The War Game had ended.
Just as predicted, the overwhelming difference in strength led to a complete domination, with one side achieving decisive victory.
Yet there was a stunning twist — the losing side turned out to be the mighty Apollo Familia, whom everyone had favored!
The hidden being transformed without warning and devoured the "Evil Wolf" in a single bite!
The war concluded so swiftly that before the Gods could even process what happened, Hestia had already delivered her judgment upon Apollo:
— Stripping him of all assets in Orario and permanently exiling him.
This verdict enraged a small group of Gods with close ties to the Apollo Familia, especially those who had placed bets in the underground casino.
They had counted on Apollo's victory, but now they would lose everything!
"Wait, Hestia! I refuse to accept this result!" A God leaped to his feet, demanding, "That child of yours is absurdly powerful! You claimed he's strong because he contracted with a Spirit, but what type of Spirit is it, and where is it?"
His question struck at the heart of the matter. If Hestia's answer revealed even the slightest inconsistency, the War Game's result could be overturned.
"That's... that's right... Sister Hestia... this point... I'm... also curious." Freya spoke in a restrained voice, as if holding something back, but managed to complete her thought.
"That's right, that's right, I'm curious too." Loki, seated beside her, raised her hand high, indicating her desire to know.
Perfect. The God who posed the question felt secret delight in his heart.
With two of Orario's most powerful Familia Gods backing him, Hestia would have no choice but to tell the truth! She would surely reveal some flaw and face defeat!
But to everyone's surprise, Hestia responded with calm composure, "You're asking about the Spirit? Hasn't she been right before your eyes this entire time?"
"Huh? Who are you talking about?" He stood dumbfounded, instinctively scanning the venue for anyone who wasn't a God.
Besides the lower world Familia member that Hermes had brought, everyone present was a God who had descended from the divine realm. There wasn't a Spirit in sight!
"Hestia, you're lying!" Now convinced of her deception, he let out a theatrical sigh, "I never thought that you, Hestia, would deceive your fellow Gods just to protect a child from the lower world. I'm truly heartbroken!"
He attempted to follow Apollo's earlier example by trying to evoke sympathy from the other Gods, having completely forgotten the Sun God's fate for doing the same thing.
"Ah—, you're an idiot too." Hestia said, swinging her twin tails and looking at the troublemaker with contempt.
"You say you can't see the Spirit? Then let me tell you — she is the Spirit!" Pointing at the twin-tailed, drill-haired girl appearing in the Divine Mirror, she announced to the other Gods, "She is the Spirit contracted with Adam! She's a Darkness Spirit, 400 years old, and extremely powerful!"
"No wonder! I thought she was just help that Hestia found, but she was actually the Spirit!"
"Hmm, even I hadn't expected that."
Hestia's explanation convinced the other Gods.
But some still refused to accept it.
"You say she's a Spirit, but who can prove that? It's just your word!"
"I can prove it." Just as he finished his objection, Ouranos's voice emerged from the void, "That Spirit was summoned by Adam right in front of me. I guarantee this as the God of the Sky."
With the testimony of Ouranos, the absolutely neutral God, no denial could stand.
This had all been within Adam's calculations. He had anticipated someone would use this to challenge their victory, so his trip to the Dungeon was merely a diversion. In reality, he had used a secret passage to reach the Guild and summon Beatrice before Ouranos.
His foresight proved correct — the Gods allied with Apollo indeed tried to use this against them.
This was precisely what Adam and Ouranos had intended. They wanted to use this method to identify which Familias had deep connections with Apollo, revealing any possible shadowy dealings.
"Hmph, did you hear that, idiot?" Hestia didn't hold back in mocking her enemy, "You fool, no wonder your Familia is so weak — it's because your brain doesn't work properly."
"You...!" The God became completely red, 'Say that again!'
Though he wanted to speak these words, faced with Adam's overwhelming strength, he held his tongue. He could only seethe in silent anger.
But what they never expected was that Hestia would press her advantage even further, her ambitious nature seeking to claim even more!
The petite Goddess thrust out her chest — disproportionate to her small frame — and surveyed the room with the bearing of an absolute victor.
"I have a proposal that I hope you'll agree to."
"What is it? Let's hear it."
"My Familia member, Adam Carter, who's already Level 2 — isn't it time we gave him an alias?" At this moment, Hestia's ulterior motive became clear.
She wanted to use this opportunity, when Adam had displayed his divine might, to secure an especially powerful and imposing title for him.
Hermes, being Orario's most perceptive God, immediately understood her intentions.
If that was what she wanted, why not help her?
"Indeed... let me think." He feigned contemplation, then announced the alias he had already decided on, "How about Hero?"
"That's actually it?!"
The other Gods were stunned.
Such an alias wouldn't be unusual for one of Orario's large Familias, but bestowing it upon a member of a small Familia would shake the city to its core.
It was common knowledge that weaker Familias typically received more peculiar aliases, often reflecting the Gods' strange sense of humor.
Names like『Little Rookie』,『Absolute Shadow』, and『High Novice』 — all rather embarrassing and dramatic.
But giving the title of『Hero』to a member of a small Familia? This was unheard of in Orario!
"Hmm, Hero... Very well, I'm satisfied!" Hestia declared, clearly intending to establish this alias through her personal authority alone.
Her forceful approach robbed the other Gods of their usual entertainment.
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"Wait, Hestia, I cannot agree!"
"That's right, that's right!"
"Giving aliases to children from the lower world requires unanimous agreement — you can't act unilaterally!"
Chaos erupted among the Gods.
Not only were they offended by Hestia's high-handedness, but they also had their own outlandish ideas for Adam's alias and wouldn't accept her arbitrary decision.
Some Gods even proposed ridiculous titles like 『Berserk Magician』 and 『Sun Slayer』.
But they hadn't expected Hestia to shed her usual timidity, transforming into someone entirely different.
"Oh? You won't acknowledge it?" Hestia rose and struck the table, "Adam's alias will be Hero today! No one can change it — I have spoken!"
Her diminutive frame radiated boundless authority, drawing every God's attention.
"Who's in favor, who's against?!"
She had become utterly dominant!
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