"Many gods in Heaven do enjoy hearing their children constantly credit every achievement to the words of their god."
"But I don't like that kind of thing."
As he said that, Haimer's tone turned serious.
"This so-called Falna, in the end, is nothing more than another ticket I gave you."
"It is only an opportunity for you to break past mortal limits and reach toward a higher realm."
"As for your weapons…"
Haimer raised a hand and pointed at Black Crow at Rin's waist.
"It is indeed a fine blade."
"There's nothing to criticize about the craftsmanship of the Hephaestus Familia."
"But no matter how sharp a blade is, it still depends on who is holding it."
"If the wielder is a coward, someone too weak even to look a monster in the eye…"
"Then even if he held a divine weapon capable of splitting sky and earth…"
"the moment that monster roared…"
"He would still tremble with fear, throw the weapon to the ground, and turn his back to the enemy."
"And at that point…"
"No matter how priceless that weapon might be, its only end would be to become a grave good left behind in the Dungeon with its owner."
"It might even become proof for those who come later to laugh at the incompetence of the one who died."
He paused there, and when he spoke again, his tone softened a little.
"So yes, these weapons are excellent. They are the painstaking work of the Hephaestus Familia."
"But without your resolve in the moment you chose to swing them…"
"Without your courage to face death head-on and advance even with death at your doorstep…"
"they would still be nothing more than scraps of metal."
"So."
"You don't need to ignore all the sweat and effort you yourselves put in just to please me, or to force all the credit onto me."
"That would not only be a kind of disrespect toward the sweat you shed and the blood you spilled…"
"it would also be looking down on my judgment as the god who chose you."
The tavern fell completely silent.
Everyone was stunned.
Rin opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
The lids of Tsukuyo's closed eyes trembled slightly, as if she were still absorbing the weight of his words.
People were used to placing themselves in a lowly position.
Used to looking up at the gods.
Yet now, at this very moment, it was a god who was personally tearing down that idea and lifting them up instead.
"Of course, I'm not saying this to scold you."
Seeing the girls' dazed expressions, Haimer finally smiled helplessly.
"On the contrary, the reason I'm being so clear about it now…"
"is because you are the children I chose."
"And since you are the children I chose…"
"then be a little more confident."
"Even being a little proud is fine."
"Because this is the glory you deserve."
"You accomplished something others could not. That is simply the truth."
Clap
A crisp round of applause followed immediately.
"That's right!"
"Strength is strength, and there's no need for excuses!"
Tsubaki clapped her hands together, the admiration in her single eye completely undisguised.
"Hearing that from Lord Haimer almost makes me want to switch Familias!"
"If Lady Hephaestus hadn't treated me so well, I'd really be tempted to throw my lot in with you!"
After saying that, Tsubaki flashed Haimer a grin, then turned to the girls, who were still somewhat dazed.
"You little monsters get it now, right?"
"In Orario, ability is hard truth, and achievements are the best calling card."
"Today, you truly shattered the Guild's rookie record."
"Clearing all the way to the twelfth floor and coming back loaded on your first day isn't something luck can pull off."
"And at the Guild earlier, you didn't really get a good look."
Tsubaki seemed to recall something amusing, and the smile on her face grew wider.
"If you'd turned around, you'd have seen how priceless that girl Eina's expression was."
"I've known her for years, and this is the first time I've ever seen her look so completely out of her depth."
"She nearly jabbed a hole through her paperwork with her feather pen, and her glasses slid all the way down to the tip of her nose before she even remembered to push them back up."
"And those Guild employees around her, the ones always dozing off at the counter…"
"Every last one of them nearly had their eyes pop out. Their jaws were practically on the floor."
"Just the magic stones Kyoubou carried back would be enough, once converted into valis, for an ordinary small Familia to eat and drink well for a whole month!"
"And this won't even have to wait until tomorrow."
"By tonight, the story's probably already spreading through all the taverns."
"When that happens, you little monsters of the Haimer Familia won't be able to stay unknown even if you want to!"
Praised this directly by both their god and Tsubaki, the girls' previously stunned faces instantly flushed red.
Even Amou raised her chin ever so slightly.
She said nothing, but the faint upward curve at the corner of her lips gave away just how much she appreciated the praise.
Being recognized, especially by someone she acknowledged as strong, didn't feel bad at all.
Seeing that the moment was just right, Haimer nodded and smoothly picked up the thread of the conversation again.
"Miss Tsubaki is right."
"As a god, what I can actually do is very limited."
"At most, I can provide you with an opportunity to grow stronger, and secure for you a suitable weapon."
"That's all."
"As for how brilliantly you live in this world…"
"How you write your own story, whether you become heroes or legends…"
"That is your own challenge."
Haimer's voice was gentle, but every word carried weight.
"The road is beneath your feet."
"How far you walk, how high you climb, that depends entirely on you."
"I won't hover over you like an overbearing mother, pointing fingers at every step."
"All I need to do is watch from the end of the road…"
"or let you know that when you're tired, there is still someone behind you."
When he finished, Haimer raised the wine cup on the table and looked toward everyone, a smile on his lips.
"So."
"For your own hard work."
"And for the glory that belongs to you."
"Let's drink."
"Cheers!!!"
The cheers rang out once again.
This time, there was less restraint in the girls' voices, and more of the bright, fearless spirit that truly belonged to youth.
Their cups collided in midair.
The clear ringing sound felt almost like the prelude to a new age.
"Gulp, gulp, haah!"
Tsubaki drained her cup in one go and wiped her mouth with satisfaction.
"Now that's good!"
"But speaking of becoming famous, Lord Haimer…"
She set down her cup, picked up a huge piece of roasted meat with her chopsticks, and spoke while chewing.
"By tomorrow, there'll probably be plenty of flies buzzing your way."
"After all, a rookie party that performs this absurdly well on their very first day is bound to make other Familias restless, whether they want to recruit them or suppress them."
"So you'd better prepare yourself."
To anyone who didn't know better, Tsubaki's words just sounded like a perfectly normal warning given in good faith.
But after hearing them, Shakti felt her eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
"..."
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