Souls To Be Equals in Due Course (III)

Hoot, hoot.

Fou, fou.

Hoot, hoot!

Fooou! Fooou!

It's nice to see you getting along so well with Minerva, Fou. Is this the first bird friend you've ever made?

Fou...

Hoot. Hoot!

Fo!?

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So that mechanical owl is a terminal for Athena, huh. And here I thought it was some kind of weapon or something.

I mean, it was that owl who made the sound that let us escape from the gods that one time, right?

Yes, you could say it's also a weapon.

Oh?

It's part of the Authority Athena left behind.

At this point, it is simply a terminal, with no knowledge of its godly nature...

...but it was still able to interfere with the god-made leyline by synchronizing with Prometheus-Hephaestus.

Now that you mention it...

...there's something about that owl that reminds me of Paris's Apollo terminalthe one that helped us in Atlantis.

Maybe there's something all the coexistence faction gods' terminals have in common.

I knew it!

...Yes. I think so, too.

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...Now then.

Chaldeans. God Destroyer Alliance members.

I must apologize for keeping my identity secret all this time.

Even though we have put our fates in each others' hands, I regret that I did not even show you my face until now.

And if that weren't bad enough, I even put your lives in danger the last time we met...

Please, pay it no mind.

Now that we know you were actually something of a spy, we cannot blame you for trying to maintain your cover.

If anything, I must applaud you for managing to do so in the face of an omnipotent god.

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Me too! Back when we first came face-to-face with the gods...

...I don't think we would have survived if that owl hadn't intervened...

Oh yeah, they would have chewed us up like soggy udon, so you definitely saved us!

...It's all right, Lady Europa. Please, hold your head high.

Yeah. The alliance would've fallen apart some time ago if you hadn't helped us.

Don't worry. We know you're not like Zeus, and we don't hold a grudge against you.

...Thank you, everyone.

It may not be my place to say anything, since I didn't experience the tragedy of the Olympia Machia for myself...

But even despite that...I could not bear to simply remain on the sidelines any longer.

Hoot, hoot, hoot.

Thank you, Minerva.

I am Europa, a Heroic Spirit of Proper Human History.

Though the Lord Zeus of this Lostbelt may care for me, he is not the Lord Zeus I knew from Proper Human History.

He rejected his duty to entrust the fate of this world to humanity, and decided to rule everything himself.

I find this to be a clear sign that he thinks humans weak and incapable of fending for ourselves.

...As you surely know, Lady Europa, all of Europe is said to be named after you.

In Proper Human History, Zeus fell in love with you, and chose you to serve as queen.

You eventually went on to give birth to the founding kings of many other dynasties.

I suspect that, as the progenitor to all of Europe, you feel a duty to watch over humanity, and that you still feel strongly connected to them.

No doubt that is why you had no choice but to defy nature itself.

...Humanity. Proper Human History.

Truth be told, I am not entirely sure myself.

The fact is, I love all people. Not only those from Proper Human History, but from this Lostbelt as well.

Even if there is no Europe to be found in this Lostbelt...

...I still love Adele, and Macarios, and every other Olympian as though they were my own children.

Lady Europa...

And that is why...

...I cannot accept Zeus's decision.

I cannot let him continue to keep my children close at hand, without ever giving them a chance to grow.

I can understand the urge to keep children young and innocent, for that is a dream many parents have at times.

But...to actually do so...

To actually keep them stilted and suspended...

...for a span of ten thousand years...

...is something I cannot, and will not tolerate!

Not even if that is what Zeus himself has decided is best!

...

...Lady Demeter once expressed this belief as well. In response, Zeus recalibrated her Divine Core, causing her to go mad.

Do you mean to say Zeus has made modifications to other gods then?

Yes, he has.

It was Zeus burning Lady Aphrodite that made her forget how to love, and caused her to lose one of her two sides.

It is said there were four gods who stood by Zeus during the Olympia Machia...

...but the reality could not be farther from the truth.

The truth is, none of the other gods stood with Zeus.

So he killed five of them, and brought the remaining five over to his side with sheer force.

The remaining five...? H-hold on, please.

The gods who survived the fourth machia...

...were Artemis, Poseidon, Demeter, Aphrodite

And me, Hephaestus. Though in my case, Zeus chose not to destroy me completely...

...but kept my brain alive in order to help run Olympus more efficiently.

Though of course, for my part, I've been synching up with Prometheus and cutting off Zeus's supervision network...

And together, he and I became the alliance's Collaborators.

So we're talking about a god who controls people AND other gods, huh.

...Yikes.

I hope you can forgive me for speaking so plainly in front of you, Your Majesty.

Of course. Frankly...I have felt the same way for a long time.

Lord Zeus was so loving in Proper Human History, but...

Ahh... Here in this Lostbelt...

...he chose to become something truly frightening.

Now, no one can reason with him.

Not me... Nor Lady Hera...

Lady Europa...

...It is still too soon to weep tears of sorrow, Great Mother Europa.

Now that we are all here together at last, we shall be the ones to finally slay him.

So please, dry your tears, O loving Europa, for our God Destroyer Alliance is now joined by Chaldea!

And your tears will be much sweeter when they are tears of victory.

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...Thank you, Caligula. Thank you, Fujimaru.

Yes, you're right. You're so right...

There will be plenty of time for tears later. I am here now to lend you my aid!

Prometheus-Hephaestus, I now offer you all the magical energy I have saved up over these many years!

Use it to complete the Grand Summon Article!

And one more thing...

Shield-maiden of Chaldea, Mash Kyrielight.

Y-yes?

I have a present for you. Oh, but it's not from me.

No, this...is a parting gift from the goddess Athena.

Okey-dokey, I'm gonna head on back now.

I'd love to stay for dinner, but I'm afraid I'll have to take a rain check. Too many prying eyes and keen noses in the Great Orbital Shrine, all wondering where little old me might be, after all.

Fou fo.

Aww, you going to miss me, Fou?

Fon.

Well, you're no fun. ...But I wouldn't have you any other way.

Anywho, Queen Europa, I'll let you know if there's any news from over there, so you just take your time.

In fact, it'd probably just raise suspicion if we went back together.

Oh, and I'm gonna leave Minerva here, so use her to warp out of here in case of an emergency, okay?

All right then, ta-ta for now. See you later, Mashie.

It's a shame that Pepe won't be here to join us...

...but if you like, I'd be happy to cook dinner for all of you tonight. I'm sure you must be starving.

You'll cook for us?

Fou?

I see...

Oh! Now that you mention it, we haven't, have we?

It completely slipped my mind. I'm so sorry, Senpai!

Eating is crucial for you to keep up your strength. I should never have let you go this long without any food...

Don't forget to keep up your own strength, Ms. Kyrielight. Remember, a Demi-Servant differs from a standard Servant in numerous ways.

Right.

Thank you for thinking of me, Holmes.

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Well, we definitely can't do anything on an empty stomach, so I'm all in favor of having a bite to eat!

That said, Lady Europa...

...having you personally cook for us feels like it'd be kind of...wrong somehow?

Oh, wait. Were you just joking? Is this some kind of Greek humor?

Hm? ...Huh?

Oh, no, no, I promise you it was no jest. I truly meant it.

I may not know any cooking spells, but I am fused with Lady Hera now.

And while Lady Hera may not quite have been as skilled a cook as Lady Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, she was still the goddess of the home.

So if nothing else, I can certainly make sure that every dish will be brimming with divine protection.

Uh... I see?

Then we'll help you cook.

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Right!

Are you sure it's okay for us to join you too, Queen Europa?

Of course. I'm sure there will be enough food to go around.

Isn't that right, Prometheus-Hephaestus?

Oh sure. I've had an apprentice staying here for over a year now, so there should be more than enough for everyone.

Do you mean Mr. Muramasa?

That's right. Even though he's a Heroic Spirit, he's still in the habit of eating meals regularly. When he's not smithing, he's usually making some dish or other from a place called the Far East.

He's been using my workshop's small garden to grow soybeans and rice, and as of late, he's also been making miso and sake.

Oh my! That sounds perfect for Japanese cuisine!

I've never had Japanese food before! Would you please tell me how to make it, Muramasa!?

Well, sure, I can walk you through it while I'm making my own meal... But didn't you say you were gonna do the cooking tonight?

Might as well join you. I can show you how to cook rice and miso soup anytime.

Great! I'm going to hold you to that!

S-sure thing... Ugh, you're a right different sort when you're not around Zeus. It's really throwing me off...

Fou fou!

Hm? What is it? You that hungry?

Fooou.

...

...Is something wrong, Adele?

Oh, no. I was just a little lost in thought.

I still can't quite believe that Queen Europa herself was our Collaborator, or that she's going to cook for us...

...Up until today, I never would have even imagined such a thing.

You know, it's strange.

I know this might sound odd, but...

...ever since you all came here, I've been remembering what it was like to enjoy myself.

Only remembering?

Yes. This is just like it was ten thousand years ago.

Back when we never knew what might happen, and each day wasn't yet a foregone conclusion.

Back when today was different from yesterday, and you knew tomorrow would be different for today.

...You're right, Sister. I never thought the day would come when we'd actually get to slay the gods...

...and I never thought I'd see you standing in the kitchen happily cooking away again, either.

...And it's all thanks to you guys.

Thank you, Mash. Thank you, Fujimaru.

I'm so, so glad...

I'm so glad we rescued you.

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Are you all done talking? Then I'd like everyone who's willing to help to come with me, please.

Right!

Coming. Macarios?

...Yeah, okay, I'll help too.

Wonderful. I'm thrilled to see you're all such helpful children. Now let's go make something scrumptious!

...Now then.

While the others are busy preparing dinner, I would like to check my notes on this Lostbelt against your database.

Assuming that's all right with you, of course, Prometheus-Hephaestus.

Me? Well, since I've tasked my apprentice with supervising construction of the Article, I guess I've got time to spare.

Though my mental resources are sufficient for multitasking. I can answer your questions without slowing production.

The Grand Summon Article should be ready by tomorrow morning, no problem.

So, sage of Proper Human History, what did you want to ask me?

...I see.

Yes, your theory about the continent of Atlantis is correct, as is your understanding of each machia.

Then, as I suspected, you and the other gods were originally supposed to lose your true mechanical bodies during the second machia...

Exactly. About ten thousand years ago, when we fought the White Ruin that descended from the sky...

...it was apparently supposed to wipe out the entire prehistoric civilization, gods and humans alike. At least, in Proper Human History.

But we defeated it, and in doing so, managed to keep our Aletheiaor our mechanical god bodies, as you call them.

...Hm?

Just a moment. Did you say "prehistoric civilization"?

I sure did.

Then, that must be the lost civilization of Atlantis that disappeared during the second, Leucusmachia!

It is indeed.

O-oh wow, this is a huge discovery! Then your hypothesis was right, Holmes!

So the mystical continent of Atlantis really did exist...

I see. So it was destroyed in the second machia, not sunk by the wrath of the gods as Plato would have it.

My data on the great floods all comes from Proper Human History, not this Lostbelt.

I heard there were two floods in total, but I don't know any of the details. You'll have to ask our Proper Human History counterparts about those.

Assuming you ever get a chance to meet them in your future travels, of course.

Understood.

While the chances of summoning a demiurge-level Divine Spirit are slim, I will hope for the best.

...You know, all this talk about the second machia really takes me back.

That was one of the fiercest battles I've ever fought. The White Ruin that came from space was ruthless in its quest to destroy everything.

The invader was called "Sefar." Or perhaps "Sephyr."

From space, hmm...

Was it anything like the Foreign God, perhaps?

Not at all. The Foreign God's Trees of Emptiness are still comprised of a structure we can understand.

But the White Ruin's structure was far beyond the comprehension of any intelligence on this planet.

But, it has nothing to do with Chaldea's endeavors, so there's no reason for you to trouble yourself about it.

It came here for the sole purpose of destroying us and this world's prehistoric civilization.

There was no life-form on Earth that could stand up to it. We gods only managed to survive...

...because Zeus succeeded at becoming an omnipotent composite god right at the last moment.

Composite god?

Fou!

Yes, a combination of other gods. Did you not already know that?

We mechanical gods all possess the ability to combine with one another. Or we did, anyway.

In fact, we originally all used to be a single being named Chaos!

Incidentally, our survival and combat capabilities tend to improve the closer we get to our Primordial Chaos roots.

As evidence, the previous generation of Titan-class warships were even sturdier than we are.

But Zeus... Zeus is in a class of his own!

He is the omnipotent supreme being the demiurge who wields the thunderbolts!

He defeated the Titans, stole the Holy Vessel Cronus Crownthe mark of their flagship that ties our entire pantheon together...

...and even managed to obliterate the White Ruin.

Yes, the only reason we Twelve Olympians were able to defeat the White Ruin is because Zeus served as the core piece to our fusion.

So what you are saying is...

Fooou...

...Zeus is really, really damn strong.

Indeed. If nothing else, I can tell you that in this Lostbelt, he has wielded power capable of obliterating an enemy from beyond this very planet.

Even if he should happen to lose all the other composite gods...

...he is still the greatest, most powerful god of all.