P/N let me know if there's any mistakes and I will try to fix them
the cliff in pursuit of the boy and his goddess.
It was a deep gorge, and the mountainside was steep. However, Aiz was close
enough to the side to kick off the rock, and she practically ran down the
mountain at breakneck speed.
"Bell Cranell, Aiz Wallenstein…!"
Asfi watched it all unfold from her vantage point in the sky.
She couldn't hide her surprise at this unforeseen turn of events in their
mission to rescue the goddess. She'd been sent here to mark the location of
Rakia's army using Talaria. She had to go after them but hesitated for a moment.
Unfortunately, that moment cost her.
"!"
"Forget that goddess! Shoot down the spy in the sky!"
Asfi had drifted close enough to the ledge that she was in range of the chain
Marius swiftly threw into the air. It wrapped around her arm and locked in place.
Hot pain tore through her muscles. Taking her eyes off the gorge and looking
at the ledge, she saw Marius clutching the other end of the chain.
"A mythril chain…!"
"Without her, Orario's forces have no chance of finding us! We can't let her
escape!"
Marius urgently called out to the few soldiers still able to move after their
encounter with Aiz. Wrapping the immensely sturdy chain around his own arm,
Marius was determined not to let Asfi get away.
"What is the meaning of this?!" roared Ares as several soldiers held him
back. However, the second-in-command had adjusted to the changing
circumstances and ordered the rest to eliminate Asfi.
"Marius Victrix Rakia—I had heard you were the son of the Moronic King,
but you seem to have a decent head on your shoulders…!"
"I've heard interesting things, too, Perseus! Like how a god stole you, a
beautiful young princess, from an island nation, and how you fell through the
ranks of society to become an adventurer! Not as if that nation would ever admit
it!"
The two sides of the tug-of-war antagonized each other.
It was a test of strength between him and an upper-class adventurer. Asfi, on
the other hand, gently smiled at the prince of Rakia, who had displayed superior
decision-making ability in battle, and complimented him. Marius shouted back at
the top of his lungs, his expression far less relaxed as he glared at his airborne
opponent. He channeled every ounce of strength into his arms and grip.
"It appears we have much in common—I sense that you have the same rotten
luck that I do."
"—Those eyes! Enough with the sympathy! Don't look at me as if you know
my pain!"
They were both at the mercy of their gods' whim, often pulled along for a
ride they couldn't control. Asfi looked down at the man with an empathizing
look on her face. It made Marius writhe in agony.
"My prince!" "My prince!" Exhausted soldiers wailed as they surrounded
their vice commander, desperately calling out to him as they moved into
position.
Her movement restrained by the rigid chain, Asfi came under fire of
countless arrows and magic spells. Her white scarf torn to shreds and skin
covered in burns, Perseus grimaced in pain.
She could feel her hair plastered to her cheeks by the pouring rain. Bell and
Aiz were already out of sight, so she prioritized her own escape from this battle.
Dodging another wave of arrows, she withdrew a vial of blast oil from her
holster.
An explosion echoed through the mountain range and drowned out the
sounds of battle, until it faded into the pounding of rain and the river rapids from
far below.
The rain's not letting up.
Waves of water come rushing down the side of the mountain faster and faster,
and the storm shows no signs of lifting whatsoever.
Trapped in a deafening tunnel of sound, swept up by a raging river through
the gorge between mountains, I make my way to the riverbank and manage to lift
the goddess up and out of the water. I climb out next to her in time to see that
Aiz has followed us.
I get to my feet, swing the goddess over my back, and we race off along the
riverbank.
"How is she?"
"Her body is getting colder and colder! She's not answering me, either…!"
Even I can hear how close I am to tears, yelling like this.
"Haah…haah…" Her chin is resting on my shoulder, so I can hear the weak
breaths coming in and out of her mouth.
We're losing body heat. The same is true for Aiz, her soaking-wet armor slick
and shiny. But the goddess and I are much worse off, having actually fallen into
the river.
For Aiz and me, this amount of rain is no big deal. Our leveled-up Statuses
make our bodies hardy enough to withstand it. Unfortunately, that's not true for
the goddess. While she survived the plunge into the river, I can't feel any heat on
my back, and her limbs are limp.
The gods and goddesses came to this world to enjoy a "game," and therefore
they had to follow a set of rules.
The most important one is that no one can use their divine power, Arcanum.
Without those all-powerful abilities, the deities are physically the same as people
without a Blessing, or perhaps even weaker. Sure, they never age and never die,
staying more or less the same for all eternity, but they're not immune to the
common cold or getting really sick.
I hear it's all an "adjustment" to enjoy everything that Earth has to offer, or
perhaps they're being flexible.
"If we don't find shelter soon…!"
The goddess won't last long like this. I've never heard of Arcanum being
activated and the deity abruptly being sent back to Tenkai because of an illness,
but that does nothing to ease her pain.
The current took us pretty far downriver, so I have no idea where we are right
now. Aiz being here isn't much help as long as we're stuck out in the rain.
"I could break open the cliff face and make a cave…"
Heat is what I want, not shelter. Every minute the goddess stays this cold puts
her in even more danger.
Making fire isn't the issue; Firebolt can take care of that instantly. The
problem is keeping the fire going. We have to find dry kindling and a protected
spot away from the river and out of the rain where we can rest and recover.
There has to be a place like that farther along, I'm sure of it…!
Muscles in my face tense as I listen to Aiz speak and look up at the top of the
unbelievably deep gorge. There's nothing to obstruct my view of the dark-gray
sky as it continues to mercilessly drop an endless stream of rain on top of us.
"
KIYAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!"
"!"
A high-pitched squawk reaches my ears as we continue to race through the
gorge.
Countless shadows descend on us from above and into the path ahead, the
sound of flapping feathered wings accompanying them.
"Harpies!"
The descendants of the original monsters that emerged from the Dungeon
millennia ago and settled here in the Beor Mountain Range are swarming in to
attack us!
Harpies: half-human/half-bird, bizarrely female-looking monsters.
They look like women from the waist up, even have breasts. But both
forearms are much larger than a human's, forming wings the size of shields.
Everything from the waist down is covered in dirty feathers. Just like a hawk or
eagle, both legs end with sharp sets of talons.
As for their faces—it would be easy to say they look like a woman's, but
they're actually quite different from humanity as a whole.
First off, their mouths are full of sharp fangs, and their skin is riddled with
wrinkles. To be blunt, they're horrifying. If I have to describe it, I'd say they
look like overly obsessed old women. But no, a wizened old lady is much more
beautiful than these things.
Their bodies may be close to what we're familiar with, but they're far more
revolting than the normal monsters in the Dungeon. That's probably because of
the putrid smell emanating from their bodies. It makes me want to rip my nose
off my face.
Why now…?
They're swarming in like birds of prey, stark golden eyes flashing
menacingly. I glare back at them and thrust my right hand forward, taking aim at
the middle of the flock of harpies. I'm one breath away from unleashing my
magic when I hear:
"Keep running."
Wind whistles by my ears.
I hear the unmistakable sound of a sword being removed from its sheath, and
my eyes catch a flash of blond hair. The next thing I know, every harpy in our
path falls to the ground in pieces.
Shrill squawks and fountains of blood fill the air. Aiz has sparked confusion
among the harpies, and her eyes sharpen into a glare just as acute as her blade.
" KAAWWW!"
The air is suddenly flooded with countless black feathers falling to the
ground like the rain.
The blond-haired, golden-eyed knight is running up the side of the gorge,
dashing through the air, and slicing her way to the other side so fast I can't keep
up with her. The birds of prey surrounding us on all sides let out high-pitched
squawks as her blade carves them into cold cuts. I do exactly as she tells me and
keep running with the goddess on my back. Meanwhile, there are constant
streaks of gold and silver light going up, down, and all around us like a dome
that shreds any monster that gets too close.
It's like her saber is creating a barrier of protection around us.
I know I'm being protected and all, but seeing her pull this off so easily, it's
impressive and awe-inspiring at the same time. I'm running as fast as I can, but I
can't help straining my eyes trying to watch her in action.
—She's very, very strong. Too strong.
Pa-loosh! Pa-loosh! While I was busy gawking, several de-winged monsters
fall into the raging river and get swallowed up by the waves. I'm dodging
carcasses one after another, and there's no telling how many hundreds of them
are behind me along the riverbank.
The rain washes away the blood splattered against the mountain face.
"…What's that?"
Then, when the last squawk of the final harpy rings out…
Aiz lands on a boulder not too far in front of me and turns forward, as though
she's noticed something out of place.
I look in that direction—there's a light wavering in the distance, a magic-
stone lamp. What's more, it's coming this way.
"Hello out there! Anybody here?"
A human voice rises over the crashing waves of the rapids.
Aiz and I exchange glances and nods before rushing off in that direction.
Crackle, crackle. Sounds from the fireplace fill the room.
Everything here is cast in an orange light and flooded with warmth. The heat
washes over me, embracing my cold body in a warm hug. My eyelids get heavy,
but I shake my head every time sleep threatens to overtake me.
The goddess is lying in the bed in front of me, sleeping peacefully. I sit
quietly, holding her right hand with both of mine.
"How is the goddess doing?"
"Ah, Mr. Kam…She's all right. Fell asleep a little while ago."
I hear a knock at the door, look up to see an elderly gentleman named Kam,
and stand to greet him. A human girl a little older than me is at his side. "I'm
glad," he says with a smile of relief.
—We came to this place, Edas Village, after we were fortunate enough to run
into someone in the gorge.
Edas Village is located deep in the Beor Mountain Range. Surrounded by
steep cliffs, it's a well-hidden small town in one of the valleys. Aiz and I were
extremely surprised that a place like this existed when we came to it. Who
would've thought people lived way out here?
After we explained the situation to the young men who came to check on the
river, they brought us here, and the villagers immediately offered to help. The
village elder, Kam, opened his home to us. Not only is the goddess resting in one
of his guest rooms, but he gave me a change of clothes as well.
Words can't express how grateful I am for his help. I bow to the elder once
again.
"I can't thank you enough. You saved my goddess…"
"Raise your head, young Bell. This is the least I can cough, cough!" He
couldn't finish a sentence before breaking into a coughing fit.
The girl at his side supports him with both hands as the old man bends over,
trying to catch his breath between coughs. The girl, maybe his daughter, urges
him to go back to his room, with a concerned look on her face.
Kam slowly raises his hand, telling her he's all right, and gradually stands up
straight.
"Um, please don't push yourself…!"
"No, it's all right…Bell, please make yourself at home. If you need anything
at all, my daughter will be happy to help. I pray for your goddess's recovery."
I take a step toward him, unsure what to do. Even though he's not healthy,
Kam says he's fine, but he keeps his eyes on the goddess, still lying in bed.
He has a thin beard and wrinkled face, but there's something about his eyes. I
can tell they've seen a lot, and there's a mix of complicated emotions running
through him right now. He then makes a small bow to her and says, "May the
both of you stay in good health…" before exiting our room with the help of his
daughter.
"I wonder if he's sick…"
We only just met, but he immediately pulled out all the stops to help us the
moment he saw me carrying the goddess. It's almost overkill, but I'm extremely
grateful for everything he's done. He's been so good to us throughout our time
here that the lack of color in his face worries me.
I make my way back to the goddess's side and catch a glimpse of someone
outside the window.
I watch the hooded figure approach for a few moments, trying to make them
out in the rain. Once I realize who it is, I leave the goddess in Kam's daughter's
care and rush out of the room and to the entrance of the house.
"Welcome back, Miss Aiz. And, um, thanks for going back out."
"It's no problem, and thanks…How is she?"
Aiz takes off the soaking-wet hooded robe in the front hallway, revealing her
battle cloth and armor beneath. I hand her a towel as she asks about the goddess
and tell her that she's in stable condition.
"So, what did you find?"
"Asfi wasn't there and neither were Rakia's soldiers…Just the broken
weapons and charred aftermath of battle."
Aiz went back out to check on what was happening with Rakia's soldiers as
soon as the goddess was safely inside Edas Village.
She says that she followed the overflowing river upstream to the point where
we fell in. The storm had gotten worse, so she reasoned that Rakia's soldiers and
Asfi had taken shelter somewhere. Whether the enemy soldiers were biding time
to come after the goddess again or had completely given up and gone home, she
didn't know.
Not only had she been pulled into this mess, but she also protected me the
entire time. I apologize for causing her so much trouble, but she kindly shakes
her head and tells me it's okay.
"We have no way to contact Orario…I don't think we should hope for
rescue."
Going back to the city would require at least the rest of the night, and to
make matters worse, the weather isn't cooperating. Getting lost in rugged
mountainous terrain is a very real danger, separating her from us—and Lord
Ares's troops are still out there. They're strong and numerous enough that she
didn't want to engage them in battle under these conditions. So Aiz decided to
come back to the village for the time being.
Asfi is an upper-class adventurer, so I'm sure she's returned to the city and
explained what happened by now…but I highly doubt she knows about a village
this far into the mountains, and that we safely arrived here.
"So then we stay here until the goddess recovers…?"
"Yes, I think that's best."
Aiz wipes down her wet hair and neck with the towel as she nods. Her soaked
clothing is plastered to her skin, making it very difficult for me to figure out
where to look as I agree with her plan.
The three of us will stay together and move as one. We'll have to impose on
the people of the village until the goddess is healthy enough to make the journey
back to Orario.
I feel bad for making Lilly and the others worry…but it can't be helped.
Feeling a little guilty about it, I make a plan with Aiz for the next few days.
The goddess opened her eyes the day after we arrived. I was so happy I could
cry, but I knew she wasn't out of the woods yet. She stayed in bed the rest of that
day, as well as all of the next.
Then, on our third morning in Edas Village…
"Sorry…Bell."
"You've already apologized many times, Goddess. I told you, it's all right."
I've lost count of how many times she's said sorry while she lies in bed. I'm
in my usual spot next to her, tension leaving my face as I smile. Her color is
better this morning. She looks up at me but avoids making eye contact, as though
she's ashamed of something.
"This is…a nice village, isn't it?"
"Yes. Everyone is so warm and friendly."
Edas Village was originally an elf settlement, if you went back far enough in
time. Back to the Ancient Times, from what I've heard.
Elves generally don't like to mingle with other races, so a place like this was
perfect for their isolationist views. But apparently, the way they saw the world
began to change about 1,000 years ago. The arrival of the gods and goddesses on
Earth spurred the elvish youth to leave their homeland and explore the world,
while the older elves began to accept people of other races into their village.
People unable to face their own reality, people escaping danger, and young
couples eloping from families who couldn't accept their love all found their way
here.
And, of course, exiled adventurers from Orario who wandered into the
mountains with the intention of dying out here ended up settling in the village as
well. As a result, the villagers are exceptionally friendly and open to new
arrivals. More than half the people living here are the descendants of these
wayward travelers. I have a feeling that's the reason they were so quick to assist
lost people like us.
A hidden village not on any map, for people who had lost their way.
This…is another world I didn't know about.
Deities must be a rare sight in the village because two demi-human children,
a boy and a girl, keep peeking in through the window. Lady Hestia notices and
smiles at them, gently waving her hand. The kids blush and smile back.
"How are you feeling today? If you need something, please let me know."
"Oh, Miss Rina. Thank you for everything."
Kam's daughter, Rina, steps into the room and asks how the goddess is
coming along. I tell her the goddess is doing well and bow my head.
She's probably two or three years older than me and very friendly. She and
several of Kam's adult sons have been taking care of everything for us these past
few days. My gratitude for what all of them have done to help the goddess
knows no bounds.
But there is one thing that feels odd. I don't want to sound rude, but Kam is
pretty old. There's such a gap between him and his children, it'd be easier to
think of them as grandchildren. Whenever I see them in the room or around the
house, I can't help but be a little confused. What's more, I've never seen anyone
the right age to be their mother during my time here.
Strange as it may be, I'm not about to ask. Instead, I bring up something else
that's been on my mind.
"Um, is there something going on today? There've been a lot of people
outside the window since yesterday…"
"There is. Today is our annual fertility festival. We were concerned because
the rain wasn't letting up, but it stopped just in time…Everyone's getting
excited."
There's a blue sky outside my window, and I can hear many people talking
outside. She explains what's going on, her tied black hair swishing behind her
head. I nod in understanding.
The small village where I grew up had festivals, too.
"Bell…go help with the festival preparations."
"Huh?"
Both Rina and I turn to face the goddess, surprised by what she said.
"B-but, Goddess…"
"After all they've done for us, with us not doing anything in return, I'd make
goddesses look bad…Please, Bell."
She's much better now than she was, but leaving her side still makes me
uncomfortable. She laughs at my worry and says she wants me to go.
…I want to do something to pay back the people who have helped us, too.
Going home without repaying the debt seems cold, and I'm sure I'd regret it.
With that in mind, I return the goddess's smile and agree to do what she asks.
Standing up from the side of the bed, I tell Rina that I'll help. My offer makes
her happy.
Leaving the goddess in her care, I exit the room.
"Ah, Miss Aiz."
"Morning…"
I bump into Aiz halfway down the hallway.
She returns my greeting, but it's her outfit that gets my attention—so much so
that my cheeks start heating up.
"Um, those…those clothes look cute on you…"
I always see her dressed in battle cloth and armor, but today she looks
nothing like an adventurer.
She's wearing a long red skirt with vivid embroidery, with a loose white
blouse underneath a patterned vest buttoned in the front. It makes her blond hair
stand out even more than usual. She looks like a country girl.
She's beautiful, as always, but…I've never seen this cute side of Aiz before.
My face turns red as butterflies run rampant in my stomach.
"These were recommended to me…Do I look weird?"
"N-no, no! You look great!"
She looks down at her outfit as I vigorously shake my head.
Just like me, she borrowed clothes from Kam's daughter to wear because the
rain had soaked through her equipment and battle cloth. Apparently, Rina got
excited choosing an outfit for Aiz because of her goddess-like beauty, and she
wanted Aiz to look the part.
Aiz looks slightly off to the side when I compliment her, her cheeks turning
pink…and shyly blushes.
—Jolt! Every move she makes sends a shock up my spine. I'm the one who
complimented her, but it's my chest that's getting tighter every second. As fire in
my veins turns my skin bright red, she looks at me with puzzlement while I turn
into a pitiful wreck.
"Are you heading somewhere?"
"Oh, yes. There's a festival in the village today, so I'm going to help them get
ready."
She tilts her head when she figures out I was going outside alone.
Over the past three days, I've hardly left that room. As for Aiz, in order to
keep us safe—or perhaps because she's had nothing else to do—she's been on
guard outside the guest room or patrolling the house. The rain didn't let up until
last night, so there was no point in going outside.
However, she gave Kam's sons, and me, quite a scare by arming herself with
her saber while dressed as a cute country girl…She's a knight through and
through, no matter what she's wearing.
She nods while I explain what's going on and then says, "I'll come, too."
"Huh? Are you sure?"
"Yes. They provided clothing and more than enough food…I want to help."
Her expression is just as distant as usual, but her desire to help makes me
happy.
The two of us exit Kam's house.
"It was dark when we arrived, and it was raining so hard that I couldn't tell
but…this village is pretty big."
"Yes, it is…"
The puddles on the ground reflect the blue sky above. The villagers outside
come up to greet us, and we offer our assistance for the festival preparations.
Being an old elf dwelling, Edas Village is surrounded by trees on all sides
and much bigger than it looks. Add in the tall mountains of the Beor Mountain
Range, and the term hidden village seems to describe this place extremely well.
It would be really hard to find this place without knowing where it was first.
The fact that we're here must've spread around the village by now, so when
we emerge from Kam's house, we get a lot of attention. Or, I should say, Aiz
does. Looking around, I see the men of the village are gathering left and right to
catch a glimpse of her in this outfit. Quite a few have their mouths open,
gawking. At the same time, the ones who are already married are getting
reprimanded by their wives. A slap or two rings out from the crowd. A smile
grows on my lips as I watch the men shrink in front of the angry women and
excited children next to them.
There are many houses built around a central square in the middle of the
village. Many tables have already been set out in the open area, and several
people are busy building a bonfire. Things are already getting under way. A
group of muscular middle-aged men, probably the ones in charge of the event,
are directing traffic. So Aiz and I listen to their instructions, go our separate
ways, and get to work.
"Um…I hate to bother you, but what is that?"
Working among the many races of people living in the village, we made a
great deal of progress. The afternoon was over before I knew it, and dusk
arrived.
I was in charge of preparing firewood and carrying decorations from place to
place, so I had a chance to see several peculiar objects scattered about the
village.
They look like large, shiny obsidian rocks, but there's a strange aura hanging
over them.
Each one is about the size of my chest. They form a ring around the village,
creating a line between where the village ends and the forest begins.
I ask a nearby elderly animal lady about the black things that seem to be
protecting the village. She smiles and answers right away.
"Oh, this? It's…one of the Black Dragon's scales."
" It's what?"
I can't believe my ears.
Beneath an evening sky so red it might as well be bleeding, I'm sure I
misheard her and ask for clarification as I step closer.
"The Black Dragon…As in the one in the legends? That Black Dragon…?"
"Yes, that's the one. Long ago, after heroes drove him from Orario, the Black
Dragon fled north. These scales fell from his body as he passed over this valley."
The lady tells me the story has been passed down through generations of
long-living elves.
So, many years ago, a legendary beast flew over that sky while scales
dropped into the forest below…?
"Didn't you find it strange that a village situated in the middle of a forest
filled with so many monsters never comes under attack?"
"W-well, yeah, but…"
Aiz and I were swarmed by harpies on our way here. But I haven't seen a
single one since we came inside the village. Sure, I thought it was weird, but…
"It's all thanks to these scales. Monsters are so afraid of them that they stay
far away. It's thanks to the Black Dragon that we can live in peace."
The strange aura coming from these things is the presence of the King of
Dragons, or perhaps his power.
The monsters are afraid of the isolated pieces of the legendary beast, so they
don't come close to them. That's why Edas Village doesn't worry about monster
attacks.
Her story leaves me speechless. At the same time, she closes her eyes and
brings her hands together as she takes a knee in front of the black scale.
"…I'm sure you find it peculiar that we worship a monster. The reason we
are alive today is not due to the protection of adventurers or deities…but these
scales."
That, and they are afraid.
Afraid of the day when the legendary beast will return and destroy the world.
The villagers living in Edas both revere the monster as well as live in fear of
it every day. They, who are more aware of the dragon's power than anyone, fear
the day that it will be unleashed on the world. To the point that they can't help
but worship it.
…A village built on faith in a dragon.
No, not quite. A village that prays to a dragon so that tomorrow will continue
to come peacefully, and to hold back the calamity that is its power.
I'm stunned by this side of Edas Village, a place so far separated from the
world I know.
The story of the calamities that Lord Hermes told me about feels so much
more real.
The Black Dragon…I wonder if there's more evidence left behind by the one-
eyed dragon in other parts of the world.
"But of course, should there come a day when Lord Dragon is gone from this
world, we'll have no need to keep doing this, now will we…"
The lady, eyes still closed and hands still together, says this to me with a
grimace. Suddenly, it all clicks.
The meaning of the Three Great Quests that have been entrusted to Orario.
The wish for salvation that the world still holds to this day.
"Well, this heart-to-heart chat got a bit serious. We're almost done getting
ready, so why don't you run along and pitch in?"
"Ah…Y-yes, sure."
She looks up at me with a gentle smile. I manage to convince my head to
nod. I've been carrying a few logs over my shoulder this whole time, so I start
moving my feet toward my original destination.
After leaving the nice lady behind and delivering the wood, I pause for a
minute and survey the village.
The black scales dot the landscape. With the preparations nearly complete,
this place looks a little bit different from before.
"Ah…"
I spot Aiz while I walk through groups of villagers who've already finished
what they had to do.
Still dressed like a country girl, she has her back to me. She's standing in
front of a stone hut.
"Miss Aiz?"
"…"
She keeps her eyes on the stone structure, not reacting at all as I walk up next
to her.
One of those black scales is inside the hut. Up on a pedestal, several plates of
food and other offerings are lined up in front of it…This must be an altar. That
would mean that this stone hut is a place where the people of the village come to
pray to the thing that protects their home.
Aiz stares quietly at the scale. Like me, she probably heard from the villagers
about the history of this place and the black scales.
"It's almost like a god, don't you think?"
Their fear of this piece of the dragon has led them to present it with offerings.
The similarities with actual gods are uncanny. I casually voice my observations.
However…
"This thing is no god."
Her sharp words cut through the air, slicing through my offhanded comment.
""
She's still looking away from me. All I heard was a low, stone-cold rejection.
Was that really Aiz just now? I've never heard her put so much emotion into
her voice. Words are stuck in my throat.
My heart is trembling.
That voice genuinely scared me.
What did her face look like when she said it? Time comes to a halt without an
answer.
"Let's go back."
"…S-sure."
Aiz turns to face me after a few seconds that feel like an eternity.
She's wearing the same aloof expression that I've seen many times before.
It's the Aiz I know. Even her voice sounds like it always does. She walks away
from the stone hut.
But I don't move. She stops and looks over her shoulder after a few steps. My
legs finally wake up, and I scurry after her.
Now walking side by side, I chance a glance at her face. Cast in a red glow
by the setting sun, nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing at all. Was what I
heard moments ago just my imagination? Those words are still haunting my
ears, but did they really ever happen?
I never work up the courage to ask.
Still a little bit shaken by what happened with Aiz, I finish what I was assigned
to do and head back to check on the goddess.
There are many wooden houses built around the center of the village. I make
my way all the way to the back to Kam's place, open the front door, and go
inside. A quick walk down the hallway and I'm at the guest room that he's so
graciously let us use.
"Huh?…Mr. Kam?"
I open the door and go inside, only to find Kam standing at the foot of the
bed in front of the goddess.
She's asleep. Zzz, zzz. The breaths of the young goddess fill the room as the
elderly man silently watches her.
Standing with the help of a cane, he slowly looks up at me.
"Don't be afraid. I haven't done anything to her."
"Eh, um, I'm not worried about that…I-is something wrong?"
I venture a question, unable to hide my surprise. I see him turn to face me
almost as if he's moving in slow motion.
"I was waiting for you."
After yet another surprise, the elderly gentleman continues.
"Bell, can you spare a moment of your time on this old man?"
He leads me farther into the house, all the way to his room.
There's a bed, desk, and a chair in here. Not much else at all.
There's a small pile of papers and a feathered pen on his desk, but that's to be
expected. He is the village elder, after all, but I don't think he's used the pen in
quite a while. Even the top sheet of paper has a thin layer of dust on it.
"Cah-ough…!"
"A-are you okay?"
A loud cough comes out of nowhere.
I rush over to help him and offer to call his daughter, but Kam puts out his
hand and waves me off.
"Please don't concern yourself. I understand what's going on with me better
than anyone."
I'm not sure how to take that. It must've shown on my face because he tells
me one more time not to worry.
The elderly man is thin but still stands a little bit taller than me. The grayish
white hair on top of his head shifts as he smiles at me. I'm still worried about
him, but I'll listen to what he has to say.
As golden-red evening light streams in through the window, Kam makes his
way to the desk and opens the top drawer. Pulling something out, he sets it on
top of the desk.
Whatever it is, it's very old. I lean in for a closer look, but the details are so
worn that it's hard to see…Is that a fire? An emblem?
"Is that…a familia's emblem?"
"Yes, indeed. A long time ago, I pledged myself to a certain goddess."
My ears perk up. Kam begins to tell me about his life.
"I fell for her, and she had feelings for me as well. We were in love with each
other."
"You were…?"
He fell in love with a goddess.
This is shocking news to me. Kam takes his eyes off me for a moment. Is he
blushing?
"Unfortunately, I was unable to protect her. I was her only follower, and I had
sworn to defend her with my life. But she was felled by a monster's claw…"
"…!"
"Her sacrifice saved my life…and consequently, she returned to Tenkai."
Kam casts his gaze up and out the window, as if remembering the events that
happened more than fifty years ago.
They were attacked by a swarm of monsters while traveling. Kam lost his
goddess on that day. She pushed him off the edge of a cliff and into the sea,
saving his life at the cost of her existence on Earth. At the same time, he plunged
into the deepest depths of despair.
His reason for living gone, Kam decided to throw his life away by wandering
aimlessly into the Beor Mountain Range, but…
"…I found my way to this village. I was unable to cast away the life that she
had saved."
After he met several others who had walked a similar path, they took him in
with open arms. Crying tears of joy, he decided that he would one day be buried
here. The Status on his back had been sealed due to the fact that his goddess was
no longer in this realm—and he left it alone as the only remnant of the bond they
once shared. He committed himself to the village that took him in and eventually
attained the rank of village elder.
"…In that case, Rina and the others are…?"
"Adopted. Some of them lost their parents to the plague, others were
abandoned…I took in every child who didn't have a place to go."
He admitted that he wasn't related to any of his "sons and daughters" by
blood.
Kam, who had sworn his love to a goddess but had been unable to protect
her, couldn't have a normal life, get married, and have kids of his own.
"Bell…please, please protect your goddess."
He doesn't need to ask me to do that because I fully intend to, but Kam does
anyway.
"Cough!" He covers his mouth, and I take a worried step closer, but he just
smiles at me.
"You must not live life with the regrets that I have."
Now I finally understand why he was so protective of the goddess, so quick
to welcome us into his home.
He saw his younger self in us when we arrived, and he helped us so that I
wouldn't go through the same loss he did.
That smile and his words make their way into my heart. They'll stay there for
a long time.
"…Blah…"
Hestia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and bored out of her mind.
"I can't sleep anymore…"
The day was practically over. The last of the red sunlight in the sky was
fading. Only dim light came in from the window, night descending on the view
outside.
Hestia used her elbows to prop up her top half and sat up.
"Still no energy…But I'm better, probably."
She looked down at herself, convinced that her drowsiness was the result of
sleeping on and off for the past three days.
She wasn't sick, and her appetite was alive and well. Hestia felt that the worst
was behind her, and she didn't have to take it easy anymore.
"Uph." She started pulling up her sweaty shirt—a hand-me-down from
Kam's daughter that was tight across the chest. Her twin black ponytails, still
messy from three days' worth of bed head, swayed to and fro as she adjusted
herself.
There came a knock at the door.
"Please excuse me…"
"Wall-Wallensomething…?"
Aiz stepped inside the room, holding a tray in her arms.
Hestia watched her approach with unblinking eyes. The blond girl set the tray
on the table next to the bed, steam rising from a bowl of soup on top of it.
"Have you recovered…?"
"I-I'm fine, but…wh-where's Bell?"
"Talking with the village elder, I think…"
The goddess asked why it was her and not Bell who came to check on her,
and Aiz responded in a quiet voice.
Kam's daughter had made the soup, but she was summoned to help with
something outside. So she had asked Aiz to deliver it to Hestia in her place.
Hestia had been so surprised to see Aiz that only now did she notice what the
girl was wearing. She practically gasped.
"Wall-Wallensomething, what's with those clothes?"
"Rina lent them to me…"
"You trying to tempt Bell or something…?"
Hestia's body shook, a vein bulging in her forehead. Aiz, on the other hand,
tilted her head in confusion.
Hestia knew. She knew that the boy liked the simple charming appeal of the
girl-next-door type.
One look at the female knight standing in front of her, dressed like this
Bell blushed more times today than he does in a year, no doubt about it!
"Grrrr…" Hestia growled under her breath, on the verge of divulging her
thoughts on the matter when it was neither the time nor the place to do so. But
then she realized this was her chance and changed her mind. There was
something she wanted to find out once and for all.
"Have a seat, Wallensomething."
"?"
Seeing the goddess flick her wrist toward a chair next to the bed, Aiz did as
she was told.
"For starters…Thank you for saving me. Sorry you had to get mixed up in
this."
"It's noth—"
"—But, and this is important, what do you think of my Bell?"
"What do I think…?"
"You know, it's that, um…! How do you see him? What's your impression?"
Hestia couldn't ask her directly if she had feelings for the boy. She tried but
ended up blushing too hard and tripping over her own words.
No matter how doll-like Aiz's aloof expression was, it was impossible to lie
to a deity.
Hestia cast her divine gaze onto the human girl, determined to find out what
emotion was lurking inside her heart.
Under the goddess's intense gaze, Aiz casually looked up at the ceiling and
gave the question some thought. She answered after a few moments of heavy
silence.
"…A rabbit?"
Hestia closed her eyes and nodded decisively upon hearing her answer.
"I always believed in you."
"…?"
Thump, thump. Hestia reached out and petted Aiz a few times on the
shoulder.
Although the answer was a little bit out there, she now had proof that Aiz
didn't see Bell as a man—that is, a member of the opposite gender. Her spirits
lifted immeasurably.
"But be warned, don't be too nice to him. While I agree that rabbits are very
cute, if you're too nice to him, it'll go to his head. That'll be nothing but
trouble."
"Under…stood…?"
Aiz once again tilted her head, not comprehending what the deity was telling
her even as Hestia continued to enthusiastically pat her shoulder.
"Oh, My Lady, are you feeling well?"
That's when Kam's daughter appeared at the doorway. "Very much so, thanks
to you," said Hestia with a genuine smile to the girl who came to see how she
was doing.
"You seem to be sweating. Shall I prepare a change of clothes for you?"
"Hmm, that might be a good idea…"
Rina handed Hestia a towel and a glass of water as the goddess considered
taking her up on the offer. She stopped in her tracks.
One quick glance at Aiz's outfit, and her eyes flashed with the spark of an
idea.
"Sorry, but may I make one more selfish request?"
"The festival has already started…"
Kam and I talked for a long time, much longer than I thought we would. I
take a look out the closest window when I finally leave his room, and my jaw
drops at what I see.
It looks like the dead of night outside, and all the villagers have gathered in
the main square. Everyone's talking, having a good time as logs are being
assembled to make a bonfire.
My muscles relax as memories of the festivals in my home village come to
the surface. Feeling nostalgic, I start walking to the guest room where the
goddess is resting.
"Bell!"
"What, Goddess—eh?"
She's in the hallway, right in front of me, and wearing something that takes
my breath away.
It's almost the same outfit that Aiz is wearing. But instead of the red colors
that made her stand out, the goddess is wearing a more calm blue—although it
looks like she forced herself into that blouse. I can almost hear those buttons in
front of her chest screaming…
Standing next to Aiz like this, the two of them might as well be sisters.
"Hee-hee, so? How do I look?"
"You look great, but…are you sure it's okay to be out of bed?"
Yes, she looks really cute, and the butterflies are back, but my concern for her
well-being is a little bit stronger right now. "Yep, I'm sure!" she says with a grin.
Apparently, she made a special request, and Rina went out of her way to help.
Kam's daughter is standing by her shoulder opposite to Aiz, smiling just as
wide.
"Since you are once again in good health, My Lady, why don't you come
watch the festivities?"
The goddess immediately accepts her invitation.
Maybe it's because she's been in bed for so long, but she seems excited about
the idea and yells, "I'd love to come!" I'm still worried about her, though. She
should be getting some rest, but in the end I join her and Aiz as Rina leads the
three of us out of the house.
"Um, are you sure this is a good idea, Goddess? You shouldn't push yourself
just yet…"
"I'm fine! After spending so much time so close to you, I'd be worried if I
didn't get better!"
She claims that staying in that room would make her feel worse. Seeing her
giddy like this is making me only more concerned.
She looks fine, but…maybe I'm being overprotective after hearing Kam's
story. I'm still thinking it over as we arrive in the village square.
"…!"
"Now, this is nice!"
"…Gorgeous."
The bonfire is already burning bright as all three of us voice our reactions in
turn. The tables surrounding the bonfire are covered with a wide variety of food.
The villagers see us coming and wave while holding their drinks in the other
hand.
The goddess and Aiz bask in the warmth of the festival sprawled out in front
of us. This energy is infectious; even I'm getting drawn in.
"Ah! My Lady!"
"Are you feeling well enough to be outside?"
Several villagers gather around us.
The goddess has been bedridden for days, and everyone is worried about her.
At first, Hestia is overwhelmed by all the men and women voicing their
concerns, but it doesn't take her long to start thanking them and smiling.
News of her recovery rapidly makes its way through the square as the festival
starts to feel more like a celebration. Aiz and I get swept up in it, along with the
goddess.
"So, My Lady, why did you come this far into the Beor Mountains?"
"Word is you got lost. Is it true?"
The villagers start pressing for details.
The three of us do our best to answer them as the villagers form a ring around
us. I almost forgot; we're supposed to be in hiding. What if all this noise and the
bonfire give away our position to the Rakian soldiers? This village might be
hidden deep in a valley surrounded by mountains, but this bonfire would be easy
to find…I glance at Aiz. She notices me and lightly shakes her head, as though
she's thinking the same thing. A bead of cold sweat runs down my neck.
Orario's Alliance would have found them by now, and even if they haven't, I
doubt that the Rakian army would stay in the mountains for three days in the
first place…
"The truth is, an idiotic god took us for a wild ride. Then again, this whole
mess started because I ran away from home—."
The goddess says that much before freezing on the spot. "Ah." The sound
comes out of my mouth as I remember, too.
That's right, Hestia and I were fighting—well, not really, but something close
to it.
The goddess slowly turns my way, craning her neck. A jolt runs through my
body, and I quickly look away.
The villagers and Aiz stare at us with bewilderment.
N-not good! I have to apologize, and quickly…!
An apology might not solve the problem, but it certainly won't hurt. Glance,
glance. The goddess is looking around, waiting for me to make a move.
I scramble to come up with the right words, to make an apology here and
now, when…
"Oh…?"
People are singing.
It's an upbeat melody, and others are clapping along to the beat. I look past
the people surrounding us toward the bonfire and see pairs of men and women
starting to dance in the crackling light.
"Is that this village's traditional dance? Most of the dancers seem young…"
"Ahhh, you see…"
The goddess notices, too, and has a look. Just as she said, the villagers
dancing around the fire right now are a mix of humans, elves, dwarves, and
animal people, but the one thing they have in common is youth. Well, that and
their shy smiles.
An older gentleman answers the goddess's question for us with a dry grin on
his face.
"It's not a law of our village by any means…but it's said that when an
unmarried man invites a woman to dance during the festival, it's the same as a
confession of love. Should she accept, the two shall be blessed with a lifetime of
happiness as lovers. Or at least that's how the story goes…"
"O-oh?"
His explanation fascinates me. For some reason, the goddess starts fidgeting.
"Please dance with us, Goddess! Today is our fertility festival, after all!"
"Please bestow us with a bounty of blessings!"
Several villagers use the start of the dance as an excuse to approach the
goddess and say their wishes.
I don't think Lady Hestia has any power over fertility, but…this might be the
first time they've seen a deity in person, so they're probably all the same to the
locals. In any case, they ask her for good fortune.
Surrounded by villagers, the goddess closes her eyes and, "Ah-hem," clears
her throat.
Step, step, step. She slides over to me with shifty feet.
"Oh—Bell? It looks like there's an urgent need for me to fulfill my role as a
goddess, you know…So, eh, yeah."
Her face is turning red, redder than the warm light coming from the bonfire
on her face. Actually, I'd say she seems nervous.
"If you'll dance with me…I'll consider that incident to be water under the
bridge."
I blink a few times.
Almost as if on cue, the villagers surrounding us start happily whispering to
one another.
My shoulders jump the moment I realize their excitement means it will be
extremely difficult for me to turn her down. Well, if she's willing to let the
problem slide if I dance with her, then yes, that's what I want…And also, I might
enjoy dancing with the goddess.
Fulfilling her role as a goddess will help these people, too, so I fight back my
nerves—and put up with the burning sensation in my cheeks. Then I nod to the
goddess.
"All right…I'll dance with you, Goddess."
But for some reason, her cheeks are pulling back into a smug grin. This is
what she wanted, isn't it? Why does she look annoyed?
"If you're going to invite me to dance, do it right, Bell. Like you did with
Wallensomething at Apollo's Banquet, when you invited her to dance."
I freeze, my eyes wide. Aiz, standing right next to me, does the same.
The burning feeling in my cheeks grows to an inferno. My body jerks toward
Aiz. She's still got that puzzlement in her eyes, tilting her head to the side.
W-well, it is true that I danced with her during Apollo's Banquet of the Gods,
but…!
"There's a line you have to say at times like this, isn't there, Bell?" says the
goddess, looking at me through half-open eyes. Meanwhile, I'm shrinking away
from her, my skin pulsing red.
"But…but, Goddess…!"
"It's your job to start things off right by setting the mood. Isn't that right,
everyone?"
She seals off my only hope of escape by appealing to the villagers
surrounding us.
I can't go against the wishes of people who want her to be happy. All of them
are nodding, urging me to take the first step.
I glance over at Aiz with sweat rolling down my face…She's staring back at
me. It's almost like she's waiting to hear my answer.
I feel like I'm surrounded on all sides, trapped in a pincer of monumental
proportions…but in the end, I can't go against the goddess.
"…W-would…would you dance with me, Goddess?"
I bring my hands together in front of my red face. The goddess looks back up
at me with a satisfied smile that stretches all the way across her face.
"Whoa!"
Her thin, soft fingers wrap around my wrist.
She leads me by the hand, almost like a child, toward the bonfire.
The villagers give us an energetic send-off—I can't see Aiz's face, though—
and we join the ring of young men and women.
Holding each other's hands, we start to mimic the movements of the folk
dance already in progress.
"Th-this is pretty hard."
"Ah, aha-ha-ha-ha…"
"Bell, would you take the lead so I can focus on building up my divine
energy?"
I'm trying to pick up the dance without staring at the couples around us, but
it's not as easy as it looks. The two of us awkwardly drift around the bonfire
with the rest of the dancers. I feel like a fish out of water, but the goddess seems
so happy, dancing away with her hands in mine.
The light of the bonfire illuminating half her beautiful face, the skin beneath
her villager's clothing is bright red. We spin around in time with the beat, and I
feel the heat of the flames on my cheeks. However, I don't think that's the real
reason my body feels so hot.
She smiles at me, so genuinely happy. I can't help but do the same.
Sparks from the bonfire dance high into the air. Our shadows drift across the
trees and nearby mountainsides. I feel her warmth through my hands.
The older villagers are watching us, singing and clapping along as we
continue to dance.
"Whew…"
My dance with the goddess around the bonfire doesn't conclude until after
many, many more verses.
Finally satisfied, the goddess releases me and goes to join a group of kids
trying to learn the steps to the folk dance.
I start to ask her not to push herself…but one look at the kids' excitement and
I hold my tongue.
A smile grows on my lips as I watch the goddess teach a little girl, probably
of mixed descent, the dance. The joy on that kid's face…She's having the time
of her life.
"Wait a minute, where's Aiz…?"
The festival really came to life the moment Lady Hestia decided to
participate. Everyone looks like they're having a great time as I search the crowd
to find Aiz…There she is. Standing next to a nearby house like a wallflower—
well, maybe not a wallflower, but pretty close.
I jog over to her.
"Um, Miss Aiz."
"…Yes?"
She's watching the dance from a distance, almost like she's trying not to be
seen. It takes her a moment to respond. Even her posture makes her as small as
possible.
"Everyone looks like they're having a great time…"
A little human girl is dancing with her father; an animal mother is scolding
her son as the giddy little boy runs circles around her.
Aiz squints, as if all of the villagers' smiles are bright lights flashing around
her.
"…Your dance was very good."
"Eh…Th-thank you."
"…You're…a great dancer."
"I-if you say so…"
"…"
"…"
An unexpected compliment brings an abrupt end to the conversation.
Aiz hasn't stopped looking at the bonfire. She's not trying to make eye
contact with me. That's normal for her, but still…
"Ah, um…Are you going to dance?"
"Everyone's having a good time…I don't want to ruin their fun."
"You won't!"
"And…I have no one to dance with."
Her words were no louder than a whisper, but they blasted their way into my
head. I come to a conclusion after a few moments of getting my thoughts
together.
Cheeks flaring again, I work up the courage to speak.
"If…If you consider me worthy…"
With those words, Aiz finally looks in my direction with her eyes open wide.
"…You'll…dance with me?"
"Ah, yes, but that's only if you're okay with it…?"
She watches with unblinking eyes as I turn even redder.
A few heartbeats pass and I slowly extend my hand
"—Boom!!"
"Ah."
"Uphh!"
The goddess's tackle blindsides me, nailing me in the ribs.
"What's this, Wallensomething? You have no one to dance with? I'd be
happy to dance with you right now!"
"…Thank you?"
Ignoring my stumble to the side, the goddess grabs Aiz's hand and doesn't
take no for an answer.
Aiz blinks several times in confusion as Lady Hestia guides her toward the
bonfire.
Then they start to dance.
One, a cute youthful goddess; the other, a beautiful young girl with a
mysterious air about her.
Twin black ponytails and long blond hair sway with the two figures,
gleaming in the light of the bonfire. Wearing the same style of clothing, they
look like close sisters.
The dance shared by the dazzling young goddess and the elegant young girl
receives the loudest applause of the night.
Men and women, the elderly and the children—everyone in the village claps
their hands and smiles at the two beautiful girls.
My grin widens every moment that I watch them, to the point I have to open
my mouth to contain it on my face.
Surrounded by so many happy faces, the two are surprised when they first
notice…but then smile back with just as much joy.
The gladness continues long into the night. The festival maintains its
celebratory atmosphere, the goddess happily beaming along with everyone else
until the bonfire goes out.
The festival is winding down.
The goddess, Aiz, and I are resting in a corner of Edas Village.
"Uwahh, that's enough running around for one day…I'm so tired."
"Th-that's why I told you to take it easy…"
The goddess listlessly takes a seat on the ground. She ended up spending the
entire night dancing with those kids, so I'm not surprised. She wasn't even at full
strength to begin with, and she pushed too hard. I remind her of that in a quiet
voice.
Aiz, silently standing next to us, watches our short conversation with the
tiniest of grins on her lips.
"Okay, then, what's our plan from here…?"
Plenty of men are still in the village square. They should be cleaning up, but
most are drunk and still laughing among themselves. Letting them do their thing,
I pose a question. The goddess, who had been massaging her shoulder while
absentmindedly staring at the boulder-like black scales that mark the boundary
between the village and the forest, looks up at me.
"Oh, I'm good to go. Took a bit longer than I hoped, but I can walk just fine
now."
Aiz doesn't say anything at first. The top-class adventurer does, however,
make eye contact with us and nod.
"We leave the village…tomorrow morning."
We'll make sure everything is ready tonight and then wait for the sun to rise
before making a return to Orario.
Neither the goddess nor I object to Aiz's plan.
The three of us look around the village that we will soon be leaving, taking in
the mountain scenery one last time.
" My Lady!"
That's when it happens.
A shrill voice erupts from the back of the village at the same time a woman
comes rushing toward us.
It's Kam's daughter, Rina. She comes up to us, and I can tell immediately
something's wrong. She can barely breathe.
A monster's roar echoes off in the distance. Hearing the beast's ominous
howl and seeing the tears threatening to fall from her eyes make my heart sink.
She places a hand on her chest as a tear breaks free. Her voice sounds forced
and shaky when she finally gets the words out.
"Would you see my father off…on his journey to heaven?"
Aiz, the goddess, and I file into the room. Kam is in his bed, surrounded by
all his adopted sons.
His face is a ghastly color, his eyes closed.
I stop cold. All traces of life are gone from him.
"…Father wanted to see you one last time."
One of his sons invites us to come forward. I'm speechless.
How can this be? I mean, I was talking to him like any other day just before
the festival started—
"I understand what's going on with me better than anyone."
Is this what he meant…when he said that?
I still haven't moved. Aiz has her mouth clamped shut, and the goddess is
holding her breath.
That's when Kam slowly opens his eyes.
"…Ohh, Goddess. Thank you so much…for coming…"
"…No need to be a stranger, Kam. You've done so much to help me that I
would come running at your call."
Kam's weak gaze falls on the goddess first, and he smiles.
The goddess forces a bubbly grin and walks to the side of the bed.
"When I first met you, memories of my beloved goddess, Brigit, came back
to me…"
The goddess's eyes fly open in surprise upon hearing the name of Kam's
former goddess.
"Did you say Brigit? Blond hair, deep-red eyes—that Brigit?"
"Do you…know of her…?"
"You bet I do! Brigit's a good friend of mine! We used to play together all the
time up in Tenkai; argued, too!"
A hint of surprise fills Kam's gaze. What a coincidence, to have a connection
through our goddesses. "Is that right…" he says with a weak smile.
"She was ever so kind…Treating everyone fairly and loving a lowly human
like myself."
"Say what? She did? Kam, you've been duped! She resorts to calling me
'Tiny' and all sorts of other names the moment she loses the upper hand in an
argument. And she's barely a smidgen taller than me! I bet she just wanted to
look good in front of you and made sure you didn't see how she really is."
"Ha-ha-ha…Really? I never knew."
I can tell Lady Hestia is trying to lift his spirits. Kam tries to laugh but fails.
Actually, just saying that much looks painful, like he's wracking every word
out of his body.
The small smile he made completely disappears after a few moments, leaving
his face blank and emotionless.
"Goddess, please tell me…Will I see her, once I arrive in heaven…?"
"…Brigit will find you, I'm sure of it. She's rather insistent about getting
what she wants."
Kam hears those words.
Then speaks again, barely above a whisper…like he's talking to himself.
"I'm scared…Scared I won't meet her, scared to see her…So scared."
The light in his eyes wilts like the last petals of a flower as he gazes up at
nothing in particular.
His last moments drawing near, Kam's one and only daughter bites her lip to
keep from crying out.
"Lady Brigit, please forgive me…I couldn't protect you, please forgive…"
Kam weakly lifts his trembling right hand into the air. But only just, like he's
using the last of his strength to reach out to heaven.
His sons must be unable to see their father burdened by intense guilt in this
weak state, because they look away with their mouths clamped shut. Aiz and I
avert our eyes and stare at the floor.
Then Lady Hestia steps forward.
She slowly wraps both hands around Kam's.
"Thank you, Kam. Thank you for your love."
The goddess's voice is completely different.
""
Kam opens his eyes as wide as they'll go.
Aiz, I, and everyone in the room suddenly focus on Lady Hestia.
That's not her voice. The tone, the words, even the rhythm has changed.
It's like someone else is using her body, looking down on one child with a
loving, affectionate gaze and speaking.
She must be using her knowledge of Kam's goddess to speak and act like she
thought her acquaintance would.
"Even now…and forevermore, I shall always love you."
The goddess's voice is so rhythmic and smooth that she sounds like a loving
mother putting her child to sleep.
A goddess's sonnet of love.
Tears fall from Kam's eyes.
"Hhhhha…!"
Eyes that should have been withered and dry are now glistening under the
magic-stone lamps.
His lips tremble, like he's seeing something on the other side of his aimless
gaze.
"Lady Brigit, I…I, too."
Love you.
Those were Kam's last words.
The last of the strength in the hand in Lady Hestia's fades away, and it goes
limp in her grasp.
The tears of his adopted children start falling to the floor. His daughter hides
her face in her hands, collapsing on the spot.
I'm crying, too.
The tears aren't stopping.
My vision blurs to the point that I can't really see the man whose spirit has
just left us. I try to wipe the tears away with my arm.
Even Aiz is covering her face.
Lady Hestia squeezes his hand before gently placing it across his chest.
The countenance of the man who devoted his love to a goddess is by far the
calmest, most at-peace expression I've ever seen in my life.
The moon's light is shining through the trees.
The howls of distant monsters are gone, leaving the forest eerily silent.
I found a small clearing among the trees and took a seat at the base of the
closest one and leaned back against it. Haven't moved since.
"So this is where you've been, Bell."
The sound of leaves underfoot reaches my ears as I sit cross-legged, my head
drooping. That voice…it's the goddess's.
We're north of the village, a ways into the forest.
After Kam died, I came to this spot by myself.
News of his passing traveled through Edas Village very quickly. Villagers
who would normally be asleep gathered at his home right away. Everyone who
saw him lying in that bed was devastated and shed more than their share of tears.
I…I couldn't take hearing all the sobbing and grieving voices…I needed to
get away, to escape.
"…"
"…"
The goddess sits down next to me.
We sit in silence under the dark-blue night sky. My head still drooping, I try
to speak.
"Goddess…"
"What is it?"
"Will Kam be able to reunite with Lady Brigit on the other side?"
The fate of the spirit that has left Gekai and returned to Tenkai.
I want to know if Kam really has a chance of seeing the goddess who was
sent back before him all those years ago.
"…That might be…difficult. There are some of us, like Freya, who are
special, but the fate of the children's spirits is the responsibility of the gods who
control death. It's not like anyone can pick and choose which spirits they judge."
The spirits that travel to Tenkai get purified—returned to a pure "blank" state
before being reborn into another life on Gekai.
The goddess explains the process to me, but I tighten my grip on my legs
with every word.
Silence once again descends on the forest.
"—So then, children shouldn't fall in love with gods after all. Is that what
you're thinking?"
"!"
My shoulders quiver.
Lifting my head, the goddess's smile is right there to greet my eyes.
"After what happened at the manor, I thought you were just too stubborn for
your own good…but that's not it."
She looks at me with those blue eyes as if she can see through everything.
They're only half open, a kind gaze.
"I forgot something very important about you. You can see pain that you've
felt in others…and you're afraid to inflict that pain on anyone. Am I right?"
My head droops again.
She…She saw right through me.
"Is it the pain from your grandfather's death that's holding you down?"
It is.
With Gramps gone, leaving me alone, there was no warmth to be felt. I
remember it all too well. I remember my heart feeling empty, all the pain I
endured when he passed on.
I know the pain of those who are left behind.
I know how Kam felt. He was suffering all the way up until the moment he
was saved by the goddess.
—However, the end will always come for mortals like us.
Through our own death and rebirth, we can forget the pain of our previous
life.
—What about gods and goddesses?
They live forever, so there is no forgetting. There's no way for them to soothe
the scars left on their hearts after we leave this realm.
From friend to family, family to lover, and lover to partner—the deeper the
bond gets, the more special it becomes, the deeper the scar that will be left
behind. Is there any way for deities to escape the torment of loss?
Gods and goddesses can't grow old with us.
They will be left behind without question.
So, falling in love with them will only make them suffer.
Is pain—agony worse than what I felt after losing my family—promised to
the deities who develop those strong feelings for mortals?
Causing that much pain is scary. I'm afraid of the sadness, the anguish.
It's not the same as with two people—it's an emptiness that can be felt by
only deities, who cannot die.
"—Bell. Our love lasts but a moment."
That's what Lord Miach said. Lord Hermes said the same thing.
A deity's love is over in a flash. And an eternity of emptiness is waiting for
them after that one second of love.
The price of one moment of bliss: everlasting pain and sadness.
That's terrifying.
The loss that I felt after Gramps passed away, possibly even worse, will
continue for hundreds, thousands, millions of years.
Absolutely horrifying.
"…Bell. Please don't think too hard about this. We—"
Not possible.
I close my eyes.
I don't even try to listen to her words, staying quiet like a kid and letting her
voice drift into background noise.
The scale of "forever" is impossible for me to comprehend. I just can't do it.
And if I were in their shoes—I couldn't deal with it.
Carry the burden of loss, even more painful than the one I felt, for the rest of
eternity?
To make a deity carry that burden of loss?
If that's the price, it's better not to love at all.
It's the same as the romances between fairies and heroes. A romance between
gods and mortals will never have a happy ending.
Us and them—we can't live the same life.
"…You know, Bell, gods and children might not be able to live out the same
lives."
As if she had read my thoughts like a book, she hits the nail right on the head.
I keep my gaze down, but I feel her left hand on top of my right.
"But I will always be by your side."
"Huh?"
My drooping head is lifted by her kind words.
"No matter how old you get, even if you become a bald, wrinkly old man, I
will always be with you. You think I would ever leave?"
She looks back at me, eyes overflowing with affection.
"And even if death forces us to separate…I will find you."
A smile grows on her face.
"No matter how many hundreds, thousands, millions of years it takes, I will
find you after your rebirth…Even after you're no longer you, I'll still be at your
side."
""
Words have left me, but the goddess continues.
"When I find you, I'll say, 'Would you join my familia?'"
The day when we first met, she asked me the very same thing.
" ah."
I think I'm going to cry.
My jaw clenches.
Body trembling, I look up at her and try desperately to keep the tears back.
She wraps both her arms around me and gently embraces my shoulders.
"Gekai and Tenkai are just places—they don't mean a thing. We're just like
Brigit and Kam. I will come find you again."
Her arms softly wrap around my head.
And like a kid—no, even more pitiful than a kid—I sniffle in a last-ditch
effort not to cry.
"I'm not the only one. Other gods' and goddesses' bonds with children like
you can last forever."
She quietly whispers into my ear.
"After all, we are gods. We live forever, you know."
She pats my head, gently running her fingers through my hair.
"So please, Bell. Don't be afraid of our love."
—Please don't run away from a deity's love.
I can decline, I can accept, but I must not be afraid—that's what Lord Miach
told me.
The dam breaks. Tears pour down my face. The fear that had been weighing
so heavily on my heart is melting away.
Family, lovers, partners, love—I don't know what these feelings are.
Love for a deity, even less so.
I don't know, but I try to put words to it.
"Goddess…I want to always, always be with you…!"
"Yes…"
She's holding me.
All I can do is cry, but she doesn't break away from the embrace.
"I will always be here, Bell."
Moonlight shines through the trees. In a forest under a dark-blue sky, I cry
and cry into a goddess's chest.
"…"
She could hear the boy's trembling voice, his crying.
Aiz stayed close to him even after leading Hestia to his hiding place. She
stood still, leaning against the other side of the same tree.
"Always…together…"
The goddess's words and the boy's emotions resonated in her ears.
She looked up through the thin branches and foliage toward the golden moon
high in the sky.
"Mother…"
The word that tumbled from her lips faded into the night.
The air is thick with fog.
The sun is rising in the east, turning the night sky into day as Aiz, the
goddess, and I depart from Edas Village.
We ended up staying one extra day for Kam's funeral, helping out with
whatever we could.
On the fifth morning after we came here as refugees lost in the Beor
Mountain Range, we say our last good-byes to the villagers and set a course for
Orario.
The oldest of the villagers showed us a route that he always took, one of the
black scales in hand, when we left the village. We were out of the forest in no
time and quickly made our way down the steep cliffs to an even path that ran
along the river, arriving just in time to see the morning sun peek over the
mountains and inundate the scenery with light.
"That was a nice place…"
"Wouldn't it be great to visit them again?"
"…If you go, I want to come with…"
"Huh? Are…are you sure that's okay?"
"Yes."
"Hey, hold on a second there, Wallensomething! Don't make promises out of
the blue! If you want to go, go with your own familia!"
The three of us walk side by side, talking.
Something sad happened, but even so, all of us are in good spirits. The
goddess makes a ruckus, I try to calm her down, and Aiz watches us with the
same aloof gaze. And a few smiles, too. The crisp mountain air fills our lungs as
we make our way up the next mountain road.
The morning fog is starting to clear.
"—There you are."
"Whoa! Miss Asfi?!"
Whoosh! She pops out of the sky, lands in front of us with her white scarf in
tow, and nearly scares the crap out of me.
The golden wings on her sandals contract as a look of relief spreads across
her face.
"I've been searching for you. I never feared for your lives, knowing the
Kenki was with you, but…"
"You've been out here since then…?"
"No, only since last night, Goddess Hestia. Rakia's army had to be dealt
with."
She adjusts her glasses and tells us what happened after we got separated.
Apparently, Asfi managed to escape the battle with the soldiers and return to
the city. She passed along the information she gathered to Finn, who then
organized the gods and goddesses of Orario into a strike force that prioritized
capturing Lord Ares. Rakia's army sustained a great deal of damage and couldn't
move at full speed due to the sheer number of soldiers who couldn't walk on
their own. Asfi tells us that top-class adventurers caught up to them with ease.
The soldiers who didn't enter the mountains managed to escape, but the
Alliance succeeded in capturing their leader, Lord Ares, yesterday. The outcome
of the war was determined the moment their god was officially a prisoner inside
Orario's walls. With that out of the way, the Alliance changed its focus to finding
us. However, quite a few of the deities lost interest at that point and pulled their
followers from the search-and-rescue mission.
Asfi was under orders from Lord Hermes himself to continue the search and
is now smiling as if a great deal of weight has been lifted from her shoulders.
"I can carry all of you one by one using Talaria, if you so desire. What say
you?"
"Hmm—…Well, this is a good chance to stretch my legs. It's not every day I
get to be outside the city, so I feel like walking."
The goddess politely declines Asfi's offer. Aiz and I feel the same way.
"As you wish. I'll go on ahead and deliver the news. There are many in
Orario who are concerned about your well-being, and I wouldn't want to keep
them waiting."
She says this with a grin and takes a black helmet out of the pouch strapped
to her waist. She puts it over her head and suddenly, she disappears.
The goddess and I are floored—Aiz looks fine, like she already knew about
this—as the sound of flapping wings fills the air around us. Even that sound is
gone moments later.
I suppose that's Perseus…With a combination of magic items like those, it's
no surprise that very few people in Orario know about her ability to fly.
But wait, going invisible…haven't I been on the short end of the stick of an
item like that before…?
Memories of a certain rogue threatening to come to the surface send a wave
of cold sweat down my back. The goddess then speaks up in a cheerful voice.
"Now, I think it's about time we went home to Orario! I know a few children
who have been worried for far too long!"
"Yes!"
"…Wallensomething, um, thanks. I'm, well, grateful."
"No problem…"
Aiz and I smile at the goddess as she says thank you.
The moment lasts a bit too long for the goddess, so she takes a few steps
ahead of us to escape.
Aiz and I walk right behind her.
The goddess nearly trips, and the two of us barely manage to catch her. We
walk through the mountain roads illuminated by the morning glow and finally
down the last steep cliff to where the Labyrinth City is waiting for us on the
other side of the open plain.