Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Be the Main Character in Orario?

"You didn't call your children back because you already knew."

"You knew the Black Dragon's actions wouldn't affect them—so you chose not to act."

Freya narrowed her eyes slightly. Her voice carried no hint of probing, only certainty, like she was stating a known fact.

With Loki's personality, the moment she realized the Black Dragon's roar posed a serious threat, there was no way she'd just sit back and do nothing.

At the very least, she would've immediately sent someone to the Dungeon to inform the expedition team to pull back.

Yet Loki hadn't done anything—and that already said plenty.

Freya rested her chin in one hand, eyes drifting to Hephaestus sitting beside Hestia.

"And Hephaestus… she's far too calm."

"Her children are part of the expedition team. Even the captain of her Familia is involved, yet she doesn't show the slightest concern."

"There can only be one explanation."

"You're not the only one who knows. Hestia and Hephaestus know as well."

Freya's smile briefly paused, and a soft pink glow shimmered in the depths of her eyes.

"But the Black Dragon's been silent for years—so why act now?"

Then Freya dropped a line that sent a chill down Loki's spine.

"The Black Dragon's sudden movement… it's related to that child, isn't it?"

That almost gave Loki a heart attack. She barely managed to keep her composure and feign ignorance.

"Freya, you're being ridiculous."

"You're pinning the Black Dragon's reaction on that kid? He's barely been an Adventurer for how long?"

Loki's blatant denial only made the amusement in Freya's eyes deepen, and she couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"Loki, you really are easy to read."

"...!?"

Loki's expression changed instantly. Still in the middle of the Denatus, she restrained herself from flipping the table, but her face turned visibly grim.

Shock and disbelief flared in her eyes—along with a simmering fury.

"You lovesick idiot, you actually used Authority against me!"

Freya didn't seem the least bit fazed by Loki's outburst. Instead, she smiled sweetly.

"I want that child's information, no matter what."

"But that child guards himself against me completely. Hestia and Hephaestus won't share a thing, so you're the only one left."

That only made Loki's expression darker.

So she thought Loki was the easiest target to squeeze information from?

But Freya's next words disarmed her completely.

"Think of it as me owing you a favor."

That line stopped Loki cold. She stared at Freya, unable to muster a retort.

If it had been anyone else, Loki would've fired back, "What's your favor even worth?"

But a favor from Freya was something else entirely.

As the Familia God of Orario's strongest Familia, Freya's debt carried unmatched weight.

Still, Loki couldn't deny—Freya had gone too far. Realizing this helped her calm her frustration a little.

"You really are ridiculous. Going this far for a bit of intel?"

Freya knew Loki couldn't understand her behavior. But maybe, if she framed it differently, Loki would get it.

"Wouldn't you chase after a child you like? Especially one who's still wrapped in mystery?"

"...Ah, forget it. Do what you want."

The word "mystery" was a fatal temptation for gods.

The unknown was always what drew them in the most.

The moment Loki heard it, her anger faded away.

It wasn't worth fighting over this with Freya, who was clearly head over heels.

This lunatic was in Genkai just to find the ideal partner—and Loki figured the odds that kid was the one were pretty high.

Not because he was ridiculously strong.

But because the number of buffs stacked on that kid's head was just too much.

"Born of Zeus and Hera's Familias."

"The last ember of the Heroic Age."

"The Black Dragon's arch-enemy."

All those titles could be pinned on that kid.

If he ended up adding "Companion of the Goddess of Love" to the list, Loki wouldn't be surprised. Just one more buff on the pile.

'Though I doubt the kid would be thrilled about it.'

Knowing that shorty, Loki figured he'd never let go of what he already had. Not even Freya could change that.

And that was exactly why Loki found it so strange that Freya insisted on chasing after him, knowing full well he wouldn't be swayed.

As for the kid himself... judging by how sneaky he acted, Loki guessed he'd probably hide his true strength all the way until the moment he faced the Black Dragon.

...

The Denatus discussion pressed on.

"Silence."

Ganesha stood up as the host of this Denatus.

"This meeting concerns the Black Dragon."

"The situation has far exceeded our expectations. Not even Ouranos foresaw that the Black Dragon, even while restrained, could let out such a roar."

"However, since then, there's been no sign of it breaking out of the Dungeon. Ouranos has confirmed the Black Dragon has been resealed once again."

"That said, Ouranos speculates the Black Dragon's reaction was triggered by recent disturbances in the Dungeon."

The implication was clear—it pointed straight at Evilus.

Whatever stirred the Black Dragon couldn't have been Adventurers, nor Loki Familia's expedition force. That left only Evilus.

The gods attending the Denatus quickly picked up on the hint.

"Evilus again? What the hell are they doing down there?"

"They said they wanted to overthrow Orario... don't tell me they're trying to release the Black Dragon?"

"Those maniacs are insane!"

Truthfully, this incident had stirred deep discontent among the gods of Orario.

No one wanted the Black Dragon to go on a rampage on the surface.

They all knew—if it broke free, the destruction it would bring would far surpass even the chaos Evilus hoped to unleash upon the world.

Even gods who didn't normally care about Evilus's actions had no desire to see them provoke the Black Dragon into emerging.

As a result, many of the usually passive gods began leaning against Evilus.

What none of them realized, though, was that even Evilus had no intention of letting the Black Dragon break loose.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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