Otherwise, you can find another savior.

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Finally, she made up her mind to tell the man in front of her about it, no matter what the outcome.

"what?"

"Because I was once loved by the gods, and they constantly proposed to me... but ultimately, because of Ragnarok, I lost my chance before I could make a choice. Before Odin disappeared, he told me—"

tide Jian held his breath; he had a vague premonition of the answer.

"A goddess who fails to become the bride of God can choose whether or not to become that person's bride after the prophesied person appears."

Looking into his eyes, Skadi revealed what she had been hiding.

Chapter Thirty: Heading to the Next Trial

Wiping away the dust from the stone table, the runes written on it appeared and lit up after sensing Shiomi's magic.

"The first trial tests 'strength'." tide Jian read the text and knew the answer.

That's why Odin placed Fenrir in Valhalla.

“Power…” Skadi stood behind him and said quietly, “That Fenrir is no match for the true form that appeared during Ragnarok, you should already know that.”

After finishing their conversation outside the temple, the two entered the dilapidated temple to investigate.

“Of course I know. It’s probably similar to the difference between a Heroic Spirit and a Servant.” Shiomi turned around, leaned against the stone table, and shrugged at Skadi.

"It's great that you understand."

Skadi looked around the dilapidated temple, which looked exactly the same as the place she had first entered, except for the interior layout.

"Did Odin say anything else?" tide Jian asked, slowly lowering her hand.

“I have told you all the prophecy.” Skadi looked at him. “My role is to guide you through the trials of Valhalla as your bride.”

Of course, these two things are independent yet related.

"That's really... pretty casual," Shio muttered.

“Just as I have a choice, you have a choice too.” Skadi’s long, beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure in her expression. “But to think that I’m easy because of that is incredibly rude.”

Xi Jian chuckled and shook her head: "No, no, no, I meant that the great god Odin was being casual. You've never met me, and I didn't know you before, yet that great god casually arranged a marriage in a prophecy... Even if it was out of consideration for your loneliness as a goddess, this approach is still a bit casual."

“Odin is the king of the Norse gods, and he’s always been a bit capricious.” Skadi realized that Shiomi wasn’t criticizing her, but rather complaining about Odin. Her displeasure vanished instantly, and she found herself resonating with his attitude. “You know, Odin sacrificed himself for wisdom to obtain the primordial runes.”

“That makes sense,” Shio chuckled. “But what I was referring to was whether Odin said anything about the significance of completing these trials.”

“…I didn’t say that.” Skadi shook her head apologetically.

Odin didn't say anything about this.

She almost thought it was a deliberate arrangement for her to accompany Shiomi during the trial, to promote mutual understanding and make Skadi more accepting of her.

But seeing tide Jian's question made her think about it more.

"To become your own master, or to take control of yourself." tide Jian pondered, "Perhaps the answer lies in the words on the door."

“Perhaps,” Skadi agreed.

He certainly holds many secrets; as a human being, yet possessing divine power, his very existence is of extraordinary significance.

Odin's trials may be related to this.

Skadi looked around the dilapidated temple and said, "But there's no other exit besides the gate we came in through. Should we go back the way we came and find another way, or—"

Before she could finish speaking, she saw tide Jian raise her finger and point upwards.

Looking up, Skadi noticed a large gap in the temple's ceiling, behind which lay a winding rock wall, through which a faint light could be seen at the end.

"Going uphill is indeed quite a winding road."

Skadi nodded, about to tell Shiomi to fly up, when she saw him walk up to her.

Caught off guard, Skadi took a half step back.

"W-what is it?"

"Your flying style is too slow. Jump up while you still have a breath left." Without waiting for a reply, tide Jian picked Skadi up in her arms.

Skadi's body stiffened slightly: "What...what are you thinking?"

"Although I just made a fuss about the great god Odin, it doesn't mean I'm going to refuse," Shiomi said casually. "As for the final outcome, it all depends on you."

"...What does this have to do with your current behavior?" Skadi asked again.

"Is it strange that I want to hug the bride that the great god promised to me?" tide Jian said frankly.

Although the truth was somewhat surprising, he did not dislike Odin's actions.

After all, he also realized that Skadi had been fulfilling her duties as a god in solitude for thousands of years, which was heartbreaking to think about.

He couldn't bring himself to say those words, because to do so would be an insult to Skadi's conviction.

“It is indeed strange…” Skadi raised her hand, intending to push him away and get out of his arms.

When her hand landed on his chest, she unconsciously loosened her grip.

The steady, powerful beating of the heart can be clearly felt through the palm of your hand.

"Well then, it's time to jump."

After saying that, without waiting for Skadi's reply, Shiomi lowered her body and then stretched out her legs like springs, passing through the large hole in the temple ceiling and going up the passage inside the rock.

Feeling the wind whistling past her ears, Skadi's vision suddenly brightened.

She then noticed that they had passed through a long passage and arrived above the mountain peaks outside the temple.

Below them was another temple shrouded in mist, and they were descending toward the temple's main entrance.

It can only land there.

The temple is surrounded by Odin's barrier, making it impossible to pass directly through to enter the temple courtyard.

boom--

Shiomi landed smoothly on the ground, without shattering the ground, but instead tearing through the air and creating a surge of air currents.

"What a reckless man."

Skadi, who was gently put down, didn't know whether she should be angry or not, and could only say this.

“That’s the style of the Land of Shadows.” Shiomi looked at the new temple. “But I didn’t see any enemies like Fenrir in this trial. I thought I would be fighting Surtr or Jormungandr next.”

“It wouldn’t be bad to have Loki as the opponent.” Skadi felt inexplicably pleased and casually echoed Shiomi’s joke. “Even if it’s an illusion, it can be seen as revenge for the Norse gods.”

"Huh? Kill the God of Tricks? Me?"

Shiomi feigned surprise, pointed at herself and laughed, but the weapon in her hand had changed to Gungnir.

Skadi hadn't expected him to look so bewildered, and it took a lot of effort for her to maintain her smile and not laugh out loud.

Shiomi, who didn't expect Skadi to be amused, went up the steps first.

As he reached for the door, he hesitated for a moment, then turned to Skadi and said:

"I seem to have forgotten to ask just now, what exactly did you say to the great god Odin, and how did you test him—"

Thick fog poured out from the open door, engulfing the temple. A strong wind blew so hard that Shio could not open his eyes, and he immediately lost the will to ask any more questions.

The second trial has begun without warning.

Chapter Thirty-One: A Beautiful Dream

A warm, soft spring breeze swept through the courtyard, and tide Jiantianxi's hair swayed in the wind, causing him to pause in surprise.

here it is……

Looking around, tide Jian felt strange; she had actually forgotten where she was.

This is his home in Fuyuki, Japan.

Since heading to Chaldea in Antarctica, Shiomi hasn't returned to Fuyuki for five or six years, since her family has reunited in Chaldea.

For a magician's family like theirs, living away from home is no big deal.

As usual, he sat on the veranda facing the courtyard to relax. The sunlight felt warm on his body, and he unconsciously became lazy and sleepy, wanting to lie down and take a nap.

It seems he's forgotten something, but tide Jian has gotten used to it; after all, he's a man without a past.

It's not surprising that you might feel this way occasionally.

He took a slow, deep breath and thought to himself, "What a beautiful day! Maybe I should take all the bedding out in the yard to air it out."

He really liked the smell of cotton after it had been dried in the sun.

Thinking this, tide Jian suddenly felt that the house was very lively, and all sorts of cheerful sounds were coming from the living room, which made him feel strange.

The Shiomi family doesn't have many rules, but since everyone in the family is generally not very boisterous, they are rarely this lively.

Have we received some guests?

He got up from the hallway and prepared to go back to the living room to take a look.

“I knew it, it was right here.” Scáthach’s voice rang out from under the eaves.

tide Jian was stunned.

He saw his master turn the corner, casually lean against the wall, and have a knowing smile on his face.

"what happened?"

"I just came to check if you'd gone out." Scáthach nodded. "You should rest today and not wander around, lest we all work for nothing if the 'main character' isn't around."

"Hmm..." tide Jian didn't quite react.

“By the way, are you hungry? Would you like me to get you some snacks to tide you over?” Scáthach asked again.

Shiomi walked up to Scáthach and shook her head: "Not for now."

"Let's talk about it when you're hungry."

Scáthach tiptoed slightly, kissed Shiomi's lips, and then calmly turned and walked towards the living room.

He sensed something was amiss, so he followed Scáthach back to the living room.

The lively scene before her surprised tide Jian as well.

Sakura and Bawan Shi are making some decorations, Grey, with Bagst's help, hangs the finished decorations on the living room wall, while Habertlot is helping Karen fix her hair and makeup.

"Doesn't the taste seem a little off? Did you forget to add salt?" Skadi took the plate Morgan handed her and tasted the broth inside.

"Could it be that you have a strong palate?" Morgan disagreed. "I think this flavor is just right. My husband likes this flavor the most."

"It's really a bit bland," said Scáthach, who was helping to taste it. "What do you think, King Knight?"

Artoria was eating a taiyaki (fish-shaped pastry): "I think they're all good. Morgan's cooking skills are fine, Tianxi will definitely like them."

"...Are you really going to eat this much now?" Morgan seemed a little troubled. "If you lose your appetite later, it's not my problem."

"Don't worry, this is the present moment, and the party is the party," Artoria declared with clear eyes, making her foodie declaration.

Leaning against the door, tide Jian scratched her head.

No wonder the house is so lively. With so many people around, cooking and decorating, it's impossible for it not to be bustling.

Just then, a bell rang from the other side of the gate.

have a guest?

As Shiomi reflexively reached to open the door, she suddenly heard someone tap her on the shoulder.

"You just rest, I'll go open the door."

Orange walked past him, carrying a faint smell of tobacco; she had probably just gone somewhere to smoke.

What are you doing here?

"You just arrived yesterday, have you forgotten?" Orange turned around and smiled nonchalantly. "I didn't expect to find a room for me here. You really do keep your word."

"..."

tide Jian was speechless; he hadn't meant to think that Orange shouldn't be there.

He had always wanted Orange to live with him, but she was like a gust of wind, drifting from place to place, and he could only leave her a comfortable room at most.

But... why is it such a coincidence?

The front door to the entrance hall opened.

The noise outside the door grew even louder.