Two years have already passed since the Great Feud.
At a certain house situated at the edge of a road bathed in the sunset, where a sea of barley-colored grass stretched out behind it.
There, an arrestingly beautiful woman and a white-haired child lay together on a bed.
"Mmph...."
"Are you awake?"
"Auntie...."
THWACK!!
"Gah!!?"
"I'm going to hit you."
"You already hit me!!"
The woman's fist had struck the boy's head in a flash. Bell had no choice but to clutch his head and writhe in pain.
"What did I teach you to call me?"
".....Mother Alfia."
"Good boy."
Only then did Alfia stroke Bell's head, rubbing the spot she had just struck.
Knock, knock, knock—
"You up? I heard a noise just now."
"You didn't hit him again, did you?"
Outside the room, Akumo and Zard had heard Bell's scream and began knocking on the door.
"Uncle Akumo! Uncle Zard!"
BAM!!!!
"Ack!!?"
"And how did I tell you to address Akumo?"
"Father Akumo...."
After another knuckle-duster landed on Bell's head, the door finally opened.
Creak—
"Sigh... did you give Bell a noggin-knocker again?"
"It was merely a part of his education."
"I told you not to do that~"
Akumo, who had opened the door, massaged his temples at Alfia's unapologetic attitude and gave her a light scolding, while Zard returned to the kitchen to prepare the meal.
"Every time I see this, you really do look like a proper family, don't you?"
"Technically speaking, Bell seems to take after you as well."
Alfia smiled faintly as she compared Akumo's white hair with Bell's.
"Is that so? I don't see much resemblance other than the hair color."
Bell, still half-asleep, accepted the head-pats from both of them.
"..."
"Bell? Go on downstairs first."
"Okay. Father Akumo...."
Pitter-patter—
Noticing the worry etched into Alfia's expression, Akumo sent Bell down ahead of them and sat beside her.
"What has you so concerned?"
"I told Bell about the Great Feud the other day."
"What!?"
"Then, he said he wanted to become a hero."
"....Hah!"
Akumo was briefly startled by her admission, but upon hearing Bell's response, he burst into laughter.
"He really is Meteria's child, isn't he? He looks innocent enough, but he's resolute when it counts."
"Indeed."
"So that's why you've been letting him go out with Zard more often lately?"
- Hurry up and come down! The soup is getting cold!
"Oops, Zard is calling. Let's head down."
"Let us."
Watching Akumo's warm smile, Alfia mirrored it and descended to the first floor.
After finishing their meal, while Alfia looked after Bell, Akumo sat in conversation with Zard and Zeus.
"So, how many days do you plan to stay this time?"
"I'm thinking of staying for about a month before heading back."
"The situation must be better than it was last year."
"Yeah, those Evils bastards were pretty much annihilated last year."
As Akumo spoke nonchalantly, Zard and Zeus looked at him as if something was weighing on their minds.
"But is it really okay? If you're gone for a month, won't there be complaints from the Loki Familia?"
"Don't worry~ I came here on vacation after being quite active during the last expedition."
"Aren't you just going to get scolded by Riveria again?"
"When that happens, well... I'll just have to bring the best souvenirs I can find to appease her..."
Shiver—!
Alfia, who had moved behind Zeus in an instant, gazed at Akumo with an amused smile.
"Oho? So that's how you've been handling things?"
"Alfia... wait!!"
"[Gospel]"
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!
As Akumo took the blast of magic head-on and was sent flying toward a nearby mountain, Zeus roared with laughter, having seen it coming. Zard breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that the house was still intact.
"Thankfully, the house didn't break."
"Ah, to be young and in love~"
"Uncle Zard, Grandpa, aren't you worried about Father?"
"Bell. Akumo is a man much stronger than you can imagine."
Hearing Zeus's words, full of absolute conviction, Bell's eyes began to sparkle, and his admiration for Akumo intensified.
"Oooh! I want to become strong like Father too!"
"Then I suppose we must increase your training regimen."
"M... Mother...!?"
"Since Akumo is here, I should throw you into a horde of monsters without a worry."
"Eeeek!!"
While Bell was paralyzed with fear at Alfia's declaration, Akumo—who had returned from afar while loosening up his body—picked Bell up and told Alfia not to overwork him too much.
"Hmph, if one wants to become a hero, that much is required."
"Well..... you're not wrong, I suppose?"
"Father!?"
"Hahaha!! Don't worry~ I'll be watching over you the whole time!"
"And once you're done, Akumo and I will take turns sparring with you."
"Ah....."
Watching Bell lose his soul at Alfia's words, Akumo gave him a thumbs up to cheer him on.
And so, after the Great Feud, Alfia and Zard—who were caring for Bell and staying with Zeus—continued their peaceful daily lives, welcoming Akumo's occasional visits.
A few days passed, and it was a day like any other. Akumo was assisting with Bell's training. Bell was working on his strength, lifting and lowering iron bars that Akumo had forged and brought from Orario.
"Alright, one!"
"O-One..!!"
"Alright, two!"
"Twooo!!"
After the strength training concluded, they headed to a monster den Alfia had found, where Bell was tasked with fighting them.
"You're still young, so absolutely do not overdo it, okay?"
"Got it! Father!"
'....I hope he isn't still calling me Father when he's grown up.'
"It might be quite an issue if others hear it..."
"What was that, Father?"
"Nothing! You're fighting well!"
"Hehe...!"
'Well, surely nothing will happen.'
The current Akumo had no way of knowing what kind of impact that would eventually have.
Thus, his one-month vacation flew by, and the day for Akumo to return to Orario arrived.
"What is Orario like?"
"Hmm.... A place where there are many people like me?"
"Woah!!"
Bell's eyes sparkled at Akumo's description, filled with anticipation for Orario, but Alfia scolded Akumo for giving the child strange illusions.
"As if that were the case."
"Fine.... I'll tell him properly when he's a bit older."
"Don't be so harsh, Alfia."
Thump, thump—!
Zeus, claiming that giving children fantasies wasn't a bad thing, began to tell Bell that Orario was filled with various beautiful women... before being sent flying by a strike from Alfia.
"I'll fix that before I go...."
"Thank you..."
For some reason, Akumo had developed a strange sense of camaraderie with Zard.
It was only after spending time repairing the wall that Akumo could properly set out.
"Well, I'm heading out now."
"Wait a moment."
Step—!
"You haven't forgotten what I said two days ago, have you?"
"Ah...."
'If it's two days ago.... surely'
"Doesn't it worry you to have Bell go to Orario without any preparation?"
"I understand. I'll prepare something somehow."
"Heh. Then that's settled."
As Alfia placed her hand on Akumo's cheek—her voice gentle yet carrying a subtle weight of pressure—Zeus was in the middle of telling Bell that it was a good thing to have many women like Akumo when he was sent flying by Alfia again.
'When did I ever have "many women"?'
The Astraea Familia—they were, in the literal sense, the Familia of Justice.
"Dammit...!! Do you think I'll let it end in a place like this!?"
"Surrender immediately!"
- SCREEEEEECH!!!!!!!!!!
"What is that?"
RUMBLE—!!!!!!!!
Justice is tested. As it always has been.
Ryu Lion could not believe the scene unfolding before her eyes.
They had entered the dungeon due to the conflict with the Rudra Familia, and her comrades had merely fought to stand against evil.
And yet....
"Why...!! Why, of all things!!!!!"
Shred!!
The gargantuan monster before them was callously tearing her companions apart.
The creature's armor reflected magic, creating the worst possible scenario for the Astraea Familia. In no time, her comrades' limbs were being severed, and their own reflected magic poured down upon them as if to burn them to cinders.
"Someone.... Please!!!"
'Ardee...!'
The face of her best friend flashed through her mind like a final memory. Just as a blinding despair surged toward them.
'Mr. Akumo...!!!'
The members of the Astraea Familia all prayed for salvation; they desired a hero.
CLANG—!!!!!!!!!!
"[O my experiences, O my adventures—bloom according to my will.]"
And the Hero, once again, reached out his hand to them.