Once again, I'm not exactly proud of this chapter; to be honest, I think I might be losing the drive to write this story lately.
Not that I'm going to delete it—don't worry—this project is still very dear to me, the first fanfic of mine to cross the hundred-chapter mark, and I'm really proud of what I've done... but I don't know....
Maybe I regret the impulsive mess I made in the second act, or maybe these long, week-long gaps between chapters are killing my creative flow. Sorry for disappointing those of you who wait to read this.
Anyway, I'm sorry for not posting anything on Saturday; I was lazy. I already don't post very often, and then I go and pull a stunt like that—it really sucks, you know?
//
After what had happened back at that café, Luki and Freya continued their date casually, trying to make the best of it.
However, that proved to be harder than expected.
The two walked until they reached Amor Square, a place beautifully decorated with colorful tiles, lush gardens, and the grand statue of a Goddess. Located near the entrance of Daedalus Street, it was a well-known hub where Orario's couples went to stroll and enjoy their time together.
Looking around, they saw various couples flirting and having fun. Naturally, the two reacted in completely different ways.
'I really should have brought Hestia to a place like this before... It would have been memorable,' Luki thought to himself. 'And I definitely need to bring Lili here whenever we have our date.'
A second later, he mentally scolded himself. 'Dammit, stop thinking about other women while you're literally on a date with one!'
Freya, on the other hand, took full advantage of the intimate atmosphere to subtly intensify her advances.
"Luki, how about we..." She gently caught his hand, pulling him toward a smooth, white stone bench. "...play a little game?"
"Should I be worried?"
"Relax, it's easy. I absolutely love playing this game."
"The emphasis you put on the word 'game' is already enough to make me worried."
"Fufufu~ Silly boy."
The two sat side-by-side. They weren't leaning directly on each other, but they sat incredibly close, their shoulders lightly brushing with every movement.
"Here are the rules: We look at a couple and guess what their ultimate fate will be."
Luki raised an eyebrow, glancing at her from the corner of his eye before turning his gaze back to the crowds of carefree people passing by. In an instant, he understood exactly why this game existed.
This had to be one of Freya's favorite pastimes. Just like someone who can read people perfectly enjoys predicting how they will react to certain things, she must have spent centuries guessing what mortals would do with their lives just by looking at their souls.
"Doesn't sound too bad... Ah, whatever, what am I even complaining about. You start."
"How proactive. Are you that anxious to win?"
"For what? Is there something on the line?"
"There isn't, but there could be."
"Uh, now I'm actually getting excited," Luki said. He wasn't, but hey, intention was what mattered right now. "What are we talking about here? Nothing too extreme, okay?"
"Uhm... Nothing too extreme? But that takes away all the fun."
"What, were you going to ask for a kiss or something?"
"Nah. I was thinking more along the lines of making you lick my feet. I do enjoy the feeling of being superior to others, you know?"
Luki froze solid.
"Pff~ Hahahaha! You really should see the look on your face right now! Hahahaha!"
Freya burst into a hearty laugh, leaning back slightly as her shoulders shook with genuine amusement. Thanks to her divine powers, the passing crowds didn't pay the loud outburst any mind, leaving the two completely isolated in their own little bubble.
Luki just stared at her, completely caught off guard. He had expected many things from the Goddess of Beauty—seductive whispers, cryptic teases, or even a cold, demanding authority—but a boisterous, unfiltered belly laugh over a stupid joke wasn't on his radar.
Seeing her like this felt strangely... human.
As her giggles began to fade, his mind drifted back to the events from just moments ago at the café. He recalled the sharp contrast of her sudden irritation from before, and the current wave of lighthearted mockery.
'She's being way too emotional today,' Luki thought, his eyes narrowing slightly as he analyzed the goddess sitting next to him.
According to everything he knew and remembered about Danmachi, Freya was supposed to be a calculating, enigmatic puppet master. She was the definition of an aloof deity who watched the world from her high tower, manipulating lives and fates with a flick of her wrist just to satisfy her obsession with beautiful souls. She was supposed to be a terrifyingly calm predator disguised in supreme elegance.
Yet, right here, sitting on a cheap public bench, she was riding a rollercoaster of childish amusement. It defied everything he expected.
"Are you quite done?" Luki asked, a small, involuntary smirk tugged at the corner of his own lips. "I don't see the humor in that."
"Oh, come now, don't be like that," Freya wiped a tear of mirth from the corner of her eye, her breathing finally catching up to her. "The look on your face alone was worth the centuries of boredom."
"Heh... If you say so."
Soon, the two composed themselves and went back to paying attention to their surroundings, casually taking in the view.
"Let's do this..." Freya began. "The loser has to grant a wish to the winner, unconditionally."
"I said nothing extreme."
"And who said I was going to ask for something extreme? Ahh! Luki-kun... Don't tell me you're thinking about—"
"Don't start! Just don't start..."
"Fufu~ As I was saying. I certainly won't ask for anything too grand from you. After all, what could you possibly give me that I couldn't just take on my own? You, on the other hand... have quite a lot to gain from this. The opportunity to make a wish to a Goddess? People would kill for that. So, I had to balance the scales a bit, otherwise, what's the point of betting?"
"Uhm... I'm going to choose to trust you on this. I already know I'm bound to lose anyway."
"Don't be like that, it's simple, I promise. Let's do a test run."
Freya brought a finger to her chin, theatrically scanning the area to choose her target.
"There." She pointed near the statue in the center.
Luki followed her finger and saw a couple leaning against the base of the statue, hugging and kissing. It looked completely normal.
"I'll go first. I say... the two of them love each other deeply and seem to have known each other for a long time. Maybe childhood friends? So sweet. Hihihi..." She let out a melodious giggle at the end.
"Yeah... If you say so. They look happy together."
"In less than a month, the guy will cheat on her, get caught red-handed, she will be utterly devastated, and she will probably end up killed by him."
"...Good morning?"
"Uhm, I believe the correct term right now would be 'good afternoon'."
"How did things escalate that fast?! Weren't they supposed to be a happy couple?"
"For now. But look closely at the guy."
Still taken aback, Luki turned his gaze back to the man and tried to observe him more intently, but he couldn't spot anything out of the ordinary.
"Look at his forearm, it has several scars. His knuckles are calloused, and he seems rather well-built too. I don't even need to look at his soul to know he's an adventurer."
"Now that you mention it... yeah, he does have a Falna. He must still be in the middle of Level 1, not much different from a normal person yet. But... what the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"My, what foul language, Luki... yet rather fitting. But the logic is simple. He is an adventurer, and adventurers are rarely faithful to a single partner, especially if the other half isn't as strong as they are."
"Speaking from experience?"
"I've seen it often enough to recognize the pattern. Adventurers spend days risking their lives on the edge of the abyss. The emotional toll is immense, especially for people with weak wills or those lacking talent like him. The rewards rarely outweigh the risks he takes. Since the happiness derived from his job is so meager, he will soon look for other ways to satisfy himself.
Since he is still very weak, he must work in a party, meaning his profits aren't large. If there is already a woman in his life managing his expenses, it's unlikely he will indulge in gambling or visit the pleasure quarter. Therefore, he will hit on other women. It's easy, fast, and cheap.
And since he's quite foolish... he won't hide his affair properly, and she will follow him until she catches him in the act with someone else. When she confronts him, a man already corrupted by malice will let his shame turn into rage... and he will kill her. Simple!"
"...You got all of that from just one look?"
Freya let out a melodious giggle, the exact same one from before, but this time Luki recognized the true tone behind it. She actually knew something, and she was entirely convinced of her prediction.
'Yeah... I think I'm screwed,' Luki thought. 'Mom always did warn me not to mess with strangers, let alone bet with them.'
And so, the two continued with their little guessing game.
It didn't even need to be said who was winning. Freya's answers were so incredibly detailed, and she spoke with such absolute conviction, that Luki found it impossible to refute her claims.
But this was a competition, and Luki wasn't one to back down easily. He tried making his own guesses, stealing bits and pieces from her explanations to try and recognize the patterns of the other people in the square.
An adventurer with a normal civilian always ended in tragedy. Two civilians, but one side seemed cunning and malicious? Tragedy. Two civilians who actually seemed like genuinely good people? Happy for now, but they wouldn't have a good ending in a chaotic city like Orario. And finally, two adventurers... depending on the character of both, a truly happy ending was possible, though in most cases, it ended with the death of one partner or nothing serious ever blossoming between them.
It was funny, in a dark way, how almost every relationship in Orario seemed destined to end in tragedy.
Since he was merely copying Freya's logic on the fly, it was obvious that his guesses were highly inaccurate. Until Luki decided to play dirty.
He loosened the grip on his senses, allowing his spatial awareness to encompass the entire square, focusing on the overlapping images—their true selves—of everyone around. Completely ignoring the blazing sun of divinity sitting right next to him, he began to make much better calls.
It was an interesting dynamic when he stopped to think about it. A Goddess who could see the souls of mortals, and a mortal who could perceive their true selves, having a casual date. It was almost as if they were tailor-made for each other.
"It's getting late. I think we should end our little game here," Freya said.
"What? No way! I'm right on the verge of turning the tables, don't you dare quit on me now," he countered, fully engrossed in the game now that he had finally gotten the hang of it.
"I wouldn't exactly call a score of twenty-seven to four 'turning the tables'. You only got those few points out of pity anyway, because I didn't want you to feel sad."
"Details..." Luki grumbled.
Either way, the two stood up, lightly brushing off their slightly wrinkled clothes as they noticed the sky turning into a deep, warm orange.
"What now, then? Dinner?"
"No, I have a much better idea," Freya replied. A soft, enigmatic smile played on her lips, her violet eyes gleaming with a sudden spark of inspiration. "How about we go to a place that you like this time?"
"A place that I like?" Luki blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in dynamic.
"Yes! After all, I've been the one dictating the pace of things so far," she explained, stepping closer until the faint, intoxicating scent of her perfume drifted into his senses. "It would be nice if you were a bit more proactive in our! Date. Don't you think?"
"If you say so... But where?"
Luki rubbed the back of his neck, racking his brain as he tried to think of places he knew that would be suitable for a proper date—or simply spots where he genuinely enjoyed spending his free time. However...
'I really need to get out more...'
He closed his eyes for a brief second, feeling a wave of mild self-deprecation.
Luki had never been the type to wander around the massive labyrinthine city aimlessly just to sightsee without a concrete purpose. Most of his time since arriving in Orario had been spent holed up in his own corner, completely consumed by a rigid, unrelenting routine.
In the beginning, his days were entirely swallowed by the dark depths of the Dungeon, followed by training sessions and studying language by Hestia's side. Later, he discovered the Hostess of Fertility, which quickly became his secondary anchor. He spent almost all his spare hours around the bustling pub, helping out with chores however he could or just slacking off at a corner. Even after returning from his grueling three-month stint in the Dungeon, he had barely left Hestia's side.
The truth was simple and somewhat pathetic: after half a year living in the center of the world, Luki barely knew anything about the city outside of his usual path.
"What's the matter? Can't think of a single place?" Freya's voice cut through his thoughts, dripping with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
"No, it's just..." Luki sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Most of my time here was spent at the Hostess of Fertility, and I don't think you'd want the others intruding on our moment."
"No, I have nothing against them. But sometimes it gets tiring seeing the same faces and hearing the same voices every day, you know? The girls at that pub can be quite... intrusive with their teasing when they catch a scent of something interesting."
"Tell me about it... Anya is a massive pain when she wants to be. Chloe too. They'd never let me hear the end of it."
The conversation drifted into a comfortable silence. Luki leaned his back against a stone pillar, scratching his head in frustration as he desperately tried to come up with an alternative, while Freya simply stood there. Her gaze was soft, almost tender, as she quietly admired the stressed lines on his face, seemingly finding his internal struggle thoroughly entertaining.
"How about... the Dungeon?" she suggested casually, as if proposing a walk through a public park.
"Huh?!" Luki's head snapped back toward her, his eyebrows shooting up. "The Dungeon? Are you being serious right now?"
"What's wrong with that?" Freya tilted her head, her smile widening ever so slightly. "From what I've gathered, you're quite fond of that place, aren't you?"
"Since when did I—" Luki started, his voice sharp with denial, before the realization struck him. "Ah... Syr. For a second there, I forgot you've been watching me for much longer than it feels."
"Fufu~ It happens," she giggled, the sound light and airy. "So, are you up for it?"
"Up for it? Are you even listening to what you're saying, woman?" Luki let out a frustrated laugh, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "In what world is a monster-infested labyrinth remotely related to romance? You're a Goddess, Freya. You shouldn't even be considering setting foot down there!"
"Oh, please. Remind me, where exactly did you find that new little toy of yours? Lili, was it?" Freya countered, her tone turning dangerously smooth, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Hey, don't give me that. Lili is not a toy," Luki said, his demeanor changing instantly. The casual air vanished, replaced by an intense, protective coldness that hardened his gaze.
Freya didn't seem bothered by the sudden drop in temperature. If anything, the flare of his protective instinct only made her smile grow. "Is that so... She certainly seemed this type, I suppose you two haven't actually done anything intimate yet."
Luki felt a sudden heat rush to his cheeks, his protective aura collapsing into pure embarrassment. "Hold on a second, what the hell do you mean by that?!"
"Oh, nothing," Freya waved her hand dismissively, her playful demeanor returning in full force. "So... the Dungeon?"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Luki muttered, rubbing his temples as he turned around, walking away from the square. "I am not taking you down there in my right mind. It's a terrible idea."
...
"La la la, trala larala~"
The melodic, childish humming echoed softly against the damp, brick walls of the Dungeon, completely out of place given the dangerous nature of the place and the stature of the deity singing it.
Freya sat comfortably atop Luki's shoulders, her legs draped over his chest, with the feathers of its ear-wings brushing against her inner thighs, as her slender fingers gently tangled themselves in his messy hair, adjusting her position with absolute ease.
Luki walked forward with heavy, mechanical steps, staring blankly ahead at the endless, twisting paths of the brick labyrinth. His spirit felt entirely crushed.
"How did this happen...?" he muttered to the dark corridors, his voice hollow with disbelief. "How on earth did this happen...?"
"I can be very persuasive when I want to be, Luki-kun," Freya whispered from above, her warm breath brushing against the top of his head as she patted his hair affectionately, entirely unbothered by the eerie atmosphere of the lower world.