Chapter 148
In the meeting room of the gods, Bahamut found herself in an unexpectedly even more challenging situation.
Despite her best efforts to steer the proceedings in favour of her familia, she had miscalculated the pettiness that some deities could exhibit.
What was meant to be a serious discussion about aliases for her children and others had devolved into a comedic spectacle, much to the delight of some other gods present.
Bahamut had managed to redirect the focus of the meeting to selecting appropriate aliases, which was a customary practice whenever an adventurer levelled up.
The chosen alias typically reflected their achievements, becoming a significant part of their identity within the adventuring community.
However, as the gods began to throw out absurd suggestions, Bahamut quickly realized that her allies were vastly outnumbered.
Each name proposed was more ridiculous than the last, with Loki, the notorious trickster goddess, leading the charge.
As the meeting dragged on, Bahamut felt the weight of embarrassment pressing down on her.
She hadn’t envisioned her children—brave adventurers who had worked hard to earn their place—being saddled with names like “Pointy Stick” or “Ice Baby.”
The laughter that erupted around the room stung, and she could only think of how this would affect the reputation of her familia.
“What will people think of our familia?” she lamented, her forehead resting against her palm in despair.
It was all too much for her to bear. She sat deflated, wishing for the meeting to end, yet aware it would not change the outcome.
“Come on, cheer up,” Demeter said gently, trying to cheer Bahamut up.
“It wasn’t like you weren’t expecting this.” she muttered.
“But how will I face the children?” Bahamut lamented, her voice muffled by her hands.
Hephaestus interjected, offering her some words of support.
“Sigh, we tried all we could. Besides, I don’t think the names are that bad. They’re only temporary.” she said.
“Not bad?” Bahamut exclaimed.
“What’s the point of a name like ‘Twin fang fury’ or ‘Edger’? They will have to bear these names until their next level up!” Bahamut argued.
Hephaestus fell silent, knowing that the names were indeed absurd.
The atmosphere around them was thick with amusement, and with each passing moment, Bahamut’s frustration grew.
“Regardless, the meeting is over now, and the room is quickly emptying out. Shouldn’t we hurry? Freya is missing,” Demeter pointed out, her gaze shifting toward the exit.
Bahamut tilted her head, questioning what Demeter meant.
“Remember, Draco is likely outside by the carriage waiting for you,” Demeter elaborated.
Bahamut’s eyes widened in realization.
Draco, was indeed waiting outside by the carriage.
If she didn’t hurry, he might run into Freya, and the last thing she wanted was for him to be ensnared by the goddess of beauty’s charms.
Without another moment of hesitation, Bahamut sprang to her feet, pulling Hephaestus and Demeter along with her as they hurried out.
Before leaving the meeting room, she didn’t forget to thank the gods who had helped her, albeit reluctantly acknowledging Hermes for his minimal assistance.
She also shot a few glares at Loki, silently promising to get back at her in the next meeting.
The mischievous goddess merely chuckled, unfazed by the threat.
Afterward, Bahamut exited the meeting room, making her way down the tower with her companions.
………………………
After wandering the streets for a while, Draco returned to Babel Tower.
He had stopped by Nekomata Inn to retrieve the carriage he had dropped off three hours earlier.
Cleo was pleased that he kept his promise but felt a bit sad when he left soon after.
It didn’t take long for him to reach the Babel Tower, but the Denatus meeting seemed to still be ongoing, as he couldn’t see Bahamut or any other gods outside.
‘Sigh, I hope she is faring well in there’ Draco thought.
A few moments later…
“Finally, the meeting is over,” Draco muttered, tightening his grip on the horse straps.
He was eager to learn the outcome of the meeting to know, if they needed to leave Orario or stay.
Before long, he spotted Bahamut along with Demeter and someone he recognized but was meeting for the first time—Hephaestus.
“Over here!” Draco called out to let Bahamut know where he was.
He was now wearing his cloak, something he wasn’t wearing when he dropped her off.
The area was also crowded and noisy too, so it would have been difficult to identify him.
Quickly recognizing Draco’s voice, Bahamut made her way over with her two friends.
As they reached him, Draco dismounted the carriage and greeted Hephaestus since it was their first official encounter.
“Good evening, Lady Hephaestus. I am Draco Black, captain of the Bahamut familia,” he introduced himself, removing the hood of his cloak.
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback.
“How do you know who I am?” she asked, curiosity evident on her face.
It was their first meeting, yet he seemed familiar with her.
“It would be stranger if I didn’t know the goddess of the forge. Beautiful red hair, a striking eye patch, ruby red eyes, smithing attire, and your aura —so many telltale signs,” he answered, internally cringing at his own flowery words.
‘What nonsense am I saying right now. I should have said that I heard from rumours’ Draco thought.
He had panicked a bit internally when Hephaestus asked how he knew her, his mind failing to work when he needed it.
Before he knew it, those flowery words had already escaped his lips.
Demeter chuckled, “Fufufu, Draco, it seems I underestimated your charming capabilities. How did you come up with those words?” She found his sudden flattery amusing.
Bahamut joined in on the teasing, “Pff, he called you ‘Lady Hephi’!”
Hephaestus, flustered by their banter, tried to regain her composure, but the embarrassment was evident on her face ; she hadn’t expected such an experience during their first meeting.
Before the moment could linger, a melodic voice interjected, drawing their attention.
“Am I perhaps interrupting something?” a voice sliced through the air, smooth and intoxicating.
Draco, Bahamut, Demeter, and Hephaestus turned to the source.
It was Freya, accompanied by a tall, heavily muscular dark-skinned man—Ottar.
Freya had exited the meeting room earlier than Bahamut, Demeter, and Hephaestus.
She had spotted Draco but didn't approach him directly due to the other gods watching her actions, so she waited until Bahamut and her friends were with him.
Draco’s heart sank at the sight of her.
He had been warned and wary about Freya’s charm, and now that she stood before him, he could feel the intensity of her presence.
Accompanied by her imposing bodyguard, Ottar, Freya’s beauty was as striking as it was dangerous.
Ottar was the strongest mortal that Draco had met so far since he came to Orario, his presence though overwhelming, felt a bit less than he imagined.
“Freya,” Bahamut said, her tone laced with concern.
The goddess of beauty was one of the few deities that made Bahamut uneasy, not for her strength but because her allure could sway even the most devoted followers.
It wasn’t exactly something Freya could freely control, so Bahamut couldn’t completely fault her.
Draco, sensing the tension, took the initiative to introduce himself.
With so many watching, he knew that everything he said and did could be scrutinized.
He glanced at Ottar, who seemed to scowl at him when their eyes briefly met.
‘Look at this N…’ Draco thought.
Understanding that he was already under the observation of many, Draco decided to showcase his familia.
Staying behind Bahamut with so many curious gazes in their direction could be perceived as a sign of weakness or cowardice, so he confidently stepped forward to assert his identity.
From Bahamut’s reaction, he could tell that the Denatus meeting had gone somewhat favourably; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so calm.
Draco removed his cloak entirely, revealing his unbuttoned shirt that showcased his muscular physique.
A golden chain around his neck shimmered under the streetlights, and the thick, powerful horns on his head accentuated his imposing figure.
Behind him, his sturdy black pants concealed a robust, scaly tail that swished behind him.
‘Yea, feast your eyes on my awesomeness,’ Draco thought, slightly flexing his muscles, ignoring the murmurs around him.
Draco remained composed, though he could feel the unfriendly gaze of some gods upon them.
He stepped forward, but kept a good distance, acutely aware of their scrutiny.
Freya’s beauty was staggering, but he had no intention of becoming another love-struck mortal.
“Good evening, I am Draco Black, captain of the Bahamut familia. You must be the goddess of beauty, Freya; it’s a pleasure to meet you and everyone gathered here for me,” he introduced loudly enough for the eavesdropping gods to hear.
It was an introduction almost insinuating that they had all gathered just to see him, something a few deities thought to be condescending for a mortal.
“Oh my, to think that you would know of me; how charming,” Freya replied, stepping closer to him.
Bahamut wanted to intervene immediately, but Hephaestus held her back.
“So you are the dragon kin we heard about; truly remarkable,” Freya said, tilting her head slightly, while scrutinizing his features.
Freya was acting as though, she represented the other gods curious about him, closing the distance between them as she spoke.
Draco although perplexed by her approach, stood his ground, avoiding eye contact.
‘To think he would change so much in just a few days,’ Freya mused.
Draco felt a surge of discomfort as Freya’s finger reached out, lifting his chin to meet her gaze.
“What beautiful eyes,” she murmured, her voice dripping with enchantment.
“Yet they hold strength and many secrets beneath.” she said, gently caressing his cheek.
Caught off guard, Draco tried to maintain his composure, but he could feel the weight of her charm pressing down on him.
He quickly broke eye contact, brushing her hand away gently, when her hand began creeping toward his horns, an organ that no dragon kin would ever allow just anyone to touch.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think this is appropriate,” he said, his voice steady.
Freya’s expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing her face, her charm hadn’t been effective.
‘Thank goodness my charm resistance is effective. The other mortals nearby look like love-struck zombies right now,’ Draco mused, realizing how dangerously beautiful Freya was.
She was beautiful enough, that even without her charm, many would still desire her and he was no exception, if only he wasn’t aware of her personality.
‘Does charms not work on him’ Bahamut observed, it was something that she wasn't aware about.
“Is something wrong?” Ottar asked his goddess, wanting to step up.
He noticed that her hand still lingered in the air for a bit too long after being dismissed by Draco.
“It’s nothing” Freya replied, withdrawing her hand, a strange, fleeting smile appearing on her face before disappearing just as quickly.
‘Oh no, should I have at least pretended to be charmed? But charm resistance isn’t something I can control, and I’m terrible at acting,’ Draco thought, feeling uneasy under her gaze.
Bahamut, sensing the tension, intervened.
“Now that you’ve seen him, isn’t it time for you to leave?” she stated firmly while discreetly pinching Draco’s leg.
She had been startled when he stepped forward so boldly.
Freya didn’t respond, merely smiled before turning away with Ottar.
“What was her deal?” Demeter muttered, watching Freya exit with a puzzled expression.
“I don’t know, but I think we should get going. Too many eyes are on us,” Bahamut replied, her voice low.
With that, the group exchanged brief farewells before Bahamut and Draco hopped into the carriage, relief flooding over them as they began their journey home.
The chaos of the Denatus meeting was behind them, but the events of the night left an impression that neither them nor the onlookers would soon forget.