I met the captain of the guards upon returning from hell.
This time, unlike before, I was allowed to enter from the front. The doors opened as if to welcome us.
“We have been waiting for you.”
In the lobby, I was greeted by a Treasure Beastman who served Lord Nephilim. He seemed to be injured, but I was relieved to see that his life was not in danger. He guided me, and I stepped into the elevator.
The mysterious device ascended quietly. We arrived at the top floor. It was here that I first met Lord Nephilim. In the room at the dead end, it was entirely glass-walled, offering a panoramic view of the entire town like an observation deck.
Dragonkin guards with stern expressions still lined the hallway, glaring at us. Captain Applettea raised his chin and walked through. Despite having fought together, the rift between them seemed to persist. I thought they should just accept each other and get along.
At this point, the attendant did not reach for the door at the far end but instead opened a door to the side. I had assumed I would be waiting in the room at the far end.
“This way, please be careful of your footing.”
Beyond the door, it led outside. It was constructed like an emergency staircase, continuing far above. Could I have originally climbed to the roof from here? The top floor had been largely destroyed when I came here last time.
I climbed the outdoor stairs, looking out over the town. A slightly chilly wind brushed against my cheeks.
At the top, Lord Nephilim and a White Rose that had regained its radiance were waiting. The captain proudly reported,
“Lord Nephilim, I have brought Hiroaki and the others.”
“Eleven brave heroes, you have returned well.”
Lord Nephilim, now in child form, smiled kindly.
“Yes, we managed to return together. The White Rose…”
It seemed to have returned to its original form, but it was heavily cracked. I wondered if it would remain broken forever.
“There is no need to worry, the wounds will heal over time. The Magic Stone is alive.”
“Is that so? If that’s the case, then it’s fine.”
“Thanks to all of you, we were able to avert the collapse of the world. Please forgive me for not believing in the power of friendship.”
I shook my head, saying that was not the case. Anyone would find it hard to believe that such a young group could accomplish something so great. I couldn’t believe it myself. I never imagined I, a guy who coincidentally came from another world, along with girls of various races, would go to hell and fight.
“The path to heaven is the path through hell. You have the right to witness this. It is the last place reached by the heroes who have passed through the path of hell.”
With that said, Lord Nephilim began to channel power into the White Rose. Then, a dazzling light swirled in the air, obscuring the sun.
Could this be…?
“Now, the gates of heaven will open. They can never be opened normally. But they can be opened specially only when permission is granted from the other side.”
The gates to hell opened relatively easily, though? Well, going to hell only brings suffering. The scene that unfolded beyond the gates was worlds apart.
The light eventually formed a circle, and a man emerged from within. I tried to look at the background behind him, but it was hidden by clouds and I couldn’t confirm it.
The man wore a white cloth like a sheet, and wings sprouted from his back. A golden ring of light shone on his head. I guessed this was an angel, which largely matched my imagination.
Besides the man at the front, a Centaur and a female angel appeared. The Centaur had large white wings growing from its horse body—a form similar to a Pegasus.
The male angel solemnly unrolled a scroll and began to read its contents.
“Your activities in hell, as well as your accomplishments, have reached our ears. We promise to compensate for the physical and mental losses incurred in this endeavor, to the best of our ability.”
Compensation? What exactly would they do? Seeing us look at each other, the Pegasus hovering behind us spoke up.
“In other words, they’ll grant you one wish.”
The man at the front shot the Pegasus a sidelong glance, telling him not to speak out of turn. The Pegasus turned his mouth into a frown and shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s right. State your wish.”
I still don’t think I can like people from heaven. Well, it was my first time meeting them, but listening to Hyde’s stories, they seemed rigid and prideful.
“Hurry up. It’s your turn, human.”
I turned to look at everyone. Piyo approached with a sad expression.
“Hiro, you’re finally going back, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. But I’ve found something I need to do.”
“I see.”
Piyo smiled, trying to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. I really wanted to stay with everyone forever. But I couldn’t. Just as everyone had a place to return to, so did I. When I looked at Sharin, she nodded understandingly.
Everything was over. I had accomplished what needed to be done. I had fought without running away until the end. Now I could live with my head held high.
I took a deep breath.
“Send me back to my original world.”
