After listening to Hermes' words...
Lili visibly flinched, stepping back as sweat began to form on her brow.
Imagining a scene where these carefree gods and goddesses used their powers as they pleased... wreaking havoc upon the Lower World...
'It's terrifying to even think about...'
It wasn't just her... everyone present had imagined the same thing.
"Which means the only way we can defeat Antares is with the spear Judas is holding right now."
"Well... it may look like a spear, but it's actually an arrow... a divine weapon that the original Artemis summoned into this realm just before she was captured."
"I'm sure our friend Welf here knows a thing or two about divine weapons... am I right?"
Hermes said, glancing at Welf.
"Lady Hephaestus told me a little about them... divine weapons are said to be capable of killing a god."
Welf replied, his expression serious.
"That's right... and with something like this, our objective is clear. All we have to do is drive that arrow into Antares... and the world will be saved."
Hermes added, spreading his arms dramatically.
Belle and the others took a moment to process the shocking information.
However... there was one detail most of them had missed.
'This sly Hermes... he said the world would be saved... but he didn't say anything about saving Artemis.'
It was understandable.
The moment Artemis' arcanum was devoured... she was already beyond saving.
It was better for her to get killed and reincarnate 10,000 years later.
'Even the original Bell failed to save her.'
But Judas had no intention of following that same path.
'I'm not a fan of bad endings...'
He thought as he tightened his grip on the Arrow of Orion.
'Which is why I will save her.'
Judas had already resolved himself the moment he accepted this "quest."
...
They soon arrived atop the city walls.
Feeling the wind brush against her hair, Artemis gazed out at the world beyond with a distant expression.
"Why are we on top of the city wall if we're heading outside Orario?"
Belle asked curiously, looking toward Hermes.
Instead of answering, Hermes simply looked up as several large shadows loomed overhead.
"Oh... here they come."
Following his gaze, the sight before them drew gasps of surprise.
"That's...!?"
Hestia's mouth fell open.
"Are those wyverns?"
Welf narrowed his eyes.
Then a loud, booming laugh echoed through the air.
A deity wearing an elephant mask and possessing a muscular build leapt down from one of the wyverns, landing right in front of them.
"Ganesha?"
Hestia exclaimed.
Of course... it could only be Ganesha.
"That's right! It's me... Ganesha!"
Ganesha declared as he struck a pose, while the wyverns he brought landed gracefully around them.
"Don't tell me we're using these monsters as transportation...?"
Lili said, clearly uneasy.
"Haha, don't worry! Because I, GANESHA, raised these beauties from birth! They'll listen even if you're not a tamer!"
"I, the great Ganesha, guarantee it!"
He announced loudly.
'Right... I almost forgot the Ganesha Familia is known for its taming abilities.'
Judas thought as he observed the wyverns, which appeared surprisingly calm and well-behaved.
Lili stared at one of them suspiciously... only for it to snort, the gust knocking her off balance.
"Time isn't exactly on our side right now. It would take far too long to reach our destination on foot... but with these wyverns, we can get there in just a few days."
Hermes said as he patted one of them.
"But there doesn't seem to be enough for all of us."
Welf pointed out, noting that there were only three wyverns.
"Ganesha!"
Ganesha replied proudly by shouting his own name.
"Well... there are eight of us. That means two wyverns will have to carry three people."
Hermes added.
Everyone glanced at each other, silently deciding who would ride with whom.
"Judas, can we..."
"Mister Judas..."
Belle and Lili simultaneously turned toward him at the same time... but Artemis had already beaten them to it.
"I want to ride with Orion."
She said with a gentle smile.
"Be careful, Goddess."
Rethusa said as she helped Artemis climb onto the saddle.
"Thank you, Rethusa."
Seeing this, the others could only sigh in defeat.
'Although I can fly... experiencing something like this once in a while isn't so bad.'
Judas thought as he climbed onto the wyvern, with Artemis seated behind him.
"Orion... being this close to you feels nice."
Artemis whispered, resting her head against his back.
'She smells... nice.'
Judas noted quietly.
"Artemis... the most anti-romance person I know... even if she's just a fragment, the fact that she's acting like this..."
Hestia muttered as she climbed onto a wyvern with Hermes.
She had already noticed... the way Artemis looked at Judas was different.
'It's the same look Belle has whenever she sees him...'
"Who knows? Maybe the real Artemis is like that as well... influenced by the Lower World after spending time here."
Hermes said as he adjusted his hat.
"Even then... I still can't wrap my head around it."
"Out of all the virgin goddesses I know... I can't believe she'd be the first to fall for someone."
Once everyone had settled onto their wyverns, Lili glanced around and let out a sigh.
"We're really doing this, aren't we...? Fighting a god-killing monster... this is completely out of our league."
She said.
Welf smirked at her.
"If Lil' Lili's scared, you can always head back, you know? No one's stopping you."
He teased, placing a hand on her head.
Lili immediately smacked it away with a huff.
"Hmph. As if I could do that when everyone's already on board. Besides, I don't want to look bad in front of Mister Judas."
"But I still don't understand why Lord Hermes brought us along for this mission."
She added with a pout.
In truth... Hermes had brought Belle and her party along simply to test her potential as a hero.
No matter the situation, if an opportunity arose, Hermes would set trials to those he had chosen.
After all... in his eyes, Judas Spade and Belle Cranel were the only candidates fit to become the Last Hero.
Of course... he had no intention of telling anyone that.
"Alright, everyone! Let's set off... and save the world!"
Hermes announced, signaling the start of their journey.
Out of everyone's sight, Judas lightly tapped the back of his hand.
A small magic circle flickered into existence... then vanished just as quickly.
As the wyverns took flight, carrying them beyond the city...
Ganesha climbed to the highest point of the wall, waving his arms.
"Have a safe journey!"
He called out.
The others waved back as they soared farther away, the city of heroes shrinking behind them... the towering Babel growing smaller with each passing moment.
...
Back at the Twilight Manor...
Loki stood by the window, gazing toward the horizon where Judas had disappeared.
"So... he's gone, huh?"
Finn Deimne said as he stepped beside her.
"Yeah... off on another adventure."
Loki replied, her eyes still fixed on the distance.
'Good luck out there... and go kick some ass, kid.'
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