I was taking this incredibly seriously as I wanted to get the most out of this binding vow without effectively crippling me in some regard. The most powerful restrictions were off the table since they required exactly that but I could get close to that sort of boost by giving up a bunch of smaller things to get restricted. For example if I gave up my ability to drink alcohol or my ability to speak a different language. Neither of those would have much effect on me as I am currently but several like that would give me a considerable boost.-
I was in the middle of hashing out these trade off terms when I Bell apparently decided that he should make some problems since it had been a while since the last time.
"First you got dragged to the red light district some fucking how and met a courtesan while there of the Renard race? NOW you have discovered that Ishtar plans to sacrifice her to elevate her level five attempting six adventurer to level seven so she can challenge Freya and you want to stop her with the help of the Takemikazuchi familia who are WEAKER than even us, am I understanding all this right?" I asked with a twitch in my eyebrow.
"Um, yes?" Bell said with an awkward expression.
"Yeah, I think I'm going to go have a chat with Freya since this should be her problem to deal with to begin with." I said annoyed as hell.
Bell looked like he wanted to stop me but literally all of the rest of the familia stopped him as I left. Making my way through the streets from the manor I couldn't help but mean mug everyone I passed as I did since this had put me in a less than pleasant mood.-
Not bad exactly but on the cusp of achieving that point. Look I was fine with the trouble Bell brought us the last few times since we could handle it but this was a whole different fucking ballgame. I could handle the entire Ishtar familia with the sole exception of that level five captain, Phryne Jamil. She was not only an Amazonian but also clearly had some sort of beastkin race as her father as she was frankly hideous. She was stocky in build with a large head and amphibian like eyes that made her look like a weird humanoid toad.-
If my information wasn't out of date she was also near the peak of level five and currently seeking a way to hit level six. Forget being able to handle her she would break me like a fucking kit-kat bar without even trying. This was so far beyond what we could handle that it wasn't even funny, something Bell should absolutely be aware of. Freya though could easily handle this matter which was why I was currently heading for the hostess to have a chat with her about it.-
It was about midday at the moment so the hostess wasn't empty or busy but a comfortable middle ground.
"Alex? What are you doing here at this time of day Nyah?" Anya asked when she saw me walking up.
"I am here for Syr actually. Have something I need to discuss with her." I said seriously.
The cat girl searches my face for a moment before nodding without a word and going into the place to fetch Syr. I waited patiently and soon I saw Syr and immediately identified that it was thankfully Freya this time and not her familia member playing the role of Syr.-
"I hope this is important or Mama Mia will take it out of my wages. Not that I'd mind if you were here to confess your undying love for me." she said with a wink.
I chuckled at that but shook my head "Sorry to disappoint but that's not it this time. A problem you have been neglecting for whatever reason has a nasty plan to strike out at you that Bell caught wind of and wants to stop. Problems name is Ishtar unfortunately which is kinda an issue for reasons that you should understand easily." I said seriously.
She sighed "What harebrained idea does she have this time?" she asked with an annoyed look.
"I'm not a hundred percent sure of the specifics but what I do know is that she has a Renard with a spell that temporarily raises the level of whoever it's used on by one. She plans to use some sort of ritual involving a killing stone to make that level up permanent the moment her level five naturally reaches six so she in fact gets a level seven." I said frankly.
"What a disgusting and filthy plan. I'll take care of Ishtar though since she's been nothing but a nuisance. What of the Renard though?" She said casually.
I shrugged "You can either give her to the Takemikazuchi familia or to us or keep her for yourself, makes no difference to me personally." I said frankly.
"The Takemikazuchi familia?" she asked confused.
"They allied with us after that whole pass parade incident and apparently came to Orario looking for the Renard after she was taken by slavers. Oh right while you are at it kill the captain of Ishtar's familia since she's not deserving of life if the rumors are even remotely true." I said with a shrug.
"Phryne Jamil? I'll have Hogni deal with her while I handle Ishtar." she said dismissively.
Mama Mia poked her head out the door to glare at us at this point "Looks like our time is over, best get back to work." Freya said as she hurried back into the restaurant/pub.
With her saying she'd take care of it I was in a much better mood as I returned to the manor. Bell looked uncomfortable when I flat out stated that he was no longer involved in this mess since Freya was going to take care of it.
"What will happen to Haruhime though?" he asked nervously.
"That depends on Freya. All that matters is that she will be perfectly fine regardless of the outcome right?" I asked and he reluctantly nodded in agreement.
Freya delivered too as three days later a bright pillar of light rose to the heavens as Ishtar was killed by Freya right alongside her captain who apparently had the sheer delusional audacity to claim Freya was ugly compared to her, right in front of Ottar. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Phryne met a VERY bad end at the man's hand.