A sudden chill—!
"!?"
The moment the ship crossed the barrier, Akumo felt the weight of a gaze upon them.
Kiiiiing—!
His lips moved instantly, invoking the technique most necessary for the current situation.
"[Erase my form, conceal my intent.]"
"""!!"""
'Akumo...?'
The group looked at him in shock, startled by the ominous aura rising from his body.
"[Utilize the darkness, like a shadow merging with the light.]"
His chant did not falter.
"...So they have come, the adventurers of Orario."
Somewhere, someone was watching everyone from Orario.
"The die is cast."
Slide—
"Now, no one can stop it."
The voice carried a heavy resolve, layered with emotions accumulated over a vast span of time.
Crack!
"No one."
Along with a colossal rage directed at a specific target.
Splash—!
On the shore where the waves continuously beat against the hull, Akumo's party was forced to dock quickly.
"....."
'I overdid it...'
Sensing that sudden gaze, Akumo had instinctively tapped into the memories dormant within his soul.
Throb—!!
Feeling a pulsing pain in his chest as the price, he looked toward his companions.
"To recite a chant so suddenly and then use nothing in the end..."
"As usual, I cannot fathom what you are thinking, Akumo."
Hedin and Horn, unable to perceive the influence his magic had exerted, merely expressed confusion at his sudden incantation.
""....""
Freya and Artemis, however, noticed he had exerted himself and watched him with worried eyes.
'That was undoubtedly... stealth.'
'He hid not just us, but the entire vessel... and maintained it until we arrived...'
It was an irregular magic that completely erased one's presence.
Though they were concerned that he had used such a spell, Akumo suppressed the pain and stood before them.
Step, step—!
"Whew! Let's head in for now."
He stood up, quickly calming the agony.
"Since we've come all this way, we should at least do some sightseeing, right?"
Smile—!
"Let's go!"
Seeing him wear his usual grin, the Goddesses found themselves unable to say anything more. Ultimately, they entered [Olympia] while keeping their identities concealed.
"Incredible... it is truly magnificent!"
Sway, sway—!
"It is exactly as described in the heroic epics! The orderly buildings and the beautiful land overflowing with natural grace...!!"
Haruhime's tail swayed with delight as she took in every detail of the scenery.
"You're right! It really is, Haruhime-san!!"
"It feels like we've jumped straight into a legend...!!"
Bell and Haruhime, both lovers of heroic tales, watched the landscape of [Olympia] with sparkling eyes.
"They're certainly enjoying themselves, those two..."
"Calling it 'exactly like the epics' seems a bit like an exaggeration, though."
Watching them from a distance, Akumo commented on the city to Hedin while observing the ancient-looking scenery.
"....."
"Artemis-sama?"
"Bell's assessment is likely correct."
"What do you mean by..."
Artemis fell into thought for a moment before revealing a truth to the group.
"This city has truly endured for thousands of years."
""""!?""""
"The streets look exactly as they did several millennia ago."
At her words, not only Akumo, Hedin, and Horn, but even Freya—a fellow deity—was taken aback.
"It seems we've tagged along on an adventure even grander than I thought?"
"Tell me about it... I wonder why that brat Bell gets caught up in things like this every single time..."
'It's worrying, yet fascinating...'
While thinking this, Akumo looked at the city with renewed interest, intrigued by the idea of a living heroic epic. Just then—
Fanfare—!!!!
The grand sound of music erupted from the distance, capturing their attention.
"W-What is it!?"
"Calm down, Horn. It's not like they've spotted us..."
Slide—
"It looks like something is happening near the fountain. Let's go check it out."
After the brief surprise from the sudden instruments, Akumo watched Bell's party head toward the source. He calmly assessed the situation, suppressed his presence, and followed them toward the fountain with his group.
'What is this...? Come to think of it, there are strangely few residents for a city...'
Step, step—
'Are we already getting swept up in a disturbance?'
With that wariness, the group peeked out from atop a building.
"The Great God Vesta!"
'Vesta?'
"...No, the Goddess Hestia!!"
'...Eh?'
There stood Ilia, whom they had seen before, standing before the fountain with a joyous expression, presiding over some sort of event.
"I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that you have come to our land of Olympia that my entire body is trembling!"
Waaaaaa—!!!!!!!!!
""""....?""""
The residents cheered Hestia's name, sending smiles of pure adoration toward her. Aside from Artemis, question marks practically appeared over everyone's heads.
"It isn't much, but all of us residents of Olympia would like to present a 'ceremony' to welcome the Goddess Hestia!!"
Despite the confusion of the observers, they proceeded with the event.
"What in the world is that...?"
"What is that...?"
"What... is that?"
"I wonder what that could be...?"
Akumo, Hedin, Horn, and Freya could only express their bewilderment in unison.
Despite their doubts, the ceremony prepared by the residents began. From the soldiers of Olympia to beautiful young maidens, they gathered as the music played...
"Goddess Hestia~~♪"
"Goddess Hestia~~♪"
"Goddess Hestia~~♪"
Everyone began to sing in one voice, chanting Hestia's name.
"Oh~ Oh~ Oh~~ The lovely Goddess of Eternity~~"
"Welcome~♪ To our Olympia~~"
Everyone sang with joyful faces, welcoming Hestia.
"Olympia is a good land~ A wonderful land~~♪"
"For you~ we dance and sing~~~"
Finally, as the last verse echoed out, the sound of applause filled the city.
Clap clap clap clap—!!!!!!!!!
"""""..."""""
As the cheers and shouts rang out, the welcoming performance for Hestia concluded.
Tremble—!!
The bodies of those watching from hiding couldn't help but shake.
"K-Khuhu...!! Kuhahaha...!!!"
"Pfft..! H-Hestia..! To think she had children like that..."
Akumo and Freya burst into laughter, marveling at the performance that was surprising in many ways.
"Ugh... kh...!"
".....Ngh, kugh...."
"..."
Even Hedin and Horn desperately held back their laughter, while Artemis simply stood there with a horrified expression, speechless.
"I'm so glad I came, seriously...!!"
Seeing the spectacle of a performance by Hestia's worshippers made the trip worthwhile for Akumo.
"~♪"
And the fact that this was only the first act...
Upon learning there were still 28 acts remaining, it wasn't long before the entire group was clutching their stomachs in fits of laughter...
Shortly after, Bell's party was guided toward the Great Temple by a blue-haired man called the Chief Priest.
A being named 'Eton'.
"....Should we follow them?"
"No, I will explain things to you once more."
Akumo intended to head toward the temple, but Artemis stopped him, leading them slightly away from the city for a moment.
"....."
"Akumo-kun...?"
"Artemis-sama."
However, Akumo could not move. The questions he had felt since the moment Artemis joined them were clouding his mind.
"Just what do you know, and how do you know it?"
He had to know. What she intended to convey, and the source of her knowledge.
"....It is a story from a very long time ago."
A story from the distant past.
Before the Gods descended to the Lower World, a time when the world suffered under monsters and heroes were being born.
A certain God wanted to bestow power upon the children.
That God wanted to save all the children who were being ravaged by pain, drowned in sorrow, and swallowed by tragedy.
Whoosh—!!
An era even before the birth of the first hero.
A certain God sought to send the [First Flame] to the children to save them all.
That God intended to steal the fire of the heavens and send it down to the Lower World.
Rumble—!!
At that act, the heavens were enraged. It was more of a violent rampage than mere anger.
The [First Flame], which possessed power close to that of the Gods, was far too much for the children. It was a helping hand offered far too early.
Boom—!!!!
In the end, thunder and fire had no choice but to clash.
Flicker—!
Yet, a spark eventually fell to the Lower World.
The [First Flame] landed in Olympia and protected them for a very long time.
"This is the history of Olympia."
A legendary nation that had maintained its existence for thousands of years alongside heroes, writing legends with the power of the [Demi Arcanum].
That was [Olympia].
'....Prometheus and Zeus.'
Among the Gods in the story, one was the name of the old man Akumo knew all too well.
"That aside, to think that story was true..."
'That means Epimetheus was a real person too, doesn't it?'
Akumo was stunned by the fact that a tale of adventure, separate from Orario, had continued for so long and that they had written a history just as grand.
"Wait... if that's the case...."
Just as Hedin asked in surprise, Akumo was likely thinking the same thing.
"A problem occurred with that [First Flame], which is why Bell and the others were summoned here."
"And as a result, quests have been pouring out like crazy lately."
That was the conclusion they reached. It was the reason Olympia had revealed itself and why Hestia and Hephaestus had been led here.