In that situation, Lady Gaia finally stepped in and personally peeled Lady Nyx away from me, since she had clung to me and refused to let go.
"Hiiing. Why...?"
"You are still far too soft on your children."
"Well, of course I am!"
"...You have no intention of denying it."
"Nope! My feelings for my children have never changed."
"...I see. You truly have not changed at all."
And as Lady Gaia conversed with Lady Nyx, she turned her gaze toward me.
"...So. You've been made to see an unsightly scene."
"N-no, not at all. I am perfectly fine."
"By the way... Nyx."
"Hm? What is it?"
"I was told this child is the vessel of you and Erebus. How much of your power has he taken in?"
"Mm... not much yet. Maybe around ten percent? Still, our youngest is a child of exceptional talent, even compared to other heroes, so he can grow stronger by accepting more of our power."
"Even if he were to take in as much as possible, his human limits would likely cap him at forty to fifty percent at best."
"...You think rather highly of me."
"It is a judgment based on your talent. I was told you killed that son of Poseidon with nothing more than a basic blessing."
"I see..."
"Even so, the limits of your birth will hold you back. Unlike the other heroes of this age, you were born without divine blood. You are a complete human."
"...."
"You have likely understood that much yourself, having walked alongside the others."
"...Yes."
"But Gaia. Our youngest is inheriting our power, is he not?"
"I know. Thanks to that, the child who was already outstanding with nothing but human blood has gained wings that may carry him to far greater heights. But even so, his birth remains a problem."
"..."
"The limits imposed by his origin will become an issue someday."
As Lady Gaia spoke with Lady Nyx, the suspicions I had carried alone hardened into certainty.
"Hey! Gaia! Why bring up such a heavy matter?"
At Lady Nyx's shout, Lady Gaia answered with a blank expression.
"It was a truth the child would have needed to learn someday. Besides... it seemed he had already guessed some of it."
"Even so...!"
"I am fine. To be honest... I do not feel particularly troubled by it."
When Lady Nyx reacted strongly to Lady Gaia's words, I hurriedly stopped her.
"...Why? Why do you not grow angry? Why do you accept it? If one were told such a thing, most would be consumed by rage and resentment..."
At my reaction, Lady Gaia looked at me in puzzlement and asked about the words I had spoken.
"And you too... do not feel that way?"
"No. That is why I ask. Why do you walk a path different from the others of this age, and why do you advance along such a harsh road as though it were nothing?"
"Because... someone has to do it. It will be hard for now. Until now, I have clashed with many of those who came before me, and I will likely continue to do so."
"...And you know all of that, yet still..."
"Because I know it. I know that if I simply leave it be, nothing will ever improve. On the contrary, it will only grow more chaotic. So I move forward knowing all of that. Even if there is no reward waiting ahead, I know the road will be rough."
At Lady Gaia's words, I laid bare the thoughts I had never spoken to anyone before.
"Even so... so that someday, when time passes and someone with the same convictions and thoughts as mine appears and walks the same road I do now, I may be of some small help."
"So... even knowing all of that, even though you are not understood right now, you are staking everything on an uncertain future that may come someday."
"Yes. And... I would appreciate it if you would stop saying that I am not understood by everyone. Those who walk with me are with me on this path."
After my words ended, Lady Gaia looked directly at me, then withdrew her gaze.
"...I acknowledge it. Your intent and your will. Nyx. You have won."
"Fufu. I told you, Gaia. Our youngest is different."
"Yes. Truly... to think there was still a human like this left. In a place full of those I find disagreeable, he is a child worth acknowledging."
"Isn't it just because he isn't Zeus's son that you like him?"
"Hmph. That is not a small part of it."
"What in the world is this situation?"
As Lady Gaia and Lady Nyx exchanged light conversation in a mood that was clearly different from before, the heavy atmosphere from moments ago vanished and lighter words began to pass between them. I stared at the two of them in confusion.
"Ah. We should explain it to our youngest."
Perhaps noticing my expression, Lady Nyx spoke to me.
"Ahem. Youngest. The truth is, before you came here, Gaia and I made a wager. Whether you would truly be like the others—whether you would be ruled by desire, or whether you would be rational."
"So that means..."
"Yes. I'm sorry for not telling you in advance."
"N-no, I understand that such a thing could happen..."
"Then that is a relief. In any case, thanks to our youngest, I won a wager for the first time in a long while. What do you think, Gaia?"
"...Yes. You have indeed won, Nyx."
After Lady Nyx explained the situation, Lady Gaia lifted the corners of her mouth just slightly and, before me and Lady Nyx, let the expression that had remained rigid finally soften.
"Yes. Your name was... Astellon, was it not?"
"...Yes."
"I have understood your intent well enough. Come closer."
"...Yes."
Though I was briefly puzzled by Lady Gaia's words, seeing Lady Nyx's tranquil expression, I slowly approached Lady Gaia.
"Closer."
Even after I had moved to within a few steps of Lady Gaia, she told me to come nearer still, and so I went closer to her.
When I finally stood directly before Lady Gaia, she told me to kneel. At her words, I knelt before her.
"Astellon. Man acknowledged by me. Now, in this place, I shall bestow my blessing upon you."
And then Lady Gaia used her power to grant me her blessing.
"The magecraft used against you from this day forth shall not display its full might. Your body shall not be wounded by most weapons. And you shall shine more brilliantly than anyone else."
"This is..."
"All of this I bestow upon you in the name of Gaia. There. It is done. Astellon. Your blessing now rests safely upon you."
"I-is that so?"
"Yes. I shall take my leave now."
"Ah, understood."
After that, following Lady Gaia's words, I left this place and returned to the castle.
After Astellon had withdrawn, Nyx looked at Gaia, who was still staring at the place where he had disappeared, and spoke to her.
"So. Your evaluation?"
"...You saw it yourself. I personally bestowed my blessing upon that child. That should have been answer enough."
"I see~"
"...Nyx. You are quite remarkable as well."
"Hm? In what way?"
"To try to overcome the limits of bloodline. The restrictions of the body."
As Gaia answered Nyx, she turned to face her.
"To make that child—Astellon—receive even my blessing, all so he could ascend safely as a god."
"Hmm~ So you knew after all?"
"Yes."
"That's right. I intend to raise our youngest into a god. But there are a few things I need to prepare for that."
"So your blessing, and having Astellon marry goddesses, were part of those preparations?"
"Well... if I am being honest, yes. My blessing, Erebus's blessing, and yours. Continuous exposure to divinity through marriage to goddesses. We are finally approaching the end of the preparations needed to raise our youngest into godhood. However, it is still not complete. Our youngest's soul has been forged, but the vessel that will contain it—his body—is not yet finished. It will take time for the blessing to settle fully, and his body must remain exposed to divinity. Still, that will not take very long."
"...To think you were hiding such plans behind that usual face of yours. It's been a long time since you moved like this."
"Indeed. Still... I want to make our youngest ascend to godhood as quickly as possible. If I want him to truly decide that he will become a god, then maintaining close ties with those who are not bound by mortality would be best. Or there is also the method of marriage to a goddess. From what I have seen recently, our youngest seems to have won the favor of Hestia and Athena without even realizing it."
"You really intend to marry your son off again... Are you serious?"
"To be honest... I do not want to keep increasing the number. If I did, our youngest would have less time to spend with us. But if he becomes a god, then eternity will give him more than enough time."
Gaia was astonished that Nyx had been hiding such a plan behind her innocent face until just now. And Nyx, gazing at Gaia's face, opened her mouth again.
"Say, Gaia."
"What is it now?"
"You... happen to be thinking of remarrying?"
"W-what is that supposed to mean all of a sudden, Nyx?!"
At Nyx's solemn tone, Gaia shouted back in shock.
"Exactly what I said. You've been alone for quite a long time, haven't you? That's why I brought it up."
"...Is that really all?"
"What about our youngest? Isn't he a rather good match? Even if he is still human for now, he is destined to become a god soon."
"You madwoman? Are you seriously saying that?!"
"Yes. If you were to marry him, I could raise him to godhood even faster than planned."
"Ha..."
"Our youngest is a pretty good match, isn't he? His skill and his character are both excellent!"
"Enough. What about the age difference?"
"That much is fine. Our youngest already has two goddesses as wives. And from what I can see, there are at least three more goddesses who are interested in him."
"...Are you really calling that a boast?"
"Hehe. Think about it seriously once. If the other party is you, I would welcome it."
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