The Goddess Always Watches Over the Hero

The goddess always watches over the hero.

"—I'm always on your side. I respect your opinions."

Of course, that included becoming the eighth [Maou Candidate] due to a [Maou Skill].

Or facing endless trials and unforeseen events through a chain of unexpected connections.

"Even if that means you become the [Maou], it won't change."

Even if you become the Maou, please ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't fall to corruption or let rage consume your heart. You have strong convictions and a resilient spirit.

"I told you I'd respect whatever choice you make."

The goddess smiled, saying it wouldn't change even if it meant the Maou's return.

The lights of countless constellations drifting in the astral plane. Even if they granted the hero the power of the [Maou], twisting fate and opening an unforeseen new path for you to walk.

The goddess was saying she'd always cheer you on.

"Even if you become the Maou and get betrayed by everyone."

"Even if everyone decides you must die simply for being the Maou."

Becoming the Maou doesn't necessarily make you evil. Ultimately, it's up to the one who becomes the Maou how they live and what they do.

As long as you don't lose yourself to any influence and remain true to who you are, that's enough. She wouldn't abandon her responsibility for summoning you to this world until the very end.

Even if it leads to the destruction of this star.

"Because I'm the goddess who summoned you to this world."

A hero prepared to sacrifice himself for others in this unfamiliar land. She was always watching over him.

"—And with this, it's confirmed."

The goddess, fading into the darkness, murmured while wrapped in light.

From the shockwave of Radamu awakening as the Maou, she could confirm the existence of the seven Maou candidates—but as a goddess, she didn't miss something even beyond that.

Whether it would become a tale of despair or a reversal twist, she didn't know.

But there's a world of difference between knowing and not knowing.

"The Maou lives on, in some form."

And that Maou would approach the newly descended second-generation 『[Forest Maou]』.

The curse of the being called simply [Maou], without any epithet or name, would reach out to you from this moment—

With the starlight spreading from the goddess's core, Radamu's consciousness awakened from the darkness.

"...."

The goddess's words that even if he became the Maou and the whole world turned against him, she'd still be on his side. Her talk of responsibility for the one she summoned weighed on his heart.

She wanted him to stop a universe-threatening calamity, but she surely didn't wish for him to become the Maou to do it.

He had the [Clear Mind] skill, and he didn't know what would happen if its rank rose. Even amid the desolation and cacophony when he Maou-ified, all he felt was that his ears hurt.

Without [Clear Mind], wouldn't his soul have been crushed by that malice, losing everything?

"It hurts...."

His limbs still throbbed.

Recoil from his body being forcibly grown? But thanks to that, there was no backlash from the enhancements while transformed as a Levitfoot and rampaging.

He sensed it was a different kind of pain.

As he writhed under the oppressive pressure that made breathing hard and sat up, Kidd's coat slipped down and caught on his chest.

Right, he was in female form because of the spirit sword—he immediately used [Gender Swap] to revert to male.

Looking around slowly, the Nautilus was sailing across the sea. The hole that had been pierced was neatly sealed, apparently self-repaired.

"Hey, hero, you're up? Give me back my coat. More importantly, are you a girl or a guy?"

"Is that important right now?"

"Ahem, well...."

"Sigh."

He'd been male to begin with, so there was no shame in showing his chest.

Staggering to his feet, Hyacinth asked if he was okay and handed over soup with beef in it.

Apparently, they'd had a fight because Kidd ran off on his own—both Hyacinth and Kidd had faces full of scratches.

Hyacinth said there'd been a minor squabble between them, but it was over, so no need to worry. If he couldn't stand, he'd help support him, extending a hand.

Leaning on him, Radamu approached Circe, who was steering.

All the crew were exhausted, sprawled on the deck asleep here and there.

"You're awake. I was worried you might not wake up.... So, what was that energy we felt from the island?"

At Mortis's question, Kidd quietly shut his mouth.

Hyacinth and Circe, who was driving, also looked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠curious.

Where to even start explaining.... First, he asked if they knew about receiving [Blessings (Skills)] from the [Constellations].

Everyone except Kidd nodded that they knew.

Skills from the gods, but they had more drawbacks than benefits; they didn't boost base stats but seemed like pure doping; they shaved off lifespan or even seemed maliciously designed to kill; skills that made you wonder how to save the world with them, and so on.

Hyacinth ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vented his frustrations, having a lot to say.

"Among them are [Maou Skills]. The skills that make you a [Maou Candidate] if you have them."

".....How many do you have?"

"Three."

"Basically the Maou. Can you stay sane?"

"Yes, aside from the spirits screaming to die being noisy, no issues."

"At least, no anomalies during treatment."

Mortis shook her head, wondering what the constellations were thinking making a hero into a Maou.

Hyacinth was displeased, suggesting they might be creating necessary evils to balance the world, or forcing growth to the Maou's level for mutual destruction since the Maou was too strong.

For Circe, power is defined by the wielder. If Radamu handled it with a sound mind, it was just a title. No reason to fear—she took his hand.

"ᚲᚨᚢᛋᛖ ᛁ'ᛚᛚ ᛒᛖ ᚹᛁᛏᚺ ᚤᛟᚢ ᚠᛟᚱᛖᚡᛖᚱ"

Circe smiled, saying she'd be with him forever. He hugged her as she opened her arms asking to be held, patting her back as she clung without letting go, tired from it all, and turned to Mortis asking what the plan was now.

"We have to storm the Pirate Kingdom."

Riko's rune magic message left no lies in its records.

Circe proved she wasn't being used by Hornigold, showing records where Riko grumbled about it and badmouthed him.

Stuff like This guy's a perverted stalker creep, watch out Circe!—judging by the useless words, she might've had some leeway.

Even after that, she'd sent messages several times, and Circe noticed they'd shifted a bit to one side from before.

Right, the Pirate Kingdom was moving.

A massive natural fortress cruising the seas. No wonder no one could find the moving island.

Even if they did, by the time they returned, the kingdom would've long departed.

Radamu said if that was the case, fine, and temporarily donned the new coat Circe handed him.

Missing her husband's suited look, she dressed in expensive clothes, engraved them densely with protective magic, then patted his chest saying she was ready.

"..."

Come to think of it, one arm had been severed, but it had regrown—giving a strange feeling. It was his arm, yet his body felt oddly detached.

"...[Status Window]"

'It's gone up...'

His stats had skyrocketed. Due to the Maou-ification?

He'd killed an elf, so he'd stolen those stats too... but without usable skills, it was meaningless.

Instead, he should be glad his stats had nearly doubled. Had his physical specs been boosted just enough for his body to endure?

In this state, he might not be overwhelmingly pushed in a fight with Hornigold like before.

Of course, that was just hopeful speculation. Hornigold hadn't shown even a shred of sincerity in their fight.

Dong dong dong~♪

"I didn't wanna know that...!"

No sooner had the goddess finished saying to open his palm than a massive pile of tickets poured onto it.

His puzzled companions stared, then frowned at the tickets, brows furrowing.

Hyacinth knew they granted [Constellation] power and couldn't be torn except by Radamu, so he picked up the fallen ones and handed them over.

8 [Constellation Tickets], 8 [Rank-Up Tickets]..!

"....You gonna use 'em, bro?"

"Nah, holding off for now. With 8, the odds of useless skills are high."

"Ugh, I feel that hard."

He'd use the 8 [Rank-Up Tickets] to upgrade his current skills and take on Hornigold.

Soon, the radar showed a massive moving island.

The Nautilus's bow turned, accelerating full speed toward it.

The plan: Guerrilla op with minimal personnel to rescue hostages. Avoid fighting Hornigold as much as possible, escape, then strike later.

Or take him down here—!