"I thought…"
Riveria walked beside Rod, looking as if she had something to say but hesitated.
The streets of Orario gradually lit up with magic stone lamps.
In the corridor, Rod, holding Lili, narrowed his eyes and looked up at the moon, which had begun to replace the sun in illuminating the night.
"You thought I'd be impulsive enough to kill Soma myself?"
Riveria and Rod looked at the same starry sky, with gentle smiles.
"Yes, I'm always worried about you, but you've adapted to this city better than I imagined."
Rod detected a hint of disappointment hidden in Riveria's words, and turned to meet her emerald-like eyes.
"I don't dislike being cared for, you know."
Riveria's lips curved into a smile. Just as she was about to say something, her peripheral vision caught sight of a small figure in the courtyard below, sulking because it couldn't find an opponent.
This motherly Elf Royalty couldn't help but sigh with a headache, muttering a small complaint.
"…Is that so? I thought that when children get older, they always become rebellious, and only prefer to hear compliments and obedient words."
Rod didn't deny this change, but he himself maintained ample rationality.
"Unconditional flattery and agreement mostly stem from fear. That feeling might be great, but ultimately it will inevitably become lonely and uninteresting."
Ever since he gained his cheat, power was no longer his ultimate pursuit.
Because he clearly understood that if he continued to develop like this, he would eventually become stronger than everyone else.
In this process, in order to continue enjoying the pleasures of life, and to prevent his emotions from becoming distorted due to rapidly expanding power, he needed more human anchors to maintain his values.
Riveria, everyone from Astrea, and even Lili… they were all such presences.
Riveria sensed the reliance on her hidden in Rod's words, and as if casually, moved a step closer to Rod.
The Elf Royalty's arm and the human boy's arm pressed against each other, as if leaning on each other.
The warm and peaceful moment made this Elf Royalty wish to stay in this moment forever.
But unfortunately, it was ultimately fleeting…
It wasn't for any complex reason.
It was purely because they each had to go home. There were companions waiting for her below. She and Rod couldn't just live here, could they?!
If they really did that, the next day there would probably be scandals that would drive all the elves in the world crazy, spreading throughout the entire world…
Riveria felt a small pang of regret inside, her face slightly flushed as she brought up the final topic.
"This is the person you wanted to save… that Pallum goddess reincarnated? I can't tell at all…"
If Rod hadn't explained beforehand, Riveria would never have been able to connect this frail, thin Cinderella with that legendary great hero.
"Well, after all, her current life is indeed too weak. Perhaps only her command ability can still rival her previous life."
"…I always feel like I'm the ignorant newcomer in front of you."
Riveria always felt that Rod knew many things he shouldn't, but she didn't want to pry into Rod's secrets, only sighing with a touch of helplessness.
"It's time to leave. Come find me when you have time…"
Before her words finished, they felt the entire city seemingly tremble!
A light that swallowed everything illuminated all of Orario!
The sky shrieked, and the earth roared!
"That is—"
At Valka Red House, Hephaestus and Astrea stared blankly at the pillar of light soaring into the clouds, speechless.
[Only when a god from the Lower World is sent back will a spot open up in Heaven.]
[What if a spot opens up very soon…]
Astrea held the railing, recalling her conversation with Rod, and murmured with complex emotions.
"You fulfilled your promise in just two days… You accomplished everything on your own, without even relying on the power of a god. As expected, you are an existence that cannot be bound by the fate of gods."
Hephaestus's single eye widened, revealing an expression of disbelief.
"Hey, hey, hey, this couldn't have been that kid, could it…?! This really is…"
The immense light, beyond human comprehension, attracted the gaze of all adventurers and gods.
Goddesses on the upper floors of Babel gazing into the distance, lost in thought; gods gently welcoming their Familia members home; evil gods walking the streets, questioning justice…
All beings stopped in their tracks, silently watching this scene, various thoughts arising in their minds.
Unlike the previous rumors, once the matter fully fermented, Rod would likely become Orario's fastest legendary existence.
A few days ago, people's impression of him was still "he's quite fast," but they never expected that in a few days, it would completely reverse to "the one who banished a god."
Rod smiled as he watched the scene, everything within his expectations.
He had once considered how to perfectly fulfill Lili's wish.
The conclusion he reached was to achieve at least three conditions.
To completely free Lili from the Familia, both physically and psychologically.
To forcibly disband the Soma Familia, send everyone to prison, and then, at the appropriate time, make those individuals disappear one by one.
And… to send back Soma, the god who was the root of everything.
Thus, all traces of Lili's past oppression were completely erased by him in one night.
As for Rod himself.
He had avenged being morally kidnapped by monsters, and he had also used this matter to effortlessly create an opening for Hestia to descend to the Lower World.
He, Lili, the Loki Familia, Hestia… all of them were big winners because of this.
So who was the only loser?.