Sigurd looked at his brother's expression.
"Brother, you're not wrong about my strength. Celestials can be very powerful, but I am still above them. So now you don't have to worry about them in the future. Even your power is almost on par with a Celestial, should the time for a real battle come."
Odin looked at his brother and knew his journey must have been very dangerous; otherwise, he would not have gained such strength.
"So what deal did you make with those powerful beings?"
Sigurd looked at Odin with a surprised expression. After all, in the comics, Odin did have the power to know about alternate universes, but he did not think he would know at the present time. Yet, looking at his expression, Odin definitely had ideas about the other world. He might not be clear about it, but he could feel the presence.
"Brother, you don't need to worry about the deal. They themselves do not know about it, but it might have something to do with multiverse destruction. So even if I did not accept the deal, I would have to fight to save our loved ones. So even if you were in my place, you might also have accepted the deal."
Odin looked at Sigurd, then turned toward the golden palace in front of them.
"Sigurd, worlds have always been created and destroyed. I will not say much, but holding onto a rotten world will only slow down the destruction process—ultimately, it will still be destroyed. So you have to know when to hold on and when to let go."
Sigurd looked at his brother. For the first time in so many years, he saw a different version of Odin. Looking at him, he felt Odin had his own mysteries.
"You don't have to worry, brother. Even if I do not know when to let go, you will be there to let me know."
Sigurd looked at Odin with high expectations.
Odin looked at his brother, who already held power that could destroy the whole universe but still behaved like a child.
"You need to have your own understanding of this world, Sigurd. Someday, it might be me who goes in the wrong direction, and you may have to face me for the truth."
Sigurd looked at his brother with a weird expression.
"You don't have to worry about that day. I am sure I will not let that happen."
Just as Odin and Sigurd were walking toward the palace, a voice spoke.
"Now you know to return home."
Sigurd heard the words and knew his mother's voice. He looked to see his mother coming toward him with an angry expression.
"Mother."
Bestla looked at her sons.
"You have grown up so big that you did not even have time to meet your mother."
Sigurd came forward and hugged his mother.
"Mother, how is that possible? I am still a small kid in front of you."
Bestla looked at her youngest son.
"Now you had better stay in Asgard. Come on, stop behaving like children."
Sigurd then followed his mother and brother to the palace, where he learned that Frigga was pregnant.
"Brother, it looks like I came at the correct time."
Odin looked at him, nodding.
"Yes, you did."
Just as they were talking, Bor walked toward them.
"You came at the right time. I will abdicate the throne, so I was waiting for you to come back."
Sigurd looked at his father with a surprised expression.
Seeing his son's expression, Bor continued,
"What are you thinking, Sigurd? I will step down from god-king, as I feel the time is correct for me."
Sigurd did not know what to say.
"But Father, you are still in your prime."
Bor shook his head.
"Being in one's prime does not mean everything should always remain with you. I received the kingdom from my father when he was also in his prime, when Njord and I fought over the throne. The same goes for me. I will step down."
Then he looked toward Odin and Sigurd.
"Now you two can decide whether you will fight for the throne or not."
Hearing Bor's words, everyone in the palace fell silent. Bestla looked at her husband with grievance. Frigga herself was surprised by the sudden words from Bor.
But neither Odin nor Sigurd looked surprised. After all, they had always heard the stories. This time, Sigurd spoke.
"Why bother to drag me into this throne inheritance? I do not like to rule the kingdom. Father, you already knew that, but you still bring up the topic to make other people worried."
Bor looked at his youngest son with a smile on his face.
"What do you mean by dragging? It is your grandfather's rule, and do you think I can break his rules?"
Sigurd shook his head.
"That old guy did not even come to see me, yet his rules are everywhere in Asgard."
Hearing Sigurd's words, Bor looked at him with a slightly angry expression.
"Boy, speak properly about your grandfather."
"Okay, but he should come to see his next generation, right?"
Hearing Sigurd's words, even Bor thought his father might come.
"I do not know, but I think he will."
Bor then looked at Odin.
"Prepare for the throne succession. And Sigurd, you may also have to officially announce your detachment from the throne position. After all, people will think it was unfair without your official statement."
Sigurd just nodded. He himself had never wanted to be king.
"Okay, anyway I will be there, so why not announce it in public."
At the same time, in Heaven, a Frost Giant looked toward the Angel Queen.
"What do you think about my offer?"
The Queen of Angels looked at the Frost Giant.
"King Laufey, what you have planned is very dangerous for all of us. You know what happened to Malekith. How do we even get the Casket of Ancient Winter from the Asgard vault? You know very well that if we steal from Asgard, it will be very difficult to bear the wrath of Odin and Sigurd."
Laufey shook his head.
"That is why I came to you. You know Odin has relations with Midgard mortals. Once we use this method to distract their attention to Midgard, your spy can get the Casket of Ancient Winter from the Asgard vault."
The Queen of Angels thought for a while.
"What about Sigurd Borson? You know there is word in different galaxies that Sigurd Borson is still looking for Malekith. You had better not provoke that lunatic."
Laufey shook his head.
"That is where my plan faltered. His whereabouts are unknown. If we knew where he was, the scenario might change."
The Queen of Angels looked at him, and just as she was about to speak, she heard the news.
"Good news, King Laufey. You may start to build your plan again—Sigurd Borson has returned from his exile."