Bell's party explored [Olympia], scattered throughout the ancient city.
"These are all items from regions we never see in Orario..."
"Even the currency... they're using ancient copper coins."
Lilliluka Arde, Mikoto, and Haruhime wandered the streets with Hermes and Asfi, meeting the people of Olympia.
Clang—!
Clang—!
"They're hammering in perfect unison, like a mirror image...! Incredible!"
Welf Crozzo, Hephaestus, Aisha, and Ryu Lion stopped by the city's sole forge, observing the scene within.
"..."
Of course, the expressions of the Gods accompanying them weren't particularly bright.
'A beautiful... city.'
'Flame is contained within everything...'
Meanwhile, Bell Cranel moved through the city accompanied by Hestia and Illya.
Thwack—!!!!!
"Puhak!?"
Naturally, their journey was anything but quiet.
"You pest, disturbing the heart of the Virgin Goddess Hestia!"
"Realize that as long as you breathe, you are a heavy burden to the Goddess!"
Just as in their first meeting, Illya remained wary of Bell, her affection for Hestia bordering on the excessive.
"Please, at least say something that makes sense!"
Bell continued to be dragged along by her whims, his expression one of perpetual distress.
"To think you are the leader of her Familia! The others must surely be doing nothing but leaning on Hestia's mercy!"
However, Illya's words finally struck a nerve regarding Bell's companions.
"...!"
Grip—!
"I don't care about myself, but do not speak ill of Lili and the others! They are not 'bad' followers!"
Bell, rarely showing anger, countered her words firmly. Just as the atmosphere threatened to turn leaden—
"STOP~!!!!!!!!!!"
Hestia threw herself between them, mediating the conflict.
"Both of you, cease this bickering in the middle of the street! It is disrespectful to me as well!"
""We are sorry...""
Chastened by Hestia's scolding, the two grew quiet, but Hestia realized that proper sightseeing would be impossible at this rate.
'Hmm... A way to sightsee without fighting...'
Snap—!
"That's it!"
After a moment of deliberation, Hestia snapped her fingers as a clear solution struck her.
"Bell-kun! Tell me a place you wish to see! I shall grant you the favor of heading there!"
Ssh—
"I leave the guiding to you, Illya. Do it with all your heart~"
""W-What!!!?""
Bell was flustered by the sudden choice, and Illya was utterly aghast at the prospect of guiding Bell to a place of his choosing.
"What are you saying!? I-I..."
"Illya~"
Grin—!
"Surely you aren't planning to ignore 'my will' when I am showing mercy to my follower~?"
"Ugh...!?"
She loathed the idea of guiding Bell, but the choice was framed as Hestia's act of benevolence. Trapped in an inescapable dilemma, Illya ultimately had no choice but to comply.
'Goddess Hestia... she's starting to get used to handling Illya...'
Step, step—
Ultimately, following Hestia's command, Illya had to lead them to the location Bell desired.
"The inner part of the temple we visited yesterday... Is this place...?"
The location Bell had requested was 'the place tied to the Hero Epimetheus.'
"...Yes. This is where Prometheus-sama's stone monument stands. The sacred hill where the [Great Hero] of Olympia offered his prayers to the heavens..."
Ssh—
"And the altar where he received the [Sword of Epimetheus]."
Illya's gaze fell upon the crimson greatsword embedded in the altar.
"Then this is...! The Divine Artifact of flame that forged a legend alongside Epimetheus!!"
A beautiful, crimson greatsword, carved as if it were made of frozen fire, stood there. Bell's eyes sparkled, his excitement surging at the sight of the legendary object he had only dreamed of.
"Epimetheus-kun... the one you mentioned back at the Home?"
"Yes! A magnificent warrior who was active in the [Ancient Times]! He predates even the Fianna Knights and the Argonaut...!"
"He was a Great Hero who went on numerous expeditions, saving not just Olympia but other continents as well!"
Bell joyfully explained Epimetheus's history to Hestia, moved by the fact that the Great Hero truly existed.
"The monsters he slew numbered in the tens of thousands...! Epimetheus, who protected the people, was called the [Conqueror who brought Elpis]!"
"Elpis...?"
Hestia voiced her curiosity at the term, and Illya took over the explanation.
"It is an archaic word originating from Olympia."
"The meaning of that word is... [Hope]."
Before it was called Olympia, this continent was a hotbed of disaster.
"Ravaged by monsters, riddled with plague, and rampant with crime... the [Pithos of Calamity]."
"That is why they believed in hope! In [Elpis]!"
Grin—!
The simple fact of treading upon the land where the Great Hero once stood filled Bell with joy.
Step—
"And that was when he appeared!"
Step—
Perhaps that joy was not meant to last.
Approaching footsteps came to a halt just as Bell's words reached their crescendo.
"The hero and the greatest [Fool]."
"The foolish master of the sword that stands before your eyes."
"To come seeking such a [Substandard Hero]... your tastes are quite peculiar, aren't they?"
It was Eton who had found them.
He looked upon Epimetheus not as a hero, but as a failure who couldn't... or rather, stopped short of becoming one.
"Eton-san... why would you say such a thing..."
"What do you mean?"
"Epimetheus is the Great Hero of Olympia... isn't he?"
At Bell's words, Eton calmly recounted the tale of Epimetheus that had never reached the outside world.
"He gave the world hope, but in the end, he achieved nothing."
"Every single one of his expeditions ended in failure."
"The Behemoth of the land, the Leviathan of the sea, even the Antares of the secluded regions... he could not defeat any of them."
The cold reality was that while he provided hope, he failed to reach a practical resolution.
"And so the world fell into despair and disappointment."
"!!"
Only then could Bell read the hidden meaning within the books he had read.
—'In the age of glory, the man offered hope. Like a heat haze that vanishes into nothingness.'
—'In the age of decline, the man shouldered despair. The sweet dream betrayed him like the shadows of the setting sun.'
The books were not recounting his success.
"Epimetheus's glory... and his decline..."
To be precise, they were records of his failures.
"In truth, the Lower World does not recognize Epimetheus."
"....."
"A fool who accomplished nothing. A substandard existence."
Eton's words spoke of a ruthless and frigid reality.
"A mere jester. That is what Epimetheus is."
"....."
However, those words could not be considered entirely correct.
—'I just came here to fight.'
—'If you are warriors...!!! Then fight for what you want!!!!!!'
Even if the goal was not achieved, even if the goal itself was a jester's play.
Just like the warriors who fought with all their might and led a sublime stage.
—'This is a battle that will not be recorded in history!!!!'
Like the followers of the Jester who risked their lives to fight for everyone, even though it was a battle destined to be forgotten.
Flare—!!
Clang—!!
He recalled the fierce flames and sword pressure that burned with everything they had.
"...Certainly, Epimetheus might be a suffering jester."
The boy who grew up reading the stories of heroes had become an adventurer who shone even brighter through the stories of jesters.
That was why he could smile even more broadly.
Grin—!
"Even so... even if he is the same kind of [Jester], I like Epimetheus more than the Argonaut!"
""!!""
At his answer, Illya and Eton were momentarily filled with shock.
"Even if he is criticized as a failure, Epimetheus was a warrior who summoned his courage and clearly fought for what he wanted."
That was the confident answer the matured Bell could provide.
".....You are quite an interesting person."
Eton smiled at Bell's response.
What meaning was contained within that smile?
Step, step—
"Follow me!"
"Uwoah!?"
Then, as if trying to silence Bell, Illya grabbed him and ran out of the temple.
"...Goddess Hestia. Vesta, who presides over the Sacred Flame."
Leaving the two behind, Eton slowly spoke to Hestia as if seeking some kind of answer.
"What is it? Have you found the mind to speak of other things? Lord of the Divine Raiment."
".....It seems the time has not yet come."
Step, step—
"If that child is truly a hero, he will show it naturally."
Leaving behind those meaningful words, Eton slowly departed from the spot.
"To avoid conversation with me... is it [Guilt]...?"
Grip—!!!!
"If not that..."
The shadows of anger and guilt visible in his retreating figure were surely no illusion of hers.