NOVEL WEB Chapter 232: Chapter 232
---An Hour Later---
Receiving positive responses from Hiro and Liam's partners, I used the Bifrost to ferry them over. Warmly receiving the couples, Amagi, Elma (Space Elf), Mimi, and Rosetta thanked us for inviting them to go shopping with us. Assuring the women it was not a problem, I was about to call us a shuttle when Angelica asked me to wait a moment.
"There are a few more guests that are waiting to join us. Could you please open a Bifrost bridge to the Senate Building on Coruscant?", Angelica requested, struggling to suppress a fiendish smirk.
"Sure, I can do that…", I agreed, doing as she requested. "I thought you said Anakin, Padme, Obi-Wan, and Satine were busy today. Did something change?"
"No, they are still unavailable today.", Angelica confirmed, unable to contain herself anymore. "I extended an invitation to three special guests who were more than happy to clear their schedule for you."
"No… You did not…", I pleaded, as the trio ran out of the Bifrost excitedly.
Greeting Lala, Momo, and Nana, the sisters thanked me for extending an invitation to join us today. Assuring them it was no big deal, I shut the Bifrost and took the opportunity to introduce the princesses to everyone. Already acquainted with Liam and Rosetta, they took particular interest in Hiro and his partners.
"I did not expect to see another familiar face here. How have you been, Elma?", Momo inquired, shaking her hand. "It has been almost ten years since we last met. If I remember correctly, it was at the Imperial Ball, held on Grakius, the Grakkan capital world."
"I… I am sorry. I think you have me mistaken for someone else!", Elma (Space Elf) choked out as sweat began dripping from her forehead. "I am just a humble silver-ranked mercenary. There is no way I would have been invited to such a prestigious place!"
Hiro and Mimi turned their gazes toward Elma (Space Elf), not buying her act for even a moment. Demanding to know exactly what Momo was talking about, Elma broke down and admitted the truth to her friends.
"My… My real name is Elma Willrose; I am Viscount Willrose's youngest child.", Elma said, hanging her head in shame.
"Hold on a second… I thought you mentioned having no way to pay the massive fine the anti-pirate fleet gave you. Why didn't you just ask your family to help cover what you were short?", Hiro questioned, with a perplexed look.
"I am not on good terms with my family right now.", Elma (Space Elf) insisted, looking Hiro in the eyes. "The political world does not favor women in the Grakkan Empire. Unless there is no male heir, we are used as bargain chips to secure connections for our families. Even before I took my first breath, a fat oaf from another Viscount household had already engaged me. When we first met, every part of my being instinctively told me to flee, and that's precisely what I did. Refusing to accept my fate, I joined the mercenary association and never looked back."
Understanding her situation better now, Hiro apologized for questioning her. Assuring Hiro it was fine, Elma (Space Elf) acknowledged she would have done the same in his place. Asking everyone to keep her identity a secret, the Space Elf wanted to avoid being dragged into politics again. Although she no longer had any connection to her household, her father still had many enemies who would target her to get at him.
"Understood, I apologize for not being more mindful of the situation.", Momo said, bowing her head.
"It is fine. Now that everyone knows, hopefully the matter will be laid to rest permanently.", Elma stated.
With the matter settled and everyone here now, I summoned a shuttle to take us to the shopping district. Making our way over to the shuttle pad, Elma (Dragon), Ilulu, Loki, and Tohru came running over to us. Shouting at us to wait, they insisted on tagging along with us.
"Who are these people?", Nana inquired, noticing they had horns like Lucoa.
"The three on the left are Elma (Dragon), Ilulu, and Tohru. They are my very troublesome childhood friends.", Lucoa answered. "As for the other one, her name is Loki. She is the Aesir Goddess of Mischief."
"HAHA!!", Liam laughed, nearly falling over from side-splitting laughter. "Everyone knows the Aesir God of Mischief is a man. I am sorry to tell you this, but while she may believe she is the real deal, that woman is a fraud."
Taking Liam's comment personally, Loki became enraged and stormed right up to him. Smacking him across the face, she warned him to watch what he said before she turned him into a toad. Calling her bluff, Liam dared Loki to prove she was indeed the real deal.
"Have it your way, mortal!", Loki cackled, channeling her immense magical power. "Behold, the power of the Goddess Loki."
Standing before her with his arms crossed, Liam told her to get on with it already. Enraged by how the duke was treating her, Loki cast one of her most powerful curses upon him. Releasing a green ball of light from her palm, the sphere flew at Liam like a bullet. Striking him in the chest, it harmlessly bounced off and shot right back at Loki. Unable to comprehend what happened, she barely managed to let out a frustrated scream before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Ha, I told you she was a hack!", Liam mocked her, dusting his coat off. "Alright, lady, time to cut it out with the theatrics. The jig is… What in the world?!"
As the smoke dissipated, we discovered Loki was now a small frog. Glaring up at us, the goddess shouted at us to do something. Unable to contain ourselves, everyone began laughing at her while Loki continued demanding our respect. Realizing she was not getting anywhere, she bitterly lowered her head and asked me for help.
"Aesir magic is completely foreign to me, Loki. There is a chance my magic could make things worse. Are you sure you want me to take a crack at this?", I inquired, squatting down to pick her up.
"Out of all the buffoons here, you are the most capable. Do what you must to break my curse, please.", Loki requested.
Before I had a chance to start channeling my magic, Olivia snatched Loki out of my hand and carried her over to Ilulu and Tohru. Tuning out Loki's choice words about her, my wife told the two dragonesses to roast the goddess alive.
"WAIT! WAIT!! WAIT!!!", Loki screamed, as the Ilulu and Tohru began gulping down air. "Please, let us be reasonable here. If I have done something to upset you, I sincerely apologize."
"I am sick and tired of you talking down to us all the time!", Olivia snapped, nearly breaking Loki's frog legs in anger. "We brought you on our family vacation, we feed you three meals a day, and we keep a roof over your head, but not once have you expressed any gratitude to us. All you ever do is complain about life and us. I am sick of it, Loki!"
Vehemently agreeing with Olivia, the rest of my household took this opportunity to express their discontent with Loki. Even Slaanesh was sick of her, and she personally loved enjoying the misery of others. When she turned to me for help, I quickly shut her down, stating her haughty attitude was getting old fast.
"I… I understand; I apologize for my arrogant behavior.", Loki said, sounding genuine for the first time. "Will you please help me undo my stupid curse? *ribbit*"
"Thank you; a little respect is all I was asking for.", Olivia agreed, returning Loki back to me.
Using Remove Curse to shatter the powerful enchantment, Loki returned to her human form, albeit without any clothing. Screaming in embarrassment, she bolted behind me and quickly conjured up new clothing for herself. Stepping out once her wardrobe was in order, Loki tried to play it off like we had not just seen her naked. While most of us probably saw only a blur, Liam and I got a real good look at her.
"Ahem…", Liam coughed, clearing his throat. "Apologies for doubting your credentials, Loki. There are many people out there who claim to be deities or divine messengers. Almost all of them turn out to be just really skilled con artists."
"It is fine… I suppose you would have no real way of knowing without a demonstration. The Aesir have not visited the mortal plane for several thousand years now.", Loki admitted, relieved to be talking about something else now.
With the matter settled, we resumed our trek to the shuttle pad. Arriving just as the shuttle landed, everyone quickly climbed aboard so we could get underway. Admiring the ocean view as the island swiftly disappeared, Hiro, Liam, and I began to talk about starships while the women talked gossip.