Wandering Tech-Priest in Multiverse

Chapter 212 After the Denatus

As the Denatus ended, gods drifted out in loose clusters, voices low and expressions guarded, each already calculating Apollo's next move.Loki caught Hephaestus by the arm before the forge goddess could disappear into the crowd, dragging her along without waiting for permission.

"Come on," Loki said lightly. "We need to talk. Preferably somewhere with drinks."

Hephaestus grimaced but didn't pull free. "I'm not in the mood for your games."

"I'm not playing," Loki replied. "I just need your help. A little."

A few steps behind them, Hestia hurried to keep up, her earlier confidence dulled, brows knit tight with unease.

"Hey, wait," Hestia called out. "Shouldn't you be looking for the Goibniu Familia instead of Hephaestus?"

Loki glanced back over her shoulder, grin sharp and unapologetic.

"Little kids should stay quiet when adults are talking." Then, without slowing, she added, "As for the Goibniu Familia, those guys are already having an existential crisis."

Ignoring the provocation, Hestia asked, "Oh. Did they forget how to make weapons?"

"Not really," Loki replied. "But I bet they wish they could." She continued, "With Luthar selling weapons like that, the Goibniu Familia is having trouble selling their own."

That got Hephaestus's attention.

"That shouldn't be possible," she said. "Luthar doesn't sell expensive weapons."

Loki tilted her head, tail swaying lazily.

"That's because his cheap weapons are too good," she said. "Once he starts offering repairs, half the blacksmiths in this city won't be able to continue."

"That's… really sad," Hestia said automatically. Then she blinked, finally realizing something, and looked at Hephaestus with wide eyes.

"Wait." She leaned closer.

"Are you… going to become poor?"

Hephaestus stopped walking.

She stared at Hestia for a full second. Then another.

The look on her face was pure disbelief—the kind usually reserved for people who had just tried to heat metal with prayer.

"I have a side business," Hephaestus said flatly.

Loki snorted. "Several," she added. "And they all make more money than you can imagine."

Hestia recoiled slightly.

"H-Hey!"

Hephaestus sighed, already regretting agreeing to this conversation.

The group cut through the crowd as the noise of the city faded, Twilight Manor coming into view, its lively members pointedly ignored as they passed.

The doors closed behind them, muting the city into a distant hum. Inside, Twilight Manor felt lived-in rather than formal.

Cushions lay scattered where they pleased, shelves half-filled with decorations and half with junk no one remembered earning.

Loki reached behind a cabinet, produced a bottle already uncorked, and three glasses that did not match. She poured generously, the dark wine catching the light.

"Drink," she said, pushing a glass toward Hephaestus. "You look like you're about to hit someone with a hammer."

Hephaestus sighed and took the glass but didn't drink, while Hestia accepted hers and automatically took the first sip.

Loki leaned back against the table, swirling her own glass lazily. "So. About those transport vehicles."

Hephaestus's eye narrowed. "No."

"That was fast."

"Those vehicles aren't my creations," Hephaestus replied flatly. "What you're talking about isn't something Luthar is going to sell."

Loki raised a brow. "Then can you at least help me ask him to let me borrow a few of them?"

Hephaestus shrugged. "I can ask, but don't expect much. He doesn't like sharing his creations with outsiders."

Hestia looked between them, frowning.

"He's not like that," she said quickly. "He is actually helpful."

Loki glanced at her sideways. "That so?"

"Yep," Hestia said. Then, without meaning to, added, "I mean, I wouldn't have even left the church if he hadn't started catching Soma's members and turning them into monsters."

The room went quiet.

Hephaestus slowly turned her head. "Hestia."

Loki's smile sharpened. "So that's where the Soma members went," she echoed lightly.

Hestia froze.

"…I didn't mean—" she started, then stopped, realizing it was already too late.

Loki leaned back, amused. "Relax. I'm not like you—I can keep a secret."

Her eyes flicked to Hephaestus. "Well, at least now we know Apollo wasn't lying."

Hephaestus exhaled slowly.

"That's old news," she said flatly. "He stopped going around catching people to turn them into cheap labor."

Loki's grin widened a fraction.

"Old?" she echoed. "It's barely a week old."

The words landed cleanly.

Loki tilted her head, eyes sharp now. "Two members missing—that's not history, Hephaestus. That's current events."

Hearing this, Hephaestus realized her mistake instantly. She had spent time in another world; barely any time had passed here at all.

"Let's pretend this conversation didn't happen," she said quietly. "No point in causing trouble for yourself."

Loki's grin didn't fade. It settled.

"Trouble?" she repeated. "You've got it backwards."

She swirled the wine once, unhurried.

"I don't end up in trouble," Loki said lightly. "Other people do. I just happen to be the cause."

Her eyes flicked to Hephaestus, amused rather than threatening.

"If I actually wanted to cause problems," Loki went on casually, "I wouldn't be sitting here asking nicely. I'd already be knocking on Luthar's door with my Familia behind me."

Before Hephaestus could reply, the device at her side chimed softly.

Once.

Then again.

She paused mid-breath, brows knitting together. Without any attempt at secrecy, she drew the device out and glanced at the display.

Loki noticed immediately.

"Well?" she asked, curiosity genuine now. "That doesn't look like a toy."

Hephaestus didn't answer at first. Her expression shifted as she read, disbelief flickering across her face.

"…Someone tried to assassinate Freya," she said flatly.

The room went still.

She exhaled slowly.

"…Are you serious?" Loki asked.

Hephaestus nodded once. "Very."

Another chime interrupted them.

This one louder.

Hestia jumped and instinctively grabbed the device when it slid closer to her.

"Oh—uh—new message," she said, squinting at the screen before reading aloud without thinking.

"Do you also need a shield generator? Because if someone manages to shoot you back to Heaven, that would be embarrassing."

She blinked.

"…Wow. That's rude."

Loki stared at the device, then at Hephaestus.

Loki's eyes lingered on the device in Hephaestus's hand.

Her amusement faded into open curiosity.

"…What is that?" Loki asked.

Hephaestus didn't bother hiding it. She turned the device once, letting the screen face upward before slipping it back into her palm.

"A communicator," she said. "For messages and calls."

Loki blinked.

"When did the two of you get this close?" she asked, eyes flicking to the device. "Close enough that she worries about your safety."

A brief pause followed, calculation settling behind her gaze.

"…Do you think I could get a few of those too?"

Hephaestus shook her head.

"Not this one," she said. "This is only for people who are close enough."

Loki clicked her tongue. "Figures."

"But," Hephaestus continued, "once we have proper factory is finished, we will be selling phones which you can buy."

Loki's grin crept back.

"So I just have to wait and buy them like everyone else."

"and also pay monthly to let them keep working"

Loki laughed softly. "That might be the cruelest thing you've said all day."

She raised her glass.

"Guess I'll start saving."

The room relaxed again as they got distracted by the device they almost forget about the assassination and start talking about other things. 

Authors note : if you'd like to support my work, please consider joining my . You'll get access to 45+ advanced chapters as well as multiple new novels with plenty of chapters. That means you'll have access to at least 80 chapters to read as long as you're subscribed.

Current Series:

TPM

New Evil of 40K

TBFW

Chosen by a Goddess of Love

Ghost Rider in DxD

https://[email protected]/Silvervir?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

For one time donation I also have 

https://k0-fi.com/silverdvs95