Standing before him were two girls—
One with red-rimmed eyes, tears still hanging in the corners, but a smile tugging at her lips.
The other usually quiet as still water, now had a gaze so intense it looked like she was about to tattoo "You are my faith" across her forehead.
Ryota suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"...If you two keep looking at me like that, I might get the wrong idea, you know."
He scratched his head reflexively. If this kept up…
Who needed Infinite Tsukuyomi?
Just whip up a classic "hero saves the damsel" scenario, and these girls would be clinging to him like their lives depended on it...
At this rate, he might even purify the charm just by sheer virtue of being himself.
But jokes aside—
He knew very well that while this kind of small-scale devotion was precious, it was still just a localized effect.
Freya's charm was still active, and the perception of the entire city had been altered.
He could sever three threads, but he couldn't tug every soul back into place, one by one.
If he truly wanted to restore Orario to its original state...
If he wanted to complete his Main Quest...
There was only one move left—Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Ryota pushed the thought aside and looked at the two girls who were still caught up in their emotions.
"I'll take you both back to Twilight Manor first. As for Lady Loki... let's keep her in the dark for now."
"Then I'm heading over to the Folkvangr."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the tension in the room spiked again.
"W-What?!"
Lefiya's expression changed drastically. Her eyes widened, and her face turned even paler than before.
"Y-You're going to see Freya?!"
The elf girl's voice cracked with panic.
"W-What if she realizes you're not under her charm and decides to keep you there?!"
"Or—or if she forces her charm on you and parades you in the central plaza declaring you're her property—!"
"I-I think it's absolutely a bad idea for you to go alone!!"
Ais beside her looked like she was about to nod in agreement, but just as the words reached her lips, she stopped.
She seemed to recall something, staring at Ryota's smiling face for a long moment in silence.
It was an expression she knew all too well.
Not the smug grin of a fool, but the quiet confidence of someone who truly knew what they were doing.
Ryota raised a hand and ruffled Lefiya's head with a smile.
"I should at least find out why she's been turning the city upside down looking for me. She even had Ottar standing guard at Hephaestus's place."
"And besides... trying to 'keep' me?"
"They don't have what it takes."
Before he'd even finished speaking, his hand was already ruffling the poor elf's head with practiced ease.
"Eh?!"
Lefiya froze. Her long elven ears perked up instantly, and her face turned redder than a ripe apple.
"W-What are you doing?!"
"And in front of Lady Ais no less… y-you can't just...!"
She protested in a tiny voice but didn't actually push away the "offending" hand.
Instead, she sat stiffly on the bench, her eyes darting everywhere, even the tips of her ears flushing pink with embarrassment.
Just then, the previously quiet blonde girl lifted her head.
In her golden eyes was the reflection of Ryota, Lefiya—and the hand gently ruffling her friend's hair.
Ais blinked once, tilted her head slightly... and ever so subtly leaned a step closer to Ryota.
She didn't say anything, but those clear eyes, bright as the stars, were filled with longing.
Ryota glanced down, meeting her gaze—
He chuckled softly and reached up with his other hand to stroke her silky golden hair.
"Mhm~"
Ais let out a small, content hum.
And realizing Lefiya was right beside her, the doll-like Sword Princess's cheeks turned ever so slightly pink.
Even so, she didn't move away—in fact, she leaned in even closer.
Lefiya, watching this unfold beside her, turned a deeper shade of red, looking like she was about to combust.
"Ugh, n-no fair... even Lady Ais is joining in... that's cheating..."
She muttered under her breath, trying to sound indignant, but deep down she was grinning like an idiot.
"Alright then."
Ryota waved them over.
"It's about time. Let's get you both home."
With a smooth motion, he pulled the two girls into his arms, one on each side.
In the next instant, a flash of yellow light lit up the room.
Flying Raijin Jutsu—activated.
Their figures vanished from Hephaestus Familia's forge in a blink.
In the backyard of Twilight Manor—
Light flashed by the steps, and in the next moment, Ryota, Ais, and Lefiya landed smoothly on the ground.
Ryota exhaled, releasing the girls from his arms. He glanced at the place he had called home for so long.
Then he turned to the two girls and said gently:
"Don't tell Lady Loki about tonight. Or anyone else in the Familia."
"That includes anything about the charm—and me."
Lefiya blinked, still a bit confused, but nodded quickly and earnestly.
"Understood. I won't say a word."
Ais, standing beside her, gave Ryota a long look, then nodded silently.
That quiet but resolute expression said everything she needed to.
Ryota smiled at them both.
"It'll all be over soon. I promise."
As his words faded into the night, his eyes flashed—
And his figure vanished into the darkness like a shadow never meant to exist.
Ais and Lefiya were just about to head back to their rooms when familiar footsteps echoed behind them.
"Well, well—"
Loki strolled over from the front yard, arms behind her head. She glanced between the two girls and grinned.
"What are you two doing out here in the backyard this late, spacing out?"
Lefiya blinked and replied quickly:
"Just chatting with Miss Ais~"
"Chatting, huh?"
Loki perked up.
"What about? I wanna hear too, I wanna hear!"
Clearly, anything involving her precious Ais instantly piqued her curiosity.
She stepped forward eagerly, ready to press for details—but suddenly paused, her expression changing subtly.
"Ohoho, Lefiya—"
"You're not still talking about that guy who beat our Familia, are you?"
"Sure, he's strong. Handsome, too, I'll give you that. The guy can definitely fight."
"But let me be honest here—Lefiya, you should probably just give up."
Couldn't really blame Loki for thinking that.
After all, Lefiya had very openly said Ryota was handsome before.
"But he's part of Freya Familia. Their main guy! And don't forget—we got stomped by him in that War Game."
"If you're seriously crushing on him, I honestly don't know what to do with you."
Loki hadn't even finished teasing before the elf girl beside her went beet red.
"L-Lady Loki—!!"
"T-That's not what I meant at all!!"
She blurted it out, then immediately turned and bolted down the hallway.
"Whoa, already flustered?"
"Ah, youth, sweet youth~"
As one of Orario's premier mischief gods, Loki's favorite pastime was teasing her own Familia.
Especially the ones with a little crush—those were the best targets.
Unfortunately, just as she was getting into the groove, Ais suddenly moved too.
"Huh?"
Loki turned, about to speak, when the blonde girl zipped off silently in the direction of the front yard.
Loki stood there, staring at the two retreating backs, blinking.
"?..."
She scratched her head and muttered:
"Why do I feel like... everyone's acting kinda weird tonight?"
"Whatever. I'll just grab a drink and call it."
"Ryota, huh... tsk... that's a hell of a name."
She let out a chuckle, humming a tuneless melody as she wandered off toward her room.
——
At that very moment—
Folkvangr.
Once nearly abandoned due to the War Game, the courtyard was once again lit by warm lanterns.
Ryota stood before the main gate, gaze calm and unreadable as it swept over the unfamiliar door.
Just as Ottar had said—
Freya had called back nearly all of her Familia's core members.
Ottar, Hedin, Hogni, Heith...
Ryota could sense each and every one of them clearly.
They were all waiting in the main hall.
Except for one—Vice-Captain Allen was missing.
Not that Ryota was surprised.
No amount of charm magic could undo time.
That guy took a direct hit from Amaterasu during the War Game.
Whether he was dead or not... Ryota didn't really care.
The moment he stepped through the gate, a figure in the hall rose sharply.
Freya's gaze locked onto him like a lover reunited after a long journey, soft and unwavering.
But that very look sent shockwaves through the rest of the hall.
Hedin, Hogni, Heith—several high-level members who'd been murmuring among themselves—
All froze the moment Freya stood up, her eyes brimming with affection.
That wasn't the kindness a god shows their follower—it was the look one gives their master returning home!
The Folkvangr was Freya's domain.
Freya Familia was built on worship and desire for her.
And yet now, they were all waiting for... a man to return home?
"This is insane…"
Someone thought it, but no one dared say it aloud.
Freya stepped forward and said gently:
"Ryota, welcome home."
Ryota stared at her with a blank expression.
"What do you want."
The mood in the hall shifted instantly.
But Freya didn't hesitate.
"Ryota, now that you're back—let me update your Status."
Ryota: "..."
Black lines practically appeared on his face.
He'd originally planned to crash at Hephaestus's forge tonight.
But if Ottar was still standing there like a statue—and dragging Hephaestus Familia into this mess...
Yeah, not worth it.
And now, staring at Freya, who looked like she'd melt just from looking at him—
He figured he might as well go sleep in the Dungeon with the monsters.
"No thanks. I don't think that's necessary."
"If there's nothing else, I'm going to go stay at an inn. This place gives me the creeps."
The moment those words left his lips, Freya's expression changed. Her smile wavered for the first time.
"Ryota, you—"
But before she could finish, Hogni, who had been silent all this time, suddenly stepped forward.
"So disrespectful."
"Freya is your goddess. She gave you her blessing. She built this Familia."
"Even if you performed well in the War Game and led us to victory, that doesn't give you the right to speak to a god this way!"
"Do you even understand what it means to be part of this Familia?!"
His voice rang out across the hall.
But Ryota didn't respond.
He simply looked up and locked eyes with Hogni.
"This guy... even after taking my Tsukuyomi head-on, he still doesn't get it, huh?"
The next second—
His eyes snapped open wide!
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan surged into existence—its pattern merged with the already 20%-integrated Rinnegan.
——BOOM!!!
An overwhelming pressure exploded from his body, as if the very laws of the world had been torn.
He didn't need to raise his voice.
He didn't need to move.
Just those eyes—staring—were like staring into a bottomless abyss, a void that could devour souls.
Silence engulfed the hall.
Fear seeped into every heart.
Even if they'd forgotten the true War Game under the spell of charm...
That soul-deep dread could never be erased!
Just one look—and everyone's legs went weak.
This... was the power of the Rinnegan!