In response to the question posed by Otherworld's God, Makina, Epsilon lifted only her upper body while keeping both knees on the ground, assuming a posture resembling seiza as she opened her mouth to speak.
[I believe I was summoned by Earth God-sama this ti regarding the matter of Miyabi's reincarnation.]
[Unn, that's right. If you didn’t even understand that much, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.]
Epsilon was familiar with Makina as well. Although Makina had only recently begun acting in her current form, Epsilon had known of her prior identity as Eden and had even witnessed her in a few incidents involving Kaito.
To be honest, she had thought she'd be summoned much sooner. Makina had just spoken of her consideration toward promises, but with her power, such concerns were easily circumvented.
[As you understand, this is a matter concerning my child. Well, since the body is native to this world, there are parts of it I feel a bit conflicted about. I had the sa hesitation with Neun at first…… but in the end, I decided that if the soul is my child’s, then I would recognize them as such. That child is precious to as well.]
Like with Neun, the beings reincarnated in Trinia may carry souls that are Makina's children, but their bodies were ford in another world, which caused her so inner conflict. However, if asked whether she would deny them as her children just because their bodies weren’t born in her world, she couldn’t say yes.
It may have taken so ti for her to co to terms with the idea that if the soul was her child, then it was her child———— and that hesitation might be the reason Makina only now chose to speak to Epsilon.
[……Don’t get wrong. I don’t intend to reproach you for reincarnating my child. The soul of my child who died in Trinia was originally ant to return to my world, but in this particular case, there were unique circumstances. And you couldn’t have known anything about the nature of the soul. So I’m not blaming you for that.]
[……………!?]
Makina had been speaking gently until that mont, but suddenly, an overwhelming pressure filled the space. It felt as if the very air had turned into lead. Epsilon broke into a cold sweat, waiting silently for Makina’s next words.
[What I do take issue with…… is that due to your clumsy and forceful reincarnation, "my child’s soul was damaged". That, I will not forgive. That’s why you’re here, because you, who damaged my child’s soul, must answer for it…… So? Do you have any excuses? Any justification you’d like to offer?]
Though Makina stated she would not condemn the act of reincarnating Miyabi itself, she would not forgive the damage done to Miyabi’s soul———– the loss of her mories. Under the weight of Makina’s presence, Epsilon stared straight into her eyes without looking away.
The soul damage Makina ntioned, the mory loss Miyabi had suffered, was sothing Epsilon had long regretted. Miyabi herself had never brought it up, nor shown any intention to condemn her for it…… but deep down, Epsilon had always felt that she would eventually need to atone.
[……No, I have no excuses, no justification. It was a failure caused entirely by my own inadequacy. However, if I may be so bold, I ask to say one thing.]
[Unn?]
[I cannot claim that I will accept any punishnt. I only beg that you spare from being erased…… Anything else, I will bear without complaint……]
[……Are you saying your life is that precious to you?]
At Epsilon’s words, which sounded almost like a plea for her life, Makina’s expression sharpened. It was as if she were saying that, depending on the answer, she might carry out judgnt then and there. In response, Epsilon quietly shook her head.
[No, it’s not that I fear for my life. But if I disappear, Miyabi will grieve. I once lost Miyabi and felt a sorrow too great for words. That feeling like a hole opened in my heart, I don’t want Miyabi to ever feel that sa pain…… That is why I must return to her side, no matter what.]
[……………….]
[Punish however you see fit. I only ask that you allow to return to Miyabi. That is all I wish for.]
Even under the crushing pressure, enough to make her lose consciousness if she let her guard down…… Epsilon did not avert her eyes from Makina. Her gaze was steady, filled with resolve.
If she could return to Miyabi, she would accept any punishnt……
[……Your na…… What was it again?]
[……I am called Ix Nirva.]
The question ca suddenly, but given that the other party was a God, she chose not to use the na "Epsilon", instead offering her true na: Ix Nirva.
Makina gave a small nod upon hearing it. After a mont of silence, she spoke again.
[……Let get to the point. I will not forgive the damage done to my child’s soul, and I have no intention of overlooking it.]
[Yes.]
[But……]
A sharp snap of fingers rang out, and in the next mont, Epsilon felt power surge through her body…… no, she felt the "return of power she should have lost".
[What…… This is……?]
It was the power she had once offered as the price for the forbidden art that reincarnated Miyabi. Though bewildered by its return, she instinctively knew who was responsible. For an Omnipotent God, restoring such power wasn’t beyond possibility…… but she couldn’t understand why.
And as if to answer that very question, Makina continued in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.
[It’s simple. You perfectly succeeded in the forbidden art. "You didn’t lose your power" and "my child’s soul was never damaged". ……Naturally, my child’s mories were never lost either.]
[Ah…… ahh……]
[In that case…… there’s no reason for to punish you, is there?]
It all made sense now. Just monts ago, this God before her had not only restored Epsilon’s power, but also repaired Miyabi’s soul and mories……
Epsilon’s expression grew blank with shock, an overwhelming mix of astonishnt at the sudden turn of events, joy that Miyabi’s mories had returned, and a flood of other emotions too tangled to na. Seeing her like that, Makina gave a gentle smile.
[Ix Nirva, was it? I’ll rember your na. You wished to live and return not for your own sake, but for my child’s. I place great value in that and I acknowledge your worth…… From now on, stay close with my child.]
With only those words, Makina turned her back on her and vanished, as if declaring the matter resolved. Ix Nirva stood there in a daze for a brief while, but once her thoughts settled, she imdiately turned in the direction where Makina had disappeared and bowed deeply.
[……Thank you very much!]
Unable to contain her rising excitent, Epsilon returned ho. The mont she opened the door, just like always, she was greeted by Miyabi’s voice.
[Welco ho, Ix-sama. Dinner’s almost ready. I found so really good fish today so……]
[Miyabi!]
[Yes?]
[Do you…… rember your mories from the other world?]
Miyabi, who had been preparing a al with her kimono sleeves tied back, ca to greet her. She looked so completely normal, it was impossible to tell whether her mories had returned, so Epsilon asked directly……
[Errr…… oh, yes. I can definitely rember now. Arehh? But why do you ask so suddenly……?]
[Well, that’s……]
Seeing Miyabi’s puzzled expression as she realized her mories from before the summoning had returned, Epsilon quickly gave her a brief explanation of her encounter with Makina, letting her know that both her own lost powers and Miyabi’s mories had been restored…… Miyabi’s face imdiately lit up with joy.
[I see! Well, never mind my mories, what matters is that your power ca back, Ix-sama! That’s wonderful!]
[No, my power doesn’t matter in the slightest…… What’s important is that your mories ca back, Miyabi.]
[No, I think Ix-sama's power……]
[Miyabi's mories……]
Each of them insisted that what had happened to the other was more important. Their eyes t, and almost at the sa ti, they both burst into soft laughter.
[Fufufu, this could go on forever, couldn’t it?]
[Indeed. Let’s just say we’re both fortunate and leave it at that.]
Serious-senpai : [Phew, good nap. Slept through what, three chapters? So? While I was out, did you get through one or two of the lovers’ birthday presents?]
Makina : [Good morning, Serious-senpai~~ Just now, a sudden serious intermission wrapped up. Not to brag, but I was the star of the chapter.]
Serious-senpai : [……Huh? Wait…… wait a second…… Explain…… Explain everything in detail…… I’m on the verge of losing my composure.]
Makina : [I an, I don’t think you’re ever really composed anyway…… But hey, looks like there’s still one more intermission chapter to go?]
Serious-senpai : [Another serious one!?]
Makina : [Nah, the big stuff got resolved already. Next one's just gonna be a fluffy yuri couple being all lovey-dovey, so they saved it for after you woke up.]
Serious-senpai : [………………………………………..]
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