Kurohane actually had no specific opinion on Hela's appearance. To be honest, there was an indescribable grace about her, a sort of Galadriel from Lord of the Rings aura, an emblem of nobility standing tall. But... even if you were an Elf Queen, arranged marriage was not an acceptable idea!
Besides, Hela in this universe wasn't an Elf Queen. She was a cruel maniac, as if cast from the same mold as Thor, just with an extra touch of darkness. She was absolutely not a good choice for a life partner! One could imagine, if they married, a small argument could turn into a property-destroying brawl. The rate of domestic violence would skyrocket, and at least one person would definitely end up in Valhalla.
However, Kurohane was already 'detained' by Odin. Even if the agreement didn't work out, since he was already here, he might as well fill his stomach first. To entertain this special guest from Earth, Thor himself arranged a grand banquet. The tables were laden with various roasted meats, thick bread, and... that was it. Countless types of alcohol flowed, but not a single green vegetable was in sight. Not even a chopped spring onion could be seen!
Kurohane sat at the dining table, forcing a wry smile. "Okay, cultural culinary differences, huh?" he muttered to himself. He didn't fully understand, but he showed respect. If he were to travel the universe later, the food he encountered would surely be even stranger. These Asgardian eating habits were actually relatively palatable for Earth humans.
That night, amidst the clinking of cups and boisterous laughter, Odin announced Loki's punishment. Among those present, Frigga had no objections whatsoever. Thor, on the other hand, had matured significantly after his forced visit to Earth. The effect was clearly visible—truly transformative! He even began to learn how to date, which, according to Thor himself, was "Great!"
Thor also had no objections. "Living on Earth for a while? This isn't banishment, it's a vacation!" he exclaimed cheerfully, downing his beer. "If Loki can also find his true love there, that would be wonderful!"
Sylvie was even less bothered. The way Loki stared at her was deeply unsettling. Sending him to Earth was the most sensible thing to do.
Loki initially objected, of course, until Kurohane whispered his original plan into his ear. As soon as he heard it, Loki decisively chose the fate of banishment! "A wise man doesn't suffer immediate losses," he thought slyly. "Once on Earth, won't I be free to do whatever I want?" A sly, characteristic Loki grin spread across his face.
Throughout the feast, Frigga continuously chatted with Kurohane and Sylvie, clearly trying to entrap them in an arranged marriage. However, the two took an instant dislike to each other. Kurohane found Loki, even in female form, completely unappealing. Sylvie, on the other hand, felt Kurohane's personality was too rigid and lacked humor. At best, they exchanged awkward glances before simultaneously focusing their attention on the food on their plates. "I must admit," Kurohane thought, chewing, "the roasted lamb is exceptionally well-made. Fatty but not greasy, it melts in your mouth!"
Only Thor enthusiastically drank beer and watched the unfolding 'drama,' quite pleased to see Kurohane in a different kind of predicament than usual.
Finally, after the banquet concluded, Odin summoned Kurohane to his study alone again.
"If you talk about arranged marriages again or not, just give me the Infinity Stone, and I'll leave right now!" Kurohane went straight to the point, without preamble.
Odin, who had already shed his majestic armor and donned comfortable pajamas, merely offered a faint smile. His demeanor conveyed one meaning: this conversation was private, far from common ears. "Let's not speak of that, my boy," he said calmly. "Let's talk about the armor you're wearing and the Infinity Gauntlet on your hand."
He pointed to Kurohane's advanced suit, which looked foreign yet radiated power. "The style of the armor is too flamboyant, clearly not designed by us, Asgardians. But the forging technique is definitely the work of the Dwarf King. Coupled with the Infinity Gauntlet on your hand," Odin narrowed his wise eye. "I assume Dwarf King Eitri must owe you a great favor. But I've already inquired. He told me he doesn't know any human named Kurohane."
Odin sighed softly. "So, I can only ask you, did you bring those things from the future?"
"Yes." Kurohane nodded, admitting it without hesitation. His time-traveling could not be concealed, and honestly, he had no intention of hiding it. Otherwise, the items he produced would be difficult to explain, and fabricating a story would be far worse than telling the truth.
"Is Asgard in the future doing well?" Odin asked, a hidden note of hope in his voice.
Kurohane recounted everything, his tone flat but heavy with weight. "After you died, Hela and Thor fought. The older sister had a natural bloodline that suppressed her younger brother. Thor couldn't win and one of his eyes was gouged out, completing the legacy of your appearance." Kurohane paused, observing Odin's reaction. "Then, Loki threw Surtur's crown into the Eternal Flame, and Asgard exploded everywhere. Hela also died. Thor brought the refugees seeking refuge on Earth, and half of them were killed by Thanos on the way. Loki died, Heimdall also died. Thor was fortunate enough. He met a group of... 'dreamers' who saved him. Otherwise, he would have died too."
Odin stared at him, his expression unreadable. His single eye seemed dark, the shadow of a bleak future passing through it. The godly realm he had painstakingly built had been blown up by some of his lost children. It was impossible not to feel a little disheartened, but Ragnarok was an unavoidable cycle, and the energy within his body was becoming increasingly uncontrollable. He thought he wouldn't live much longer, which was rather frustrating!
"I know what's on your mind; this isn't about longevity!" Kurohane suddenly broke the silence, his eyes piercing into Odin. "If I help you solve the problem of longevity, what benefits can I gain?" It was time to reap some rewards. Odin could actually live longer. The main reason was that his physical body couldn't withstand such immense divine power, so he had to periodically enter the Odin Sleep to dissipate his energy and maintain his strength.
"I will marry Hela and Sylvie to you! And give you a large dowry, how about that?" Odin offered, a sly grin appearing on his old face.
Kurohane: (Kurohane's expression was a mix of shock and disgust, as if Odin had just offered him golden horse manure.) "Good heavens! This old man truly has malicious intentions; he even intends to repay kindness with enmity!"
There were two main ways to solve Odin's problem. One was to destroy Asgard, so the divine power in his body would no longer increase, and of course, he wouldn't die from divine power. Second, strengthen Odin's body. The divine power that this body could bear was limited. So, strengthening his body so it could withstand the divine power; that made sense.
Of course, there was also a third, unconventional way. "If The Ancient One could extend her lifespan by stealing energy from Dormammu's Dark Dimension," Kurohane thought quickly, "Odin certainly could. In short, if he wants to live, he just needs to tear Dormammu apart! As for whether Dormammu would discover Asgard's existence, leading to Dormammu's dimensional invasion... that depends on whether Odin's luck is good or not!"
Kurohane first rejected Odin's suggestion of embracing his two daughters, then briefly outlined the three methods in detail. Which path Odin chose, Kurohane himself didn't care; only that the benefits he received would differ. Telling him about Asgard's tragic future was, of course, also to activate Odin's will to survive. At the very least, he couldn't let himself accept the arrival of Ragnarok and completely give up!
Odin pondered for a long time, his eyes wandering to the outer space visible from his window, before finally making his own choice. "Kurohane, Mage," Odin said, his gaze now sharp. "You truly have a way. With just a few words, you've pushed me to the brink." He sighed. "Of the three paths you mentioned, only one is truly viable." Odin nodded to himself. "That is to find a way to strengthen my own body. Unfortunately, our Asgardian bodies are not easily strengthened. Or rather, my body has already been strengthened to its limit!"
Kurohane flicked his finger, and a pure white wisp of Sacred Energy appeared in his hand, pulsating with a soothing yet powerful light.
"I can only say, Odin," Kurohane smiled faintly, "you still don't understand magic!"
Enjoying the story? You can read 7 chapters in advance on p@treon/Rzzzy!