In the upper level of the God Realm, at a special place where only the
Supreme Gods and their direct subordinates are allowed to live, the
three Supreme Gods of the God Realm gathered in the Temple of the
Time and Space, one of the three temples erected in that area.
The purpose of their gathering is a semi-annual meeting of the three
Supreme Gods… then again, rather than a meeting, it would normally
just become a place where Chronois scolds Fate and Life, but the
situation this time was a little different.
[…Hey, God of Life. What in the world is going on?]
[I don't know? That's what I'd like to know too… What's the matter, God
of Fate?]
After exchanging glances with each other, they turned their attention to
Fate, who was lying on the desk, giving off a gloomy atmosphere…
unlike her usual atmosphere where she finds all things troublesome,
she looked somewhat depressed.
[…God of Time and Space, God of Life… I'm a useless God…]
[I know.]
[I also think it is as you say.]
[Aren't you cruel!?]
Chronois and Life nodded at Fate's statement that she was a useless
God. In fact, looking at her usual attitude, it's a fact that she was the
personification of the words "useless God"…
[W- Well, let's just put your uselessness aside. So, what the heck is going
on with you, God of Fate? If you have a problem, we can lend you an
ear…]
[Rather than a problem, there's something I'd like to ask you two…
What is a parent and child?]
Fate's concern was about the introduction meeting with Kaito's parents
that had taken place a while ago. She tried her best to make it work, but
in the end, she couldn't understand what it was like to be a parent and a
child, nor did she gain any interest in Akari and Miyama.
She knew that it wouldn't work, but when it really didn't work, she
became depressed because of it.
[Parent and child? You mean those who are related by blood?]
[Are you talking about the significance of whether or not one has
biologically inherited one's genes?]
Receiving Fate's question, Chronois and Life tilted their heads and
asked back.
[Okay then… For example, if you and Kai-chan's parents met, how
would you two act? How would you interact with them?]
[Unnn? I don't get your point… Does it really matter if they are
Miyama's parents or not? Specially distinguishing them from the others
is for individuals worth distinguishing, so you don't have to especially
interact with them just because they are Miyama's parents, right?]
[I agree. The fact that they are Miyama's parents doesn't make their
evaluations any higher. I don't see the point in discussing something
like this though?]
[…Haahhh… should have known. You two are Supreme Gods like me
after all… so I should have known that this would be your response.]
Fate can understand Chronois and Life's responses, that Akari and
Kazuya should be treated as their own individuals, and that there is no
need to be considerate to them just because they're related to Kaito.
Rather, their ideas are actually similar with Fate's… but Fate thinks that
that won't do.
As a matter of fact, Chronois has a close relationship with Lilia and
seems to care about her in many ways, but she treats her brother Ryze
as a different person and his evaluation in her eyes doesn't raise just
because he's Lilia's brother.
For the Gods… that may be the right thing to do. However…
[…It might not matter if it's you two. But I'm Kai-chan's lover… If I could,
"I'd want to care for the people Kai-chan cares about"… But I just
couldn't do it. Even after I met them in person, I just couldn't get them
myself to get interested in them… If I'm not careful, I might end up
saying "I'm gonna go home", so I couldn't talk very well.]
[…Mhmm, that's difficult. I think this is a matter beyond the
understanding of me and Life God.]
[That's right. It's impossible for me or the God of Time and Space to tell
you something that would satisfy you, God of Fate… I think this is a
subject that you would need to consult Shallow Vernal-sama's wisdom.
However, to inquire Shallow Vernal-sama about something like this…
would be too disrespectful.]
As Life said, Shallow Vernal might be able to give her the answer to this
problem. After all, Shallow Vernal's mentality had remarkably changed
since the battle with Kaito.
After the matter was settled, Shallow Vernal said that "she's glad she
created this world", as along with the change brought by Kaito, not only
has she come to love only Kaito… but even her world and all her people.
That's why Shallow Vernal was able to understand what the people
around Kaito want and how to treat them in a way that will make Kaito
happy.
However, it is fair to say that Shallow Vernal's way doesn't apply to Fate.
As Kaito once pointed out, Shallow Vernal originally loved the world.
She just didn't realize it, and didn't take interest in her surroundings
because she didn't see anything superior or inferior to all the things she
created…
However, Fate is different. She doesn't love the world. She only governs
fate by the orders of Shallow Vernal, holding no feelings for the world.
That's why she has to take a different approach from Shallow Vernal.
But then…
[I see, I've heard the situation.]
[ [ [ Shallow Vernal-sama!? ] ] ]
A difference of "such extent" was something that Shallow Vernal, who
had overcome the weakness of not being able to understand emotions,
could "easily show her the way".
Yes, Shallow Vernal already knows how to settle this situation…"what it
is that Fate should do".
Shallow Vernal looked at the three Supreme Gods who hurriedly knelt
in front of her, before she calmly spoke.
[…Fate. You've got the "procedure" wrong to begin with.]
While Kaito had returned to Earth, a period of one year and eight
months passed for this world. As for who grew the most in that period
of time… It would definitely be Shallow Vernal. Her growth was on a
level that it could even be called evolution already.
She already understands. What is a heart, what are emotions… Why
Fate is not interested in Akari and Kazuya, all of it…