Freya hummed slightly while she walked through the hallway towards the hall of the gods. She could barely stop herself from smirking, it was obvious who would be the number one topic at today´s Denatus.

"You seem to be in a good mood, Freya."

"And why shouldn´t I, Hestia? I´m so proud of Bell."

"But how did he manage to get all the way to level two in just a month?!"

"Hmmm, I´m sure it´s because Bell is special, Ehe."

Both weren´t alone, another god walked with them. "Bell sure is special. And I can´t thank you enough for suggesting that our children go together into the dungeon. I don´t want to think what would´ve happened if my children met this irregular monster alone. Thank you, Freya."

"It´s not like I could see the future, Takemikazuchi. You don´t need to thank me, but Bell."

"I did, as did my children. We´re indebted to you."

Freya shook her head. "Please don´t be. Let´s say you owe Bell a favor, not me. I don´t want you to be indebted, that Bell and the other children are save is enough for me."

Hestia put her hands behind her head while they walked, the fingers entangled. "You changed since Bell came into your familia, Freya."

"I did?"

"Jup, you´re coming out more often, you are more open in general. Thanks to you introducing me to Syr, I got my own familia."

Takemikazuchi nodded with a slight smile. "I dare to say it, you seem to be a bit more relaxed."

"Hmm, I guess Bell really is good for me, hehe~~."

"Geez, Freya. You look like a maiden in love." Hestia grinned.

"And who says I´m not?"

"Oho? Do you have feelings for Bell?"

"Of course I do, I love my children."

"I don´t talk about your usual love."

Freya looked at Hestia, then she smiled mischievously and put a finger on her lips. "Anything more is a secret~~"

The goddess of love let out a relaxed sigh. "That reminds me, that young lady of your familia also reached level two, Takemikazuchi?"

"She did, Mikoto really makes me proud."

"And she grew up into a fine, young lady."

"I´m not giving her to you, Freya."

"That wasn´t my intention. But you sure are lucky to have someone like her at your side." Freya winked.

Hestia´s eyes became a bit bigger as she understood a bit what Freya implied.

"Freya is right, Take! You shouldn´t let Mikoto get away or let any stupid guy try to flirt with her!"

"I don´t! She is my little angel!"

Freya and Hestia exchanged a glance, an alliance of love got formed. Syr´s influence on Freya got bigger and bigger with each day. Bringing Nahza and Mikoto closer to their gods was a noble goal.

When they arrived at the gate to the hall of the gods, a fire burned in Takemikazuchi´s eyes.

"Let us fight for good names for our children!"

.

.

"And with this, the name for Yamato Mikoto is decided! She will be known as the Eternal Shadow!"

Takemikazuchi didn´t look happy at all, at least Mikoto would be happy with her first alias.

Hermes threw his arms into the air. "Aaaaaaaand nooooow! For the final child! The one that we all waited for! Bell Cranel! The newest member of Freya´s familia! The one who broke the record of the Sword Princess by leveling up to two in just a bit more than one month!"

Many gods cheered when they heard that.

"How did he do that?!"

"Is he a wonder boy?!"

"Is he special?!"

"He is cute as hell!"

"Freya, I´m so jealous!"

Only one goddess didn´t cheer, Loki. Ishtar wasn´t present, she knew that everyone would only care about Freya at this Denatus and she couldn´t stand that.

Loki frowned. "We really would like to know how he did that, Freya. What method did he use?"

Freya smiled. "Bell is just special. What drove him forward was love and dedication."

Loki rolled her eyes. "Give us an honest answer."

"What can I say? Not even my beloved Ottar had worked so hard when he became an adventurer. Bell is constantly pushing himself forward. But I guess his great deed was also important."

"And what great deed did he achieve?"

Instead of Freya, it was Takemikazuchi that answered after looking at Freya. "Bell Cranel fought alone against an irregular species of the so called "Infant Dragon". My children and his party went into the dungeon together for the first time. They wanted to stay safe and only went down to the 12th floor, so they could get used to each other. Then for some reason, more and more monsters swarmed towards them. Soon the reason became obvious. The irregular Infant Dragon was about two meters tall, the scales were black and it had three heads. The first thing it did was to open all three maws and use a poison breath attack. Three of my children collapsed immediatelly, the supporter of Bell´s party dragged them away, while Hephaistos´ child and my Mikoto fought against the horde of smaller monsters that attacked them. And Bell...he faced the irregular alone from what I heard."

Some gods jumped to their feet.

"Alone?!"

"Against such a monster?!"

"At level one?!"

"What is he, suicidal or a young hero?!"

"Was it hubris?!"

Freya started to chuckle. "It wasn´t hubris, the monster got Bell´s weakspot. When the monster used the breath attack, two of Takemikazuchi´s children were girls. Together with the young Mikoto and Bell´s supporter, there were four young women behind Bell. He knew that they would most likely die if he didn´t stop the monster."

"That drove him forward?!"

"Is he a gigolo?!"

Freya smiled. "Bell was simply raised in a chivalrous way, he said he would protect the women that are with him at all cost."

"Oh my."

"How cute."

Ganesha hammered his fist onto his chest. "Very manly! I, Ganesha, approve of this!"

Takemikazuchi continued. "Mikoto had only praises for him, he acted like a true warrior. Out of all my children, she was the only one that was able to witness the fight. Bell thrusted one of his daggers into one eye of the right head, killing it that way, then he used the other dagger for the left head. Since he had no weapon left, Bell hung to the middle head and...strangled it to death."

The gods looked shocked.

Freya looked suddenly a bit sad, but also proud. "When I saw Bell returning home, his armor was heavily damaged and there were cuts all over his clothes. Apparently he got cut on the scales when the dragon threw it´s head back and forth, but he didn´t let go. While I´m very proud, this wasn´t a sight that I want to see again, there were stains of his own blood everywhere."

"Wow..."

"Remarkable."

"A young hero indeed."

"What a man."

"Argh, I´m getting even more jealous now."

"I want to comfort him."

Freya´s smiled changed when she heard the last sentence. "Don´t you dare."

Ganesha got up to his feet. "With such a deed it isn´t a surprise that he went up to level two so fast! I, Ganesha, am deeply moved! I can´t stop but shed manly tears for the young Bell! We should give him a good name! I am Ganesha!"

"Since he is so fast, Lightning Boy!"

"Strangleboy!"

Loki smirked. "How about, Quickshot?"

Freya showed her an icy glare. "Don´t you dare."

More and more names came up, one idea was "Little Rooky". Normally the gods would go with a silly name, but Freya rejected all of them and no one dared to make her mad.

Hestia shyly raised her hand, since not one of her children went up a level so far, she normally wouldn´t even be at the Denatus, but no one cared that much. So no one was angry when she made a suggestion. "What about Dragonslayer."

"Oooh! That sounds good!"

"Nice idea, Hestia!"

"Fitting for doing such a deed!"

"I like it!"

"Hah! Freya´s little dragon slayer!"

"I´m sure we can expect big things of him in the future!"

Loki snarled. "That name is too good for a level two!"

Freya chuckled. "Oh my. Loki, are you made that he broke the record of your little princess?"

"My Ais is one hundred times stronger than him!"

"Obviously, but she is an adventurer much longer than him."

"Grrr! Why not let them fight a duel to see which one is better?!"

"Oh Loki...you want to fight a level six against a level two? Or are you just mad that Bell´s fast level up overshadowed the level six of your Princess?"

Many gods laughed when they saw how upset Loki was.

"Then it is decided, Bell Cranel´s first alias will be Dragonslayer!"

More gods cheered, Freya was pretty pleased with that titel.

"I am Ganesha! And since we´re coming to the end, I have something to announce!"

.

.
"Dragonslayer?! My first titel is Dragonslayer?!"

"Yes it is, Bell."

He beamed all over his face with childlike joy.

"I did my best to get you a good name."

Bell couldn´t stop himself, he suddenly leaped forward and hugged Freya. "Thaaaaank youuuu! Goddess, I love you!"

Freya was too perplexed to react when Bell pulled her close, their faces were really close, her cheeks got a bit pink.

It felt nice to be held by Bell, his arms got stronger these days. Before he understood what he did, Freya returned the hug and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"Hehe, you did well, my cute Dragonslayer."

"Ack! S-Sorry! Goddess."

"You don´t need to be sorry and there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I mean, you held me the whole night, remember?"

"Mmh...I didn´t mean to...I´m sor-"

Freya put a finger on Bell´s lips. "Don´t apologize, it made me happy. So happy that I would like to sleep like this now and then."

"Eh?!"

She smiled. "You don´t want to?"

"Isn´t that inappropriate?"

"Why would it be? I am the one asking you, you are my beloved follower. Take it as your reward."

"But.."

"Do you worry about Syr?"

"Yes."

"Hehe, I got her permission to cuddle with you."

"Really?"

Freya smiled in a way that was so similar to Syr, Bell understood more and more from where Syr had her behaviour.

"Th-Then..."

"I promise you I won´t do anything to you, but your presence really puts me at ease."

"Oh?"

Freya smiled abashed. "To be honest, I didn´t have such a good sleep in a long time as when I hugged you in my sleep."

Bell got quite red. "Th-Then...I think..now and then..."

"Really?!" Her expression brightened.

"If it makes you happy, yes."

Freya was so happy right now, she couldn´t stop herself from hugging him more and rubbing her cheek against his.

So that´s where Syr has this habit from!

He had seen Syr doing this cheek rubbing with her friends at the pub, especially Ryu. And when Freya also did it, it was only logical that she did that to Syr before.

Freya giggled. "Ehehe, I only have to warn you, I have a habit of hugging what is next to me in bed. So in case we sleep side by side, I will probably end up hugging you. I did that with my body pillows...and Syr sometimes."

"Syr also did that?"

"Yes...it made me really happy."

Bell slowly let go of Freya, but held her hands. "Then I´m okay with it, Goddess. I want to make you happy."

Freya just looked at him for a few moments, then she smiled as bright as he had never seen it before.

She let go of his hands and returned to her desk. "Oh, Bell. That reminds me, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"You know, Ganesha had an interesting idea."

.

.
"A clash of the gods?"

"Yes."

"By making...curry?"

"Mhm."

"Hah..."

Syr looked a bit confused when Bell told her the story.

"Goddess told me that Lord Ganesha wants to eat the most delicious curry that Orario has to offer. Well at least the most delicious that a god could make, since I guess the really most delicious would be made by Ms. Mia."

"Mama Mia doesn´t make curry, but you are right. So Freya asked you to do it with her?"

"Yes, lord Ganesha got the idea after lord Apollo´s last party, that each god should bring a child with them. Lord Ganesha announced he would take his captain with him, but it isn´t the rule to bring the captain."

Bell and Syr worked side by side in the pub, it was lunch break and Syr volunteered to clear the main room, since Bell was helping her.

"Lord Ganesha surely has some unique ideas."

"We have two days to come up with an idea. He said there should be as much unique curries as possible."

"Oh, that is not much time to practice."

"And Goddess told me she is really eager, since goddess Loki challenged her directly to see which one makes the better curry. And that she would tell the Sword Princess to cook with her."

"Did you do something to upset Lady Loki?"

"Goddess told me she is mad because I leveled up so fast and that no one paid attention that the Sword Princess went up to level six."

"Oh! The Sword Princess is level six now? Good for her. But that is nothing that special... Not as special as my super cool boyfriend leveling up to two so fast!"

Syr grinned and gave Bell a kiss on the cheek.

"Hehe, thank you."

"I am really proud of you, my cool Dragonslayer. But please be careful in the dungeon."

"I will, I always will. So that I will come back to you and Goddess every day."

"Mmmmh!~~~" Syr shivered from happiness, then she leaned forward and kissed Bell´s lips.

When Syr wanted to move backwards again, she got surprised when Bell put his left arm around her waist and pulled her to him again, so the kiss got way longer than she had thought it would. Which made her really happy.

Her eyes shone from love when their lips separated.

"Ehe, you became a really good kisser, my hero. And quite greedy for it I have to say."

Bell smiled amorously. "Is that a problem?"

"Nope."

They kissed again for a long time, Syr was so glad that she drew this side of Bell out. She felt like the luckiest girl alive.

Sometimes Coincidence could be something nice, sometimes something bad.

This time, it was a bit of both. When Bell eventually made a step back, he tripped over his broomstick and stumbled backwards.

"Be-Kya!"

Syr tried to hold him, but she too tripped.

Where the broomsticks against them?

So Syr stumbled right into Bell as he fell backwards onto table.

Both blinked in surprise when Syr landed halfway leaned on top of Bell, her very soft lady pillows pressed against his chest. They blushed heavily.

And in exact that second...

.
"Syr!"

.
Ryu barged into the room after she heard Syr´s scream...and froze.

"Nah! S-Sorry!"

Ryu fled with a bright red face. For her it looked like Syr was about to pin Bell down on one of the tables.

"R-Ryu! It isn´t what it looks like!"

Thankfully, Ryu always listened to an explanation about a situation. Even more when it came to Syr.

"So it was an accident, I understand."

The elf was still bright red.

When Syr and Bell also started their break, he enjoyed Syr´s handmade lunch, it tasted even better than usual!

Bell couldn´t know that, but his Abnormal Resistence ability just went up to rank D.

He told Syr that not only Loki challenged Freya. That Takemikazuchi insisted only real far eastern curry would be true curry! Hestia declared that she and her captain would make true home cooking curry!
Even Miach said he would also make a curry together with his captain.

It looked like Ganesha´s idea was well liked.

.

.

They still had two days and for the next day, the combined party would go into the dungeon again and down to the 18th floor for the first time.

Thankfully the Loki familia had just returned from a small dungeon trip and killed the Goliath.

Nothing dangerous happened, except that Bell nearly got killed by a flying knife.

He wandered alone along the 18th floor, fascinated by the landscape. By chance he went to a small lake...where he saw a naked fairy bathing. At least he thought it was a fairy, until she threw a knife at him.

"Mr. Cranel? What are you doing here?!"

Bell immediatelly threw himself to the ground and used the technique that Mikoto showed him, the Dogeza. He didn´t intend to peep on Ryu, he was surprised that she was here.

Thankfully she believed him, afterwards she explained to him why she was on the 18th floor. And so Bell got to know the story about Ryu and her familia. He couldn´t know that at this point, but this moment marked the start of a long lasting friendship.

Syr would still "scold" him for peeping on Ryu. Ryu told her not because she wanted to ground Bell, but because she felt sorry that Bell saw Ryu´s body before he saw Syr´s. Not that she intended to ever show Bell her body in the first place! But Ryu somehow felt that she took a "first time" from Syr.

Sadly it wouldn´t be the last incident that happened. At the same day, when Mia asked Bell to get something from the changing room, he ran right into Anya. An Anya that was currently changing out of her uniform and stood there with a bare upper body. Despite her small body, Anya was quite the big cat.

Bell´s eyes widened when he saw Anya, since he only saw Ryu from behind, it was the first time in his life that he saw the naked breasts of a woman. And even when he didn´t want to peep or think it...but they were beautiful. Bell now understood the words of his grandfather, that a woman´s breasts were filled with the hopes and dreams of men. They were full and bouncy, Bell had seen cleavages before, it always made him a bit embarrassed. But now he was able to see the tips...which was much different from before.

And sadly, Anya wasn´t the best when it came to covering herself. So instead putting her hands on her breasts, she put them under them and unintentionally lifted them slightly up...making them jiggle.

His fascination lasted 0.5 seconds before he got extremely embarrassed and apologized to Anya while hastily turning around. Anya got only a bit flustered, telling him he was like a cute bunny, so there wasn´t much to it.

In the evening, the exact opposite happened. When he was changing, Chloe walked "by chance" into the changing room, feasting on the sight of Bell in his boxer shorts.

Syr explained to Chloe with her special, menacing smile, that Bell was her boyfriend... And to Bell she explained to never, ever mention in Allen´s presence that he saw his little sister half naked. Not that Bell intended to do that...

Also, Syr told Bell with a deep red face, that if he was so interested in the body of women, he should just tell her. Then she had time to prepare her heart...and would maybe let him look for a bit. Bell told her again and again that it was an accident, that he didn´t intend to peep on neither Ryu nor Anya.

When Bell told Freya in the evening about what happened on this day, except for Ryu´s story, she guessed it could be his Luck ability at work.

Bell hoped that this wasn´t the only thing that Luck did...

.

.

In the morning of the next day, Freya saw something that let an icy chill run down her spine.

Bell´s first training fight with Hogni after he leveled up. Hogni told him that he would teach him something very important now that he had an alias.

So when Freya walked out of the Mansion to see how Bell had improved after leveling up...she got a slight shock.

Bell stood there, his right arm stretched out to the side, the left raised and his hand in front of his face with spread fingers, so that he looked at Hogni between his fingers. The white fire of his magic covered some parts of his arms and legs, letting him look more "cool".

.
"My name is Bell Cranel! Wielder of Fire magic and Slayer of Dragons! The one with the most beautiful and kind goddess there is! He who will master the Rabbit fangs and become a hero in the future!"

.
At the end, Bell let his flames roar up like a small explosion behind him. Hogni showed a different yet similar pose.

"Well done my pupil! Thee were perfect! Now we need a cape for you to throw back dramatically!"

Bell grinned, happy that he had mastered "the introduction", an important technique.

Freya would´ve loved nothing more than to sink into the ground right here.

That was so embarrassing! I will not allow you to turn my future husband into something like that, Hogni!

.

.
Over the next two days, Hedin taught Bell everything about spices, herbs, different kinds of meat and vegetables. All that could be found in the books in Folkvangr and from two books that Freya borrowed from Mia. Even when Mia didn´t make curry, she had books about it.

Hedin wasn´t the only one that taught Bell. Ottar told him to do his very best and that he needed to help Freya wherever possible.

Bell had never seen Freya cooking, he didn´t know what awaited him.

.

.
"Llllllaaaaadiiiieeees and Geeeeeentlemeeeeeeen! Wwwweeelcome to the famous clash of the gods! A special kind of wargame where many familias pariticipate! The humble me will be your commentator for tonight, together with my adorable Asfi!"

Hermes wore his usual outfit, but this time with a long coat and an even bigger hat than normal. At first he wanted to participate too, but someone had to be the commentator. And as usual, the lot fell onto him.

Asfi raised her magical microphone. "Good evening everyone, we will now start the 723th clash of the gods, this time it is a cooking battle. I will accompany my god Hermes as a commentator this evening. The ingredients come from the Ganesha familia, but if a group wants to use something on their own, they have to bring it."

A sturdy god next to Asfi raised his arms. "And I, Ganesha, will be the judge for the curry!"

Asfi continued. "As usual, the clash of the gods is also allowed to be a kind of wargame if a party wishes for it. We got the information that there will indeed be a wargame between the Apollo and the Takemikazuchi familia. To slim things down, lord Apollo is allowed to have twenty helpers, lord Takemikazuchi has one."

Bell looked surprised over to Takemikazuchi and Mikoto, who looked both determined. Apollo had a smug grin, surrounded by twenty of his children. The sun god wanted to have Mikoto in his familia, so he asked Takemikazuchi one time friendly, of course he declined. When Apollo wanted something or someone, he wouldn´t stop. Challenging Takemikazuchi directly to a wargame or attacking him was too risky. A child of him gave him the information that Mikoto was in the same combined party as Bell. Apollo wasn´t dumb enough to attack someone that had connections to Freya´s familia. This way, Bell protected the Takemikazuchi familia without knowing it.

But Apollo got an idea, he insulted Takemikazuchi that he could make a way better curry than him. Takemikazuchi just shrugged his shoulders, he wouldn´t get provoked so easily. But Mikoto got angered by it, no one insulted her god´s honor! So before Takemikazuchi could stop her, Mikoto accepted the challenge, later apologizing to her god again and again, but Takemikazuchi didn´t scold her. He had a bit trouble looking into Mikoto´s eyes, since the loyal samurai girl had yelled out, that her heart and body belonged to Takemikazuchi forever! Only later she realized what she yelled out loud, she was extremely embarrassed..but also a bit happy that she had dared it.

Apollo had twenty children with him, Takemikazuchi just one. If Apollo would win, he would get Mikoto. If Takemikazuchi would win, he would get Apollo´s Mansion...

But...not one of Apollo´s children knew how to make curry. In Mikoto´s case...it was her speciality.

"Interfering with the other`s work isn´t allowed. We will now introduce the various teams."

Hermes pointed towards Takemikazuchi. "First we have Take and his beautiful child, Mikoto, who reached level two only a few days ago! Just look how gorgeous she looks in her apron!"

"Oy Hermes! Take your eyes off Mikoto!"

"Both have planned to make a traditional far eastern curry, they will use beef!"

Mikoto wasn´t used to such a huge audience...many, many gods were present to watch the spectacle. But not only gods, also members of the familias that participated. So the samurai girl hid halfway behind her god with a red face.

"Oh my, how cute these two are! Next we have Miach and his only child, Nahza! Both of them are planning for a medicinal curry with chicken!"

"Oy Miach! You stole my idea!"

An old god at another table yelled in fury.

"How can I steal your idea, Dian?!"

Hermes laughed. "And there we have Dian Cecht and the lovely Amid! Ah, the Dea Saint is truly a blessing for the eyes!"

"Mhh.." Amid didn´t look that happy, in fact pretty embarrassed.

"Both will also make a medicinal curry, but will use duck!"

"Screw it! Since Miach stole my idea, we will make a saintly curry instead!"

Hermes looked interested. "Oho! And what is a saintly curry?"

"A curry made by a saint of course! There is no way that we can lose then! Amid will bless the curry before it is finished and her hands will handle every ingredient! Take that, Miach!"

"What do you say to that, Amid?" Hermes held the microphone to her.

"I´ll...do my...best..." Amid was completely red.

Many gods sighed by the sight of the flustered saint of Orario.

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It was Asfi´s turn to interview other teams.

"On this side we have Lady Ishtar and her child Lena Tally the "Purus". Lady Ishtar, may I ask what kind of curry you plan to make?"

Ishtar smiled pleased. "A curry of love of course. And we will use...alligator meat."

"Alligator?! In a curry?!"

"It is an amazonian version of the dish."

Lena cheered. "Yeah! I will show my future hubby what a good housewife I can be! Even when I never plan to become just a housewife! But I will bear many children for him!"

Ishtar had no choice, among all her children, Lena was the best cook.

"Thank you, Lady Ishtar, we´re looking forward to it."

Asfi continued to walk.

Next was a goddess that didn´t look as happy and energetic as usual. "Here we have Lady Loki and her child, Lefiya Viridis the "Thousand Elf". I´m surprised, according to the records you wanted to bring the Sword Princess with you."

"She didn´t want to...she only wants to eat it..."

Lefiya next to Loki looked very energetic. "I will do my best, Loki! So that Ms. Ais can eat a wonderful curry, filled with my love!"

"You don´t even do it for me?!"

"No?..."

"Wäääh!"

"What meat do you use?"

Lefiya smiled. "Deer. I am confident when it comes to vernison."

Asfi just kept walking to the next table.

"Here we have Lady Hephaistos and her captain, Tsubaki Colbrande the "Cyclops". What will you make for the competition?"

Tsubaki grinned. "A fiery hot curry with lobster. And then I will force Welfy to eat it all for rejecting boss´ invitation to the competition."

"Tsubaki..."

"What? He has to understand your feelings! So I will make him pay!"

An uproar went through the ranks of the gods.

"Hephaistos has a boyfriend?!"

"No way?!"

"That smithing maniac?!"

"Nice for you, Hephaistos!"

Hephaistos hid her face behind her hands. "Tsubaki, you dummy."

"Eh?"

Asfi smiled slightly. "Well good luck with that. Onto the next table."

"And here we have Lady Hestia and her captain Maria Martel. What will you make?"

Hestia smiled. "A homecooking curry, but not as spicy as usual, we will use kobe meat. So that my children can eat it too, they deserve something luxurious once in a while."

Tears streamed down Ganesha´s face mask. "That is remarkable, Hestia! I! Ganesha! Am deeply moved! This is truly manly!"

"I am a woman, Ganesha!"

"True, I am Ganesha!"

Hestia sighed, Maria chuckled.

Asfi continued her way to the last table.

But before she could ask.

"Bell, can you help me tie the apron?"

"Yes, please turn around."

Freya wore a long, wide, gray skirt and a white top without sleeves. Bell moved behind her and was carefully binding the rubelite colored apron for her. Bell´s apron matched Freya´s eyecolor, it was Hedin that gave him the aprons and told him which one was his.

Her cheeks had the faintest pink color, she really liked the aprons colors.

"Is it too tight?"

"No, thank you."

Both smiled at each other, then Freya noticed Asfi.

"And here at the last table we have Lady Freya and her newest child, Bell Cranel the "Dragonslayer". What will you make?"

"A curry with chicken."

Freya didn´t really look at Asfi, she had only eyes for Bell.

"Shall I help you with the apron, Bell?"

"Oh thank you, Goddess."

A few gods mumbled again.

"So this is Freya´s child."

"How cute."

"How handsome."

"Why do they behave like a newlywed couple?"

There were also a few members of the Freya familia there, most of them jealous because of Bell. Ottar watched with a stern expression, but he was glad that his goddess seemed to have fun and enjoy the evening.

Hedin watched without a reaction.

Tying each other´s aprons, very good, my student.

.

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"And now...begin cooking! The time limit is one hour!"

.

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All the teams went to work immediatelly. Even when Loki was a bit sad that Ais didn´t want to cook with her, at least she still had her cute Lefiya.

Hermes was all eager for the cooking battle.

"Oho! Looks like the teams of Hestia and Freya start in the same way!"

And indeed, Bell and Hestia had both hacked ginger into small pieces and started to stir fry it, while Maria and Freya would work on onions. Maria did a good job, but Freya...

She fidgeted a bit and tears ran out of her eyes, she ripped way too much away from the onions.

"Oh no...how much of an onion is considered to be skin?.."

Freya looked too adorable when she was helpless like that. Ottar was about to show it to her with his hands from afar, but there was no need for it.

"Goddess, shall I help you?"

"Bell? Please do."

Freya blushed a bit when Bell carefully took the onion from her and their hands touched slightly.

"Here, you do it like this, then this and so."

"Oh. So only this much is the skin."

Freya sobbed a bit.

"Why do my eyes sting?"

"That is because of the onions. My grandfather told me that their juices make people cry. Some can bear with it better."

"Oh, as a goddess I should be able to withstand it..."

"I think that actually makes you quite cute, Goddess."

"C-Cute?!" Freya blushed heavily.

Bell smiled and scratched his cheek slightly with his index finger. "Yes, it looks a bit adorable."

"Is that so..ehehe~~"

So while Bell was busy watching the garlic, Freya decided to make good use of Bell´s teaching and peeled all the onions they would need. She got the hang of it very fast.

"Oh! Goddess you are really good, you did it so fast!"

Freya felt her heart getting warm, being praised by Bell was nice.

"So, how do I cut them?"

"I will show it to you, okay?"

"Please do."

Bell took one of the onions and cut it in half. Then he put the halves on the table, so that the cut was on the wood. After that he placed the knife on the right side and made five cuts next to each other, then making a cut on the side and eventually chopping the onion half to small pieces.

"Like this, did you see?"

"Y-Yes, I will do my best."

"Then I will handle the vegetables."

"Okay!"

Bell started to peel the potatoes they would use, but soon enough he noticed that Freya struggled with the knife.

"Goddess?"

"It isn´t as easy as it looks."

"Shall I show you again?"

"Please.."

Bell tried to show it again, but Freya couldn´t see everything.

"Hm, I have an idea."

"Hm?"

"Goddess, please don´t think I have ill thoughts."

"Hu-Kya!"

Bell put the knife down on the table, moved behind Freya and hugged her slightly from there. Then he put his right hand around her right and his left hand around her.

"We do it together, okay?"

"Y-Yes!~~~"

After the first shock was gone, Freya snuggled with her back slightly against Bell as if she was seeking him out. She felt how Bell pushed his chest slightly forward to show her he was there for her. Her hands were shaking, but Bell held them gently. Together they picked up the knife and carefully cut the onion, then chopping it to small pieces. Since Bell´s face was on Freya´s left side and very, very close, she couldn´t help but blush stronger, her heart was racing. But Freya wasn´t the only one, Bell only realized now how soft the body of his goddess was, how good she smelled.

And that her butt was pressed against his crotch...

He thanked all the gods that his body didn´t react in a naughty way, but he had to admit it felt really good to hug her. Bell felt her shiver and tightened his hug a little bit, Freya relaxed then a bit. Bell felt it, she was the opposite to Syr it in that matter. Syr preffered softer, more open hugs. Freya liked it when Bell held her more tight, so that she knew he wouldn´t go away and leave her.

To not disturb the others, Bell only whispered to her. He didn´t know what he did to Freya due to that.

"Goddess, you´re doing well."

Hauuuuaaaa~~~~

Freya felt Bell´s breath at her neck and ear as he whispered softly...for her brain even sensually!...to her.

"B-Bell..."

"Yes?"

"Can we...continue like that?"

"Of course."

When he said the F, Freya shivered again, her ears were quite sensitive.

So Bell pulled the potatoes towards them and they started to peel them together, after that the other vegetables. Not only did Freya have lots of fun this way, Bell corrected her whenever she would´ve made a mistake. So instead of producing some goo, Bell and Freya prepared all the vegetables properly.

"Goddess, I will now prepare the chicken, can you heat the pan and put a bit butter in it?"

"I will do my best!"

Freya was a bit sad when Bell let go of her, but she was looking forward to continue the cooking.

When she put up the pan and heated it up, Freya looked towards the other groups for the first time since they started to prepare the vegetables. Most of them were looking at her.

"Hm? Is something wrong?"

Hestia looked a bit flustered. "Freya...wow, wouldn´t have expected that."

"Huh?"

Hephaistos smiled with pink cheeks. "To flirt so openly like that."

Loki was infuriated. "Ooooy, Freya! That´s unfair! Come on, Lefiya, let us do that too!"

"No way!"

Loki cried bloody tears while she looked at Freya, clear jealousy in her eyes. Mikoto only glanced shyly at Freya and Bell, from the pulses of her soul and the sight, the goddess saw that Mikoto wished to do that too. So much that she started to make mistakes. Freya returned the gaze of Takemikazuchi, then she nodded slightly towards Mikoto a few times, until the god understood. Even when Freya and Takemikazuchi didn´t have that much to do with each other, beings that lived for so long were able to communicate on a level that mortals couldn´t reach.

Freya´s eyes told Takemikazuchi everything when she nodded again to Mikoto. Then to Bell, then Mikoto again.

Don´t let her wait and make her beg, you see what she feels for you!

But, I´m a god and..

I also love a mortal, accept it or you will deeply hurt her forever!

Eventually Takemikazuchi turned to Mikoto and smiled. "Mikoto?"

"Y-Yes?"

"Shall we do it together?"

"Huh?!"

He gently took her hands, but didn´t hug her from behind. Mikoto was instantly on cloud nine. Takemikazuchi decided to trust a goddess of love with the things she saw. Mikoto´s cheeks didn´t turn pink, but deep red instead.

Then Freya looked at Nahza, who glanced to Mikoto and then Freya. The goddess nodded towards Miach a few times, the other woman understood what the goddess meant.

But would she dare it?

Nahza saw that Hestia too nodded towards Miach

Since Bell was to bold and Mikoto had such luck, Nahza gathered all of her courage.

"Lord Miach!"

"Yes, my dear?"

"C-Can we do that together?!"

"Of course, Nahza."

When they started to work, Nahza averted her face after a while and Freya saw that her lips moved as she mumbled something.

"Nahza? I didn´t understand you, my dear."

Eventually, Nahza had enough and let her courage explode out of her as she leaned to Miach and whispered a bit louder into his ear.

The god looked at first surprised into the very red face of his only follower. Then he smiled softly and leaned towards her ear, Freya didn´t need to hear to understand what he said. The Chientrope got up to her tiptoes and kissed Miach.

"Oh my! What do my eyes see here? I thought we have a clash of the gods and not a dating show between gods and mortals!" Hermes couldn´t help but say something.

"I am Ganesha and I approve of this! Love and curry go hand in hand! Let the love flow and the curry will taste even better! Be it love for her children like in Hestia´s case or romantic love! I, Ganesha, have spoken!"

Loki saw her chance.

"Lefiyaaaa! Let us smooch tooooo!"

"No way! Loki, stop it!"

"Wuäääh! Lefiya is so mean, I´m gonna complain to Riveria!"

"Leave Lady Riveria out of this!"

Tsubaki laughed loudly. "Man, such a shame. I really should´ve forced Welfy to come with you, boss. With the mood here he would´ve probably proposed to you!"

"Tsubaki, be quiet!"

The mood was indeed quite good.

Except Ishtar´s again. She was boiling inside because of Freya.

She is showing off again! Just you wait, Freya! I will destroy you! But before I will disgrace your man in front of your eyes! Have my way with him until he is dried up! Then I will let have Phryne have him until he dies!

.

.
It got only worse for Ishtar.

And for Apollo...

Mikoto´s heart was about to burst from love and happiness, so she did her best to make the best curry she ever made or would make in her whole life. Even with twenty people supporting him, Apollo soon panicked when he saw that he went against a master. Apollo complained that Takemikazuchi tricked him, instead of the god, the heavily beaming Mikoto answered that she would show him the skills of a future wife!

So Mikoto didn´t make a secret out of it anymore, her heart forbid it.

All that happened only because Freya was so in love with Bell and he slowly changed the goddess. In her mind, Freya saw Syr dancing along the stage, getting closer to Mikoto and Nahza, giggling happily that they finally opened their hearts and were loved in return. It made Syr happy, so it made Freya a bit happy.

"Goddess?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to taste test?"

"Sure!"

They were now at the point when the chicken and vegetables were in the big pan and Bell started to make the sauce together with Freya. He picked up the spoon and got a bit of the sauce on it, before blowing softly and holding the spoon to Freya. Bell had used the spoon before to taste it, so...

This! This will be an indirect kiss! Yes!

Syr´s image showed her a thumbs up.

Freya carefully tucked her hair behind her right ear, then leaned forward slightly and tasted the sauce from the spoon.

"It tastes really good! You did well, Bell."

"No, we did that together, Goddess."

"You´re right."

This means...this is a product of our love!

Freya was beyond happy.

The clash of the gods became a bit more relaxed now, but in the end the winners were no surprise.

"I, Ganesha! Declare Takemikazuchi and the young Mikoto as the winners of the clash of the gods and the wargame!"

"Nooooooooooo!" Apollo fell to his knees, followed by his followers.

"The second place goes to, Hestia and Maria!"

""Yeah!"" Both women cheered happy.

"And on the third place, Freya and the young Bell!"

"Goddess, we did it!"

"We did it, Bell!"

Freya hugged Bell and wanted to give him a kiss on the cheek. But...Bell moved his face towards her, so instead...Freya kiss him on the mouth.

Both stared at each other in shock, then she moved quickly backwards. "S-Sorry, I didn´t meant to...I mean, your lips...I..."

Bell smiled abashed. "It´s okay, Goddess, I know it was an accident."

It was a very nice evening.

And when they returned to Folkvangr, Freya asked Bell for a favor.

.

.

"So, Bell...wh-what do you say?"

"You look gorgeous, Goddess. R-Really beautiful..."

Bell was red, Freya had asked him if she could cuddle with him tonight. He was sitting in Freya´s bed, wearing boxer shorts and a white shirt. And Freya...she stood in front of the bed...wearing a fluffy pyjama that covered nearly all of her skin, except her head, hands and a slight cleavage. No one except Bell had ever seen Freya wearing something like that.

"You are not allowed to tell anyone about this pyjama...it is a gift from Syr."

"I won´t say a word."

"Hehe, good." Freya carefully climbed into the bed and lied down next to Bell.

"Good night, Bell. I had very much fun today."

"Me too, Goddess."

"Can I ask for another favor?"

"Of course."

"Can you...call me by my name?"

"Ahm..I.."

"Only once? Maybe..."

"I.."

Freya snuggled up to Bell and put her arm around his chest, looking up to him with puppy eyes.

"Th-Then good night...F-Freya."

Her heart skipped a beat when he called her that.

"Hehehe~~~ That makes me really happy. Good night then, Bell." She cuddled up to him and closed her eyes.

It was really relaxing to listen to Bell´s steady heartbeat while falling asleep.

In the morning, Bell noticed that Freya really had a habbit of clinging towards something or someone. He didn´t know how, but she ended up on top of him.

And...however he managed to do that, his hands had slipped down her pyjama pants, revealing her two heavenly, plump buns. Her two heavenly, plump...naked...buns. Freya wasn´t wearing anything under the pyjama! And his hands...had grabbed said buns.

Nah?! H-How?!

Out of reflex, his hands twitched.

"Ahn~~B-Bell..."

Hiiii! Don´t make such noises, Goddess!

And of course...Freya had to open her eyes in that moment.

"Mornin´..Bell."

"Morning..Goddess."

"Mmh...hm? Oh my...Bell..you sure are bold. What a naughty boy~~~"

"It wasn´t on purpose!"

"Still, you should do that with Syr first."

"I swear it wasn´t on purpose!"

He was deep red and Freya also got red. "And...what is this poking me?"

"It is morning! I can´t help it!"

"Oh my~~~...feels like Syr is a lucky girl. But don´t scare her with it."

"Gooooddeeeeess!"

Teasing Bell was fun.

Freya sat slowly up in bed, so that she knelt over Bell´s hips.

"So, Bell. Today you will spend all your time with Syr, right?"

"Yes."

"And tomorrow I will claim my prize and you will spend the whole day with me."

"If that is your wish."

Freya smirked. "And you will call me by my name the whole time."

"O-Okay.."

"Hehe, I´m looking forward to it."

"Me too."

"Hm...Bell?"

"Yes?"

"How long do you intend to keep your hands on my butt? Not that I mind, but moving them further down is a No-No."

While her heart pounded and she couldn´t help but enjoy the feeling of Bell´s hands, it was too early for both of them that Bell touched her sacred place. And if he kept poking against that place, Freya would get in a lewd mood.

"Wah! S-Sorry!"

He hastily pulled his hands back. Bell was too enchanted by the feeling in his hands, how soft Freya´s cheeks felt...how plump...how...nice.

"Hehe, did you like it that much?"

"N-No!"

"No? So you dislike touching me?"

"Goddess, please don´t tease meee!"

"Hehe, sorry but I will continue doing that. It is my right as your goddess. Also I have Syr´s permission."

"What?!"

Freya smirked, then she let herself sink down on Bell, put his arms around herself, her arms around him and enjoyed the skinship for a while.

.

And later on that day.

.

.
"Mmmmnnnnnh!~~~~ Bell, it feels so gooood~~~~"

Syr shivered comfortably. "Your hands are magical~~~~"

"If you say so, I´m glad that you like it."

It was lunch break at the Hostess and Syr spent her break with Bell again. Since the work could be exhausting, Bell had promised Syr to massage her feet and legs. And she really enjoyed that.

"Hah...I feel so much better.~~~~"

"Shall I massage your back and shoulders too?"

"Please do! My shoulders get so stiff sometimes. I wonder why?"

Chloe, who heard with her sharp ears how Syr got massaged, secretely cursed her friend when she heard that sentence.

Syr leaned forward, crossed her arms on the backrest of a chair and bent her head carefully forward, giving Bell access to her neck and whole back.

Bell was gentle with her as he rubbed her shoulders and back carefully, massaging her neck with his thumbs.

"Haaaah.~~~ I love it."

"Do you feel better?"

"Much better..."

"I´m glad."

"Is there something I can give you in return?"

"Hm, I don´t really know."

She glanced to him over her shoulder and smirked. "How about a kiss?"

Syr moved before Bell could react, but the feeling of her lips on his was all too welcomed.

Bell enjoyed spending time with Syr as much as when he went into the dungeon with his friends. He helped until late at night in the Hostess, when a worried Welf and Lily came to him. They told him that apparently Mikoto and Chigusa had acted strange and sneaked towards the City of the Night, it looked like something was wrong with them. Syr told Bell he shouldn´t lose time and go help his new friends.

He promised her to be back as soon as possible.

.

Bell wouldn´t return from the Pleasure Quarter until the early morning.

.

"You were where exactly, Bell?"

"In the City of the Night..."

"The Pleasure Quarter?"

"Yes..."

Freya didn´t look very happy as she sat crosslegged in her chair, Bell standing in front of her.

"Hah...please explain everything to me. Why you left Syr´s side and went into...that place."

Bell explained everything to his goddess, he didn´t hide anything. Especially not about the fox girl that he met.

"I see, so you didn´t do anything."

"No, my heart belongs to Syr."

"Oh..."

"And you of course, Goddess!"

Freya smiled, even if Bell probably meant it in a different way.

"Goddess?"

"Bell, what did I tell you about today?"

"Oh, right. I´m sorry."

"So?"

"F-Freya."

"Hm?" She smiled cute.

"Is it possible to save that girl?"

"Why would you want to do that?"

"She is so unhappy there, Ms. Haruhime doesn´t want to live there."

"Did she say that?"

"No, but it got obvious when we talked all night."

"I listened to you for a while now, what is it that fascinates you on her?"

"She...reminds me of Syr."

Freya raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"She is so pure, so innocent, she dreams about the world outside and Orario in general. I have the feeling that she has a normally very cheerful nature. When I see her trapped in that place, it tears my heart apart. It is as if I was seeing Syr suffering there. I know she isn´t Syr..but..."

Freya smiled slightly. "I think I understand you, Bell."

"And...I thought..when she was free...maybe she would find work at the Hostess too. There she would be protected and I´m sure...she and Syr could become good friends."

Oh Bell, you´re too pure for this city.

"Alright, if that is your wish, I will see how I can help you. Maybe I can talk to Ishtar."

"Really?! Thank you, Goddess."

"Hm?!"

"Thank you, F-Freya.."

"Better." The goddess smiled.

"So, what do you want to do today?"

"Oooh, I have a few ideas~~~. But please let us do this tomorrow, I see that you´re exhausted from the night. First let Syr know that you´re okay and what happend, I´m sure she won´t be mad with you."

"Okay, thank you Go-..Freya."

Bell would inform Syr after taking a shower and a short nap. Then he would spend his day training with Hogni, while he thought how to help Haruhime.

When night came, Bell was on his way to the pub, but Mikoto already waited for him with a fear filled expression.

She told him about a ritual and something called killing stone. Bell was too afraid to think straight.

He didn´t think to inform Freya, he and Mikoto rushed to the Pleasure Quarter.

.

.

Some parts of Bell Cranel´s fate wouldn´t change whatever path he took in his life.

But what was about to happen in the Pleasure Quarter would be much different from his original fate.

And he would see first hand what happened when Freya snapped and her imperial wrath awakened. And Freya...she would also witness what happened when Bell got enraged.

.

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Author`s Note: Hello everyone. So many Reviews again, thank you for the tips to enhance my writing. I was asked what I use for my apostrophes, it is the button next to the delete button on my keyboard. Is that wrong?

About the question what Emperor of the Night would´ve done, to say it simple, Bell would´ve banged Syr´s mind out.

I am thankful for the compliment that my stories feel so similar to read to the original, that´s because I try to stick as close to Omori´s way of building scenes as possible.