Chapter 360: S: The Grand Event of Radiance (35)

"Political correctness? What's that?"

"It's a uniquely human concept; I won't go into the details. As an Asgardian, you likely can't comprehend it."

"Let's first analyze the specific situation."

"The first halo appeared when you transformed into a woman. What were you thinking when you changed your gender?"

Loki opened her mouth, as if unsure how to express it, and said: "I wasn't thinking anything. Should I have had some particular feelings?"

"That's exactly the problem. If your psychological gender is Ma Lei, then transforming yourself into a woman should have caused discomfort. If you felt nothing at all, it suggests your psychological gender is likely female or neutral—you're transgender…"

The moment those words were spoken, another massive halo erupted behind Loki with a "Zeng!"—so blinding it nearly forced eyes shut. Now Loki was nothing but a giant lightbulb, a cosmic lighthouse in another sense.

"Is 'transgender' meant literally? Maybe…"

"Why do you think you became transgender? Is it due to innate genetics, or environmental influences?"

Loki's face showed a flicker of hesitation. Shieler tapped the desk with the pen's end, drawing her attention, then continued: "I believe environmental factors dominate."

"Your life in Asgard is an environment that utterly rejects you, because you're physically frail and skilled in magic—unlike the vast majority of Asgardian males. You're an outlier among them."

156n.

"But if the same conditions applied to a woman, you wouldn't face discrimination—you'd be celebrated, like your mother Frigga. She's the most powerful sorceress across the Nine Realms and the revered Queen of the Gods, yet her conditions are nearly identical to yours—the only difference is gender."

"The same conditions, carried by different genders, yield utterly opposite outcomes. That's the core reason for your psychological dissonance. I suspect you've wondered: if I were a goddess, would life be less painful? Would I be more popular than Thor?"

Loki's expression changed. Clearly, Shieler had struck a nerve. The questions Shieler posed—she had pondered them all.

In daily Asgardian life, she kept distant from Odin, yet was close to her mother Frigga. She knew how deeply revered the Queen of the Gods was, yet privately, she compared herself to her mother—and concluded they were nearly identical in every way.

Two similar people, differing only in gender, yet treated with utterly opposite outcomes. Loki couldn't have avoided questioning it.

Loki fell silent for a long time, then slowly exhaled and said: "I admit, I've thought about every one of those questions—and replayed them countless times."

"When I was very young, I didn't understand why no one wanted to play with me."

"We played war simulation games—a common pastime among Asgardian children. Kids split into two teams, assuming battlefield roles, then clashed."

"Whenever we played, neither team wanted to pick me. In the default formation, males were frontline warriors. If I joined, it meant they lost a player—and might lose the game."

"Every time, Thor would make me join his team, then order me to stand at the back, alongside the girls, casting magic."

"The goddesses treated me well enough, but after each game, they'd praise Thor—even with a burden like me, he still won…"

"That hurts more than direct attacks, doesn't it?"

Loki's voice began to tremble. Clearly, she was recalling memories she wished to forget.

"Thor saw it as a favor to me. He believed that by choosing me when no one else would, he was showing his love…"

"Even after adulthood, he kept doing it. No legion would accept me—they said I couldn't defend myself, and bringing me to battle meant assigning a whole squad of guards just to protect me."

"They called me 'Respected Prince,' told me to stay safe in the palace, not to trouble frontline warriors. But if I didn't go, I became the symbol of cowardice and incompetence."

"Only Thor was willing to take me. He ordered me to stay behind the lines, even asked me not to cast magic. My only role in every war was to appear at the victory banquet after he defeated all enemies."

"He thought he was perfect—a loving older brother. I had no grounds to object. I should learn contentment. If I raised any protest, they'd say: hasn't Thor done enough?"

Shieler shook his head: "That's why I say Asgardians never care about mental health. The consequence of ignoring psychology and behavioral science is that everyone believes they're doing good—yet end up creating the worst outcome."

"So answer me: when treated this way, did you want to strengthen your body, become a warrior as strong as Thor, and reclaim your honor—or…"

Loki shook her head: "No. I despise that kind of combat. I believe those fools have never grasped the importance of deception tactics—only frontal charges…"

"It seems your psychological gender also has innate roots."

Loki nodded: "From the start, I never liked gladiatorial games. I preferred quiet things—reading in the library, strolling through ancient gardens. I've done this since I was very young."

Loki wore a complex expression: "I know being different comes at a cost. But often, I still resent it. When I'm calm, I know Thor probably never thought deeply—he just followed his instincts…"

"He thought he was my brother, so when no one picked me, he had to. He thought he should protect me, so he shoved me to the back. He couldn't feel my pain, so he didn't care about Asgard's gossip…"

Loki's tone remained calm throughout, her demeanor numb when speaking of her plight. Seeing her state, Shieler immediately shifted topics: "Enough of that. Let's talk about something cheerful. Has Thor missed another feast?"

At those words, Loki's expression brightened visibly—she barely held back a laugh.

During the last Nal incident, Thor was stranded on Earth, clueless. All the generals in Asgard gorged themselves—only he, pitifully, couldn't regain his divine power.

This Christmas event, Gao Yi scavenged the gifts, Odin divided the spoils. By the time Odin finished distributing, there'd be another round of feasting—and Thor would surely miss it again.

"Let's summarize," Shieler put down his pen, reading from the medical file: "Due to childhood bullying, you developed severe psychological issues, anxiety disorder, and profound emotional disorders…"

As Shieler finished speaking, the small halo behind Loki suddenly expanded—now she was invisible, reduced to a giant white orb.

"Meanwhile, the bullying gave you a unique gender identity. As a transgender person, you endured discrimination—further worsening your mental illness…"

"Zeng," "Zeng," "Zeng"—Loki's radiance intensified. This mysterious optical phenomenon pierced Earth's atmosphere.

"Meanwhile, you're also a lesbian. After transforming into a woman, you had a romantic relationship with your sister…"

Loki opened her mouth to protest—but even stronger light engulfed her. Shieler continued: "Of course, your taboo romance with your sister also made you part of a minority group."

"And your brother and sister both vied for you. I recall you said Balder is the incarnation of the World Tree's new branch—so this is even a cross-species romance…"

"Of course, the World Tree is a plant. You awakened Balder with light, gave him rebirth—you're clearly an environmentalist too…"

"Mentally ill, transgender, incestuous, interspecies, environmentalist… You're the minority within the minority, political correctness incarnate."

As Shieler rattled off this tongue-twister, a blinding beam erupted from Earth's surface, shooting straight into the heavens. Odin, still facing Hela and Balder beyond the Nine Realms, watched in horror as the beam "whirred" upward—until it struck the edge of the single universe.

At that moment, Loki descended from the brilliant column. Her robe fluttered with the light, her hair stirred without wind, her eyes filled with sacred radiance.

Loki silently recalled Shieler's final words. She turned to Odin, her voice calm yet commanding:

"Allfather Odin, do you have objections to female heirs?"

Odin didn't understand. He opened his mouth—then felt a crushing dread rise within him. He snapped it shut. The instant the question was spoken, the beam solidified further, relentlessly hammering the single universe's barrier.

Loki turned to Balder: "Light God Balder, do you object to my lesbian relationship with Hela?"

Balder choked, but said nothing. The beam grew stronger—just a hair's breadth from piercing the single universe's barrier.

Meanwhile, in Sakaar, Thor had finally prepared to return to Asgard. On his way back, he felt a familiar power spreading.

Just before re-entering the Nine Realms, he saw a brilliant light erupting—right along the path back. His heart tightened. Had Asgard been attacked??

He expended vast divine energy, racing at top speed. The moment he landed, he saw Loki within the beam—the familiar aura unmistakably hers.

Thor's eyes widened. He stared in disbelief at the female Loki: "Loki??? How did you become… how did you become a goddess?!!"

Just as Loki was moments from piercing the single universe's barrier, Thor delivered the ultimate assist. Loki spoke: "New Light God Thor, do you have objections to transgender people?!"

"Boom!" The beam expanded infinitely. Everyone nearby was flung backward. In that instant, Loki—stacked with every buff—ascended.

When the beam vanished, all halos collapsed inward, exploding into even brighter light. In an instant, a radiance bright enough to illuminate the Nine Realms rose in the dark cosmos—

The Radiant Goddess Loki descended.