Loki ruffled Tsuna's hair, smiling faintly. She didn't deny what he'd told her about that "perfect" version of the story. If anything, the information he remembered carried more than a few warnings worth heeding.
This kid really was too honest for his own good, Loki thought with a sigh.
She glanced toward the three behind him—Finn, Gareth, and Riveria. All three wore the same blank expression, their minds clearly blown by what they'd just heard.
Turning back to the book in her hand, Loki's gaze lingered on the cover—specifically on the short, twin-tailed goddess depicted there. Her expression twisted.
"The only thing that ticks me off," Loki muttered, "is that the runt actually got to be the heroine. Tch. That lazy shut-in who spent all her time reading in Heaven somehow became the main heroine of a story."
She knew Hestia all too well—the goddess was the very definition of a slob. Loki honestly couldn't picture that shut-in ever finding someone willing to follow her down to the lower world. And yet, somehow, that's exactly what had happened.
A boy who longed for an encounter in the Dungeon, who grew into a Hero.
Loki's eyes drifted to the white-haired boy on the cover. That innocent face… how had someone like him survived in a city as brutal as Orario? She was genuinely curious.
"Tsuna," she said, holding up the book, "who is this kid? From what I know of Orario, naive dreamers who come here chasing some fantasy never end well."
"His name's Bell Cranel," Tsuna replied. "His parents weren't anyone notable, but his aunt is. You might've heard of her—three years ago, during the Great Feud, she made quite a mess of Orario. Her epithet was 'Silence.' Alfia."
"…Hah?!"
Loki's eyes went wide. "So he's one of their descendants?!"
In an instant, the pieces clicked. The Zeus and Hera Familias' legacies—of course. Her mind flashed back to Alfia, the woman the gods had called an 'incarnation of talent.' Loki finally understood. This wasn't just about lineage—it was about the benchmark for talent itself.
"So that's how it is," she murmured. "Not just lineage, then. This kid's got serious talent backing him too."
It all lined up. With that kind of bloodline, it was no wonder Bell Cranel managed to survive in Orario. Someone had clearly arranged it.
"The descendant of Zeus and Hera's Familias, huh? No wonder he's still breathing," Loki said dryly. "That boy's arrival in Orario must've been planned by the two of them. Even after getting kicked out of the city by me and Freya, the prestige those two had among the gods could still protect him."
"And aside from his background," she added, "there's his bloodline. 'Silence' herself being his aunt? If he wants to be a Hero, that talent must run deep."
Born with pedigree, backed by legends, and blessed with raw talent—Zeus and Hera had basically sent a prodigy back into Orario. Loki honestly couldn't imagine how they'd pulled it off.
"Maybe they used him as their final gamble," she mused. "Or maybe it was their way of leaving a mark after being exiled… hard to say."
She looked back at Tsuna. "How much do you actually remember from that version of events?"
"Not much," Tsuna admitted. "It's been a long time since I read it. I remember some of the key characters and major events, but not the exact details."
"What about his talent?" Loki asked.
"He became a first-tier adventurer in less than a year," Tsuna said. "Every one of his stats broke the 999 limit. His first skill was what made that possible—'Liaris Freese.' The stronger his feelings of longing, the faster he grows. The more he trains under that emotion, the more his Status skyrockets beyond reason."
He paused before adding, "It also lets him exceed the normal growth cap—and makes him immune to Charm."
"…That's insane." Loki's eyelid twitched. "That skill's ridiculously overpowered."
Even she couldn't hide her astonishment. Sure, it wasn't quite on Tsuna's level, but still—growth acceleration, stat breakthrough, and Charm immunity, all in one skill? That was absurd.
"Wait a sec. Immune to Charm?" Loki blinked. "That sounds a little too specific… almost like it was made to counter someone."
Her gaze darkened slightly as she thought of a certain goddess. "…Don't tell me this has something to do with Freya?"
Tsuna nodded. "You guessed it, Miss Loki. He's the 'soulmate' Freya's been searching for."
"Oh, for the love of—" Loki slapped her forehead. "Good grief. No wonder that caused chaos. That'd turn Hestia and Freya into natural-born enemies."
"Exactly," Tsuna said. "Freya used her Charm to rewrite everyone's memories in Orario—made them all believe Bell Cranel was part of the Freya Familia."
Loki's jaw dropped. "She WHAT? That woman's completely insane!"
Using divine power to alter the memories of an entire city—that was the kind of stunt that could get a goddess erased. Loki could already imagine how that went over.
"If Ouranos doesn't boot that crazy woman out of Orario," she muttered darkly, "I'll chop my own head off."
Tsuna went on, "After that, the people involved challenged the Freya Familia to a War Game. I don't remember the exact details, but Freya's side lost."
"And Freya herself?" Loki asked.
"She became Hestia's subordinate goddess," Tsuna said. "She wasn't exiled, and her Familia wasn't disbanded. The main members were simply transferred under the Hestia Familia's name."
"…Good gods," Loki whispered, stunned. "Freya falls, and the runt feasts."
The expression on her face was priceless. For a goddess to cause that level of chaos and still not be exiled—it was almost comical.
"Freya, a subordinate to Hestia," Loki repeated, half in disbelief. "That's practically slavery. Losing all her authority like that… she must've been crushed."
Loki could hardly even imagine it. For Freya of all people to kneel to Hestia? That was a defeat worse than death.
"She chose a War Game, huh? Typical Freya. Too confident for her own good." Loki smirked. "She must've thought she could win and take him for herself. Guess that backfired beautifully."
Then, with a playful grin, she tossed the book aside and pulled Tsuna into a hug.
"Well, well~ looks like I don't need to envy that little runt anyway. I've already got my own Tsuna."