Inner Voice: All Heroines Hear My Inner Voice Chapter 952 952: Stupidity

Upon returning to the main hall of the party, no one present was aware that Eiji had physically and mentally struck the Goddess of Beauty, Ishtar. He made no mention of this occurrence in his inner voice either. Apollo's feast continued through the night, allowing invited gods and goddesses to remain.

However, Eiji felt too disgusted to stay under the same roof as Apollo and soon resolved to head home. Loki bid farewell first, departing with Ais and Riveria. As for Eiji?

"Ladies, you all seem quite intoxicated. I cannot possibly leave each of you to travel home alone without my protection."

"Eh? Eiji-sama, I'm not that drunk..."

"Me neither, I can actually..."

Before Asfi and Shakti could finish, Demeter interjected, "Ara, my head is spinning a bit. To avoid causing you too much trouble, Eiji... why don't you take us all back to your familia's residence? It's much closer than our own homes."

"...!" Asfi, Shakti, Hephaestus, and Hestia were taken aback by Demeter's suggestion.

Did this mean they would be spending the night at Eiji's place?

This...

They wished to decline due to embarrassment and the impropriety of the situation. Yet, Eiji gave an internal thumbs-up, recognizing that Demeter was feigning intoxication and was actually acting as a wingman for him!

He quickly declared, "Excellent idea, Demeter. All of you can stay at my familia's house tonight. There are plenty of vacant bedrooms. Let us depart."

Without seeking their consent, he instructed the women to accompany him.

Asfi and the others found themselves unable to refuse, likely due to the effects of the alcohol. Despite two of them being high-level adventurers, their judgment was clouded, and they went along with it, none objecting.

"Then... W-We'll be troubling you, Eiji-sama."

Asfi questioned if she was truly intoxicated. She had only consumed a single glass of wine earlier but found herself reluctant to miss the opportunity to spend the night at the Seiya Familia residence, fearing she would be left behind by the other women.

"It's no trouble at all," Eiji responded casually. Demeter, on his right, clung to his arm with a 'drunken' expression. On his left, Hephaestus held his hand.

He intentionally overlooked the Goddess of Smithing, who appeared somewhat bashful, akin to a young woman being brought home to her boyfriend's house.

Hestia hesitantly spoke, "Um... Eiji, I'm worried Bell-kun might be looking for me..."

"I can inform him that you won't be returning home tonight as you'll be staying at my familia's house, Hestia."

"Wouldn't that be inconvenient?"

"Not at all; in fact, I've already informed him."

"How!?"

Not only Hestia but the other women were also curious about how he managed this.

Eiji explained that he could contact his familia members remotely—in reality, he merely utilized the familia's group chat. One of them, Scáthach, had relayed his message to Bell. However, he omitted mentioning another message he had sent to Scáthach.

Hestia suddenly recalled the group chat functionality available to the Seiya Familia. Now, she had no remaining reason to refuse spending the night at Eiji's place.

Much like the other women, she harbored little resistance and even felt a sense of anticipation. She had heard that the Seiya Familia residence was the most opulent dwelling in Orario and was curious about its grandeur.

If the opportunity arose, Eiji also wished to extend invitations to Ais, Riveria, and even Loki.

[You are excessively greedy, host. Do you intend to consume them all tonight?]

'Miss System, how could you possibly harbor such thoughts about your host?'

[Because you are the apex predator among beasts?]

'I shall feign ignorance of your statement.'

Dismissing the Miss System's remark was paramount.

He—Eiji Seiya—possessed pure intentions. Nevertheless, ahem! If an opportunity presented itself, how could he possibly refuse?

Simultaneously, the women accompanying him sensed a slight chill emanate from their posterior.

Witnessing her king successfully arrange for several beautiful women to spend the night at his residence, Leme let out a lascivious chuckle.

In front of the Hestia Familia's entrance.

Bell had indeed been informed that his goddess would not be returning home tonight, and the stated reason left him feeling somewhat uneasy.

He nervously observed the exceptionally beautiful woman before him, certainly not forgetting she was among the adventurers who had rescued him a few days prior.

"Um... thank you for coming all this way to relay that message."

"It is no trouble; I was merely executing the directive given by Ei—my god," Scáthach stated indifferently, glancing at the man before her. She added, "I must take my leave now."

She had other obligations to attend to.

"Wait!" Bell exclaimed suddenly.

Scáthach furrowed her brow and looked back at him, "What is it?"

"May I escort my goddess home? She has a habit of sleeping poorly, and I fear she might cause trouble for Eiji-sama."

This, however, was merely a pretext. Bell was in a state of panic after losing Syr, fearing that Hestia would drift even further away from him.

Had Hestia truly decided to spend the night at the Seiya Familia's residence, Bell, despite his favorable impression of Eiji – particularly after Eiji crafted armor and gloves for him, gifts Hestia had recently bestowed – could find no inner peace.

He was utterly unable to calm his racing thoughts.

Scáthach observed this with amusement.

The protagonist exhibited a rather possessive nature, though he himself seemed oblivious to it. Regrettably for him, there was no possibility she would permit him to interfere with Eiji's romantic endeavors.

"There is no need for concern; our familia's residence is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate Goddess Hestia with her own bed," she stated.

Her meaning was unmistakable: Bell was not permitted to retrieve his goddess.

Bell's shoulders slumped. Unable to devise any further excuses, he could only hope that Hestia would fare well.

In the very next moment, he witnessed Scáthach vanish.

Her incredible speed left him astonished. He pondered when he might attain such a level of mastery.

He yearned to grow stronger swiftly, not solely to catch up to Ais and stand by her side, but also to provide a more prosperous life for his goddess.

Bell clenched his fists, gazing up at the moon illuminated in the night sky. Under normal circumstances, his unique skill, Liaris Freese, would have surged in response to his profound determination. Yet, it remained entirely inert.

Unbeknownst to Bell, ever since Eiji severed the thread of destiny that bound him to Ais and subsequently replaced it with a new thread connecting him to Apollo, his unique skill, Liaris Freese, had undergone a subtle alteration.

When he checked his status in the future, not only he, but Hestia would also be struck with immense surprise.

Eiji, too, would find himself laughing heartily at that moment.

Incidentally, Scáthach was not heading towards the Seiya Familia's residence; she was traveling in a different direction entirely.

Her destination was the headquarters of the Ishtar Familia, located within the Babylonian Belittle Palace.

Ishtar had just returned to her familia's base of operations, her face a mask of utter devastation. A swollen, red mark still marred her left cheek, but her pride was even more profoundly shattered. She hurled expensive vases in her chamber, emitting hysterical screams.

"Ahhh! Ahhh! Eiji, I will kill you! I swear I'll kill you! How dare you humiliate me to such a degree!"

"How dare you look down on me and deem Freya superior to myself! Hahahaha! Do you truly believe I fear you merely because of your threats?"

"Do not underestimate me, you bastard!"

Upon hearing her enraged outburst, the amazons and the remaining members of her familia were struck with terror. Observing the slap marks branding their goddess's face, they could surmise the extent of Eiji's actions against her.

It was no wonder Ishtar had descended into such a frenzy.

Despite her divine status as the Goddess of Beauty, her current expression was that of a terrifying specter.

Immediately, Ishtar's gaze fixed upon the captain and vice-captain of her familia.

"PHRYNE! TAMMUZ! MOBILIZE EVERYONE!" she commanded, her voice hoarse. "I care not for any Level 8 or 9 adventurer! Assault the Seiya Familia tonight! Deliver Eiji's head to me, and drag Haruhime here so I may personally tear her limb from limb!"

Hearing these words, Aisha froze, biting her lip. She desperately wished to refuse, yet she understood the futility of such an act.

Phryne grinned, her face contorting into a bloodthirsty visage. "It is my utmost pleasure, Ishtar-sama. I shall ensure that man named Eiji pleads for mercy at my feet!"

It did not take long for Phryne and Tammuz to marshal their forces.

However, just as the main gate of the palace was flung open to allow their sortie, the advancing troops abruptly halted.

What caused this sudden stop?

A lone woman stood resolute in the center of the road, her silhouette stark against the moonlight. Clad in a form-fitting, dark purple combat suit, she wielded a crimson spear that radiated an aura of palpable death.

This was Scáthach, the formidable Queen of the Shadow Lands. In this realm, she was also recognized as the esteemed vice-captain of the Seiya Familia.

This marked the very first encounter Phryne and the other members of the Ishtar Familia had with her. Their initial reaction was one of utter bewilderment.

They harbored no recognition of the woman before them.

"Who in the blazes are you?! What business do you have here?!" Phryne demanded, her voice laced with undisguised envy as she scrutinized the woman.

The stranger possessed a breathtaking beauty, surpassing even that of their goddess, a fact that fueled Phryne's immediate desire to see her dismembered. Beyond her own goddess, Phryne harbored an intense loathing for any other woman who eclipsed her in beauty.

Tammuz and the other male members, meanwhile, found themselves utterly captivated by Scáthach's arresting appearance, many unable to avert their gaze, their eyes alight with blatant lust.

"I am the vice-captain of the Seiya Familia, Scáthach." Disregarding the hostile glares cast her way, Scáthach addressed Phryne with an impassive expression. She continued in a frigid tone, "My god foresaw Ishtar's actions after he humiliated her at the party. Predictably, that woman foolishly sought retribution. Thus, I was dispatched to ensure my target, the Ishtar Familia, ceases to exist by night's end."

"!!!" Every member of the Ishtar Familia, including Ishtar herself, distinctly heard Scáthach's pronouncement.

Her voice seemed imbued with an otherworldly magic, casting an unsettling aura over the surroundings.

Though uncertain of Scáthach's true power, her words carried an undeniable weight...

"Such insolence! You and your god are excessively arrogant!"

"You presume to defeat us single-handedly? Heh! I've heard whispers of your familia boasting Level 8 and 9 individuals, but I remain unconvinced. I alone am more than sufficient to vanquish you and obliterate that pretty face of yours!"

Phryne scoffed derisively and charged forward. Despite her imposing physique, her speed surpassed the average for a Level 5.

She rapidly closed the distance between herself and Scáthach, unleashing a devastating swing with her massive fist.

"Perish, you wretched woman!"

*BOOM—!*

With a movement too swift for the eyes to follow, Scáthach retaliated. Her spear, Gáe Bolg Alternative, impaled Phryne's chest just before the incoming fist could connect.

Phryne succumbed instantly, her eyes wide with disbelief. As Scáthach retracted her weapon, Phryne's colossal form crumpled to the ground.

Scáthach sidestepped with a look of utter disdain. Her gaze then swept coldly over the remaining individuals.

"All of you, step forward."

"....."

Yet, Tammuz and the other Ishtar Familia members remained frozen, hesitant to advance.

How could they not be?

Phryne, the strongest among them at Level 5, had met her end with a single strike.

The disparity in power between her and Scáthach was astronomical!

The rumors regarding the Seiya Familia possessing Level 8 and 9 individuals now seemed undeniably true!

Phryne's demise was a consequence of her overconfidence. As for the rest? Many harbored a desperate urge to flee, but would Scáthach permit such an escape?

Aisha swallowed hard.

She braced herself, convinced she would perish here.

"Since none of you will oblige me, I shall approach you myself."

The words had barely left her lips.

Scáthach surged towards the assembled group. Panic erupted, and weapons were wildly swung in her direction.

However, their adversary was impossibly swift. Scáthach moved like a phantom of death amidst the Amazons. Each thrust of her spear signified a life extinguished. The adventurers of the Ishtar Familia, regardless of their rank, were no match for her spear techniques, honed to a divine level of lethality.

"Aaaah! A monster! She's a monster!"

"No, I refuse to die!"

"I surrender! I give up! Please, spare me!"

Witnessing the decimation of their comrades, some desperately attempted to break free and escape.

Nevertheless, Scáthach's spear unerringly found them, piercing their chests. The vice-captain of the Ishtar Familia, Tammuz, met his end with a swift slash to the throat, never comprehending the attack.

In mere moments, the palace courtyard was strewn with the fallen members of the familia. Scáthach's attire remained immaculate, not a drop of sweat on her person despite the carnage.

Compared to her sparring sessions with her man, Eiji... Ahem, this was trivial. The blood of an Ishtar Familia member stained the tip of her spear.

With a flick, she cleaned it, turning her attention to the sole remaining survivor.

"C-Can you tell me if Haruhime is alright before you end me?"

It was Aisha, who unlike the others, had not attacked but stood trembling.

She understood the futility of fighting the woman before her and accepted her fate. Yet, her only remaining desire was to know of Haruhime's well-being after her transfer to the Seiya Familia.

"Oh? You must be Aisha." A subtle smile graced Scáthach's lips, her demeanor shifting from the terrifying goddess of death who had just orchestrated a massacre.

Aisha blinked in surprise, "You know who I am?"

"Indeed. Haruhime mentioned you. She spoke of your efforts to safeguard her purity. She is well and expresses her gratitude."

"I... I understand now. You may proceed with killing me."

Relief washed over Aisha upon hearing Scáthach's words, and a wry smile touched her lips. She hadn't imagined that a small act of kindness towards Haruhime would spare her the fate of the other Ishtar Familia members.

However, Scáthach walked past her, stating, "Before I arrived, Haruhime requested that I spare you. Consider yourself free to depart."

Aisha's eyes widened, and she turned to see Scáthach's retreating back as she entered the palace. Despite knowing Scáthach's objective, Aisha made no move to stop her.

She let out a sigh, "My apologies, Ishtar-sama. I cannot squander the chance at life that Haruhime has graciously given me."

She understood that the Ishtar Familia had reached its conclusion, and following this night, her status as a level 3 would be stripped away.

However, she felt no sorrow, only a sense of relief and happiness. Her thoughts were set on departing Orario. As for reuniting with Haruhime? That was out of the question.

The fox had already found a better path, and she did not wish to impose upon her.

...

Within the grand palace.

Scáthach proceeded along the crimson carpet leading to the throne room. There, she beheld the woman who had troubled her beloved.

"Aah! Stay back! Do not approach! I beg your forgiveness, I am truly sorry! I vow not to seek vengeance against your god ever again!"

Ishtar trembled with fear, emitting a desperate cry. She had genuinely believed her familia's might was more than sufficient to vanquish a single member of Eiji's Familia.

Yet, the outcome was precisely the reverse.

The formidable individual before her... she was likely a level 8 or even level 9!

Such a powerhouse truly existed within the Seiya Familia's ranks.

Ishtar fell to her knees before her own throne, her earlier audacity completely dissolved. She did not hesitate to abase herself before these mortals.

"Hmm... Do you feel remorse? Yet, my god explicitly stated he had granted you a solitary chance, and it was your last. What then did you do, Ishtar...?"

Scáthach paused directly before Ishtar, gazing down upon the goddess with a subtle smile that sent shivers down one's spine.

"W-Wait! I shall bestow upon you anything you desire! Valis, lands, even men... I implore you, grant me mercy just this once! Please!" The goddess of beauty, Ishtar, pleaded, tears coursing down her terrified visage.

Once the haughty goddess of beauty, she now desperately clung to Scáthach's leg in her desperation.

However—

*Bang!*

Scáthach delivered a swift kick to Ishtar's face, sending her hurtling violently back onto her throne.

"Aaaahhhh! You vile wretch! How dare you strike a goddess like me! Are you insane? I will snuff you out – no, I shall enslave you and force you to slay your own god with your bare hands!"

"Hahaha! Scáthach, is it? You shall now grovel before this goddess!"

Ishtar shrieked in agony, clutching her face, which now bled ichor. Her bones had been shattered by the forceful kick. In her escalating fury, she unleashed her charm magic at its absolute zenith.

She could scarcely comprehend that Scáthach could resist her allure, much like Eiji.

Eiji, of course, was an exceptional anomaly.

Ishtar's enchanting aura permeated the entire chamber, a sweet fragrance wafting through the air, rendering anyone ensnared incapable of coherent thought.

Despite this, Scáthach remained resolute, her expression utterly unfazed. She regarded Ishtar with cool indifference.

"H-How is this possible? You are unaffected by my charm!?"

Ishtar nearly succumbed to despair upon realizing her charm had failed once more.

She even began to question her own divine status as a goddess of beauty.

Such a reaction was entirely understandable.

After all, Scáthach was counted among Eiji's chosen companions. While she didn't possess Avalon to nullify charms or mind-altering sorcery, Eiji had long ago fortified her against such threats by bestowing various resistances through their Master-Servant pacts.

All of his women were rendered impervious to any form of mind control or similar magic.

"As I presumed, your remorse was never genuine. You truly are a despicable creature, Ishtar."

Without uttering another word, Scáthach hurled her spear directly into Ishtar's heart.

"NOOOOO—!"

Ishtar's final cry was one of utter despair and terror as the Gáe Bolg Alternative pierced her chest. Intense agony radiated outward from the wound.

Instantly, a blinding divine radiance erupted from her form, manifesting as a column of light that ascended high into the Orario night sky.

This brilliant display signaled the forced return of a god or goddess to the celestial realm.

Numerous deities watched, stunned by the event.

On that fateful night, the Ishtar Familia was utterly annihilated!