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" I think it is around here. . .", I thought to myself as I studied the large hallway, following in the directions of where Brunhilde mentioned. The neverending hall is unimaginably enormous, similar to a maze. Though the difference is that there is golden rococo design, long pillars, curved ceiling and many renaissance portraits hanging proudly for exhibition. Going pass many doors with numbers and trying to find a specific plate with letters." Is this it?", stopping on my track as I perceived a golden plate with 'hot spring' written on it. It didn't hurt to try, so I immediately decided to check it out. It only requires a small push for the door to automatically ajar, creating a blasting sound. Within the double frame is like a changing room with many shelves, benches, baskets and equipment provided along.
Thinking I am in the right place, I walk toward an aisle with lockers so as to put my clean clothes in which I bring it with me. Soon I found myself stripping the dirty clothes and throwing it into the laundry basket, then wrapping a towel around my hip. Looking over at the high curtains separated into gender, seemingly blocking the other side. Assuming that is where the hot spring laid, I waste no time but pull the 'men' drapw apart for myself to enter. Heavy steam blocks my vision, additionally the smell of fresh shampoo and spring water enter my nostrils. The area is extremely roasting as well in a comfortable way. I smiled happily to myself and began to skip toward the nearest pool. Loosen the fabric until I am completely free and dip my right/left foot into the warm liquid for testing. Smiling to myself after feeling the right temperature before dipping my whole body below the level.
It reaches up to my shoulder blade and the burning sensation is relaxing my tensed muscles. After screaming and turning thrilled due to the match, my body hasn't rested for three days straight attributable to excitement. Closing my eyes simultaneously slipping out a relief mewl, moreover feeling the ripple flowing through my palms. Unbeknownst to me, the movement from the current catches my attention and I instantly peek my eyes open. Through the mist, I could make out a looming shadow on my left." What is a puny mortal doing here~?", my whole body became dreaded at the vile tone. Ascribed to our closeness, I could pinpoint a mossy colour hair with a white stripes highlighted on his left." L-loki?!".
" What? Too afraid to speak", he smirked is infuriating as if he is looking down on me. I am the one to first disconnected our gaze and when darting my perception ahead, I am not alone. There is more gods than I had anticipated. Knowing a few familiar faces after watching the competition and aware what they are capable of, my skin trembles horribly. It is dawn to me that this is not a hot spring for human, but god, furthermore I am not supposed to be here." I-I'm so sorry, I'll leave now", I stuttered quickly and seized my towel, enclosing my private. Lifting myself up from the bath and find my feet tapping on the tiles, trying to reach the entrance. To my despair, Loki teleports himself in between me and the curtains. Flicking his finger upward where a door emerge out of nowhere, shutting my only source of escape." You are going nowhere, little lamb. It is rare to have a human to join us".
" B-but, I am intruding on you all", persuading the higher beings is impossible, but I need to try or else my life would be on the line. All my armour and weapon is locked safely in the changing area, leaving me defenceless. Plus they aren't too put off by the rules regarding starting a fight anytime and anywhere." You are, but it looks very interesting. Don't worry, we'll promise not to bite~", Loki revealed his serpent tongue and strolled a bit approximate into my personal space. Giving up on fleeing, it would be easy to do what the god says and certainly I learn this is my most safest way." T-then excuse me", dragging my feet in order to put a distance between us and begin looking for a vacant tub. Seeing there's many, I chose the ones at the very far and away from their prying eyes. Abruptly, I felt sharp constraints around my right wrist." Now where do you think you're going", twisting my head to my rear, it was Loki who halted me from advancing. I was forced into his pace without my permission and it is like he had the power to doll with me.
I was brought back to the previous pond I was bathing. Savvy the order behind his snake-like stare, I descended my concentration on the reflection mirroring my terrified facade. Under their intense leer, I feel extremely exposed. Inhaling a lungful of air, filling my alveolus, I rapidly discard the only defence and sink myself into the tub. Despite the cosy texture, it failed to aid my shivering skin. Loki followed suit and unluckily right beside me. Shyly glancing my iris upward with my head down, observing which god is hibernating in the bath. Buddha is munching snacks with a bowl flowing on the surface. Poseidon, Hades and Thor are silent, paying my existence no mind. Beelzebub held a poker face as he looked at me and was unable to comprehend what was running in his intelligent mind. Shiva plastered on his bored face as usual. Zerofuku is beaming happily at me. Heracles flashes me a genuine toothy grin, whilst Hermes is obviously fake.
" Hmm, what's your name again?", the butler god asked out loud." Isn't he just the Valkyries boy-toy", Shiva cut in with a yawn." So that is how they saw me as", I regretfully thought." I didn't know they could stand this low for an useless bottom feeder", Poseidon said in bitter disgust. It is to be expected that I will receive such scorn by reason of my species." (M/N)", Buddha's tone booms into the atmosphere, gaining everyone's attention." Come here", my heart throb at the man tied in a bun. Reluctantly, I swim over to the saint, ignoring the hole digging into my skull. Approaching the edge of the tub and ensuring there's a gap between us, before settling myself." Hey (M/N)!", Heracles addresses joyfully." You know each other?", Hermes queried with curiosity." Yep", Buddha popped a lollipop into his sharp canines. Unpredictably stretched his strapping arm behind my shoulder, placing it on the edge and I flustered at his muscles touching my nape." We're buddies".
" Really? Can I be your friend too?!", Zerofuku swam toward me and his adjacency caught me off guard. His pure and childish baby cheek is barely an inch away from mine. My lips are unable to form a word considering this is our first time encountering each other and have a clue of what he is capable of. Buddha pressed his free palm against Zerofuku's face, proceed to thrust him aside." Too close", he simply muttered. The shorter god splatter into the bath preparatory to emerge from the hot water, pouting at Buddha." It is not fair! How could you allow to get a cute human while I can't!", his cheeks puff with air, appearing like a hamster to which I nearly chortled." Hahaha!", the spikey orange hair man's sunshine laugh is blinding my eyes.
" A human and a god befriending. Aren't that fascinating '', Beelzebub hummed. The raven strand male stand on neither side, choosing over the topic which peak his interest." Tch, disgusting", Poseidon rudely spatted and isn't afraid to make it plain." But how do you three meet? It's rare to see Buddha to be attracted to a human excluding Heracles", Loki publicly provokes the sweet tooth god. I stared at Buddha who seemed unbothered and lazily lean his damped head backward." It's a long story. You might need your teddy bear before listening to my bedtime story", at last I can't prevent a giggle from escaping. Upon knowing my rude act, I slapped my palm onto my mouth, stopping the laughter. Lowering my head down in ashamed, fearing to lock gaze with the upset gods." Pretty adorable", Shiva unconsciously thought and mentally scolded himself as to why he was thinking like this. Even so, he is not the only one who held the exact view, leaving the rest baffled for a moment. Loki even forgot how to retort back as he is still in trance with the gorgeous smile sprawling across the human's face.
" I'm dead". The bath became awfully silent afterward and the uncomfortableness is nothing I could endure." Want some?", Buddha passed a custom-made stick candy with a bunny design in the middle. Needless to say, who would refuse a free food." Thank you", I appreciated before popping it into my mouth. A burst of thick milk flavour well blended with plum exploded into my taste gland. Instinctively emitted a satisfied moan thanks to the taste and my tongue unable to stop rolling the hard candy." Your sweet is always the best, Buddha!", I praised and loved how the sweetness melted in my mouth. Unaware of the commotion I have caused to the god residing in the hot spring, especially their heart section. Buddha slipped a lazy grin, displaying his sharp incisor and his left hand pursued to grab another piece." I have more. You should try this flavour too", Buddha raised the green version with a pear imprinted on it.
Opening my small jaw as I permitted Buddha to feed me and then shut my mouth once it situated inside." Hmmm~", I squealed deliciously at the new tang and forgot that we are not alone. The first time I met Buddha was when Brunhilde introduced us before the Ragnarok began. When she was still striving to find suitable warriors, therefore I'm only an assistant in the play.
I was a sacrifice once, for whichever god they are worshipping. When me and my friends were camping in a forest during summer break, we got assaulted by some random cult. All of my friends slowly die by the hand of those people who ritual slaughter us inhumanly. Their screams and anguish continue to haunt my dreams up till then. Thankfully, Brunhilde descended the moment preliminary to meeting my end. She told me that she is patrolling the area coincidentally when the incident is happening. For repayment, I was given a task to serve her and of course take her offer without thinking, considering she is my saviour. However, I am incapable to tell what her ulterior motives are for solely rescuing me only. If she is indeed cruising around this section, why don't she prevent my friends dying as well. Nonetheless, she apologised for not arriving on time, hence I forgive her.
Firstly, she confirmed that I settled in heaven first, mostly living in the Valkyrie's sector. Secondly, she introduces her sisters plus most trustful companions, which are Buddha and Heracles. Thirdly, I was assigned to stick by their side at all time and employ me as a servant of some sort. Though I mostly do simple chores like gardening and housekeeping. Jobs which I am familiar with during my time on earth. Majority of my time is spent getting along with the Valkyrie sisters and the two male gods.
" It is ruining my bath to see you feeding that filthy thing", Poseidon's impudent voice is getting on my nerves." Poseidon, that's enough", Heracles defended and shielded me from his sight by utilising his gigantic physique. The blond man scoffed, concurrently sending a nasty frown." What is your problem?", Heracles flinched at my usage of vocals. I gently shove the giant aside, so I could move myself forward. My body is already out from the onsen, leaving a towel safely tucked. Poseidon's unyielding glare locked into mine." There it is", Buddha mumbled in proudness, comprehending what is coming." Just because you hated humanity doesn't mean you should speak ill-mannerly. What are you? Five?", I shoot, throwing my panic off the roof." How dare you─".
" Oh wait, you're not a god. But a merman who rules underwater. But no, you are not even close to a merman, but merely a fish who is also worshipped by fishies. I remember there are a lot of marine animal dishes on earth. Sushi, fried fish, fish soup, fish curry, fish pie, you name it", seeing his pale tone turning crimson due to anger encouraged my lips to lift." I don't even want to be here actually, because a certain clown impeded me", everyone knew who I was referring to, yet nobody dared to interrupt." I'm leaving, so stop your whining, blob-face. And go fuck a fish!", I exclaimed bluntly and prepared to depart. My moisten feet created a slapping sound in contact with the solid surface because of my speed walk. Not paying mind to their ogling behind my rear, also not stopping when I nearly slammed onto the door. I was about to yank the knob until I spotted how my fingers went through." That lying fuck!". Not dwelling much further, I pass the illusion and into the changing space.
3rd POV
There is wordless sound share between the men as they watches the human disappeared." I like him", Loki lick his lip after finding a new toy." He got you good, Poseidon-niisama", Hermes chuckled softly. The water suddenly bomb itself all over the place, leaving a bare minimum where it reaches to their knees, on the strength of Poseidon elemental control." Wow there", Buddha protected his sweets from flying." This is getting more entertaining", Beelzebub drone huskily. Thor silently agreed with everyone for finding this mortal amusing. Getting the humanity hater to apologise is impossible, so Heracles determines to do it in his stead once (M/N) have somehow calmed down." He is a feisty one~", Shiva commented and never knew such fragile mortal had this side of him all along." Oooh! I really, really want to be his friend!", Zerofuku beamed and is incompetence to pause his excitement.
" Those goddamn old men! Arrogant assholes! I hope they'll shove a─"." Language", the (H/C) locks male shift around, discovering the king of hell stalking toward him." Mind your manners first, old man", the shorter man barked and still ceased his steps. The uncovered eyebrow twitches at (M/N)'s impoliteness, though didn't lash out like his younger brother." I sincerely apologise for my younger brother's rudeness", the human is astonished by the sudden sorry." W-what are you scheming?", (M/N) had the tendency not to trust the saints, except for the ones he came to know. Hades' stone face is difficult to tell, which leads to uneasiness." We will be seeing each other from now on, so I prefer not to get on your bad terms".
" What?", every words spewing from the eye-patch god is confusing." Well then, see you soon, (M/N)", he sent a shivering smirk at final prior to leaving. (M/N) could feel his legs shaking slightly, though manage to support himself." What the hell was that?".
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" What does he mean soon?!".