Mist filled the air, the surroundings shrouded in a thick white haze. As soon as Kurumi appeared in the misty chamber, she placed her hands on her hips and called out loudly, "Little Honda, come with this goddess and help save the world!"
Because Futayo Honda suffered from social awkwardness, Kurumi decided not to display her divine authority before her. Futayo was far too serious—so Kurumi deliberately showed her spoiled and willful side, hoping Futayo might learn to loosen up a little.
Splash... The sound of water echoed, and a blurry figure appeared through the thick mist. With pure blue hair cascading down her back and only a bath towel wrapped around her body, Futayo knelt formally on the floor and said with utmost seriousness, "At your command, my lady!"
Kurumi: "..." Little Honda... you're in a hot spring?!
"Ugh! This goddess is tired too. I need a hot spring to wash away my fatigue," Kurumi muttered, then waved her hand dismissively. "Little Honda, what are you doing? Keep soaking! Come on, move aside, let's enjoy the bath together—"
"Divine One! The noble act of saving the world cannot be delayed! Please, proceed immediately to fulfill this divine duty!" Futayo interrupted, her expression still perfectly serious.
"Little Honda! Preventing your goddess from bathing is a grave offense!" Kurumi snapped, flipping over the table of her mind in fury. Little Honda, you're such an unromantic fool! Saving the world is boring! Go do it yourself if you love it so much!
"Divine One, once the world has been saved, I shall commit ritual suicide to atone for my insolence," Futayo said solemnly.
Kurumi: "..." I don't want you to kill yourself—I just wanted to share a bath with my cute, innocent Little Honda!
In the end, Kurumi never managed to bathe with the straight-laced Futayo.
"Don't come in! This goddess needs to contemplate how to save the world!" Kurumi slammed the temple doors shut, leaving the ever-shadowing Futayo outside.
The major factions had already stationed themselves within the temple, beginning their knightly training. Naturally, Futayo remained inside the divine grounds as well.
"Temporal Separation—Inori Yuzuriha!" Kurumi called softly, and Inori's time was split from the flow.
"Inori, I've been bullied..." Kurumi whimpered tearfully as she dove into Inori's arms, seeking comfort.
After finally allowing herself a rare moment of spoiled petulance, she had run into the immovable wall that was Little Honda. Her pride and self-esteem had been utterly trampled. My poor Kurumi-chan... I just want someone to comfort me...
"Kurumi-chan," Inori murmured softly, tilting her head sleepily. One hand gently stroked Kurumi's hair, while the other tenderly patted her back, soothing her in slow, rhythmic motions.
With each gentle touch and the soft warmth of Inori's embrace, Kurumi's expression relaxed, her body curling up like a cat nestled in safety. Her breathing grew slow and steady, her delicate face beneath her dark hair showing a faint, blissful smile.
Inori's soft pink eyes brimmed with affection. Absentmindedly, she continued stroking Kurumi's head, her other hand caressing her back in slow, gentle motions—one stroke after another, steady and comforting. Without realizing it, a tender smile bloomed on her innocent face.
When Kurumi woke up, she felt as if she had slept for an eternity. Every part of her body felt relaxed and at ease.
The gentle caress on her head and back hadn't stopped. Kurumi sat up with a smile, pulling Inori into her arms so that now the girl lay nestled against her instead.
"Uuuh... Kurumi-chan, my legs are numb..." Inori whimpered weakly. Her legs were still bent, unable to straighten.
Kurumi raised an eyebrow. As the Goddess of Time, she could clearly sense that only ten minutes had passed.
But then she frowned slightly. Within the bed, time was flowing abnormally—an entire day and night had passed there. That silly girl Inori... she must have continued soothing her for a full day and night without pause.
"I won't heal Inori's legs," Kurumi said softly. "Let them recover slowly—because this numbness is proof of her love for me."
Once, on the eve of the final return of the Guilty Crown timeline—
"A god must always stand above all, to be revered and feared by mortals. Once a god descends to walk among humans as an equal, divine calamity follows—and chaos spreads across the world." Kurumi's wine-red eyes shimmered with gentle affection.
Human hearts were the most terrifying thing in existence. The moment mortals came to understand a god, a dangerous thought would inevitably arise within them—'So gods aren't that great after all.' And such a thought was the very seed of catastrophe.
"To prevent the birth of mortal calamity, even gods must follow divine rules—absolute fairness and absolute command! I am no exception to this law. Sometimes I must act out such commands merely for others to witness, but in those moments, I must be utterly merciless. Even if it is you, Inori, I would harm you without hesitation."
As Kurumi spoke, her wine-red eyes glimmered with a hint of pain at the thought of having to punish Inori in public. Gently stroking the girl's head, she continued softly, "That's why, Inori, you must learn to understand the situation. In certain places, you must show absolute reverence toward me. If you act overly affectionate, it will only trouble me."
Holding Kurumi's hands tightly, Inori looked up at her and said earnestly, "Kurumi-chan, I'll be good. I won't cause you any trouble."
Kurumi's delicate eyes softened with a smile. This silly girl... she may be a little slow, but she's obedient. Kurumi trusted that Inori would do well.
"Inori, I'll soon have to save the world again. But this time, I can't bring you with me—because you wouldn't be able to help."
"Uuuh!" Inori let out a sorrowful cry. The thought of being separated from Kurumi filled her with sadness. If I'm not there... what if someone else takes Kurumi away?
Kurumi extended her pinky finger toward her and said, "Let's make a promise, Inori. This world holds many professions. If you can reach the very peak of one—if you can become strong enough to help me—I'll keep you by my side forever."
Inori's eyes lit up, and she eagerly hooked her pinky around Kurumi's. The silly girl had no idea just how terrifying the peak professions of this world truly were.
For example, England's Queen Elizabeth's personal guard—the Shield of the Queen, one of whom was Thomas Shakespeare, a young girl of the long-lived race, whose profession was that of a writer.
Through her novels, she could summon an army of a million. Her Theater of Shakespeare had reached a level where its stage plays could corrode the world itself, forming a Reality Marble.
If even a novelist possessed such overwhelming power, one could only imagine how terrifying the pinnacle of other professions must be. Yet, even if Inori knew all this, she would still, without hesitation, make that pinky promise.
Beneath the starry night sky, three figures slowly faded from this world, disappearing into the boundless horizon.
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