Chapter 1454

The world that had been on the brink of apocalypse became peaceful once again, as if nothing had ever happened. That was the result of forcibly putting the out-of-control system into a dormant state.

Of course, making it dormant didn't mean the problem was gone. It was just a temporary stop. But that didn't really matter, as the chances of the dimension going out of control again in the future was extremely low.

‘Besides, I have another promise to keep today.’

Perserque had told him to return that night, no matter what.

Davey gently ran his hand through his hair and chuckled. As he twirled his hair with one hand holding Super Ribbon, Willow stared at him with a sulky face.

“Do you feel better now, Dad?”

“Yeah. I feel great.”

Hearing his carefree answer, she chuckled and just scattered like smoke.

After a brief silence, he turned his gaze toward Aris, who was slowly approaching. She asked, “Davey... is it over?”

“Yeah, it's over,” he confirmed with a nod. “The imps are gone, and the thing mutating the monsters also disappeared.”

She seemed to relax at his confirmation, collapsing to the ground. Then, her lips twitched, and she broke into a bright relieved smile. “Haah. So no one will get hurt or sick anymore?”

“Probably not.”

“Finally... the day of peace has come.”

Everyone else revered Davey as a god, treating him with extreme deference, and Aris was the only one who didn’t.

The Great Saintess was shocked by her casual conversation, remarking, “Ah. Aris!”

The Sword Saint was similarly worried. “Hero, he’s a god! You must show minimum respect...”

She didn't understand. “Huh? But Davey hates that kind of stuff.”

At her words, the Great Saintess made a dumbfounded face.

Aris turned to Davey, verifying, “Right?”

“No.”

“Oh. R-really?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “T-then should I bow my head, too?”

“Just kidding.”

“You jerk!”

“It's good that you figured it out.”

“Hehe. I'm pretty quick on noticing,” she said with a bright smile.

Davey turned to the rest of the expedition members. “Raise your heads! I’m not the Goddess Freyja you believe in.”

“We are truly sorry, but being foolish and ignorant, we are still unable to process the situation...”

He simply responded, “Then stay that way.”

“Y-Your Grace...”

Davey too was feeling a bit pressured from the situation. He reminded them, “Don't forget that excessive deference can actually burden the other person.”

“We will keep that in mind.”

Accepting his refusal to tolerate further acts of reverence, the Great Saintess slowly and cautiously rose to her feet.

At that moment, Aris, still sitting down, mumbled as she looked up at the clear sky, “The reason to fight with a sword is gone now... what should I do next?”

He lightly patted her back, advising, “At your age, you should be playing and studying. Go back and try to do the things you want to do again. You're not too old yet.”

Although she had been on the battlefield for a long time, she was still young and full of life. “Well... but I never thought it’d end like this. I haven't even thought about what to do.”

Davey was surprised. “You haven't thought of anything at all?”

“Hmm. I don't know...”

After fighting with a sword for so long, she had no idea what she should do next.

“How long are you going to stay like this? Everyone should be right as rain physically by now, but they must still be exhausted. I bet their tension’s gone now that the enemy has disappeared. So, everyone go back to the base camp, rest up, and leave this extreme region tomorrow. It may be polluted right now, but it will return to a lush, clear forest soon.”

The mutated monsters scattered across the continent wouldn't disappear, since they weren't connected to the core energy body, but no more of them would appear either.

“W-we will do so!” The Great Saintess approached the Sword Master and supported him. She asked, “Are you alright?”

“My body’s fine, but... I've suffered great mental strain.”

“I’ll help you.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

It was truly strange to see a demon and an elf interacting so amicably.

The expedition set off for the base camp they’d been sure to set up as soon as they entered the deep core of the extreme region. Most seemed eager to leave the forest immediately, but those who were mentally exhausted needed rest.

“We’ll return to the fortress tomorrow. Everyone... you've suffered a lot,” the Sword Master said to the knights. “You can stretch out your legs and rest comfortably tonight.”

“Waaaah!”

Their numbers were few. Not many among the initial expedition team would make it back to the base camp alive.

Yet, some had survived the battle, and the mere fact that they had annihilated the enemy made them happy enough to weep.

The surviving members of the hero's party revealed their desires.

“Ah! When I get home, I'm seriously going to quit everything, become a foodie, and find myself a girlfriend,” Girul declared.

Mary instead announced, “I'm returning to the tribe. I've realized my shortcomings fully through this ordeal, so I’m going to redouble my efforts in training.”

Both of them were still young and in great positions to lead rich lives with variety and joy, unlike the Aris of that moment. Even though Davey had saved her as he had promised, there was a reason he didn't leave immediately.

Her gaze was vacant. After wiping out all the imps she'd believed was her life's purpose, she found herself consumed by an overwhelming emptiness.

The world no longer needed her, and her life as a hero—which she had bet everything on—was over.

Being so young, she didn't even know what she should do next. She said she was happy and that everything had worked out, yet deep down he knew she must feel tormented by the question of what to do with her life once the biggest issue of their dimension was taken care of.

“Aris,” Davey began.

“Yeah?”

“Return to the royal palace. Go there and receive full honors for your accomplishments as a hero.”

“But you did everything, though...”

Hearing her words, the expedition headed to the base camp with light steps suddenly stopped.

Davey noticed the tension and spoke up to say, “I have something important to tell everyone.”

“Please speak, Great Transcendent.”

“Everything I did in this matter was to assist you.”

“That’s...?!”

“Therefore, I never subdued the Imp Lord. Nor did I deal with the mad world trying to reset the world. You’ve never seen me do anything remotely like that. Are we clear?”

The Great Saintess looked conflicted. She seemed to have a lot she wanted to say, but she kept it to herself, perhaps feeling it wasn't her place.

He asked once more, “Do you understand what I mean?”

“Forgive us! We are foolish and ignorant, and we cannot understand why you made such a decision...”

“This world is your world. In a moment of crisis, a god descended and solved everything. It sounds flashy.” Davey smiled gently and questioned, “If that became the truth, what do you think your world’s first thoughts would be during the next crisis?”

“Ah...”

‘In extreme situations, the god will descend. Just like in the past.’

“Yes, God created this world, but it is still your world. Don't forget that.”

They must learn to stand on their own. Of course, it was a contradiction for Davey to say that when he'd blatantly intervened, but it was a necessary one.

Davey called out, “Hero Aris.”

“Uh. Yeah?”

“Even though your role as the world's hero is over, you’re still a hero in form.”

“Ah.” She then placed her hand on her forehead, remembering the blessing he had engraved there.

“Davey... No, Lord Davey. You're a god, aren't you?”

“Think whatever you want.”

“Then I've become Lord Davey's hero now?”

“Yes.”

“Then give me a purpose,” she said with a determined look.

Davey realized it was time to leave and roughly ruffled her hair. He told her, “Play like the other kids, eat delicious things, meet someone nice, and receive all the love you can. Learn about the world, and you can even study at the academy to most efficiently use your home."

“Huh... What?”

“But if you think you’re still lacking even after doing all that.” Davey stopped ruffling her hair and met her gaze. “I’ll take you as a disciple.”

If she still wanted to save the world by traveling across all dimensions once she became an adult, he’d support her in accomplishing that much.

That was the responsibility he owed her, having saved her simply out of attachment. He was well aware that it wasn't a good choice to just stir things up and leave irresponsibly.

Having said his piece, he then began to fade away.

“D-Davey?! Davey!! Where are you going!!”

“Don't forget, Aris, you're still a kid. You should be playing and laughing.”

Of course, he had made her a hero and intended to take her as his first true disciple—one who would eventually travel through dimensions in his stead, extending a hand of salvation to many worlds.

He quite liked her sublime and pure conviction.

“They say even a brief encounter is tied to strange fate... You are a strange encounter indeed.”

However, if she wanted to leave her victory over the imps behind and live as a human, he intended to respect that choice as well. Though, he thought that probability was low.

When Davey returned to Goddess Freyja’s sanctuary from the dimensional rift, he saw her quietly approach and hug him.

[Well done. Admirable.]

“Did I do well?”

She stepped back slightly and nodded. [I am proud to see you grow.]

“That's all I needed to hear. Ah, and may I keep this?” He showed her the special magic stone, which stored the massive energy condensed from the Imp Lord’s core.

The scale of the power was considerable, and its purity was immense. The power, refined of impurities, was a colossal energy aggregate in itself.

“I’m thinking of giving it to Perserque.”

[Do as you wish.]

She didn't specify whether she meant good or bad, but she was always like that.

A being who knew everything yet pretended not to, merely observing.

That was Goddess Freyja.

* * *

After returning to Heins Territory, Davey decided to put Aris completely out of his mind.

Aris was not what Davey needed to think about at that moment. That was because he knew what Perserque had meant when she said she’d wait for him tonight.

“It's not like I’m scared or anything, but...” Davey showed a wry smile, took a deep breath, and plucked about five strands of his hair. He then blew on them, infusing them with his will.

Fission of the body. Clones.

They were bodies created using his hair as a medium, but each one was Davey as well.

The five clones gathered and looked at each other.

“Man up and get ready. I’ll make sure to kill the one who damages our pride.”

The warning was directed at himself, not the clones.

After all, even the clones were merely a division of his consciousness.

All five were Davey, and Davey was the five.

He took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped inside.

The first thing Davey saw was Aeria in a suggestive tiger outfit.

“D-Davey. I’m a fierce beast of the jungle.”

“Oh... ooh.” Davey, who had entered feeling nervous, hesitantly asked, “May I eat you up?”

“T-that...”

As he stood there speechless, Aeria’s head lowered, ears drooping, and she cautiously said, “Ah... Aah... There’s five prey... So many... I can feast...”

He could tell that it was definitely not a line she had thought up herself. At least, she wasn't the type to come up with something like that on her own.

* * *

After Davey left, the expedition couldn't shake the strangely unsettled atmosphere.

“Aris.”

“Yeah?”

“When we get back to the castle, let's hold Ballin's funeral and then go eat cashew beer.”

Aris gave a bitter smile at Mary’s suggestion. “Yeah? You think we should?”

“What's wrong? You don't look well.”

At that, she looked down at her holy sword. “Hey, Mary.”

“Yeah?”

“We aren't dreaming, are we?”

“Definitely not. I pinched my cheek earlier too, just to make sure.”

“Hehe, really? Davey was just here a little while ago.”

Yet, he had vanished without a trace.

Mary commented, “A god, taking pity on our struggle, descended and helped us... Honestly, it's a story no one would believe if we told them.”

Aris also gave a bitter smile at her grin.

No one would easily believe it. But her memory wasn't a lie.

“We haven't even repaid his kindness yet.”

“Aris, you don't mean...”

“Huh?”

“Don’t tell me you fell for him?”

Aris flinched.

“Come on, snap out of it. Didn't you see the beautiful girl next to Davey, no, Lord Davey? She called him dad, even though she must be a goddess. You shouldn't keep looking at someone who’s off the market.”

The people of Troy knew little to nothing about the existence of gods, especially what kind of beings they were, or whether they had parents or children.

However, Mary and Aris both felt that while Davey possessed immense power, his appearance was closer to a human than a god.

Eventually, Aris smiled brightly, responding, “Huh? That's not it.”

Mary was doubtful. “It's not? Be honest. It’s not like I've only known you for a day or two.”

Aris fell silent for a moment before repeating, “No, it's not. If anything, he felt warm and dependable, like a father.”

“A father? He looks too young to be a father, though...”

“Whether he's a god or not, don't you think he’s much older than us?”

“Yeah, that's true...” Mary didn't have much else to say to that.

“He did say he'd take me as a disciple if I couldn't find a path...”

“You don't mean...”

“Mary, I want to learn. His sword and magic were incredible.”

Mary sighed at the sight of her smile. “And what are you going to do with that?”

“I'm going to save a lot of people.” Aris’s eyes sparkled. “Even if he isn't a god, he's amazing! He felt like a real hero who came to save our dimension.”

Mary was quick to catch the change in her demeanor. All a girl who had lost her purpose could do was fight, which meant the choice for the young Aris was obvious.

Though it was impulsive and felt very desperate, Mary wanted to respect her wish.

Yet, even so, it was too hasty. “Lord Davey... Haaaah. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Davey left without a word in order to respect your wishes.”

“Huh?”

“First, live your life. Then decide later. You have plenty of time.”

“I will, but I wonder what he’s doing right now,” she said as she looked up at the sky with a relaxing face.

Mary thought for a moment before answering, “I don't know, but he's probably doing something we can't even imagine. He's an amazing person who can split the world with a single sword strike.”

“Right? I want to learn it already...”

Her heart was already set on it.

Of course, the two of them had no way of knowing that Davey was currently fighting a five versus three war of pride.