Fated Encounter (9)

The time had finally come to claim my reward from Odin after winning against Asgard, but.

Where am I supposed to use these guys?

It's not that Asgard is incompetent or anything.

Odin, if not all-powerful, is a being who surpasses omnipotence, and Freya is a goddess of magic great enough to rival Odin on equal footing.

Besides them, the other gods and Valkyries could also be used as excellent workers.

However, whether I can trust and entrust them with work is another matter.

Have Odin do something?

I can't trust and leave things to her, not knowing what tricks a cunning fox like Odin might pull behind my back.

As for Freya or the other gods and Valkyries, they were Odin's subordinates anyway, so they're not even worth discussing.

Should I just kill them after all?

That seems more convenient...

I looked at Odin with killing intent, and she trembled.

"Wh-what?! I'm not scared at all even if you look at me like that!"

"Tsk. Never mind."

"Hmph! Go ahead and try to kill me if you want."

Clearly putting on a brave face, but obviously terrified.

Killing something like that would only leave a bad aftertaste.

Then I need to find a way to use her without killing her.

In Linnea's case, I could use Asgard as a hostage by placing a location-tracking spell on her using Ratatoskr.

But Odin isn't someone who can be controlled with mere location tracking, and even if I did place such a spell, someone with Odin's abilities could easily remove it.

No, maybe I should try to use that very point?

Then I need a stronger restriction.

But there's no way to place such a restriction, and even if there were, placing such a restriction on a being like Odin would require an enormous cost.

What should I really do about this?

"Odin. Tell me a way to use you without killing you."

"You're asking me that?"

"Who do you think caused this situation? If you don't like it, I'll kill you right here on the spot."

I raised my sharp claws close, and Odin, seemingly not wanting to die, stretched both arms forward to stop my action.

"W-wait! Wait a minute. Let me think."

"You'd better stop scheming and hurry up and think of something. 5..4.."

"Ugh, seriously!"

I slowly folded my fingers one by one as a gesture of consideration, and she clutched her head, and after agonizing, came up with a perfect method.

"3..2..1.."

"O-okay! I remembered! So, put those claws away!"

"It's not about remembering, you need to explain the method. That way, I can choose whether to put them away or stab you."

If she mentions some useless method she can exploit, I'll have to kill her even if it means dealing with future annoyances.

Ignoring Linnea's anxious gaze from behind, I brought my claws a little closer, and Odin, who gulped, opened her mouth.

"Th-there's a method I discovered while spying on other worlds before..."

"What is it?"

"It's called a G-G-G-G-Geas. It's swearing an oath with your very existence on the line."

"What's the penalty for breaking the oath?"

"It varies depending on the oath."

"Hmm..."

I never thought she'd bring up techniques from other worlds.

Rather than judging this immediately, I should see how it's done firsthand and then decide.

"Can you use it right now?"

"It's p-possible... but what kind of oath are you planning to make?"

"Keeping it simple is best, I suppose. 'Do not betray me.' Swear that."

"Alright..."

Odin got up from her spot.

And reaching into the air, she took out the staff made from a branch of Yggdrasil that she used when fighting me.

"I thought so during the fight too, that staff looks nice."

"I-I'm not giving this away!"

"Who said I'm taking it? I just said it looks nice."

"R-really? Phew... I thought you'd take Gambanteinn too."

"So it's called Gambanteinn."

"Gasp...!"

Odin, showing a will to never let it be taken, tightly hugged the staff to her chest.

I really had no intention of taking it, but seeing her react like that made me want to take it even more.

Suppressing the deep-seated desire rising within me to torment Odin, I urged her to just use the Geas already.

Odin carefully took the staff from her embrace, gripped it in her hand, and tapped the ground.

Then, just like during the fight earlier, a circular magic circle appeared centered on Odin.

"Ho-ho."

"Th-they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠used a method of engraving restrictions on their own destiny using a special power, but since I can't do that, I borrowed a method of interfering with destiny through magic instead."

"Even if you explain it like that, it's hard to understand, so just use it already."

"Just a strong, stupid brute..."

"What did you say?"

"A-a-ah, no no no!!"

Odin probably thought she muttered it quietly enough that I wouldn't hear, but my physical abilities picked up even those tiny words, so I considered punching her once but let it go.

Then Odin's mouth opened.

"【Geas】"

The magic circle shone brightly.

And from it, a golden chain shot out and pierced Odin's solar plexus.

Though startled by the sudden self-harm, she had no wounds despite the chain piercing her chest.

Is that the Geas?

"【I, Odin, shall not betray Nidhogg.】"

As Odin's words ended, the chain gradually turned transparent and completely disappeared.

"It's done."

"That's it?"

"Yes. Now I, Odin, cannot betray Nidhogg."

"That's more underwhelming than I thought... Is it properly done? Should we test it out simply?"

Compared to the initial impact, it was underwhelming, and since it's Odin, I was worried she might have pulled some strange trick again, but she reacted very violently even to the words "simple test."

"D-don't even joke about that! I-it's an oath sworn with my existence on the line, so if broken, who knows what price will come!"

"What about a very minor betrayal? That's fine, right?"

"Th-that's why I said it's not about doing a major betrayal, it's a minor betrayal! It's not about the scale of the betrayal, but the act of attempting betrayal itself—if you do it wrong, you could even die!"

"Oh, really? Thanks for explaining."

"U-uuurgh!!"

Odin had a face like she wanted to rush over and punch me right then, clenching her fists tightly, but she couldn't even do that, likely because it fell within the scope of betrayal.

Instead, I flicked Odin's forehead with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my claw.

What can you do even if you're angry?

Even after all this, Odin couldn't do anything.

Considering she couldn't hold back earlier and threw a potion bottle, it seems the Geas really took effect.

Knowing that Odin can no longer betray me, I felt somewhat relieved.

To be honest, it's fine if Freya, the other gods, and the Valkyries aim for my back.

There's that much of a gap in standing between them and me.

But Odin is different.

I had no clue when or how she might betray me.

That's why I didn't give orders like "obey my commands."

Using the Geas to impose too severe restrictions would likely just breed resentment, so it's better to end it at a level where, as long as she doesn't do anything, it's effectively the same as having no restrictions—just not betraying.

"Then shall we head back now?"

Dealing with Asgard and capturing Apophis, who was summoned by the Fiends' side, took quite some time.

Around now, Shin Su-ah, Baek Yeon, and Haeryeong are probably worried, right?

Or not? Since Yoo Da-eun is with them, they might know roughly what happened and are quietly waiting.

Before leaving Asgard, I decided to give Odin a simple-not-simple request.

"I'm leaving now, so don't go conquering worlds ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or anything, just wait quietly. Ah, don't touch Apophis's corpse, and also, I'm taking Linnea with me."

"Ugh! Who do you think is busy cleaning up the mess because of you?"

"Good to hear."

I lightly flapped my wings, flew up, and was just about to leave Asgard.

"Ah, come to think of it, I should take Gungnir."

Odin's beloved spear, but now it's my collectible—Gungnir.

I reached out my claw to retrieve Gungnir, which was still placed carefully on a clean cloth spread beside Odin.

And the moment I picked up Gungnir.

Ggwag.

"Huh?"

"...."

"Odin. Let go of this."

"Th-that... can't you not take it?"

Odin, holding onto the tip of Gungnir and resisting with a timid voice.

Maybe she grew attached to her beloved spear after seeing it again after so long.

But I have no intention of handing over Gungnir.

"Wasn't it you who abandoned Gungnir in that world in the first place? Then the finder is the owner, right?"

"W-well... it was originally mine. I-it couldn't be helped that I abandoned it..."

"Ugh, seriously. So pathetic. Fine, just hand it over."

I pushed Odin's head away with my other foot and snatched Gungnir away.

Odin rolled deguldegul on the ground, covered in dust, and collapsed.

"If you listen well, I might lend it to you later? So just clean up and wait. Linnea, you come with me."

After taking Gungnir, I flew high up, flapped my wings leisurely, and headed back to the frontlines where the others would be waiting.

Is this one matter resolved?

Asgard, after Nidhogg left.

Odin, who had been lying in a pathetic position on the ground covered in dust, waiting for Nidhogg to get far enough away, got up.

She brushed off the dust on her body toktok and twisted her lips ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into a smile.

The corner of her mouth trembling as it lifted only on one side looked utterly despicable to anyone.

"Hee, hee-hee. G-gone, right?"

Even though Nidhogg had already moved out of her magic detection range, Odin, who hadn't let her guard down, now laughed heartily as if she couldn't hold back anymore.

"Hehuhuhuhahahahahat!! Nidhogg! You might have won the clash of brute force, but the battle of wits is my victory!"

Having started the fight without proper confirmation, Odin had lost.

The humiliation tasted after so long.

But from the moment she was defeated by Nidhogg, Odin had been formulating her own plan.

If she can't win in a frontal confrontation, she'll fight in a different way.

Odin, who had anticipated that Nidhogg, having won the fight, would try to put a leash on her, deliberately pretended to agonize and suggested the Geas.

And after using the Geas, she twisted her entire body, blatantly showing signs that the Geas restriction was dangerous.

Thanks to that, she completely fooled Nidhogg.

Of course, it's not that breaking the Geas of not betraying isn't dangerous.

But.

"My, my name isn't just 'Odin'."

That's right.

For Odin, the name Odin was merely one among countless names.

Wotan, Wodanaz, Wodans, Aldafadr, Alfodr, Bolverk, Folgnyr, Gaut, Grimnir, Havi, Val-fodr, Ygg.

Besides those, Odin possesses countless other names.

Thus, a single name like Odin is something she can sacrifice to defeat Nidhogg.

Thinking of taking revenge on Nidhogg, who so pathetically left her alone just trusting the Geas, Odin laughed uproariously.

"Huhahahahat!! At the most critical moment, I'll give your back a nice, cool smack, Nidhogg!!"

"Odin!! Stop the nonsense and come help clean up!!"

"Ah, uh, ugh. Fine..."

First, cleaning up the utterly devastated Asgard is the priority, but.

Meanwhile, immense magic power swirled in the eyes of Nidhogg, who was flying toward the frontlines.

Feeling something off about Odin not getting up for a long time after he left, Nidhogg, who had been secretly monitoring, heard everything Odin said from start to finish.

Looking at Odin, who, despite having struck first and been beaten like that, was still thinking of stabbing him in the back, Nidhogg clicked his tongue.

"Wow, that crazy bitch. What should I really do?"

"What's wrong? Did Odin-nim do something again?"

"Yeah. The moment we left, she was already calculating how to betray me."

"Eh? No. I already knew she had that kind of personality, but... how about it. Will you go back even now?"

Seeing Linnea, who stopped mid-air and tried to change direction, Nidhogg shook his head.

"No. Let her be. Let's see how far she goes."

"Aren't you worried about really getting stabbed in the back?"

"Even so, it's just Odin. Dealing with her this time, I realized. She's surprisingly a screw-up, you know."

"Only someone like Nidhogg-nim can say such a thing."

"Is that so? Anyway, until she betrays me, I'll drop by whenever I have time to torment her, and if she betrays, I'll just leash her again and torment her even more."

Looking at Nidhogg, giggling at the thought of tormenting Odin, Linnea thought to herself.

'Good thing I switched sides to Freya-nim's faction.'

Whether it's Odin or Nidhogg.

With the thought that both sides have terrible personalities.