Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 806: The King And The General

As the elected arrived, they wore their shock on their faces. Stunned beyond belief, their eyes remained glued to the dead man, silently urging them to take a seat. The sheer ridiculousness of the situation made them comply, for anything was easier than watching a dead man walking.

Taking their seats, they continued to stare at him. Unsure whether to speak or not since the moment felt brittle. However, as the man’s lips finally parted, it wasn’t his voice that came through but that of a divine woman.

"At ease~" Her words of silver echoed throughout the room like a tolling bell. Most were left confused, but one amongst them was far more baffled than the others. Looking right at that very person, the dead man’s lips curved into a smile. "Only one remains. How have you been, my lovely follower?"

"I-it’s you? It’s really you!" The intensity of realization dried Ditsy’s throat. She wasn’t talking to a dead man, but divinity itself. "Lady Luck...I–"

Getting out of her chair, the vampiress fell to her knees and bowed. All the while, the others simply watched as the moment had yet to catch up with them all. A goddess had given them an audience–not something that was ever easily digestible. But what made things worse for these men in the chairs was the fact that this goddess was a rival of theirs.

"What is she doing here?" Ironheart mumbled, his frustration streaking across his face.

To him, her divinity meant little, and so he was met with a glaring glance by the vampire–although that too meant little to him. Eren, on the other hand, decided to get out of his chair and gave a subtle nod to the goddess.

"Is it time to choose a hero, after all?" He asked, the question had floated in his head for a long time.

Inktaus, much like any other city under a god, needed a hero–a champion to drive away the monsters and extinguish the threat of the demon lord.

"I suppose, my lady would also grace us with her presence soon?" Adding to his question, he tried to fish for more information. But instead of giving him an answer, Fortuna turned her hand towards her own shadow and did a beckoning gesture with her finger.

"Perhaps, but I’m not the only guest visiting you even now." Turning her head to the shadow, she smiled. "Isn’t that right, young hero?"

Caught by the goddess, Raven emerged from the shadows and stood beside her. Looking around, he noticed many surprised faces, as well as listened to the quiet gasps. Just one look was enough, and since he was no longer masking his face, the elects instantly knew who he was. A silver coat around his neck, a mantle on his shoulder...

"T-the dark general?!" Helm was the first to spring away from the hero. Getting behind the rest, he remained in Ironheart’s shade and even pushed Eren forward. "What the hell is he doing here?! How did he even get in?!"

Gritting his teeth and lifting his hammer, Ironheart slammed its head against his own palms and just stared at the young man. Huffing and puffing behind his helmet, he wanted to shatter his skull, but with Eren holding the side of his arm, he knew that the bard must have had some reason to hold him back.

"How did you get in?" Eren asked, his eyes narrowing as the hero returned his gaze.

Taking a moment to consider his question, Raven took a deep breath before answering.

"I had some divine help..." Through Athenia’s help, his party had crossed into the city, but since Fortuna and Mesmerazia ruled the plains beyond, the goddess could not interfere with helping them get through the other side of the barrier as well.

"Athenia? My poison-tongued sister, huh?" Crossing her legs, Fortuna leaned back into her chair with a smirk. "Was the blood of Asmareth not enough that she has come to take our heads as well?"

Unaware of the divine’s betrayal towards a member of their very council, Raven remained silent in the goddess’s assumption. However, the other did not spare her the same courtesy as even Ditsy had something to say.

"W-what does this mean, mother? What are we supposed to do?"

"Wait..." Lowering her gaze to the vampiress, Fortuna’s smirk turned into scorn. "You have done enough, so you’ll wait."

"For what?" Eren interjected.

Scoffing at the audacity of these mortals to question her judgement, Fortuna wore a nasty grimace on Dealer’s old face.

"For her to make a move. After all, it’s not every day that you get to strike a deal with the hero that might just save the world." Turning her attention back to Raven, Fortuna placed a hand on his shoulder before slowly pulling it away. "But where are your manners, servants? A king and a general stands before you, and you’re wasting time with gossip and trickery."

"Oh shut it, tall tales for a man so short!" Hitting the head of his hammer on his palm again, Ironheart growled at the goddess. "On strike of my hammer and we’ll see just how true those rumors are."

"Hmm..." Leaning forward on the chair, the goddess pulled the dagger out of Dealer’s head and pointed it at Ironeheart. "It would be your funeral, but you’re free to try. I’m sure that the general can use some practice."

"That’s enough," finally speaking up, Raven glanced sideways at the goddess. "Just tell me what you want. I don’t have time to be wasting here."

"Why were you here in the first place?" Ditsy asked.

"To get permission to go to the other side, I’m sure," leaning back into the chair again, a smile returned on Fortuna’s face. "Isn’t that right?"

"I’ll ask again, what do you want?"

Letting out a chuckle, the goddess turned her face forward once again.

"You’re no fun, but no matter. You’ll learn to gamble soon enough." As soon as she was finished talking, a golden beam of light emerged before the group. Floating in mid air, it confused everyone, but alas, making its way towards Eren and into his body, the voice of another goddess spoke, and word’s words of waiting finally made sense.

"Trying to bribe my client, are you?" Mesmerazia–or at least her voice was amongst the group, and given her nature, and that of Fortuna–one thing became clear. It was time to gamble or make deals.