Side Story Chapter 53   - Tea Party (3)

‘S-So cool!’ Seeing how Athena powerfully snatched Odin’s hand and accosted him, Sesha realized what “getting wrecked” meant. She didn’t understand what her friend, Park Yoo-min, was talking about when she said stuff like “stanning” and “bias,” but Athena was the very definition of cool. She hoped this cool unnie could take down the villainous-looking Odin.

* * *

A heavy silence descended upon them.

“…I see you’re still impudent.” Odin looked down at his wrist and frowned. At the same time, a violent aura began to whirl around him. Caaaaw! A horrifying screech echoed around them.

Odin’s nickname was ‘Father of Dead Warriors.’ It was a nickname that stuck because he collected the souls of warriors who died on the battlefield and used them as his soldiers.

The screeching in the storm of power were the screams from souls who shouted Odin’s name on battlefields and died after worshiping Odin. Each and every one of them was hostile toward Athena. As soon as Odin gave the order, they would dash toward her and attempt to release an onslaught of curses and bad energy.

Of course, none of it would endanger Athena, since she was as powerful as Odin. With Yeon-woo entering this time period as the Black King’s main ego, the chief apostle of the Black King had a strength that was equal to Kronos during his prime.

Odin was well aware of this, especially since his remaining eye was the “Wise Eye” that contained all the knowledge in the world. In that short window of time, his Wise Eye had estimated Athena’s level and given a conclusion to their potential battle. The result was very simple. Impossible.

It meant Odin should never engage in a fight with Athena. However, he should be able to get on her nerves. It was the additional insight his eye gave him. So Odin glared at the new leader of Olympus who dared to bare her teeth at him. He acted like he was ready to have their showdown here if it came down to it.

Of course, Athena didn’t back down either. Asgard was always compared with Olympus. With Kronos out of the picture, it was said Asgard had grown in power, but as someone who dreamt of Olympus’ next golden age, she couldn’t back down here.

No, in the first place, she didn’t even consider the idea. The person she just saved was formally the niece of the king of Olympus, but on a personal level, she was her cousin. In other words, they were blood-related… Athena had her pride as the older sister, so she couldn’t stay silent.

“You should consider where you are and what will be taking place here.”

Athena was so competitive that she had even emerged victorious in a standoff with her uncle, Poseidon. She had a rational personality most of the time, but in a fight, she was aggressive and never backed down.

“Are you saying I, Odin, need to be prudent around the One-horned tribe?”

“Yes.”

“What?” Odin’s eyes narrowed.

Athena lifted a corner of her mouth. “Didn’t you come here because you were being prudent?”

Caaaaw! The screeching became louder as rough winds twisted.

“H-Huh?”

“Ah, fuck! What are you doing?!”

“They warned us not to fight…!”

“Damn it! Escape first!”

The people standing nearby quickly began to leave, not wanting to get caught up by the winds. Swish! Crack, crack. Street vendors were knocked over and the ground split open.

“What’s the One-horned tribe doing, not stopping them?!”

The gods of Asgard led by Odin and the gods of Olympus following Athena all raised their weapons.

“I see we’re five minutes from a shitshow starting.” Suddenly, a rough voice rang sinisterly in the sky. Odin’s screeches and winds were ominous, but this voice contained a more threatening fear. It was demonic energy, and it was so thick and black that it was reminiscent of an abyss. Only one demon out of all the demons had this energy.

[‘Baal’ descends!]

Babam! Black lightning soared through the sky and crashed down where Athena and Odin were. Athena and Odin quickly stepped back, and black whirlwinds spun where the lightning landed to slowly take the form of a human. Crackle, crackle. The level of his divinity was so great that black demonic energy came off in sparks.

When a face slowly took shape, the leader of L’Infernal, Baal, was grinning ferociously. However, everyone present knew he wasn’t smiling out of happiness.

“This is the Martial King’s territory. Don’t think of causing trouble and making fools out of yourselves, hm?”

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

[‘Vassago’ descends!]

[‘Aamon’ descends!]

[‘Barbatos’ descends!]

…

The amount of demonic energy amplified as demon kings appeared behind Baal one by one.

[The demonic society <L’Infernal> reveals its entirety!]

The aura exuded by the great army of around seventy demons was the very definition of violence.

“L-L’Infernal…!”

“All of the absolute evil is here…!”

Those who had inwardly been looking to a clash between Athena and Odin swallowed. This was the society of absolute evil, a society that didn’t even budge when great disturbances occurred in the heavenly world. Most people here had never seen a demon king in their entire lives, so they were beyond shocked.

However, Odin didn’t seem affected in the slightest and continued to exude a vicious aura. “Baal, you dare to threaten me with your tiny gang?”

Baal’s smile only grew. “Does it seem that way?”

“Why? Are you going to apologize?”

“I was going to say you saw right.”

Immediately after Baal finished speaking, an onlooker shouted upon discovering a strange phenomenon, “Huh? I-It’s an aurora!”

A warm ray of sunlight suddenly shined in the sky filled with dark storm clouds.

[Metatron descends!]

[Michael is…!]

[Raphael is…!]

…

[The godly society <Malach> reveals itself on the earth!]

Opposite of where L’Infernal was standing, archangels with their radiant wings were centered around Metatron, the celestial scribe. Celestial energy flowed in the space where the demonic energy was and pushed the storm clouds away.

“Even Malach…!”

“Why is absolute good here? Is a war about to begin…?”

People clamored in confusion, then Metatron suddenly began to speak with a benevolent smile. “Disturbances only call for great disturbances. With Allforone missing and all the divine beings able to descend to the lower world, the heavenly world is already unsettled. We can’t allow the order of the heavenly world to be wrecked with a minor fight like this, can we?”

Metatron’s gaze was focused on Odin and Athena. The gods of Asgard stiffened. Although Metatron might’ve been tactical about it, he was subtly taking Olympus’ side.

“It’s always been this way.”

Olympus, L’Infernal, and Malach, the three of the stronger societies in the heavenly world, were standing against Asgard. However, Odin didn’t seem to be concerned. “The actions of those who are on the Heavenly Demon’s side are made to look nice on the outside. But on the inside, it’s just greedy beings who are busy trying to fulfill their selfish needs.”

Athena, Baal, and Metatron stiffened. It was clear Odin was belittling Baal and Metatron for controlling the heavenly world behind the scenes to assist the Heavenly Demon. Athena knew about the secret of Olympus after having heard it from Yeon-woo.

“But with the Heavenly Demon and Black King having reconciled…” Odin’s Wise Eye flashed. “It’ll be amusing to watch how long this alliance of yours lasts.”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

“It’s been a frequent event throughout history for alliances to be broken through internal conflict after the common enemy disappears.”

Athena, Metatron, and Baal couldn’t deny Odin firmly for some reason. They wanted to say that wasn’t true, but they knew Odin’s foresight wasn’t something to ignore.

Odin tossed the cane he pulled out of his subspace back in and turned in the opposite direction. “We will be returning to our lodgings.”

[The godly society <Asgard> retreats!]

Sssssssss.

“They’re just running away, but they’re trying to save face until the end. Tsk tsk! How pitiful.” Baal snorted as he watched Odin. It was obvious Asgard was being forced to retreat with the current situation, but it was hilarious how they were trying to save their pride. “Anyhow, Athena, and niece of the Black King.”

Sesha was surprised when Baal called her out. ‘He knows me…?’ L’Infernal was a vast demonic society well-known for keeping the balance and order of the ninety-eighth floor. Even she knew them. She couldn’t help but be surprised that their leader knew her.

“Would you like a cookie?”

Then, when Baal dug in his pockets and pulled out a set of cookies, Sesha's eyes widened again for a different reason. Cookies were laid neatly in a square tin box. Her mouth watered seeing the amply amount of chocolate chips per cookie.

“Smells delicious, doesn’t it? Hehe. This is actually made of a type of cacao called the shedd bean that only grows on the eighty-third floor. This is very special to me, but I’ll share some with you since you’ve both gone through a lot.”

Sesha’s eyes turned as big as saucers. The greatest demon of the great demons was giving her a cookie set? She hesitated at the strange situation.

Suddenly, Metatron appeared from behind Sesha and took a big handful of cookies, stuffing them in his mouth. “You can safely eat it. Baal’s hobby is baking desserts. The strawberry cakes he makes with blood strawberries from the ninety-first floor is also amazing. Its scent is incredible.”

Baal’s already rugged-looking appearance turned even scarier. “Hey. I never offered you any.”

“It’s all the same when it goes inside our stomachs anyway. Who cares who eats it as long as it's eaten deliciously? Yum!”

“Argh… Keep blabbering on like that, won’t you?” Baal glared at Metatron in disbelief, but Metatron just took another handful of cookies and swallowed joyfully. He signaled for Sesha to try some as well.

Sesha hesitated for a bit and took a small bite of a cookie. ‘I-It’s so good…!’ The bitter sweetness of cacao and the moistness of the well-baked cookie filled her mouth. The cookie was still warm, and her eyes widened at the texture. It was devilishly delicious.

“Oh.” Sesha blindly savored the taste of the cookies, then regretfully realized she finished all the cookies.

Metatron faintly smiled at how adorable Sesha was. “Looks like the Black King’s nieces enjoy Baal’s special cookies very much… Would you like some more?”

Baal scoffed while crossing his arms. “Of course she does! There’s no bad person among people who know the charm of cookies. There’s not much, but enjoy.”

“But demons enjoy these cookies, don’t they?”

“Metatron, I think you should shut up.”

While Baal and Metatron bickered, it occurred to Sesha that she shouldn’t keep this delicious goodness to herself. She wondered how she could get these to her uncle and grandfather, and she happened to overhear what Athena was saying to Baal.

“I don’t see Lord Agares. Did he go somewhere?”

“…”

Baal, who had been maintaining a composed attitude, suddenly crumpled his face and gave no response.

“Did…something happen?” Athena carefully asked.

Baal recalled the words the damned idiot said before leaving L’Infernal and rubbed his throbbing temples.

What? He dares to get married without my permission? Says who? This won’t do! Puppy! Get ready!

Woof!

He didn’t even know what that bastard was up to. Baal sighed to himself.