"Alright, if you can't provide a reason to stay, then leave!"
After setting Hestia down, Asahi turned his attention to the remaining gods. Loki, hearing this, pouted slightly. To be honest, she didn't believe any of these gods could offer something that would truly satisfy Asahi.
Even she couldn't manage it herself, and yet, she and Asahi had already become relatively good friends without needing to offer much in return. In her eyes, there was almost nothing in their world that could make someone like Asahi look up in admiration.
"Can I ask one more thing? What's the deal with Hestia and Loki?"
Freya interjected, unable to resist her curiosity. Hestia was understandable, as she was a beautiful loli goddess, but what about Loki?
Not only was Loki unremarkable in physical appearance, but she was also always squinting, which made her even less appealing.
Among goddesses, Loki's beauty ranked low. Unless she stopped squinting, even the highest charm wouldn't help her stand out,
"They're my friends." Asahi explained with calm tone, "I met them in Orario, got to know them better over time, and we became friends. So, naturally, I don't mind helping them out. Anything else you want to ask? Although I can't promise I'll answer!"
Asahi's tone was clear, showing there was no need to elaborate further.
Freya pressed on, "I see… They're quite lucky, aren't they? Could I have that kind of luck too?"
Freya's intentions were clear, she wanted to become friends with Asahi, though her definition of 'friendship' likely leaned more toward exploiting his power.
"Friendship isn't something I take lightly. It depends on both sides' intentions. Let's just say… we'll see!"
The message was clear, friendship was not something freely given. It required genuine intent and mutual respect. Loki and Hestia, though initially having their own agendas, were honest in their approaches. They sincerely wanted to form a bond, and Asahi valued that.
Hestia, in particular, was straightforward and lacked ulterior motives, making the friendship effortless. Freya, however, was different. Her intentions weren't pure, as she merely wanted to leverage Asahi's power.
Asahi wasn't fond of such manipulative approaches, and he wasn't impressed with Freya or Ishtar's reputation either. Both were infamous for their frivolous relationships, making them unappealing to Asahi.
Understanding this, Freya wisely chose to retreat. Against adventurers, her subtle charm might have worked. But against Asahi, who stood far beyond her league, there was no chance. With no other option, she left quietly.
As for Ishtar, she didn't even get the chance to speak. Asahi simply teleported her away. Freya, at least, had the sense to show restraint. Ishtar, on the other hand, was brazenly reckless, and Asahi had no patience for her antics.
The remaining gods, seeing no alternative, reluctantly dispersed.
"Ouranos, do you have anything else to do?"
Finally, only Ouranos remained.
"Yes, though it's not about you. It concerns them, the Loki Familia. They've ascended to godhood but lack divine duties or positions. While they can remain under Loki's guidance, becoming gods means they must abide by the rules of the divine. Even if beings from the lower world ascend, they must adhere to these regulations. Otherwise, chaos will ensue!" Ouranos replied.
The strength of even the weakest god far surpassed that of the strongest mortal adventurers. Ais and the others had already undergone trials to wield such power.
To remain with the Loki Familia, they would need to seal their divine powers and comply with the rules. This was the only way to maintain balance.
"That's settled then. But before anything else, let them go deal with the Black Dragon. I assume there's no issue with that!"
Asahi spoke confidently. Ouranos would never dare dispute his words. Even if Asahi allowed them to retain their divine power, Ouranos wouldn't object. After all, Asahi stood far above gods and their rules.
Rules that bound others had no hold on Asahi, and breaking them would be as effortless as breathing.
Faced with this reality, no matter whether they agreed or not, the outcome was inevitable. It was better to align with Asahi's terms than face the consequences of resisting.
"Very well. Ouranos, you may leave!"
Without hesitation, Asahi dismissed the god, leaving behind only his own group.
"Thank you, Asahi-san. Without you, we might never have had a chance to face the Black Dragon!"
Finn expressed his gratitude sincerely. The rest of the group shared his sentiment. For most of them, the Black Dragon wasn't a personal enemy, but for Ais, it was different. Her relentless pursuit of strength had always been about defeating the Black Dragon.
Now, with newfound power, the opportunity was within reach. It was a chance too valuable to lose. Finn, being close to Ais, understood her determination. With Asahi's support, their path to vengeance had become clear.
"No need to thank me. I understand Ais's resolve. Go, confront the Black Dragon. Honestly, I've grown a bit bored of this world. Perhaps next time, I'll explore a new one!"
Asahi said with a smile. His words stunned the group, especially Hestia, who immediately raised her hand in excitement.
"Wait, Asahi! If you're going to another world, take me with you! I'm curious about other worlds too!"
Hestia's enthusiasm was infectious, and Loki, Ais, and others quickly voiced their interest as well.
"It's not a problem. But you should know, once I leave for another world, I won't be returning for a while. Are you sure about this?"
Asahi asked, and Loki and the others nodded eagerly. As for her Familia's members, Loki decided to leave behind a couple of key figures, like Finn, to maintain her presence in Orario.
Now that they had divine power, they could uphold Loki's influence, ensure the Familia's standing, and manage things in her absence. Loki, determined to see another world, wouldn't let anything hold her back.
While some protested, their objections were futile. Loki was the undisputed leader of her Familia, and her will was final. If she wanted to leave, nothing could stop her.
The others could only sigh in resignation. Despite their own curiosity about other worlds, they had to follow Loki's orders. Besides, none could truly oppose her decision.
For now, their focus shifted to the Black Dragon.
The Black Dragon was a nightmare, a symbol of terror for the mortal realm, and the ultimate foe for adventurers. Yet, to gods, it was a relatively minor threat.
With the power they now wielded, the group was confident that this battle would be a decisive and successful one. No unforeseen events could stand in their way.