Astraea stood not far away, watching Genichi and Demeter speak in low voices.
Her gaze fell on Genichi, and a complicated emotion filled her eyes.
Gratitude.
Deep gratitude.
For the past half month, she had personally watched Genichi exhaust his magic every day, all for the sake of bringing her children back to life.
She had seen his exhaustion after each success. She had seen the persistence on his face every time he stepped out of the portal.
She remembered the smile that appeared on Genichi's pale face when the first Familia member was successfully revived.
That smile had been faint, but Astraea had seen the relief within it.
She remembered the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day...
Every day, Genichi dragged his exhausted body forward and forced himself to complete another resurrection.
She remembered the fifteenth day, when the last Familia member was successfully revived, and Genichi could barely remain standing.
He had turned around, nodded to her, and prepared to leave.
No claiming credit. No boasting. No demand for any reward.
As if what he had done was only some insignificant little thing.
But Astraea knew it was not insignificant.
It was a miracle.
A miracle that let her regain what she had lost.
A miracle that brought her children back to her side.
And throughout these days, Astraea had been observing Genichi.
She saw his gentleness when he faced Demeter. She saw him soothe that worried goddess with the softest voice.
She saw the distance he kept when facing her, how he always maintained a certain boundary, as if deliberately avoiding any closeness.
She saw his coldness toward everyone else. She saw the way he used that distant, unapproachable attitude to cut off every possible connection.
Demeter was right.
Genichi truly was like a hedgehog, protecting himself with hard spines and refusing to let anyone close.
But Astraea had also seen what lay beneath those hard spines.
A soft heart.
That heart would grow angry at another's suffering, feel outrage at another's misfortune, and take quiet comfort in another's happiness.
That heart was worthy of trust.
So when she heard Genichi say, "We'll talk after we go back," Astraea knew it meant she would be excluded.
She understood.
After all, she had not known Genichi for long. She had not drunk the blood wine as Demeter had. She had not earned his trust.
But she could not accept it.
She did not want to be pushed away like this.
"Wait!"
Astraea spoke, calling out to Genichi and Demeter just as they were about to leave.
The two stopped and turned to look at her.
A trace of hesitation flashed across Astraea's face, but very quickly, that hesitation hardened into resolve.
She walked forward and looked directly into Genichi's eyes.
"You can trust me."
She spoke seriously, her voice carrying unquestionable determination. "I can drink the blood wine too."
Genichi froze for a moment.
Of course he knew what Astraea meant.
Schrift: one of his skills.
Through blood wine, he could engrave a Schrift upon another person's soul, granting them power while also allowing him to reclaim it at any time.
For those who bore that mark, life and death depended on a single thought from him.
This was the only way to earn his trust.
And it was also his final line of defense for protecting himself.
Astraea knew that.
She had guessed that if she wanted to earn Genichi's trust, she had to drink the blood wine.
So she brought it up herself.
Genichi looked at her, surprise flashing through his eyes.
He had not expected Astraea to make such a choice.
After all, she was a god.
The high and mighty goddess of justice.
An existence that had lived for thousands of years.
And yet she was willing to place her life and death in the hands of a human?
Just because she wanted to earn his trust?
Just because she wanted to help him?
Genichi was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
"No need."
He refused without hesitation.
A trace of disappointment flashed through Astraea's eyes, but Genichi ignored it and continued.
"You are the goddess of justice, and what I do is clearly not justice."
He paused, his tone growing colder.
"We don't walk the same path. So to avoid making trouble for myself, let's leave it at that."
That was the truth.
Genichi understood his own place very clearly.
He had killed people, and he had killed many of them.
He had done evil, even if that evil had been aimed at evil people.
He had never been some messenger of justice. He was only an ordinary person willing to do whatever it took to survive.
And Astraea was the goddess of justice.
Her very existence was an embodiment of justice.
Letting someone like her drink the blood wine and become his "subordinate" felt wrong to Genichi.
It was not that he distrusted her.
He simply did not want to drag her into his own mud.
But just as he was about to turn and leave, a hand caught his sleeve.
Demeter.
Genichi looked back and saw Demeter gazing at him, a complicated emotion in her eyes.
"I think it's all right."
Demeter spoke seriously. Her voice was soft, but it carried strength. "Another god means another path. Besides, you've already received Astraea's divine blood and gained her authority. Letting Astraea join us is the best choice."
Genichi opened his mouth, wanting to refute her, but Demeter did not give him the chance.
"Besides, there may come a day when you need Astraea's help."
When she said those words, Demeter's eyes flickered.
It was a look Genichi could not quite understand.
But Astraea understood it.
That was worry.
Fear.
The deep anxiety of a woman who loved someone, born from the terrible things that might happen in the future.
Demeter was very worried.
Worried about what would happen if Genichi truly got into trouble one day.
Worried about what would happen if she alone could not help him.
Worried that at the most critical moment, she might be the only one standing beside Genichi, yet be powerless to do anything.
That was why she wanted Astraea to join them.
She wanted to find one more helper for Genichi.
She wanted to have one more person she could discuss things with.
Even if that person might share Genichi's trust with her.
Even if that person might, in a certain sense, become her "rival."
As long as it could protect Genichi, she was willing.
Astraea looked at Demeter, and complicated feelings rose in her heart.
She remembered how, throughout these days, Demeter had stayed by Genichi's side every day.
Those eyes were always following Genichi's figure.
Those hands were always ready to support him whenever exhaustion overtook him.
That heart was always suspended in midair, beating for his safety.
What a deep love that was.
Deep enough to share.
Deep enough to set aside possessiveness.
Deep enough to ask only that he remain safe.
Astraea took a deep breath and looked at Genichi again.
"Demeter is right."
She spoke seriously. "You may not trust me, but you should trust Demeter. She would never harm you."
Genichi fell silent.
He looked at Demeter. His own figure was reflected in her eyes.
In that gaze, there was worry, expectation, and a faint, almost imperceptible plea.
She was pleading with him.
Pleading for him to accept Astraea.
Pleading for him to give himself another layer of security.
Pleading for him not to make her so afraid.
Genichi's heart softened.
He sighed and looked at Astraea.
"Have you really thought this through?"
Astraea nodded without hesitation.
"I have."
"Once you drink the blood wine, your life and death will depend on a single thought from me."
"I know."
"What I do may not match your justice."
"I know that too."
"You may regret it."
"I won't."
Astraea's answers were firmer each time.
Genichi looked at her and remained silent for a long time.
In the end, he nodded.
"Fine."
(End of Chapter)
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