Upon hearing Lili's voice, my heart skipped a beat.
An absurd possibility came to my mind.
"How long was I out?"
"Teacher… Half a year."
"...Ah."
The tip of my mouth visibly twitched.
Half a year…
Was this the price that had to be paid when I decided to enter the ninth iteration? This was a huge price.
I… The Holy Grail brought by Galahad is nothing short of miraculous. But, it seems like I won't be able to handle it in full. It is even stronger than the Lapis Judaicus on Reiji's hands or even the complete Philosopher's Stone itself..!
It was split into three parts, yes, but it'll possess even unimaginable power if they are recombined, or so the legends say.
Lapis Philosphorus gave the created homunculi perfect knowledge regarding mysteries.
Lapis Judaiscus served as the weapon to end the Twilight Syndrome in its roots.
Lapis Candidus which purified all targeted things through the supernatural biblical events.
Using such power as a weakling made the outcome evident.
Really…
"I made everyone worry."
"..."
"I'll talk to them later." I said. "You could use Mana Furnace now. That's a great achievement, Lili."
"It's not a big deal, teacher… I couldn't properly use it yet."
"It's about the output and prioritization, no?"
"..!"
While Mana Furnace deserved its spot as a magician's ultimate trump card, it is extremely difficult to practice. One has to create a dream organ, a conceptual part, in their body. The more dream organs they have, the greater the output. They become closer to mysteries as a result of it.
My Mana Furnace seems different from the rest as it could upgrade on its own.
I felt a tinge of excitement. Now that I am a level five, it should be stronger, no?
When I snapped out of my thoughts, I became slightly dissociated. Not much time had passed when I went into a daze. That is the problem. My mind seems overactive today.
Is this the increase in my processing speed?
I understand how Aiz-san sliced half a dozen times within a second.
I tried to stand up. Some of my bones made a popping sound when I did so. Then, I stopped the attempt and chose to stretch my upper body.
Pop-!
Pop-!
After I'd done it, I felt more refreshed. It was also at this moment did I notice the changes in my body.
Pushing these thoughts aside, I stood up from the bed.
"Can you help me meet everyone?"
*****
Six months ago, Nobu showed no signs of waking up. Hephaestus and Artemis knew he had come back from the ninth iteration and had an encounter with the One-eyed Black Dragon.
They are aware of his power akin to Arcanum. Yet, it is precisely because of that were they unable to do anything. The Dea Saint once came to check on his condition but to no avail.
Since then, he has been taken care of during his sleep.
One such person was Filvis.
"Ah… Akasaka-san?!"
The very moment he stepped out of his room, Filvis noticed him. She didn't hold any reservations as she held him in her embrace.
"I'm glad… you're finally awake..!"
Strangely, Nobu didn't feel flustered. His mind became clear, all the whilst being perceptive of her emotions.
He reciprocated it by patting her back. At the same time, he noticed how huge his growth was. Nobu grew up to 168 centimeters… as a thirteen-years-old nonetheless.
His birthday was supposed to be in October but he slept through it. It was turned as a belated event which everyone would celebrate once he wakes up.
"I apologize for making you worry."
"No… You don't need to apologize!"
Filvis looked up to him, her face close to his chest. It was then did realization hit her. She felt embarrassment creeping up to her face. Her smooth white skin was overrun with a blush of red.
When Filvis saw his eyes, she was momentarily mesmerized.
'Somethings different..?'
Before she could ponder over it, she separated herself from him. She felt she wouldn't be able to handle any more of this embarrassment.
Perhaps, only Ein could do so.
"This is good. We were worry-stricken when you didn't wake up after two days. Artemis-sama was fidgety while Hephaestus-sama used her connections to make you wake up…"
Hearing all of that, Nobu could only heave a sigh. He paid dearly for the decisive thirty seconds of a dreary world.
Nevertheless, he doesn't regret it.
With his integration to the Knight of Revelations Galahad, many things changed subtly on him. It didn't affect his identity as Akasaka Nobu. It merely gave many improvements related to willpower—one of the fields Galahad specialize.
Meanwhile, Lili pouted slightly before she reverted to her calm expression.
'Teacher… I should've done that too…'
"Hm..? Hephaestus-sama..?"
Nobu looked at the direction of the entrance.
*****
From the moment our eyes met, her eyes trembledin surprise. Tsubaki-nee who accompanied her to the familia home gave me her usual smile.
Before I could see Hephaestus-sama's expression, she swiftly held my hand before she led me to the office.
Bam.
The door automatically closed itself. I saw a semblance of the security system from my world.
"...You are back."
"I am."
"That's good."
Hephaestus-sama had her back facing me. I couldn't see the expression she was making at this angle. However, I am no longer constrained to such limits.
I could see her messy crying face. She is trying to compose herself, just as usual, before facing me.
Several memories entered my mind.
While I was fighting, I would remember Hephaestus-sama. I used the blade she forged, Sora, until the end. It broke down when I fought Scorpio (Antares) when I made my final sword strike. It was a façade that led to the finale, Orionids.
The thing is… I knew we entered a romantic relationship.
That's right.
It… That was the time when me and Artemis were official. In short, a polygamous relationship—in even more familiar terms, a harem.
Thus, I couldn't believe it. I firmed myself to not be like Galahad's… my other father. He was a womanizer who made love with my biological mother before leaving. Until her death, I quite resented him for it.
Complex thoughts entered my mind. The increased processing speed showed its wonders at this moment.
Should I…
Shouldn't I..?
…
Nobu and Galahad…
It was clear we weren't the type to leave someone important suffering due to our decisions.
Somehow, my decisiveness changed after the blurry dream—Galahad's life. I am aware I forgot many things due to an important reason. Nevertheless, some impactful memories remained with me.
Tap.
Tap.
I went to Hephaestus-sama swiftly. I gave her a hug from behind. Being slightly taller than her, I saw her neck up to her chest. I immediately averted my gaze from it and focused on her shoulder instead.
"Nobu..?"
"...There was something I left out from before."
I started speaking.
"I told you about the support you gave during the ninth iteration—that you had my back. What I didn't tell, however, was that…"
I steeled myself to take the final step.
"...we became lovers."
Hephaestus-sama's body jolted the moment she heard my words. I felt how it trembled while being on my embrace.
"It somehow happened…" I said. "That's why… I feel more guilty making you suffer again."
"..."
"I'm sorry."
Silence overwhelmed the entire room. Neither of us spoke as an odd tension arose between us.
After a while, Hephaestus-sama moved. She faced me… with an abashed look, that is. It is reminiscent to Artemis' look during our date…
…
Damn it.
Did my future self really handle a harem?
Because…
Hephaestus-sama was not the end of it.
I don't know. I am feeling different right now. Artemis doesn't know about such things as I planned to reveal it after a good night's rest. Only, that turned out to be a six-month long sleep.
This could be considered as infidelity… and Hephaestus-sama knows it.
Still…
A soft sensation was pressed on my cheek.
"That's all… I could do, no?"
Her coolness and bashfulness mixed into one. It became a deadly gap moe that I wasn't ready for.
She separated from me after she'd done that.
"I'll set everything straight… I will."
"Nobu… You look cool."
"Ah?"
Just as I was about to react, she shifted to a different topic.
"Ahem. We need to catch up with everything. For example, Dionysus and Thanatos."
I sat down on one of the chairs with familiarity. Hephaestus-sama did the same as she reverted to her calm expression.
"It went according to the schedule. Dionysus was 'executed' by Artemis while Loki took on Thanatos. They went to Tenkai after that. The remnants of Evilus were caught one by one during the course of two weeks. Everything ended with that."
Hephaestus-sama slowly explained things one by one as if nothing happened. It should be her way of recovering from her previous embarrassment, or so I am inclined to think.
"Orario hadn't faced any threats since then. It went back to its usual hustle-and-bustle without Evilus. Loki also took care of the publicity of us capturing two evil gods. Aside from that, there is only one more thing worth mentioning."
I had a feeling as to what it could be.
"Filvis and Ein dove to the dungeon after that incident. It was there did they met a Creature."
"The woman."
Hephaestus-sama nodded before she asked:
"How did you know?"
"Dionysus spilled some things while he went crazy. One of them is a Creature whom I haven't considered yet. It seems she died within the next two and a half years."
For someone as crafty as Dionysus, having certainty that she could turn everything upside-down was enough. I am expecting a threat with the prowess of a level eight at the very least.
"After that?"
"She didn't appear anymore. However, Filvis was asked to pass a message. She intends to meet you."
"I see."
With my current strength plus Mana Furnace, I am confident I could hold my ground at the very least. I recalled portions of Galahad's battle experiences as well as the ones I faced during the ninth iteration.
Unsurprisingly, it is far richer than the rest of my iterations simply because of my strength. I faced stronger beings head on—special-grade curses included.
I talked with Hephaestus-sama until it was decided I would visit Artemis.
"She would be surprised by your appearance…"
"Perhaps."
"It's not that. You…" Her voice started to lower until it became a low mumble. "You look a lot more handsome… and cooler."
It made me pause for a second. Hearing the same thing twice, I wondered what changed on me.
"It's more of your aura than anything… Like… A reliable knight."
"..."
I might have understood.
In actuality, Galahad's charm is high enough for him to have female pursuers. In a conservative era where men made the first move, Galahad has his own fan club. He stood out from the rest of the knights due to his childish countenance compared to the usual mature looks they had.
Galahad could've been a lady killer if not for his personality.
"A womanizer…"
Sir Percival's words remained in my mind.
If I had the chance to meet them again, they would make fun of me, wouldn't they?
No, I'm sure they would.
Certainly.
"Go. Don't make her wait for too long." Hephaestus-sama said. "It's best you meet her now. If you've seen how worried she was over these days…"
"Alright."
I stepped out of the office. I didn't see Filvis nor Tsubaki-nee, only Lili.
"Teacher." She greeted.
"I'm going to the Artemis Familia."
"Can I come with you?"
"...It's fine."
Seeing Lili's upbeat self, I was reminded of the days I missed teaching her. I know she must've learned Mana Furnace with Miku's guidance—maybe the digital recordings I habitually made while studying something.
I muttered my thoughts out loud while studying. It should've been enough as a learning material.
Coincidentally, I glimpsed the chains of the pocketwatch in her pocket.
'She really liked it…'
Suimei accepted a student four months after they subjugated the Rank A Calamity Dragon. She is a Homunculi who learned about being human as she spent more time with him.
"..."
I recalled how she became one of his lovers.
I halted my thoughts before they went in a weird direction. I stepped out of the familia home after six months of sleep.
The blinding rays of sunlight welcomed my eyes. They processed the 'brightness', leading me to not need to squint.
Summer's already nearing…
So this is how it feels to miss two seasons.
My sight shifted to the towering ivory construct made by the gods. The fifty-floor Babel with a height of four kilometers still existed during this time. It is not the same as the broken rubbles that I saw in the future.
Speaking of which…
"Atropos-san…"
With her current state, it'd be a miracle if she lived for long. If things didn't go against my expectations…
She must be dead.
I softly exhaled under my breath.
'What's done is done. There is still the chance to change everything.'
While I thought of the omnipotent wish-granting cup, I strode to the streets of Orario once more.