"You have nothing to do with this challenge, so you will be sitting like some good guys with the other adventurers."
Eris, with her powers, had turned the belts she had slipped off two poor men in chains that could keep Welf and Mikoto at the tavern chairs.
Next to the double-faced goddess was Ryu, very pale in the face, and Syr, who seemed anything but happy.
Not far away was Ais, with her usual unreadable face.
Hestia quickly headed towards the latter.
"Wallenwhatsit, can you tell us what exactly is going on?"
The blonde girl didn't flinch.
At that moment, Ryu fainted and Bell sprang quickly to support her; Hestia jumped and Ais followed all the action from the corner of her eye.
"Miss Ryu, what's going on?" he asked, alarmed.
"It's... That apple..."
Eris burst out laughing, a light and evil giggle at the same time.
"White Rabbit, she plays the ideal wife game too, didn't you know?"
The elf had quickly dozed off and Bell felt a sense of atrocious anger, at that moment he would have even hit goddess Eris.
He was only held back by Hestia's touch on his shoulder, and she still gave no sign of becoming female again.
"Bell, something happened to Ais. In my opinion that madwoman made her promises, otherwise it's not possible to explain why she is here."
"Doesn't she play the game too?" Bell asked, hopefully.
Hestia slapped him on his neck.
"Who, that? Get married to a marble pole and it's the same!"
Resolutely, Hestia broke away from Bell and headed again in front of Ais.
"I want to know why you're here with Double Face."
"Goddess Eris will help me see my mother again."
"And you believe her? You really are a brainless hen."
Slowly, with cadenced steps, Ais advanced towards the Hestia-boy and without ever changing expression she stepped on his foot with the powerful heels of her boots.
Hestia jumped back, and her flip flop fell to the floor as she rubbed her foot.
"Damn!"
There was a sharp crack like whiplash and the hum stopped once more.
Despite her short stature, Hestia's nimble fingers had sought and found Ais's left cheek, who had taken that sonic blow.
Bell stood still, his mouth open.
Welf and Mikoto, who hadn't stopped struggling in their chains, were also paralyzed.
Only goddess Eris smiled in delight; it was really a pleasure for her to put up discord.
"Come on, my beloved, don't give in to provocations. And you, little one, behave properly if you don't want me to take you out of the game and send you, what do I know... To Heaven!"
Eris had said all this with laughter on her lips, and Hestia didn't know whether to consider it disturbing or simply annoying.
"Anyway, now we will go to the foot of Mount Doom. On top of that mountain I will place the apple on a pedestal. And there... We will celebrate the wedding!"
Bell didn't even try to ask what would have happened if they resisted this madness.
Syr, on the other hand, had much to say, so much so that she placed a hand on the goddess' shoulder with a gesture of great confidence.
"You're exaggerating."
"You're not the only one who has the right to have fun, Freya." she hissed at her in a whisper, without anyone hearing.