Step, step—
Before long, Akumo and Bell reached Vesta.
"Hestia was the one who told me that I was needed...!!!!"
"If you disappear, Hestia, that house will be far too quiet!!"
No, they had reached Hestia.
"I...!"
"Lilli...!!"
""We want to laugh together with everyone!!!""
The cries of the two girls reached Hestia.
"...Supporter... Haruhime..."
That tremor.
It was clearly a tremor of hope, a piece of evidence.
"Brother..."
"We're too exhausted to step in ourselves."
Bell and Akumo wanted to step forward and amplify that tremor, but.
"Let's just savor our victory."
Smile—
"This is [Everyone's Story], and at the same time, it's the [Story of a God and Their Familia]."
Who defeats whom within that story, and who persuades whom, is another tale entirely.
That is why it is their individual story.
"I feel the same as Haruhime, Hestia!"
Thus, Akumo and Bell decided to watch their story unfold.
"I was supposed to return to Takemikazuchi after a year...! But I was so happy by everyone's side!"
Step—
"I've gained another family, different from the one at the shrine!"
So she would never give up on her.
"I never wished for such children..."
"If you didn't wish for it, why did you create a Familia!"
"...!!"
"Even if you didn't wish for it! How could we ever abandon the mother who embraced us!!!"
"That's..."
Hestia, who had embraced even those who had sinned and believed in their adventures.
"Is it... my own selfishness to want to stay with you, Hestia...?"
"Mikoto..."
We still need you.
It feels like we can only laugh if you are there.
"So stop throwing a tantrum."
Welf, too, understood Hestia and intended to return with her.
"Always clumsy, always lazy."
"Completely different from other Gods."
Ryu and Asfi continued her story.
"You are always slovenly. At the same time, this serious side is also you."
Asfi, who served the most mischievous yet most agonizing God of Adventure, could understand.
"It's fine to be fickle. Our Goddess is the same, isn't she?"
Stagger—
"Because your children are just as fickle."
Hedin was dizzy from Mind Down.
He managed to stand with Akumo's help and speak.
"That's why we need each other."
They were always fighting, always jealous, always a mess.
"That's why I am who I am now."
Whether thinking of a better self or a worse self, what matters is the present.
And the future they want to improve.
"In that future, they want you to be there."
"It's just selfishness. So don't overthink it and just come back. Goddess."
Following Horn and Aisha's words, Hestia fell into silence.
"....Why is everyone stopping me?"
Rumble—!!!
But as expected, it was stubbornness.
Whoosh—!!!
This was something no one else could do. It was something only she could do.
"Sigh... honestly."
"I guess we have to step in, brother."
"Let's go, Bell."
Since it was a natural hesitation and a natural refusal, it was Akumo and Bell's turn to act.
""Hestia.""
"....You two have already achieved what you wanted!"
You've gained growth and success, so can't you just go back now?
"Ayy~ that's a given."
"....?"
"The reason we came here was to save our Patron Deity."
"...!!"
Though they gained many things in the process.
"Only when we save you..."
"Can we truly call it a success."
We will save you too. That's why we came here.
"Uh... but I just came because it looked fun..."
"....Brother!"
"Ah, alright, alright...."
The sight of Akumo's mood-breaking comment and Bell scolding him.
"....Honestly, you two."
Sparkle—!
Not the image of Vesta, but the image of Hestia succeeded in making her smile.
"Take responsibility, just like always!"
Grin—!
At the Goddess's smile, everyone responded with smiles of their own.
""""""Of course.""""""
"The souls trapped in the flames... are being purified..."
Beautiful ash, like snowflakes, fell from the sky.
Smile—!
"Sion... Siate..."
It was a miracle of ash that allowed her to see her daughters smiling at her.
"Aaaaaah...!!! Hwaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!"
Along with Rhea, who shed long-held tears of sorrow, the Gods all looked at the ash together.
"They actually did it.... those brats."
"If it were me or Prometheus, everything would have been destroyed no matter how we solved it."
"The ones who purified the calamity of this land were Bell and Hestia...."
However, in this story.
They weren't the only ones who took a gamble.
"Even so, everyone was the one who shone."
Crack-boom—!!!!!!!!!!!
At Hermes's words, Prometheus looked up at the sky.
"Are they... mourning?"
"It seems like an apology in its own way. For the [Heavenly Lightning]."
"....Good grief, how selfish...."
As if holding a funeral for the souls, as if protecting them on their way to the heavens they would ascend to.
"A [Divine Spear]... no, in the true sense..."
The [Thunder Spear], a spear of lightning, rose from the ashes of Olympia like a barrier, lighting up the ascension of the souls.
Step, step—
"Is it alright to leave it like that?"
"Of course, it's my power anyway. It won't run away anywhere."
Akumo descended with everyone, having left the Blue Dragon Sword plunged into the altar and wearing Landgriz.
"""""...."""""
"Hmm? What's wrong, everyone?"
Did the group stare at him because he looked like a knight protecting a Goddess?
"Akumo... was that always your outfit...?"
"What, it probably got torn a bit while coming up."
"No, that's not it...."
The identity of an adventurer, the identity of a warrior, the identity of a hero.
It was simply that one more identity had been added to those.
Surely, without a doubt, the identity of a king.
"Now, now~! Save the talk about me for later!"
The smile he wore was the smile of a supreme sage-king.
It was the smile of a king who ruled the sky, incomparably strong and beautiful.
"How was it for everyone?"
"What happened to all of you?"
It was the smile of a man who wanted to hear everyone's story.
"....And so~! Our Familia played an all-around active role! Isn't this an achievement worthy of praise!?"
In the early dawn, with the rising sun standing out, they shared their stories with each other.
"Specifically, I expect a development where we are granted return to Orario for a rendezvous & adventure with my beloved Bell, and things go woo-hoo-hoo!!!"
"As if!" "Like hell!!"
Whack—!!!
The Apollo Familia's activity and help were certainly useful.
Even so, Akumo and Hestia, who had no intention of giving him what he wanted, sent him flying with a single blow.
"After going through all that yesterday.... they still have so much energy..."
"I can understand that side... but Supporter-girl, how about you?"
Hephaestus and Welf smiled as if it were absurd, then turned their heads toward Lilli.
"Of course! We've reconciled with the people who tried to use us and then kill us without hesitation~"
"Ugh...!!"
Minukia and Emilia didn't know what to do at the words flowing casually from Lilli's mouth.
"And also with the person who kept making everyone frustrated like a dummy Goddess!"
"....Vesta." "Supporter!"
The next ones Lilli mentioned were, of course, Hestia and Rhea.
"What! It's true! Hestia kept being tsundere and made everyone suffer, and Rhea only made Akumo suffer!"
"".....""
"Hmph! Both of you, reflect on yourselves!"
Even if they wanted to argue with Lilli, they couldn't open their mouths.
Because, as Lilli said, it was true that their stubbornness had caused everyone to suffer and get hurt.
"That being said~"
Bonk—!
"You shouldn't say it like that, Lilli~?"
"Eek!?"
However, Akumo lightly tapped Lilli's head for their sake, as if it were alright.
"But Akumo...!"
"I'll say it again, you don't really need to worry about me."
"....."
"Coming to [Olympia] at the risk of my life was my choice. Saving you in the process was also my choice."
Smile—!
"I came of my own accord, and I saved you of my own accord. Got it?"
As if being considerate of Rhea's guilt, Akumo smiled brightly and comforted her warmly.
"....Akumo."
"Why? Another worry?"
".....If you ever need help.... please, call me."
Rhea called out to Akumo as he was moving to talk to the others.
She said that to Akumo with her head bowed.
"Hmm~ what should I do? It feels like I'd just be making you suffer more..."
Looking at Rhea, Akumo didn't want to give her more burdens now that the flames were purified, but.
Grip—!
"Eh?"
"I really...! want to be of help. To you...."
"....Huh?"
She took Akumo's hand and lifted her head, which she had been hiding, to look at him.
Teary—
"You can even sacrifice me. It's fine to just use me as a decoy."
Rhea revealed her sincere emotions to him while shedding tears.
"There's no way I'd do that...."
"Then, as a parent with children...."
Tight—!
"Even if it's just to be someone to talk to for a while..."
The sight of Rhea tightly holding Akumo's hand as if it were precious.
'....Wait.'
To Akumo, she overlapped with a certain saved Elf.
"If that's... what you want...?"
"Anytime, anywhere, I will come running."
As if that premonition were correct, once she received Akumo's permission, Rhea's tears stopped.
Thump—
"We must meet again."
Thump—!
Her heart, which had become ash from being exhausted for hundreds of years.
Her heart, which had been broken and malfunctioning since that day.
Thump-thump—!
"Akumo."
It was working again as she looked at the man before her.
'Sion... Siate...'
"I get it, so calm down..."
Even at Akumo waving his hands as if troubled, Rhea thought of her daughters.
Whoosh—
-'Mother...'
-'Sion...! Siate!!!'
The moment she sent her daughters up while shedding tears.
-'Please don't suffer anymore.'
-'Because both Sion and Siate can laugh now!'
-'It doesn't hurt anymore, so don't let it hurt for you either, Mother!'
Even though she had suffered countless times and failed in her duty as a mother.
Her daughters had smiled at her and relieved her of her final burden.
-'We want Mother to be happy!'
Those words truly saved Rhea.
They allowed her to see the things she had been missing.
Slide—
"It's a promise."
She stroked the hand that had touched his as she watched Akumo leave.
-'Are you coming, or staying?'
She had kicked away his initial help and attacked him.
-'Isn't it obvious!!'
Even after seeing him stand up while his body was being burned, she had made the wrong choice.
-'This is the last time I protect you without a price, Rhea.'
Even though he spoke so coldly, she had rejected the hand he reached out again.
She had insulted him and mocked him as a parent.
-'There's no way I'd do that....'
Even so, he saved her and gave her unconditional love.
'That's cheating....'
"To show such kindness to a mother so full of sin..."
For the first time in a very long time, in hundreds of years, a love other than maternal love bloomed in Rhea's heart.
"Come along now."
"Now, explain."
"Trash."
"A true philanderer, aren't you~"
Of course, those feelings were easily read by certain women watching the situation.
"Oh, I'm dead~!!!!"
Dash—!!!
Akumo, feeling an immediate sense of crisis, tried to flee, but.
Slide—
"Asfi...?"
"Die."
Akumo was immediately punished after being hit by Asfi's kick, as she was already blocking his escape route.
"Ugh... ah.... I'm really gonna die...."
Akumo was in more pain than when he had blocked the Divine Spear.
"Ahaha.... Brother, really..."
"It is your due reward, so accept it gracefully, Akumo."
"Even Mikoto...."
Bell laughed awkwardly at Akumo, and Mikoto nodded as if it were natural.
"Um, but how are we going back...?"
"Fortunately, the ship Akumo came on seems to be intact."
"The barrier is gone, but it would have been awkward to go by land, so it's a good thing."
Ryu and Aisha immediately pointed to Akumo's ship and answered Bell, who was looking for a way back.
"Haha! It was a good thing you followed me, right!?"
"Shut it."
"Yes ma'am...."
Akumo, who had recovered enough to joke, was immediately suppressed by Ryu's killing intent.
"Well then, we'll be going now."
"Aphrodite... you still cut off conversations so well... you really can't read the room..."
"Why should I adjust to my surroundings? Besides, the work is done!"
Strike a pose—!
"There's no reason for the beautiful me to stay in these ashes, is there?"
Aphrodite struck a pose, flaunting her beauty.
Her gaze then turned toward Bell and Akumo, who were talking together.
"You there, baby rabbit? And cute snake?"
""?""
"I see you two hopped around and twisted your bodies to do your best..."
She shouted confidently and happily at them as they expressed their doubt.
"I'll give you the right to serve me! Consider it an honor!"
".....What?" "....??"
"Believe it or not, that's her way of praising you... and also an apology for being harsh."
"I can see your face turning red from embarrassment, Aphrodite."
Hermes and Hestia immediately exposed Aphrodite's true feelings.
"I can hear you!!!!? Fine then, just come to Maelstra when you have time!!!"
As if Hermes and Hestia's words were true, Aphrodite left, saying she hoped they would visit her after all.
"It's time for us to leave as well! But it won't be an eternal farewell!"
Smile—!
"Even if the me of today is rejected! The me of tomorrow, and the day after that, will... Bell..."
"Oh, shut up! Brother!!!!!!!"
WHACK—!!!!!!!
"Guh!!!!?"
Just as Apollo was about to leave noisily following Aphrodite, Artemis's fist sent him flying, as she was too embarrassed by him.
"Ah... it ends noisily this time too, huh?"
Leaving the commotion behind, Akumo looked at Olympia, brightly lit by the rising sun.
"It's become... quite desolate..."
"But those ashes aren't meaningless, are they?"
Freya spoke immediately following Akumo's words.
"Exactly."
Smile—
"Those ashes will become the nourishment for a beautiful future."
Surely, it would be so.
"You protected it again, didn't you?"
"Everyone protected it together again."
Freya approached him cautiously.
She stood by his side with a completely refreshed smile.
"It was truly wonderful. My knight?"
"Too much praise.... is what I'd say, but it was definitely quite impressive!"
"Oh? Such shameless truth?"
As if she wanted to tease Akumo's confidence, Freya brought someone over.
Click, clack—
"....."
"Rhea? Freya, why Rhea...."
"Who knows? Maybe revenge against the philanderer who saves people and then abandons them?"
"What does that mean..."
Akumo tried to express his doubt.
But before that doubt could be voiced, a certain sound reached his ears.
"Akumo, there's dust on your head."
"Akumo, there's dust on your shoulder."
"...?"
They awkwardly approached different spots on him.
"Bell, there's dust on your head."
"Yes?"
And Ilia approached Bell in the same way.
No, Prometheus.
Mwah—!
""........Eh?""
And then, a vivid sensation.
".....You certainly made me embarrassed, didn't you? This is in return."
Grin—
"Was it your first? Then I'll take that first."
Prometheus had stolen something from Bell.
"It's not the first for this side, so it shouldn't matter, right?"
"....."
From the fickle Freya to the silent Rhea.
"""""".....""""""
"Uh, oh shit?"
""""""Get him.""""""
At the same time, scenes flashed through his mind.
Splurt—!!
Grip—!!
A future where he was locked in a basement, raised like a pet, or had his body cut up to be shared (?) fairly.
"Bell~~~~~~~!? What exactly was stolen from you~~~~~!!!!!!!"
Whoosh—!
"It was the cheek, right!? She did it on the cheek!! Or was it the forehead!?"
"S-s-s-she definitely didn't do it on the mouth, right!? S-safe...!! It's safe, right!!!!!?"
Hestia, Lilli, and Haruhime flew in like arrows.
"...?"
"""He's already broken!!!!?"""
However, Bell showed no sign of answering.
Whoosh—!!
"You actually shot!!!? Ryu, calm down!!!"
BOOM—!!!!!
"How can you waste Burst Oil like that!!!? Asfi!!!!!"
On this side, arrows and bombs were actually flying at him, and Akumo tried to start a conversation, but.
"Akumo is truly a hopeless man truly coming all this way truly truly truly."
"R-Ryu...!"
"Tell me where you were hit tell me quickly before it's too late please just do it."
"Put the knife down first before talking, you're crazy right now!!!!"
Slash—!!!
"Whoa!!!!?"
A concise slash cut through the air in front of him.
"I will peel off one layer of skin from the affected area. That would be safe, definitely safe. Absolutely safe, right?"
"Of course, Ryu."
As the saying goes, you reap what you sow. Akumo found himself targeted by the women holding the blades he had given them.
"See if I ever save you again!!!!!!!"
Of course, he was still the hero who would keep saving them anyway.
Step, step—
With that commotion, this story came to an end.
Whoosh—!
"I should get going."
Kilros.
He watched the rising sun and prepared to leave Olympia.
"Hey, hey~ wait up? You stirred things up so much behind everyone's back, and now you're trying to slip away?"
"Is it Hermes...."
"Good grief, when I saw the [Heavenly Lightning], I was surprised and wondered if..."
"You mean the spear I gave to that brat Akumo?"
Kilros began to loosen his throat and regain his original voice.
"....Ahem~! Ahem~! Ah~! Ah~! Aaaaaah~!"
"Aaaaah! Mmm! Ah~ my throat's not in good shape after changing my voice for so long~"
Bell's grandfather, and the one who had given the Divine Spear to Akumo.
"Is 'not in good shape' all you have to say? How long have you been here?"
"Later than Aphrodite, earlier than Apollo?"
"I thought you'd be here.... but I didn't think you'd get this deeply involved...."
"Hmph! As if I knew that brat Akumo would jump in?"
As a God of Olympus, he cared about Olympia.
"It's because of responsibility, right? Since you also had that quarrel with Prometheus."
"You sound like a meddling swindler who thinks he knows everything..."
"Actually, you were going to step in when Hestia was about to fail, weren't you?"
"....Though Akumo stepped in instead."
Zeus didn't deny it, even while finding Hermes's insight annoying.
In fact, he had intended to sacrifice himself instead of Hestia.
"By the way, Kilros... do you know how much I laughed?"
"It's not exactly wrong, is it? Since the cause was me and that idiot Prometheus dropping the [Flame] from the heavens."
Taking responsibility for one's own actions. That was the belief Zeus constantly held onto.
"Anyway, how was it? This story."
"It turned out well. The purification was a success without any sacrifices. Though I ended up on a fool's errand."
Hermes and Zeus looked happy as they conversed.
"What's wrong with a fool's errand? As the [God of Adventure], it was quite fun."
"What [God of Adventure].... you're just a troublesome madman who stirs things up everywhere..."
Hermes, having seen the hero's thunder, expressed his sincere feelings as he savored this story, and while Zeus grumbled as if Hermes were heartless.
"That child probably feels the same?"
"....."
Hermes willingly accepted the grumbling and mentioned someone.
"If you mean that crazy brat with [Wanderlust].... well, yes."
"How exactly did you trick Akumo?"
One question arose at this point.
Zeus's Divine Will must be an unforgettably powerful force, so how did he escape Akumo's eyes?
"That was simple."
Zeus lightly shared the secret.
"I planted a transmitter in his body that emits my aura."
"Ah."
"I knew he'd definitely recognize me, so I made him completely desensitized to my lightning."
That was likely the Divine Spear inherent in Akumo's body.
"For the sake of freedom! A certain amount of sacrifice is necessary."
Hermes saw Bell and Akumo overlapping in Zeus as he spoke such crazy things so confidently.
"You're far too confident for a madman who transplanted his Divine Will into a human...."
"Especially after coming all the way to Olympia to see the aftermath of the powerful force you gave away so recklessly."
"And it's absurd how confident you are... did Akumo use that as a material again?"
"He scraped together other Divine Wills as well."
He had willingly used them to create a new miracle.
"Whatever the case, it turned out well."
"Somehow, I feel like Akumo is going to kill you...."
"Of course! But so what!"
A madman who was fickle and saved and protected others as he pleased according to his own beliefs.
"I can't let that brat be tainted only by that old hag Loki!"
Slide—
Zeus, shouting so confidently, turned his head to look at the harbor where he would be.
Dash—!!!
"Everyone! Please stop!!!!"
He could watch Akumo fleeing in horror.
Slash—!!!!
"It must be a coincidence, right? It must be. It doesn't matter as long as you don't forget the promise you made to me. Yes, sword, let's cross swords, Akumo. If we exchange blades and understand each other through blood, everything will be alri—"
"LIKE HELL IT WILL!!!!!"
Not only Mikoto, who was chasing him while firing powerful sword ki with terrifying momentum.
"Stopstopstopstopstopstopstop."
"Ryu, please...!!!!"
Along with Ryu, who was chasing him with dead eyes.
"Hermes is one thing, but why are you so selfish, or rather, trash...!!!! I will at least correct you and reduce my fatigue!!!!"
"You weren't this kind of character!?"
Asfi, who spread her wings and flew through the sky chasing him.
"Shit! Die, you bastard!"
"Hedin! Hedin! Get a hold of yourself!!!"
"That skin that bewitched the Goddess! I shall personally flay it!!!!"
"Uwaaaak!!!!!?"
And even Hedin, who tried to kill him with a single stroke as if he couldn't forgive him for receiving the Goddess's favor.
"Haha! Serves you right, you bastard! What did I tell you!?"
Zeus felt more refreshed than ever at that sight and teased Akumo, who was always putting him down.
"You're one to talk, being whipped by Hera..."
"At least I'm aware that I'm a philanderer!?"
Slide—
"I'm on a different level from a man who's destined for a Nice Boat because he seduces every woman's heart without a plan~"
Was that why Akumo's stamina was uniquely enhanced...
"That person is really going to die at this rate..."
"Then I'll have to take him to Valhalla then, won't I? Uhuhu."
"....Isn't that a place you can't go if you die like that?"
"It would be good to take him to my forest as well."
Horn, Freya, Hephaestus, and even Artemis watched Akumo.
Smile—
It was a future for Akumo where it was unimaginable how many pieces his body would be cut into in the lower world, and his soul in the heavens.
"I'll be going now. It feels like Hera is about to catch up."
Step, step—
Zeus prepared to leave while enjoying the sight.
"Aren't you going to meet them?"
"....This much is more than enough."
"Are you really not going to see them anymore?"
The adventures of heroes that were so fun and made one so expectant.
And the adventure of his son and grandson.
"Do you think it's fun to look at a man's back?"
The fact that he could refuse that was what made him the Patron Deity.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Of course."
Zeus slowly left without stopping.
The rising sun shone on him as morning finally arrived.
"Breaking your expectations, that child has come this far."
Step—
"Even to this path of a hero."
Seeing that was enough.
"It's good if they exceed my expectations."
'Those fools who were always being scolded and always seemed like they'd be children...'
One had manifested a cheat skill and surpassed his expectations a long time ago.
And the other had overturned the entire board with a crazy gamble.
"Truly...."
Grin—!
"They are a son and grandson to be proud of."
The land where the [Heavenly Flame] and [Heavenly Lightning] collided and sparks fell.
[Pandora].
"Save me, Bell!!!!!!"
".....Eh?"
"Are you still broken!!!!!!?"
From within that [Box], this time, it was not despair.
Whoosh—!
Rumble—!
The hope known as two heroes came out into the world.
Whoosh—!!!
"....."
The sun rose again, and Epimetheus opened his eyes.
Step, step—
He raised his body, which had been collapsed for some time, and walked again.
Having a bad dream was no longer important.
Cough—!
Since there was not much time left for this body anyway.
"....."
The polluted flames were purified.
The Heavenly Flame had disappeared.
That was why death was coming to this body that had been forcibly prolonging its life.
"The future of a burnt-out flame... is only ashes."
Before that, he had to walk very slowly but surely.
"Ah...."
Stagger—!
"....."
It was a weak and precarious step.
Leaving behind the city where the altar had disappeared, he did not stop fleeing unsightly.
"To that place...."
The sun had already set, and he too had been defeated and was fleeing pathetically.
-'....Still, you feel refreshed, don't you?'
Strangely, his heart was light.
As if he had completely burned away something he had been keeping inside his whole life.
Step, step—
Beyond the hill of Acro.
The sea of Olympia where he had scattered his friend's ashes with rage.
"The grave of my friends that I made with my own hands...."
Step—
"There's no way it's still there...."
Because he wanted to leave something behind, he foolishly continued his own story, stitching together the thought of being with everyone.
-'...'
Someone watching his back remembered.
-'....Right, there's no way it's still there....'
Even if it were, it would have been forgotten under the name of just someone's grave.
He himself was just called a tyrant, cursed and shoved deep into a [Cave].
-'.....'
"....."
Thus, the two men remembered the heroes who had appeared before them.
"What an unpleasant brat...."
-'What a wretched greenhorn....'
If only they had been as utterly foolish and stupid as them.
-'Than now...'
"Would we have been happier..."
They wanted to escape from the mission called responsibility.
They just wanted to be with those they loved and those who loved them.
Even so, they wanted to be heroes.
".....Epimetheus."
"....!"
A single God approached them.
"The one next to you.... doesn't seem to be Akumo?"
-'.....Ilia?'
".....No, you are..... you...."
Ilia showed a completely different appearance from usual, lifting her bangs.
"Prometheus.... I once suspected that Rhea might be you...."
His Patron Deity, who had been watching him from the closest distance, as expected.
"You are truly foolish to a pitiful degree, Epimetheus."
"....."
"Those eyes are also completely useless."
She coldly criticized Epimetheus.
"You are a truly ordinary human who lacks the vessel of a hero to a disappointing degree...."
Since it was an ash that ended as a story of failure, not a heroic tale, her words were not wrong.
"However, you prayed and prayed on this hill for the salvation of others."
"....!!"
"You gritted your teeth at your helplessness more than anyone and vowed to save the people."
That was why the Heavenly Flame, why she, had chosen him.
"Because you are such a person, you protected this place for the long time of three thousand years."
A being who fought and saved endlessly even while his inside was festering.
"That's why I also thought it would be good if you could find rest and be rewarded."
Only when everything was over did she offer comfort to her hero, to a resentful degree.
-'....You're too much.'
"If you're going to say that, how about revealing your name?"
Prometheus asked for the identity of the shimmering man.
-'Kaua.'
"Kaua...."
-'I am a failed monarch and a failed hero.'
The powerful force descended from ancestors.
The Emperor who was swallowed by that curse and eventually became ash himself at the end of the story.
".....I resent you."
-'I resent my ancestors.'
That was why Kaua chose Epimetheus.
-'I hate you.'
"I hate you."
They tried to succeed with the power given by a far-off being.
But they failed, and only felt that they were different from them.
That was why they hated it so much.
"What I do...."
-'My very existence....'
Because it seemed like a meaningless and trivial existence compared to them.
".....Is it [Shared Suffering]?"
The sun sets.
The sun of the day they hated so much sets again.
"Phew....."
-'Sigh.....'
It cannot be said that the day was never meaningful.
It cannot be said that the day was the worst for everyone.
-'Even if I live as a ghost shoved into a cave and savor the curse.'
"Even if I went blind while resenting my own story."
That was why they spoke honestly.
-'Because I could write the story once more.'
"Because I could participate in the hero's story."
-'Because I could see those fools once more.'
"Even if it was a cursed power. Because it was the strength I truly wanted."
They couldn't regret coming out into this world.
Even if they were cursed beings, even if they were in a festering state.
-'As expected.... it was fun....'
Grip—!!!
-'As expected.... I wanted to try changing the ending.'
They wanted to change it to an ending where their choice was not wrong.
"....I really hate it...."
"Yes."
"I really hate it....!!"
"Yes."
Even so, this long time was too painful.
"I mean I hate you to the bone!!!!"
".....I am sorry, Epimetheus."
They hated themselves for becoming stupid and foolish again at that one sentence.
"....Thank you, Patron Deity."
"!!"
Epimetheus's final words reached her.
Whoosh—!
There was no answer.
Because there was no energy or reason for it. He just stood there like an old man.
Three thousand years, five hundred years... it was a story of men that continued for a truly long time.
-'...'
"....."
Regret and lingering attachment, jealousy and resentment that weighed them down.
A hollow yet refreshed smile that swallowed all of that was formed.
"I shall atone. To Epimetheus and this lower world...."
-'Cut it out. What now....'
Slide—
There is such a thing as each person's story.
"That warm heart that gave the flame."
-'Even the firmness of the lightning that tries to stop it.'
There are circumstances, and there are reasons.
-'The foolishness of touching an impure power.'
"Even so, the absurd success that was proven."
Even the Gods do not know what results those actions will ultimately bring.
Since the beginning is always different from the end.
It is a story that is faint but grand, beautiful but terrible.
"So.... you might call it shameless, but..."
-'If you remember us and come to see us again...'
Praise us to your heart's content, and leave a single flower for us.
========================
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