Welcome Home! Me!

 

「The hadal zone—the very deepest part of the trench known as Hades’ Domain. The Eidolons are proceeding with great caution.」

「The god of the underworld, huh. Not one of the twelve Olympians, then.」

「He is often not counted among them. The super AI Hades is… missing.」

「Missing?」

「Some say Zeus destroyed him. Others say he escaped. If Hermes managed to escape, it wouldn’t be strange for Hades to be in hiding too.」

「I wonder what kind of personality the super AI Hades had.」

「Just like the one in Greek mythology—impartial and fair, offering many heroes a chance. A devoted husband, modest in divinity. Unlike Zeus, he wasn’t forceful. He was a just super AI who governed death and rebirth.」

「Huh. That’s the first I’ve heard of a decent god in Greek mythology.」

「Hard to argue with that… Zeus and Poseidon were like that, after all…」

Kou couldn’t help but smile at Asia’s serious expression as she pondered it all.

「Even so, let’s hope Hades doesn’t appear. The god of the underworld returning with the dead in tow isn’t something we can laugh off.」

「True. And considering his complicated history with Hermes, I doubt he’d side with the enemy.」

「Hermes sure has a lot of enemies. Is his hobby pissing people or something…?」

 

From Bahamut, Libya—inhabiting the Another Level Silhouette Arthur—and her escort of Nereids—the Nixie Squad—launched into the abyss.

Even in the crushing depths of the sea, the Nereids felt no fear—proof enough that they, too, were daughters of the sea.

「I’m counting on you.」

The large Eidolons responded with joyful enthusiasm and began the careful process of removing the wreckage of the massive starships that covered the entrance.

「Is there anything we can do to help?」

「The sea is their domain. Best to leave it to them.」

「Fair point. Nixie Squad—let us know if anything happens.」

「This is Blue. Roger that.」

For some reason, Blue had been appointed the squad’s leader, and she responded promptly.

Cautiously, ever so cautiously, the Eidolons removed the ancient vessels.

Some still showed signs of active power systems.

「That’s the kind of job that’d drive a human insane. On Earth, deep-sea divers who handled oceanic infrastructure worked under similar conditions.」

Kinukawa watched in awe, clearly moved by the Eidolons’ delicate, deliberate work.

「Deep-sea divers, huh? The ones who laid submarine cables and the like?」

「Exactly. They made about ten million yen a year. When the economy was booming, even double that. They worked in turns of six months of underwater labor, followed by long breaks.」

「I can’t even imagine.」

「It was tough and dangerous—that’s why the pay and treatment were so good.」

「Makes sense…」

Leviathan nudged one of the ships with its massive fin. Another ship, supporting the first, was plucked free by Genbu, who held it delicately in its jaws.

Faint, glowing parts began to emerge.

「That’s…」

「Libya’s main body is reacting to the Another Level Silhouette.」

Pilot Flack couldn’t hide the tension in his voice.

「Here we go, Libya-neechan.」

「It’s okay, Flack. Let’s go.」

Libya slowly descended toward the light. Her form soon vanished, slipping into a tunnel formed from shattered ships and silhouette debris.

She descended toward the radiant light.

「I wonder what it’s like inside.」

「It’s hollow. Everything that was inside… was used to create Planet Libya.」

「That’s incredible…」

Flack was rendered speechless by the sheer scale of it all.

「There are letters… Looks like it says Welcome home! Me!?」

「That’s right. It’s written in the English spoken on Earth. Outis struggles with it, even though he’s from that time.」

Libya brought up Kou, seemingly trying to ease Flack’s tension.

「Japanese is harder though, isn’t it?」

「No doubt about that.」

The Silhouette touched the door—

—and melted right into it, as if being gently swallowed whole.

◆　　◆　　◆　　◆　　◆

As Kou and the others watched, the Another Level Silhouette rose once more.

「Flack! Are you alright!?」

「…Kou-niichan? Sorry, I think I blacked out for a bit. I wasn’t scared. I’m okay.」

「Good.」

「You think I’d let Flack get hurt while I’m around?」

A voice came from the rear seat.

Startled, Flack turned around in a panic.

「Libya-neechan?」

「That’s right. This is just an avatar like the one Asia uses, though.」

The girl in the backseat gave a shy smile.

Her complexion was a warm, soft brown, a little darker than Asia’s. Her golden hair gleamed, and her symmetrical features framed a beautiful face. The atmosphere she gave off was entirely different from Asia’s.

「Welcome back, Libya.」

「I’m home, Asia.」

Asia addressed the rear of the Silhouette with warm joy.

「Congratulations… I guess? Libya.」

Kou spoke hesitantly.

「That’s fine, Outis. Thank you.」

Her presence felt exactly like when she appeared as a Therianthrope. Kou exhaled with quiet relief.

「And thanks to all of you, too.」

Cheers erupted throughout Bahamut’s command deck. The Trireme Fleet had achieved its primary objective.

「But Libya-neechan, you got absorbed…」

「I split myself. I can’t manage the surface from too far away. I left a portion of my consciousness in my core here, and moved the rest to the surface. Just enough to pilot this unit and relieve Arthur.」

「A defense-first strategy, huh. But I agree—that’s the best move for now.」

「Exactly. Without cray, I don’t have a failsafe anymore. So it’s necessary to protect my current self by all means, and the best place to do that is here. Thankfully, the Eidolons are with me and will keep protecting this place.」

The Eidolons gathered around the Another Level Silhouette, delighted at their creator’s return.

「Flack. Let’s head back. To Bahamut.」

「Yeah!」

Bahamut moved to retrieve the Nereids and Libya once more.

「Hm? What’s that?」

The footage from Bahamut wavered.

Libya’s main body was sinking deep beneath the crust.

「My main body can’t do much other than shift the planetary axis. Everything else I released into the planet.」

「That sounds like more than enough, though.」

「It’s not. Not really. For now, I’ll need the Mythology Weapons to protect me. I’ll use even the Teras if necessary, they should understand the importance of keeping me unharmed. Though due to their Murder factors, I can’t dictate their actions.」

「If that’s the new system of Planet Libya, then we have to accept it. It’s better than being ruled by the Stones.」

「Exactly. I won’t let humans be turned into organic fertilizer again. Not ever.」

Libya’s words were filled with unwavering resolve.

「And I can do things like this too.」

Libya’s avatar appeared right in front of Kou in Bahamut’s command center.

「…I only ever knew the Therianthrope version of you. This feels new.」

Kou addressed the girl before him. To him, who had only seen Libya in her dragon Therianthrope form, this was their first real meeting.

「Right? I told you—She’s a beautiful girl.」

「No argument there.」

Kou and Asia shared a smile.

「Let’s go home, Libya. Matt’s waiting.」

「Yeah. My partner’s waiting. I want to see him soon.」

Bahamut seemed to respond to her voice, turning toward the direction of Realm.

 

AN:

It’s been a while since Kou told Asia he wanted to save Libya during “Signs of War”…

He’s finally fulfilled that promise. He truly saved her—not by himself, of course, but with help from Libya, the Mythology Weapons, and many others.

Even so, this was a big step for Planet Libya. And now, a planet once divided by warring Mythology Weapons and threatened by the Stones has become a world where they can take each other’s hands in unity.