Surprise! I've Transmigrated Again-Chapter 272 ⤞ War Game — Part II

Venue.

Many higher Gods had gathered for the War Game, with almost all of Orario's deities in attendance.

Though they saw a clear power imbalance between the two sides, they came to watch anyway — if only to add some entertainment to their mundane days.

Most significantly, Orario's top leaders had come to observe, which naturally drew the interest of other deities. Their presence lent considerable weight to the event.

Notably, thanks to Apollo's "tireless efforts", almost all of Orario's higher Gods sided with Hestia. They viewed his actions with contempt and disdain, though this support couldn't affect the War Game's outcome.

As the main parties, Hestia and Apollo arrived early at the venue. They began quarreling the moment they met.

Apollo looked down at the petite Goddess with a smug expression, "Heh heh heh, Hestia, have you said goodbye to those two children? Well, enjoy your last moments in Orario... no, in the lower world. This is your last day! Because once you lose, I'll demand you leave the lower world!"

"Hmph, Apollo, you're the one! Starting today, all your assets will be mine! And you'll be the one who's banished forever!"

With Adam as her backup, Hestia stood her ground, boldly meeting his provocations.

The two traded harsh words, neither willing to yield.

Seeing Hestia's confidence, Apollo felt uneasy — this wasn't going as he'd expected. She was far too composed, her bearing more assured than his own.

Still, he couldn't imagine losing. With his 100 powerful Familia members, he remained confident.

The final victory would surely be his! But such hopes were mere delusions. Even Orario's two top Familia Gods, Loki and Freya, shared this view.

"Hey, Freya, I have something to ask you." Loki said to the Beauty Goddess beside her in the corner. With fox-like eyes, she asked craftily, "In this match, which side do you favor?"

Freya answered without hesitation, "Well, if I had to say, I think Apollo will win."

"Oh, is that so?" Loki's voice softened, her expression relaxing.

But then Freya added, "...Though, as someone who dares to bare their fangs at the strong despite being weak, I still hope little sister Hestia wins."

"Is that so, you too?"

Her words seemed to carry hidden meaning.

As someone who knew Adam's true strength, she naturally understood that Apollo's defeat was already a foregone conclusion.

During the Monster Feria incident, Loki had grown suspicious of Freya's motives based on the Beauty Goddess's peculiar request. Now she feigned confusion to probe deeper into Freya's true intentions.

Yet Freya, equally cunning, responded with calculated ambiguity that revealed nothing. This only prompted Loki to test her more deliberately.

At last, Loki was certain—while the Beauty Goddess openly showed interest in the "Rabbit", she truly harbored feelings for Adam!

Having unraveled Freya's thoughts, Loki's brows furrowed with concern.

The situation troubled her deeply. Since Adam had saved her Familia's children before, she dreaded the thought of him falling under the Beauty Goddess's spell.

"That child..." Freya sighed wistfully, giving only perfunctory answers to Loki's questions.

For three days now, working as a tavern waitress, she hadn't caught a glimpse of Adam. Only Bell had visited, seeking her help in persuading Ryuu to join the game.

When asked about Adam's whereabouts, Bell could only say that he had entered the Dungeon early — even as Familia Captain, he didn't know Adam's plans.

Despite sending Familia members to search the Dungeon and going themselves, they found no trace of him.

Where have you been these past few days?

The love-struck Beauty Goddess grew melancholic. She longed to witness the growth of the child who had captured her heart. His brief absence drove her to distraction, leading her to act in ways unbefitting her divine status.

Yet when Adam finally appeared, anticipation filled her heart. She eagerly awaited what new surprises this briefly vanished man might bring — only this could fill the emptiness in her heart and soul.

In their corner of the venue, Loki pondered while Freya waited expectantly. Both fell silent.

The venue bustled with activity until noon drew near.

Asfi checked her pocket watch and said, "Lord Hermes, it's time."

"Ah, yes, let's begin." At his Familia member's reminder, Hermes assumed his role as venue host to start the War Game, "Ouranos, please grant me permission to use divine power."

"I grant it."

Standing at the venue's center, with Ouranos's permission from below, Hermes began broadcasting the distant battlefield.

A brief explanation: the Divine Mirror possesses clairvoyant abilities, showing everything at once across separate locations — essentially functioning as a projector.

This remains the only divine art permitted in the lower world, solely for the Gods' entertainment.

"Divine Mirror setup complete! Let me explain once more — this War Game takes the form of a Siege Battle! Both sides' main forces are already on the battlefield, awaiting the noon bell to begin! And now... The opening!"

As Hermes concluded his speech, the noon bell tolled, and the War Game commenced.

At that moment, the scene transformed.

The view changed from Hyakinthos deploying defenses inside the fortress to six young men and women outside the fortress.

"Hehehe, Hestia, even though your Familia has gained four new members, six versus a hundred people — there's no way you can win." Apollo continued to attack Hestia's confidence.

Her calm demeanor unsettled the Sun God, who had been certain of victory. He tried to ease his own anxiety by taunting her further.

"Hmph, who knows what the result will be?" Hestia turned away with a pout and focused on the Divine Mirror, refusing to argue further.

In her heart, she prayed for Adam to lead Bell and the others to victory. Though she believed in his strength, she couldn't help worrying.

When she saw Adam step forward alone, her concern showed plainly on her face.

"Hahaha! Has your child lost his mind?!" Apollo burst out laughing. Seeing his squad leader ordering archers to fire, he shouted, "Lissos! Don't harm him at all — absolutely not!"

Though his voice couldn't reach the battlefield, he jumped up and down directing the battle like a frenzied monkey, trying to unnerve Hestia.

Hestia closed her eyes, the Sun God's noise becoming unbearable. His tactics were working.

"Oh—?!"

"This is..."

"Hmm, interesting."

"Is that child using magic?"

At the deities' astonished voices, she slowly raised her head.

Seeing all the arrows suspended one meter from Adam, Hestia's heart soared — victory suddenly seemed within reach.

"What are you doing, Lissos?!" Apollo panicked, shouting wildly, "Shoot! Shoot again! Keep firing!"

His earlier commands about not harming Adam had vanished in his frenzy.

His disgraceful behavior filled the deities with contempt. Even Freya glared at him fiercely, contemplating how to banish him back to heaven.

"Hahaha, that's it, that's it!" Apollo grew arrogant and erratic again when he saw Adam seemingly forced back.

But his celebration was premature!

"Yes, yes, that's it! Hit him har— Gah—?!!!" His beautiful face twisted in horror.

Through the Divine Mirror appeared a sight none of Orario's deities, including Apollo himself, had ever imagined.

It was falling!

"Explosion—!!!"

Though the Divine Mirror carried no sound, every deity understood his words. As they watched the giant fireball descend from the sky, even the slowest among them grasped what was happening.

—Magic! Incredibly powerful magic! Unparalleled magic! Unimaginable magic!

A super-spell capable of destroying all of Orario!

Once this "Sun" fell, the entire castle would be obliterated.

It was clear that the Apollo Familia would cease to exist — not just in Orario, but their name would vanish from the lower world entirely.

BOOM——!!!

The massive fireball crashed into the castle's center. Even from their distant venue, the deities felt a slight tremor.

No, all of Orario felt this tremor!

Dust clouds darkened the sky as chaotic heat waves spread in all directions, growing until they obscured all vision. Though far from the battlefield, everyone witnessed the world-shattering impact!

It was over. This single thought emerged in every deity's mind.

No one could withstand such devastating magic!

Even Finn Deimne, a Level 7, couldn't survive this — let alone the Apollo Familia, none of whom had reached Level 5!

Only a Level 9 adventurer might stand a chance.

Crack!

A sharp breaking sound pierced the air. The massive magical impact split the Divine Mirror's image with a huge crack.

Yet the mirror continued functioning, though blurred, showing the deities the castle's devastation.

As the dust settled, all that remained were broken walls and ruins.

The unbelievable sight struck every deity silent.

Until the Sun God, his face contorted in despair, broke the silence.

He fell to his knees, wailing, "How is this possible? It's a lie! A lie! How could my Familia be defeated like this! My Familia... couldn't possibly... fall so easily!"

He couldn't accept his defeat.

"Hmph! The evidence is before you, Apollo! What more can you say? Your defeat is absolute, and we — the Hestia Familia — are victorious!" Hestia's anxiety finally melted away.

Rising to her feet, her small frame towered over the kneeling God with quiet dignity. She didn't gloat, simply stating facts.

This composure made Apollo appear even more foolish.

"That magic must be irregular! That child cannot be Level 2! Impossible!" Even in desperation, he clung to this point, shouting, "That magic couldn't possibly come from a Level 2! Hestia, you've hidden your Familia's true strength!"

"Apollo, I already told you — 'Adam reached Level 2 yesterday, and you're welcome to verify this with the Adventurer's Guild'. I made this clear from the start."

"You lie! He cannot be Level 2!" Apollo refused to accept it.

Other deities whispered similar doubts about Hestia's claims. But then, an unimpeachable source spoke up.

A voice emerged from the void, "I, Ouranos, confirm that Adam's level is indeed only Level 2."

He said nothing more.

But it was enough! As Orario's supreme neutral authority, Ouranos's word carried more weight than any other explanation!

Apollo remained baffled by Adam's extraordinary magical abilities.

Hestia stepped forward with a revelation.

"Apollo, you should know that my Familia member — Adam — has received the acknowledgment of a Spirit."

Her announcement left the assembled deities stunned into silence.

Spirits — those mysterious beings who had vanished from the lower world and seldom showed themselves — had acknowledged a member of the Hestia Familia!

"Ah, a Spirit explains everything."

"Indeed, that makes sense."

"A Spirit's contract would certainly enhance the contractor's power."

"How fortunate Hestia is."

"Indeed."

"Who could disagree?"

While the revelation sparked jealousy among the deities, it also resolved the mystery of Adam's incredible strength.

"A... a Spirit...?!" Apollo clutched his head in dismay.

Deep down, he knew this explanation was valid. Since ancient times, Spirits had bestowed remarkable power upon the children of the lower world.

Hestia's lips curved into a subtle smile.

They had only shared the news about Beatrice after securing Adam's consent.

His extraordinary power demanded a plausible explanation, and highlighting Beatrice's role as a Spirit proved more convincing than attributing it to a mere Item.

The mention of a Spirit effectively silenced any deities who might have raised objections.

"Now then, shall we address our grudge? You're prepared, aren't you?"

"Wait... wait! I was merely carried away by how cute your Familia member was, so..."

"Silence! No more excuses! Face your punishment, Apollo!" Hestia declared, ignoring the Sun God's desperate pleas as he knelt before her, "All assets confiscated! Familia disbanded! You are permanently exiled—never to set foot in Orario again!"

"No, nooooo—!" Apollo's face drained of color as he cried out.

Stripped of all power, he had no choice but to accept his fate.

That day, a God's anguished screams resonated throughout Orario.

✧✧✧

T/N: Hey! Liked what you read? Support your friendly neighborhood translator on Patreon! Think of it as buying me a coffee... or ten!

For just $1.50 (that's less than your daily meme budget), get extra Chapters! Want more? $2 gets you bonus content, $5 unlocks premium stories, and $10 makes you my hero (and gets you everything I have, including earlier acess to new books)!

That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)

https://www.patreon.com/collection/770985