“Well, considering they were already trying to find common ground, I suppose it makes sense they’d become friends given the right catalyst... but even I, the amazing Alice-chan, was surprised she went as far as a True Blessing.”
“Is the True Blessing really that rare a thing to grant?”
The day after the relationship between my parents and Fate-san took a turn for the better, I headed to Alice’s General Store to report on how everything had turned out. While there was a direct shortcut from Iris-san’s bar, I decided to take the long way to the shop, thinking I might do a little window shopping on the way back.
“Indeed. A True Blessing holds profound significance for the Gods. Especially one from a Supreme God like Fate-san... Well, while whether to grant it or not is ultimately up to the individual, this case is an anomaly among anomalies.”
“Is that because they become ageless?”
“No, that’s just a secondary effect. While the benefits gained from a blessing are certainly substantial, that isn't the crux of the matter.”
“...Um.”
When I tilted my head, unable to immediately grasp the reason, Alice held up two fingers, her expression shifting to one of genuine seriousness.
“There are two core effects. First, those who receive a True Blessing are permitted to speak using that God’s name. You already knew that, Kaito-san, but it’s actually an incredible power.”
“I certainly think being able to speak in a God’s name is impressive, but...”
“While it’s an impossible scenario, let’s say Akari-san and Kazuya-san were to speak with malicious intent while invoking the God’s name. Even then, Fate-san—the one who bestowed the blessing—would support their statement.”
“!?”
“Even if ninety-nine out of a hundred people thought they were wrong, Fate-san alone would affirm them. She would have to. To the Gods, their names were bestowed directly by Shallow Vernal-sama alongside their Authority. To go against a statement made using that name is a source of immense shame for a God. Well, since it is merely a matter of shame, she might ignore it depending on the situation... but she would almost never actively deny it.”
I nodded as the weight of Alice’s explanation sank in. In other words, a True Blessing carried a heavy risk for the Gods, as it could potentially force them to act against their own will. That was likely why such a thing was only granted to those they trusted with all their hearts.
“And then there’s the second point, which is even more significant,” Alice continued. “Receiving a True Blessing means falling under that God’s direct protection. As I mentioned, names hold immense value for the Gods. For someone granted a blessing in their name to be harmed would be equivalent to tarnishing the very name they received from Shallow Vernal-sama.”
“So, for example, if Mom and Dad were in danger...”
“Fate-san is usually lazy, but she still possesses the instincts of a God, so she would undoubtedly step in. Again, this is an impossible assumption, but suppose your parents crossed the Six Kings and their lives were at stake—Fate-san would protect them even if she had to kill her opponent to do it.”
“...I see. That really is incredible.”
“Yes. And the terrifying part is that the judgment is left entirely to the individual. Even if others think things are fine, if Fate-san perceives it as them being harmed by her standards, it’s game over. Depending on the God, some might try to protect those under their care even with a Temporary Blessing.”
I recalled Chronoa-san saying she had an ‘obligation to protect Lilia’ back when Megiddo-san first appeared. It had only been a Temporary Blessing back then, but that likely meant Chronoa-san had used her own discretion to define Lilia as being under her protection.
“Since she granted the True Blessing knowing full well the trouble it could bring her... deep down, Fate-san must be grateful to your parents for giving her the spark she needed to change.”
“...I see.”
“Well, unless something catastrophic happens, it’s just a convenient buff. It’s a massive plus for your parents’ safety, so there’s no need to overthink it.”
“I guess you're right.”
It was a truly humbling thought. Knowing that Fate-san would watch over my parents gave me an incredible sense of relief. I made a mental note to thank her properly the next time we met.
“Anyway, with that, the issues regarding your parents have all been resolved—save for the matter of Alice-chan!”
“No, the matter with you was resolved at the bar the other day, too.”
“...I really made a blunder. I honestly regret building that bar now. Dealing with people who knew my past self is such a pain. Ah, by the way, on a different note...”
“Hmm?”
“It’s about Iris. The body she received from Shallow Vernal-sama has finally stabilized, so I’ve decided it’s time for her rehabilitation... or rather, it's time to teach her combat techniques that actually suit her specs. Since you're here, why not come and watch, Kaito-san?”
I gave a wry smile as Alice hurriedly changed the subject, clearly desperate to move away from the topic of her past. I then asked about the part that had caught my attention.
“...Before that, what exactly do you mean by rehabilitation?”
“Well, using my abilities as a base, Iris currently has basic specs equivalent to the Six Kings... but to put it bluntly, everything else remains as it was when she died. She’s still at a human level. She still has many hurdles to overcome, so I thought I’d let her experience a high-dimensional battle about now.”
“So you mean she’s going to fight someone strong?”
“Yes. Or rather... she’s going to have a sparring match with Isis-san.”
“...Seriously?”
I felt a slight sense of dread. On one side was one of the true pinnacles of the Demon Realm, and on the other was Iris-san, who possessed power on par with the Six Kings and had previously demonstrated a terrifying magic bombardment. Honestly, it sounded like the kind of battle that could easily destroy a world or two... Was this really going to be all right?