Chapter 283: Ouranos

"—If Ishtar, Thanatos, and Ikelos took part in the war that harmed thousands of souls, then they must face their punishment. Astraea, you may judge them as you see fit."

A deep voice echoed through the dark chamber. Asahi, who just came to Aimi's location, heard Ouranos's order to Astraea. Aimi was hiding near the stairs without showing herself, holding her breath and voice. He'd have a hard time finding Aimi without their bond.

"Asahi-sama, that god almost saw through my stealth."

'Really?'

He peered over the stairs. The old man on the throne possessed an air of authority without any arrogance. His sharp eyes seemed like they could see through everything.

Asahi felt goosebumps on his skin. Even Ddraig didn't make him this uncomfortable. He pulled out his appraisal glasses.

[Ouranos Lv. 430]

Designated Title: Primordial Sky God

Race: God

Class: God of Sky

[Attributes]

Strength: 10 (530)

Dexterity: 10 (390)

Constitution: 10 (280)

Defense: 10 (500)

Charm: 45

Arcanum: 900

[Skills]

[—Sky Authority (Unique) (Sealed): The user's authority allows them to manipulate the skies at their will.]

[—Divine Physique (Unique) (Sealed): The user is highly resistant to physical and spiritual attacks. Their fatigue rate is lowered to the bare minimum. The wounds regenerate faster with the arcanum.]

[—Ageless (Unique): The user's body cells stop aging as long as they have arcanum.]

Three unique skills with two of them currently being sealed.

(Don't be fooled, my love. He can unseal his stats any moment if he wishes… I hate to say this but his stats are beyond the current you.)

'I know. Someone like him will survive Gae Bolg… Right?'

(Indeed. Gae Bolg's curse will be fatal but not enough to one-shot him.)

'Another reason to take the dungeon seriously.'

"I will."

Astraea's determined voice grabbed his attention.

"Hey, stop givin' her all the power. I also came here, didn't I?! Lemme send that goddess of beauty to her home! I never liked her!"

Asahi chuckled at Loki's antics. She was hungry for power as always.

Ouranos looked at Loki. "Cooperate with Astraea."

"What about our rewards? Ya don't think Astraea and I busted manpower and time for nothing?"

"Your Familia has wealth beyond the Guild's inventory. Your Familia hunts monsters, so you don't lack materials. What can I give you, Loki?"

Loki's lips rose in a bright grin. "I just want yer words. Help me with a problem if I ever have one. It won't be too much I promise.

Ya and Fels have been secretly assisting the Xenos Village, right?"

A brief moment of surprise overtook Ouranos's stoicism. "How did you know?"

"Astraea's adventurers ran into Ray. They're taking care of that girl in their mansion. Hermes told the rest of the tale."

"I see… yes, we have taken care of the Xenos for a decade now. You must have seen it with Ray. She is rather mild compared to the rest of her village. Where I stand, the Xenos deserve peace, not hostility."

"Humans ain't wrong though. Monsters slaughtered their kind for over a millennium now. It's logical for 'em to hate monsters to death."

Ouranos returned a short nod. "Unless a hero shows up, their shared dream of living on the surface is impossible."

"Xenos will need a different kind of hero, 'cause every adventurer in Orario will kill anything related to monsters," Loki recalled Asahi and the way he treated Ray, and chuckled. "They might have one already. A different breed of hero."

She wasn't going to support Asahi in this quest. Not that he'd need her help in becoming a hero.

Asahi scratched the back of his helm. Rather than a hero, he much preferred to be an anti-hero. Was he going to meddle between humans and Xenos just so they could live peacefully? Of course, not. It was impossible to erase the hate accumulated over a thousand years. It had become a human instinct just like how their senses evolved to feel a god's divinity. He'd rather spend time leveling up than being a political hero.

'Or I can just transport the Xenos to my world. It already has undead. Some monsters won't be a problem.'

Astraea concluded the meeting after some words and walked towards the stairs with Loki.

Asahi gave Ouranos one last glance. 'It's about we raid Ishtar's home.'

Ishtar looked at Phryne, who had just entered the room. With beady eyes, long lips, and her mushroom-shaped black hair, her face looked more like a bullfrog than a human being. Paired with her scrawny arms and towering frame, she was an amazoness most males would avoid.

"What do you want?" Phryne asked, frowning at her goddess. She showed no respect whatsoever to her goddess.

Ishtar held back the scowl and smiled. "Some bold adventurers will be coming to close this place. I need your help."

Usually, Ishtar would never ask for anyone's help, especially Phryne. However, the current circumstances were dire. The fraud adventurer could be coming here with the Astraea Familia. She had this gut feeling. Having Phryne—her strongest adventurer—on her side was going to be a big help.

"Who dares?" Phryne roared, releasing the pressure of a top-tier adventurer.

Ishtar covered her grin with her hand. Phryne was one of the reasons for her profit falling year by year. The rumors of the giant amazoness forcing herself on random customers were spreading wild. In fact, she loved to break men. A debauched woman like Phryne wouldn't have that luxury once this place goes.

"Astraea."

"That virgin goddess?" Phryne snorted. "Let her come. I'll slap her flat."

Her declaration hung in the air as she walked out.

Ishtar put her pipe in her mouth and leaned back. "All the pieces are in place."