DANMACHI: The Silence's Heir (OC x Freya)

Chapter 25

DIX PERDIX

Dix Perdix found himself in the Pink District of Orario, facing one of Orario's infamous Goddess of Beauty. Ishtar's familia controlled the city's pink districts, places which were intimately connected with the black markets that he ruled over, and yet this was his first time meeting the said Goddess, who wore nothing but to shear pieces of cloth, leaving nothing to the imagination.

"Now, I am quite interested in finding out why the Ishtar familia would wish to war with Hestia familia," he asked and saw the Goddess of Beauty raise a brow.

"Is that important?" she asked, her voice as seductive as her figure. Her tender lips turned up slightly.

"No, but it would be better to know so I can be sure that our goals align," he added. He saw her raise a brow before she gently tapped the pipe she was smoking into the ashtray beside her.

"There is no need to worry about that. I believe our reasons for going after poor old Hestia are the same," she added and he raised a brow, for he did not know of any grudge between the said Goddess and Silent.

"And if I may ask, why do you bear a grudge against Silence's heir?" he asked and saw her eyes narrow.

"You need not worry about that. I wish to see him destroyed just as much as you do. His existence is an inconvenience, and his extermination would kill two birds with one stone, and will help me get back at that haughty Freya," she snarled and there was the jealousy that separated her from Freya, the other Goddess of beauty.

"So, do we have an alliance, Dix Perdix?" she asked, and he nodded.

"We do, but you must understand the Goddess Hestia is guarded right now by the members of Astarea familia. Four of them alongside Silent would make for a formidable enemy, even with our combined might, I would hardly be sure of our victory," he added, for everyone knew just how powerful of a monster Inumaki was and facing him alongside four high-ranking adventurers would not be easy, especially given that Astarea familia's remnants were nothing to scoff at as well.

"You need not worry about that. We will not have to face the Silent. From what I have heard, he is set to leave for the Loki familia expedition soon, and as far as Astarea's stray children are concerned, I have a trump card just for them," she added confidently, and he did not probe any further.

"Then what do you need us for?" he asked.

"Unlike my familia, your familia deals with the underbelly of the city and, without the oversight from the Guild, can do things that would be difficult for me.

"I see," he smiled, understanding the plan.

"Then we have an accord. We shall see Hestia familia to its end...."

0000

GODDESS FREYA

Freya loved beautiful things, people that would exist for the sake of others. For she found it lovely taking care of them, taking care of people the world would take for granted.

She was the Goddess beauty, blessed with a charm that rendered both men and women weak to her whims, and with but a single glance she could turn them to her side, their love for her but an extension of her own charm. She had spent an eternity seeking a true partner, someone who would truly love her and care for her, not for her beauty but for who she was.

And yet she had found no one, each time the love she would receive, the care and attention that would be driven her way would all be because of the charm and beauty. And in her search, she would descend to the lower world, to the human world and the result would be the same.

Humans would be no different than the Gods in the Heavens above, all of them enslaved by her charm. That was until she had met her, a child unlike any other, one who would be the first person to reject her—Alfia was her name, The Silence.

It was a novel experience for her to be rejected. To be rebuffed, and yet she would become fast friends with the adventurer girl who had been burdened with a tragic destiny.

Despite her own love, she could not get her to abandon Hera, could not get her to abandon her sister, and yet they would remain on amicable terms, and she would be surprised upon learning of her greatest secret.

The secret behind the massive power she wielded and its cost. And as the Hera and the Zeus familia planned their ultimate assault on the One-Eyed Beast, she would tell her of her concerns, of her fears about what their loss could mean for Orario.

And then she would remedy that by choosing to birth a successor, by passing on her burdens to another soul. It was tragic and beautiful at the same time, and Freya had hoped that she could nurture that soul, that she could care for it.

Yet Hera would deny her that, and Inumaki Herakles would be born into this world through her blessing, The Silence's burden and Hera's falna.

The boy would carry that burden, that falna dedicating his life to ideals that were thrust upon him. He would fight for this city, for those people for nothing. And it riled her up, enraged her to see him wasting away his efforts.

But no more.

Freya had had enough. That boy, it was him. The first time she had laid her eyes on his soul she had known that he was the one she had been waiting for her, her Odr. And yet he would deny himself her, deny himself the care and pleasure that she promised all because of the legacy and the burden on his shoulders.

The burden of this damned city.

And as she stared out at the expansive city, she found her blood boiling in rage.

"You took him from me. And now you shall give him back..." she mouthed as she turned her back on the view and walked towards the doors that led her out of the room.

"...otherwise, I shall raize you to dust," she whispered.

It was a betrayal. Betrayal to the city, to the world, and to her children. But it was something she had set her mind on. Inumaki-kun grew stronger by the day, and if she waited anymore, she knew that she would have no choice but to lose her fated one to the burden of destiny.

And she could not do that.

And so she walked down the stairs and looked at all her children gathered there infront of her, and knew that if there was a moment for her to stop then this was the one.

And yet she would not.

And so, she closed her eyes as she began.

"I know all of you are wondering why I have gathered you all here," she began as her children hung after her words. She loved them truly. Alas, she loved Inumaki-kun a lot more.

"I have gathered you all to tell you of my plan, of my despicable plan," she continued before she opened her eyes and saw their eyes turn hazy as she used her charm to remove their will, to protect their innocence from the treachery she was about to release.

"...my despicable plan of destroying Orario....."

0000

BELL CRANEL

The day was here. Bell had spent a month being trained by the three girls from the Astarea familia and then, near the end, by Inumaki-san, but nothing could have prepared him for the sheer scale of the battle he was about to enter.

The whole Colosseum was filled to the brim, and nearly all the Gods and Goddesses had gathered to witness this duel between him and the captain of the Soma familia.

"It's done," his Goddess told him as she pulled down his shirt, and this was it. The final update that he would receive before the battle. He had ranked up around a few days ago, and that was when Inumaki-san had taken over his training.

He had not thought that training could get any more brutal than what he had endured with the Astarea familia members. Still, he had been surprised by the intensity of Inumaki-san, and had felt himself grow by leaps and bounds in the week they had trained together.

"You are finally ready," his Goddess spoke with a smile as she stood infront of him, as Lili-san stood beside her.

"You need not do this. You can still stop," she pleaded, and Bell simply just smiled as he turned towards the pallum and smiled.

"Don't worry, I will be just fine. You just prepare yourself to become a full-fledged member of Hestia familia," he assured her as he stood up and began to check on his armor.

"Is it all fine?" questioned the other occupant of the room, his smith—Welf Crozzo.

"It is," Bell agreed, the armor was a piece of beauty. It had been commissioned as a gift for him by Inumaki-san, and Bell was determined to make upto him for all the help he had given him.

"Tell Inumaki-san, that I will win," he said turning towards his Goddess who smiled.

"I will," before another voice chimed in from behind.

"You better," and this was one of his trainer, Kaguya-san and her presence here made him sweat. She had been the hardest on him of his three trainers, and he knew full well that she would not hesitate to kill him if he failed and put Inaumki-san's favored weapon in jeopardy.

"Otherwise I am coming for you, no matter what Inumaki-sama says," and with that he turned towards the tunnel as Hestia-sama waved him off.

"Best of luck, Bell-kun. Go and make me proud out there," she cheered him on as he nodded and began to walk forward through the tunnel.

And the arena was thundering, the ground shaking as the thousands gathered, and as he stepped out, a massive cheer greeted him as he walked out and heard the herald announce his name.

He tried to ignore them all as he turned his gaze towards the main target of ire, and his opponent for the day.

Zanis Lustria stood there, face to face with him, clad in full armor, smiling down at him.

"You ready to lose, Bell-kun," he asked with a scoff, as Bell reached into his pocket and took out his dagger.

"We will see about that," and with the Hestia knife in his hand and the new armor over his body, he got ready. Zanis Lustria did the same and took out his sword.

The man was wearing heavy armor, and was looking down at him as the whole arena became quiet as Bell calmed down his breathing and steadied himself for the start of the attack.

"BEGIN!" and as soon as the herald made the announcement, his opponent leaped towards him, jumping at him as he swung his sword at him, much to his surprise.

"AGHHHH!" Zanis, the bespeckled man, screamed as he brought down the sword as Bell jumped back in surprise.

BOOM!

The sword hit the ground and sent up a dust cloud. Bell frowned and looked at the surprised face of his opponent, who found himself mouthing out his actual thoughts.

"That was rather slow," but perhaps the man was goading him, and so he did not let down his guard as he pushed himself forward, and attacked the man, swinging his blade at his elbow.

"AGHH"! and much to his surprise, the man was not fast enough to defend at all and could barely jump back as Bell felt his blade slash his arm.

"HOW! HOW ARE YOU SO FAST!" the man screamed and Bell did not reply as he frowned and saw the man's face pale.

"I don't know what you are talking about. It's just that you are rather slow, especially when compared to Kaguya-san's attacks," and with that Bell raised his hand and shouted.

"FIRE BOLT!"

BOOOM!

And a fire ball rushed out of his hand and towards the Zanis, who barely brought up his sword to protect himself, as Bell rushed towards him, and cut through the smoke as he unleashing on the man a barrage of attacks and much to his surprise the man could not dodge his attacks.

And in his mind he found himself comparing it all to Inumaki-san and Kaguya-san who would dodge it all with their eyes closed, and yet here a Level 2 adventurer could do nothing.

"AGHHH!" the man swung his blade wildly as Bell ducked under it and swung his leg at the man's leg.

"HAA!" and he felt his bone break as his sword fell to the ground as Bell spun on his hands and kicked him in the face.

THUINK!

Zanish Lustria was sent flying back and rolled on the ground as Bell stood there confident and smiling as he felt all his hard work pay off.

"YOU!!'

"YOU DAMN MONSTER!" the man cursed as he pushed himself up, pushing up his broken glasses as blood slid down his face.

"I will show you." With that, he saw him reach into his back. Bell jumped back in caution, and the man took out a whip.

"It's good that I came prepared..." with that, the man swung the whip, and he watched it glow, yet it was not at him.

And then he heard it. The Wall behind them broke as the people gasped, and a monster appeared in the field.

It was a minotaur.

0000

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