The former Matou Family estate had been reduced to a flat expanse of bare earth.
Even the recent ruins had vanished completely.
The underground Insect Chamber was gone without a trace.
This place could no longer be called the Matou Family estate, it was now merely the site where it once stood.
The rain had stopped, and the dark clouds dispersed across the inky night sky.
The moon and stars reappeared.
On the empty plain, a figure materialized.
He wore a long red robe and had short white hair.
His expression was one of helpless resignation as he surveyed the desolate landscape.
"This time, I truly can't clean up this mess," he murmured softly before his body dissolved like sand scattered by the wind.
...
The group from the small restaurant had returned.
In the end, Sakura pleaded for mercy on Tokiomi Tohsaka.
Though Hestia had intended to punish him, she relented out of consideration for Sakura's plea.
It was Sakura's kindness that Hestia truly cherished.
But Hestia had also made a decision.
She would take Sakura away, never allowing her to remain in this world again.
Her decision required no approval from Tokiomi, she merely asked Sakura and Yuto.
Upon receiving their assent, Hestia joyfully embraced Sakura.
After Sakura formally bid farewell to Tokiomi, the group departed from that world.
Now, Yuto sat behind the bar, while Hestia and Sakura sat together at the counter.
A smile finally bloomed on the little girl's face.
The Virgin Goddess beside her told jokes and teased Sakura, even resorting to comical antics that compromised her own dignity, all to make her laugh.
Watching this scene, Yuto let out a long sigh of relief.
"Is the Matou Family completely gone?" A drunken Lord El-Melloi II swayed as he asked Yuto.
Yuto smiled and nodded.
Before leaving, Hestia had annihilated the Matou Family, erasing them as cleanly as an eraser removes a smudge.
She even used her divine power to bury and seal the underground Insect Chamber.
The goddess had initially considered adding a curse or two, but after some deliberation, she refrained.
"I wonder what the Holy Grail War in that timeline will be like..." Lord El-Melloi II mused, his breath thick with alcohol.
Beside him, Iskandar burst into hearty laughter.
Whack!
He clapped Lord El-Melloi II on the back. "Why worry so much? You're not participating anyway!" the King chuckled freely.
"Idiot," Lord El-Melloi II retorted. "If history follows its course, another foolish version of me will inevitably go to Fuyuki City to join the Holy Grail War!"
The Lord El-Melloi II sitting in the restaurant now was once Waver Velvet.
He wondered what his younger self would be like in this moment.
This involved countless parallel timelines, which piqued his curiosity.
"There's no need to overthink it," Iskandar said magnanimously. "What's meant to happen will happen, and what has already happened is done. Just keep moving forward without regrets, no matter what."
With a hearty laugh, he raised his wine glass again.
Lord El-Melloi II's face turned green.
He really couldn't take any more!
Yuto listened to Lord El-Melloi II's words, his own curiosity stirred.
Having learned about his past during their trip to Sakura's world, Yuto understood why the magus had initially opposed going.
The parallel timeline issue had weighed heavily on his mind.
In the Holy Grail War Lord El-Melloi II had participated in, the Matou Family had been a major player.
But now, they had fallen.
What would happen next?
Yuto glanced at Sakura, who was laughing happily nearby.
A faint smile played on his lips as a sense of relief washed over him.
Why was he overthinking things? It had nothing to do with him.
Sakura's genuine smile was the only thing that truly mattered in this moment.
There was no need to dwell on anything else.
"Speaking of which, Rimuru, is the Death Knight Ainz summoned yesterday still alive?" Yuto turned to look at the slime, who was still engrossed in reading a light novel.
The trio were all reading together.
"Yes, it's still alive!" Rimuru replied, looking up at Yuto with a hint of surprise.
The answer to this question was crucial.
Hearing Rimuru's confirmation, Yuto's expression relaxed.
"That's great!" Ainz exclaimed, slapping the table in excitement.
He had been so absorbed in the light novel that he had forgotten to ask.
Now that Rimuru had confirmed it, he was overjoyed.
Saitama watched the two with a puzzled expression, still unaware of what was going on.
Yuto chuckled at the trio before turning his gaze to Hestia and Sakura. "Hestia, have you decided where Sakura will stay?"
When they left, Hestia had only said she would take Sakura with her, without specifying which world she would leave her in.
At his question, Hestia's face froze in surprise.
A distinct look of blankness and confusion spread across the Goddess's face.
The moment Yuto saw that expression, he knew this clueless goddess hadn't thought through her next move at all.
"Can't you ever think things through?" Yuto said, half-laughing in exasperation.
He chopped the goddess with the edge of his hand.
She glared at him like an enraged cat. "I am a goddess! A GODDESS! Don't treat me so casually!"
"Alright, alright, Goddess-sama. Then could you tell me where you plan to take Sakura?"
As Yuto asked this, the goddess, who had been baring her fangs just moments before, deflated.
"Hehehe... Well, you know... you can decide that for me~" Hestia said, her hands clasped behind her back, adopting a coquettish tone.
This adorable, pleading demeanor was a complete contrast to her earlier majestic bearing.
Yuto sighed helplessly.
He glanced at Sakura, who looked worried, and a gentle smile tugged at his lips as he patted the little girl's head.
"Sakura, would you rather go to Hestia's world with this unreliable goddess, or stay here with me?"
Now that it was proven they could stay in other worlds for extended periods, there was no reason Sakura couldn't remain in Yuto's world.
His question made Hestia's eyes light up, sparkling like stars. "Can Sakura come with me?! Really?!"
The goddess gazed at Yuto with fervent excitement, and he nodded with a gentle smile.
Hestia's reaction had already revealed the depth of her affection for Sakura, so Yuto readily agreed to let Sakura go to her world.
Hestia turned to Sakura, her eyes brimming with longing.
Sakura stared at Hestia for a moment, initially stunned.
Then, she smiled helplessly. "I'm willing to go with you, onee-sama."
Sakura's sweet smile was too much for Hestia to bear!
She embraced Sakura, bursting into a storm of tears.
After Sakura agreed, Hestia decided to take her away right then.
"Take this for now," Yuto said, handing the impulsive goddess some money with a resigned sigh.
Hestia paused, looking up at him with a puzzled expression.
"Since we've decided to bring Sakura back, we can't let her suffer with you. Take this money for now to get by." Yuto smiled gently at Hestia.
He felt a pang of helplessness.
The moment he saw the confusion in Hestia's eyes, he knew she hadn't given any thought to Sakura's future life.
Hestia's face lit up with emotion at his words.
In an instant, she was on the verge of tears.
"Alright, this money isn't a gift. I'll keep track of it all, Goddess-sama. You'll have to work twice as hard to pay it back later." Yuto's smile faded slightly as he finished speaking, and Hestia's gaze darkened with disappointment.
"Okay..." the goddess murmured, her voice subdued.
Sakura, who was holding Hestia's hand, noticed her dejected expression.
The little girl's eyes softened with tenderness and concern.
She squeezed Hestia's hand.
Hestia looked at Sakura, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"Onee-sama, let's work hard together," Sakura said earnestly.
The Goddess's eyes reddened, and her nose twitched several times, as if she were about to burst into tears.
Watching this scene unfold, Yuto couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
'Who's the adult here, anyway?'
As Hestia and Sakura reached the doorway, the goddess stopped, as if struck by a thought.
"Kamisaka, come here," Hestia said, turning to face him.
A faint blush lingered on her cheeks, making her look like a girl about to give her boyfriend a gift!
Yuto walked over, curious on what's she's about to do.
He stood just a little over half a head taller than the goddess.
Hestia looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with a mix of excitement and shyness, like a tranquil pool of water rippled by a gentle breeze.
"What is it, Hestia?" Yuto asked, but the Goddess didn't answer.
Instead, she threw herself at him, just as Shoko had done when they parted earlier.
Before Yuto could react, he felt a dampness spreading across his neck.
"In the name of Hestia, I bestow upon you my blessing. May you carry my grace forward..."
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