Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

Unlike the relationships between people, only immortals who live in eternity can experience this emptiness and loneliness.

"—Bell, gods, our love is fleeting."

That's what the god Mihe said, and that's what the god Hermes said too.

The love of immortals is fleeting; once that love ends, they are forever left with a sense of loss.

The price of a fleeting moment is eternal sorrow.

That's such a terrible thing.

They would have to endure a grief akin to, or perhaps even a greater sense of loss, from losing their grandfather for hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years.

That's such a terrifying thing.

"...Bell, don't think so deeply, we—"

Can't do it.

I shook my head.

I interrupted the deity, like a disobedient child, refusing to listen to anything he said, except for this one thing.

I don't understand what measure of eternity is; it truly exceeds my imagination.

But if it were me, I definitely wouldn't be able to handle it.

They were forced to forever bear a sense of loss even stronger than they had ever experienced before.

They were about to inflict a sense of loss on the gods and immortals that was even stronger than what they themselves had experienced.

In that case, it's better not to make any vows of love.

Just like the love song between fairies and heroes, the love song between the gods and our children will also end in tragedy.

God and children cannot live in the same time.

"...Hey, Bell. Maybe we can't live in the same time as you."

It was as if the gods could read my mind, describing my thoughts in words.

I refused to look up, and the deity gently extended his left hand—placed it on top of my right hand.

"But I will always be by your side."

"what?"

Her lowered face was drawn in by the gentle tone of her voice.

"No matter how old you get, even if you become a frail old man, I will always be with you, and I will never leave you."

Eyes full of loving kindness were fixed on me.

Even if death separates us for a moment... I will definitely come to see you again.

The deity always wore a smile.

"Even if it takes hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of years, I will still find you who has been reborn... to see you who is no longer Bell."

"————"

The immortal said to me, who was speechless:

"Then I'll say to you: Would you like to become my family member or clan?"

The scene of their initial encounter perfectly overlapped with the image of the immortals at this moment.

"--ah……"

Tears almost welled up in my eyes.

I gritted my teeth.

I lowered my head, trembling, desperately trying to suppress the emotions that were about to spill out.

The gods reached out their hands and gently embraced me.

"It doesn't matter whether it's the lower realm or the heavenly realm, just like Bridget and Cam, I will come looking for you again."

She gently pulled my head into her arms.

I was like a child... no, even uglier than a child, sniffling and trying not to sob.

"Not only me, but other gods can also make this bond eternal."

However, the fairy whispered gently in my ear.

"Because we are immortal gods, aren't we?"

She patted my head.

"So Belle, I hope you won't be afraid of the love between us."

Do not flee from the love of the gods.

You can refuse or accept, just don't be afraid—as the god Mihel once said.

My tear ducts burst open, and tears streamed down my face as a certain fear melted within me.

Family, lovers, partner, love—I don't know what this feeling is.

I have absolutely no idea what my feelings for the gods really are.

Although I didn't know, I couldn't help but express my feelings.

"Gods... I long to be with the gods forever...!"

"Um……"

She hugged me tightly.

The gods embraced this body that could only cry.

"I will always be by your side, Belle."

The moonlight shines.

In the forest, tinged with azure hues, I nestled in the arms of a fairy and wept incessantly.

*

"..."

The sound of a boy crying could be heard.

Ais escorted Hestia to Bell's side, where they leaned against the tree trunk standing beside them.

There was a distance between them, just like back to back, with Ais leaning against a tree.

"Forever, together..."

The boy's feelings and the goddess's words resonated in her ears, and Ais murmured as if ruminating.

She looked up at the space above where the branches and leaves were thinner, gazing at the entire night sky and the golden moon above the branches and leaves.

"Mother……"

The whisper that fell from her lips was sucked into the sky.

*

The fog is thick.

As dawn broke and the eastern sky gradually turned white, I, the fairy, and Miss Ais set off from "Aidas Village".

As a result, we helped bury Mr. Cam and asked the villagers to let us pray for his soul, which took another day.

On the morning of the fifth day after the mountain accident in the Bio Mountains, we said goodbye to the villagers and headed towards Orari.

The village elders would occasionally take dragon scales into town to buy things. They told us the shortcut, and we walked through the forest, down the cliff crevices, looked down at the river flowing calmly, and descended the mountain along the ravine that was shining in the morning sun.

"What a lovely village..."

"I wish we could go play again."

"...If you're going, I'll come too..."

"Huh! Is...is that okay!?"

"Um."

"Hey, wait a minute! How could you make such a promise without my permission, Miss Warren!? Why don't you just go with your [Family]—!"

We walked side by side, chatting.

Despite the sad events, our expressions remained cheerful. The fairy was making a fuss, I was offering words of comfort, and Miss Ais's expression remained unchanged, with only a slight smile. Our voices blended into the clear mountain air.

The white mist that had enveloped the mountain road gradually dissipated.

"—Everyone's here."

"Wow! Miss Asphie!?"

Thump! I cried out in surprise as I saw the pure white cloak that had flown in from above land right in front of us.

Miss Asphie folded the golden wings extending from her boot-shaped sandals, revealing a relieved expression.

"I've been looking for you all for a long time. Although I have [Fiora] with me, I'm not worried about your safety..."

"Huh! So you've been looking for us all this time...?"

"No, to be precise, it started last night, Goddess Hestia, because she still has to deal with follow-up matters with the Kingdom of Lachia."

Miss Asif adjusted her glasses and began to talk about what had happened since we parted ways.

According to Miss Asphie, she managed to retreat back to the city after engaging the Kingdom's army. Then, using the information she brought back, Mr. Finn and the gods prioritized capturing the Kingdom's main force and Ares, among others. She said the high-ranking adventurers, seeking speed over quality, attacked the enemy's main force, which was slowed down by wounded soldiers.

Although some soldiers scattered and fled into the mountains, it seems they successfully captured the enemy's chief god, Ares, yesterday. The enemy's chief god has been taken to Orario, deciding the outcome of the war, which is why our search team was officially dispatched last night. However, apart from a few individuals, the other adventurers seem indifferent to the fate of other factions, appearing utterly unmotivated.

Miss Asphie found us under the guidance of the chief god Hermes, and said with a wry smile that she could finally put down the heavy burden on her shoulders.

"My flying shoes can bring one person back to the city at a time, what do you guys think?"

"Well... we've come this far, and since we have this opportunity, let's walk. I want to walk back by myself."

The fairy answered Miss Asphie's opinion, and Miss Ais and I felt the same way.

"I understand. I'll go ahead and return to the city to report the good news, because many people are worried about you all."

Miss Asif finished speaking with a smile, then took out a black helmet from her waist, and the moment she put it on, her figure disappeared.

As the immortals and I were still in shock—Miss Ais seemed to have known beforehand and remained calm as usual—her presence vanished with a light, swift flight.

As expected of the "All-Powerful One"... Urban Orario probably didn't even know that combining magical items could grant her such absurd flying abilities.

Strange, but that invisibility ability seems to have caused me trouble somewhere before...?

Just as I was sweating profusely and about to recall something about the thugs' feast, the deity cheerfully said:

"Alright, let's go back to Orario! We need to put Welf's mind at ease as soon as possible!"

"yes!"

"...And Miss Warren, thank you. Well, how should I put it, I'm very grateful to you."

"Yes……"

Miss Ais and I both smiled at the fairy who expressed her gratitude.

Soon, perhaps feeling ashamed, the immortals began to rush down the mountain path.

Miss Ais and I caught up with her.

We caught the immortal who, as expected, almost fell, at the last second, and walked on the mountain dyed red by the morning glow, finally running towards the huge labyrinthine city that stretched out below our view.

Volume 8 Final Chapter: Birthday

After Bell, Hestia, and Ais returned to Orario, the war between the city and the kingdom's army quickly came to an end.

Ares and his men carelessly invaded the outskirts of Orario, where their forces were routed by the infamous [Sword Maiden]'s powerful attack. In the end, they were even called for reinforcements by Asphie, but they were helpless and were captured in no time.

Because he was separated from Marius, the deputy leader of the faction and his adjutant, in the melee, the man nicknamed the God of War was escorted to the front yard of the guild headquarters.

"As is customary, we'll spare you this time and not send you back to the Celestial Realm. After all, doing so would plunge the children living in Kingdom Lachia into chaos, and the consequences would be unbearable. In return, you'll have to give up all the [ability points] of the soldiers we've captured."

"What...what are you saying, Loki!?"

"Of course! How could we let you fight our children and then leave with the experience points you gained?"