章 529: Trial of the Gods

"What are we doing here sir?" Asked a tired looking man dressed in a perfectly maintained suit, his hair combed back and posture pristine.

"I told you Simon, I want a front row seat for the show!" Declared an elderly looking man who was dressed weirdly compared to their surroundings.

While everyone else around them was dressed in more traditional clothes or robes made from wool or cotton, or even armor made of metal or leather, the elderly man was dressed in a colorful button-down shirt made of silk, with numerous floral patterns on it, and a matching pair of shorts.

He was even holding a hollowed out pineapple in his hand that had a straw and mini umbrella in it.

Despite his 'particular' dress though, none of the people around him even seemed to register the existence of either of them. Which was curious considering that they were all unconsciously making a wide berth around the two of them.

"So where is it you ere wanting to watch the show, sir?" Simon asked wearily.

"Up there of course!" The old man said while pointing at the top of the tallest structure in the entire city.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the structure, a Denatus was taking place that would've left most mortals in awe if they were peer in on it.

Every single god that resided in the city of Orario had gathered at the request of the oldest and most powerful God in the city, Ouranos. And every single one was giving their undivided attention to the goddess responsible for the Denatus that day, Hestia.

Even with well over a hundred gods staring down at her, Hestia didn't seem anxious in the slightest as they prepared for her trial. An attitude that differed greatly from that of Haruhime, Lili, Aisha, Samira and Lena.

They, as a part of the Hestia Familia, were the only mortals present aside from Ouranos' personal attendant, Fels.

Everyone else was a god or goddess, all seated in raised stands on either side of the room instead of at the usual long table they typically used. And every single one was muttering and discussing what they thought was going to happen that day.

Some wanted the immediate expulsion of Hestia from the city, while others were mostly neutral. The latter having only showed up because Ouranos ordered it, and because they were curious about the rumors circulating of Hestia lately. The ones saying that she might've found a husband.

Very few of the gods gathered were truly on her side, hoping she wouldn't be expelled from the city. Amongst them were Hephaestus, Takemikazuchi, Miach, Astraea, Ganesha, and(though she would never admit it) Loki.

"Are we ready to begin?" Ouranos asked suddenly, making every single God and goddess present go silent as they all gave him their undivided attention.

"In case anyone is unaware of why we are here." Ouranos started. "We are gathered to listen to the grievances of the goddess Ishtar and the God Soma, both of which had their Familia's decimated by the Hestia Familia. And, depending on our decision, Hestia may be forced to permanently leave Orario along with her Familia."

There was a buzz of activity when Ouranos finished speaking, but a flash of his sky-blue eyes was enough to silence them all yet again.

"The aggrieved may step forward, and state their case." Ouranos declared, opening the floor for the two aforementioned gods to show themselves to the court.

And as her eyes swept across the courtroom, Ishtar was immediately able to garner the favor of several gods as they caught her Charm full blast. Soma meanwhile appeared disheveled and unkempt, with his long black hair that covered even his eyes, as he dedicated every possible moment to his hobby as a brewer.

"My fellow gods and goddesses." Ishtar began dramatically. "We all live and work alongside one another in harmony because we all believe in following order. Yet, there are some who believe they are above that order."

As she said that Ishtar turned towards Hestia and looked at her in an accusatory manner, which didn't bother the shorter goddess in the slightest. Instead, she looked back at Ishtar with a wry smile since she fully believed that whatever was decided here today didn't matter. Not when Alex finally came to get her.

Narrowing her eyes at Hestia's casualness, Ishtar continued,

"Not only did Hestia STEAL a member of my Familia from me, but when I tried to get her back, she orchestrated the slaughter of my 'children'!"

"Pft!" Hestia snorted at her declaration as she retorted, "yeah right! If you weren't showing me any hostility, then Ascalon wouldn't have reacted. And besides, aren't you also going to mention how you wanted me to work in your brothels for a hundred years?"

Hestia's words triggered numerous mutterings and exclamations, but not from her refuting Ishtar's claims.

"You mean to say that sword truly is THE Ascalon!?!" One of the gods exclaimed with urgency.

"Yep! My hubby Alex sent it to me in case I needed the protection! I can't use it, but it'll react to any hostility directed towards me!" Hestia declared proudly, before going 'iyaaa' like a love struck maiden.

However many of the god's minds were racing, as they absorbed the knowledge that one of THE legendary weapons had been found.

"It must be a fake!" One of the gods declared in disbelief, which began to calm the others before another God spoke up.

"There was no way THAT was a fake. If not the famous dragon slayer sword, then that thing was definitely a god slayer."

Every eye turned towards the speaker in shock, to find none other than Hermes standing there with an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face.

"Forgive me if we don't all believe you Hermes. You're not exactly known for your honesty." One of the gods snorted.

"What about me?" Asked another God suddenly, making everyone look to him in shock since he almost never spoke in a serious tone.

"I was there as well, and felt the power of that sword." Ganesha stated to the shocked gods. Naturally, his testimony had much more credibility.

But then Ganesha flashed his typical smirk as he declared, "But what I'm REALLY more interested in are those strange monsters you had helping you Hestia!"

Hestia returned his smirk as she proudly declared, "they're called Pokemon, and they're a lot friendlier and easier to tame than normal monsters!"

"'Pokemon'?" Ganesha asked curiously, while the rest of the gods also paid close attention to everything Hestia was saying.

"Yep! Not only are they friendly when tamed, but if they're trained right then they can become really powerful! Plus some, like Chansey, are even capable of healing others!"

There was a small commotion at Hestia's words, as healers alone were so rare they were practically nonexistent.

"And where do these 'Pokemon' come from?" Ouranos asked Hestia, bringing silence to the hall once more.

"I got them from one of my hubby's other future wives." Hestia stated without any hesitation, causing yet another commotion.

"Right... This Dragon Emperor, Alexander Morningstar." Ouranos trailed off as he thought on this particular matter. "Ive had the guild investigate him, but there is no mention of any Dragon Emperor in any of our records."

Hestia nodded as she answered, "well of course since he's not from this world."

THAT got the biggest reaction yet from the surrounding gods, as while they were aware of the possibility of world's from 'outside', this was the first time they had actually heard of proof.

"So that's why..." Loki uttered to herself as she spoke for the first time.

Now everything going on with Hestia for the last few weeks was starting to make sense. But that still didn't explain how she was able to communicate with someone from 'outside'.

"Well that still doesn't matter." Snarled Ishtar, making everyone look back at her.

"Hestia stole from me, and she caused the slaughter of almost all of my 'children' while the rest abandoned me. I demand compensation!"

"Yeah!"

"She's right!"

"It doesn't matter!"

One by one, numerous gods agreed with Ishtar's declaration as a result of her earlier Charm, swinging the majority against Hestia in an instant. Ouranos of course was aware of this, but he only shook his head at her without saying anything.

"There's also the matter of Liliruca and my Familia." Soma stated after her, though no one cared as much about him. Not only were only Charmed to care about Ishtar, but his Familia had always been viewed in a negative light as addicts.

"Lili never joined Soma-Sama's Familia!" The Pallum stated suddenly, drawing every eye to her. "Lili's parents had her branded as an infant and she was used like a slave! Then, she was never allowed to leave without paying a fortune to do so!"

Lili's declaration earned her the sympathy and pity of several of the gods present, as some genuinely cared about their 'children' and couldn't imagine treating them like that. Others of course couldn't care less, as they usually saw mortals as possessions or tools to use as they saw fit.

One such goddess sneered at Lili, before declaring,

"Yes well, that may the be the case for yourself. Haruhime however, is another matter."

Ishtar then held up a piece of paper for everyone to see, and stated, "Haruhime was bought by me years ago. She is officially my property, regardless of wether or not she carries my Falna."

Ishtar's declaration created a whole new storm of murmurs and discussions, as now Ishtar had a genuine claim towards Haruhime that Hestia had disregarded.

Though typically frowned upon, slavery itself was not necessarily illegal in Orario. And with Ishtar having proof of her purchasing Haruhime, then there was no arguing who the Reynard belonged to.

"I am sorry Hestia." Ouranos stated solemnly. "But Ishtar does have a point."

Hestia frowned when she heard that, while Haruhime's heart began pounding anxiously in her chest.

"Starting the reparations towards Ishtar, Hestia must return the Reynard Haruhime to her." Ouranos declared, making Ishtar smile widely while Hestia frowned.

"Come here Haruhime." Ishtar commanded her, but the fox-girl didn't move from her current place.

"I said come here." Ishtar stated in a firmer voice. And again Haruhime didn't listen, as Aisha Samira and Lena all moved as if to protect her. Lili did as well, but no one noticed her due to her short stature compared to the other three girls.

"I SAID-"

*CRASH!*

Just as Ishtar was about to lose her temper, the doors to the courtroom were blasted open revealing a musclebound man with wild black hair, attired only in a pair of shorts with a monkey tail extending from his backside.

"And if she doesn't want to?" The man asked with a voice that carried both power and authority.

Every eye turned to him wondering what he was doing, when an elderly and fat elf stormed up beside him.

"How dare you! A lowly mortal, interrupting the Denatus!" The elf declared arrogantly as he tried to stop the intruder.

"Sorry, are you doorman? Here's my jacket." The intruder said dismissively to his arrogance, conjuring a jacket from nowhere and tossing it to the elf.

The jacket covered the elf's head where it had been draped, but when it fell all he was able to do was sputter incredulously at the AUDACITY of the man before him.

Everyone else however was wondering who this mortal was, as they could feel the power radiating off of him in thick rolling waves, while Freya, goddess of love, was currently trying to contain a nosebleed after taking a glimpse at this mortal's soul.

"Alex!" Hestia declared as she left the stand and rushed to him, throwing herself into his embrace as he caught and lifted her up.

And then, every God was stunned as Hestia readily kissed the newcomer, the man she claimed was Alex.

For over a minute the duo made out in front of everyone, with Hestia wrapping her arms and legs around his body to cling to him possessively. But when the duo finally separated for air, Hestia looked him over before asking,

"Where's your fur?"

The man, Alex chuckled at her question before telling her, "I don't have it in my base form. But if you want, I can use magic to regrow it later."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Hestia declared, as she had long since been determined to snuggle and bury her face in Alex's fur.

"Excuse me!" A voice suddenly demanded from the side, making the duo look over to see Ishtar standing there glaring at them.

"And just WHO are you supposed to be?" She demanded while looking Alex up and down. Normally he'd be WELL within her strike range, if he didn't have the insufferable big-boobed loli hanging onto him.

"Alexander Morningstar, the Dragon Emperor." Alex stated casually, stunning Ishtar and the rest of the gathered gods, despite Hestia calling him Alex earlier.

Even as he said that though, Alex set Hestia down before turning to give Ishtar his full attention. "And no need to introduce yourself. You must be Ishtar, the goddess that wanted MY Hestia to work in your brothel for a hundred years."

Hestia squealed by herself yet again as Alex declared her 'his', while Ishtar was finding it harder and harder to remain standing in Alex's presence as his aura pressured her more and more.

"And so what?" Ishtar demanded, trying to hide her growing fear.

"And so, I think you need to be punished." Alex told her as if it were the simplest thing.

"Please don't." Ouranos suddenly said, his own pressure coming down in the room to rival Alex's.

This made nearly all the gathered gods flinch while also regarding Ouranos with awe, as their Arcanum was sealed when they descended to the mortal world, yet Ouranos was STILL this powerful while simultaneously keeping the monsters from escaping the Dungeon.

The only one not to react was Alex, who looked at Ouranos as if he'd found the god's attempt to pressure him amusing.

"Sorry, but she brought this upon herself." Alex said, before all of Ouranos' power vanished to be replaced by his own, stunning and horrifying all of the gods.

Alex then turned his attention towards Ishtar, who was no longer trying to hide her fear as she fell back on her butt, and tried to crawl back away from him. However Alex had no intention of letting her get away, as he used his Telekinesis to bring her back before him.

"Since you wanted MY Hestia to work in your brothels for a hundred years, you'll get a similar punishment." Alex told her before snapping his fingers, and instantly shredding Ishtar's clothes so she was completely naked.

For Ishtar being naked in public wasn't that big a deal. She WAS the owner of a brothel where those who paid top dollar and that she recognized could even spend the night with her. What DID worry her though, was when Alex continued,

"Your punishment will be to become one of my slave maids for the next hundred years." As he said that, Alex carved his slave brand on Ishtar's butt, officially making her his slave.

"And as your new owner," Alex continued as he held up the piece of paper Ishtar showed to prover her ownership of Haruhime. "I now free Haruhime from your ownership."

As he said that the paper caught on fire and burned to ash, a sight that made Haruhime choke on a sob emotionally.

With that done, Alex turned back to Ouranos to discuss what was going to happen next.

Before he could say anything though...

"There you are!"

Alex turned to see a tall Amazonian woman glaring at him from the doorway he had just busted open, dressed only in a chain mail bikini top and a matching set of strips that hung down to barely cover her pussy and butt crack.

"And you are...?" Alex asked her curiously, only for the mysterious woman to declare,

"YOUR WORST ENEMY!"

The woman then shot forward so that she appeared before Alex in the next instant, during which he made sure to move Hestia and Ishtar away for their safety, before the woman's fist impacted his chest.

"REJECT X 1000!"

The next thing Alex knew he felt a powerful force ejecting him from the meeting hall, which he let carry him away as he smashed through all the walls until he was outside, before eventually entering the world's upper atmosphere.

"Huh. Cool."