"This moment has finally come. Dreams must end eventually, and when you wake, the dream fades away. It's...a little sad."
As the sun set, Roy and Roman stood side by side on a hill overlooking the ancient city of Jerusalem, its stone walls bathed in a warm, golden light.
Roman's voice carried a trace of melancholy. The essence of his existence was stored in the Throne of Heroes in the Nasuverse. No matter what he experienced, when his time here ended, it would leave no mark on the Throne. This life, these memories, were destined to fade like a fleeting dream.
He had finally glimpsed the world outside the Throne, finally gained humanity, finally become a man and lived a simple life he had always longed for. It should have been pure bliss. But as the end drew near, all that happiness seemed to dissolve into shadows of regret. Roman, who had grown emotionally richer, couldn't help but sigh sorrowfully.
"Are you scared, Roman?"
Roy asked with a soft laugh, watching the city turn golden under the sunset.
Roman nodded, then shook his head. "…Of course I'm scared. Scared enough that I want to turn around, run back, scream, and let all my fear out.
"…But when I arrived in this world, my eyes, connected to the Netherworld, read its past and future. I understood what the existence called Heretic God truly is. Merely by existing, we bring calamity to human order. If I were the true King Solomon, knowing that my existence brings disaster, I would calmly end my life in accordance with my purpose.
"However, the concept of the Heretic God distorted King Solomon's truth. It gave him the sudden impulse to experience human life, an urge so powerful it outweighed his original divine mechanism."
Roman smiled warmly, though his expression still betrayed fear. "…Now, I can proudly say that impulse was the most correct decision Solomon ever made. Living these seven days as a human, as Roman, has made me truly happy—so happy that I want to protect this world that brought me such joy, even at the cost of myself." (T/N: Damn)
His smile was pure and innocent, a beacon against the setting sun. "…This time, it's not King Solomon making the choice but Roman, the human. Ah, how I admire the decisions of true heroes. As humans, they face their deaths with unwavering courage. Compared to them, I feel so far from being a hero." (T/N: Nah true courage comes from overcoming your fear)
"You were never meant to be a hero," Roy remarked, a trace of humor in his voice. "You're just a loser. Look at what you've done in these seven days. If I hadn't forced you to finish your tasks, you would've spent every day eating cake, drinking Coke, playing games, or watching live streams. You even became obsessed with virtual idols! You couldn't be further from a hero."
Roman chuckled awkwardly. "Ahahaha... You don't have to point that out at such a sentimental moment, Roy."
Scratching the back of his head, he added defensively, "…It's not my fault. Coke tastes amazing, strawberry cake is delicious, and virtual idols are so adorable. How could I resist indulging in things so wonderful and cute?"
"You really have a talent for justifying your laziness."
The two of them fell silent for a moment, the faint hum of the city below filling the air.
Finally, Roy broke the quiet. "…If, as the Heretic God, you could stay rational and not bring disaster to humanity, would you choose to stay here and continue living as a normal human, Roman?"
Roman froze for a moment, placing a hand over his chest. He smiled bitterly. "…Why are you tempting me now? You're making me hesitate when I've already made up my mind."
"It's not a temptation; it's a fact. The Heretic Gods may bring disaster, but it's not absolute. Throughout history, many have met peaceful ends. If you want to, you could too."
Roy turned his gaze to Roman's profile.
"I know…" Roman said, taking a deep breath. "…Of course I know that it's possible to defy the disastrous fate of the Heretic God. But this isn't my world. My place is in the world I came from. That's where I belong."
"I see. In making that choice, Roman, you've already become a hero."
Roy sighed, then smiled. "…So, in this somber moment, let me share something that might make you happy. Unlike Heroic Spirits and Servants, who lose all their memories upon returning to the Throne, the Heretic Gods can retain their memories of the present world after passing.
"…These memories won't affect the information already fixed on the Throne. But if you're summoned back to this world, those dreamlike memories will resurface. Even if you return as the emotionless King Solomon, those memories might spark the desire to become human again. So, hold on to hope and wait for the day someone summons King Solomon back to this world!"
Roman blinked in surprise, then turned to Roy with curiosity. "…Roy, you seem to know a lot about my world. Concepts like Heroic Spirits and Servants aren't native to this place. This world is so far beyond the outer layers, untouched by the Root. Yet you seem to know everything."
"I don't know everything, I just know what I know," Roy replied with a soft chuckle and a shake of his head.
Roman didn't press further. Even though his curiosity lingered, he wasn't one to pry. After a moment of hesitation, he asked softly, almost timidly, "...Are we friends now?"
"Of course," Roy replied, smiling. "If this connection we share cannot be called friendship, then the word friend is far too extravagant. Roman, I have a feeling that perhaps one day, we will meet again—in your world." (T/N: FGO foreshadowing?)
Roy took a deep breath. When he summoned King Solomon, the mysterious "ship" in his right hand had already carved a path to the Nasuverse. If Roy wanted to seek greater knowledge, venturing into new worlds was inevitable.
"Friends... how wonderful," Roman said, his face lighting up with joy. "To become a human and gain a friend—what a blessing. This is a feeling, a word, that Solomon could never truly comprehend."
He laughed openly, his cheer unrestrained. "It's been so good to meet you, my friend, Roy! I will wait with hope, for the moment when dreams become reality again. Now, let's fulfill our original promise!"
Raising his right hand, adorned with five rings, he intoned, "...The time of parting has come... Ah—"
Before Roman could finish releasing his true name, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw the tip of a blood-red sword protruding from his heart. Crying out, he exclaimed, "...It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! What are you doing, Roy!?"
Roy, who had silently moved behind him and delivered the blow, gave Roman a warm yet mischievous smile. "…The Lord forbids His people to take their own lives. As a devout believer, you should not go against the Lord's teachings. Besides, if you, as a Heretic God, were to commit suicide, I, as a Campione, wouldn't gain anything from it."
With a resolute yet gentle expression, Roy added, "...Let me give you the final send-off, my friend, Romani Archaman!"
*********
(T/N: I hope we see Solomon again soon, he is the only great male character in this fanfiction that I am actually looking forward to meeting again.)