119. If You're Happy, It's OK.
119. If You're Happy, It's OK.
In this world, there were causes and effects.
For example, the moment you drunkenly dialed a number and said 'Hello, it's me, how are you doing there?' an unforgettable dark history was born, or
"Um... Chrono...."
"What."
"No. I just called your name."
".........."
For example, a confession made when reason had flown away was still a confession.
I quietly took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
'For now... it's over at least.'
It was all over.
Queen Siren had been subjugated, and sure enough, Minerva had also awakened.
The only problem was that so many things had happened during the process that my life was getting screwed over in real time.
[You have been exposed to a prolonged powerful mental attack and have overcome it]
[You have acquired 'Mental Resistance (Lv. 2)']
"Shit."
The status window popped up at just the right moment.
Was this a 'take this and get lost' kind of thing?
I dismissed the newly appeared status window.
'If it was going to show up, it should've shown up a bit sooner.'
If it was going to appear, shouldn't it have happened back when I was under mental attack from Mai?
Since they were giving it to me, I'd take it, but I couldn't shake this strangely unpleasant feeling.
"Big Brother. You okay?"
".....Mai."
Mai walked up softly from behind.
If there was a difference from before, it was that she used to be a little girl and now she was a beautiful woman.
Two large, luscious masses swayed and jiggled, and my eyes were drawn to them without me realizing.
"....Wanna do it?"
"Whoa."
If only she hadn't said that one thing, I might have been a little shaken, damn it.
Ultimately, the fact that the contents were still Mai somehow calmed my heart...
[Mental Resistance Lv. 2 resists Trait: Country-Toppling Beauty.]
[Mental Resistance Lv. 2 resists Trait: Country-Toppling Beauty.]
[Mental Resistance Lv. 2 resists Trait: Country-Toppling Beauty.]
['Mental Resistance Lv. 2'...
'Aha?'
It wasn't because the contents were Mai, it was simply thanks to the skill.
I pushed aside Mai who was pointlessly acting coy in front of me and pondered what to do next.
"For now... the big things are over."
Queen Siren had been subjugated.
By the hands of the Athena Guild, by the hands of the 'heroes' in the Athena Guild, it was finished.
[Goddess Athena:................]
"Heh."
The Athena side was clearly not pleased with it, but it was also a tricky situation to openly say she didn't like it.
Ultimately, faith in Athena would rise, the hearts of the faithful would become one, and denying everyone here and shouting that I alone was the only hero would stain the goddess's dignity.
And honestly, this made for a better picture, didn't it?
A goddess who blesses the believers who lost their way with 'You are all heroes' and lifts them back up.
Even I could see it was a tear-jerking story from top to bottom—could Athena really refuse that?
If I had nothing to my name, maybe, but the more one has, the harder it is to throw things away.
[Goddess Athena: This time... I will let it slide.]
Ultimately, Athena chose to let it go.
[Goddess Athena: But if the same thing happens again... I might let it pass, but others might inflict a terrible divine punishment upon you.]
"Is that a warning?"
[Goddess Athena: It is both advice and a prophecy.]
"Well, that's terrifying."
A prophecy from a goddess.
Just as she prophesied doom and destruction, I also spoke to Athena.
"When that time comes, we'll all just die together in a blaze of glory, right?"
[Goddess Athena:....Do I sound like I'm joking right now?]
"Then do I sound like I'm joking?"
[Goddess Athena:...........]
An odd atmosphere.
Following that, I made a declaration to Athena.
"I am, ultimately, aiming for a 'Happy Ending'."
[Goddess Athena: Then why do you not walk the path of a hero?]
"....The fact that I like someone, could that not be a wound to someone else?"
[Goddess Athena: What...]
"Well, that was a joke."
Actually, it might be about half true... but the key point was this.
"How could someone like me ever become a 'hero'?"
[Goddess Athena:..........]
"I'm just a petty commoner, you know? I'm scared of fighting, I hate pain. A petty commoner with no courage, nothing."
[Goddess Athena:...Has the concept of a petty commoner changed by any chance?]
"Of course, with the blessing of a Main God, even an ordinary petty commoner could become a hero──but isn't it a bit much to force it when the person himself has no intention of becoming a hero?"
[Goddess Athena: You mean... you do not wish to become a hero?]
Did I not want to become a hero?
The answer to that was far too simple.
"Like I said before, I'm a petty commoner. As long as I can earn a decent living and survive, that's enough for me."
[Goddess Athena: Foolish.... Truly the epitome of a fool.]
All the Main Gods are paying attention to you.
Do you think someone who has received the interest of gods can live an ordinary life?
[Goddess Athena: Even I appeared before you today for this. What will happen later... you know without me telling you, don't you?]
"................"
The thought of 'no way' crossed my mind, but
It really did seem like things would turn out that way.
Just the awakening of Queen Siren right now was proof enough.
The original story was already solidly twisted because of my presence.
A reality I couldn't deny even if I wanted to.
In the midst of that, it wouldn't be strange for one or two more Main Gods to pop out, but....
".....I really wish you'd stop with the actual mind brainwashing."
[Goddess Athena: I don't do things like brainwashing. Such low-class acts...]
"No, you did it."
Halving my intelligence wasn't brainwashing?
[Goddess Athena: I merely roused your courage.]
"Why didn't you just get me drunk instead?"
[Goddess Athena: Would that have been better?]
"That would be me drinking it down myself, but doing it without any warning..."
[Goddess Athena: The result would have been the same anyway...]
"The process is different, the process."
At least getting drunk and passing out was my choice, but an intelligence-halving that came without warning or thought left nothing but shock and bewilderment.
[Goddess Athena:....How difficult. The existence called humans.]
Ultimately, Athena quietly let out a sigh.
The oracle didn't continue after that, and I finally stood up from my spot.
".......Hmm."
Seeing as I didn't turn into an animal or anything, it seemed she wasn't going to inflict a divine punishment.
Feeling relieved, I glanced around.
"Yes.....?"
"Eeht....."
"Th, that...!"
"......."
Minerva was staring into empty space and muttering something.
Was that roughly what I looked like when I was communicating through the oracle?
'Next time, I should at least take out my phone.'
Just looking at the outward appearance, it was the very image of a crazy person.
************************
"Is that a warning?"
"Well, that's terrifying."
"When that time comes, we'll all just die together in a blaze of glory, right?"
"How could someone like me ever become a 'hero'?"
"....???"
Chrono was suddenly talking to the air.
At first, Minerva thought he had eaten something wrong, but she quickly realized.
'This is.... Athena's....'
Divinity.
Athena's divinity could be felt around Chrono.
If so, there was only one thing she could deduce.
"Of course, with the blessing of a Main God, even an ordinary petty commoner could become a hero──but isn't it a bit much to force it when the person himself has no intention of becoming a hero?"
'Oracle.'
Something one could not easily receive without exceptionally strong faith.
Even then, most only heard fragmentary snippets, yet Chrono was conversing back and forth.
'As expected....'
Chrono was no ordinary person.
Of course he was. It was only natural....
'Cronus... was it?'
Cronus.
One of the ancient Main Gods, not the modern Twelve Olympians.
A follower who served a god now called an Evil God.
'No way... I thought, but as expected...!'
She had jokingly called him the Great Demon Hell Kaiser who crawled up from hell, but
To think he really was the apostle of an evil god who would be in Tartarus beneath the ends of the earth!
"Huuuuu......"
Just thinking about it
Really just thinking about it....
"...So cool."
A little bit of delusion
A little bit of imagination
But it was reality?
"Really."
The perfect ideal man who appeared right before her eyes.
And on top of that, this man confessed to her.
Even though his relationships with women were a mess, and she would be joining that mess as one of the dogs, she didn't care.
"Perfectly cool."
This was, so to speak, a trap you couldn't help falling into even when you knew.
An inescapable antlion pit.
Minerva, her lips relaxed without her realizing, gazed at Chrono──
[My child, can you hear me?]
"Hiek! Ye, yes!"
An oracle.
This time directed at her, not Chrono.
[My child, I believe you know as well.... Chrono, he possesses the 'qualities of a hero'.]
"Yes.....?"
The qualities of a hero.
What the gods called the 'qualities' of a hero.
And at the same time
[He also possesses the 'qualities of evil' that could destroy the world.]
"Eeht....."
Well... that made sense, right?
Since he was the apostle of Cronus.
It made sense since he was an apostle serving an old Main God, an ancient evil god.
And toward Chrono, who possessed both the qualities of a hero and the qualities of evil
[My child, you are capable of making Chrono bloom into a 'hero'.]
"Th, that...!"
Make him bloom into a hero.
Bring him to birth as a hero.
[Since ancient times, what is needed to awaken a hero is a trial that tests his own will──and a maiden with whom he shares affection.]
"....Goddess?"
A thought flashed by in an instant.
Minerva looked up at the sky with eyes of disbelief.
[Bear Chrono's child. And make Chrono bloom into a hero.]
"............."
Her jaw hung open, top and bottom.
Before the oracle she couldn't even dare to answer, Athena spoke.
[If you dislike it, I would not ask such a thing....]
[...But you're not completely against the idea, are you?]
"Eut.....!"
Well
That was
Weeelll, so....
[Do not worry.]
"..........?"
At the edge of her choice
Athena whispered.
[I will be with you.]
"...With."
She wasn't sure if the 'with' Minerva imagined and the 'with' Athena imagined meant the same thing, but
"I will do my best!"
Since it was a request from Athena
Minerva resolved to follow with all her might.
'A relationship acknowledged by the Main God....!'
If you asked whether this was entirely without personal motives, it wasn't, but
Anyway, if you're happy, isn't it OK?