Another sun that rose in the sky scatters its light across the world.
“Block it!”
“Hold on!”
“We need more weapons!”
“Injured! Escort them back!”
“Fight with the resolve to die! Forward!”
The commander of a certain army, who was shouting like a madman at the front line, bit his lip as he watched the soldiers being pushed back.
This was something that had been foreseen ever since the dungeon’s rampage began. Not everyone can surpass the limits of humanity like a hero.
The soldiers were already doing more than they could. Expecting anything more was madness.
The front line had to be pulled back. Choices had to be made, even at the cost of sacrifices. Otherwise, everyone would die.
Wiping away the blood flowing down his face, the commander saw the hallucination of a girl in the midst of the front line.
The hero who had just solved the disaster that appeared before his territory only a few hours ago.
The Apostle of God who bore a back that was both small and great.
“Commander!”
The soldier, who had smashed the head of a spider-shaped monster, shouted before the commander shook himself back to reality and steeled his resolve with a smile.
His body had already reached its limits.
What moved my body now was nothing but the fervor of desperation, and I was in a state where I wouldn’t find it strange to collapse at any moment.
Oddly enough, my mind was clearer than ever.
Even after using all the energy that remained in my body, I felt energy rising again, which surely meant the source of this power was life itself.
I was burning through my own life to move.
And after this fight ends, I would turn to ashes and scatter in the wind.
If I’m going to become ashes, I would rather be ashes with a more magnificent tale.
I would become ashes that saved others while carving away at my own body.
“Send a messenger to the commander! We need to prepare for retreat immediately!”
Though the commander shouted to the soldier after finishing his mental preparation, the soldier’s gaze did not turn toward him.
In such an urgent situation, you’re zoning out?!
“Hey!”
“Commander.”
“Why don’t you respond when you’re hearing me?!”
“Look up.”
“What do you want me to do by looking at the sky with no light?!”
“The sun has risen.”
Only then did the commander feel the warmth shining from above his head.
Just a moment ago, the sky that had been filled with darkness was now pouring down light.
It was so warm that it made him forget his body pains and the immediate crisis. Enchanted by the warmth pouring down from the sky, the commander blankly looked up before regaining his senses and surveying his surroundings.
The battle was not over yet. If he let his guard down like this, the monsters would rush in!
“…Hah.”
What came into the eyes of the commander, who had imagined the worst, was the sight of the monsters melting away like ice on a summer day.
There was no distinction between small or large, strong or weak. All the monsters that had appeared on the ground were extinguishing under the blazing sun.
“Is a miracle occurring?”
With a chuckle, the commander dropped his weapon, removed his blood-soaked helmet, and looked around.
Those who had lost their legs were now standing on the ground with their own feet.
Those who had drifted into sleep from blood loss suddenly opened their eyes and anxiously scanned the surroundings.
Those who had been limping due to injuries had forgotten their wounds by now.
Miracles were unfolding one after another on the land that had been filled with despair.
“Oh great Lord Jushin.”
The commander, who briefly closed his eyes to offer a prayer, forced himself to whip his body, which felt as if it would collapse any moment, and stood in the center of the battlefield.
“Everyone, listen!!!”
Soldiers who had been looking up at the sky followed his shout and started turning their heads one by one.
“The great Lord Jushin has bestowed a miracle upon us! Evil has faded away! Good has taken its place on the land!”
Now receiving the gazes of all those standing on the battlefield, the commander grinned and raised his arms.
“We have saved this nation!”
“We have saved this continent!”
“We have saved this world!”
“So be proud! Your stories will forever be passed down on this continent, just like past heroes did!”
“Wowwwww!”
Confirming that the soldiers’ cheers vibrated the earth, the commander staggered back and leaned against the soldier’s shoulder.
After a brief chaos, peace returned to the world once again.
*
With a greatsword lodged in the center of her body, Lasha twisted and turned, trying to escape, but only felt her pain grow without any results.
That damn old fool. Putting such unnecessary blessings so heavily.
If you’re going to regenerate, do it properly. Why can’t the severed arm come back while my life string remains intact?
Damn it. I really wanted to avoid such a pathetic death.
Sighing, Lasha confirmed that the darkness in the sky was clearing and spat out blood in deep regret.
The final battle was the worst kind of battle. I was hunted by those that had returned after defeating the Evil God of Destruction.
There were several clumsy ones that I had in my sights, but ugh. That bastard Benedict was really disgustingly strong, so I ultimately failed.
This is all that damn Evil God’s fault. If he had just dealt with those trivial things, who knows what could’ve happened.
Lasha, who had been grumbling for a while, felt the warmth of the sun and let out a long sigh.
Ah. I really don’t want to die.
There are so many people I still want to stick around with… but…
*
After the battle ended, the Fairy Queen returned to the forest and congratulated the fairies who had struggled this time, then borrowed their eyes to look around the world.
The continent was peaceful. There were no groups trying to attack other countries in the midst of chaos, no one stabbing others in the back for power, and no one refusing to acknowledge that their faith had gone astray. There were also no sneaky creatures trying to seize hidden positions due to the absence of the Evil God.
The Jushin Church shouted that it was their fault and poured out their wealth for the continent’s stabilization.
Other religions that had been self-sustaining in various locations also cooperated with the Jushin Church to save those caught up in disasters.
Various countries on the continent moved together for the people instead of blocking them.
And all these good deeds were supported by the gods who had temporarily descended to the land.
An exceptional occurrence made possible because the age of humans and the age of myths were intertwined.
Those who didn’t know the circumstances might think it was a result born of coincidence, but those who had stood with the Apostle of God knew that this was anything but a coincidence.
One of the conditions that Lucy Allen had set from the very start was the descent of the gods.
“Is it really so peaceful? I worried for nothing.”
Erginius, who asked for confirmation from the Fairy Queen, looked at the void with a mixed expression of relief and bitterness.
“You must have heard. Hero. It seems there’s no need for you to step in.”
“That’s a good thing, then. It sounds like this generation’s hero is far more competent than us.”
Back when the age of myths was nearing its end, things were different.
After the war of the gods ended, the war of humanity began, and even as that war ended, distrust filled the continent.
Those living through that time said it was something that could only be solved with time, something impossible for one person’s strength to handle. But look, isn’t one person saving the continent?
“Thanks to that, I can leave without regrets.”
With the end of the contract made with the Lord, the hero’s form began to fade.
“You’ll have quite the trouble in the afterlife.”
“Better than staring at darkness and waiting for hundreds of years, I suppose.”
With a light smile, the hero bowed his head after engraving his companions into his memory once more.
“Thank you for everything. I’ll go ahead now…”
“What are you saying, acting relieved at a farewell?”
Suddenly appearing between them, Lucy shooed away the fairies causing a ruckus around her and stood before the hero.
“Smelly old junk. You haven’t done a single decent thing, have you?”
“…I truly apologize for that. However, this is the natural order. The misaligned clock must be set right now.”
“That’s just your foolish idea.”
As the hero looked bewildered by Lucy’s harsh tone, he gasped in shock, realizing his body was regaining its color.
“O Apostle of God! This is a promise made between me and the Lord! So…!”
“That’s been canceled.”
“…You moved on your own! Wait. What?”
“I said it’s canceled. It’s an artifact from hundreds of years ago. Don’t you understand modern language? Should I have to teach you the letters too?”
“Lucy, why has your tone gotten harsher since the curse lifted?”
Before Lucy could respond, Ruel, unable to bear it, butted in, prompting Lucy to step back with a mischievous smile.
“Grandpa. How can you say that out loud? You’ve ruined the entire atmosphere.”
“Even a foolish guy is still my friend. It was different before, but now I hope you at least show some basic respect.”
“Yes, yes.”
Barely answering, Lucy turned her head and suddenly upheld her manners, as if everything from before had been an act.
“I apologize, hero. It seems you are in a difficult situation to understand. So, I intentionally took a strong stance. Regardless of intention, rudeness is rudeness. I sincerely apologize for hurting your feelings.”
“Uh. Uh? It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you for accepting my apology. Now, is that fine?”
Seeing Lucy change her expression in an instant, Ruel looked like he had much to say, but ultimately sighed instead of nagging.
“…Hah. Alright. Now, explain in detail what you meant earlier.”
“Because of our foolish mom, you’ve suffered a lot, haven’t you? Plus, she hasn’t compensated you properly afterward. So, I scolded her.”
“Scolded… your mother?”
“The Shoddy God. He’s lacking in many parts, turning others into troublemakers, and he’s a pervert who wants to dress his daughter in bunny outfits.”
As Lucy’s words left everyone at a loss for how to react, a voice mixed with tears came from behind her.
“Ughh. I’m truly sorry, everyone.”
The eyes of the great Lord Jushin looked swollen, as if he had just been weeping before.
