Goddess of Youth is angry

"Hmm, what's with those looks?"

Promise tilted his head, puzzled as he looked at the Valkyrie and the little bird staring intently at him in confusion.

The god of Trickery, Loki had already left.

Well..it could be said that his departure was as abrupt as his appearance, yet he left a deep impression on everyone present.

However, at this moment, it was clear that Thrud and Shini were not concerned about the departed Loki.

After exchanging a glance with Shini perched on her shoulder, Thrud, with her waist-length golden hair, couldn't help but ask the boy before her, "Why did you make that bet with Lord Loki...?"

Why such a wish?

Not to harm her, or the little bird Shini.

Shini also stared intently at Promise, hoping to get an answer from him.

"Oh, so that's what you're wondering about."

Promise suddenly understood and then smiled nonchalantly, replying, "After all, it's because of me that you attracted the attention of the trickster god Loki. Not to mention..."

As he spoke, Promise walked over to Thrud, reached out and gently flicked Shini's little head again, chuckling softly, "Especially you, Shini.

Every time I see you joining in the fun, I can't help but think of my former companions. So, I think we'll be together for a long time on this journey."

Hearing this, Shini was stunned.

She raised her head slightly, and what reflected in her eyes was the boy's gentle smile and his clear eyes that were as poetic as a painting.

It had been three years since the fate goddess Skuld made her the 'eyes,' tasked with observing and recording everything about Promise on behalf of the goddess of fate.

But it wasn't until now that Shini felt like she had seen his true self.

And...

Unconsciously fluttering her wings, the bird returned to Promise's shoulder.

"So, are you worried about me?" Shini couldn't help but press further.

"You can think of it as that way. And... I think we'll definitely become very good friends in the future," Promise replied with a light laugh.

Because in Shini, he always saw the shadow of his grass-loving horse brother.

Not too much, but that same gossip loving look was enough to prove that their nature was about the same.

"...But that was Lord Loki. You could have asked for a better wish," Thrud, with her red eyes, couldn't help but speak up again.

Promise glanced at her and said naturally, "But I think this wish isn't bad... Anyway, I'll probably have to deal with him a lot in the future. If every time a worried little bird gets scared out of her wits, it's better to settle it once and for all."

As he spoke, Promise pressed Shini's head again.

And the little bird, snapping out of her daze, pecked at him twice in retaliation.

"I wasn't scared out of my wits! I'm the messenger of the goddess of fate!" Shini raised her voice slightly, stubbornly defending herself.

This made Promise laugh heartily.

Thrud didn't say anything more.

She looked at Promise, watching the young man quietly for a while, seriously considering whether to switch to her 'persuasion' mode.

In fact, when she saw Promise face the god of Trickery head-on and even shield her and Shini behind him, she had already realized.

This was someone fully worthy of entering Valhalla—the Hall of the Slain.

If only Sister Brynhildr were still here, she would be very happy to see him like this... Thrud couldn't help but think.

"By the way, Thrud, can I ask you for a favor?"

After teasing Shini for a while, Promise turned his gaze to Thrud, who was lost in thought about Brynhildr.

Hearing his voice, the Valkyrie snapped out of her reverie and looked up at Promise.

Then, she nodded gently.

At this moment, Thrud didn't even ask what Promise was looking.

.

.

Time passed.

And what Promise, Shini, and Thrud had never expected was that in the next few hours, the realm of Asgard would be thrown into an uproar.

Someone had been severely punished!

That someone was Loki, who had been so confident and imposing in front of Promise just moments ago, now looking utterly disheveled.

Because through Shini, the goddess of youth, Idunn, had seen everything.

And the task of restoring the harvest goddess Sif's hair was actually a request from this goddess.

After all, Idunn had been captivated by the dazzling starlight when she saw Promise reforging the holy sword, so she hoped Promise could help her friend Sif stop crying.

Moreover, for various reasons, the goddess of youth had always held a favorable impression of Promise.

If one had to put it bluntly, the current Promise was practically someone she had personally nurtured.

In fact, if it weren't for her plucking a golden apple every Monday and having Shini deliver it to the boy, allowing him to eat one regularly, Promise probably wouldn't even dare to ride Thrud's white horse.

So, the moment, Idunn saw the bet between Promise and Loki, and Loki's brazen claim that he would cut off Promise's head if he lost...

The gentle goddess of Youth was truly angered.

Idunn left the sanctuary of the golden apples and sought out Loki upon his return.

Though she was a gentle goddess, who was unable to even speak harsh words, she declared something that shocked all the gods of Asgard.

From that day on, she would never pluck another golden apple for Loki—the apples that kept him youthful and powerful.

This was truly a shocking news,

Give the fact that even in the myths, when Loki had tricked Idunn and led to her capture by giants, she had never said anything so severe upon her return.

Idunn, the goddess of youth, was that gentle and pure, which was why the gods entrusted her with the sanctuary of the golden apples without any worried.

So, when Idunn said this to Loki and left in anger, the god of Trickery just stood there in daze, unable to react for a while.

The gods of Asgard were astonished and couldn't help but discuss and speculate about what Loki had done to anger Idunn so much.

Yet, no one stood up to defend Loki, and everyone just watched the fun from the sidelines.

Moreover, many gods, seeing Loki being humiliated like this, not only did they not worry about him, but they were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling.

The most typical example was Thor, the god of thunder.

The commotion over this matter grew so intense that even Odin, the All-Father, had to step in to calm things down.

Then, under the night sky.

In the sanctuary of the golden apples in Asgard.

With her dazzling golden hair falling to the ground, Sif, the goddess of harvest and the most beautiful goddess among the Norse gods except the goddess of beauty Freya, came to the goddess of youth Idunn.

The goddess resembled the Valkyrie Thrud somewhat, but while Thrud was beautiful and heroic, Sif appeared more delicate and gentle.

Sif looked at Idunn, who was sitting under the golden apple tree, sulking and unhappy, then stepped forward, took her friend's arm, and comforted her while curiously asking about the reason for her distress.

Now that things have come to this point, Idunn no longer hid anything.

She told Sif about Promise's existence, the reason for her anger, and most of that things she had seen through the little birdie Shini.

Hearing this, Sif blinked her beautiful green eyes and stared at Idunn for a long time.

"Wait, hold on. Let me get this straight."

Sif pressed her hand to her head, shook it, and then raised an eyebrow, speaking softly, "You're saying you're so angry because of a child?

This child is a follower of the goddess of fate, with forging skills no less than even the dwarves, so you asked him to help me restore my hair.

But Loki found out about it, so he rushed over to mock the child, and in the end, he made a bet with him.

If Loki won, he would cut off the child's head. If he lost, he would apologize to the messenger of the goddess of fate, Skuld, and Thrud..."

"But, how did this get involved with my Thrud?"

Originally, she was just here to comfort her friend and maybe enjoy was thinking of eating the melon at the same time, but who could have thought that the melon would end up getting eaten by her without me noticing!

And how did her own daughter get dragged into this as well!

At this moment, the goddess Sif was a bit confused.

Her eyes kept darting towards Idunn beside her, feeling as if her friend was spinning a tale for her...

"Sif, how could I possibly deceive you? That's why I'm so angry!"

Idunn appeared very upset.

"Loki usually plays pranks on everyone, but this time he went too far by tormenting a child!"

Of course, Idunn had actually seen Loki's reaction when he met Promise.

She had even heard Loki mention something about Odin's 'script.'

But was that important?

Apparently, it wasn't.

"Besides, Sif, that child stood up for your daughter like that. You must help him this time!"

As she spoke, Idunn grabbed Sif's hand, and spoke with a face full of displeasure.

Hearing this, Sif was speechless for a moment.

"If what you're saying is true, then for your sake and Thrud's, I would naturally side with that child. But...

After hearing all this, I actually feel a bit excited."

As she spoke, the goddess couldn't help but smile at Idunn. "Because from what you've said, that child seems very confident. Even the mysterious goddess of fate, Skuld, seems to have high expectations for him."

"Yes, the child does seem very confident, but..."

At this point, the goddess of Youth, Idunn hesitated.

After all, the hair that Loki had given to Sif was a treasure recognized by all the gods.

It was made from extremely rare golden threads, crafted with the exquisite skill of the dwarves, as light and beautiful as real hair, capable of growing on its own.

Thus, after Sif received this treasure, she had been happily running around among the gods these days, showing off this precious gift to the goddesses.

This was a stark contrast to her previous days of hiding at home and crying, which clearly demonstrated her fondness for it.

On the other hand, through Shini's eyes, Idunn was well aware of the materials Promise had chosen—merely ripe wheat stalks from the fields.

Therefore, after much hesitation, Idunn ultimately decided not to reveal this fact.

She had almost convinced herself that Promise could not possibly win this 'game,' and so she had already made other plans in her heart.

There was no way she could simply stand by and watch Loki cut off Promise's head.

So, in fact, when Idunn declared in front of all the gods that she would no longer give Loki the golden apples, it wasn't entirely out of anger—it was deliberate.

Because let's not forget, the golden apples... Promise could actually pick them too!

Thus, if the situation became irreversible, Idunn would have no choice but to reveal this secret to protect Promise.

Soon after, as expected, Loki was caught and beaten up by Thor once again.

After returning from Idunn's place, although Sif didn't mention the 'game,' she naturally informed Thor about how their daughter Thrud had been bullied.

Upon hearing this, Thor was immediately furious.

And he fiercely vented his anger for his daughter.

As time passed, about a week or so went by, and Sif gradually forgot about Promise.

Until one day, when Thrud rode her white horse to her palace and came to see her.

"My child?"

The goddess Sif, who was having her golden hair combed by lower-ranking divine attendants, was naturally delighted to see her daughter Thrud suddenly return.

She immediately stood up and hurried over to Thrud, embracing her tightly.

"Why have you come back?"

Holding her daughter in her arms and stroking her head, Sif spoke with great joy.

When facing Sif, Thrud, who usually appears meticulous, couldn't help but appear much gentler at this moment, and even had a smile on her face.

"Mother, the thing is..."

Thrud briefly explained to Sif about the commission Promise had taken from the goddess of youth, Idunn, and the bet he had made with the trickster god Loki.

As she listened, Sif kept blinking her eyes.

And naturally, she recalled the events from over half a month ago.

"Child, you've come to me because..."

"Yes," Thrud nodded and replied, "Promise has already woven the new hair for you, Mother, and he hopes that I can bring you to Midgard..."