Apollo's Leering

"You refused. Why? Am I not beautiful enough, or is there something you're unhappy with?"

Freya stared at Lu Qiming in disbelief. According to her investigation and analysis, shouldn't he have fallen at her feet?

He had rejected her without the slightest hesitation. It made no sense!

"Great Goddess, you're very beautiful, but I'm sorry. I still have to refuse."

Lu Qiming shook his head firmly. Freya was beautiful, but she just wasn't his type!

Just as Freya was about to say something else, a mocking laugh rang out.

"Hahaha! Goddess of Lust, didn't see that coming, did you? Your trick didn't work!"

Loki looked at Freya with a mocking smile, feeling a rush of satisfaction.

"Tsk!"

Freya gave Loki a disdainful look and ignored her. The most important thing now was to bring this perfect child into her Familia.

"Lu Qiming, why won't you join my Familia?"

"I'm sorry. It's not that I don't want to join your Familia, Great Goddess. I just don't plan to join any Familia for now."

"You don't plan to join any Familia?"

Everyone turned to look at Lu Qiming, wondering what he was up to. He could join any top Familia right now, and with his talent, he'd surely receive the best training.

"Yeah. When I left home, my teacher—the system—gave me a mission. I won't join any Familia until I complete it."

"A mission?"

Everyone watched Lu Qiming curiously. What kind of mission would make him refuse to join any Familia?

With everyone looking at him, Lu Qiming suddenly realized this was exactly the opportunity he'd been waiting for.

He'd planned to first make a name for himself in Orario and then post a request for hire, but this situation seemed even more suitable. So he decided to begin his hiring plan here.

"One million. Kill one million monsters within a year."

"What! One million monsters?"

"That's completely impossible!"

Before the gods could speak, the adventurers behind them began shouting. It was simply impossible. Even if the Dungeon held that many monsters, how could anyone kill so many in a year?

"Who says it's impossible? I'll do it!"

Lu Qiming's lips curled slightly as he looked down at the crowd with confidence. He was going to do what everyone thought impossible. He didn't want the system to abandon him. He still wanted to unlock new classes, see different worlds, and grow stronger until he could take control of the system!

Then he'd definitely change the system's voice to a Loli Voice!

The gods watched Lu Qiming's confident smile and the conviction so unlike the people of Orario. Freya, especially, could barely contain herself. She wanted him more and more, to touch him carefully and savor his beautiful soul.

Just then, Finn Deimne, standing behind Loki, tugged lightly at her clothes and whispered something in her ear. As he spoke, Loki's eyes lit up, and she looked at Lu Qiming as if victory were already hers.

"Lu Qiming, then you should join my Familia all the more. I can let you join our Expedition Team and head into the depths of the Dungeon. There are more and stronger monsters there, so I guarantee you'll complete your mission within a year!"

Loki finished by proudly puffing out her chest and glancing at Freya and Hestia. She was sure she'd won.

"No, I won't join your Familia, Great Goddess. But I hope I can join the Expedition Team."

"Huh? You won't join the Familia, but you want to join the Expedition Team?"

Loki looked at Lu Qiming in surprise. She hadn't expected him to refuse her again.

"Yes. I hope you'll hire me."

Lu Qiming met Loki's gaze with determination. He knew his request was a bit much: he wanted to join the Expedition Team without joining the Familia. Even with Loki's Familia, bringing in a stranger would disrupt many of their plans.

Still, Lu Qiming was confident. He didn't believe anyone would turn down a strong fighter who wanted to join their Expedition Team. And even if they did, it wouldn't be a big deal.

He was an Assassin. His fighting style might be a little wild, and he could unleash Musou, but he was skilled at sneaking around, too. At worst, he'd quietly follow behind when the Loki Familia set off on an expedition.

"This..."

Loki looked at Lu Qiming, conflicted. She really wanted him in her Familia, but letting him join the Expedition Team without becoming a member wasn't a decision she could make lightly, even as its patron goddess.

She had to take responsibility for the children in her Familia.

So Loki looked to the captain of her Familia and waited for him to decide.

Finn saw Loki looking at him and gave her a reassuring smile. Then he stepped forward and fixed a stern gaze on Lu Qiming.

"Lu Qiming, right? I know the Great Goddess wants you to join our Familia, but I won't let you casually join our Expedition Team just because of that."

As he spoke, Finn drew the spear from his back and pointed it at Lu Qiming.

"Sure. Let's do this."

Lu Qiming hadn't expected things to develop this way, but it suited him just fine. He wanted to see how he measured up to a top adventurer.

The gods and adventurers nearby backed away, leaving the two enough room to fight. They were curious about the boy who had no Falna yet could defeat a Floor Boss on his own.

In the crowd, Hestia nudged Loki, who was watching with open curiosity.

"Hey, Loki, aren't you going to stop them?"

"Why would I stop them? If that kid Lu Qiming beats Finn, then there's no reason he can't join the Expedition Team. If he loses, he'll probably want to get stronger, and then maybe he'll join my Familia and receive Falna."

As Loki spoke, she was already imagining Lu Qiming joining her Familia.

Just then, Freya seemed to think of something. She said a few words to Ottar behind her, then looked toward Lu Qiming, who was facing off against Finn in the square, with a smile. No matter what it took, she would have this child.

Even if it meant—

Meanwhile, elsewhere, a man with orange hair and a leafy wreath on his head wore much the same expression as Freya. A strange, sickly smile made his already ugly face look all the more ridiculous.

Behind him, a timid-looking girl couldn't help trembling when she saw her patron god like that.

The last time she'd seen Apollo make that face was when he'd taken a liking to her and her companions, then forcibly abducted them from their Familia and brought them into the Apollo Familia. She could already imagine what awaited that boy.

In the square, Lu Qiming was facing off against Finn when he suddenly felt a chill on his backside. He quickly turned around and looked behind him.

There, Apollo was staring intently at his ass, as if he could see through his clothes.

"Lu Qiming, what's wrong?" Finn asked in confusion.

He'd just been about to make his move when Lu Qiming suddenly turned around, forcing him to stop. He didn't want people saying he'd won by attacking from behind.

"It's nothing."

Lu Qiming suppressed the urge to rush over and hack Apollo to death, then gripped Divine Judgment and pointed it at Finn. But he made a secret vow: if Apollo dared to treat him the way he'd treated Bell in the original story, he wouldn't show any mercy.

They're building a park next to my home today, and the excavator has been making noise nonstop. I've been writing since this morning and have only managed two chapters. I keep writing and revising, and I'm about ready to be driven crazy. My mind's completely blank.