Shiro-san’s statement, which threatened to overturn the situation from its very foundation, left an indescribable silence hanging over the surroundings. However, in true fashion for a God as famously airheaded as her, she didn't seem to care at all. She simply gave a light flick of her finger.
Suddenly, a massive gate appeared—one so large that even Magnawell-san could have passed through it with room to spare. Shiro-san spoke, her expression as blank as ever.
"I have rewound the world’s time slightly. Today is the Hero Festival Main Festival, held once every ten years. I will provide an explanation regarding travel between worlds later, so for now, go and enjoy the festival. Once you pass through that gate, you will return to where you each belong."
Come to think of it, the trials had made me forget entirely... but today was indeed the 30th of the Month of Heavens. It was the day of the Hero Festival’s Main Festival.
Among the people gathered here were the Six Kings, various monarchs, and others of immense global importance. I didn't know how much time had actually passed during the trials, but Shiro-san had apparently rewound the world's clock back to midnight, the exact moment the trials had begun.
After announcing that she would explain the rewards—such as the ability to travel between worlds—at a later time, Shiro-san turned her back to us as if to leave. Then, she paused and looked over her shoulder.
"...Ah, and one more thing... God of Fate."
"!? Y-Yes!"
Fate-san jumped as if she'd been struck. With a pale face, she hurried in front of Shiro-san, dropping to one knee and bowing her head.
Her body was trembling. She looked like a criminal awaiting a final verdict. I didn't know the details of what had happened between them while I was gone, but I couldn't stand seeing Fate-san, my lover, so terrified.
I took a step forward to go to her, but Shiro-san spoke before I could reach them.
"...God of Fate... no, Fate."
"Hah... Eh? ...Shallow Vernal-sama... you called me... by my name?"
Surprised by the use of her name, Fate-san looked up instinctively. Before her, Shiro-san wore a very faint smile.
"You did well to reach my true intent. You have shown magnificent growth. I am... proud of you."
"!? Ah... ugh... Such... such words are far more than I deserve."
I didn't quite grasp the full context of their exchange, but I understood that Shiro-san was praising her. Fate-san’s voice cracked with emotion, and she bowed deeply again, tears streaming down her face.
"God of Space-Time, God of Life."
" "Yes!" "
"I will not say your choices were wrong. However, when you witnessed Fate's growth, doubt was born in your hearts, was it not? You wondered if the answer Fate provided might be the correct one, and if you yourselves might be mistaken. Yet, you did not weigh those doubts against your own hearts; you abandoned the act of doubting entirely. You decided that 'you should not think'..."
" "..." "
Chronoa-san and Life-san hung their heads in silence as Shiro-san spoke, her face returning to its usual stoic mask. It seemed her words had struck a nerve with both of them.
"You are not dolls. This applies to the other low-ranking and high-ranking Gods as well. I did not create the Gods to be incapable of growth. Do not cease your thinking; instead, wander and worry. And then, find your own certain self. I am not telling you to become exactly like Fate. Even if you ultimately arrive at the same answer, the weight of a conclusion reached through struggle is different from one reached through stagnant thought. Find yourselves, and no one else... I look forward to your future growth."
" "Yes!" "
After offering those words of guidance to Chronoa-san, Life-san, and the rest of the Divine Realm, Shiro-san vanished in a flash of light.
It was just a feeling, but despite her lack of inflection, I thought I sensed a parental warmth in her voice—a genuine concern for her children.
As Shallow Vernal departed, Alice watched those preparing to pass through the gate, exchanging mental words with Iris.
(Hmm, I never imagined Shallow Vernal-sama had no intention of actually doing it. That was quite the curveball.)
(Don't give me that. You read that as a distinct possibility from the start. Why act surprised now?)
(Ahaha, well, I’m just glad it all settled down safely.)
(...In the end, the final trump card you prepared went to waste.)
When it came to this conflict, Alice had prepared for every conceivable scenario. She had plans for the best results and the absolute worst. Even if Kaito had failed the trials and actually had his memories erased, she had a way to respond.
Alice hadn't pushed Kaito to learn a Heart Tool because she expected it to be used in combat. Her true goal had been to secure a "Backup of Kaito's Heart" within Hecatoncheir.
(Well, even I didn't want to resort to overwriting Kaito-san’s heart, so I’m glad I never had to use it.)
(True... In a sense, this is the best possible outcome. Though I suppose I wouldn't know how the Creator God feels about it.)
(...That part is someone else's problem. From here on out, it’s not my role anymore.)
Ending her conversation with Iris, Alice approached me as I stared in the direction where Shallow Vernal had vanished. She gave me a light pat on the back and spoke with a grin.
"Well then, Kaito-san... 'See you later.'"
"...Yeah."
Alice had sensed exactly what I was planning to do. She gave me a subtle push with those words, and seeing me nod firmly in response, she laughed happily.
Without watching the others pass through the gate to return to their original locations, Shallow Vernal stood at the edge of the Sanctuary, quietly gazing out at the world.
"...Was this really for the best?"
Shallow Vernal turned at the quiet question to find Eden standing there, having appeared unnoticed. Shiro glanced at Eden, then looked back toward the horizon before answering.
"...Yes. I wavered until the very last moment... but in the end, I could not choose to erase Kaito-san’s memories."
It was true that Shallow Vernal had no active intent to take Kaito’s memories during these trials, but it wasn't as though she hadn't considered it. She had struggled with the decision until the final seconds. Should she erase his memories and pursue the conclusion she had always desired, or should she affirm the current Kaito, even if it meant a different path?
"The current Kaito-san might be different from the one I originally wanted. This world might not be the exact happy future I envisioned. However... the person who actually taught me emotions... the one I fell in love with... is 'the Kaito-san who exists right now'."
Eden’s expression remained unchanged as Shallow Vernal spoke with a lonely look, as if letting go of a long-held dream.
"...I see. As for me, I have no complaints as long as my child is happy."
"I have put you through some trouble as well."
"I don't mind. But I will tell you one thing: do not underestimate my beloved child. Even if this 'now' is different from what you wished for... I am sure you will come to understand. You will learn exactly what the emotion of happiness truly feels like..."
"..."
With those words, Eden vanished, leaving Shallow Vernal alone. A few moments later, she turned around at the sound of approaching footsteps.
Standing there was the one person she wanted to see most right now—and simultaneously, the one person she was least prepared to face.
This series of events that had swept up the entire world was not a story about a being named Shallow Vernal giving up on a future she could never reach.
It was the story of how a woman who failed to get the future she wanted became even happier than she would have been in that lost future.