Nazarick, First Floor Exit.
After crossing over into this world, Naohara and the other two were once again greeted with a sight both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.
As they stepped out of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, strands of pale, beautiful moonlight greeted them.
The gentle glow washed over their faces, making them instinctively raise a hand to shield their eyes.
Herohero, who had been quietly resting in Solution's arms, leapt down. The pitch-black slime shifted into humanoid form and stood shoulder to shoulder with Naohara and Momonga, staring blankly at the world before them.
The scent of the earth. The distant cries of birds and beasts. Greenery stretching as far as the eye could see. No dust choking the sky. A brilliant sea of stars laid bare above them.
Every detail tugged at their senses. Though they had braced themselves, the three of them still stood there in a daze.
"Such a clear sky…"
"It feels so real that it almost seems unreal."
"Yeah."
"It's incredible… like jewels scattered across the heavens."
They couldn't help but marvel.
How long had it been? How long since they had seen something like this?
Even when they saw the forest and starry sky on Nazarick's Sixth Floor, they hadn't felt this deeply moved. After all, they knew that sky was artificial.
The last time Naohara saw a real starry sky was before he was transported here. As for Momonga and Herohero, they had only glimpsed one in childhood, back when the world above hadn't yet been completely buried beneath dust. Even those memories were vague.
"Let's go, Momonga, Blackie. Let's take a closer look."
Naohara called out, then impatiently spread the dragon wings on his back and shot straight into the sky.
The violent gust he left behind snapped Momonga and Herohero out of their daze. Watching Naohara shrink into a tiny black dot, they exchanged a smile.
[Fly] ×2
The two cast their spells and rose into the air, flying after him.
Seeing the Three Supreme Beings disappear into the sky, Sebas and Demiurge unfurled their wings as well and followed.
Solution remained where she stood. Without any flying magic or items, she could only watch as their figures slowly vanished from sight.
"Please return soon, Herohero-sama."
Solution gazed quietly at the sky, offering a silent prayer.
...
"How beautiful…"
By the time Demiurge and Sebas pierced through the clouds and reached Naohara and the others, they heard a soft sigh of admiration.
Naohara stood calmly in midair. His dragon wings were not moving. By all logic, he should have fallen, yet magic allowed him to stand upon empty space as he gazed at the world before him.
"As expected, it's far more beautiful than the sky on the Sixth Floor."
"Yeah. Though being able to transform the Sixth Floor into that… Blue Planet really was something."
"Blue Planet… If only he were here too."
The three stood side by side, admiring the moon and talking quietly, letting out the occasional sigh.
Blue Planet, the man who loved nature more than anyone else. The creator of the Sixth Floor's forest and starry sky. Even Naohara had to admire the depth of his devotion to the natural world.
Remembering that Blue Planet's greatest wish had been to see a real sky like this, the three of them felt a touch of melancholy.
If Blue Planet had been transported here as well, then the Nazarick of the original story might have turned into some kind of planetary environmental protection organization.
Naohara imagined the scene and couldn't help reaching that conclusion.
Demiurge, who had been silently listening the entire time, carefully pondered every word spoken by the Three Supreme Beings.
"Like jewels?"
"The wish of Blue Planet-sama…"
"The praise of the Three Supreme Beings…"
"I understand!"
Linking together everything he had just heard, Demiurge's mind raced at full speed. Then enlightenment struck.
The world was like a treasure. The Supreme Beings were praising this treasure. The meaning was obvious.
The Supreme Beings intended to claim this treasure for themselves. They wished to rule the world and make it forever belong to Nazarick.
Demiurge felt a surge of exhilaration at having grasped their profound intent. Since the Supreme Beings admired this treasure, then as their guardians, it was their duty to offer it up to them.
As detailed plans for world conquest rapidly took shape in his mind, his entire body trembled with excitement.
"With a single word from you, we guardians will spare no effort to present this treasure to the Three Supreme Beings."
Demiurge instantly appeared before Naohara and the others, bowing respectfully as he spoke.
The three of them were momentarily stunned by his sudden declaration.
"Then go ahead."
"We'll be watching."
Momonga and Herohero didn't think much of his words. They simply chuckled lightly in response.
Naohara seemed to realize something, but seeing the cheerful expressions of his two friends, he chose not to say anything. Conquering the world didn't sound all that bad anyway. It might even be fun.
"Yes. I will devote myself entirely, even unto death."
Demiurge replied with firm resolve, secretly admiring his own brilliance for having uncovered the deeper meaning behind the Supreme Beings' words.
As he stepped back, he glanced at the stern-faced Sebas beside him and couldn't help scoffing inwardly.
"What a failure. As someone who serves the Supreme Beings directly, he can't even grasp a fraction of their true intentions."
"As expected, only I, Demiurge, am the most loyal subordinate of the Supreme Beings."
A faintly sinister smile crept onto his face as he cast a pitying look at Sebas.
"?"
Seeing that eerie smile and the loaded gaze behind it, Sebas suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to punch him.
...
"We should head back. There'll be plenty of chances to admire this view in the future."
After watching the night sky for a while longer, Naohara spoke softly.
"I hope that decades from now, we'll still be standing together like this, looking at the moon."
Herohero's tone carried a hint of melancholy.
Momonga reached over and patted his shoulder.
"We will. The three of us will still be just like this."
His voice was steady and certain.
Herohero looked at the two of them.
Momonga's skeletal hand rested on his shoulder. Though his expression didn't change, Herohero could feel his sincerity. Naohara also placed a hand on his shoulder with a warm smile, silently agreeing.
"Not one of us will be missing, Blackie. After all… we're family now."
"Family…?"
Herohero stared at Naohara's smiling face, something deep inside him stirring.
That word wrapped around his heart like warmth.
How long had it been since he'd heard it?
Ever since he'd numbly thrown himself into endless overtime, the meaning of family had gradually faded from his life.
"Momonga… Naohara… I'll stay with you forever."