After a while, I noticed Hephaestus-sama's changes. She no longer felt guilty and apprehensive compared to before. Nevertheless, her awkwardness remained. It helped that I was not as affected as before.
"A white castle… Was it similar to the Camelot in the legends here?"
"Quite… Although, it does have a more modern design than anyone could think. It's similar to Orario."
Due to Merlin, Camelot has proper sewers, field allocations, architecture, and so on. He is primarily the reason why Camelot remained as it was during the time of mysteries' waning.
"Another world… Do you plan on going back?"
"Definitely." I replied. "Even if they were gone… I want to see everything again."
With Camelot's development, it isn't a surprise that it is long gone. Add to that the fact that Camelot's downfall is inevitable…
It is safe to say that it has long become history.
Nevertheless, I would like to see it again.
"..!"
Suddenly, images flashed within my mind. The most prominent one is a bloody battlefield where only one woman stood tall.
Momentarily, it sent me to a whirlpool of emotions.
'This… It's during that moment..?'
Before Galahad told me I would be losing my memories when I lived his life, I could vividly recall the 'breakdown' I experienced. It is something far worse than dying—it is akin to my cognition of self collapsing.
As for that woman…
'Our king…'
The one and future King…
Arthur Pendragon.
The man who led Britain from a small nation previously subordinated by the Roman Empire. Our King who led us to countless victories. The perfect embodiment of a ruler.
In this case, however, he is actually a girl.
"Nobu..?"
"Ah." I noticed her concerned gaze over me. "I'm sorry… I suddenly recalled something."
"Was it related to the ones you've lost?"
I nodded before I shifted the topic.
"About your life in Tenkai… We haven't talked about it properly."
Hephaestus-sama looked at me for a few seconds before sighing.
"Did Artemis tell you already?"
I smiled at her words.
"She did… Never mind, this is something that will happen one day." She said. "I kept some things from you. I didn't have many friends in Tenkai. Aside from Hestia, only Artemis was the one who approached me. Everyone… They were disgusted by this."
She touched the black eyepatch that covered a portion of her face.
"If even those gods who does everything for fun is disgusted by it—"
"Can you tell me their names?"
"Nobu..?"
She noticed my slightly abnormal smile and understood my feelings. Hephaestus-sama shook her head before saying:
"There's no need for that. They are not the ones to be blamed. It's mostly my fault…"
"...I wouldn't go that far, I promise. An injury which would take a hundred years to heal is enough."
"You really…"
I experienced this kind of anger in the ninth iteration. I used the monsters inside the dungeon as practice targets whenever I thought of those foolish gods who jeered at her. As long as I haven't arrived on Tenkai yet, that anger won't be quelled.
"Let's talk about it later."
"Understood. Then, how about our first meeting?"
"That… I could remember how you made your interest extremely visible while looking at Tsubaki's works. It wasn't the first time I saw it, but your passion… it's different from others."
"Creation is a part of myself after receiving this power…"
Since the day I saw that dreadful future, I never stopped doing research and development on cutting-edge weapons. The combat suit was a result of that. Although, it did turn into my hobby to create such works.
At one moment, Hephaestus-sama went into a slight daze before muttering:
"A fateful meeting…"
*****
The night breeze of Orario is slightly warm in summer. Nobu missed a total of two seasons before it became summer. To make things more comfortable, he continuously regulated the temperature around them.
Such a control over his magicka is something sharpened during his ninth iteration.
In that life…
He became one of the strongest.
"Hm."
Suddenly, he felt a gaze originating from somewhere. He traced its origins—his sight peering beyond buildings—before landing upon a black-robed skeleton.
"..!"
Their eyes met for a moment, much to the latter's surprise.
'How..?'
"Later."
Surprisingly, Nobu's voice resounded as if he was right beside Fels.
"Nobu? What was it?"
"It's nothing. Just a person setting up my appointment."
"...Ouranos?"
"Hephaestus-sama's intuition is really sharp…"
Soon, they walked away. Only Fels was left standing still—dumbfounded, even.
'How did he become that strong..?'
Fels could still recall the moment with Empress. He met everyone from the Zeus and Hera Familia during their time twelve years ago. The sensation that bombarded his senses was extremely similar to hers.
'Was that really caused by an experiment..? Magician's Society is far more enigmatic than they seem…'
Little did he know that there are more than eight people directly comparable to the One-eyed Black Dragon of Gekai. Although, it remains unknown after it received its innate cursed technique.
Even if they aren't counted, there are more than thirty people comparable to Empress.
As much as the Twilight Syndrome had progressed, it also brought the peak period of their world.
While Fels is undergoing the acceptance stage, their date continued.
'Artemis… I have to thank her.' Hephaestus thought. 'If she didn't allow this…'
Just like Artemis, Hephaestus is far different from the gods on Tenkai. Both of them knew how to act responsibly. They are far better than most gods due to that sole reason.
Their kindness is another part of it. Back then, Hephaestus felt guilty for choosing to clash with Artemis. Nobu is the only person she wouldn't let go. It is different from her previous children.
Simply put, she loves Nobu to the point she couldn't bear to let go of him.
In the end, everything went more peacefully than she thought. Even now, she thinks that this date is a dream… one that she wouldn't want to wake up from.
'Again…'
Unbeknownst to her, Nobu noticed her dazed state. It occurred a few times after they had dinner. With the slight blush on her face, it wasn't difficult to pinpoint what it was.
'Cute…'
His heart skipped a beat. He noticed this aspect of Hephaestus way back then. He knew how she would act in a cute manner despite her cool temperament. He recalled her situation with Artemis and realized that they are the same in this regard.
"Hephaestus-sama… You know… That might really be a fateful meeting. One that I am glad that happened."
"...Me too."
A familiar feeling arose from his heart.
Affection.
Nobu didn't realize it until now, but the boundary he set for himself and Hephaestus broke the moment he returned from the ninth iteration. The strict relationship that the two had as a goddess and her child went beyond that.
In other words, it is something between lovers.
If he didn't have the memories of his ninth iteration, it might've taken him longer to reach this development. For once, harem is out of his mind in the past. He didn't think that he would be having one, yet he did.
His combat experiences were not the only ones given a huge boost by the cheat.
Feeling the tension between them increasing, Nobu scouted the surroundings. They had unknowingly arrived near the south city walls.
'...There are some pests.'
The moment the malintent of several malicious people locked onto them, Nobu silently casted his magicka.
"Tenebris nox Obsorbitus." (Be Swallowed by the Night's Darkness.)
His magicka was deployed remotely. It didn't require him to point at the coordinates or do some hand gestures. His dormant dream organs and his current status were enough to handle them.
Remotely, he knew that the scum were swallowed by the black magic circles manifested beneath their feet. They were rendered unconscious by the spell, though they would have to suffer more than that.
"Nobu?!"
"It's fine. They planned to rob us of something. We are already quite far away from the lit-up streets, after all."
"I see… Should we go back?"
"No."
Nobu smiled as he said this:
"Give me one moment."
*****
Meren, the coastal city, could be easily seen from atop the south walls. It is a good sight according to my ninth iteration. Of course, that was when I had a spar with Aiz.
After taking out a solid rectangular metal, I activated the magic on it.
I dropped it to the ground, only for it to go through it. Then, a white magic circle manifested beneath our feet. The next thing that happened is our vision changing.
From seeing the tall city walls, we were welcomed by the captivating sight of Orario's nightlife.
"This is…"
"The tool that was developed in the future. It is used to instantly teleport to some places without the need of a lengthy chant."
It was one of the strategic items made under the threat of the Black Dragon. It has a mix of Reinforcement (to fix the coordinates of the user and the target location) and Space Travel itself. Unfortunately, Miku wasn't able to implement it on a wider-scale.
"What Hephaestus-sama should see is up there."
"Ah—?"
I saw her looks change after she turned back. The sight of Meren under the night sky is something I found to be mesmerizing as well. The lit-up magic tools formed a contrast on the seashore. The lights refracted to it, allowing us to see everything better.
"Beautiful…"
"I agree."
I said as I stared at her. She made a pause after seeing my glance. She seemed to have realized something which caused her to blush.
"When are you like this…"
"I changed."
Everything could be summed with that sentence.
"If… If you continue to be like that…" She swiftly averted her face in an attempt to hide her fluster. "I… I will chase you even if I am sent back to Tenkai..!"
My mind turned blank. I didn't enter the hyperactive state. I was left staring at Hephaestus-sama with a blank gaze. Even the Black Dragon couldn't make me react like this.
Adorable.
That was all I could think of.
Unbeknownst to me, Hephaestus-sama was also staring at me—at my eyes. It made my heart skip another beat.
'This is starting to…'
Wordlessly, she approached me. I didn't react until I felt the soft sensation of her lips on mine.
…
Feeling her hands wrapped on my back, I did the same on her. I felt awkward at first but it disappeared as this kiss went on. At some point, I found myself wanting more. I wanted for it to be deeper. As such, I used my tongue to enter her mouth.
Hephaestus-sama was surprised at the approach I took, though she cooperated by letting it inside. Both of us did a sloppy french kiss due to our inexperience. That, and the tense atmosphere surrounding us made me forget some of my experiences.
By the time we separated, she was panting slightly. Her blushing face added another charm to it.
"Nobu…"
"...You can also be this clingy."
"I-I didn't show it to other people… only Tsubaki."
This cute goddess…
To protect the people I hold dear.
I think I already have an answer to it.
"I won't leave you again… ever."
Hephaestus-sama understood the meaning behind my words. Leaving me behind by being sent back to Tenkai… or by dying was something she didn't want to happen. I saw that when I first told her the ninth iteration's ending.
"That is a promise."
"Yes."
The moment this promise was sealed, a gentle heat appeared on my back.
[Miracle Maker • Creation Forge]
A skill had unexpectedly evolved.
"Nobu… Was that..?"
"Yes. It happened with Artemis, too."
Just like before, my skill had entangled itself to another Arcanum. This time, it was Hephaestus-sama's.
It also brought forward another change. That is…
"This connection..? Embarrassment… I see…"
…the connection between our souls.
"I was trying to play it cool…"
"...It is cute."
"..."
This night is destined to be a memorable one.
*****
A/N: I am here to announce... there's only four chapters left until the end of Danmachi arc. I'll try to update chapters more often during this week so that we could arrive into the next arc (at least).
Happy Reading~!