Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Be the Main Character in Orario?

Chapter 960: You’re Intentionally Targeting Me, Aren’t You?

After Erebus’s reminder, Ishtar finally understood why Loki had targeted her."You get it?"

"Yeah. It’s definitely because Loki found out about that Haruhime kid. Otherwise, that woman wouldn’t have sent me back so quickly!"

Just thinking about it made Ishtar’s teeth grind.

She had been wondering why she was so unlucky. She hadn’t provoked Loki, so why was she being targeted? It must be because Haruhime’s information leaked.

"Haruhime’s information leaked, and Evilus... Ugh, if it weren’t for our connection being exposed, how could anyone have pinpointed me and Evilus so precisely?"

Indeed, this suspicion was correct.

It was because both sides had been compromised that Loki’s actions seemed so justified—she immediately dispatched her captain to make the arrest, and they went straight to Ishtar’s familia’s headquarters.

This realization left Ishtar feeling utterly deflated.

"Sigh..."

Even if she knew now, what difference did it make? Over half a year had passed since the incident. She had returned to Tenkai and come back down nineteen times. Could such an outcome really be changed?

"I really am unlucky. I just wanted to target Freya, but I ended up getting crushed by Loki."

Ishtar truly felt cursed. Back then, she’d only wanted to target Freya, but Freya hadn’t even considered her a threat.

Ishtar understood why. The strongest in her familia was only Lv. 5. Freya, on the other hand, had a Lv. 7, several Lv. 6s, and four Lv. 5s who were nearly on par with Lv. 6—her combat prowess was truly overwhelming.

Ishtar knew Freya’s strength, which was why she only considered confronting her when trying to dig up information on Haruhime.

But who could have predicted that before she even faced off with Freya, Loki discovered her treasure? Worse still, Loki had crushed her just to take it from her.

Thinking about this made Ishtar even more depressed.

Erebus, watching with mild interest as Ishtar reached this conclusion, offered her a playful reminder.

"Ishtar, you’re probably right, but haven’t you neglected to gather some intelligence since you returned to the Genkai?"

Ishtar was puzzled by Erebus’s comment, but she admitted she hadn’t investigated anything. "My children in the Genkai have already disbanded. Where would I gather intelligence?"

"What about the other gods?"

"...Do you really think my relationship with the other gods is that good?"

Ishtar was well aware that she didn’t have particularly close ties with the other gods.

While she had physical relationships with many male gods, it was nothing more than a transaction between a streetwalker and her client. How much real affection could such a relationship hold?

Erebus, having received this answer, felt a mix of helplessness and sympathy for Ishtar’s situation.

Moved by this sympathy, Erebus shared what he had learned.

"Loki and Freya have both set their sights on a child. And they’ve openly stood by his side in front of the other gods."

"!?"

"What!?"

Ishtar froze, her voice much louder than intended.

Clearly, this news hit her hard, even causing her—whose mental capacity wasn’t particularly vast—to temporarily short-circuit.

"Erebus, are you talking about the same kid I’m thinking of?"

"Exactly."

"And Loki? Freya and Loki are fighting over him?"

"Your phrasing is a bit off, but yeah, that’s the gist."

Ishtar nearly fainted upon hearing this.

Of course, she wasn’t shocked by the idea of a threesome. After all, half a year ago in the Genkai, she’d played much more elaborate games herself. What truly surprised her was that Loki and Freya were involved. Could these two even be the type to engage in such games?

Ishtar knew how proud both of them were. They would never allow someone else to share in their spoils.

Seeing Ishtar still in shock, Erebus figured he needed to clarify further.

"From what I’ve gathered, Loki and Freya targeted this kid and he grew incredibly fast—he reached his current level in less than a year. Just half a year ago, he and Loki were still in a normal business arrangement."

"Business... deal...?"

Ishtar slowly began to understand the implication, and her face grew darker.

"You’re saying... that kid found out my information and then sold me to Loki?"

"And that kid is the one Loki and Freya are fighting over?"

"If I’m not mistaken, yes."

"...Damn it!"

Ishtar was now filled with an overwhelming urge to kill.

She desperately wanted to know who the child Loki and Freya had targeted was. She wanted to talk to him, and then give him a piece of her mind—show him what divine wrath truly felt like.

Erebus, watching this with a broad smile, couldn’t help but enjoy the show.

"I’ll kill that brat!"

Hearing Ishtar’s words, Erebus felt it was about time.

To prevent his former comrade from actually getting herself into trouble, Erebus felt it necessary to remind Ishtar to calm down.

"Ishtar, I think you need to calm down."

"Tell me how I’m supposed to calm down right now!?"

"Hmm... he seems to be the child who’s about to recreate the world."

"..."

In an instant, Ishtar’s entire body froze. All the harsh words she had just spoken were swallowed back, and her bronze-colored face flushed crimson.

She had already been informed of certain matters by the Guild upon descending to the lower realms. She understood that the reason they were sent down from Tenkai was simply because someone was about to create a new world. As for who that someone was, the Guild hadn’t directly disclosed it.

It wasn’t the Guild’s fault—everyone in Genkai already knew who the creator was.

Any god with half a brain could figure it out with minimal inquiry.

Of course, Ishtar’s situation was unique. Who would’ve guessed her standing among the gods was so mediocre? And who could have predicted she’d have no interest in investigating what had been happening in the Genkai?

Fortunately, Erebus happened to be with Ishtar when she descended. Otherwise, had she gone looking for trouble, only one of them would have survived.

"Pfft!"

Seeing Ishtar’s near-death expression, Erebus genuinely felt a surge of amusement.

"Alright, I’ve warned you. Don’t go dying the moment you step into Genkai."

"..."

Watching Erebus’s retreating figure, Ishtar really wanted to kick that bastard.