Chapter 119: Do You Think I Believe You?

Loki had agreed and immediately received Ouranos' support—but with it came a burden of responsibility.

Yet more than the responsibility itself, what lingered in Loki's mind were the words Ouranos had spoken to her earlier.

'A stepping stone for a hero...'

'That old guy Ouranos actually sees that shorty's kid as the next-generation hero.'

'Seems like there's more to that kid than meets the eye.'

Loki had always sensed something unusual about the child.

Anyone who could gain access to such unnatural magic and craft those strange rune stones clearly wasn't ordinary. Still, she hadn't expected him to be this exceptional.

'Phae might know something.'

'But with how close she is to that shorty, even if she does know anything, she probably wouldn't tell me.'

Loki sighed inwardly.

She and Phae weren't exactly on bad terms, so why did the shorty have a closer bond with her than Loki did?

'A hero, huh...'

'How many of my children are chasing after that title?'

The first to come to mind was her captain, Finn. With his personality, he would absolutely want a title like that. Just like that kid—this kind of title could bring tangible advantages for what he wanted to achieve.

The same went for the others. A title symbolized honor—and also gave them the drive to keep moving forward.

'But that shorty's kid doesn't seem to care about any of that.'

From their first meeting, Loki had seen how the child kept all his thoughts hidden behind those eyes. Yet no matter how deeply he tried to bury them, she could still catch glimpses of something.

Deep down, there was a hunger for power.

It wasn't overwhelming, but compared to having no desire at all, it was the one visible ambition he held.

'And now that same kid is the one Ouranos has recognized as a hero—and even granted a trial.'

Ishtar might be a courtesan, but her Familia was no joke.

With a Lv. 5 leading the charge, supported by countless Lv. 2s and a good number of Lv. 3s, they stood firmly among the upper-middle tier of Orario's Familia hierarchy.

Yet such a Familia was being used as a mere stepping stone for a trial.

'So does Ouranos believe that child's potential exceeds Lv. 5?'

'No, if Ouranos isn't planning to deal with Ishtar directly, but is instead handing this chance to that child... then does he really think that kid can handle Ishtar already?'

Still, Loki couldn't shake the feeling that Ouranos might just be laying a trap for her to fall into.

From any angle, it sounded impossible.

How could a rookie adventurer—someone who had only just started—possibly topple a Familia as formidable as Ishtar's?

But Loki couldn't be entirely sure.

She had to consider the possibility that Ouranos wasn't joking.

'I still need to find a way to dig up the truth about that kid.'

"Yo~ What's with that doom-and-gloom look?"

That smug, annoying voice made Loki's brow twitch. She looked up to see a handsome man not far off, wearing a feathered hat.

Seeing this irritating guy made Loki's temper spike.

"Hermes, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I just noticed your kid stirring things up around the Pleasure District. Figured it might have something to do with you, so I came to ask."

"Well, isn't this a surprise. Never thought you'd be the one asking me for information."

Loki hadn't expected Hermes, of all people—normally the one selling intel—to ever be the one asking for it.

But Hermes just laughed it off.

"I mean, it's not like I know everything in the world. There are times I need to ask too."

Loki snorted.

"Hermes, don't tell me you're clueless about what's going on with Ishtar?"

"Hmm~ I suppose you could say I know."

Hermes rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then smiled and gave a casual answer.

Loki shot him a glare. This smug bastard definitely knew.

Now she was sure—Hermes and Ouranos were in deep. The two of them had clearly been doing things behind the backs of the other gods.

"Then why bother coming to me?"

"Oh, because there are still things I don't know—but I really want to."

Loki looked at this sleazy bastard with open disdain, but her curiosity about that child only grew stronger.

"So that shorty's kid really caught both your and Ouranos' attention?"

Hermes didn't look the least bit surprised. Once he realized Loki was out to bring down Ishtar, he knew she'd eventually come to a decision.

What Ishtar had done was serious, sure—but it paled in comparison to the madness stirred up by the Evilus.

Besides, Ishtar was a simple woman. She just loved butting heads with Freya.

Even if she was left alone, the moment she lost her grip, Freya would finish her off.

Ishtar was nothing more than a minor nuisance.

Which made her the perfect target.

That had been Hermes' plan all along—but unfortunately, it hit a snag.

Loki had suddenly jumped in from the sidelines and completely threw everything into chaos.

"I'm just curious about the truth behind that kid."

"Ouranos is watching him because he sees something far beyond what I can."

"You actually expect me to buy that?"

It was always best not to take Hermes' words at face value.

Loki didn't believe for a second that this smug bastard was only 'curious.'

She was sure Ouranos saw something special in that kid. And the same could be said for Hermes.

"If you want to get anything out of me, you'd better start by telling me that kid's identity and background."

"Of course, if you think you can get any intel out of Shorty or Phae, be my guest."

That gave Hermes a real headache.

Honestly, he never thought finding information on a single kid could be this difficult.

But now, he was starting to feel the strain.

Hermes even saw a sliver of his own shadow in that child. Branded as talentless by Zeus, and yet—how could he hide himself so perfectly, every single time?