"Hilda, Hilford, how are members of the priesthood usually selected?" Maerin asked.
"My lord," Hilda replied, "anyone who makes significant contributions to Asgard becomes part of the priesthood."
"Hmm? If I remember correctly, the priesthood was established to serve Odin and the gods. Shouldn't its members be chosen based on their piety?" Maerin frowned.
"My lord, what do you mean by that? The people of Asgard have always been devout believers in the Allfather!" Hilford exclaimed.
Maerin didn't respond to him. Instead, he looked to Hilda.
Under Maerin's scrutinizing gaze, Hilda lowered her head in shame.
"Your Holiness, what's wrong?" Hilford was confused by her reaction.
"The priesthood is infested with corruption," Maerin said instead.
"Impossible! Lord Maerin, you are a revered god and a friend to our Allfather, but you cannot slander our faith like this!" Hilford shouted, completely forgetting the respect one should show to a god.
BOOM—
A divine pressure descended. An overwhelmingly heavy force crushed Hilford to the ground, cracking the floor beneath him. His knees bled.
"Lord Maerin! Please forgive Hilford's disrespect!" Hilda was frightened by the display of divine might and quickly knelt, begging for mercy.
In the next moment, the pressure vanished, and Hilford could breathe again.
"This is your first, and your last warning," Maerin said coldly.
"Yes," both Hilda and Hilford responded on their knees. Maerin's prior friendliness had led them to believe he was an easygoing god.
But their arrogance had quickly surfaced.
Maerin was indeed approachable and even humorous at times—but never at the cost of divine dignity. In private, he might joke like a playful elder, but when it came to serious matters, he accepted earnest advice, not insolence.
And for someone like Hilford, whose thinking was deeply entrenched, words alone were no longer effective. Only overwhelming force would make him listen.
"Hilda, tell him."
She didn't respond. She trembled, still kneeling.
"Alright, rise," Maerin said calmly.
"Thank you for your mercy," Hilda said, helping Hilford up. Then she recounted what she had discovered.
"High Priest, what Lord Maerin said is true. Priest Rubini, Priest Skoll, Priest Koria…" She listed several names. "They no longer believe in the Allfather."
"What!? Your Holiness… surely you must be mistaken…" Hilford desperately wanted her to say it was all a lie. But her sorrowful expression made it clear—it was the truth. The priests he had most trusted, the very ones likely to succeed him, had all lost their faith.
It wasn't Hilford's fault, really. Though second only to Hilda in status, he was still a mortal without awakened Cosmo. Unlike Hilda, he couldn't see through people at a glance.
Hilda had hidden the truth because Asgard's situation was dire. The ones she named were leaders of powerful noble families. Asgard needed their support to survive. Without them, the people would freeze or starve. So she bore the burden alone.
But with Maerin's arrival—and the support of the Sanctuary—Hilda finally had the courage to speak.
Hearing it all, Hilford's eyes welled with tears. He slapped himself hard.
"I've wronged you, Your Holiness! I was wrong—so very wrong!"
Hilford had always been dissatisfied with Hilda. The Holy Maiden was the gods' voice among mortals and the highest authority in Asgard, yet she always seemed too kind, too weak, lacking resolve.
Only now did he realize—Hilda wasn't weak. She was enduring everything for the sake of their survival.
"This isn't just your fault," Hilda said. "As the Holy Maiden, I couldn't give our people a better life either."
"Please rest assured, Your Holiness! I'll support you fully. As for those parasites, I'll personally expel them from the priesthood!"
"Please wait, High Priest. Let's hear Lord Maerin's instructions first," Hilda quickly reminded him, glancing nervously at Maerin, relieved to see he wasn't displeased.
"Apologies, Lord Maerin, I was rash. Please forgive me," Hilford quickly bowed, not wanting to feel that terrifying divine pressure again.
"No rush. Let them enjoy their illusion of power for a little while longer."
"What is your command, my lord?" Hilda and Hilford both sensed Maerin already had a plan.
"Wait."
"Wait?"
"Yes. Wait. Wait until the Sanctuary's reinforcements arrive. Right now, those people control Asgard's lifeblood. Until we wrest that lifeblood from their hands, we cannot act."
"Yes, you are right," Hilford finally calmed down. His earlier anger had made him forget that crucial point.
"But that doesn't mean you'll be idle." Maerin continued. "First, public opinion. Control the narrative and win the people's hearts. That way, when the time comes to take them down, there will be no resistance. Hilford, you're the best person for this.
Second—power. The Odin God Cloths have been bestowed upon you. Find suitable candidates to inherit them. Hilda, that task falls to you. Only you can find the most worthy candidates.*"
"We shall obey your will," they said in unison, no complaints in their voices.
They now saw Maerin in a whole new light—wise and perceptive, able to identify all threats and turn them to his advantage, placing the right people in the right roles.
"Go now. I'll return to the Sanctuary shortly to prepare the next steps. Hilford, do you still have anyone you trust?"
"N-No…" Hilford said awkwardly. All his trusted aides were the corrupted priests.
"My lord, I believe I can recommend someone," Hilda offered.
"Go on."
"My attendants—Siegfried and Hagen. They are still young, but both are exceptional and entirely trustworthy."
Maerin paused. Siegfried and Hagen—those names were all too familiar. In the original story, they were the God Warriors of the Dubhe and Merak stars—the two strongest warriors in Asgard, and Hilda's most loyal protectors.
"Approved." Maerin nodded.
"M-My lord… are you sure? They're still children…" Hilford hesitated, not wanting to offend Maerin again, but found Hilda's proposal inappropriate. This was Asgard's first real diplomatic mission with the Sanctuary, and sending children seemed irresponsible.
"It's fine. Talented youth are the future. Letting them take on responsibility now will help them grow," Maerin said.
"As you will," Hilford conceded.
"Hilford, go attend to your duties. Hilda, bring them to me."
"Yes."
After they left, Maerin pondered how to lay traps to prevent Poseidon from manipulating Asgard again.
Time passed. Hilda returned with the two boys but didn't interrupt when she saw Maerin deep in thought.
Siegfried and Hagen, observing Maerin up close for the first time, were surprised. They had been furious upon hearing Odin had abandoned Asgard—even if it was a necessary sacrifice. And as Odin's friend, Maerin was part of their resentment.
But now, seeing him up close, they felt he was not what they expected. His presence brought warmth even to frigid Asgard.
At that moment, Maerin opened his eyes.
"My lord, these are Siegfried and Hagen."
"Greetings, Lord Maerin." Though they still harbored resentment, their loyalty to Hilda was absolute. Since she bowed, they followed suit.
"Rise."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Not bad. They'll do," Maerin said, observing them with his Cosmo. Their potential was incredible—on par with current Gold Saints. No wonder they once displayed power surpassing even Gold Saints.
Back then, there was no Maerin… and no divine weapons.
As they stood, the Dubhe and Merak God Cloths floating in the temple began to hum—but only trembled, not yet accepting the boys.
"This…!" Hilda was overjoyed. The God Cloths had resonated! Two new God Warriors were about to be born. Her mission was already two-sevenths complete.
But she also felt puzzled. Why only resonance, not full acceptance?
"Because they're still too weak," Maerin answered.
"My lord?"
"The God Cloths, though different from the Saints' Cloths, are similar in essence. Resonance means you have the potential to be their master—but right now, you're not strong enough," Maerin explained.
"I see," Hilda nodded. The boys were only ten. Of course they weren't strong enough yet.
"Can you make us stronger?" Hagen asked boldly.
"Hagen! Mind your manners!" Hilda scolded him, startled.
"Of course I can…"
"Then—"
"…but I won't," Maerin interrupted.
"Are you mocking us?"
"You pledged loyalty to Hilda, not me. Why should I train you?" Maerin replied with a playful tone.
Surprisingly, he didn't punish the disrespect—just joked, calmly.
Siegfried and Hagen were stunned, then turned to look at Hilda.
"Hilda, send them to prepare," Maerin said.
"Yes, my lord."
She left with the boys—but returned shortly afterward.
"My lord, I…" She hesitated.
"You want to ask why I treated the two of them so differently?"
"…Yes…"
"Why not be kind to fledgling eagles destined to soar across the sky?" Maerin said with a smile.