To Those of You Who Shine Like the Sun

... ...

Bow!

I think you're right, Aned. We might be lost.

Where's Erice? Maybe we should head back to the ship for now.

Woof.

What's up?

Ah.

Oh? Aren't you

You must be Gareth of Proper Human History. That's kinda a mouthful, so I'm just gonna go with "Gareth."

Y-yes, that's me!

This is our first time visiting this area. What of you?

Oh, uh, it's my second, Mother!

!!!

I... I-I-I-I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!

Bowwow!

(Huff, huff...)

I can't believe I just said that... Now what do I do!?

And what's worse, that was the Lostbelt Lady Morgan, too!

Wh-why did I have to call her "Mother," of all things!?

I can't believe I did that!

Don't worry! Everything's gonna be fiiine!

Yo!

Don't be so hard on yourself! A little mistake is nothing to get in a twist over!

Ibuki-Douji...

So you're in your cheerleader Ascension now, huh? It looks awesome!

Fufu, thanks♡

But listen, Gareth.

I can see you're kinda down on yourself, so cheer up, 'kay?

I mean, I almost brought Chaldea's whole journey to an end, you know?

And it wasn't even a Singularity, or a Lostbelt version of me! It was just me, one of Master's Servants!

But I'm not gonna let it get me down!

I'm not even sad!

In fact, I'm bursting with cheer!

Wow, you're so strong! But, I guess that's how it is with gods...

Bow!

...No, not really.

The truth is, I still don't really get humans.

It's not that I WANT to end humanity...

...but I don't really see the point in going to all this trouble to bring them back.

Not when all of Earth is just one big mass of pure, endless white.

... ...

Douman says my mind was built differently than all of yours.

That maybe gods don't even have...hearts in the way humans think of them.

Maybe that's true. I'm not sure.

Maybe I'm just a god without a heart, and I'll never understand humans.

...No. I don't think that's right. In fact, I'm sure it's not.

Hm?

I'm positive you have a heart.

Huh?

You did all that because you wanted Master to have fun, right?

And you wanted to grant Skadi's secret wish, too.

You want the people you care about to enjoy themselves. That doesn't sound heartless to me.

B-but, I'm what they call...an Alter, I think? I'm pretty sure I'm a wild mitama...

Even so, you still have a heart!

...No, maybe that's not quite right. Maybe it's more like...you're trying to have one?

I'm sorry. I don't know much about complicated stuff like how you define what exactly a heart is in that sense.

But...

...there is one thing I do know.

What's that?

You're human where it counts.

...I am?

The way I see it, dragons, beasts, and sometimes even fate itself...

...take on human form precisely because they care about humans.

... ...

...Yeah. Maybe you're right. I AM doing all this for all you humans, aren't I?

Exactly!

Ooh, you're so precious it hurts!

Bowwow! (Special Translation: Right? My Gareth is something special!)

Yeah... You ARE right! Fufu. Looks like you cheered me up instead!

Okay!

Gareth, for being so wonderful, so strong, so kind, and sooo PRECIOUS, I'm going to cast an extra-special charm on you!

Wooo! Wooo! Gooo Gareth!

You can do it, Gareth!

Wh-whoa! A-all of a sudden, I'm practically bursting with energy!

This is basically an invigoration spell, right!?

That's riiight!

But that's not going to help at all! I just made a horribly embarrassing mistake!

I just called someone I'm not even related to "Mother"!

And to make a, uh, really long story short...she's not the sort of person who's gonna appreciate that. AT ALL!

And that's why I'm so filled with regret... And using magecraft to cheer myself up feels like the coward's way out!

Now, now, don't worry. This spell only peps your body up. It doesn't affect your mind.

I...see?

So now that your body's feeling better, how about we work up a good sweat together?

Wait. What!?

Combat mode, gooo!

Here I cooome♡

Wow! You really are strong!

(Huff, huff...) Huh? That's weird.

Now that I've worked up a sweat, I feel strangely...better. Did your spell do that, too?

No way!

Really?

Fufufu. Looks like I read you right!

You're a Heroic Spirit. A figure from the past. Your life may be over, but your soul still shines bright.

And I think that soul's true essence...

...is a bright, happy, heroic young girl!

In fact, I bet it's even brighter than the sun!

Th-that bright!?

Woof woof! (Special Translation: I know just what you mean.)

Your little mistake wasn't a big deal at all.

You know what Master told me a while ago?

He said a lot of kids...

...call their lady teachers "Mom" and "Mommy" by mistake!

R-really!?

Really! And that's pretty much what you did!

So don't worry! Everyone's done stuff like that!

B-but...it's so embarrassing. Just thinking about it makes me want to hide in a hole somewhere!

It's okay to feel that way!

It proves your soul still has the glow of youth!

So hold your head high. Your soul, your pride, will never be so much as scratched!

Your name, and the way you live your life, shine so brightly, even people from other worlds can't help but notice.

... ...

I'm shining bright...

That's right! Woo!

I'm shining bright!

Bow!

You got it!

Yeah... Yeah!

Now I really DO feel better!

Thank you so much for taking all this time to cheer me up, Ibuki-Douji!

Oh no. Thank YOU.

Whoa. Your Spirit Origin, it's...changing!?

Huh? I think...my mystic sword reacted to my change of heart?

Fufu, well look at you. You were awesome before...

...and now, you're even more awesome! Yay!

A Spirit Origin Ascension, huh.

It seems that beautiful Eastern goddess has done some fine work here today.

Indeed. When I suggested she go help Gareth after she said she wanted to cheer somebody on...

...I never thought it would turn out this well!

Thank you again, Ibuki-Douji. I'm going to go apologize to her properly.

I don't think you did anything to apologize for... But, okay.

If that's what you want to do, then do it. Even if she doesn't forgive you, I definitely will.

No, I won't just forgive you. I'll congratulate you!

Thank you!

Be careful! It can get real slippery around the pool!