torn paper hidden in her hand—the note Hermes left

himself.

If I mess up the timing, you'll become my enemy… This is what you meant, isn't it Hermes?

You, Hephaistos, and all the others… The moment I'm out of line, you'll end up turning

against me…?

The people and deities under the influence of Freya's charm would erase anyone and

anything that posed a danger to Freya's sandbox. If Hestia handed Hermes the note

that he had furiously written to himself right now, the moment he became suspicious,

his familiar expression would disappear and he would capture Hestia. Hermes had

foreseen that exact scenario.

But that meant there was no one she could rely on.

Hestia had no way to break out of the situation at present.

Just like Bell, she was all alone, isolated in the palm of Freya's hand.

It was mate in one on the board.

"That's Freya for you, though, finding a follower like that. They don't call her a collector

of souls for nothing."

"...…"

"Still, though, I'm surprised. I wouldn't have expected you to talk about him so

familiarly."

"...…"

"When did you get to know him that well… Hm, Hestia? What's wrong? You aren't

looking so good."

Hermes started to look suspicious after talking so cheerfully.

It hurt to even look him in the eye, so Hestia looked down.

"…It's… nothing… Nothing at all…"

"Hestia?"

"Sorry, Hermes… I'm going now."

She left Hermes with lifeless, wraithlike footsteps.

Wandering the lively streets was painful. She hated the cheerful laughs erupting

around her. A city that didn't know her Bell just made her sad.

And Bell had been hurting all this time.

That fact alone was unbearably heartrending.

She was trapped in a dead-end alley, with something so very precious to her stolen

away. Unable to advance in any direction, Hestia was at a total loss on what to do.

Then she noticed something.

"…That's…"

When she glanced up, she felt like she saw a figure she recognized far, far above her.

Hestia stopped moving, and after a brief, uneasy moment of hesitation, she started

heading in that direction.

Remembering the path they had taken—her, Bell, and one other—she climbed the

stairs that reached the top of the enormous city walls.

"...…"

She was standing there alone.

Her golden hair rustling in the autumn breeze.

It was a beautiful yet lonely scene.

"Wallenwhatsherface…"

"…Lady Hestia…?"

It would be funny if it were not so tragic.

If it were not for Bell, the two of them would have had nothing to do with each other,

or perhaps they would have had an entirely different relationship, and yet they were

speaking with each other in the same way as they had just the other day.

It was so absurd, such an unreasonable situation, that Hestia tried to laugh, but she

could not bring herself to do it.

"What are you doing here?"

"…I don't know…"

"You don't know?"

"Yes… I don't know… why I came here… or what I was hoping to find… or who I was

hoping to meet…"

Aiz seemed to be struggling with that question herself as she answered.

Sensing the undercurrent of her emotions, Hestia was hopeful for a moment that she

might possibly remember Bell, but she was soon disappointed.

Her beautiful golden eyes were etched with a glimmer of silver.

That silver gleam was proof that Aiz had fallen prey to the charm, too.

Considering even deities had been enslaved by it, too, there was no logical reason to

think a mortal might have escaped the yoke, no matter how special she might be.

Hestia scolded herself.

Quit getting your hopes up and do what you need to do.

"…Do you know Bell?"

"…? Do you mean Freya Familia's Bell Cranell…?"

Hearing her refer to Bell that way was beyond disheartening.

She was surely still being watched; Warlord was out there observing her every action

in a way that the Sword Princess wouldn't notice.

Hestia forced herself to continue even with that knowledge.

"I'm asking you… please don't show yourself in front of Bell."

She did not know how Freya's eyes and ears would judge that comment.

But she could not let that stop her.

Since she could not change anything anymore, the least Hestia could do was prevent

Bell from suffering as much as possible.

If he were pushed away by Aiz, the idol he adored, he might not be able to resist the

goddess of beauty's charm anymore. He might lose the protection of his skill and fall

right into Freya's clutches.

Hestia was worried about that, terrified of it.

"Me…?"

"Yes…"

"Why…?"

"I can't tell you…"

"...…"

"...…"

"...…"

"...…"

"...Okay…"

"Sorry… and thank you." Hestia's voice was barely audible as she stared down at the

dark shadow stretching along the stone pavement below.

Outside the city wall, the sky was already growing dark.

The fleeting twilight lit the girl and goddess alike.

Inside the city walls, the sun was already set.

The setting sun painted everything a beautiful, heartrending crimson.

Many stopped what they were doing to admire the beauty of the moment.

"…There it is. The profile of Bell Cranell."

In the northwest of the city, Guild Headquarters on Adventurer's Way.

Eina pulled several documents from a shelf full of paperwork and folders.

Something seemed strange about Mr. Cranell when I met him… There should be no

reason for me to ever interact with the city's most promising new adventurer, but… he

called my name so desperately…

The Bell Cranell she had met during the day was still on her mind. She couldn't stop

thinking about his deathly pale expression, so she had gotten permission from Misha

and come back to headquarters alone. She didn't believe what he was saying, but she

decided to look into his records.

"…Still, what could it be? I shouldn't know him… but I can't seem to let it go…"

More than anything, it felt like there was something in the depths of her heart that was

pleading with her.

It was a maddening impulse that she could not explain. An ominous, mysterious

feeling that she knew she had to act on. She pursed her lips as she moved away from

the shelf.

There was hardly anyone left in Guild Headquarters. Everyone was busy with cleaning

the streets.

Both the file room she had left and the office where her desk was located were

deserted. Thanks to that, there was no one to scold her for flipping through the files

while she walked to her desk.

"Bell Cranell… Fourteen years old, male. Human. Registered as an adventurer half a

year ago, no indications of having received falna before entering Orario. Currently a

member of Freya Familia…"

Sensing the presence of a small handful of people staffing the counters in the lobby

and a few other workers scattered around the building, she skimmed the adventurer's

profile.

It was all exactly as she remembered. There was nothing strange about his files or the

sketch of his likeness accompanying them.

Wait.

"…There are signs it's been altered…?"

Eina had decided to sit down and examine the documents closely, but she stopped and

stared at the papers, not even realizing she had reached her desk already.

She could see some traces of various modifications, including the section detailing the

familia he belonged to.

If she didn't know better, she would have suspected a member of the Guild had swiftly

rewritten the documents during the night.

Was that a real possibility… Was someone faking Bell's history?

Was he not mistaken when he called her name?

Just as Eina had that thought…

"—No, there aren't any signs of modifications. Mr. Cranell has always been part of Freya

Familia—"

A silver gleam flashed in her emerald eyes as she murmured those hollow words to

herself.

Her expression blank, Eina couldn't properly see what was right before her eyes.

The charm Freya had placed on the entire city was simply that powerful. It did not

steal away their free will and humanity. Even though Freya had decided not to hold

back and do whatever it took to make Bell hers, she had no intention of turning

everyone into lifeless puppets.

Even as she scorned her work, that was the final line she refused to cross out of respect

for the mortal realm. The people of the city would be able to continue to going about

their lives to a certain degree.

The rules she had laid down were simple—misinterpret anything regarding Bell

Cranell.

That was all.

And if they felt any suspicion about the setting Freya had created or felt there was

something strange about an aspect of his path that she had not managed to alter, those

stray thoughts that conflicted with her rule would be forcibly corrected. Or rather, the

people in her thrall would correct themselves. Just like Eina had, they would not even

notice their senses being twisted.

Freya's control did not even allow them to realize what was being altered. In that

sense, her plan was airtight.

"…Ugh…"

However—

Eina's head ached. It felt like she was being split in two.

Her feelings toward the boy she had helped raise for the past half a year warred with

the power of Freya's charm. The repeated episodes of cognitive dissonance came with

a heavy cost, and it caused Eina to stagger.

"Agh… Oh no…"

The stack of books on her desk collapsed, scattering all over the floor.

Her thoughts still unsteady, Eina frantically started to clean up the mess.

Not understanding why she had so many things scattered all around haphazardly

when she was usually so neat, she picked up a book…

"…Huh?"

Time stopped. She slowly blinked and looked at the cover again.

The Koine written on the cover said, BELL CRANELL'S ADVISER JOURNAL.

Eina always kept a record of the adventurers she advised.

In order to track all records of their activity in the Dungeon and for future reference

to make sure that none of her adventurers died. The journals for the elf Ruvis and

dwarf Dormul were lying somewhere in her apartment, too.

So why did this journal have Bell Cranell's name on it?

She didn't understand. Her thoughts came to a screeching halt. She was gasping for

air. It was unmistakably her handwriting. Why did she have something like that? And

why had she subconsciously tried to throw it away along with that pile of documents?

Why had she tried to make it disappear?

Why?

She didn't know. She didn't understand.

But her trembling hands slowly opened it.

After forcibly negotiating with the upper levels of the Guild, I've become Bell Cranell's—

Bell's adviser. Rose and the others are betting on him. While he may not have any talent

as an adventurer… I won't let him die! Just like always, I'm making a journal starting

today.

The pen strokes describing her first encounter with the boy overflowed with

annoyance.

It recorded how she had lectured him on the first day they'd met, when she had given

him the Guild-provided gear.

I can't believe him! Not listening to a word I said and going all the way to the fifth floor?!

Not only did he almost get himself killed but he even wound up running around the city

covered in blood! Bell is a meek boy, but he has moments where he gets too ahead of

himself. I'll have to watch him even more closely. Still, though, falling for the Sword

Princess on first sight… is he going to be okay?

She flipped through page after page.

Even when she erupted in righteous fury, her notes were always filled with concern

for him.

Defeating a minotaur by himself and reaching Level 2… this doesn't make any sense. But

that boy just might end up being an amazing adventurer after all. At the same time, I'm

terrified he really might get himself killed over nothing if I take my eyes off him… You

always put me on edge, Bell.

This time it was about the boy's level up, the anticipation and excitement, and also the

pervasive unease. Here was the record of a boy that Eina did not know. The charm

quickly went to work.

To her eyes, the records in the journal ceased to refer to Bell regardless of what was

on the page.

I raised my hand against him for the first time. Attacking an adventurer, becoming hated

by the city, and not telling me anything. I slapped his cheek like a fool. Even though I

should be the adult. I acted like a child. But… it's lonely. It's so mortifying, Bell. I want to

help you. If something is troubling you, then… I want to support you.

But her hand refused to stop turning the pages.

She could see spots where it looked like droplets had splotched the ink.

And at the same time, tears were falling quietly from her emerald eyes.

I can't. I can't anymore. I harbor a corruption unbefitting the elf blood running through

my veins. And it's because of an adventurer I'm charged with advising of all people…! It's

unpardonable! Shameless! And I'm supposed to be a Guild employee, the ones who keep

business and personal separate above all! Apologize! Apologize to Goddess Hestia!

Ahhhh, mother, please scold me. Please hold me in judgment, Lady Riveria. I mustn't

embrace these feelings, and yet…

I love him.

Her eyes were pouring.

She could not even register who the boy written of in the journal was, but the tears

did not stop.

There was no sadness, joy, unease, or even a smile on her face. She was expressionless

as the tears continued to fall.

It's too late now, but I realized that I don't know anything about Bell outside of his

adventuring. Also, when did this turn into a love diary?! The Dungeon records are still

being recorded properly, but!!!! Graaaaaah!… But that's just how much I [frantic eraser

marks]

…I don't want to forget. Whatever may come. Even if he dies. Or even if I die before him…

I don't want to forget these feelings.

Eina turned the page.

She kept reading, crying all the while without understanding anything.

And when she attempted desperately to reach out for the feeling deep in her heart that

was still pleading with her, she heard a voice.

"Still seeking it out even though you cannot even recognize what it is you want… Truly

intriguing, but that's a miscalculation on my part."

"!"

A hand reached over from beside her, picking up the book.

Eina turned her head in shock to see a person—no, a goddess—standing right beside

her, cloaked in a robe to hide herself. Peering beneath the hood, she saw smooth,

alabaster skin. And then seeing the silver, jewellike eyes, Eina gasped, realizing who it

was.

"G-goddess Freya…?"

Ignoring Eina's confusion at her presence, Freya confirmed the contents of the book

that Eina had been riffling through so intently.

"It would be one thing to miss something like this if the target was one individual, but

with an indefinite, wide-scale charm, gaps are bound to appear… particularly around

those who had especially strong feelings toward him. It's good I noticed."

The goddess murmured to herself before suddenly looking up.

"For a powerless girl like you to be able to resist me… I'm jealous. It's almost as if

you've formed a bond with Bell."

Freya smiled.

It was a quiet and enchanting smile.

Eina felt a chill run down her spine for some reason. She couldn't move.

"I'll be taking this."

"Ah…"

"It's okay. I won't throw it away. I promise."

Clutching the book to her chest, Freya took a step away.

Eina immediately tried to extend a hand after her, but she was stopped by a silver gaze.

That alone caused her body to spasm.

Eina had no way to know, but it was a powerful, direct reapplication of Freya's charm.

"My children will come later to take that pile of documents. You should go back now.

Forget all of this."

"...…Yes, ma'am."

Glancing down at the books scattered at her feet, Freya turned her back.

Entranced and obedient to her beauty, Eina nodded emotionlessly.

No lamps were turned on. The room was lit only by the fading rays of the setting sun.

Eina stood there limply, and once the goddess had disappeared from sight, she

murmured quietly like someone slowly waking.

"What was I doing…? I have to get back to Misha and the others…"

And, of course…

"Huh…? Why am I crying…?"

…Eina had lost the reason why tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Click. Click.

Footsteps echoed on the dark stairs before sinking into the darkness below.

Holding the half-elf's book, Freya descended the stairs without being stopped by

anyone. And at the end of the stairway, she reached the underground altar, where four

torches burned. The stone chamber resembled an ancient temple.

"Unsurprisingly, it seems I could not bend you, Ouranos." Freya flashed an oddly sweet

smile at the old god sitting atop his large stone throne in the center of the hallowed

space. "In addition to your position as one of the great gods, you are protected by this

underground altar. My charm could not reach you. In fact, I can't even say whether

voices from aboveground can even be heard here, no matter how loud."

"…Freya…"

The towering god replied solemnly, the light of rationality shining in his blue eyes.

He looked down from his seat at the goddess of beauty, who had approached without

concern, knowing full well that the god before her was not under her sway.

"Do you intend to charm me as well?"

Unlike during the Goddess Festival yesterday, she was already inside his chamber and

incredibly close. If she used her charm now, even a formidable deity like him would be

unable to resist. From the moment he had been unable to prevent her from entering

his chamber, she controlled his fate.

"Of course not. You are more crucial to the safety of Orario than any other being. If my

seduction caused a disruption in your prayers, I would lose everything."

"...…"

"Besides… Hee-hee, I doubt your expression would change in the slightest, even if I

did charm you."

Freya laughed teasingly as Ouranos's eyes screwed up tight.

Orario was the lid on the great pit that endlessly spewed out monsters, and Ouranos,

its founding god who offered up prayers to the Dungeon, was both the most crucial

deity in the entire city and the keystone upon which the whole mortal realm rested.

Were his prayers to be disrupted, it was entirely possible the destruction of Orario

might follow.

In other words, from the start, Freya had never intended to charm Ouranos.

The downfall of the city of heroes could not be allowed.

Only wicked deities whose end goal was absolute destruction and ruin would desire

such a thing.

No matter how much Freya might act the part of a proud and haughty queen, she and

they were not the same.

"What is your goal, Freya?"

"Do you need to ask? I broke a taboo in order to get what I wanted. Nothing more."

"Bell Cranell…"

Ouranos was always tracking the course of events in the city through Fels and others

he relied on, and he had learned of Freya's divine will through Hermes as well. Beneath

his unchanging expression, and while sympathizing with the boy who had been tossed

about by the currents of fate, he also sighed ever so slightly. He saw now that the boy

really was a parting gift from that Zeus.

"Then why have you come here?"

Ouranos could not move from the altar where he offered up his prayers to the

Dungeon.

The limbs who acted on his behalf, Royman and the rest, had already fallen to Freya.

There was nothing Ouranos could do. Just like with Hermes and Hestia, he had lost the

moment he failed to prevent Freya from activating her charm.

Or more precisely, it was not just Ouranos who had lost. Every deity had been bested.

"I thought I might come to bargain with you, this city's creator."

The dictator who could not be moved by anyone's orders lowered her hood and looked

Ouranos in the eye.

"Do not interfere."

"What?"

"If you can promise me that, then in exchange, I will advance the exploration of the

Dungeon in one fell swoop."

Ouranos's eyes widened as the goddess ignored his question and laid out the contents

of her proposal.

"Until now, I have been content to leave matters to Ottar and let my children do as they

pleased, but if you accept my proposal, I'll give the order. I will tell my whole familia

to challenge the Dungeon as one."

"…!"

"That means advancing into the unexplored territory, of course, but also beginning the

preparations for slaying the black dragon."

Reaching the end of the Dungeon that was the root of everything. And the completion

of the last of the three great quests that were the wish of the mortal realm. Freya was

saying that if Ouranos was willing to accept her terms, she would begin to seriously

address those tasks.

There was no mistaking that if Freya Familia, a group that prioritized individual

strength above all, began to challenge the Dungeon as a united whole like Loki Familia,

then the rate of exploration would increase dramatically.

At its heart, Freya Familia only moved based on their patron goddess's whims.

All of its members had had their hearts stolen by Freya and considered her grace to

be their salvation, which was precisely why they spent all of their time kicking each

other down in a never-ending quest to win her love. However, if they were to become

unified behind the orders of their goddess…

"I will complete the machia."

There was no lie in her declaration.

Even Ouranos, so staid and unflappable, could not help betraying his shock.

"…You, who lost to Hera and became bound to Orario? Why now?"

Freya was as fickle as the wind.

Ever since Zeus and Hera's downfall fifteen years ago, she had fulfilled her duty as a

deity in Orario, but she had never seriously applied herself to achieving any common

goals. Between her followers' free spiritedness and her familia management, she

despised prioritizing others' goals over her personal interests.

"Because I found what it is that I want… my Odr." What changed all of that was an

incredibly simple and ordinary thing.

The reverent, proud, but almost fragile smile and features of a girl crossed her face all

at once.

"I want Bell. His body, his heart, and his soul as well. Yes, Bell alone is enough. If I can

have him, then I don't care about anything else."

"...…"

"So if you can turn a blind eye to this one transgression, then I can swear that it will

not cause Orario any harm. Besides, this is the best way to go about it, don't you think?"

An instant later, the enchanting smile of a witch appeared.

"If I forcibly steal Bell away, there will assuredly be a price to pay. Whether it's Hestia's

children or Hephaistos and those who would take her side. But this way, no one has to

be hurt."

That much was true.

Her twisting the entirety of the city to her will was not something that could be

praised. It was assuredly wrong. But from the perspective of mustering the total

combat potential of the city, her method did not have any major downsides. No

skirmishing or war games had broken out. The masses had simply had their memories

overwritten, and everything could more or less be settled peaceably.

And on top of that, if Freya Familia were to apply themselves to the task of speeding

up the exploration of the Dungeon, that was certainly a boon to Orario.

"Other than my followers, the only ones in this city who retain their memories from

before I acted are Bell, Hestia, and you, Ouranos. Just the three of you."

"...…"

"If my sandbox were to fall, then you three are the only ones who could be responsible."

So don't try anything funny.

No plots, no contacting someone outside the city for support. Just sit back and let it

happen.

That was Freya's unspoken warning.

In order to nip that one in a million possibility in the bud, she had personally come

down to Ouranos with her offer.

"Today has been really rough, you know? My children and I were going all around the

city to tie up loose ends."

"...…"

"I asked the children I charmed to take care of altering Bell's history as necessary, but

there were naturally some spots that got overlooked. Just now, in fact, one of your

children was beginning to suspect the modified records."

She opened the journal she had taken from Eina and flipped through the pages.

While she had told Alfrik and the others to say that she was in Babel for Bell's sake,

she had been out and about putting the finishing touches on her meticulous setting.

"My charm didn't reach down into the Dungeon, so every adventurer in the Dungeon

yesterday did not have their memories modified."

"…You've filled that gap now?"

"Yes. I've tracked down every adventurer we could confirm and charmed them. Even

the residents of Rivira."

Freya was arrogant in her diligence.

For much the same reason she had not charmed Ouranos, she knew there was no

purpose in unnecessarily provoking the Dungeon. While almost everyone had been

enjoying the Goddess Festival, there were still some adventurers in the Dungeon on

that day who had not fallen prey to her charm. But she had already crushed that

concern with incredible zeal.

She had manipulated adventurers to call the residents of Rivira on the eighteenth floor

to the surface to be charmed. Some of Loki's children were on an expedition to the

deep levels, but she did not send her followers that far down. There was too much risk

of missing them and passing in the night, considering how expansive the labyrinth

became at those depths.

There was no rush. They could be dealt with the moment they returned to the surface.

And on top of that, she had extended her control to the town of Meren not far from the

city. So it was safe to say that none of the places that were closely tied to Orario

because of proximity would notice anything out of the ordinary.

Her charm worked on mortals and deities alike, and all under her control had been

ordered to inform her of any possible discrepancies that might disrupt her sandbox.

Anyone who began to doubt that Bell was a member of Freya Familia would

immediately be discovered.

That was why her follow-up had been so meticulous. Freya was completely serious

about entrapping Bell in her sandbox.

"And I even got my hands on this."

Freya pulled out a small vial. Much like Status Thief, this was an illegal item that could

be obtained only on the black market. But it was an extraordinarily rare item, and

there had been only one in all of Rivira. Freya had prioritized obtaining it over even

approaching Ouranos, which was why she had put off seeing him for so long.

"I'm sure I missed a couple spots here and there, but… I can use Ho rn and the others

to patch them up."

There were no holes in her plan. And any that might exist would be quickly corrected.

And of course, her intention in explaining all of this was to rob the old god of any

choice but to accept her offer.

Her beautiful silver hair glimmered like the moon in the dark chamber.

"I've shown my whole hand. I believe I've demonstrated my sincerity… so, let's hear

your answer, Ouranos."

Ouranos silently accepted the gaze fixed upon him and heavily closed his eyes.

"Regardless of what I wish for, I am called the founder god of this city, and as such, my

good faith efforts must be in service to those who would live in this city. Therefore,

Freya, I cannot consider your barbarous course of action to be just."

"And?"

"…However, it's also true that I cannot stop you now. So do as you please for as long as

these eyes remain closed."

Ouranos's final answer was silence.

While not accepting her outstretched hand, he promised to become an unmoving

statue.

"Hee-hee… You really are a crafty god."

A faint smile crossed Freya's lips as she turned on her heels and leisurely took her

leave, as if knowing from the start that it would end like this.

All that remained in her wake were the four flickering torches and the old god who

had closed his eyes.

"…I can't believe it…"

A short while after the goddess had left.

There was a shudder from the darkness gathered in the corner of the chamber, and a

single mage appeared.

"Is it true, Ouranos…? Not just me, but every being in the city has been charmed…"

At the foot of the steps leading to Ouranos's seat, Fels stepped out, radiating shock

from head to toe.

The black-robed mage who served as Ouranos's right arm had been standing by

vigilantly, listening from outside.

However, despite hearing everything from start to finish, Fels still could not fully grasp

the situation.

"Even after hearing all that, I still don't feel any different. Almost like no matter what

I hear, I would just write it off as nonsense… No, I suppose I can't objectively see myself

being bound to Goddess Freya's will as I am right now."

"That is what it means to be a goddess of beauty. That is Freya's power."

"A forcible misapprehension of reality and warping people's perceptions… Would even

I be forced to become your enemy, Ouranos?"

Though Fels's robe could block all abnormal statuses and even curses, it was

impossible to resist Freya's charm. The mage had already been ensnared by her

powerful influence, and the moment Ouranos made any furtive moves, Fels would

transform into a mere drone who would calmly report back to Freya. Because of that,

Ouranos did not respond, merely keeping his eyes closed in accordance with his

promise to Freya.

Fels shuddered. Even the formidable mage could not separate conscious and

subconscious impulses.

Automatic submission.

The magic Freya had cast on the city was kind in a sense. Impenetrable and

unbreakable, but also a curse more heinous than any other.

"I'm sure no harm will come to the city, just as Freya said. There is nothing I can do

but remain a spectator for the time being. As to whether that extends into eternity… is

up to Bell Cranell."

Behind his eyelids, the old god saw the figure of a lone boy.

The twilight fades, and the last motes of light turn to shade as darkness covers the city.

The sky is clear, but the stars seem far away. Wisps of clouds have made the moon hazy

and indistinct tonight.

A terribly long day is coming to a close as night finally arrives.

"Lady Freya has returned. Come."

At the same time the door to my room opens, I hear Master's command. I've just been

sitting on the edge of my bed, so I quietly stand up.

I follow behind him like an unresisting prisoner.

"...…"

"...…"

Master doesn't say anything. Nor do I.

We just walk down the pale moonlit corridors in silence. The palatial home is quiet.

Not just inside, but all around the estate.

The enormous Folkvangr is surrounded by a large wall. Despite being in the middle of

the fifth district, located in the south portion of Orario along with the shopping

district, these halls are far removed from the noise and bustle of the city.

Even though the lively atmosphere of the Goddess Festival has only just dissipated, the

silence that clings to the walls here makes it feel all the more secluded from the

outside world.

Would it be an exaggeration to say it feels like a giant prison?

"…Master… Hedin…"

I correct myself, not sure how I should refer to him, but Master responds without

turning around.

"What?"

"…Do you know a person named Syr?"

All of a sudden, his footsteps stop. He slowly turns around.

"…Who is that?"

"A human girl… she works at a tavern called The Benevolent Mistress…"

"...…"

"She should have some connection with Freya Familia… Is there someone like that

here…?"

Even in this impossible-to-understand situation where no one remembers who I really

am, there are several other things that keep bothering me. This morning, when I asked

about Lyu, Alfrik and his brothers didn't seem to remember her.

So then what about Syr?

What about the girl who disappeared after I hurt her? What became of her?

I'm desperately clinging to hope as I ask Master, but he returns an inscrutable look.

"There is no girl like that here. There is only our goddess."

The answer I expected shatters that strand of hope.

I look down, not even managing a simple "I see" in response. I'm disgusted with myself

and the total resignation I feel after confronting a world so different in every way from

the one in my memories.

Master looks at me for the briefest moment before he sets off again.

He leads me first to the enormous dining hall that sits at the center of the mansion on

the first floor, where he brought me in the morning. Once we're through there, we

enter a hallway that continues straight north. Then it's across a covered walkway that

passes through a heavenly courtyard and onward into the heart of the home.

The sheer size of these unfamiliar places makes me feel incredibly small and far from

home. All I can do is follow after Master to the highest floor of a structure that stands

alone.

"Lady Freya, as you requested."

"Enter," a soprano voice sings from behind the closed doors.

My heart quivers in my breast as two women wielding spears who must be guards

open the doors. Propelled forward by Master's gaze, I nervously step into the

goddess's room alone.

"Welcome, Bell."

There is no throne inside.

The owner is sitting there on an elegant couch situated in the center of the room.

Strands of glimmering silver the same color as her eyes flow down her back. Those

locks of hair twinkle like a sea of stars, and her irises gleam like precious jewels.

The rest of her figure bathed in the glow of moonlight could only be described as

beauty incarnate. This tranquil deity discards her bewitching demeanor as she turns

her gaze to me alone.

"…Lady Freya…"

Those words are all that manage to make it past my dry lips.

The room of the goddess who controls the city's largest familia has fewer things in it

than I imagined. I'm sure part of that impression comes from how large the room is,

but the only furnishings that really catch my eye are a canopied bed, a bookshelf, and

an intricately ornamented dresser and mirror. The floor is a white stone that has just

a hint of blue to it, with a luxurious carpet running across part of it. Several columns

of matching stone support the ceiling.

It's spacious and grand, like a throne room that's been transformed into a personal

chamber.

The chandelier hanging from the ceiling isn't lit. Only a dim magic-stone lamp set on a

small round table beside the couch and the pale glow of the moon through the window

provide any light.

"I'm sorry I could not make time immediately. We goddesses are busy with various

errands in the aftermath of the Goddess Festival."

"...…"

"I've heard the story from Hedin and the rest. That you don't remember us?"

"...…"

"And that you believe you are the follower of some other goddess."

I remain silent from start to finish as Freya speaks. I haven't moved since coming to a

stop in the middle of her room. She stands up and walks over to me.

The sounds of her heels are muffled by the carpet. She stands in front of me, just a

little bit taller than me as she reaches her right hand toward my cheek.

My shoulders tremble, and I reflexively step backward.

"…I thought they were joking at first, but it seems it's true."

I purse my lips, and the goddess smiles slightly, as if troubled by the situation. She

seems so kind. Her tone is gentle. It's nothing like the detached and aloof attitude she

always seemed to have the few times I saw her before.

I take a deep breath, trying not to let myself notice that it's exactly the sort of behavior

a patron goddess might reserve for her followers.

"Am I… really a member of Freya Familia…?"

"Yes. I was the first to see you."

"Then… I was always fighting at your side…?"

"That's right. On the field here and in the Dungeon. You struggled like a restless rabbit.

You were always pushing yourself, balanced on a knife's edge… and in truth, I was

often worried about you."

Lady Freya answers my tense questions in full. And her last comment is spoken in a

whisper, as if sharing a secret.

Deep inside, I'm flustered at seeing the goddess of beauty act like that, but I quickly

suppress it. It doesn't seem like she's lying at all. But she is a goddess. She could

probably lie in a way that a mortal like me would never see through, or otherwise hide

falsehoods deep within half-truths.

For just this moment, I brush aside the impiety of doubting a goddess and make my

request.

"Then… could you please give me some proof?"

I'm beyond stunned and confused by these strange circumstances.

No one remembers the me who's a part of Hestia Familia. They all believe I'm the

strange one. Ever since I was denied at every turn and then left alone in that room, I've

spent every waking moment thinking, desperate to grasp the situation.

And this is the method I came up with to confirm whether my memories are real.

"Please update my status."

This is the most definitive proof of a connection between a follower and their patron

deity.

Falna—a contract and a blood tie.

Every follower, without exception, has a status inscribed on their back using a deity's

ichor. And only their patron deity can update it.

I'm Bell Cranell, Lady Hestia's follower.

The time I spent with her is not a lie.

I've been waiting for this moment where I could be alone with Lady Freya in order to

prove that once and for all.

"Here and now…!"

No other deity can update my status. If I can prove that my back bears Lady Hestia's

blessing, then even if I can't explain why everyone else's memories are different, I will

at least have some small evidence to support my claims.

I lean forward, like an adventurer holding out a lantern called hope in the murky

darkness that shrouds everything from sight.

"—I don't mind, if that's what you'd like."

Meanwhile, Lady Freya doesn't show any sign of agitation as she easily accepts my

request.

"Wha…?"

"Heith, a needle."

Lady Freya rings a bell, and the healer who examined me enters the room.

Bowing her head exaggeratedly, Heith holds an extravagant, jeweled tray up to the

goddess.

Lady Freya pricks her finger with the sharp silver needle, and blood quickly beads on

the tip. My heart pounds as I watch her move without a trace of hesitation.

It can't be. Really?

No, this isn't right. It can't be. I have to make it clear. I'm not the one who's wrong. I

quickly remove my shirt with trembling hands—

I'm fighting against my wildly beating heart as I strip down and bare my chest.

Guided by Lady Freya, I sit in the chair set just in front of the couch.

"I'll do it just like always, so don't move."

I shudder at the whisper in my ear.

Just as my mind goes blank, a drop of liquid falls on my back.

—gh?!

I can feel it the moment her finger touches my back. The feeling of someone accessing

my blessing.

It's the same pulse that I felt every time Lady Hestia updated my status.

It's a lie. It can't be. This should be impossible—but even as I freeze with my back to

her, Lady Freya is freely running her finger across my back.

The moment didn't last very long.

"And done."

As if handing down a death sentence, Lady Freya reaches from behind me, handing me

a single piece of paper.

I take it with trembling hands.

Level 4

Strength: A843->846 Defense: A812->871 Dexterity: A881->895 Agility: S928-

>935 Magic: B767->769

Luck: F Immunity: G Escape: I

"Ghhhh?!"

The full contents of my status that Lady Freya shouldn't know about, as well as properly

updated numbers. My heart feels like a hand is squeezing it tighter and tighter. The

exaltation that's filling my body is a merciless confirmation that my abilities really

have gone up.

"Your endurance has really improved. Has Hedin been working you hard again?"

While I'm at a loss for words, Lady Freya places the needle down on the round table.

I don't respond to her comment. I toss away the paper and turn around.

Leaving my clothes behind, I struggle to move as I stumble over to the mirror.

" "

There, the reality that greets me is crueler than anything.

Turning my back to the mirror, when I look over my shoulder, the sight that meets my

eyes is a set of silver hieroglyphs.

The ancient glyphs are not in the familiar shape of a sacred fire. Instead, they're in the

form of the lady.

It's not Lady Hestia's falna—it's Lady Freya's!

"That can't…"

Hammered by the immovable reality, I collapse to my knees.

There we go.

At that moment, Freya heard it.

The sound of his suspicions cracking and shattering.

That steadfast heart he had only barely been holding together finally fell apart.

In her heart, Freya hid a smile as she approached the pitiful child.

"It's okay, Bell."

"!"

The boy was kneeling on the floor, and she hugged him from behind. His body

trembled as if an electrictrifying current shot through him while she wrapped both

arms around him, drawing him close and giving him no chance to run or refuse.

Her voluptuous bosom pressed against his frail back.

Ahh, I can hear his heart beat.

A throbbing, rhythmic terror. This was undoubtedly the tone of the soul dearer to her

than any other.

She suppressed the urge to nibble his earlobe, to bring her lips to the nape of his neck,

to have their hot breaths entwine and become one until the lines separating them

disappeared entirely. And then she whispered.

"I understand your fear. And your despair, too. I also understand that you can't accept

everything all at once."

"Wha…?"

"So please don't destroy yourself. Your body is so cold. Please don't tremble so… don't

be scared."

She murmured the words that he wanted to hear, allowing him to feel her heartbeat,

like comforting a baby.

The boy had lost everything he knew and had no place to call his own. Taking

advantage of his vulnerability, she drew close to him, offering warmth.

There was an incredible amount of tension in his body, but slowly yet surely, he relaxed

ever so slightly.

I was right to get the Status Snitch from Rivira.

That had been the trick that had broken his confidence in what was real.

Just as he had suspected, his back still bore Hestia's falna, because he had not yet

converted. No matter how much she might try to isolate him through the strength of

her charm, she could not change that fact. It would only serve to feed his suspicions.

And so, Freya had used a magic item.

Status Snitch was far rarer than Status Thief.

Created by combining the ichor of several different deities who presided over a great

many things, its effect allowed a deity other than a child's patron deity to update a

status.

An item for updating the status of some other deity's child was something with no

apparent benefits and many, many problems in most situations, but it could be a

solution for followers trapped by a malicious patron deity, and its original use was for

various clandestine purposes like recruiting spies and luring new recruits. Given its

predominantly nefarious uses, it was despised by the upstanding deities who

managed the network of familias, and exceedingly few of them were ever

manufactured.

It required Status Thief to be used first in order to unlock a status, but once that was

done, a drop of the Status Snitch's crimson liquid was enough to update abilities—

however, it could only update abilities. It didn't allow for the development of magic or

skills or a level-up.

Freya, who had spent the entire day taking care of all the possible points of failure in

her charm, had also gotten her hands on Status Snitch and used it to catch Bell

unaware.

By whispering in his ear when he was turned away, she had created an opportunity to

quickly use Status Thief and then Status Snitch. As soon as the stage was set, she had

used her own ichor, so that after the update, her mark would remain on his back for a

time.

Using all those cumulative effects, she had managed to deceive Bell.

"Even if isolation is all you experienced, I won't let you be alone… it's okay."

She whispered softly again and again, continuing to share her warmth with him.

Before long, his breathing, which had been coming fast and shallow, slowly began to

return to normal. In the process of helping Bell regaining his composure, she had

imprinted her compassion into his mind, laying the groundwork for the future.

Freya smiled.

It wasn't a derisive or scornful sneer. Just a joyous smile as she positioned herself at

his side.

"Are you all right now?"

"…Y-yes…"

When his body had finally stopped trembling, Freya reluctantly restrained herself,

releasing him from her embrace.

When she stood up, Bell also tottered to his feet. His eyes were averted, staring at the

floor. However, his earlier wariness was beginning to recede. But only just. It did not

disappear completely.

Freya's eyes danced, though, satisfied with that for now.

"Bell. Can you tell me a story about yourself?"

"Eh…?"

"The you who isn't my follower. Could you tell me about your memories?"

Bell's eyes shot open as he looked up. His expression revealed the confusion he felt,

wondering why she would ask something like that.

Freya looked down at him with a motherly gaze.

"No matter how much I might say you're part of our familia… It's still hard to believe,

yes?"

"I-I mean…"

"That's not something you need to worry about. If I were in your position, I'm sure I

would be just as confused, and I doubt I would be able to trust anyone either. That's

why I want to hear your story. Can you tell me about yourself? The version of you who

I don't know?"

"...…"

"I won't deny you, whoever you might be. Of course, I want you to remember my love…

but if it hurts you, then you don't have to force yourself. What is important to me is the

you standing in front of me right now, and the future."

Not a single thing she had said was a lie. What's more, she had given Bell a convenient

proposition.

At the very least, he would not even begin to guess at the scope of Freya's divine will.

And surely the one and only being who didn't reject him would seem like someone he

could rely on for the moment at least.

It was fine if it was temporary at first. She just had to make it permanent later.

"Today Ouranos called me in. He said it was about time we make some more progress

in the Dungeon."

"Eh?"

"It pains me to ask this when your memories haven't come back yet, but… I would like

you to train with the others during the day. I don't want to risk losing you in the

Dungeon."

"...…"

"When that's done, though, let's chat some more. Like this. Just the two of us."

"…Yes… ma'am…"

Bell did not have a choice.

He had spent the entire day being turned away everywhere he went. He had no other

place to stay. Freya Familia were the only ones willing to accept him as a comrade.

Even if he wished otherwise.

Freya put her right hand on his cheek. This time he did not pull away. His body jolted

and shuddered like a frightened animal, but he allowed her to caress his cheek.

"I'll see you tomorrow night."

"...…"

"Or would you like to sleep together tonight?"

"N-no thank you!"

"Hee-hee, what a shame… A lot has happened, and I'm sure you are tired. Go back to

your room and get some rest."

"Y-yes, ma'am… thank you very much…"

Bell broke their locked gazes and turned away as he answered her. He had experienced

a far too long and turbulent day; any other answer was beyond him. It must have been

a challenge to even think.

He approached the door with unsteady steps, and when he crossed the threshold, he

looked back.

When Freya met his gaze with an affectionate smile, his red eyes wavered and he

looked away again.

This time, he departed and silence fell in her chamber.

"—Heith. Starting today, accompany him in a way such that he does not notice, and

report his every action during the day to me."

"Yes, Milady."

"And Hörn."

The healer and chamberlain entered the room in Bell's place.

The latter's shoulders twitched when her name was called. Freya cast her a sidelong

glance.

"Do you remember the promise you made with me… What would happen if Bell

discovered your lie? You may no longer contact him. I will not allow you to appear

before him anymore."

"…Yes, Milady."

"Instead, you shall become me, and I will have you work for a while. I was at it all day,

but I couldn't take care of every last inconsistency. I will allow you to use my charm,

so whenever you discover any cracks, fill them. Pay special attention to any children

who come in from outside the city."

The right half of Ho rn's face was covered by her long, gray hair, but her left eye

widened in shock.

She could use transformation magic to become identical to Freya with the sole

exception of being unable to access arcanum. That meant that she was perfectly able

to charm people using the visage of the goddess of beauty, though its force and

precision paled in comparison to the original. Freya had in effect ordered the girl who

could become a near copy of her to complete the finishing touches on her sandbox.

Just one step outside Orario, the knowledge of Hestia Familia's Bell Cranell was still

alive and well. And Orario, hailed as the center of the world, was constantly welcoming

travelers and merchants who freely came and went as they pleased. These visitors

might feel something off about the twisted reality that the people of Orario perceived,

which might in turn feed Bell's suspicions.

Consequently, they needed to be handled.

Ho rn would apply charm in coordination with the gatekeepers, Ganesha Familia, who

were already under Freya's command. She also intended to have Ho rn handle any

more people who had slipped through the cracks from her citywide address yesterday.

Information was meant to be overwritten.

Once word spread outside the city walls that Bell had become a member of Freya

Familia, that would become the truth. Even if they felt some minor discomfort about

it, everyone in the city would answer in the affirmative no matter how many times

they were asked.

If nothing else, over time the official story would seep into the public consciousness.

Whether it was true or not, the phrase "Bell has become a member of Freya Familia"

itself was crucial.

Charged with manipulating that truth, Ho rn started to speak and hesitated several

times before finally voicing the thought troubling her.

"Will… you really not punish me, Lady Freya? I dared to lie to you, plotting to kill Bell

Cranell by mine own hands…"

"I shall not punish you. There is no greater punishment than that for you, right, Ho rn?"

"Ghh…!"

"I will not aid you in assuaging your feelings of guilt, and I do not doubt your loyalty.

So devote yourself to my service henceforth."

Ho rn felt equal parts awe and fear as her goddess saw through everything with those

silver eyes.

She had still not received any censure. Even though she had resolved herself in her

attempt to kill Bell Cranell, she still felt the blasphemous sense of having betrayed her

patron goddess. The girl suffering from emotions with no release lowered her eyes.

"Yes, Milady…"

She accepted Freya's command with a barely audible voice.

"Ho rn shall return to being my attendant from today."

"With all due respect, Milady, Allen and the others will surely make their displeasure

known," Heith said.

"Tell them I have allowed it."

The healer bowed deeply in accordance with her mistress's divine will. Then Freya's

gaze shifted, looking at the door to her room.

Her thoughts turned to the boy she had so cruelly cornered.

What do people do when faced with an impossible reality…? At first, they will cling to

their own view, but in time, they will gradually come to doubt themselves.

Bell's mind was still unstable.

He could not trust anyone while suffering from the pressure and unease of an

overwhelming and immeasurable solitude.

No matter how much Freya and her familia might try to explain that they were

comrades, he would be unable to accept it.

So then, what to do?

It was simple. He needed someone who understood him.

Freya would be the only person in the world who understood him. The only one who

did not deny him, who accepted him for who he was, and who empathized with him.

By doing that, his childlike heart would easily begin to waver, and he would willingly

bite into the sweet apple even if he knew it to be poison.

"I will continue to hurt you, Bell. And every time you are hurt, I will hold you. And heal

you. I swear it."

The goddess smiled, her expression betraying no emotions.

"I'm sorry, but I made up my mind, so I won't hold back any more."

Her name was Freya.

The ruthless and free-spirited goddess. The witch who knew both the miracles and

the poison of love better than any other.