"That is what it means for a power to be something that should not exist in the lower world."
"At this rate... the lower world will be reduced to nothing but scorched earth and ashes."
Bell and his companions were hearing the same story.
Hermes spoke with a detached composure, explaining the sheer lethality of the [First Flame].
"The lower world turned to ashes... can such a thing truly happen?"
Haruhime expressed her deep concern, visibly shaken by the shocking revelation.
It was a tragic irony that [Olympia], a city that seemed like a fleeting dream, harbored such a devastating secret.
"Good grief. They call it a sanctuary, but it's just a bomb waiting to go off, isn't it?"
Aisha's cold assessment cut through the air.
Acting as Hermes' right hand and a primary combatant for this expedition alongside Ryu, she found herself suddenly facing a global catastrophe. Her cynicism was well-founded.
"Quite the impressive nation, this [Eternal Sanctuary]."
At those words, Ilya and her companions looked down in guilt, apologizing for dragging the group into such a sudden crisis.
"It's not your fault, Ilya. If anything, you've been the ones preventing it from spiraling out of control until now, haven't you?"
Hermes offered words of consolation, signaling that they needed a solution rather than a conflict.
"You are correct. Lord Prometheus has provided a method of salvation."
Eton, catching the god's intent, immediately began to relay the words he had received from Prometheus.
"There is only one way to purify the corruption of the [Flame of Heaven]."
He shifted his gaze.
"We have no choice but to remove it using the power of a goddess who governs fire."
The goddesses he was referring to were undoubtedly Hestia and Hephaestus, who stood right where his eyes landed.
"....?"
However, a lingering question remained in Ryu's mind.
'The gods of the lower world have their Arcanum sealed... how exactly do they intend to solve this?'
'Is there some [Miracle]... still remaining within the gods that we don't know about?'
As Ryu pondered this, the image of a single existence who had shown her the most [Miracles] flashed through her mind.
"!!"
'Could it be...!'
A man who had wielded divine power to manifest miracles.
Having witnessed such impossible phenomena firsthand, she began to form a hypothesis.
"So that was the reason. Calling for Hestia and Hephaestus..."
"Did you already know, Lady Freya?"
Freya spoke calmly, as if she had expected this.
"Yes. Actually, this is a story most gods are aware of."
That was why so many gods had shown interest when the envoys from [Olympia] arrived. They had wondered why the people there, who should have been under Prometheus's charge, were suddenly making contact with the outside world.
"Then it would be best to find Lord Prometheus and speak with him..."
"That's not possible. Or rather, I should say it's something we cannot do."
Just like during the incident at Elsos, the world was in peril due to [Arcanum]. Akumo wanted to meet Prometheus, the party directly involved, to resolve the matter as quickly as possible, but—
"Prometheus has never shown his face, even in the heavens."
"What does that..."
"The only one who has actually seen his face is likely Zeus. Every other god simply heard the stories from Zeus in the first place."
"!!"
'Just what did that old man do...?'
The clues for a resolution were currently shrouded in mist. As it stood, there was no clear path forward.
"It seems there was no point in following them this far."
"Sigh... I suppose you're right, Hedin."
'In the end, must I make contact?'
Akumo decided that further tailing was meaningless. He judged that he needed to meet Bell and share information with them.
Fwoosh—!!!
Meanwhile, while Akumo was outside, Bell's group had stepped into the inner sanctum of the Great Temple.
"This is... the [Flame of Heaven].... The [First Flame] that is said to exist only in the heavens...!"
Bell was captivated by the fierce blaze burning before his eyes.
"It is truly divine...."
Haruhime was no different. They were overwhelmed by the beauty and the divine aura radiating from it.
Fwoosh—!!
However, the sight of blackness spreading through the fire, contaminating the color of the flames, allowed them to guess its current state.
"""..."""
"Goddess...."
At that sight, the faces of Hestia, Hephaestus, and Hermes hardened as they fell into thought. Bell called out to Hestia with concern.
"Are you worried?"
Hestia gave Bell a warm smile.
"I am a god, after all. It won't be easy, but it can be solved."
"R-Really!?"
"Of course! So don't make such an anxious face. Your smile is what gives me energy, Bell!"
Her warm words soothed Bell's worries and brought smiles to the faces of Eton and the shrine maidens.
"Hearing you say that puts our minds at ease. We shall begin our preparations as well."
"When the time comes, the oracle of Prometheus will descend. Until then, please rest."
As Eton spoke and had the shrine maidens escort them to their quarters—
"As a side note, it is best not to wander around at night. No matter the reason."
"Is it forbidden...?"
"Yes. When night falls, miasma fills the streets, which will have an adverse effect on the body."
"Indeed, if it's this flame, anything might be possible."
Heeding Eton's warning, Ryu and Aisha kept the concept of the flame's miasma in mind as they headed to the lodging with the rest of the group.
Step, step—
Eton watched their departing backs.
"....Soon, everything will be purified."
Looking at something, he spoke with absolute certainty. His eyes were fixed on the blue glow hanging from someone's back.
"So it really is the power of a god...."
That night, while Bell's group marveled at the scenery of the sanctuary from their lodging, someone else was lost in thought while looking at the night landscape.
Thud—!
"Sigh....."
Akumo was no different. Before trying to sleep in the room prepared on the ship, he stepped outside to view the scenery.
Fwoosh—!!
There, he came face to face with the miasma contained within the divine flame.
"Good grief...."
'So it was because of this...'
He realized what the miasma contained within it was, and the reason why he hadn't been summoned.
No, the reason why he shouldn't have been summoned.
Step, step—
The next morning, Akumo's group left the ship and walked through the city once more.
"Did you sleep well? You don't look very good."
"Not particularly. I just feel like things are about to get noisy again..."
Perhaps because of the scenery from the previous night, Akumo walked with a rather uncomfortable expression.
"If you're saying that much..."
"Right. It won't be a simple fight."
'If push comes to shove, I should send them back immediately....'
With those thoughts, the group entered the city proper.
Akumo decided to have Freya and Artemis wait in the plaza while he investigated the city with Hedin.
"Please wait here for a moment. If you happen to spot Bell's group, join up with them immediately."
"I understand, Akumo. Artemis and I will look for Hestia or Hephaestus."
Freya smiled at him, having read the concern on his face and wanting to ease his burden.
"Don't worry, and off you go."
"Of course."
Akumo answered immediately and vanished from the spot with Hedin and Horn.
The three of them moved quickly through the city, and one particular thing caught their eyes.
Fwoosh—!!
"So that is the flame..."
"It never goes out and supposedly protects them from the miasma?"
Flames were placed periodically along the streets. This was the reason the city flourished despite the absence of Falna or a Dungeon.
"A city where the flame literally breathes life into it... is that it..."
However, despite seeing the flames, Horn's face was filled with suspicion.
"The surrounding city, the people... everything is beautiful."
"Indeed.... The architecture, the scenery, the goods, the flowers, everything...."
Everything was glowing beautifully, as if the flame itself resided within them.
It was a sight where everything lived in harmony with the flame.
"It seems we won't get any more information this way."
Akumo took in the entire scene. He told Hedin and Horn, who were following him, that he was entrusting the goddesses to them.
And then, he vanished.
""!?""
The two were naturally taken aback by Akumo's sudden disappearance.
"Where on earth did that man go...!!"
Horn was furious at Akumo's impulsive behavior and tried to find him, but—
".....Let's head back."
"Mr. Hedin!?"
"As he said, the wisest course of action for us is to protect the goddesses."
Hedin, as if he had read Akumo's thoughts, glanced in a certain direction before leaving to return to where the goddesses were waiting.
"....Ugh, everyone is so selfish...!"
Horn was irritated by their tendency to act without explanation, but she suppressed her anger for the sake of the goddess and left the area.
Whistle—!
In the opposite direction from them, the Great Temple of Prometheus, situated on a massive mountain, came into view.
========================
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