The War Game was over.
With the sound of a new round of bells, the divine mirrors distributed across various areas of Orario vanished.
Although this War Game was not as intense or exciting as previous ones, it still generated huge buzz within Orario.
The story of Lynn single-handedly challenging the Soma Familia and one-shotting Zanis under heavy siege spread through every street and alley, becoming a popular topic of conversation.
Until the moment the War Game concluded, many people were still discussing how strong Lynn's power truly was.
On the other side, after the War Game ended, Lynn and Lili boarded a pre-prepared carriage and spent nearly half a day returning to Orario.
Entering the city through the main gate, the two proceeded to the Soma Familia headquarters as previously arranged.
"Lynn! Lili! Over here, over here!"
Hestia, who had arrived at the Soma Familia headquarters earlier, stood at the entrance, waving her small hands at the pair.
When the two approached, she reached out and patted Lili's shoulder, a smile on her face.
"You did well! Lili!"
"Lili didn't really do much, I just helped delay some time."
Lili looked to the side: "This time went so smoothly, it's all thanks to Lord Lynn."
"Don't be modest. You contributed just as much as Lynn to winning so easily."
"Hestia is right about that. If you hadn't helped stall the Soma Familia, I wouldn't be standing here so comfortably right now."
Lynn nodded slightly, adding his agreement.
To win this War Game, Lynn had prepared four plans in total.
And among these four plans, the most effective was the time-delaying plan.
If Lili hadn't successfully stalled Zanis, he would have needed to invest much more time and effort to win this War Game.
Even if he had won the War Game then, he wouldn't be as relaxed and at ease as he was now.
"Oh right, Hestia."
"Lili applied to join the Hestia Familia. You should know about this, right?"
"Yes, I saw it on the divine mirror."
Hestia nodded: "Once Lili's business here is concluded, we will hold the transfer ceremony."
"..."
Lili's body stiffened.
Although Hestia didn't explicitly say it, she knew exactly what the other party was referring to.
At that moment, a gaze fell upon her.
Lili seemed to sense something and looked up towards the figure not far away.
"God Soma..."
"Let's begin."
Soma didn't say much; he just walked over and handed Lili a cup filled with divine liquor.
An intoxicatingly cool fragrance washed over her, and Lili's complexion instantly turned pale.
Although she had mentally prepared herself on the way back, many things couldn't be resolved just by being mentally prepared.
Facing the divine liquor again, Lili felt unprecedented pressure, and her body began to tremble.
"Don't be nervous, Lili."
Just then, Hestia's gentle voice came from beside her.
"It's okay even if you fail."
"As long as you muster the courage to stand up again, you won't be inferior to anyone."
"Lady Hestia..."
"Although Hestia said that, don't get too relaxed either."
Lynn held a sealed box in his hand from who knows when.
"This is a new bait I've researched. Its effect is even stronger than the previous version."
"If you fail the challenge against the divine liquor, next time you go monster-pulling with the Take-Mikazuchi Familia."
"..."
Are you sure that thing is bait?
Lili wanted to speak but stopped, looking at Lynn, unsure where to even begin her complaints.
As a supporter, Lili also knew how to make bait.
However, the bait she made and the bait Lynn made were completely different things.
That stench which struck straight at the soul seemed more like a biochemical weapon than bait.
But what Lili didn't expect was that the bait used previously wasn't even Lynn's limit.
Without anyone noticing, he had actually improved the bait.
"Lord Lynn, may Lili ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Has the taste of the new bait changed?"
"Yes. Because the new version of the bait is a torture device, I prepared for Zanis, its taste is 11 times that of the first version."
"..."
So, this really is a biochemical weapon.
Taking the wine glass from Soma's hand, Lili's body stopped trembling at some point.
"Don't worry, Lord Lynn."
Like a warrior about to step onto the battlefield, the Palum Girl's eyes were filled with determination.
"Lili will not lose again!"
As the words fell, the divine liquor, radiating a sweet fragrance, flowed down her throat into her stomach.
Without using divine power or any Mystery, the divine liquor, brewed solely through technique, turned into a vast army and launched an attack on the girl.
Under the power of the divine liquor, the world in Lili's eyes began to twist as if collapsing.
All things lost their original colors, and a colorful black filled every corner.
And along with the twisted world came a constant, flowing sense of pleasure in her mind.
Like someone who had held back for months and finally broke their vow, an indescribable sense of pleasure turned into waves, impacting Lili's brain wave after wave.
But amidst this constant impact, Lynn's face remained in Lili's mind.
He held a box in his hand, standing before her with a faint smile on his face.
"If you fail the divine liquor challenge, next time you will sit at the same table as the Take-Mikazuchi Familia."
No, that doesn't seem to be what he said.
"This is a torture device I used to interrogate you, with 11.4514 times the effect of the original."
That doesn't seem right either. What were the original words?
Drifting in the waves of desire, Lili struggled to recall Lynn's words.
Finally, at some moment, a glimmer of light appeared before her, and the twisted world began to collapse.
Looking at the familiar figure appearing before her, Lili subconsciously called out.
"...Lord Lynn..."
"!!!"
Soma, next to her, suddenly widened his eyes.
"Lili... succeeded...?"
Seeming to realize what had happened, Lili's voice began to tremble.
"Lili succeeded! Lord Lynn!"
"Yes, you succeeded."
Lynn silently put away the box in his hand.
Although this bait couldn't be used on the Soma Familia, it seemed it was put to use with Lili.
"Wow! Lili, you're amazing!"
Hestia let out a cheer.
She clenched her fists and raised them above her head, a triumphant smile on her face.
"Did you see that! Soma!"
"I told you Lili would succeed!"
"...I lost."
Soma was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.
If losing the War Game meant that the Soma Familia was inferior to the Hestia Familia.
Then losing this divine liquor bet meant that he, as a deity, had lost to Hestia.
The other party's words were correct.
The characteristic of children in the lower world is their unpredictability.
As a deity, he should go and tap into the children's potential, instead of blindly hoping for miracles.
"God Soma, it's over."
On the other side, after a short rest, Lili stood up from the ground.
Looking at the wine god before her, she handed back the wine glass she hadn't let go of for a long time.
"This time, Lili won."
...