The skies above Orario stretched cloudless and boundless. A bright crescent moon hung in the clear, azure expanse. Sun and moon shone together, drawing people's gaze to this bizarre sight as whispers spread.
"What exactly is that moon?"
Eina sorted through piles of documents, her face showing signs of weariness. Several days prior, for reasons unknown, the Guild had forbidden anyone from leaving Orario. Because of this, complaints and conflicts arose one after another, making Eina's work much busier.
"It's probably something only the great gods know about. Not something we should worry about." Misha responded.
"I just have a bad feeling about it." Eina's voice was tinged with unease. Ever since the travel ban, Eina hadn't seen Bell, and her heart remained restless.
"Hey, I think you're just missing that boy." Misha chuckled softly.
"..."
Eina flustered, her pen skidding across the paper. "Seriously, don't say weird things while I'm working."
Misha murmured an apology. "Sorry, just teasing you. But what exactly is that moon, anyway?"
...
"Is that... Artemis's arrow?"
In the forest of Sword Smithing City Solingen, Astraea gazed skyward, momentarily startled. Before the impending crisis, a frown clouded the brow of the goddess of justice.
"Astraea-sama, do you know what that is?"
Beyond the crescent moon, Cecil could faintly discern the gathering glow of an arrow.
"It is a calamity, a symbol of destruction." Astraea revealed the moon's essence. Once the arrow is released, the rules of Genkai will be shattered. Even if successfully blocked, the gods will break the taboo against using Arcanum. With this as the beginning, the dark gods would wield their power without restraint. Then, the entire Genkai would be engulfed in a sea of fire.
"I'll send others immediately to stop this catastrophe." Cecil responded swiftly.
"No, it's already too late to rush there. Besides, Bell is surely there." Astraea spoke with unwavering certainty.
"Bell Cranel is at the scene? How do you know?" Cecil asked, puzzled. She was certain the goddess hadn't received any communication.
"Just intuition. Perhaps this is what lovers call a heart-to-heart connection." Astraea lifted the corners of her mouth, sending her blessings toward the distant moon.
...
"Bell..."
In a secluded alley of Orario, Laurier gazed up at the sky, murmuring the boy's name softly.
"We're on the job now. No matter how much you miss him, you should at least try to restrain yourself a little."
Lulune tied up several rough-looking adventurers and grumbled, "Leaving this mess for us to handle... I wonder where Hermes-sama and the Captain have disappeared to..."
Apart from Asfi, all of Hermes's Familia members remaining in Orario were secretly maintaining order. During this unusual period, the adventurers' volatile tempers flared, leading to a surge in disturbances. Naturally, Hermes Familia, with their access to diverse intelligence, became the guards' assistants.
Meanwhile, strange occurrences unfolded within the dungeon.
Airmid left Dian Cecht's shop and headed straight for the Tower of Babel.
"Prioritize treating the critically injured. Everyone else, please wait."
"Refrain from shouting—it disrupts message transmission."
"Please disperse to create passageways for the critically injured behind you."
The monster uprising had drastically increased the number of wounded adventurers. Airmid downed a bottle of Magic Potion, treating the injured with a haggard expression.
"Dea Saint, you should rest first," a fellow Healer urged.
"No, I can still hold on. It will... end soon..." Airmid responded resolutely.
She had wanted to join the youth and offer her strength. But Hermes had warned that if Airmid left, should the Dungeon undergo an anomaly, Orario would surely suffer many casualties. After bidding farewell to Bell, Airmid chose to remain. She firmly believed the boy who had saved her during the monster surge would surely resolve this crisis.
"Bell..."
Holding onto her longing and trust for the boy, Airmid remained steadfast on her own battlefield.
"Aisha-san, what do you think that is?"
Inside the brothel, Haruhime stared blankly at the sky.
"They say it's an extremely ominous presence."
Aisha smiled softly. "I rather like it. Bell Cranel has left the Labyrinth City. In my opinion, that must surely be an [Heroic Deead]."
"Is that so..."
Haruhime sat demurely by the window, her thoughts drifting to a distant horizon.
...
"At such a crucial moment, Mikoto actually went out with Hestia and the others..."
Takemikazuchi paced restlessly within his chamber.
"Um... After the banquet the other day, didn't you say you'd support Mikoto's decision?" Chigusa asked softly.
The once-stern companion now wore a blush, and everyone in Takemikazuchi Familia could see that Mikoto harbored feelings for the young man.
"I'm just worried Mikoto might be pushing herself too hard."
Takemikazuchi felt the boy bore a striking resemblance to Mikoto. Before that unyielding idealism, Mikoto might undergo some changes. Takemikazuchi wore a fatherly look of concern, silently praying in his heart.
The tavern seemed unaffected by the new moon, bustling as usual.
"Where did Ryuu go? I want a long vacation too..." Lunoire murmured wistfully.
"Hmph, I will tell you the answer, nya!" Anya wagged her tail excitedly. "Ryuu's gone and that boy's vanished too. The answer's obvious—they must've eloped, nya!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, silly cat?" Lunoire retorted.
But seeing that Syr paid no heed to their banter, Chloe asked softly, "Syr? Do you know something nya?"
"I don't know, but this situation will surely end soon..." Syr blinked and smiled gently. It was a genuine smile.
The girl did not fear [tragedy], but rather anticipated the arrival of [the unknown].
...
"Fels, your heart is beating a little too fast."
The great god Ouranos sat enthroned upon the altar.
"You're not very good at jokes."
Within the hall, the flickering flames cast reflections upon Fels's skeletal form.
"Have you too become fascinated with that youth?" Ouranos spoke to himself.
"....."
Apologies for that. Here's the revised version with Fels' gender kept neutral:
A flicker of light danced in Fels's dim eyes. The heart had long since ceased beating. Yet excitement and anticipation surged uncontrollably within.
Fels had once defied the world, seeking the possibility of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the gods. The journey mirrored that of the boy before now. A failure. What answer would Bell Cranel bring?
Fels waited silently, hoping for a fresh possibility.
"Ouranos, you seem rather pleased."
"Is that so... The gods anticipate the [unknown]. It seems I am no exception."
Ouranos closed his eyes, saying no more.
The flickering flames danced as the world awaited the youth's choice. The night that would decide the fate of the goddess was drawing near.