And———– one more thing.

The reason I was able to withstand the use of the Forbidden Curse.

One of the factors was……

[……Most likely, its effect hasn’t worn off yet.]

I can’t confirm it.

But if it had worn off, I would have felt it somewhere during this battle.

The moment the effect ended.

Ikusaba Asagi’s Buff Skill.

It was probably still affecting my status correction.

Even after Asagi’s death———— her skill’s effect had persisted.

Right…… I should check my status window————

……but I stop myself halfway through the thought.

Right now, my window is open in front of Kashima.

It must still display the buff icon, the [ + ] effect.

I recall the way Kashima had seen Asagi off.

————To her, right now, that plus must be……

The only lingering trace of Asagi still “persisting” in this world.

You could look at it that way.

……If so.

Until Asagi’s skill fades away……

Or until Kashima returns my status window of her own will……

I feel——— it’s best to leave it as it is.

At that moment, one of Neia’s holy knights rushes toward me, probably to give first aid.

I motion with my hand, telling him “it’s not necessary”.

[I’m fine. For now, focus whatever help you can on Hijiri and Sogou.]

The knight bows and hurries back.

[…………]

I touch my chest———–

The Great Sage’s robe that Seras had repaired for me.

……Those words you entrusted to me in the Disposal Ruins.

“Please———- defeat that Goddess.”

[For now, I think I’ve managed to do that much…… ngh———-]

……Though I said I was fine……

That only meant I wasn’t at death’s door.

The damage I received from the Forbidden Curse was anything but small.

[———gh……]

I stumble, my legs giving way, my body tilting.

At that moment———- someone catches me in their arms.

The next thing I hear is a voice, filled with quiet reminiscence.

[We did it, Touka.]

[……Yeah.]

The one supporting me was……

[I’m glad you’re safe too——— Eve.]

[Umu.]

[Pii♪]

[Pigimaru…… you’ve done well too.]

Eve seems to have understood Pigimaru’s condition at a glance.

She turns her face slightly.

[So that one lying face-down over there is Vysis huh.]

[No.]

[Hmm?]

[That’s the sh*tty goddess.]

Eve gives a faint smile.

[Judging by that bleeding, I was worried…… but it seems your life isn’t in danger.]

I look around.

Nyantan seems safe too.

I also spot Gio, and Loqierra perched on his shoulder.

Seras still stands, sword at the ready, facing Vysis.

Over her shoulder, Seras calls out.

[Eve——— thank goodness you’re safe.]

[Umu…… I’m overjoyed to live and see you all again like this.]

Eve turns back toward the direction they came from.

[Right now, everyone inside and outside the castle is working to purge the Sacraments that Vysis unleashed. I see———- so that’s why their movements slowed just before we arrived here. It must have been because Vysis ended up in that state.]

Eve nods reassuringly.

[Thanks to Loqierra, the number of Sacraments released has been kept low. Considering our forces, it shouldn’t be a major concern. And according to Loqierra, the ones appearing now are specialized for fighting Deities. Meaning that for any other race———- against us, they should be easier to handle than before.]

So we don’t have to worry much about the overflowing Sacraments then.

Which means the real concern is————

[Are Hijiri and the others okay?]

Eve seems worried too.

She and Hijiri go way back; it’s natural she’d be concerned.

As for Sogou……

[……Honestly, I don’t know yet.]

Some people are administering first aid right now.

……Still…..

Yeah, there’s what happened with Hijiri but———-

Sogou really came through.

At that last moment.

To think she’d pull off something so reckless.

I have no idea what she did.

What exactly happened before my eyes……

In that instant, it was impossible to fully grasp.

Even now, all I know is……

“Sogou somehow dealt with the clone that was fighting Seras.”

That’s all I can say for sure.

But that she did something insane——— that’s something I can tell.

……………………….Sogou.

[Because of you……]

Through the gap between those giving first aid, I look toward her face.

[You really saved us. Truly.]

By the way, according to those who ran up to check on Munin……

“She’s only unconscious, her life isn’t in danger!”

———-that’s what they said.

Fugi looked visibly relieved.

But she soon went back to clinging to Hijiri, her face filled with worry.

The deep wound Hijiri took while shielding her……

From Fugi’s expression, she seemed to be blaming herself.

At that moment……

[Touka.]

The voice calling out to me came from Loqierra, perched on Gio’s shoulder.

Still looking toward Vysis, she said……

[In the end, you really did push yourself too far…… but you did it.]

[Seems so.]

[For now, I want to celebrate that we beat Vysis…… but———]

While she spoke with Eve earlier, Loqierra had been observing Hijiri and Sogou.

I could tell she was thinking about something.

I immediately asked.

[Do you know a way to help them?]

[……You’re as quick as ever. Errr…… there should be a secret room———- a lab of Vysis’ somewhere inside this castle. Nyantan, do you know anything?]

Nyantan had come over too.

[Yes———– if I recall correctly, that is. We couldn’t get close to that area before because of the flood of Sacraments, but now it should be safe.]

[ ! Can you take me there right now!? If we could bring a few who can handle any remaining Sacraments, and maybe someone strong enough to carry heavy things, that’d really help……!]

[In that case, we can go with the same group we had when we came here.]

It was Eve who made the suggestion.

[———-Right! That helps a lot!]

Hearing their conversation, I spoke.

[Loqierra, just two quick things.]

[———-Keep it short, please.]

[I’ve stacked multiple Abnormal State Skills on Vysis. From your point of view, should it hold for a while longer?]

[……It should be fine.]

[Any additional restraints needed?]

[If she’s under <Sleep>, then there shouldn’t be any problem for now. Also———- Deities won’t truly “die” as long as their power of existence remains. To be absolutely sure, there’s one effective method——— but I’ll explain that later.]

[Got it. That’s all I needed.]

[———–Then, Nyantan, please guide us! We’ll be back as soon as we can!]

With that, Loqierra and the others left the courtyard.

———-They must have an idea.

And…… frustrating as it was, there was nothing I could do in the realm of medicine or healing.

All I could do was entrust Hijiri and Sogou to the ones tending to them.

Then———– perhaps waiting for the right moment, Seras spoke to me.

[Touka-dono, how is your body?]

[I can’t move too vigorously, but for now, I’m within the range of what I can call “fine”. How about you?]

[I can maintain my Origin Regalia state a little longer. If I don’t consider using it again later, I could extend it even further but……]

So she’s already factoring in reactivation.

Still———- without Hijiri or Sogou available……

There might come a time ahead when I’ll have to rely on Seras in that state again.

I can’t say there won’t be.

[Alright. Keep enough strength for another use. For now, stay alert.]

[Understood.]

Vysis remained facedown, barely moving.

The Abnormal State Skills were working properly……

Including <Sleep>.

……As long as range isn’t an issue, it’s the best skill for neutralizing an opponent.

Incidentally, <Poison> was taking effect as well.

Thanks to its Anti-Divine effectiveness, it seemed even stronger than usual.

I could confirm the other status effect gauges too……

As long as nothing irregular happens, this is just like back in the Disposal Ruins……

A semi-permanent infinite combo———- a perpetual skill loop.

[If there’s any concern…… it’s when <Sleep>, that near-total neutralization, wears off.]

In the Disposal Ruins, <Paralyze> and <Sleep> worked together for a semi-permanent lock.

But those golden-eyed monsters couldn’t move at all while paralyzed.

Vysis, however, could still move under <Paralyze.

Just like Civit, Ars, and Wormungandr.

Though…… she didn’t seem able to move as well as Ars or Wormungandr.

It might just be because her body had weakened from all the damage.

If so, that would work in our favor for maintaining the semi-permanent restraint.

……Though come to think of it, Wormungandr had gradually weakened over time.

But Ars———- was the opposite.

He adapted. Bit by bit, he adjusted, and that eerie adaptability made him more dangerous.

I don’t think my Abnormal State Skills had Anti-Divine bonuses back then, either.

If possible, I’d have preferred to save <Freeze> for Vysis.

That one neutralizes better than <Sleep>.

But looking back, using it on Ars might’ve been the right call after all.

I looked down at Vysis.

[Even if she powered herself up with that black-purple orb…… maybe it’s true that she was never really a Combat-type God to begin with……]

If that’s the case, then that’s why she arranged stuff like Ars and Wormungandr huh.

……Even so, for that brief moment……

Yes, starting from when she stabbed Sogou in the chest———–

The pressure I felt from her felt greater than either of those two.

Maybe———— even more than her own clone.

……Speaking of clones……

The one Seras fought gradually got stronger throughout the fight.

But Vysis didn’t know————

Origin Regalia isn’t built for long battles.

However, Seras Ashrain herself excels in endurance.

She learns and adapts as the battle goes on, fitting herself to her opponent’s fighting style.

She adjusts, she acclimates.

That adaptability also meshes well with her defensive style.

If her opponent grows stronger, she keeps pace, evolving in turn.

That’s why even as the clone powered up————-

She would likely manage to keep pressing on.

[Seras.]

[Yes?]

[I’ll properly thank you later———- but you did great.]

At that, Seras responded softly over her shoulder.

[I’m sure…… everyone feels the same way toward you.]

[……This battle…… everyone truly did their part.]

[Yes———- as you said…… it really was everyone’s victory.]

……The crows perched along the railing cawed.

Some even descended to the ground, pecking for food.

They must’ve sensed the battle was over, that it was safe now.

I let my gaze drift.

……………………….Hijiri. Sogou.

I don’t have the power to save you.

All I can do is trust in Loqierra, trust in whatever hope she’s found.

[………………………]

Please————- don’t die on me.

▽

Loqierra had returned.

Gio placed the box-shaped device he’d been carrying onto the ground. 

The box had various small instruments and cords attached to it.

[There really was a device that can communicate with Heaven……! And it looks like this one can even allow direct conversation…… Errr———]

Loqierra approached the sleeping Vysis and pulled at her fingers.

Then she guided Vysis’s hand to touch a differently colored square section of the device.

[Alright…… this should complete the authentication……]

I see.

So the reason she brought the device here was for this authentication process.

Loqierra looked at me.

[Listen carefully, Touka.]

Her expression carried a heavy seriousness as she spoke.

[Unfortunately, I can’t use the <Heal> right now…… no, more than that, there are only a handful of people in Heaven who can heal someone in that state…… I mean———- aside from Origin-sama and Thesis-sama, there’s only one other person I can think of.]

(T/N: Goddess’ Breath / Heal)

[If it’s that Deity, they can heal them huh……]

[Probably, yes. But…… it can’t be used consecutively.]

[……That means……]

“Sorry.”

Loqierra averted her eyes, regret clouding them.

[At best…… maybe only one of the two can be healed.]

She said “maybe”, but her expression told me that was only a soft way of saying “that would be the case”.

I glanced toward Sogou and Hijiri.

[……Can they even make it here from Heaven in time?]

[Mm———- yeah…… either way, we’d better call them quickly! Sorry!]

Loqierra grabbed one of the extending cords.

At the end was a slender cylindrical piece tipped with a needle-like point.

It looked about as thin as an acupuncture needle.

Thereupon, Loqierra———–

……stabbed the needle straight into her own head.

[What are you doing……?]

[Hm? Oh, if I don’t do this, there’ll be a delay in the conversation. It stabilizes the transmission when it’s connected directly. I mean, I doubt Vysis would’ve planted any traps in this thing…… but anyway, time is of the essence! No time to worry about it!]

Saying that, Loqierra pressed one of the devices to her ear.

It seemed to function like a receiver.

Then she manipulated some controls.

A few of the meters on the machine lit up.

Loqierra closed her eyes, listening closely.

It seemed she was waiting for the connection to establish.

She muttered under her breath.

[……Yeah, that’s just ridiculous.]

[Ridiculous?]

[Saying only one of them might be saved, I mean…… that’s just———–]

Loqierra’s eyes opened slightly.

[That’s definitely ridiculous.]

Her gaze was sharper than I had ever seen it before.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap!

Impatiently, Loqierra drummed her fingers against the device.

[————D*mn it…… hurry up…… someone, anyone, just pick up already……………… ——–ah, it’s connected! Access Code 228911, this is Loqierra, dispatched to investigate Vysis! Who am I speaking to? ……I see, got it. Listen, I need a favor…… can you call Thesis-sama for me? ……Eh? When? Right now!]

All I could do was listen silently to the conversation.

Loqierra was speaking with the person on the other end of the transmission.

[I- I understand…… I know Thesis-sama is incredibly busy right now, and that she doesn’t have any leeway…… I get it, I really do…… but this is an extremely urgent matter on our side too…… No, wait! If it’s not right now——— we’ll be in trouble!]

Something about the flow of the conversation…… didn’t sound good.

Then———–

[Enough of that! I told you to bring Thesis-sama here! Now!]

Loqierra’s tone suddenly and sharply changed.

[I’m Loqierra! Don’t you get that this isn’t a request, it’s an “order”!? I already know full well that all of you are in chaos cleaning up after <Ragnarok Second>, but I’m telling you this matter here is just as important for Heaven itself! If this isn’t reported immediately, the weakened Heaven could collapse entirely! That’s why———– hurry up and call her!]

With that, Loqierra cut the transmission.

The other party must have stepped away from the device.

After a short silence, Loqierra exhaled deeply.

[……The truth is, for a while now Heaven’s been in a sort of war with shadow-like creatures that carry fragments of Divine Factors———- we call them the <Aftershades of the Gods>. That battle is what we call <Ragnarok Second>……]

[I see———– so that’s why there’s hardly any Deity assigned to this world under Vysis.]

[It sounds like an excuse, but…… unn, that’s basically it. We only recently secured a near-certain victory on our side, which is why my deployment and Vanargandia’s were finally approved. As for this world where Vysis resides, the details of what was happening here were still unclear, so my proposal to investigate kept getting postponed.]

[So right now…… the Deities over there are still dealing with the aftermath of that war in Heaven huh.]

[Exactly. But———- since I’ve declared this as “important for Heaven”, they can’t ignore it. If they do, the Deity I just spoke to could be held accountable.]

[……You mentioned earlier that maybe only one of them could be saved, right?]

[Unn.]

[But it didn’t sound like this Thesis-sama you’re calling was that one you considered……]

[Even so, if it’s Thesis-sama…… she can heal them. Well…… Thesis-sama should be able to heal both of them in succession. Although, honestly speaking, under normal circumstances, calling Thesis-sama into this world would be impossible. But I found something in that laboratory I just went to that makes it possible. It’s ironic, really, but——– oh! She’s here! Thesis-sama!? Yes, it’s Loqierra!]

Apparently, the Deity they were waiting for had answered.

Loqierra began explaining the situation in quick, urgent words.

[———–So that’s how it is! The Dimensional Distortion can be corrected! Yes! I know it’s ironic, but Vysis hoarded so much Origin Essence it’s honestly enough to make you want to punch her! Yes, there’s so much of it stored here that even a Deity of Thesis-sama’s level should be able to fix the distortion! Which means we can do this with almost no effect on the dimensional axis! In fact, even if we take the shortest route through the amplified distortion, it should still be fine———- yes! That’s just how much Origin Essence we’ve got here! ———-Eh? No, wait, please! I know you’re extremely busy and overwhelmed, but…… no, that’s not it! If that’s the case, it won’t be in time! I- I said, if that’s the case, then…… it’ll be too late……]

Loqierra’s expression and tone……

The situation…… it was turning unfavorable huh.

[P- Please, Thesis-sama! This time, even we Deities were in real danger, you know!? But because those kids risked their lives and fought like mad…… they saved our Heaven too! T- That’s why! If I couldn’t handle this Vysis situation myself, it’s obviously my fault! I’m shamefully powerless! But…… because of these kids, things turned out okay! T- There was even Wormungandr that had become a Divine Servant on Vysis’s side, you know!? Even Vanargandia couldn’t handle them, you know!? Despite that, thanks to how hard these kids in this world fought…… ———w- why are you asking if this is worth coming for…… b-because……]

Loqierra went pale.

Then, immediately after————

[……I understand. In that case———]

Her voice———- dropped a tone lower.

[I will———– deploy the gate from this side and launch the invasion of Heaven.]

A beat of silence passed.

[There are still plenty of Anti-Deity Sacraments here. Especially the large ones which are basically brand new…… How many of them can Heaven, weakened by the current “Ragnarok Second”, actually deal with?]

Even if the listener couldn’t see it, Loqierra’s eyes were dead-set.

Maybe———– she’d steeled herself.

I feel the atmosphere of the person on the other end of the line had changed.

From how the exchange with Loqierra sounded, it seemed they were trying to persuade her.

The Deity called Thesis on the other end was probably still reluctant.

Thereupon, Loqierra finally———–

[……Enough already! If you won’t come here and save those kids, then I’ll go myself, for real, and I’ll do what it takes! We have other Anti-Deity abilities here as well! I mean…… Seriously, can you cut it out already!? I’ve told you countless times I understand your situation———– but despite that, I’m still asking you now! You’re always too cautious, always! That’s fine on ordinary days, no complaints———— but this is different! Listen here! What would we Deities do if we didn’t try to save the lives of these children, who saved us from peril and who we could even call our benefactors!? That’s what I’m saying! If we don’t save them here, how the heck are we supposed to keep calling ourselves Deities, huh!? And don’t you dare use “busy” or “no time to spare” as an excuse at a moment like this! Got it!? Open those ears and listen well! If even one of those two, whose lives are hanging by a thread, dies, then from that moment on, it’ll be an all-out war between us and you lot over there in Heaven! If you don’t want that, then get over here right now! You———!]

Foaming at the mouth in fury———– Loqierra shouted out loud.

[Thick-headed, empty-brained fool!!!]

Like slamming down the receiver of an old rotary phone, she hurled the communication device at the console the moment she finished speaking.

[Fuuu…… Fuuu……]

Panting hard, Loqierra pulled the needle out of her head.

Nearly everyone in the courtyard was staring at her in stunned silence.

Even the crows had stopped cawing for a moment.

The only ones still moving were those tending to the wounded……

Those still fighting what few of the Sacraments remained outside the courtyard———–

And Seras, who kept her wary eyes on Vysis.

[Haa…… haa……]

[……So, how did it go?]

When I asked,

[I think she’ll come…… I got pissed off and kind of blew up emotionally, but I still made sure there was a proper reason for her coming here.]

“That’s why……”, Loqierra added,

[If she’s going to abide by the “clause”, she has no choice but to come……]

But right after saying that, she suddenly turned pale and drooped her shoulders, dejected.

[Well…… this probably means I’m gonna get hit with one hell of a punishment, huh…… hahaha……]

Still, she quickly pulled herself together.

Looking at Hijiri and Sogou in turn, Loqierra softened her expression.

[Anyway…… even if she does come, the two of you have to last until then first. That’s the most important thing……]

[……Loqierra.]

[Hmm?

[If we’re still sticking to the plan you said at the start……]

I deliberately asked,

[In other words…… if it had still been a situation where one of them could be saved, then…… things wouldn’t have turned into such an intense clash like before, right?]

If she hadn’t chosen to call that Deity named Thesis.

Things wouldn’t have turned out this way, would they?

[……Yeah, maybe.]

[Sure, maybe we did save Heaven from Vysis’s grasp, at least indirectly. But why go so far…… risking not just your position, but even your own safety?]

[What are you talking about?]

[Huh?]

[Didn’t I tell you before? That you guys are like children to me.]

[—————-]

[At least, that’s how I feel.]

Loqierra’s eyes softened as she smiled.

There was something in that smile……

Something gentle, affectionate.

[If it’s for the sake of the children you love, you do whatever you can…… Vysis may have thought the exact opposite…… but originally———-]

She smiled again, showing her teeth, her eyes narrowing with warmth.

And then she said,

[That’s what being a parent is, right?]

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