Grant calmly looked at the familiar person sitting in front of him.
Lily Front Gritonia.
Unlike the previous chubby child from before she have now turned into a beautiful woman with a bob-cut and wears a flower shaped hairpin.
Her expression also underwent a massive change, unlike the smiling face he was familiar with , the current Lily looked exactly like she did in the series, expressionless face and a constantly plotting brain.
Then his gaze shifted to the letter placed upon the letter brought here by Lily, it was only because of this thing that he even bothered meeting her.
Extending his hand, Grant picked up the letter with the familiar Ashdown family crest on top of it.
Opening it up he took out a white piece of paper and started reading the words written on it.
It was actually from his mother.
More than half of the letter was her expressing her concern for him, asking about his well being and stuff, making Grant smile, only at the end did she mention about Lily, telling him to listen to her request.
Then Grant slowly folded the piece of paper before pulling out the second one from the envelop.
It was from his father.
Unlike his mother who was a chatter box, his father was a man of few words, after a simple greeting he started explaining the current state of the Ashdown family, mentioning their lands, taxes and stuff.
In the past six years, his father Cyric Ashdown was one of the few people he had been in contact with, the reason was simple as Grant didn't want his family to suffer after him being marked as a traitor.
That is why he sent a 'friendly' message to the old Emperor 'clearly' explaining to him that there was no point in there being an Empire without the Ashdown family.
It was good that the old Emperor took his words seriously and didn't try anything stupid, saving him the trouble of launching a forbidden spell on the capital city.
"So why are you here princess?"
Grant asked while putting the two pieces of paper back inside the envelop and then placing the envelop inside his pocket.
"I am just here to meet my dear fiancee."
A charming smile appeared on Lily's face completely different from her expressionless face from before.
Although she tried to hide it, being sensitive to human emotions, Grant could clearly feel the silver of killing intent hidden inside the depths of her eyes.
And he could pretty much guess the reason as well.
It must be because of the death of the queen Maria, and the demons who took over the capital city.
"You blame me for what happened to the imperial city?"
The fake smile on Lily's face vanished without a trace.
But Grant continued without baiting an eye.
"The capital city should have fallen long ago, don't forget that it was me who saved you guys from destruction."
Lily unknowingly clenched her fists.
"I literally handed you people victory, I killed the biggest obstacles in the human's path, Lancer and Sofia."
"Don't think that I am unaware of what truly happened in the battle at the capital city."
Lily's calm visibly eyes shook.
"What do you------"
"The humans outnumbered the demons 1 to 15. and none of them were normal people but the elites of the Empire who could fight a demon head on, then do you mind telling me how you still manage to loose such a battle even after having the home ground advantage?"
The knights standing behind Lily shook, as if hearing an unbelievable truth.
"Internal strife and that too at the moment when the demons were right outside your very doors."
"It wasn't our fault!!!"
Lily shouted.
"The demons infiltrated our ranks, it was because of the vicious plot set up by demon general Rona, she used those opposing nobles to execute my father right before battle....."
Lily suddenly started explaining in a hurry, as if trying to convince her own self.
But Grant simply scoffed at her excuses.
"He has no right to call himself Emperor if he cannot even manage his very own vessels."
Lily shut her mouth as her head dropped.
She couldn't refuse him.
Because his words were too accurate.
*Drip*
Grant raised his eyebrow when he saw a drop of tear falling out from Lily's eyes.
"Please..."
With a shaking body she gave a 90 degree bow.
"Save the Gritonia Empire."
*Clank*
The knights behind her followed suit, all of them simultaneously bowing towards Grant.
"I am willing to do anything you ask for."
Grant stared down at their group with an expressionless look on his face.
------
After sending Lily and her group away, Grant arrived at the roof of the magic tower.
Due to the height of his magic tower, all Grant could see around him clouds, it was quite the view he must say.
But he wasn't here to admire the scenery.
A magic circle formed under earth his feets making a small opening appeared on the light blue barrier which had covered Paradise for the last six years.
In the next instant a golden light descended from the skies, covering Grant, but the next instant the magic circle beneath his feets shook and reversed the sequence of the divine power.
Then in front of Grant appeared a woman he was all to familiar with.
The Goddess.
With a shocked expression on her face she hurriedly said.
"Y-You how did you-------"
Her words stopped mid-sentence when her eyes fell on Grant's face.
[Skill "[Authority Of Love](SS) has been turned on.]
A smile appeared in Grant's face as he clicked his finger making two seats appear before them.
"Take a seat please."
With a slightly absent-minded look, Goddess sat down in front of him.
"Is there something you'd like to drink? or eat?"
"You...."
"What."
"Nothing.", Using her hand she covered her eyes with her divine powers, somewhat reducing the effect of his skill.
"Let's keep it simple."
With a calm voice he continued.
"Give me a copy of the world's divine stigma."
"!"
In an instant the pink haze which seem to have been slowly covering her gaze vanished making her eyes regain their clarity.
"What are you going to do with it?"
She asked in a serious voice.
"You don't need to know."
The Goddess fell silent after hearing his reply.
She wanted to reject him but something from deep inside her heart was actually telling her to accept his every demand?
Although it was only a copy and wouldn't affect her in any way, but who knows what kind of mysterious ways Grant possessed, if he were to do something.....
[Authority Of Love (SS)]
But isn't it alright? he hadn't done anything in the past six years....so maybe she should give it to him?.
"Fine but I won't give it for free, you must do something for me in return."
"Is it about killing all the demons? If yes than sorry but I'll have to reject your proposal, it's too bothersome to go and kill every single one of them and it's not like there aren't any other ways of acquiring the divine stigma..."
A chill ran down the Goddess's spine, for some reason she felt that something really bad might happen to her if he were to take the other way.
"Then....how about beating back the demons who took over the imperial city Linus?"
In the next instant, Grant clapped his hand making a humongous magic circle appear below their feets, the entire tower lit up as a sphere of condensed mana form above their heads.
The sudden turn of events shocked the Goddess, a fearful expression appeared on her face when she felt the pure power coming out from the sphere of mana.
Then suddenly a beam shot out from the mana sphere, it pierced through the skies and rapidly approached a certain direction.
--
Capital of Gritonia Empire.
"W-What is that?", the demon guarding the wall said in a surprised voice as he stared above at the star in the sky which seem to be coming closer?
"What are you looking at?", his partner frowned as he also turned his head up, but when he saw the giant sun approaching them, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
And then...
The capital city once again regained it's calm.
---
"Done."
"What?", The shaking Goddess asked in an almost shouting voice.
"I said it's done."
Grant extended his hand towards her.
"Now fulfill your part of the deal."
His face felt like that of a devil...
[Authority Of Love (SS)]
Devilishly beautiful.
--------------------------
A divine rune rotated above Grant's palm, while he looked at it in amazement.
*Grab*
But then a pair of soft arms grabbed his face, pulling him.
With a helpless smile on his face, Grant looked at Mio who was lying in top of him.
She stared straight at him with a pout on her beautiful face.
"This is suppose to our time young master!"
"Yes yes I understand..."
Grant put away the divine rune and pulled her in a hug.
After some time.
"Are you really leaving?", Mio asked in a small voice.
"Yes."
With a hesitant voice she asked.
"Can I really not come?"
"It's risky, taking another person will most likely destroy the spell."
Biting down on her lower lip, Mio said.
"You will return right?"
"Of course."
Finally a smile appeared on Mio's face.
"Then you better return fast! I will be waiting young master!"
Grant smiled, raising his hand he wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes.
-----------------------------
"Ah young master, the Hero from Limia Kingdom wishes to meet you.", Hans quickly said when he saw Grant leaving the room.
"Tell her I am busy right now."
"So I should politely send them away?"
"You understand me well."
" Sigh....understood young master."
Nodding his head, Grant took his staff from the Butler's hands.
"Also young master's disciple is standing outside waiting ti meet you."
"Oh did he already completed the assignment I gave him?"
Finally Grant stopped and looked out through the window, the clear image of a young 16-17 year old boy with an orc like face appeared in his vision.
Makoto Misumi.
Indeed Grant saved him from the desert and took him in as a disciple without anyone noticing.
After all Grant needed someone to look after the tower while he would be gone, and Makoto with his over the top magic power almost reaching a tenth of his own was without a doubt the most perfect candidate he could find.
And when Makoto heard that Grant was someone who betrayed the Goddess, he suddenly became overly attached to him and started calling him 'sensei' as well.
Unfortunately the time they have spent as a master and disciple was a bit too short that is why Grant directly used his divine points to force some of the core knowledge inside Makoto's brain, enough knowledge to help him kill the Goddess if the need so arrives.
"Grant sensei", Makoto shouted with stars in his eyes.
"Hm did you complete the task that I gave you?"
"Yes! here it is."
Grant grabbed the paper, his eyes scanned through it in a matter of seconds, than a pen appeared on his hand as he started marking several places with great precision.
"This this and this, you could have improved them and decrease the time complexity, don't make these mistakes next time."
Under Makoto's shinning eyes, Grant calmly marked his mistakes and handed the sheet back.
"Also take this."
Makoto hurriedly caught the ring Grant threw at him.
"It contains your assignments, next area of study and much more, should be enough for the next ten years."
"S-sensei!"
"What?"
"A-are you really leaving?", Makoto asked with a hesitant expression.
""Yes."
"I see....."
Makoto's head dropped low.
*Tap*
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Makoto raised his head, staring at Grant's bright golden eyes.
"It will be your responsibility to protect everyone while I am gone."
Seeing the same person who saved him from the verge of deat looking at him with expectation, Makoto felt his blood boiling up making him shout in a loud voice
"Yes sensei!"
"Good"
Suddenly remembering something, Grant said.
"Do you know someone named Hibiki?"
"Ah Hibiki senpai?", A confused expression appeared on Makoto's face.
"Yes, it looks like you do know her, if you want to than you can go out and meet her, she's currently waiting outside the tower."
Grant sent away Makoto with his butler Hans.
Then with a flash, Grant disappeared from his spot and appeared inside the top floor of his magic tower.
"Six years."
A slightly tired voice escaped his mouth.
Moving forward, he touched the runes crafted on the emerald slate.
In fact Grant could have left 4 years ago.
But he waited, because he knew that Paradise will collapse without him.
For four years he helped increase the combat power of Paradise, making golems, increasing mana density and many other small things from time to time.
And now he can be rest assured.
Even if the whole world turned against them, Paradise will survive.
Especially with Makoto, the main protagonist on his side.
Having completed everything that must be done, Grant placed his staff on the pedestal.
"Except for the knowledge and power there is one main component required for traveling through worlds."
Grant muttered as the entire room lit up.
"A key, something carrying the world's aura, it could be anything an artefact, a rune or even...."
A glint passed through Grant's eyes.
"A skill."
[Blessing of the Divine Wine(A)]
A massive amount of mana gathered, shaking the magic tower, it convulsed under Grant's control forming the shape of a door.
"It's done."
Picking up his staff from the stone pedestal, Grant took a step forward and pushed open the door.
-------------------------------------------
[Author-> That's it, 2nd season end.
Sigh there were so many things I skipped, so much I should have done, but the exams and stuff kept me occupied, although I feel sad for neglecting Grant, it is what it is.
Well having completed my high school under the terrible curse called corona, I have finally stepped upon the mysterious path called college, I lost many of my comrades along the way, many who were dear to me but the journey must go on and maybe at the end we shall all meet again as a better human being.
And yes I am being overly dramatic about my first year.
Well than see you tomorrow!]
[Fun fact: Grant's strength is greater than a level 9 from Danmachi and although William's skills are cool af, he wouldn't have been able to beat Root if he didn't take over Grant's body, a normal person using his skill will simply explode. Kaboom.]