Two days had passed since the incident.
Daedalus Street, which had been significantly damaged by the battle, was quickly regaining its original appearance thanks to the active restoration efforts of the Hephaestus and Goibniu Familias.
"Supplies are here!"
The Demeter and Njord Familias took charge of providing supplies for the refugees and the victims of Enyo who had been forced to leave their homes for several days.
"I was worried since I hadn't seen you lately, but I'm glad to see you're doing well."
"Haha! I feel the same way!"
The Demeter Familia had endured much during the crisis.
When their activities had ceased, many people worried for them, and they rejoiced just as much at their return.
An elderly man speaking to a male member of the Demeter Familia was one of those people.
"However..."
While he was happy they were back, the old man had one question.
"Where did you all go to be able to supply this many crops?"
"....."
They hadn't been able to engage in proper farming due to Enyo's interference. Even if they had brought supplies from an external warehouse, the amount they were distributing was double their usual volume.
"That is..."
The young man simply offered a bright smile in response to the old man's doubt.
"It's all thanks to Lady Demeter's blessing!"
There was no lie in his answer, so it wasn't particularly problematic.
"Ugh...!!"
Crack!
"Shall I get back to work?"
Akumo stood on the terrace of the Demeter Familia's home, overlooking the ongoing restoration of Daedalus Street.
In his hand, he held a beautiful crop that shimmered with a golden light.
"[Divine Tool]: [Demeter's Ear of Grain]."
The power of the Goddess of Harvest, contained within a Divine Tool.
Whoosh!
He spread the Divine Will across the fields as if scattering rice seeds, and the results were immediate and undeniable.
Rustle!
The seeds that fell upon the land owned by the Demeter Familia sprouted in an instant, filling the empty space with a wave of gold.
"Incredible..."
Astraea watched the scene, her eyes filled with admiration.
On the other hand, Hephaestus recalled how he had used her hammer before, realizing that he didn't just wield Divine Will as a weapon.
"Heh~ So that's how it works, aye?"
Loki grinned, and Freya's eyes sparkled with a similar sentiment.
"The more I see, the more surprises I find. ♡"
Like the others, Loki and Freya could see beyond the spectacle to the very essence of that power.
"Pioneer."
The power Akumo used was not a simple Skill or Magic. Only the goddess who had stayed by his side the longest and the goddess who constantly observed his soul could truly understand.
"The countless stories recorded in that brat's soul."
"It is the source of pioneering recorded within a great light."
Drawing power from the numerous tales of pioneering recorded in his body, soul, and mind—it was an irregular power that literally reproduced myths and legends.
"Does that mean..."
"The reason Akumo handles Divine Tools so familiarly is..."
Ganesha and Hestia asked if their current thoughts were correct, prompted by Loki and Freya's words.
"It means he has already handled such power several times before, doesn't it?"
Hermes answered Ganesha and Hestia with a knowing smile.
The God of Adventure, known alongside Loki as a trickster of the heavens. Had he also noticed the truth behind Akumo's power? The ease with which he spoke proved why he held his title.
"It's amazing enough that he treats Divine Tools like ordinary weapons~"
'Looking at what Akumo-kun showed us just two days ago...'
In his stories, even Divine Tools would never have been absolute weapons. There would have been weapons even stronger, strategies to suppress power, and competitors aiming for one another.
"Ah...."
'How exciting it must have been...!!'
The God of Adventure felt a pang of regret for not seeing it, yet he vowed once more to witness every step of the pioneering Akumo would perform from now on.
"This will be more than enough for the remaining supplies."
Akumo had cultivated a massive amount of crops. The harvest alone was equivalent to the Demeter Familia's entire daily supply output.
Even if it was just for a day, considering the scale of the Demeter Familia, this sight could be considered a feat in itself.
"I'm sorry to have relied on your help again."
"It's fine, Lady Demeter. The delay in the city's restoration is partly my fault as well."
'Thinking back, I really did go too far...'
In truth, because Akumo had clashed with Akuo at full strength without regard for the aftermath, Daedalus Street had suffered unexpected destruction both above and below ground. Thus, Akumo was assisting the restoration efforts with all his heart and soul.
Twitch.
'...As expected, did I overdo it a little?'
The damage hadn't just affected the streets; Akumo paused for a moment as a sharp pain flared in his back.
'Let's just endure it for now...!'
He didn't want to ruin the smiles of the gods gathered here. Especially the bright smile of the Goddess of Harvest, who had been carrying so many wounds alone.
"It would have been nice if you were in my Familia..."
"Lady Demeter...!?"
Demeter's smile remained as he wished, but it had become even more radiant than before.
"I am Loki's dependent, though..."
"I'm just saying you should come by and talk every now and then."
Perhaps she had accepted her desire for great power for the sake of peace; Demeter made the proposal with a beautiful laugh.
Slide!
"Get away from him this instant if ye don't want to die."
The trickster goddess immediately stood up, her eyes glaring at the mention of someone touching her man.
"And what exactly does that mean, Demeter?"
The Goddess of Beauty questioned her as if issuing a warning, her eyes glowing more intensely than usual.
"Demeter? Sorry, but I'm a bit curious as well."
"I think everyone is getting a bit too heated. Akumo looks troubled."
The Goddess of the Forge and the Goddess of Justice also spoke up, hiding their displeasure behind strained smiles.
"H-Hephaestus, and even Astraea... their eyes aren't smiling at all...!"
The Goddess of the Hearth trembled, feeling a sudden chill from the atmosphere.
"Hm? Come to think of it..."
'Why is Lady Hestia here...?'
Akumo looked at Hestia, wondering why she was attending this gathering with the other gods.
"I can explain that! Akumo-kun?"
The God of Adventure provided the answer.
Hermes explained that he had invited Hestia because she had provided significant help in capturing Enyo—that is, Dionysus.
"I knew Bell contributed quite a bit this time..."
'But this is the first I've heard of Lady Hestia giving a hint.'
The fundamental clue about Dionysus that Hestia had given to Loki, and the undeniable fact that Bell had been a piece of the victory alongside the heroes in this fight.
Akumo nodded in understanding, but...
"Who says I got help from that shrimp!!!"
Loki immediately stood up and vehemently denied the fact.
"What's wrong? Getting help from Lady Hestia—"
"I. Said! I was just a tiny bit influenced! Why're ye talkin' like she fed me the whole answer!!?"
"I never said it like that..."
Akumo shook his head at her refusal to lose and looked toward Hestia.
"That flat-chested goddess never changes!"
"Ahaha...."
Hestia was also expressing her dissatisfaction with Loki, and Akumo smiled awkwardly at the sight.
"Well, even if she says that..."
'Deep down, she's probably grate... ful... maybe...?'
Akumo intended to apologize to Hestia on Loki's behalf, but Hestia spoke up first, saying it was fine.
"It's quite alright, Akumo-kun."
The merciful smile of the Goddess of the Hearth contained a love not just for her own child, but for the lower world itself. It held gratitude for every being who had willingly risked their lives in this adventure.
"As I thought, I'm glad Lady Hestia is Bell's patron deity."
"Hmph! So you finally realize it!"
The Pioneer and the Goddess of the Hearth exchanged warm smiles.
Snap!
"What're ye so happy about, smilin' at that shrimp!!"
Of course, Loki immediately lunged at him to deliver a physical correction.
"Hahaha! You truly are a king, Akumo-kun!"
Hermes evaluated Akumo that way, seeing him not only impress the gods who could never be ignored but also lead them.
"Don't just stand there, please help me...!"
'He's just teasing from the sidelines...'
Akumo looked at Hermes with dissatisfaction, finding his attitude cold.
Then he noticed something.
Hermes was looking at Akumo with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Come to think of it~ about those Divine Tools Akumo-kun has used so far?"
"What about them..."
"I discovered a rather interesting commonality!"
"A commonality...?"
Sensing danger in Hermes' words, Akumo tried to find the point of concern.
'...!!!!!!!!!!'
He realized one crucial fact.
"Lord Hermes!!! Shut your mouth right—!"
But before Akumo could finish, Hermes had already spoken.
"Every Divine Tool you've used belongs to our Olympus, doesn't it?"
""""""!!""""""
At those words, the eyes of every god present widened in shock.
"Ah....."
Grit.
'I'm screwed...'
Akumo stopped thinking as he felt Loki's grip on him tighten with terrifying strength.