Chapter 131: “Ordinary” Is the Most Unordinary (Bonus)

The two goddesses arrived at the Hostess of Fertility at the same time.

It wasn't even evening yet, but the tavern had opened early—for no other reason than to welcome them.

Loki tapped her leg, eyeing the woman seated across from her with clear annoyance.

"Alright, spill it. Who've you got your eyes on this time, you lovestruck fool?"

Freya didn't seem the least bit bothered by the jab.

"Loki, I'm just curious about a certain child who's hiding."

"That child deliberately conceals himself... which makes me want to see the part he's hiding."

Loki let out a long sigh. She was already sick of this kind of answer—Freya used it every time she got interested in someone.

But Loki also understood exactly why this woman had gone out of her way to side with her this time.

"I don't know anything about the shorty's kid."

"Oh my~ So you already know?"

Freya's unbothered tone only made Loki pull an even sourer face.

"I've known you for ages. I know what you're into, you lovestruck collector."

"You're just like a greedy dragon—see something shiny, and you want to haul it back to your lair. With the talent that kid's shown, there's no way you're not interested."

They'd known each other for eons. Of course Loki understood her.

And even she had to admit—the shorty's kid really wasn't normal.

"But this time you're acting oddly. You usually wouldn't come to me for something like this."

Freya didn't deny it—instead, she nodded openly.

"I've seen that child before."

"Huh? Wait, what?"

Loki blinked in surprise, staring hard at her.

"You're saying you didn't see anything?"

"No... That child's soul didn't shine at all. It was like a stone lying by the roadside."

The first time Freya saw him, her eyes had swept over him out of mere curiosity. Once she confirmed his soul lacked any radiance, she paid him no further mind.

But now, after seeing what he had accomplished, she was convinced—he had concealed his soul.

Still, could a normal child from Genkai truly hide their soul?

Even a god, with their power sealed, couldn't easily mask their soul through conventional means.

That had always been Freya's belief—until this incident shattered that certainty.

"Thinking back now, there was something odd I didn't catch."

"That strange, unremarkable feeling—as if he really was just a stone on the ground. Even children from Genkai, no matter how deep in despair, their souls still carry a shade of black."

"But his had no light, no darkness—just plain, dull emptiness. In a way, that made it even more special."

Yes, every soul in Genkai had some color. Whether it was dazzling or dim was another matter.

But now Freya remembered: that child's soul had no color at all. Not darkness from despair—but pure, featureless gray, so ordinary she'd instinctively dismissed it with a glance.

Only now did she realize—that was the most abnormal thing of all.

And in that moment, a powerful, unprecedented interest flared in Freya's eyes.

"There really is something interesting hidden in that child."

Though Freya was clearly excited, her emotions were still under control.

Loki noticed that too.

"What's wrong? Aren't you usually even more fired up at times like this, you lovesick idiot?"

Despite her excitement, Freya gave Loki a graceful side-eye, perfectly composed.

"Loki, I'm more excited now than I've ever been."

As the goddess of desire, Freya could say with certainty that nothing stirred her more than a soul shrouded in mystery. A soul hidden so completely couldn't possibly be dull—in fact, that kind of concealment only made it more dazzling.

But this time, instead of the rush of excitement she usually felt, what she truly wanted was to peel back the layers, bit by bit, and uncover the child's hidden side.

"I really want to see the soul that child's hiding."

"But charging in like that would be too abrupt... Rather than tearing away his disguise, I'd rather watch him unveil it himself, little by little."

Freya had always been extremely patient when it came to children who piqued her interest.

Even though she was certain that Hestia's child possessed an exceptionally radiant soul, she didn't want to force things.

This was the only child in all of Genkai who could hide his soul from her gaze—there might never be another. With someone this rare, Freya wasn't about to rush in and destroy the mystery.

Compared to knowing the truth, she far preferred savoring the process of discovering it.

'This lovesick fool... she's completely hopeless.'

Loki couldn't help rolling her eyes.

She understood how Freya felt. After all, she had the same urges when it came to Ais. She couldn't help wanting to see her flustered and cute... to make her that way.

The thought alone got Loki a little worked up.

After calming herself down, she still decided to give Freya a bit of a warning.

"Hey, what you do in your lovestruck haze isn't my business—but don't go overboard."

Freya didn't really care whether she was being excessive or not.

"That depends on what kind of answer I end up getting."

With that, she stood from her seat.

"The kind of soul that child has will determine what I do next."

Of course, Loki wasn't too optimistic.

"I think you should keep your seductive impulses in check."

"That kid doesn't seem to be like normal children, full of raw desires. Honestly, I don't think he'll be so easily swayed by you."

Freya paused at that. The comment caught her interest.

"You're right. That child really doesn't seem to have strong desires."

"Maybe that hidden nature of his comes from the soul itself... He's a cautious one."

Freya had never encountered a child quite like this before. Maybe she really should consider Loki's advice.

At the very least, the usual methods she used on other children might need to be reconsidered this time.