Epsilon responded to the Earth God Machina’s inquiry by raising her upper body while keeping her knees pressed to the ground, shifting from a full prostration into a formal kneeling posture.
"I understand that I have been summoned by the Earth God today to answer for my reincarnation of Miyabe."
"Quite right. It would hardly be a conversation if you hadn't even realized that much."
Epsilon was well aware of who Machina was. Though the deity had only recently begun manifesting in this specific form, Epsilon had known her as Eden for some time and had observed her during several incidents involving Kaito.
Truthfully, Epsilon had expected to be called to account much sooner. Machina had mentioned showing consideration for a promise earlier, but for a being of her stature, a promise was likely a trivial matter to bypass if she so desired.
"As you suspect, this is about my child. Since her body was produced in this world, I was a bit conflicted at first. I felt the same hesitation with Noin... but I finally decided that if the soul belongs to my world, then the person is my child. Therefore, that girl is my precious child as well."
As was the case with Noin, Machina felt a certain reservation regarding those reincarnated within Trinia. Their souls were hers, yet their physical forms were products of another realm. However, if asked whether she could ever truly abandon them simply because their bodies weren't born in her world, her answer was a firm no.
The time it had taken her to reach the conclusion that "if the soul is mine, the child is mine" was likely the reason she had waited until now to summon Epsilon.
"I don't want you to misunderstand. I have no intention of rebuking you for the act of reincarnating my child. Normally, the souls of my children who die in Trinia are meant to return to my world, but her circumstances were special. You couldn't have known the inner workings of the cycle of souls, so I will overlook that part."
"...!?"
Machina had been speaking with an eerie calm, but she suddenly released a staggering wave of pressure. The atmosphere grew heavy, as if the oxygen had been replaced with molten lead. Epsilon broke into a cold sweat, paralyzed as she waited for the God to continue.
"What I take issue with is the fact that you damaged my child’s soul through your clumsy, forceful methods. I will not tolerate that. That is why I summoned the one responsible. Do you have a defense? Any excuse?"
Machina made her position clear: the reincarnation itself was forgiven, but the damage to the soul and the subsequent loss of memory were not. Despite the crushing weight on her shoulders, Epsilon looked directly into Machina’s eyes.
The soul damage... the fact that Miyabe had lost her memories of her past life had always weighed on Epsilon’s heart. Because Miyabe herself held no grudge, Epsilon had never voiced her guilt, but she had always believed that a day of judgment would come.
"No, I have no excuses. It was a failure brought about by my own immaturity. However, permit me to say just one thing, despite my insolence."
"Oh?"
"I cannot say that I will accept any punishment. I beg of you to spare me from annihilation... any other penalty I will endure, but not that."
"Are you saying your life is so precious to you?"
At those words, which sounded like a desperate plea for self-preservation, Machina’s expression grew sharp. Her gaze suggested she might dispose of the ogre right then and there, but Epsilon quietly shook her head.
"No, it is not that my life is precious. However, if I vanish, Miyabe will grieve. I have known the sorrow of losing her—a pain that defies description, a void in the heart. I refuse to let her experience that. I must return to her."
"..."
"I do not care how you punish me. I only pray that you will somehow allow me to return to Miyabe's side. That is my only wish."
Even amidst pressure so intense it threatened to snuff out her consciousness, Epsilon spoke with eyes full of resolve. She would accept any agony, as long as she could go home.
"Your name... what was it again?"
"I am called Ixnilva."
In response to the divine being, Epsilon introduced herself by her true name, her Mana, rather than her alias. Machina nodded once and spoke after a brief silence.
"I'll give you my conclusion. I do not tolerate the soul defect of my child, and I have no intention of overlooking it."
"I understand."
"However..."
With a sharp snap of her fingers, a surge of power suddenly filled Epsilon’s body. She felt the strength she thought was gone forever rushing back into her limbs.
"Wha—, this is..."
She was bewildered. The power she had sacrificed as the price for the forbidden ritual was returning. While she knew an Almighty God could achieve the impossible, she couldn't fathom the reason for this mercy. Machina spoke matter-of-factly.
"It’s simple. You succeeded in your ritual perfectly. You haven't lost your power, my child's soul is whole, and her memories are intact. Thus, I have no reason to punish you."
"Ah... Oh..."
Epsilon understood. In an instant, the God before her had repaired both Epsilon’s strength and Miyabe’s soul. Stunned by the sudden turn of events and overwhelmed by the joy of Miyabe’s restored memories, Epsilon’s face went blank. Machina offered a small smile.
"Ixnilva, was it? I shall remember that name. You sought to return not for your own sake, but for my child’s. I acknowledge your worth. Continue to look after her."
With that, Machina turned and vanished, her business concluded. Epsilon remained frozen for a long moment before finally bowing deeply toward the empty space.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Rushing home with a racing heart, Epsilon threw open the door to find Miyabe waiting as she always did.
"Ix-sama, welcome home. Dinner is almost ready. I found some wonderful fish at the market today..."
"Miyabe!"
"Yes?"
"Your memories... do you remember our home? The other world?"
Miyabe, who was wearing a kimono with the sleeves tucked back for cooking, blinked as she greeted her partner. She seemed completely normal, and Epsilon asked the question with bated breath.
"Um... ah, yes. I remember now. That's strange... how did I suddenly..."
"Ah, that..."
Seeing Miyabe’s bewildered joy as her pre-summoning memories returned, Epsilon briefly explained her encounter with Machina. When she revealed that both her own strength and Miyabe’s past had been restored, Miyabe’s face lit up.
"That’s amazing! My memories are nice, of course, but I’m so glad your power is back, Ix-sama!"
"No, my strength is trivial. What matters most is that you are whole again, Miyabe."
"No, your power is far more..."
"Your memories are..."
They began to argue playfully over whose recovery was more significant until they looked at one another and burst into laughter simultaneously.
"Fufu, this is going nowhere, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Let us simply agree that it is a blessing for us both."
Serious-senpai: "Phew, I slept like a log. Did I miss about three chapters? Has Kaito finished opening a gift or two while I was out?"
Machina: "Morning, Serious-senpai. You just missed a sudden, serious interlude. It just finished up. I was the star of the show."
Serious-senpai: "...What? Wait... hold on. Give me a detailed explanation. I'm about to lose my mind here."
Machina: "You never seem that sane to me anyway... Oh, but it looks like there's one more chapter of this interlude left."
Serious-senpai: "Another serious one!?"
Machina: "No, the crisis is over. Next time, it's just going to be a story of the Yuri Couple flirting. The author saved the sweetness for after you woke up, Serious-senpai."
Serious-senpai: "........................"