…
"The Casket of Ancient Winters—mine!"
"Gungnir—mine!"
"The Destroyer Armor—mine!"
"Mine, mine, all mine!"
Watching Leon gather the divine artifacts from Odin's Vault into a neat pile as if claiming loot from a dungeon clear, Thor finally lost his composure.
"Leon… those are my father's treasures and war spoils…"
"That may be," Leon said lightly.
He pointed toward Loki—currently hog-tied in an elaborate restraint by Arcee using Vibranium-woven cables, gagged with a ball gag, and being held upside down.
"But I helped Asgard eliminate a major threat. Maybe if I ask Old Man Odin nicely, he'll just gift them to me out of gratitude."
"Uh…"
Thor fell silent.
Odin was fair in reward and punishment. It wasn't impossible.
But handing out crown-tier relics like party favors? Unlikely.
Still, Thor didn't want to dampen Leon's enthusiasm. He turned to Loki instead.
"Loki. What exactly happened in Asgard?"
"Mmph! Mmphhh!!!"
(If you want answers, let me speak first!!!)
Dangling upside down, veins bulging on his forehead, Loki looked utterly humiliated.
Defeated—and still being publicly disgraced.
…
While Thor interrogated Loki, Leon stepped aside and initiated a video call to Tony.
Beep—beep—connected.
"What?! What is it?!"
"I'm extremely busy. Requires total focus. If this isn't important, don't call!"
Tony's voice blasted through so loudly Leon nearly crushed his phone.
"What are you busy with? Why so grumpy?"
"Heh."
Tony smirked, casually spinning a metallic gyroscope between his fingers.
"While researching the Bio-Magnetic Field, I developed a cellular refinement method for the human body."
"When I finish mastering it, I guarantee it'll shock you."
"…What?"
Leon blinked.
"You've stopped building tech and started cultivating immortality now?"
"Nonono~"
Tony wagged a finger.
"Science is the highest form of mysticism. Magic, cultivation—just branches of science we don't fully understand yet."
He refused to elaborate further.
"Anyway, why did you call?"
Leon tilted the camera, revealing the pile of Asgardian relics behind him.
"I found some divine artifacts on the roadside. Want to drop by and pick one before they're gone?"
"Not interested."
"What kind of junk is that?"
"I can't spare the time. Unless I contact you first, don't call me again. One call just wasted an entire day of cultivation."
Click.
Call ended.
When Leon tried calling again—
Blocked.
"Good. Very good."
Leon smiled with nuclear-level calm as he crushed the phone in his hand.
He was already planning how to thoroughly kick Tony's backside once he got home.
…
Suddenly, Thor shouted in disbelief.
"What?!"
"You allied with Laufey to assassinate Father while he was in the Odinsleep?!"
Thor grabbed Loki by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Loki! What kind of monster does that?!"
"Thor, do you ever let anyone finish speaking?!" Loki snapped.
"How was I supposed to know coming to Midgard—the weakest realm in the Nine Realms—would result in so many variables?!"
"A few centuries ago, they were primitive apes killing each other with crude weapons!"
He shot an annoyed glance at Leon in the distance.
"Did this guy crawl out of a rock?!"
"I never intended to kill Father. I planned to protect him—slay Laufey—and earn my right to the throne through glory."
"That's all! Was that wrong?"
"No!"
"The one at fault is Odin! For taking me from the battlefield! For never telling me I was Frost Giant royalty! For favoring you while denying me the throne!"
"I did nothing wrong!"
"The world is wrong!"
…
Loki's impassioned outburst left Thor speechless.
With his straightforward worldview, Thor struggled to judge the morality of Odin's choice.
"…Brother. If we return now, there may still be time."
Loki muttered it quietly, almost grudgingly.
Hope ignited in Thor's eyes.
He set Loki down and turned.
"Leon. I need you—"
He froze.
"What… are you doing?"
"Waste not, want not."
"Let me experience what it feels like to be Odin."
Leon had already donned the battered but structurally intact Destroyer Armor.
In one hand—Gungnir.
In the other—his Vibranium shield.
The broken Uru chain had been extended with a Vibranium link, and the Casket of Ancient Winters now dangled from it like a leashed pet.
He had no intention of touching that frostbox directly.
Purely in terms of visual presence—
Leon now looked more like a God-King than elderly Odin himself.
"The Nine Realms are one family. As Guardian of Midgard, I have a responsibility to assist Asgard in protecting Odin and eliminating the Frost Giant King Laufey."
"…Thank you."
"But return those artifacts afterward."
Thor couldn't help adding that last part.
"Borrow and return—easy to borrow again."
Leon smiled mysteriously.
…
[Prompt: Do you wish to perform today's Daily Sign-In?]
"System. I shall deploy in God-King Mode."
"Open!"
[Ding! Daily Sign-In complete. Congratulations, Host. You have obtained: YoRHa No.2 Type B (2B).]
[YoRHa No.2 Type B: A general-purpose battle android from NieR: Automata. Equipped with standard military visor, female heat-dissipation framework, tactical Pod support unit, large sword "Virtuous Treaty," small sword "Virtuous Contract," and more. Absolute loyalty to her Master. All commands executed at 100% compliance.]
[Description: Glory to mankind.]
"Oh~"
"Mid-tier strength… but extremely practical utility."
"Hakimi System… you've got good taste."
However—
2B seemed built purely for combat. All metal, all hardware.
Given Leon's physical durability, he could test the limits—
But probably only once.
If her Black Box detonated, that would be… messy.
Looks like the Phase Two "Outfit Upgrade Plan" can't wait.
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