Chapter 43 – Shin Akira's Explanation!
The sun had long since dipped beneath the horizon, and the blanket of night had settled over Orario.
Shin Akira stepped through the bustling evening crowd, flanked by two goddesses—Hephaestus and Hestia—on either side of him. Their destination? One of the most lively establishments in the entire city: the Hostess of Fertility.
"Miss Ryū, we're here to support your place tonight," Akira said with a friendly smile as they entered.
By sheer coincidence, the beautiful elf server, Ryū, had just finished wiping down a nearby table when she noticed their arrival.
"Good evening, Mister Shin Akira. Goddess Hephaestus. Goddess Hestia," she greeted with her usual calm grace, bowing slightly.
Without missing a beat, she pulled out her notepad.
"We'll take three specials and three drinks," Akira said.
"Understood. Please wait just a moment," Ryū replied swiftly before disappearing into the kitchen.
The Hostess of Fertility was, without question, the most popular tavern in Orario. By nighttime, the place was always packed to capacity. Its nightly income often rivaled what adventurers earned after days of risking their lives in the Dungeon.
"Oh, Shin Akira-san, you really kept your word! You actually came tonight!"
A cheerful, feminine voice greeted him warmly before he even reached his seat.
"Good evening, Miss Syr," Akira replied, turning toward her.
"Good evening to you too, Akira-san," Syr said with a sweet, welcoming smile.
To most people, their exchange would've seemed casual—maybe even charming. But Akira saw through it instantly. That silver-haired girl wasn't just some bubbly waitress.
She was dangerous.
He knew exactly who she really was. Not Syr. Freya. The obsessive goddess of beauty, hidden behind a humble disguise.
To Freya, Shin Akira wasn't a romantic interest—at least not in the traditional sense. He was... fascinating. A soul unlike any other she had ever seen—a mesmerizing blend of shadow and light. Not someone to love. Someone to possess. To study.
The moment she saw Hephaestus sitting beside him, a flicker of jealousy flashed in her eyes.
Why was a usually stoic goddess like Hephaestus so close to a man like him?
Still, it wasn't the kind of jealousy that sparked rivalry. Freya didn't desire Akira's heart. She desired his soul.
"Syr! What the hell are you doing?! This place is swamped and you're chatting again?!"
A loud, no-nonsense voice boomed from the back.
"Coming, Ma'am! I'm going right now!" Syr called back with a jump.
That unmistakable voice belonged to none other than Mama Mia, the towering woman who ran the place with absolute authority. Even a disguised goddess didn't dare defy her.
"Sorry, Akira-san. Looks like we'll have to continue this another time," Syr said, giving him one last smile before hurrying off.
"Let's not do that," Akira muttered under his breath.
The last thing he wanted was to be tangled in Freya's web of obsession and control.
"She seemed pretty friendly with you," Hephaestus said casually as they finally took their seats.
Her tone was light, but Akira could tell there was something sharp just beneath the surface. A tinge of jealousy, perhaps?
Gods, after all, were possessive by nature. Especially when it came to love. A god might have dozens of partners, but a goddess? Once she chose someone, he was expected to belong only to her.
"Not really. We've only met once before. Honestly, I think she's targeting me."
"Targeting you?" Hephaestus narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah. My wallet, to be precise. I did a little digging—turns out Syr's the darling of this place. She's made quite a few adventurers broke with her charm."
And Akira wasn't exaggerating. Syr had a reputation in Orario as a beautiful, mysterious girl who left men enchanted and financially drained. Oddly enough, they never seemed to regret it.
After all, as the embodiment of beauty itself, Freya could entrance any mortal with ease. Seducing them was child's play.
"Hmph! Hephaestus, you better be careful with this guy!" Hestia cut in sharply. "Just look at that face! Clearly hiding some very unholy intentions!"
Akira turned to her, utterly speechless.
What did I ever do to you?
But before he could protest, Hephaestus spoke up again.
"Actually... I had a conversation with Loki earlier today. She mentioned the Sword Princess from her Familia and asked me to thank you."
"Oh... I can explain," Akira said, suddenly looking a little awkward.
He could feel the heat of her gaze. One wrong word and this dinner could go downhill fast.
"Go on," Hephaestus said with a casual smile—though her eyes warned him not to test her patience.
"A while back, I ran into the Sword Princess in the Dungeon. She approached me and asked how I became so strong."
"She asked you that?"
"Yeah. I was just as surprised. She said even when she was still Level 1, she'd never been as strong as I am now. So... she was curious."
"Considering she's Level 5 and you were only Level 1 at the time, that is a bit strange."
"Exactly. I didn't have a proper answer for her. But she asked anyway."
"Because you're a freak," Hephaestus said flatly.
Of anyone, she understood that best. After all, she was the one who granted his Falna. From the very beginning, Akira had displayed not one but two unique abilities: a special skill and another that drastically accelerated his growth.
In less than a week, he'd risen from Level 1 to Level 2. Just last night, he unlocked two high-level magic spells—instant-cast, no less.
This wasn't genius. This was inhuman. Even the gods had trouble believing it.
If she didn't know Akira lacked divine power, she might've suspected he was a god reborn.
"So, what exactly did you do for the Sword Princess?" she asked.
"She wanted advice, so I gave her some. I told her that since she relies on speed and agility, she should train with extra weight. Maybe switch from a rapier to a heavier blade—something to build up physical resilience."
"And?"
"She left. That's all."
"Then Loki's gratitude probably means she saw results from your suggestion," Hephaestus said thoughtfully.
"Maybe," Akira said, shrugging. He honestly hadn't given it much thought.
His mind was elsewhere.
Focused.
Obsessed with one thing.
Getting stronger.
Leveling up. Evolving. Unlocking deeper layers of his power and his connection to the Shadowkhan King's legacy.
Of course... there was one other thought lingering at the back of his mind.
Winning the heart of Hephaestus.
Because if he could pull that off... he wouldn't just gain power.
He'd gain the backing of one of the wealthiest, most influential deities in all of Orario.
A goddess who could casually throw around two billion Valis?
Who wouldn't be tempted?
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