What did Hayden find out? But he still dared to make empty threats! The reason for doing so was simple: he could tell that Freya's smile at him was incredibly fake.
If there wasn't something truly sinister going on, why would Freya deliberately adopt such a contrived posture of submission in the face of Hayden's unreasonable provocation? Of course, Freya might have had other reasons, but Hayden dared to gamble along that line. Perhaps he lacked evidence, but his intuition was guiding him.
Sure enough, it was unclear which of Hayden's words struck a nerve, but Freya's smile finally vanished.
The perfect smile on her face has now turned into a sneer.
“Nonsense. Hayden, your words are full of lies. You don’t know if any of your ten statements are true.”
This reaction was slightly unexpected by Hayden, but it wasn't a big deal. He went along with what she said and continued, "Freya, do you dare say I'm lying?"
"of course."
In the blink of an eye, Freya's aura began to change. Hayden suddenly noticed that the golden ground beneath his feet seemed to be shaking, as did the walls. Freya's cats began to meow and hiss, hiding under the surrounding bushes and flowerbeds, too afraid to come out.
Freya's hands had clenched into fists without her noticing. Her artifact necklace glowed red. She stared at Hayden as if he were the most despicable and repulsive thing she had ever seen.
"Do you think I'm that stupid?"
Then she began to speak again, her tone calm.
"There's no way Karen could be hurt by my randomly thrown curse bombs. I've watched her grow up since she was a child."
Ah this
...Hayden really didn't expect this turn of events—so the cursed bomb on Joanna really was planted by you? And you even confessed to it yourself!?
That makes sense, though. Karen's mother, Hela, was indeed one of the goddesses of the Wotan Corporation!
"I've watched Kallen grow up since she was a baby. I've been following her ever since she came out of the incubation tank. It's a pity I never had the chance to hug her, but I know very well what kind of elite education Peacock King gave her, and I know how strong and powerful she is. When she was eleven years old, she did an over-the-shoulder throw on a frost giant at the Divine Race Children's Martial Arts Tournament, and I was the one who awarded her the prize!"
As Freya spoke, a red light appeared in her originally emerald green eyes.
"Compared to you, her fiancé whom she only met in college, I am far more familiar with and understand Karen. She would be harmed by my cursed bomb?! Utterly ridiculous!"
She toyed with her luminous necklace with her fingers and sneered.
Looking at Freya's strange appearance, perhaps instinctively, a thought suddenly flashed through Hayden's mind—an extremely bizarre thought:
Freya, she... she wouldn't be a lesbian, would she?
But that's unlikely. Hayden recently used the Peacock King's database and read about the modern capitalist gods. Freya is supposedly attracted to men, and extremely promiscuous and unrestrained, even being jokingly said to have "slept with all the Wotan gods." And her artifact necklace, Brishigaman, is rumored to have been obtained hundreds of years ago after spending a night with four dark elves (dwarves)... Ah.
Then Hayden finally understood.
The claim that "he supposedly shared a bed with all the Wotan gods"... doesn't specifically refer to male gods, right?
Recalling Joanna's strange behavior and the suspicious aspects of her actions, as well as the things Hayden had intuitively suspected, he finally realized something that should have been obvious from the very beginning:
Joanna is a dark elf (dwarf).
She initially acted as if she wanted to seduce Hayden, but now she's gone and gotten close to Karen.
Moreover, Hayden had previously mentioned (although that was several years ago) that there is a type of witchcraft in the Norse magic system called "Vazlock Spells," also known as "Sez Spells," which can only be used by witches and is a spell that is good at casting curses and seducing people.
As everyone knows, the Wotan Corporation has two gods with the strongest magical power. One is Odin, a male god; and the female god of magic is, of course, Freya.
She was more adept at casting curses and seductive spells than Odin.
So now back to the question: Was Joanna really just a victim of the dark elf cursed by Freya?
Or perhaps, she was a seduction specialist sent by Freya from the very beginning, and that self-destruction was just a ruse?
Thinking further, if Joanna really was a spy sent by Freya to seduce Hayden or Karen, then why would Freya send her to do such a strange thing?
Hayden could only intuitively think of one answer at this point:
You Freya, so you're actually a pervert who'd even lay a hand on a loli, indiscriminate in your desires, and want to sleep with anyone!?
252: Why is this a story about love!?
Freya self-destructed in a very strange place, which should have been good news for Hayden, but unfortunately the situation has now become somewhat unfavorable.
Freya didn't think there was anything wrong with what she had just said.
“I fell in love with Karen the moment Hela introduced her to the social circles of the gods when she was just a month old.”
She spoke loudly, decisively, and openly.
"It was like being struck by lightning. I could see back then that the child's soul had unparalleled potential and presence."
"I admire heroes with strong hearts the most. Over the past few centuries, I have witnessed the souls of thousands of warriors and tasted the indomitable spirits of heroes. Yet, even so, the radiance of Karen's soul, the light within her, is still the most beautiful and dazzling I have ever seen! It was so from the moment she was born, and it has only grown brighter as she has grown up."
At first glance, this might seem like a compliment, but upon closer inspection, Hayden couldn't help but wonder if Freya was out of her mind: falling in love at first sight with a one-month-old baby? What kind of shocking and perverted thing is that?
But Freya really didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said.
"So ever since then I've been following her, wanting to see how she grows up and how she becomes more and more beautiful."
As she spoke, her expression became somewhat captivated.
"When Kallen was little, she initially just admired the Peacock King and worked hard to become stronger. Before she was even eight years old, she was already able to fight trolls, snowmen, wolves as big as tanks, and bears as big as houses. This was actually a bit boring because she was just imitating the peacock's back. But Kallen was still very cute when she was working hard to train."
Freya spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and was deeply moved as she recalled the past.
However, Hayden on the other side was dumbfounded—you train the War God race by throwing them out to fight monsters from a young age?
He turned to look at the two Valkyrie attendants beside him, only to find that they didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with Freya's words at all.
Moreover, once Freya started talking, it was as if she couldn't stop, continuing to speak incessantly:
"Hela has never been a good mother. Although she doesn't shortchange her children, she never truly cares about them. The Peacock King only tries his best to teach her martial arts and enhance her fighting power; he's not really a loving father. So of course, only I, the goddess of love, can take care of her, support her, love her, and bestow upon her the beauty and wisdom of a goddess! Because I know her brilliance and potential are definitely not just about becoming a war goddess."
"Sure enough, when Karen was twelve, she began to change. She stopped imitating her father and shifted her pursuit from personal strength to the power to change the world. Who helped her then? Who taught her alchemy? Do you think it was Hela? She didn't even have enough time to play around with it herself! Although she programmed alchemical talent into Karen's genes, the one who truly taught Karen the basics of alchemy was me!"
Freya spoke with shining eyes, clearly very excited.
Hayden was aware of what she was talking about. Karen had once told Hayden why she had suddenly switched from being a potential battle god to studying alchemy.
Considering that Freya and Hela, both goddesses of the Wotan Company, are alchemy masters, but Hela is clearly more specialized in the darker aspects of alchemy, Hayden realized at this moment that Karen's current alchemical thinking might indeed have been influenced by the goddess Freya.
On the other hand, Hela is clearly a poor mother. If something were to really happen to Karen, Hela would definitely step in to help. But expecting her to also genuinely care for Karen on a regular basis is a bit too much to ask of Hela's personality.
Now, after hearing Freya's self-disclosure, Hayden realized that Freya might have actually played part of the mother figure in Karen's childhood... even though Freya is a bit perverted.
But if that's the case, why is Freya now turning her gaze back to Hayden, and why has the smile on her face disappeared?
Hayden wasn't stupid. After listening to Freya's explanation, he began to realize something—Karen had run away from home after her childhood ended to attend university in New Jersey. Did this mean she had also escaped Freya's clutches?
Probably not. The influence of a top influencer extends worldwide. Rather, if Freya truly wanted to add Karen, this priceless gem, to her treasury and possess her completely, then Karen's running away from home would actually be a perfect opportunity for Freya.
So, completely baffled, Hayden tentatively asked, "Are you suggesting that Karen wasn't as radiant after she met me in college?"
His words only elicited a look of disgust from Freya: "What nonsense are you spouting? How could Karen's radiance be diminished because of you? Rather, do you think you can diminish her radiance?"
"Indeed, when she ran away from home to attend university, she looked as disheveled as if she had rolled into the dust. The other gods thought her future was ruined. Although the Peacock King and Hela did not strongly object, they were clearly disappointed as well. However, I—only I—have been watching her all along, and I can see that the light of her will shines even brighter, like a gem covered in dust!"
"As expected, she has made a name for herself again in the past few years, and now no god can question her brilliance!"
Even so, Freya's gaze toward Hayden grew even more furious as she spoke, leaving Hayden both bewildered and terrified.
Now, anyone can see that Freya is a pervert who's been infatuated with Kallen since she was a baby. So what's going on now? Jealous?
Now that things had come to this, Hayden didn't want to keep playing games with Freya, so he boldly asked directly, "Freya, after listening to so much you've said, I can tell that you really like Karen. So what exactly is it about me that you don't like? Aren't I Karen's most important right-hand woman right now, helping her realize her dreams?"
Hayden's words, once spoken, immediately ignited Freya's anger!
"I don't like you because you're completely unworthy to be Karen's most important right-hand man! Let alone her fiancé!"
The golden floor of the temple, and indeed the entire space, trembled with the goddess's wrath!
"I've been watching Karen, and of course I've been watching you too! Hayden, what are you? You're not a god, not even a deity. To put it bluntly, you're just a cunning wizard who takes advantage of others and deceives them! What's the difference between what you did for Karen and what you did for a loyal secretary? What makes you think you can be Karen's husband?! Just because you fought for her? Run errands for her and other gods? Just because you helped her build a city in the wilderness and even went to the Dead Sea to do a huge advertising campaign? -- It's infuriating!"
Freya grew angrier and angrier as she spoke, though it was unclear what she was angry about.
Hayden was completely bewildered by this goddess: "Aren't you really speaking up for me? It sounds like I have a lot of reason to marry Karen."
"Big mistake!"
But Freya immediately responded with a cold laugh.
"How can these be a reason for marriage? At best, they only reinforce your identity as Karen's collaborator. Okay, I admit you are indeed helping Karen move towards her dream. But do you feel it? She is suffering right now."
……what?
These words finally took Hayden by surprise: "What are you talking about? What makes you say that?"
Seeing Hayden's reaction, Freya's anger gradually subsided, turning into mockery: "You say you're her fiancé, wow, that's great. So where are you every year on her birthday? Hanging out with that vampire with the smoke-glasses?"
噫
Where were you on Qixi Festival and Valentine's Day? Were you at home having sex with that robot maid behind you?
Hey, you can't just say things like that!
"Not only do you dalize with idols, but you're also flirting with the demoness Abigail Hecate. Do you think no one knows? Do you think the entire divine society doesn't care? What do you think the other gods are saying about Kallen behind her back?"
But Freya clearly got more and more excited as she talked.
"Yes, you did keep expanding Karen's business... but do you think I'm stupid? These new industries you developed were completely unplanned. You did a huge advertisement for [Dream Flower], but that was a grand ceremony! You just messed things up based on your own whims. Do you know how much of a burden that ceremony placed on Karen's cash flow, and how much effort she had to put in to resolve things afterwards?"
Faced with Hayden's silence, Freya shook her head: "You have no idea, Hayden. When you do things, you never consider how much trouble Karen will have to clean up after you, otherwise you wouldn't have done something as stupid as hiring 40,000 people at once last month."
"You say you're her fiancé? Fine. Have you ever given her a gift? She manages the company every day, have you ever comforted or eased her fatigue? Have you ever asked her out on dates? Have you ever said words of love to her? Have you ever treated her as your future wife, as the best woman in the world?"
"Hayden, Hayden, is Karen your wife or your boss?"
Freya released all her pent-up resentment and jealousy in one go, pouring it onto Hayden's face. She finally felt satisfied.
Hayden was speechless for a moment.
That is indeed his problem.
When Hayden used Karen's money, he was actually quite cautious and didn't dare to spend it recklessly. However, he genuinely hadn't considered those complex organizational plans. Moreover, Hayden had never thought about celebrating Karen's birthday, taking her out, or anything like Valentine's Day or Qixi Festival... These thoughts hadn't even crossed his mind. Only now, after Freya's harsh rebuke, did Hayden realize that he didn't even remember Karen's birthday, let alone truly appreciate the extra effort Karen had put in after all those events.
Freya didn't use force against Hayden. However, at this moment, just being harshly criticized by her words, Hayden felt his will and morale wavering. For a moment, he was actually so overwhelmed by Freya's barrage of words that he wanted to collapse on the ground in embarrassment.
A guy who claims to be her fiancé and who claims to like Karen doesn't even know her birthday, hasn't asked her out, and hasn't expressed any romantic feelings for her. What right does he have to say he loves her wholeheartedly?
Freya's sharp tongue is formidable; she's about to defeat Hayden on his own forte. This dignified wizard is about to be insulted by the goddess of love with his words!
It's strange, considering Hayden has defeated so many powerful and terrifying enemies over the years, how come he was defeated by Freya before they even really fought?
In fact, their mysterious conversation, though seemingly bizarre, is closely connected to Freya's divinity and divine authority.
Freya, though a goddess with multiple attributes, is ultimately closest to her essence as the goddess of love and beauty. She is an extremely amorous and unrestrained goddess, specializing in the seductive and manipulative magic of Sez. It is said that she has slept with all the Wotan gods and frequently engages in flirtatious lovemaking with both gods and mortals. Even the Briskiaman necklace, the artifact that best showcases her divine power, is rumored to have been obtained by her after spending a night with four dark elves hundreds of years ago.
However, she also has a motherly side, loving her child. For example, she would undertake massive arcane engineering projects and drive the greatest arcane rituals to protect her beloved son, Baldr.
Freya's love is vast and boundless, and each love is also profound.
In other words, her true nature—her essence as a goddess—is precisely this passionate and deep love. This is the goddess Freya.
Her jealousy, her "love," is something with the same "power" as divine power. There is no stronger driving force in this world than love.
Hayden was defeated by Freya's power, essentially because he was defeated by her divine strength and magical attributes. He was knocked down because he deeply realized in this struggle how inadequate and shallow his love was.
“I love Karen very much, so I will never forgive anyone who hurt her. If anyone hurts her, I will make that person experience all the pain in the world and then sink them into the Atlantic Ocean.”
Freya continued rambling on, beaming with pride.
Standing behind Hayden, Angela tilted her head, seemingly hesitant about whether or not to say something. Hayden knew Angela wanted to speak, but he had been thoroughly demoralized by this verbal battle. He now truly felt from the bottom of his heart just how much of a failure he had been in love, to the point that he almost didn't want to argue with Freya anymore.
So Hayden simply looked up and took another look at Freya's expression.
Freya looked very pleased and happy. A smile appeared on her face, a triumphant look on her face, as if she had dealt a heavy blow to Hayden, who was unworthy of loving Karen.
However, for some reason, Hayden found this expression rather strange.
For some reason, this seems excessive.
A sense of unease pierced the depths of Hayden's mind, causing his intuition to kick in again and making him suddenly think of something strange.
"Freya, you said I never loved Karen wholeheartedly, and I never considered or cared about her pressure. I accept these accusations. Putting aside whether I 'never' did, I certainly didn't do my best. I didn't realize that Karen was under extra pressure and facing many difficulties behind my back."
So Hayden frowned and asked.
"But you're a big shot, you're always paying attention to Karen, right? Since you keep saying you like her—where were you and what were you doing when Karen was in trouble before?"
This question immediately froze Freya's smile. Hayden also vaguely heard what sounded like a clicking of the tongue.
At that moment, Hayden finally understood:
This so-called goddess of love, the love in her heart is not as glamorous as she claims.
Then the next problem is easy to solve.