Imaginary Space – Shadow Border Observatory
Outside the window flowed dazzling, mesmerizing streams of light—a sight only possible in imaginary space.
After being strengthened and repaired by nanotechnology's legacy, the combat vehicle had finally evolved once more. Carrying the few remaining people, it headed toward Olympus, the city of legendary gods.
However… the atmosphere inside the vehicle was unusually heavy.
It was simply because the journey had been far too long and far too harsh.
Charlotte Corday.
The gentle assassin girl who always wore a kind smile, yet sacrificed her own life in the final moment to deliver a fatal blow to Odysseus.
Mandricardo.
The humble knight who often mocked himself for having a dark side, yet protected his comrades from a fatal strike at the critical moment.
Achilles.
Even with an arrow in his heel and his spiritual core shattered, he fought until the very end, carving an escape route for everyone.
And Orion.
The usually carefree and lecherous man who ultimately abandoned his status as a great hero, burned everything away, and became a true hunter to shoot down the moon goddess.
One by one, they fell.
Like dominoes, they opened the path to Olympus through their own sacrifices.
Steve stood quietly before the observatory window, gazing at the flowing lights outside. He held a cup of coffee that had already gone cold. His eyes were too deep—impossible for anyone to read his thoughts.
"…Steve."
A soft yet firm voice came from behind him.
When Steve turned around, Ritsuka was standing there. Her eyes were red and swollen—she had clearly been crying. Yet her amber pupils held a clearer light than ever before.
"What's wrong? Can't sleep?"
Ritsuka smiled lightly and offered the coffee in her hand. "It's cold, but still refreshing."
Ritsuka accepted the cup but didn't drink. She held it with both hands, feeling the faint remaining warmth.
After a long silence, she finally looked up, as if having made up her mind.
"Um… the four-dimensional pocket."
Her voice was gentle, but in the quiet vehicle it was especially clear.
"Actually… it was fixed a long time ago, right?"
Ritsuka took a step forward and stared straight into Steve's eyes. There was no accusation in her gaze—only the will to relentlessly pursue the truth.
"Or rather, it should be said… it was never broken in the first place."
"If it had been you, Steve… if you had the power to push back a meteor… couldn't you have really saved everyone?"
"Whether it was Charlotte or Mandricardo… with an Anywhere Door, a Time Leap, or secret gadgets from the future… there must have been ways to prevent their self-sacrifice, right?"
This was not a question.
Rather, it came from a Master who had experienced countless farewells and witnessed countless sacrifices, touching the truth through sharp—and sometimes cruel—intuition.
Facing the girl's gaze that seemed to see through his heart, Steve's smile gradually faded.
This was why he had hesitated to personally participate in the first four Lostbelts.
It was because the intuition of this Master was too sharp. She would find out sooner or later.
At that moment, he turned back and gazed once more at the endless sea of imaginary numbers outside the window.
"Ritsuka."
After a while, he slowly began to speak in a low, calm voice.
"Do you know that in this vast multiverse, there are many beings called 'Savior'?"
"For example, the one who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, or the saint crucified on the cross… They all possessed the power to overturn the world and the wisdom to see through past and future."
"However, when humanity faces suffering, when the world faces crisis… they often choose silence."
Steve reached out and gently touched the cold glass with his fingertips.
"It's not because they are heartless."
"But because they are saviors on the spiritual level."
"They understand that there is a path humanity itself must walk, and pain that humanity itself must bear."
"Only souls forged through suffering can truly shine and exist for humanity."
He paused, then turned toward Ritsuka.
"And I… am an immature physical-level savior who prefers solving problems with giant robots and planet-destroying cannons… but on this point, I stand in the same position as them."
"I didn't come here to babysit you, nor to turn the grand tale of humanity's salvation into a casual picnic."
"I am here as a witness."
Steve's eyes were incredibly gentle, yet incredibly resolute.
"I witnessed Charlotte Corday's love blooming in despair. I witnessed Mandricardo's vow of friendship overcoming his inferiority complex. I witnessed Orion's arrow piercing the stars…"
"If I forcibly intervened in these processes with gadgets and robbed them of the right to sacrifice… the radiance they emitted, the miracles worthy of being engraved in human history, would become cheap… or even disappear."
"This is my stance."
Ritsuka looked at him, and he spoke word by word.
"Regarding your story, I will only intervene in parts that concern the ending."
"For example, pushing back a meteor that would destroy everything, or defeating the foreign god who tried to redefine humanity."
"But as for the process, the choices made by the Heroic Spirits, and the price you pay for growth—I will not intervene."
"Because that is your glory."
The carriage fell silent.
Only the quiet light streaming through the window shone on their faces, sometimes in focus, sometimes blurred.
Ritsuka listened quietly. Unbeknownst to her, tears had slid down her cheeks.
But they were no longer tears of sadness—rather, of relief, understanding, and… a deep sense of being trusted.
She finally understood.
This man, who always seemed to be joking, was incredibly strong when it mattered. He wasn't merely watching from the sidelines.
He was protecting the meaning of this journey in a deeper, crueler, yet kinder way.
He was protecting the dignity of humanity as humans.
"I see…"
Ritsuka wiped her tears and showed a bright smile. Though tears still lingered, it was more beautiful than ever.
"Thank you, Steve."
She stepped forward, stretched out both hands, and firmly grasped Steve's slightly rough, large hand.
"Thank you for watching over us."
"Thank you for letting us experience all of this."
"That's enough."
The girl's voice was still slightly choked, but full of strength.
"As long as I know you're watching over us… as long as I know you'll be waiting at the finish line… I'm not afraid of anything."
"Whether it's Olympus or the foreign gods… I'll cross to the other side and show you!"
Feeling the warmth from her palm and looking into the girl's bright, shining eyes, the gentle part deep in Steve's heart was softly touched.
He wrapped her small hand in his own and gave a warm smile.
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"Go on, Ritsuka. Go and create your own miracle."
"No matter what awaits ahead—be it hell or the abyss… I will stay with you until the very end."
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