Inner Voice: All Heroines Hear My Inner Voice Chapter 951 951: Face slaps

While Eiji was conversing with the three goddesses, two among them, Hephaestus and Demeter, garnered significant renown.

Numerous deities approached him, seeking to establish an acquaintance. A multitude of goddesses harbored intentions of wooing Eiji; even if they were not as strikingly beautiful as Freya, their sheer number was a source of comfort, was it not?

However, their aspirations were quickly quashed. Hephaestus and Demeter positioned themselves on either side of Eiji, their mere faint smiles and subtle gestures conveying a clear message: "This man is already claimed by us."

The observant goddesses felt a pang of annoyance, yet none dared to cross Hephaestus and Demeter.

And Hestia?

She had returned to her meal!

In secret, she was also attempting to discreetly gather food and beverages from the table to take home.

Eiji mused: "...."

Hestia, you are truly pitiable.

Has the protagonist failed to stabilize your financial situation yet?

As I had surmised, you are indeed in need of a husband who can provide for you.

For instance, myself.

Just as he was contemplating methods to expedite Hestia's conquest, a god, the host of the gathering, approached them.

It was Apollo.

Sporting his signature roguish grin, he scrutinized Eiji from head to toe with an excessively intense gaze, as though appraising a new collectible he was determined to acquire.

The fact that his counterpart was a god like himself held no sway over him.

"Ah, Eiji! The god who has become the talk of the town. Thank you for gracing my party with your presence. I am Apollo; as a welcome gesture... how about you accompany me to my private chambers? I possess a special vintage that I reserve exclusively for... esteemed guests."

[Damn, I neglected to take measures to prevent that repulsive man's gaze from settling upon me.]

[You should restrict your ogling to other handsome men, particularly Bell!]

In the original narrative... Eiji refrained from divulging specifics. He felt an immediate urge to eliminate Apollo, yet he hesitated, recalling a certain matter.

Alternatively, should he forgo the prospect of future entertainment simply due to his present revulsion?

Just to be safe, he reinforced Bell's thread of destiny once more, intertwining it with Apollo's.

[Host, your methods are quite wicked.]

'Miss System, are you not concerned for your host's well-being?'

[Your safety is my concern, but the means by which you are enhancing it are somewhat...]

Miss System found herself at a loss for words regarding her host.

Eiji disregarded her, his focus entirely on fortifying the crimson thread connecting two specific individuals.

Apollo remained oblivious to the subtle alteration within him. Simultaneously—Bell, who had been reclining while awaiting Hestia's return, suddenly shivered.

What was afflicting him?

Why did he experience a sudden premonition of danger!?

"Drinking with you?" Eiji inquired, a pronounced expression of distaste evident on his face without any attempt at concealment. "No thank you, I would much rather share a drink with the lovely ladies present than with a man."

Apollo's smile faltered. He had not anticipated Eiji's outright refusal, devoid of any pretense of courtesy.

Was Eiji unaware of his own formidable power and that of his Familia? Any other god would have surely hesitated and offered a polite rejection.

Naturally, Apollo had also heard whispers concerning Eiji's Familia. However, he dismissed these as mere rumors.

How could a nascent deity command followers of level 8, or even 9?

Could Eiji possibly rival Zeus and Hera? Apollo refused to believe it!

Perceiving Apollo's discomfort, Hestia, Hephaestus, and Demeter moved in unison, forming a protective barricade before Eiji.

This display captured the attention of the assembled gods and goddesses.

Particularly when Hestia pointed a finger directly at Apollo's nose, proclaiming, "Dispel your sordid thoughts, Apollo! Do not even contemplate laying a hand on Eiji! Should you persist... I may find it impossible to restrain myself from incinerating you with my holy fire."

"!" A collective gasp of surprise rippled through the attendees at Hestia's unexpected boldness.

Eiji let out a silent whistle.

There was his future wife!

Apollo's countenance darkened, "Hestia, exercise caution with your words. You are but a minor goddess. Your holy fire? You believe I harbor fear? I am Apollo, not only the God of Music but also the God of the Sun! Do you truly imagine you can burn me? Who shall be consumed by whom?"

"You..."

Hestia met the man's gaze, her eyes reflecting a deep-seated disgust. Indeed, she had harbored a strong aversion towards him for quite some time.

This stemmed from Apollo's past attempts at seduction in the heavens, advances which she had, naturally, rebuffed.

How could she not? Apollo was truly repulsive, his affections extending beyond women to encompass men as well.

However, if the two were to engage in a serious confrontation, she was uncertain of her own ability to prevail.

"What if you have to face me as well, Apollo? Refrain from forcing me to deploy some of my divine weaponry. You would be wise not to provoke Eiji in any manner."

Hephaestus interjected, her voice laced with coldness.

Her yandere-like gaze not only stunned Apollo but also caused him to swallow audibly.

"Hephaestus, you as well..."

"Ara, don't forget about me. After all, Eiji is my lover. Apollo. If you dare touch him, don't expect the harvest from my familia to reach your familia's table again."

Demeter lost her gentle smile, her expression indifferent. Her threat did not endanger lives directly, but it would starve Apollo and his familia members!

They would find it difficult to eat decent food if Demeter became their enemy.

Apollo certainly didn't want that to happen!

Put Hestia aside.

Provoking both Hephaestus and Demeter was enough to make him swallow his pride for now.

"Demeter, Hephaestus and all of you. This is a misunderstanding. I just want to establish a good relationship with a new god like Eiji. I have no bad intentions at all!"

Apollo said that with a hypocritical look on his face.

Eiji smiled, he looked down on Apollo while wrapping his arms around the waist of Demeter and Hephaestus.

"Oh, really? Then my answer is clear, I refuse to have a good relationship with you, Apollo."

The two women were stunned. Demeter was used to having physical contact with Eiji, she was not embarrassed and even leaned her body on him.

But Hephaestus was a little embarrassed, a blush again appeared on her cheeks. Even so, she did not try to let go of Eiji's hand and let him touch her.

The male gods who saw the scene including Apollo felt envious.

Damn, isn't this guy too skillful!?

He was able to seduce Demeter and Hephaestus simultaneously! The goddess of beauty Freya even looked infatuated with him.

"Well, I won't force you even though I'm a little sad, Eiji." Apollo forced a smile on the surface. But in his heart? He cursed Eiji and plotted how to bring him down without receiving retaliation from those women.

This man is so persistent, Eiji thought.

He certainly knew Apollo hadn't completely given up.

Should he just kill him?

While the tense atmosphere was still going on—

"Oi, Apollo! You should really surrender if you don't want to be beaten by those women. Or would you rather deal with my Ais-chan's sword? And even my Riveria?"

Loki walked over with her arms crossed, accompanied by Ais and Riveria.

She grinned, and looked at Apollo with half-open eyes. But, what made everyone surprised were her words.

Many gods shuddered at the thought of Loki also being on Eiji's side!

For that man's sake, the three famous goddesses didn't seem to mind ganging up on Apollo together.

Apollo was terrified.

Although he felt very angry in his heart, he knew that provoking the Loki Familia, which was the strongest military force in Orario, was suicidal.

He really seemed to have to give up on getting Eiji.

'Damn it! What kind of drug did Eiji give these women!?'

Apollo decided to retreat with a sour face. "Loki, you must be joking. I really won't force Eiji. Forget about this matter and continue with the party!"

After saying that, he turned around and walked away while ignoring Loki who was laughing mockingly behind him.

Eiji blinked his eyes, he himself did not expect Loki to help him to intimidate Apollo.

Has this woman become normal?

His appearance was enough to make her fall in love with him?

Loki turned to Eiji and grinned, "Hey Eiji, I'm Loki. You owe me one. I've heard many things about you from my Riveria. And if it wasn't for my Ais-chan's request, I wouldn't have helped you earlier."

"Stop calling me that, Loki." Riveria glared at her goddess with a prominent vein on her forehead.

"...." Ais was speechless, her gaze only fixed on Eiji's face.

Loki ignored Riveria and stared at the man in front of her with provocation in her eyes.

[I think too much, Loki is still Loki. She's a bent pole that still needs to be straightened.]

Loki is a bent pole?

The heroines in Danmachi did not understand.

Eiji smiled faintly, but he turned his gaze on Ais and said, "Ais, thank you for asking your goddess to intervene. If you visit my familia house again, I'll let you taste my cooking. It's very delicious, you'll definitely like it."

"Mhm, you're welcome... I'll definitely visit again, Eiji-sama." Ais nodded slightly, her expression still restrained but his words made her eyes sparkle.

She herself didn't know why she felt happy just because Eiji said that to her

"By the way, you and Riveria also look very beautiful tonight." Eiji teased Ais and Riveria in front of Loki.

Loki was gaping.

She even saw Ais and Riveria blushing just because of Eiji's cheap words. At that moment, her head felt green and she couldn't help shouting, "Noooo!!!"

"Loki, don't yell. Aren't you embarrassed?" Riveria admonished her goddess.

Loki remained silent, her finger trembling as she pointed at Eiji. "Eiji, don't disregard me! You absolutely owe me, so don't use that handsome face and sweet tongue of yours to charm the goddesses in my harem!"

"Who exactly comprises your harem, Loki? Refrain from besmirching the reputation of Ais and myself."

"Mhm. Loki... I am not a member of your harem."

Riveria and Ais voiced their refutations against their goddess's claim.

"Kugh! You two...!" Loki was struck by a mental blow, feeling immense sadness and a sense of betrayal. If tears could fall, she would be weeping right now.

Eiji let out a chuckle, observing Loki's sulking demeanor with amusement.

"Loki, I am also indebted to you. You mentioned I owe you? Very well, I shall bear that in mind and ensure Ais, Riveria, and Lefiya receive even better treatment. I can facilitate their rapid growth in strength, akin to my own familia members."

Upon hearing this, Ais and even Riveria experienced a surge of excitement. Had Lefiya been present, she would have shared their elation.

However, Loki felt utterly manipulated by Eiji. Her original intention was to make him indebted to her, thereby extorting benefits, but she hadn't anticipated such a generous offer.

Despite this, refusing Eiji's proposition proved difficult due to its immense value.

From Riveria, she had learned that the Seiya Familia members' power levels were not exaggerated and that they seemed to possess unique methods for increasing their strength.

Essentially, Eiji was willing to divulge these secrets to her.

Loki found herself in a quandary, hesitant to refuse even while perceiving a threat to her harem.

"Y-You aren't jesting, are you? You propose this not to woo Ais-chan, Riveria, and Lefiya-chan, correct?"

"Indeed."

"Hmph! That is acceptable, but I shall accompany them when they next visit your familia's residence."

"I have no objections."

To Eiji, Loki's presence or absence held little consequence, as he had already elevated the favorability levels of Ais, Riveria, and Lefiya to a considerable degree.

Loki's involvement at this juncture was too late.

Her presence would not disrupt his romantic endeavors.

Loki departed feeling content, despite being renowned as the most cunning goddess in the heavens, she remained oblivious to her own naivete in Eiji's estimation.

Shortly thereafter, Hestia began to taunt Loki, accusing her of shamelessness, as she felt Apollo would not dare to provoke Eiji even without Loki's intervention.

The two goddesses descended into a verbal dispute.

Demeter and Hephaestus observed this squabble from their seats alongside Eiji.

They took turns feeding him, and Eiji readily accepted their offerings, indulging in food and drink with the captivating goddesses.

Ais and Riveria were seated at a nearby table. Soon, Asfi and Shakti joined their company.

Within a single night, the women's affection towards Eiji saw a further increase of several points.

"Tsk! This is proving challenging; I must find a moment to be alone with him."

Observing that her intended target remained encircled by formidable women throughout the evening, Ishtar bit her lip.

She was reluctant to concede, but after witnessing the evening's events, her confidence in seducing Eiji paled in comparison to Freya's.

He even spurned Freya's advances.

It appears conventional methods of seduction will be difficult for me. Nevertheless, where has that wretched Freya vanished to?

Speaking of Freya.

Ishtar was unaware that Freya had departed from the festivities and returned to her familia's abode. Although Freya had not abandoned her objective, she was beginning to sense an anomaly within her own body.

A peculiar hunger and craving for Eiji had emerged, yet she recognized the impossibility of directly conceiving a child with him that very night. She resolved to find solace with the men within her familia, but the mere thought brought on an overwhelming agony that left her gasping for breath.

Currently, Freya was in a state of panic, bewildered by the unfolding events.

"Heh, pathetic." Ishtar surmised that her rival was nursing a broken heart after a single rejection, wallowing in her emotional distress in seclusion.

She continued to keep a watchful eye on Eiji, awaiting the opportune moment. Before long, that very opportunity presented itself!

Eiji abruptly rose from his seat and announced to the surrounding women, "I shall be retiring to the restroom momentarily."

Asfi, who was representing Hermes at the gathering, also stood. "Eiji-sama, do you require assistance locating the restroom? The Apollo Familia's estate is quite expansive, featuring numerous corridors."

Her intention was clear: she offered to escort him.

Though her expression remained composed as always, Eiji noticed a faint blush creeping up her ears.

Yare-yare.

Could Asfi be missing him so intensely that she harbored a desire to transgress boundaries with him tonight?

He would gladly oblige. After all, he was hardly a meek protagonist; he appreciated indulging in carnal pleasures.

But—

Shakti promptly interjected before Asfi could elaborate further. "Allow me to escort you, Eiji-sama. I am familiar with the path to the restroom."

The captain of the Ganesha Familia attempted to maintain a professional demeanor, though a slight flush colored her cheeks.

Asfi shot a glare at Ishtar, who returned it with a fearless gaze. Their relationship had been quite amicable not long ago, filled with friendly conversations on various subjects.

But now?

They were practically vying to escort him to the restroom.

Yare-yare.

[Host, please stop saying 'Yare-yare'. You've uttered it numerous times today.]

And what is the issue with that, System?

In this particular scenario, it is precisely the moment for the protagonist to think of that very phrase.

"Thank you, Asfi and Shakti, but I am aware of the way and will proceed alone."

Eiji declined, not due to any aversion to consuming meat, but because he was clearly feigning a trip to the restroom to lure a goddess. Having dealt with Freya, the timing now seemed perfect to confront another excessively confident Goddess of Beauty.

He then proceeded towards a more secluded hallway. Ishtar, who had been observing him with the intensity of a hungry lion, seized this golden opportunity. Without a moment's delay, she slipped away from the main party area and followed Eiji into a rather dim and secluded corridor.

However, Eiji abruptly halted his steps and turned around slowly. "Are you intending to accompany me to the restroom, Ishtar? For a Goddess of Beauty, you exhibit a more perverted nature than I had imagined."

Ishtar appeared taken aback.

Nevertheless, she emerged from the shadows, allowing the moonlight from a nearby window to illuminate her stunning figure.

With a coquettish smile, she met the gaze of the man before her, her eyes carrying a provocative glint.

"You seem to know me, Eiji? You should also be aware that the attractive fox you recently abducted belongs to my familia."

"I am aware,"

Eiji responded with indifference. Despite the woman's revealing attire, his golden eyes betrayed no hint of lust. He acknowledged Ishtar's fine figure but, considering her personality as depicted in the original narrative, he felt she was unworthy. The mistreatment she inflicted upon Haruhime was something he found difficult to overlook.

Ishtar's brow furrowed; Eiji's dismissive gaze displeased her. Did she lack attractiveness?

In comparison to Demeter, Hephaestus, and Hestia... was she somehow inferior?

Impossible!

She was the Goddess of Beauty!

"You know that, do you? Then, you shall face the consequences for your actions. However, given your striking handsomeness, I shall mercifully decree that you become my sex slave."

"What do you say? Is that not a rather equitable price?"

Instantly, Ishtar unleashed her charm at its zenith. The very air around them grew heavy, suffused with an intoxicating fragrance. She moved closer, her delicate fingers reaching out to touch Eiji's jawline.

"Be mine, Eiji. Cast aside those tiresome goddesses from your thoughts. Beneath me, you will experience—"

*SLAP!*

A sharp slap resounded through the silent corridor, whipping Ishtar's head forcefully to the side. The Goddess of Beauty tumbled to the floor, her hands instinctively going to her cheeks, which were instantly flushed and burning. Her pupils widened in disbelief as she stared up at the man looking down at her.

Ishtar felt a surge of fury and profound humiliation, yet Eiji's piercing gaze held her frozen. In that moment, only fear gripped her.

"Are you worthy? No. Such artifices as your charm are utterly incapable of influencing me. Do not mistake me for the feeble deities of this world, Ishtar. You possess no true comprehension of who you are attempting to seduce with your wiles. Indeed, even your charm itself..."

Eiji approached Ishtar, lowering his head to cast a look of utter disgust upon her. "Is inferior to Freya."

"!!!"

His words struck Ishtar like a blade through the heart. She had always loathed being perceived as less than Freya, despite their shared status as Goddesses of Beauty. Eiji had not only rebuffed her seductive allure but had also cruelly mocked her, aiming to shatter her pride.

Such cruelty was immense.

"Eiji, you... how could you possibly deem me, Ishtar, to be lesser than... Pufft!"

Ishtar retched blood, her face draining of color, making it difficult for her to remain standing. Eiji had, in fact, subtly released a fraction of his oppressive aura, inflicting pain upon Ishtar. However, he had refrained from taking her life.

Not at this juncture.

"Consider this the sole and final instance I shall forgive your attempt to impose your will upon me. On the next occasion... your suffering will extend far beyond merely vomiting blood."

"Remember this well, Ishtar."

He straightened his posture, retrieved a napkin from his suit pocket, and meticulously cleansed his hands as if he had just handled something utterly vile. Subsequently, he turned and departed, leaving Ishtar slumped rigidly on the floor, a picture of misery.