Kuoh.
I woke up quite late, around noon, because Morgan and Tia really wore me out. By the time I woke up, they, like the Servants, were not at home. After all, it was already a work day, and the first two had things to do related to the wedding.
In any case, yesterday's festival went wonderfully, and for that reason, I was in an absolutely wonderful mood. And it was just in time, because when I came down from my room, Rea-chan and those for whom my message yesterday was intended were already waiting for me.
- "You took your time, Romani," said the tall man slumped in a chair, wearing yellow shorts, a green T-shirt, a blue Hawaiian shirt, and sunglasses. It was obviously Indra. "Rough night, huh?"
The huge skeleton occupying the sofa, which was Hades, glanced at me briefly but said nothing. It was surprising that he had not come alone, but with Hestia, although I had expected either Hermes or Zeus to accompany Hades.
- "Good afternoon, Romani. I hope we didn't disturb you," Hestia began, greeting me with a short nod. "And I apologize for Hades. He's usually taciturn, but now even more so."
- "Oh, it's all right. Let's skip all the boring introductions and get down to business," I waved my hand and, sitting down on a free sofa, took a cup of coffee from Rea-chan and glanced at the guests. "So, you know why I called you here, don't you?"
- "Of course. Ha-ha-ha!" Indra laughed.
- "Yes, Romani," Hestia nodded.
- "In that case, let's start with Indra. After all, the conversation with him will definitely be shorter and clearer," I smiled and, receiving a nod from Hestia, looked at Indra. "I will not help you in your war against Shiva."
- "But why? Do you think I will lose to him?" he asked, half jokingly, half threateningly.
- "I don't really care who loses. But if you decide to cause me trouble and invade my territory, then either you will lose, or both of you will lose if he decides to attack me," I shrugged, and he narrowed his eyes and began to release his divine power. "As proof, you can ask the Greeks what I've done and what I haven't done yet."
In theory, I could have somehow intervened in their confrontation, if only to have a little fun, but at that moment, Indra's presence in the territory of the Biblical faction was undesirable.
I had to keep an eye on Issa and the approaching attack on the Underworld, and then on the vampires and Sephiroth Grail. I had enough to do, so it would be nice to eliminate unnecessary external factors.
- "You're confident, Romani, but I understand why," He smiled and stopped releasing my power when I realized that I didn't care about her. "I heard about what happened on Olympus, even though Zeus tried to hide it."
Hm? So he found out about it. That means he knows about the Servants, I suppose?
- "And?"
- "How about a deal?" he began. "I'll help you, and you help me."
- "Not interested."
- "Come on!" Indra insisted.
- "Surely there's something I can give you."
- "Would you be funny like Ama-chan or Odin? I could do that, but you're not like them," I grinned.
- "Ama-chan?" He raised an eyebrow. "You mean Amaterasu?"
- "Ama-chan, yeah," I grinned. "And I think I understand why you're so persistent."
- "Why is that?" Indra smirked.
- "Yes, I can summon Arjuna as a Servant," I said, which made his smirk grow even wider. "But why would I do that? Anyway, I called you here to clear things up. Don't mess with me, and I won't mess with you."
- "What if I still want to?" Indra continued to press, making me want to throw him out, but something stopped me. There was something strange in his eyes, very similar to...
- "Father and son, huh?" I sighed, and Indra, hearing me, stopped grinning. "It's not for me to say, but I think you should let it go. He's already left this world, and even if I summon him, he won't be yours. Different world, different story, different circumstances. It's not what you need."
- "But it's what I want," he said, suddenly looking like a lonely father surrounded by sadness and nostalgia. "I still remember Arjuna's look when he saw Vasavi Shakti in Karna's hands, the spear that I, his own father, didn't give him. Give him nothing..."
- "And yet the spear was a pious payment for Kavacha and Kundala, which you took from Karna before their battle. It should have been an unconditional victory for Karna because of that very armor, but you decided to intervene because Arjuna is still your son," I continued, then smiled. "That part of the story seems to match."
- "So...!" Indra perked up.
- "It's a complicated question, to be honest," I shook my head. "I'll think about it, but I can't promise when you'll get an answer. Is that okay with you?"
- "Yes," Indra nodded decisively.
- "All right, in that case, we're done here," I said, and when Indra was about to leave, I decided to ask him something else. "Have you already sent Cao Cao to the realm of the dead?"
- "No, but I'm thinking about it," he replied. "Why not?"
- "Let him wander the world for now, he still has one thing he needs to finish," I said, to which Indra nodded thoughtfully and disappeared, after which my gaze turned to Hestia and Hades, who were waiting patiently. "Ugh, it's kind of sad, don't you think?"
- "I've never seen Indra like that before," said Hestia. "Maybe we were wrong about him."
- "Go away, all this darkness, go away. It's only morning, and I don't want to spend the rest of the day in this dark cloud," I said, waving my arms comically above my head. "Anyway, Hades-kun, you have something to say, right? And why are you here, Hestia?"
- "To clarify, Romani," Hestia began. "My brother apologizes for sending Pluto here, and this is the last time he will do something like this."
- "Really?" I glanced suspiciously at Hades.
- "Yes," he replied curtly and looked at Hestia. "Can we leave now? The smell of ravens and bats that has permeated the city is driving me crazy."
- "We've already discussed this," Hestia shook her head and looked sternly at Hades, now truly resembling an older sister. "We are guests in the house of Romani, where the hearth is warm and bright, and your rudeness is unacceptable in this place."
- "And yet that didn't stop him from behaving like that on Olympus," he grinned with his snow-white teeth.
- "Hades!" Hestia scolded him and bowed in my direction. "I apologize for that, Romani. That's just how my brother is."
- "Oh, it's all right. He's funny," I giggled. "But I will still demand compensation."
- "Of course," Hestia nodded.
- "I've heard that the Greek Underworld is quite interesting," I began. "You don't mind if I come visit, do you, Hades-kun?"
- "No," he said firmly. "My home will not be defiled by your annoying presence."
- "It's your own fault!" Hestia interrupted and smacked Hades on the head, causing him to stagger, and when I saw this, I started laughing hysterically. "If you hadn't sent Pluto, all this could have been avoided!"
Wow, Hestia is so uptight, huh? I wonder if Zeus gets the same treatment as Hades, because from what I can see, Olympus listened to me and now Hestia is basically in charge? Now I really want to see that.
- "But, Hestia!"
- "Hush!" she interrupted him immediately, then gave me an apologetic look. "You can visit our Underworld, but only once, okay? That's only fair."
- "Of course, of course," I nodded, and when they were about to leave, I grinned. "I heard that Persephone is quite a stately woman. What do you think I should bring her as a gift, Hestia?"
- "Hestia, don't you dare..."
- "Oh, anything! She often complained about not having any company, and I think you two would have fun together," she smiled, interrupting Hades.
- "Discussing Hades, I presume?" I chuckled, causing Hades to try to look composed, but he didn't succeed very well, considering the wrinkles ON HIS SKULL.
- "Of course!" Hestia agreed. "We're leaving, Romani. Just let me know before you pay her a visit."
- "No problem," I waved them off, and the two left the residence, leaving the house in silence, which didn't last long, because another giggle escaped my lips.
Hestia was doing pretty well. I mean, she really thought I wouldn't notice her eyes darting around in search of one hapless Archer, huh?
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