Chapter 346 – "The Daylight That Watches"
The garden behind the Elwood residence was bathed in the soft light of early afternoon. Summer roses bloomed in full color, enchanted herbs hummed faintly in their pots, and birds perched lazily on the edges of the fence, unafraid of the quiet power that lingered in the home's aura.
Alex stood beneath the wide shade of the sakura tree, sleeves rolled, eyes half-closed in thought. He was trimming the upper branches — not because they needed it, but because the rhythm of it calmed him.
A shimmer of divine light pulsed at the edge of the boundary.
He turned, already knowing.
The spell line parted like ripples in still water.
Amaterasu stepped through in a shimmer of white and gold, dressed in her usual modern kimono—simple, graceful, embroidered faintly with solar sigils.
And in her arms—
"Papa!"
The blur of white and pink rushed past her like sunlight breaking from clouds.
Alex dropped the shears and caught her effortlessly, lifting her high into the air.
Yuka giggled, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Her black hair shimmered with soft light, and her eyes sparkled with joy.
Even though she was only three months old, her body already resembled a human child of three years. Her limbs had grown longer, her face had matured slightly, but her voice still carried the light innocence of someone new to the world.
"You got taller," Alex murmured, brushing her hair back gently. "Again."
Amaterasu approached, a faint smile curving her lips. "Gods grow at their own pace. Sometimes by days. Sometimes not at all for centuries."
"But Yuka?" She looked fondly at the child clinging to him. "She seems to grow faster when she sees you."
Yuka nestled her face into his chest. "I missed you…"
"I missed you too," he whispered.
Amaterasu tilted her head. "She always asks to be held. Every time she sees you."
Alex adjusted his grip and kissed the top of her head. "She always will."
They stayed like that for a while — quiet, simple. Just a divine child resting against the man who loved her without condition. Amaterasu didn't interrupt.
Eventually, Ciel emerged from the house with a tray of tea, Morgan following with a plate of sliced fruit. Iris sat on the porch, her hands folded in her lap, her blindfold tilted upward just enough to feel the warmth.
She didn't speak — she didn't need to.
She could already sense it.
The way the sun softened when Amaterasu smiled.
The way the air stilled when Alex held his daughter.
The way Yuka's divine aura quieted when in his arms.
This wasn't just love.
It was something sacred.
And as Iris listened, she thought:
This is what a god's peace looks like.
Later, Yuka would fall asleep on Alex's chest during a nap in the garden, curled like a kitten under the tree he'd been trimming.
And Iris?
She would sit beside him quietly.
Not to speak.
Not to interfere.
Just to be near the sunlight.
The girl who once saw too much…
Now simply watched.
And smiled.
Alex was still trimming the tree, Yuka perched proudly on his shoulders with a tiny pair of enchanted garden shears in hand, when her black eyes turned curiously toward the porch.
She had just noticed the woman sitting beside the others — still and silent, wrapped in white, her eyes covered by a black cloth.
"…Papa," Yuka whispered, tugging lightly on his hair.
"Hm?"
She pointed. "That woman… is she your new one?"
Alex blinked.
The shears froze mid-snip.
"I mean," Yuka continued very seriously, "she looks like one. Pretty. Calm. Smells like moonlight."
Iris blinked behind her blindfold.
Alex sighed softly. "Yuka…"
The child leaned down, her face just beside his ear.
"Is she your new woman or not?"
Morgan covered her mouth with the back of her hand.
Ciel tilted her head innocently. "She is very perceptive."
Even Reyne, who had been quietly sipping tea in the corner, nearly choked.
Amaterasu raised an eyebrow from her seat nearby but didn't interfere.
Alex finally answered, keeping his voice calm. "She's someone very important to me."
Yuka nodded, satisfied with that. Then—
"Okay," she said brightly. "Then she's my mother now too!"
Iris's breath caught.
Ciel's eyes widened faintly.
Even Morgan's stoic expression cracked — surprise flickering like silver fire.
Yuka clapped her hands once. "Every woman who loves Papa is my mama too. That's the rule!"
She pointed at each one. "Ciel-mama. Morgan-mama. Reyne-mama. Mary-mama. Mira-mama. Hanabi-mama. Airi-mama. Vira-mama. Nefertiti-mama. Amaterasu-mama!"
Then she turned back to Iris, beaming.
"You too now! Blindfold-mama!"
Iris flinched so hard she nearly dropped her tea.
"M-Mama…?"
Alex gently lowered Yuka from his shoulders, setting her back on the grass.
"Yuka," he said, kneeling beside her. "That's a very sweet thought… but Iris might not—"
"I want to," Iris interrupted suddenly, her voice soft — but firm.
Everyone turned.
She stood slowly from the porch, walking forward with quiet steps. Her blindfolded gaze was steady, but there was something trembling in her voice.
"…If she accepts me, I would be honored."
Yuka smiled and ran forward without hesitation, arms open.
Iris knelt just in time to catch her.
The divine child hugged her tightly.
Iris froze.
Then wrapped her arms around Yuka in return — gentle, unsure, but slowly strengthening.
It was the first time in years that someone had held her without fear.
Without reverence.
Just pure, innocent love.
"I've never… been called that," Iris whispered.
Yuka leaned her cheek into Iris's shoulder.
"You are now," she said. "Forever."
Alex watched from beneath the tree.
And for a moment…
He didn't feel like a god-slayer.
Or a guardian.
Or a weapon.
He just felt like a man—
Whose family was growing again.
The house smelled like butter, garlic, and something sweet.
From the kitchen, soft sounds of sizzling filled the air — the occasional clink of a wooden spoon, the thump of a cutting board, the light hum of mana-infused fire under the stove.
Alex was cooking.
He moved with calm precision — sleeves rolled up, hair tied loosely, lips curved into a small, focused smile as he flipped a pan of golden-seared vegetables. Near him, several enchanted utensils floated and worked in harmony, helping prepare a gentle, homey dinner.
In the living room, the rest of the house was alive with quiet warmth.
Amaterasu reclined gracefully on the low sofa, golden eyes half-lidded with a subtle smile. Ciel sat cross-legged on a cushion nearby, reading a floating book of enchanted fairy tales aloud at Yuka's request. Morgan, in casual black, lounged with her arms crossed — half watching, half pretending not to care. Reyne occupied the corner seat, sipping dragon blossom tea and pretending she didn't want to play with Yuka. Nefertiti had arrived not long ago, her regal posture softened as she knelt beside the child, answering Yuka's endless questions with patience and humor.
And Iris—
She was still standing, hands folded, unsure whether she belonged in the circle of light and laughter.
That changed when Amaterasu lifted her eyes.
"Iris," she said calmly. "Come here."
Iris obeyed with soft steps.
Yuka, sitting on Ciel's lap, perked up immediately. "Mama Ama?"
Amaterasu gestured toward Iris. "You've been clinging to your father all day. Why don't you let Iris-mama carry you for a while?"
Iris froze.
Yuka blinked.
Then her whole face lit up.
"Iris-mama!"
Iris's heart skipped.
Yuka launched into her arms with divine momentum, giggling as Iris caught her midair. Her weight was warm, solid — real. Her little fingers curled into the white fabric of Iris's sleeve.
Iris cradled her carefully, like something sacred.
"Iris-mama is soft," Yuka said thoughtfully, settling in her arms like she'd done it a hundred times before.
Iris looked up, stunned. "She… she called me…"
Ciel smiled gently. "You heard her."
Morgan sighed dramatically. "Another one added to the chaos."
Reyne muttered, "We're running out of chairs at the dinner table."
Nefertiti chuckled — a low, musical sound. "Let her enjoy it. That child's heart knows who belongs."
Amaterasu said nothing more.
She only watched Iris.
And in her golden eyes, for the briefest second, there was no rivalry.
Only approval.
Only trust.
The long, polished table in the Elwood dining room was already set — plates glowing faintly with preservation spells, steam rising gently from covered dishes, and the scent of garlic butter rice, pan-seared fish, and honeyed carrots lingering warmly in the air.
Alex walked in last, towel slung over his shoulder, sleeves rolled, his expression relaxed but quietly proud.
"Dinner's ready," he said.
The women gathered — not in haste, but with quiet anticipation. They knew this part of the day. They knew what it meant when Alex cooked: not just a meal, but a moment of peace.
Ciel was the first to sit, folding her hands neatly. Morgan sat across from her, nodding once in approval at the layout. Reyne took her usual seat with her chin in one hand, trying not to look too impressed by the scent. Nefertiti sat with her back perfectly straight, her gold eyes flicking across the arrangement like a queen at a state banquet — but her smile gave her away.
Amaterasu took her place at the end of the table, sunlight still shimmering faintly in her hair.
And Iris—
Still holding Yuka in her arms — now sat down slowly, letting the child shift comfortably into her lap.
Yuka glanced at the empty chair beside her and shook her head.
"Nope," she declared. "I'm sitting with Iris-mama."
Iris blinked. "Are you sure? Won't it be uncomfortable—?"
But Yuka was already settled.
"I like it here."
Her little hands reached for the spoon in front of her.
Alex chuckled softly and set down the last dish — golden tofu simmered in a miso glaze.
Then he stepped back, wiped his hands on the towel, and said, "Alright. Eat while it's hot."
They began.
For a while, there was only the sound of chopsticks, spoons clinking, and the soft sighs of satisfaction as everyone took their first bite.
Then—
Yuka lifted her head, cheeks puffed slightly with food.
She swallowed and declared, with absolute conviction:
"Food that Papa makes… is the best in the world!"
Everyone paused.
Then smiled.
Morgan smirked. "She's not wrong."
Reyne nodded. "I was about to say the same."
Nefertiti leaned slightly toward Iris. "It seems our little one already understands what matters most."
Iris looked down at Yuka, who had turned around in her lap and now hugged her stomach, resting her head contentedly.
"Iris-mama," Yuka murmured sleepily, "can we eat Papa's food every day?"
Iris's voice trembled just faintly. "If I'm allowed to stay… then yes."
Yuka nodded. "Good. Because I want you here. Forever."
Alex, standing by the kitchen counter watching quietly, exhaled.
The softest smile crossed his lips.
One by one, the people he loved were finding their place at his table.
And his daughter… had already given them a name.
Later that Night
The dishes had been cleared.
The candles dimmed.
The house had grown quieter — not empty, but peaceful. The kind of hush that only came after shared laughter, full stomachs, and the warmth of everyone belonging in the same space.
Yuka's room was softly lit with golden nightlights that glowed like fireflies in little glass domes. On the shelves sat plush animals enchanted to snore gently in sync, and her bed was piled with blankets in warm colors — soft as clouds and smelling faintly of jasmine and sunlight.
Alex stood at the doorway, watching.
But tonight…
It wasn't him who tucked her in.
It was Iris.
Kneeling by the bedside, blindfold still on, but with hands that moved with complete care.
She gently fluffed the pillow behind Yuka's head.
Pulled the covers up to her chest.
And brushed a lock of black hair from her daughter's eyes.
Yuka looked up at her with a small, sleepy smile.
"Iris-mama?"
"Yes, little one?"
"…You're really staying, right?"
Iris paused.
Then smiled.
"If you'll have me."
"I already do," Yuka said proudly. "Forever and ever."
Iris's hands trembled just slightly.
She leaned down — hesitantly — and kissed Yuka's forehead.
It felt natural.
It felt right.
Yuka giggled softly, pulling one of Iris's sleeves toward her. "Your clothes feel nice."
"You're warm," Iris whispered. "I could hold you forever."
Yuka blinked slowly. "You can. I don't mind."
From the doorway, Alex smiled quietly. He didn't interrupt.
He simply watched the woman who once lived alone in white walls and sacred silence…
Now lean over his daughter like she'd always been there.
Like she was meant to be there.
"Iris-mama," Yuka mumbled, her eyes now half-closed.
"Yes?"
"If you stay with me again tomorrow…"
"…can we pick flowers?"
Iris nodded. "Of course."
"And eat Papa's food again?"
"We will."
"…And can I call you Mama, even if other people think it's weird?"
Iris froze for a moment.
Then—
She leaned down, holding Yuka close one last time.
"You can call me anything," she whispered, her voice nearly breaking.
"Because you're the first one who ever called me that."
Yuka's breath slowed.
Her tiny hand slipped from Iris's sleeve, resting atop the blanket like a falling petal.
She had already fallen asleep.
Still smiling.
Still warm.
Still believing the world was full of good things.
Iris sat there for a while, her hands resting over her heart.
Until she felt another presence kneel beside her.
Alex.
He gently reached forward and pulled the blanket up a little more over Yuka's shoulder.
Then looked at Iris.
"She likes you," he whispered.
Iris nodded. "I didn't think I'd be… allowed to matter."
"You always did," he said softly. "Even before tonight."
The silence lingered gently between them.
Then Alex stood.
"Come on," he whispered. "Let's let her rest."
Iris stood slowly, following him out of the room.
And as the door slid shut, leaving the child dreaming in soft starlight—
The bond between them had already been sealed.
Not by blood.
Not by magic.
But by love freely given.
Chapter 347 – "All the Mamas in the World"
Five days had passed.
The house had grown livelier.
Not louder. Just… fuller.
The kind of fullness that came from footsteps in the hallway, laughter spilling from the garden, and the soft clinking of cups and plates shared between people who cared deeply for each other.
Yuka was at the center of it all.
Today, her arms were full of toys.
Her eyes sparkled.
And her lap was claimed by no less than three plush animals, each enchanted to wiggle or blink.
Alex watched from the kitchen with an amused smile as one by one — his other women returned from their travels, duties, and work.
First came Hanabi, her fox tail swaying proudly, red eyes gleaming as she knelt and picked Yuka up with a single spin that made the child squeal in delight.
Then Airi, ever composed, who crouched to fix the ribbon in Yuka's hair with a warm, rare smile.
Mira came next, blowing into the room like a flirtatious storm, immediately plopping beside Yuka and teasingly offering to give her makeup lessons.
Mary followed, quieter but glowing, immediately offering a hand-sewn dress she had made just for the little girl.
And at last, Vira, regal and sharp-tongued as always, entered the house with a bag full of enchanted Alfheim sweets and a polite growl at Mira, who tried to take credit for them.
Yuka looked around the room, wide-eyed.
All her favorite people were here.
She turned in a full circle, then clapped her hands loudly for attention.
"Everyone listen!"
The room hushed instantly.
She pointed at each woman, voice full of childlike authority:
"Hanabi-mama!"
The fox girl blinked, stunned. "M-Mama?"
"Airi-mama!"
Airi froze — then slowly turned pink.
"Mira-mama!"
Mira smirked. "Of course I am."
"Mary-mama!"
Mary gasped softly, hands to her chest. "I… I'm honored…"
"Vira-mama!"
The elf princess stiffened. "You—You dare—?!"
Yuka walked up and hugged her around the waist. "You're still mama too. I like you even when you're grumpy."
Vira flushed crimson but didn't push her away.
Instead… she gently rested a hand on Yuka's head.
"…Fine," she whispered.
Then Yuka turned dramatically toward the whole group and added with both hands raised high:
"And I already have Ciel-mama, Morgan-mama, Reyne-mama, Iris-mama, Nefertiti-mama, and Amaterasu-mama!"
She grinned, proud of herself.
Alex, still watching from the kitchen, leaned against the doorway and whispered under his breath:
"…That's a lot of mamas."
Mira raised an eyebrow at him. "You have no one to blame but yourself."
Ciel, standing nearby, smiled serenely. "She remembers every name with perfect clarity. Even mine."
Reyne crossed her arms. "As she should."
Morgan simply nodded. "Her memory is sharp. She'll become dangerous when she's older."
Nefertiti tilted her head with a faint smirk. "She already is."
Yuka turned toward her father next.
"Papa!"
He straightened. "Yes?"
"I love all my mamas," she said.
Then added, cheerfully—
"But I still love Papa the most!"
The women all looked at each other.
And in perfect, silent, collective agreement…
They decided not to argue with that.
The room was full of warmth and amusement, the air glowing faintly from everyone's collective aura — divine, magical, draconic, celestial.
Yuka stood in the middle of them, arms folded confidently, a serious expression on her tiny face.
"I love all my mamas," she declared, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The women smiled — already proud of that much.
But Yuka wasn't finished.
She raised one finger dramatically.
"But! Papa is number one!"
Alex, still leaning in the doorway, blinked.
"Number one…?" he repeated.
She pointed at him, beaming. "Yup! Number one forever! Number one in the world!"
The room paused.
Then came a mix of quiet sighs, helpless smiles, and playful groans.
Mira fell backward onto the couch. "I knew it. We all lost before the game even started."
Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Predictable."
Reyne muttered, "Unavoidable."
Yuka raised her second finger.
"Amaterasu-mama is number two!"
Amaterasu blinked, caught off guard.
"…Me?"
Yuka nodded. "Because you gave birth to me. So you're second-best!"
Amaterasu's lips twitched upward. "Second-best… I see."
Ciel leaned toward her and whispered gently, "That's the highest ranking any of us have ever received. You should be proud."
Then Yuka raised a third finger.
"And Iris-mama is number three!"
All eyes turned to Iris, who stiffened like someone had poured cold water down her spine.
"Me?" she squeaked.
Yuka nodded again, as if it were obvious. "Because you tucked me in! And carried me! And you feel like moonlight. That's third-best."
Iris covered her face with one hand, whispering into her palm, "…I've never ranked in anything before."
Mary gave her a quiet pat on the back. "You ranked above royalty, dragons, and goddesses. You've already peaked."
Hanabi, fake-pouting, pointed at Yuka. "What about me?"
Yuka thought carefully.
"…You're number four!"
"FOUR?!" Hanabi clutched her heart dramatically. "How could you?"
"Number four is good!" Yuka argued. "That's a strong number!"
Airi asked, deadpan, "And me?"
"Five."
Mira? "Six."
Mary? "Seven."
Vira, quietly glaring, asked nothing.
Yuka pointed anyway.
"Eight."
Vira's ears twitched. "Unacceptable."
Ciel laughed softly. "She remembered everyone. In order. With perfect honesty."
Morgan finally said, "What about me?"
Yuka tilted her head.
Then smiled.
"You're number nine. Because nine is the quietest number. And you're very quiet."
Morgan blinked once.
Then… nodded. "I accept."
Nefertiti asked gently, "Ten?"
Yuka nodded cheerfully. "Because you smell like old stories."
Alex, trying not to laugh, finally stepped into the room.
"Well," he said, clapping his hands once. "I guess I'd better live up to that number one spot."
Yuka raised her arms.
He picked her up immediately.
She rested her cheek against his shoulder, yawned, and whispered:
"Even if I grow up… Papa will still be number one."
And just like that—
All the mamas in the room lost again.
And not one of them minded.
Later That Night – The Porch Beneath Starlight
The house had quieted again.
The laughter had faded, the dishes were cleaned, and one by one, the other women had retired — some into their sigils, some to their rooms, some still lingering in whispered conversation.
Yuka had fallen asleep curled between two plush fox dolls, her breathing soft and even. She'd smiled even as she drifted off, mumbling something about "mama number three" and "Papa's cooking."
Now, on the wooden porch that overlooked the quiet garden, Alex and Iris sat alone.
The night air was cool, touched with the faint scent of jasmine and earth. Fireflies floated in the hedges. Above them, stars blanketed the sky in silence.
Alex sipped a cup of warm tea.
Iris sat beside him, hands folded in her lap, her blindfold still in place.
But she wasn't blind to anything.
"…Third place," she said softly.
Alex looked over. "Still thinking about that?"
She smiled faintly. "I wasn't expecting to rank at all."
"She made that list herself," Alex replied. "No one told her to."
"I know." Her voice quieted. "That's what makes it worse."
He tilted his head. "Worse?"
"…It means I matter now."
The words were quiet. Almost weightless. But behind them — something heavy.
She turned slightly toward him.
"Before I met Yuka, I thought I was content just watching you from a distance. Hearing your name. Knowing you still existed."
"But now…"
Her voice trembled.
"…She calls me 'Iris-mama' like it's the most natural thing in the world."
"It is," Alex said gently.
"She ranked me above goddesses, dragons, and queens," Iris murmured. "Why would she do that?"
"Because she felt your love," he said simply. "Kids don't care about titles. They feel your heart first."
Iris inhaled slowly, then let it out.
"I've never been anyone's number anything," she whispered. "Not in the monastery. Not in the Vatican. I was just the girl with the blindfold and the cursed vision. The quiet one. The observer."
Alex placed his cup down.
"Iris."
She turned her head slightly.
He reached out and gently took her hand.
"You're not third to me."
She froze.
"…You're just—yours."
He smiled. "And Yuka sees that."
Iris's fingers curled around his without hesitation now.
"Do you think… she'll still love me when she gets older?"
"I think she'll love you more."
"…Even if I don't know how to be a mother?"
"You're already doing it."
Silence returned — not awkward, but full of something warm. Real.
The moonlight filtered through the porch railings in soft silver lines. Somewhere inside the house, Ciel's lullaby spell continued playing faintly — just audible, just comforting.
Iris leaned gently against his shoulder.
"I was happy just seeing you again," she whispered. "But now…"
She hesitated.
Then finished:
"…Now I want to stay."
Alex didn't answer with words.
He just rested his head lightly against hers.
And for a while—
They said nothing at all.
Because some answers didn't need to be spoken.
Some answers were simply felt…
In a child's laughter.
In a girl's voice calling "Iris-mama."
And in the quiet way love settles into a home…
Without ever needing permission.
Chapter 348 – "The Path That Rises to the Sky"
Ten days had passed.
Ten days of laughter in the halls.
Ten days of sunlight in the garden.
Ten days of Yuka calling every woman "mama" — and each one answering with love.
And now… it was time to say goodbye.
The morning sky was clear — blue stretching endlessly above the clouds, with a faint shimmer in the air that only those sensitive to divine resonance could feel.
The gate to Takamagahara had already opened just beyond the outer field. A golden torii arch hovered in the air, framed by white mist and threads of heavenly light descending like ribbons from the heavens.
Amaterasu stood tall beside it, dressed in her formal celestial attire — radiant white and deep crimson, her divine crest glowing faintly behind her.
But her eyes…
Her eyes were fixed on her daughter.
Yuka stood in front of the house, surrounded by everyone — Ciel, Morgan, Reyne, Iris, Hanabi, Airi, Mira, Mary, Vira, Nefertiti — and of course, Alex.
She wasn't crying.
But she held Alex's hand with both of hers.
"…Do I really have to go?" she asked softly.
Alex knelt down.
He cupped her cheek gently. "Just for now. You'll visit again. I'll visit you too."
She nodded slowly, lips trembling. "I know. But it's harder than I thought."
Amaterasu approached from behind, her footsteps soft.
"She needs time to be raised properly among the divine," she said calmly. "There are rituals she must complete, and names she must be taught."
"She has a future in Takamagahara."
Alex nodded. "And she has a home here too."
Amaterasu looked at him.
And for a moment…
The goddess wasn't the sun.
She was just a mother.
"…I'll bring her back," she said. "When the rites are finished. When the court stops whispering."
Yuka turned to the others, stepping forward with tiny feet.
She hugged Ciel first. "Ciel-mama… please keep Papa safe."
"I always do," Ciel whispered, brushing her hair gently.
Then Morgan. "Morgan-mama, I'll try to learn scary face like you."
Morgan smirked and ruffled her hair. "Good. Use it on gods who talk too much."
Reyne. "Reyne-mama, thank you for teaching me dragon words."
"Practice," Reyne said with a faint smile. "And burn anyone who deserves it."
Hanabi. "Hanabi-mama, you sparkle the most."
Hanabi sniffled. "You're not supposed to say that now. Now I'll cry."
Airi, Mira, Mary, Vira, Nefertiti — she hugged each one, said their names clearly, thanked them for playing with her, helping her dress, or telling her funny bedtime stories.
And last…
Iris.
Yuka ran to her and buried her face in her robes.
"Iris-mama…"
Iris knelt, embracing her tightly.
"I'll be here," she whispered. "Always."
"You're still number three," Yuka whispered back.
Iris smiled. "And proud of it."
Finally, Yuka returned to Alex.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her up one last time.
"I'll miss you most," she whispered.
He kissed her forehead.
"I'll miss you too."
"You'll still be number one… forever."
Then, slowly, Amaterasu extended her hand.
Yuka hesitated…
Then took it.
The two of them turned together toward the gate.
As they walked, golden light swirled around them — the divine pathway spiraling upward into the sky, back to the realm where sun gods ruled and thrones awaited.
Yuka looked back once — and waved.
Alex waved back.
And then…
They were gone.
The gate shimmered once.
Then closed.
And silence fell across the garden like petals drifting from a tree.
The golden gate had vanished.
The divine trail in the sky faded like breath on glass.
The others had gone back inside — some quietly, some wiping their eyes, some pretending they hadn't cried at all.
But Alex stayed behind.
So did Iris.
The garden felt strangely wide without Yuka's small footsteps running through it. The petals of the sakura tree stirred in the wind, falling in slow spirals onto the grass where she had played, spun, and smiled.
Alex exhaled, hands in his pockets, gaze lifted toward the now-empty sky.
"She was only here for a few weeks," he said softly. "But now it feels like the house is too quiet."
Iris stood beside him, still silent, her blindfold fluttering faintly in the breeze.
"…I never thought I would love a child so quickly," she whispered.
Alex turned toward her.
"She loved you just as fast."
Iris nodded slowly. "And that's what made it dangerous. Because now… I don't know how to live without her calling my name."
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he reached out — gently, silently — and took her hand in his.
She didn't flinch.
Not anymore.
They stood there together, the wind passing between them, soft and full of memories.
After a while, Iris turned her head slightly toward him. "Did I do well… as her mother?"
Alex looked at her — truly looked.
"You didn't try to be perfect," he said.
"You were kind. You were present. You listened. You held her when she was scared. You never made her feel like a burden."
He smiled.
"That's more than most real mothers ever do."
Her lips parted softly — a breath, a trembling thought.
"I'm glad she saw me."
Alex stepped closer.
"She saw you because you were there."
Then — quieter:
"And so do I."
Iris's breath caught.
"…Alex?"
His hand slid up, fingertips brushing her cheek, then resting against the side of her blindfold — not to remove it, but to feel the woman behind it.
She leaned in without even realizing it.
Their foreheads touched.
The world stilled.
No gods.
No thrones.
No fate watching from above.
Just two souls beneath a flowering tree.
"I never stopped loving you," Iris whispered. "Not since I was a girl with broken vision and borrowed prayers."
Alex's answer was simple.
He kissed her.
Slowly.
Gently.
Without haste.
Without pressure.
Just lips to lips — the kind of kiss that sealed a bond already written in silence and shared glances.
Her hands rose and rested on his chest.
His thumb brushed against her cheek.
When they parted, she was breathless, cheeks warm.
"…That was my first," she whispered.
He blinked. "Really?"
"I waited," she said. "For someone I saw clearly."
She smiled faintly.
"And now I don't need my eyes to see you."
Alex leaned his forehead against hers again, voice low.
"Then let me keep being seen."
And this time…
She kissed him first.
Iris stepped through the door softly, her hand still faintly trembling from the kiss.
The hallway was warm with late morning light, and the air smelled faintly of tea and fresh flowers.
She thought, perhaps foolishly, that she could walk in quietly.
Unnoticed.
Unquestioned.
She was wrong.
Very wrong.
The moment she stepped into the living room—
All eyes turned.
Ciel looked up from her book, expression calm… but smiling just a bit too knowingly.
Morgan raised one silver eyebrow and didn't even try to hide her smirk.
Reyne sipped her tea in slow motion. "Took you long enough."
Hanabi popped up from the cushion and pointed. "She kissed him, didn't she?! You kissed him!!"
Iris froze mid-step.
"I—what—how did—?!"
Airi, who had been writing something in her notebook, didn't even look up. "Her lips are slightly swollen, her mana resonance is fluctuating, and her heartbeat hasn't settled. Obvious."
Iris turned a brighter red than the ribbon in Hanabi's hair.
Then came Mary, standing near the corner with a sweet smile and hands folded politely.
"I'm happy for you," she said softly.
But as Iris made the mistake of relaxing—
Mary's hair shimmered.
It changed in a ripple of light—deepening from blue to lavender. Her eyes darkened into glowing violet. A tail swayed into view behind her, and small wings flicked once with impish energy.
Mira had taken over.
And she grinned.
"Iris~" she sang, stepping closer, hips swaying just a little too much. "So, how was it?"
"I—excuse me—!"
"That was your first kiss, wasn't it?" Mira teased, leaning in. "Did you lean in first or did he? Did you make a cute noise? I bet you made a cute noise."
Iris backed up. "I am not discussing this!"
"You totally melted against him, didn't you?"
Ciel, sipping her tea, added calmly, "It was a very sweet scene. We saw the whole thing from the window."
"C-Ciel?!" Iris turned, utterly betrayed.
Morgan crossed her legs. "We agreed to give them privacy."
Reyne snorted. "You agreed. I watched."
Hanabi was practically bouncing. "I wanted to open the door and throw petals at them, but Vira said no!"
Vira, sitting on the side with crossed arms, muttered, "You're lucky I didn't summon a wind blade and carve a heart in the tree."
Airi nodded once. "Logically inefficient, but romantically effective."
Mira leaned over Iris's shoulder and whispered wickedly, "So when are you going to ask for the second kiss?"
Iris shoved her back with both hands, flustered. "Mira—!"
But Mira was already laughing, tail swishing like a cat who found a new toy.
Mary's body shimmered again — and the succubus vanished.
Her soft blue hair returned, and gentle eyes blinked sheepishly. "…Sorry. She does that."
Iris sighed and lowered herself onto the floor cushion with theatrical exhaustion.
But as the teasing faded into giggles and conversation, she smiled.
Because even if they teased her…
Even if they saw everything…
They welcomed her like one of their own.
And that…
Felt like home.
Chapter 349 – "The Name They All Knew"
The afternoon sun warmed the Elwood house with golden calm. The garden breeze slipped through open windows, carrying the scent of sakura petals and citrus tea.
Everyone had gathered in the living room again — not for a grand event or battle, but for something far more dangerous.
Idle conversation.
Iris sat politely on a floor cushion, her blindfold in place, her posture graceful as ever. Her tone remained composed, even as she was slowly being interrogated by a room full of beautiful, powerful women who shared one thing in common:
They were all in love with Alex.
"So," Hanabi asked first, sipping juice and kicking her legs back and forth, "how old are you really?"
Iris smiled. "Twenty-two. Same as Mary."
Mary nodded. Mira muttered from inside: "Another adult in the house. Good."
Ciel added, "Where did you grow up?"
"A monastery in the northern mountains," Iris answered. "I was raised by priestesses and sent to the Vatican at age eleven."
Vira tilted her head. "Did you ever learn combat magic?"
"No," Iris said softly. "Only observation, shielding, and healing techniques."
Airi adjusted her glasses. "Do you have any affiliations? Noble house? Divine patrons?"
"I'm independent," Iris said. "I was born with a rare ocular blessing. The Vatican asked to study me, but I declined sponsorship."
Morgan leaned forward slightly. "Then what are you doing now?"
Iris folded her hands.
"I'm studying healing magic full-time. I recently became part of the joint translation and research team for the original Book of Aten."
Silence.
Utter.
Absolute.
A stillness fell over the room like a dropped spell.
Teacups paused midair.
Eyes widened.
Even Ciel blinked slowly, her hand frozen over a page.
And then—
All at once, every woman in the room turned and stared directly at Alex.
He had just entered the room holding a tray of sweets.
"…What?" he asked innocently.
No one spoke.
Until Iris tilted her head in confusion and asked softly:
"…Did I say something strange?"
Mira's voice echoed from within Mary, shocked and gleeful:
"You're studying the Book of Aten?"
Iris nodded carefully. "Yes. Why?"
Reyne stood up slowly. "How much have you read?"
"Only fragments. Our team is working through the outer healing sequences. It's the most advanced restorative magic we've ever seen."
Morgan's silver eyes narrowed. "And what do you know about Aten?"
Iris blinked, confused. "Nothing. That's the problem. No one knows who he really is. We've tried magical tracking, bloodline summoning, divine mapping—he left no trace."
She turned toward Alex, still holding the tray.
"…Why are they all looking at you?"
Alex didn't answer.
Not right away.
Because it was too late.
Ciel finally closed her book and said gently, but clearly:
"He is Aten."
Iris froze.
"…What?"
Morgan confirmed, voice flat: "Every spell in that book — he wrote."
Reyne crossed her arms. "The healings that baffled the gods? That was him."
Airi adjusted her glasses again. "No divine trace because there is no divine sponsor. He did it with his own will."
Hanabi grinned. "You kissed Aten."
Iris's mouth opened.
Closed.
Opened again.
"I—He—You're—"
Her face went scarlet beneath the blindfold.
Alex sighed and set the tray down on the table.
"…So much for staying anonymous."
Ten minutes had passed.
The tray of sweets sat untouched.
The tea had gone lukewarm.
And still, the room was wrapped in stunned silence — save for the occasional sound of someone whispering "He's Aten?" again under their breath.
Iris sat exactly where she had been, hands folded, head tilted slightly as if she were trying to hear through the weight of time itself.
Her voice, when it finally came, was quiet.
"…So you traveled through time."
Alex glanced at her.
She didn't sound doubtful.
Just… careful.
"You went into the past," she continued, "to a time when the land was dying. And you healed it. The people. The soil. The rivers."
Her breath trembled. "You wrote spells and systems no one understood, then left them behind when you disappeared."
Alex nodded once.
"Yes."
Simple.
Soft.
Undeniable.
Iris swallowed.
"…And that book… the Book of Aten…"
"You wrote it for them?" she asked. "For the people after you left?"
Alex looked at her for a long moment.
Then said, just as gently:
"Yes."
The silence that followed wasn't stunned anymore.
It was reverent.
Like they were no longer looking at the boy they loved…
But someone who had walked with civilizations and left miracles in his shadow.
And Iris?
She wasn't afraid.
She only whispered—
"…I should've ranked you higher."
Alex sat down slowly, folding his arms across his knees. His voice was quiet, but every word landed with weight.
"I didn't write everything," he said.
Everyone turned toward him again — this time not in shock, but listening.
"I wrote enough to heal people," he continued. "Enough that mortals… and even most gods… could learn from it. Simple recovery arrays. Organ regrowth. Cure spells for things divine magic can't even touch."
Ciel's golden eyes softened, recognizing the implication.
"But," he added, "I didn't write the highest-tier spells."
"What do you mean?" Iris asked softly.
Alex looked at her.
"The ones only I could use. Or the ones that only gods with deep healing affinity could understand — even after thousands of years."
He paused.
"I left out resurrection."
A ripple of silence passed through the room.
"I left out soul-seed recovery, memory re-threading, bloodline purification, divine lattice rebirth."
Hanabi blinked. "Wait… those are real spells?"
"They're mine," he said. "But the world isn't ready for them."
Nefertiti nodded quietly. "You mean... you chose not to give them everything."
Alex's gaze didn't waver. "Because some powers… shouldn't be taught freely."
Morgan rested her chin on one hand. "Resurrection. Soul-binding. Divine healing logic. If those fell into the wrong hands…"
Reyne finished coldly, "…They'd use it to make themselves immortal. Or worse — play god with others."
Iris lowered her head, speaking slowly.
"So the book we're studying… is only a part."
Alex nodded. "About a third. Maybe less."
"And the rest?"
He looked up at the sky.
"I carry it."
The air in the room was still.
Not heavy — but charged, like something vast was just beneath the surface.
Alex's voice broke the silence again.
"…One more thing."
Everyone looked at him.
Even the ones who already knew straightened — not out of surprise, but reverence.
Alex looked directly at Iris.
Calm.
Grounded.
"I'm the man who wore the high-tech black armor."
Iris froze.
Her lips parted slightly, confused.
But before she could speak, Reyne added softly from her seat, "The one who built the space fortress."
Morgan nodded once. "Second Light. That was his doing."
Hanabi's voice was softer now. "The world saw it. The whole sky changed that day."
Airi tapped the table gently. "More than twenty thousand meteorites, each carrying dimensional corruption, descending from the outer rim of Earth's orbital layer…"
Mira finished, eyes narrowed in admiration, "And he stopped all of them — with one fortress."
Iris blinked. "That… that was real?"
Alex nodded. "I built it quietly. Then I released it when I had to."
"No announcement. No title. No reward."
Ciel's voice carried warmth. "Because he didn't want to be known."
Amaterasu had once called it a divine-class miracle.
But Alex knew better.
He hadn't stopped twenty thousand meteorites to be praised.
He had done it… because no one else could.
And because someone had to.
Iris's breath trembled.
"…That was you."
Alex nodded.
Quiet. Steady.
"The whole world saw that armor in the sky," she whispered. "We all saw it — the meteors lighting up like stars… and being erased before they could touch us."
"You never showed your face. No one knew who you were."
She stared at him, blindfolded but wide-eyed beneath it.
"…Until now."
Alex didn't speak again.
He didn't need to.
Because in that moment — the pieces connected.
Aten. The healer. The builder of Second Light. The godless miracle.
They were all the same man.
Her man.
Chapter 350 – "He Chose to Stay Human"
The stars stretched wide over the darkened sky.
The wind on the rooftop was cool — not cold — brushing gently through the hanging wind chimes and flower boxes that lined the ledge. Above, the heavens glittered without judgment. No gods spoke. No thrones gazed down.
It was quiet.
And Iris sat at the edge of the roof, knees drawn in, her white sleeves fluttering faintly.
Ciel stood nearby, her long silver-blue hair trailing behind her, golden eyes reflecting the moonlight like still water.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Until Iris whispered,
"…They only know pieces, don't they?"
Ciel tilted her head slightly.
"The world," Iris continued. "The gods. The factions. The summits. The oracles. They all talk about him like he's some myth-in-progress."
"The boy who defeated Apollo."
"The man who punched Fenrir once and ended the fight."
"The mortal who made Amaterasu pregnant…"
"…And the one who claimed an elf princess."
Ciel nodded quietly. "That's all they know. A name with no face. A rumor with no center."
"They don't know he's Aten," Iris said, her voice shaking slightly. "They don't know he wrote the book they study in temples. They don't know he's the man in black armor who built a fortress in the sky and stopped more than twenty thousand corrupted meteorites from touching the Earth."
She looked down, gripping the edge of her robes.
"They don't know he walks beside us. That he still makes tea. That he still smiles when Yuka calls him Papa."
Her voice cracked.
"They only know his victories. But not his heart."
Ciel stepped forward.
"He wants it that way."
Iris turned to her slowly. "But why? He could have ruled. He could have ascended. He could've become a supreme god or more."
Ciel's expression didn't waver.
"He could have."
"But he didn't."
She sat beside Iris, folding her hands in her lap.
"He chose to stay human. Even when the divine gates were open to him. Even when the World Tree whispered his name. Even when fate itself began to warp to avoid binding him."
"Why?" Iris whispered.
Ciel looked at the sky.
"Because he never wanted to be worshipped."
"He only wanted to protect."
"Not as a god."
"Not as a symbol."
"But as a person."
She smiled faintly.
"That's why we love him. Because power didn't change him."
Iris looked down, trembling.
"…Then how can I stand beside someone like that?"
Her voice was small — not out of weakness, but awe.
"How do I walk next to someone who holds so much and still chooses to stay small?"
Ciel's answer came gently, without pause:
"You already are."
Iris blinked, stunned.
"You're already beside him," Ciel said, golden eyes meeting her blindfolded gaze. "Not because you matched his strength. But because you matched his heart."
"The rest of the world sees what he's done."
"But you saw him."
And that…
Was enough.
The stars still shimmered high above.
But the rooftop wind had grown cooler now — the kind of breeze that whispered it was time to return indoors.
Ciel stood slowly.
Then, without a word, she extended her hand to Iris.
Iris looked up, confused. "…Ciel?"
Ciel didn't explain.
She just smiled gently, like a sister who had been waiting.
"Come," she said.
Iris hesitated — then took her hand.
Together, they descended the stairs. The house was quiet. Lamps glowed dimly in the hall, casting long golden shadows.
They reached the familiar hallway.
Ciel stopped in front of the door.
Alex's room.
She opened it softly.
Warm light filtered out — and Iris blinked in surprise.
There were others already inside.
Morgan rested with a book in hand near the far wall. Reyne was curled lazily on a velvet cushion by the window. Mira, still in succubus form, stretched her arms behind her head atop a low couch, humming something mischievous. Ciel entered without hesitation, her movements elegant and quiet.
And in the center of the room—
Alex's bed.
Large. Deep. Soft with layers of blankets and half-filled with the quiet breathing of the women who had already claimed their place around him.
Amaterasu was not here tonight.
Hanabi and Airi were away on assignment.
Mary's body had already been claimed by Mira for the evening.
Yuka had gone back to Takamagahara.
And so—
Morgan looked up first. "Another one?"
Reyne smirked faintly. "About time."
Mira sat up, her lavender hair cascading down her shoulders. "We sleep with him every night. But when some of us are busy…" she winked, "openings happen."
Ciel gestured softly toward the empty space beside Alex's resting form.
He was already asleep — his breath steady, his expression peaceful.
"…He'll welcome you," Ciel said. "Just like he welcomed us."
Iris stood in the doorway, unmoving.
"I don't want to intrude—"
"You're not," Morgan said, flipping a page. "He kissed you. You're already part of this."
"You're one of us now," Reyne added simply.
Mira stretched again. "Come on. Don't make me pull you in. I'll do it."
Ciel chuckled softly.
And Iris…
She stepped forward.
She knelt beside the bed.
And as she looked down at Alex's sleeping face, she whispered,
"…Then let me stay."