In the tearoom.
Freya removed her hood, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face.
Her gaze traveled past Loki, settling on Eiji with playful interest.
"Don't expose us now, please!"
Eiji frantically signaled to her with his eyes.
"Hehe, who would dare be angry with you, Loki?"
Whether she noticed his signals or not, Freya turned to respond to Loki's small talk.
"Hahaha, you flatter me too much!"
Loki grinned cheekily as she stepped into the tearoom.
At the same time, she was also signaling wildly to Eiji.
Use your charm now!
Enthrall this old woman!
Eiji maintained a calm expression, but internally, he was terrified.
Damn it, who cares about charming anyone right now?
One wrong move, and their illicit relationship would be exposed!
In the small tearoom, Loki and Freya sat facing each other in chairs, both smiling amiably.
Standing behind Loki was Eiji, while behind Freya stood a tall, muscular boar youth—none other than Ottar, Orario's strongest adventurer.
Ottar shot Eiji a frosty glare, clearly displeased.
Eiji silently averted his gaze, pretending he didn't know them.
"So, Freya, what made you decide to charm Tammuz?"
Loki was growing impatient.
She hadn't seen Eiji make any moves to use his charm—perhaps he hadn't realized she wanted him to enthrall a god. She hesitated momentarily.
Casually, she placed her hands behind her back, gesturing to Eiji while continuing her cheerful banter with Freya.
"Is that why you invited me here?"
Freya tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, her smile unwavering.
"Nothing much. I noticed Ishtar's movements a month ago, so I deliberately charmed her most trusted subordinate to gather information."
As she spoke, her silky, alluring gaze drifted over Eiji again.
Truthfully, she had also obtained plenty of information from Eiji—things like the corrupted spirits, all extracted during their passionate moments. Pillow talk really was effective.
"Pssst!"
Eiji turned to look out the window at the sky.
He tried to whistle nonchalantly but failed to produce any sound.
"What are you doing?"
Loki turned to glare at him.
Instead of using his charm, he was hissing and puffing—what the hell was he up to?
"Hehe."
Freya chuckled at the sight.
"Fine, I won't keep you in suspense. Loki, is this what you're after?"
With a flick of her wrist, she produced a red jewel about the size of a fist.
"I heard your Loki Familia went to the artificial dungeon but suffered a crushing defeat. Since then, you've been searching for this, haven't you?"
At the center of the jewel was the engraved letter "D."
It was the key to Knossos, the artificial dungeon!
"Ahem, yes, that's exactly what I want!"
Loki coughed lightly before suddenly exclaiming.
"Eiji, now's the time!"
Since she'd been found out, there was no point pretending anymore!
Ottar immediately fixed Eiji with a predatory stare.
Freya tilted her head in amusement.
"Uh... I already used it."
Eiji was too flustered to lie.
"Huh?"
"Really, I'm not lying!"
Eiji spoke with utmost seriousness.
He had indeed used Charm on Freya many times—in fact, they often used it on each other. Whenever they felt mentally drained during their intimate sessions, a quick Charm would ensure a full recovery!
"Did I miss it somehow?"
Loki was utterly baffled.
But something didn't add up!
If he had really used it, why was there no trace of it on Freya?
Even if she had resistance to Charm, Ottar behind her shouldn't, right? So why did even Ottar seem completely unaffected?
"Loki, I can give you the key. After all, it's useless to me anyway."
Freya calmly interrupted the farce unfolding before her.
"But this isn't free. I have a condition!"
"What condition? Let's hear it."
"I want him."
Freya pointed.
Her delicate index finger landed squarely on Eiji.
Damn it!
Eiji cursed inwardly.
This was no surprise at all!
She had deliberately brought Tammuz to the Divine Assembly to clear Eiji's name, ensuring that Loki Familia would realize the key was in her possession. If they wanted to conquer the artificial dungeon, they'd have to negotiate with her.
And her goal would be achieved.
As for what that goal was? It didn't take a genius to guess!
Freya never asked Loki for anything—the only thing she coveted was Eiji!
"...Let's go back."
Loki's eyes turned cold.
She sighed and stood up to leave.
"I'll treat your words as a joke, but it's best not to make such jokes too often. You know I never use my children as bargaining chips."
Utterly insincere.
That was Loki's assessment of Freya.
After dealing with her for so many years, Freya couldn't possibly be unaware of Loki's principles. Yet she still proposed such a condition—proving she had no real intention of exchanging the key.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Freya suddenly laughed.
"Don't worry, I was just teasing."
"Your expression says otherwise."
"My, does it?"
Freya smiled faintly, her lips pressed together.
She had indeed come with the intention of trading for Eiji, but the outcome was unsurprising.
"Loki, could you step outside for a moment? I'd like to speak with this child alone."
"Huh?"
Loki's expression darkened.
"Relax, I won't ask him to convert."
Freya chuckled.
Loki frowned deeply.
She strongly disapproved of her Familia members being left alone with Freya—she knew exactly how dangerous this woman was. But if it was Eiji...
She cast a questioning glance at him.
Eiji nodded silently.
"Fine."
Loki clicked her tongue and walked out of the tearoom.
Eiji's skill, "Sword Heart's Valor," granted him exceptional resistance to mental interference. As his patron deity, Loki was well aware of this.
After his return from Ishtar Familia, it was further confirmed that he could even resist the Charm of a goddess of beauty. So at the very least, she was confident he wouldn't be taken by Freya.
"Ottar, you too."
"But, Lady Freya, your safety—"
"No one here will harm me."
Freya stated with certainty.
"...Understood."
Ottar fell silent for a moment before reluctantly following Loki out of the room, shooting Eiji a displeased look.
"Now it's just the two of us."
Freya stood up and walked over to Eiji.
She stretched out her snow-white arms, delicate as lotus roots, and gently draped them around his neck, her gaze growing increasingly playful.
"This is the surprise I prepared for you. What do you think?"
"So this is the surprise? I thought you were trying to kill me."
Eiji glanced around—the soundproofing here was rather poor.
Lowering his voice, he asked, "What exactly are you trying to do?"