Chapter 118: The "Hero’s" Stepping Stone

At the same time, Loki brought Riveria to the Guild.

Loki stared at the fat man blocking her path.

"Royman, I want to see Ouranos."

Royman Mardeel, who stood in her way, was wiping the cold sweat from his forehead as his eyes darted nervously to the "Nine Hell Princess" beside her. Loki's demeanor had him more terrified than ever.

"Loki-sama, it's already quite late. Ouranos-sama has already..."

"Royman, you understand what I'm saying. I said... I want Ouranos!"

Royman trembled uncontrollably at each word, spoken with clear emphasis.

He could feel it—this wasn't the usual Loki. Her attitude was far more forceful, and the divine pressure radiating from her was unmistakable.

"Crack, crack, crack!"

As just an ordinary guild manager, Royman lacked the power of adventurers. He could barely endure the overwhelming pressure of a god.

Almost instantly, his body reacted instinctively to the crushing force.

Already obese, the Elf now looked even more pitiful under the divine aura.

Just as he was on the verge of collapse, a voice echoed from deep within the building, cutting through Loki's oppressive presence.

"Loki, come in yourself."

Hearing Ouranos finally speak, Loki glanced back at Royman.

That single glance made his heart feel like it was about to freeze over.

In that moment, Loki truly resembled the lawless troublemaker known as the Evil God of Tenkai.

She had mellowed over the years, but that didn't mean she didn't have a temper.

Loki continued down toward the Guild's basement—the place where Ouranos offered his prayers.

"Huff… huff…"

Royman, grateful to still be alive, clutched his chest and gasped for air.

His previously flushed face had gone deathly pale.

This time, he had truly witnessed the terrifying might of the gods. Even the usually playful Loki had a side that was genuinely furious.

"Royman."

Riveria, also an Elf, cast a cold glance at the fat Elf she so openly disdained.

"When dealing with gods, make sure they're playing around and not serious."

"This is a warning, for the sake of our shared race."

"Remember this—your ability to manage the Guild isn't irreplaceable."

Those frigid words snapped Royman back to clarity.

But with that clarity came an even more rapid heartbeat.

He was not Ouranos-sama's only option.

Just one sentence was enough to make that fact painfully clear.

He didn't have the right to oppose the gods—he'd only been entrusted with managing the Guild.

And the moment a god truly got angry, he could be replaced in an instant.

So this job wasn't something to take pride in.

If he wanted to treat it as a point of pride, then he needed to prove that the Guild couldn't function without him.

That thought left Royman feeling somewhat relieved.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, straightened his plump frame, and bowed tremblingly to the Nine Hell Princess.

"Thank you, Princess."

Riveria looked at Royman, who had bowed his head. He was, after all, one of her kin. If he weren't, she wouldn't have even bothered to speak a single word to him.

With a cold expression, Loki descended into the basement and saw Ouranos seated on his throne.

"Loki, what brings you to the Guild?"

Ouranos looked calmly at her cold face.

"Don't you already know? It's another act by the Evilus, and this time, it's tied to the Dungeon."

Loki didn't say anything more—she knew full well that Ouranos was aware.

Ouranos paused slightly, then stared at her in silence.

That attitude irritated Loki. 'Tch,' she clicked her tongue. As expected, the old man knew.

"You may have your reasons for not taking action, but I have my own reasons to move."

"This time, the Evilus have gone too far. I need the authority to intervene."

"And Ishtar has crossed the line."

Ouranos remained silent, his gaze still fixed on Loki.

"Ishtar has indeed crossed the line."

This was the one thing he didn't deny. Involvement with the Evilus, and even trafficking—those were all Ishtar's doing.

"But you want more."

Ouranos didn't mince words—he knew exactly what Loki was after.

"Ishtar's crimes are enough to warrant expulsion, but not repatriation."

"If you want a reason to send her back to Tenkai, I can give you one." The implication was clear.

If Loki wanted Ishtar repatriated, she'd have to pay a price.

That did not sit well with her.

"Ugh~ hey! I'm going after the Evilus here!"

"I'm targeting Ishtar, and you're telling me I have to pay a price for that? You're giving her too much credit!"

"She has her uses."

Well, damn. With one sentence, he pinned down Ishtar's value.

"Orario needs a hero. Ishtar is a stepping stone."

That line came out of nowhere.

"Ouranos, you think Orario doesn't already have a hero?"

"A hero is someone who defines an era. Right now, Orario has no such person."

Normally, Ouranos wouldn't say something like that. But since Loki had pushed this far, he had no choice but to say it—and she, in turn, had to accept the responsibility.

"So, someone like that has finally appeared?"

Until now, Ouranos didn't believe there was anyone in Orario who could be called a "hero." But by keeping Ishtar around as a stepping stone, he was signaling that he now believed one had emerged.

If Ishtar was the stepping stone, then the hero must inevitably be connected to her.

As she thought that, one person came to Loki's mind.

Bell Cranel.

She'd first heard about Sanjouno Haruhime's magic from that short kid—wasn't that connection obvious?

So the "hero" Ouranos spoke of was that kid who created the rune stones?

"Loki, make your choice."

Ouranos said no more. The decision was now hers.

Loki couldn't afford to waste time thinking. Even if she had correctly guessed who Ouranos believed the "hero" was, she had to consider her Familia's future. If it meant sending Ishtar back to Tenkai for good, then she'd do it—even at a cost.

"Fine! I accept your terms."