Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Even in a world where sight and hearing are blocked, Ari can still feel the "divine power" of the goddess.

This "divine power" seems capable of penetrating anything—grabbing the other's "soul" in one swift motion.

"Kneel down."

Everyone present felt a jolt in their hearts.

The life force of all things trembles.

Ariel, trembling all over, couldn't help but have this illusion.

The fire continued to flicker, the desert winds stopped blowing, and the bright moon in the sky froze instantly.

All because of a command from the "Voice of God".

It was just an order, and the Valsha soldiers, along with Marsana, who were stunned in place, all succumbed.

They knelt down in unison before the goddess.

"Yes────!"

When Ari was released by Allen, she was stunned by the bizarre sight of Marsana and the others responding respectfully and kneeling on the ground.

This group of people is clearly very abnormal.

Their cheeks flushed with excitement, drool dripping from their mouths, as they gazed up at the composed goddess.

There was no lewd or lustful emotion in those eyes.

They transformed into "captives" who only sought the attention of the person in front of them.

It's as if someone has stolen my "soul".

"Do you want my love?"

"Yes, yes! We'll pay any price to gain your favor!!"

"Is that so? This is truly a headache. I've decided I won't let you off the hook; I won't rest until you've received your just deserts. How can I possibly pamper children like this?"

"No, no way...!?"

Marsana and her soldiers were completely manipulated by the goddess's every word and action, and were immersed in sorrow and despair.

Freya put on a smile, a cold glint in her silver eyes, and spoke words like a witch.

"Let me think... then I'll immediately prepare to die and go to the heavens to wait for me, or—"

The next moment—

Marsana and his men grinned with ecstasy and drew their weapons.

"Yes, my goddess! I will go ahead and await your arrival!!"

The "tragedy" ended in the blink of an eye.

The soldiers swung their swords at their own throats or pierced their own chests.

Marsana uttered incantations that resembled prayers and pressed his wand against his neck to cast a spell.

First there was a flash of light, followed by an explosion.

The man's smiling head flew high into the air, but failed to soar into the sky and instead fell to the ground.

"………………What, what happened?"

Faced with this scene, trembling all over, Ari could only manage to utter these few words.

Blood splattered everywhere, and corpses littered the ground.

Pairs of lifeless eyes let their souls cross the desert sky and head towards the celestial realm on the other side.

Heeding Freya's divine will, all enemies lost their lives.

To be precise, it was suicide.

Just as Alyssa's legs went weak, she heard Allen's deep voice from behind.

"That's what 'allure' is."

“Eh…?”

"This is the goddess's 'allure'."

As if trying to hide his fear of the supreme god, Allen frowned and uttered those words.

"You said before that we were 'bewitched' by that goddess, right?"

"That's absolutely not true."

"How could that be?"

"After that goddess came to this city, she never used 'Charm' even once."

The four Jaliba brothers spoke in succession.

Upon hearing this, Ari froze as if time had stopped.

During the time Freya and Ari knew each other, did Freya never use her "Charm" ability?

Does this mean that people who have seen the goddess so far are only captivated by her "beauty" and not "bewitched"?

In other words, the "phenomenon" that had just left Ari and the others completely stunned was Freya's genuine "allure"—

"If one falls under that goddess's 'bewitching' spell... then it's all over."

"Even we, as members of the Familia, will be turned into puppets."

Hegni and Hedin squinted, gazing at the goddess who stood before them.

This was a power that even Freya's familiars, imbued with divine blood, couldn't withstand. Even Ari, who could resist her "beauty," would likely have succumbed without Eren's help. Incidentally, Boffman, kicked in the back of the head by Gel, now had half his face buried in the ground, his body convulsing. This man, a veritable embodiment of desire, was spared from "bewitching" only because of his pain and severe injury.

"We can crush a million soldiers... but that goddess can control a million soldiers."

The last sentence came from Ota.

Faced with this fact, Alyssa was speechless for a moment.

If Freya had intended to do it, it would all be over, and this statement is not a metaphor.

Whether it's reclaiming their homeland, usurping the throne—or ruling the entire underworld.

This overwhelming power affects even beings of equal standing; aside from gods and monsters, Freya can "capture" all things in the world in the blink of an eye.

They possess absolute control.

This is no longer a stunning beauty, but a "witch who rules the world".

As long as it's within the goddess's field of vision and the range of her voice, it's all her territory.

However—Freya didn't actually intend to control anything in the world; it was for enjoyment. More importantly, she respected this lower realm.

She knew that her abilities were very empty and the most boring thing in the world.

Anything obtained without effort is utterly worthless.

Through "seduction," a world where everything is under her control is almost indistinguishable from "death."

Therefore, Freya will not "seduce" beings in the lower realms.

Unless the other party touches her sore spot.

"What I mean is..."

Freya's "Charm" - almost invincible.

Based on the implication of Ota and the others, Ari realized with horror that the "charm" she had just used was not actually "at full power," and she could no longer suppress the fear in her heart.

—If that goddess were to truly use her "charm," the whole thing would turn into a "farce."

Only then did Aly understand the meaning behind what Allen had said earlier.

And why Allen was so excited at the time.

That's because Eren and the others were not "bewitched"; they voluntarily pledged their allegiance to Freya. They were not bewitched dolls, but rather, as members of Freya's family, they offered everything they had to her.

“…………”

After regaining her senses, Ari looked at the goddess standing in the pool of blood before her, but without any blood on her body.

The soldiers who died around Freya, covered in blood and all wearing the same smile, looked like clusters of "red flowers." The "Goddess of Beauty," standing in the center, maintained her smile and announced to the "souls" heading to heaven:

"If I remember what happened today after I return to the Heavenly Realm, I will favor you all. That is, if I do remember."

That smile was indeed unique to a queen who ruthlessly manipulates souls.

4

The desert winds create mirage-like illusions.

This is especially noticeable during sleepless nights.

Alyssa had two names from birth.

One is her birth name as a young girl, and the other is her name as a prince, Yalam Ras Shahrzad.

His biological father, King Sharzad, had long been troubled by the issue of succession. He had conceived no sons with his wife, concubines, or mistresses, and even though no one in the palace dared discuss the matter, he would suffer from the delusion of being criticized. Sharzad was a kingdom where the king was supreme, and to consolidate his power, he insisted on having a son at all costs.

Therefore, the first child everyone was looking forward to was a disappointing baby girl at birth, so Ari was given the life she had to live as a prince.

Based on the founding father's decree, Sharzad disagreed with the Queen ruling the country, so he had no choice but to resort to this measure until the baby boy was born or Ari became pregnant.

Alyssa did not feel repressed because of this.

Instead, he developed a sense of mission that he had to become king.

She was always plagued by the fear that her daughter would be exposed, but she decided that she would fulfill her royal duties until she gave birth to an heir and left behind a legitimate successor to the throne.

"Ari, I'm so sorry I couldn't give birth to you as a son, nor could I let you experience the happiness of being a woman—"

Ari's mother passed away when she was young. Although Ari did not understand the meaning of her mother's tears, she still made such a vow in front of her mother's grave.

As a young girl, Ari is not needed by anyone.

What is needed is Aram, who is a prince, or at least a prince who can truly inherit the throne.

She was merely a "relay point," and her name would likely only be written into a small corner of the national history.

Ari did indeed make that self-deprecating remark.

But she accepted it all.

Because, rather than cursing her own fate, she felt it was better to love this beautiful homeland nourished by the oasis, and the smiles of its people.

Ari felt that she was well-regarded by her subjects. Whether they knew the truth or not, they all loved Ari—no, they loved "Aram." Although she sometimes found her efforts futile because of her sense of justice, the prince's (Aram's) unwavering commitment to righteousness earned her positive reputation. Even the soldiers on the front lines were willing to fight to the death for "Aram," who shed tears of sympathy for the fallen.

Ari understands that she grew up in a pampered environment.

But she realized that this was also the same as no matter how much time passed, no one was willing to admit that she could stand on her own.

But reality doesn't wait for the prince (Aram) to grow up slowly; the phrase "someday" doesn't work.

Thus, tragedy struck.

The capital fell, and the people suffered.

The inhuman thugs burned, killed, and looted everywhere.

Ari simply stood there, obeying her ministers' orders to flee the capital.

The naive idea that "one day" led to such a disaster.

From the moment she resolved to live as the prince (Aram)—

From the moment she willingly became a "relay point" before the birth of the next king—

One should risk one's life to face one's own destiny.

Therefore, the girl (Ari) has no choice but to be prepared.

Be prepared and become the "cornerstone" of the motherland.

*

The day after the Valsha army invaded Riod City—

Despite her lack of sleep and dark circles under her eyes, Aly ignored the objections and followed businessman Boffman to inspect the messy city.

The bustling merchant capital is gone; the northern and western sections of the market are scorched earth, a scene that could hardly be described as mere wasteland. To prevent the prince (Aram) from escaping, the enemy forces also seem to have set fire to the southern "port." Not only the few remaining "Desert ships," but even the warehouses storing trade goods were reduced to ashes. The oasis, stained with blood, will require an unknown amount of time and effort to restore. Ironically, the slave market, emptied of its "goods," escaped unscathed.