It was deep in the night. By the time the sun had set and the moon was hanging over my head, I was able to return to Metheus. Helena, along with Aren, burst out crying in front of Sarah's grave. Then Aren told Helena the truth. I returned to Metheus to avoid disturbing the intimate time of the two people who just recognized each other.

I returned with Kerenos and Punghee. Kim Sujeong said she would stay with Helena.

“You've worked hard, old man.” 

“You've also worked hard. Go inside and rest.”

“Yes. Then I'll see you.”

Kerenos bowed to me and headed toward the knights' quarters. I looked at his back for a moment before retracting my gaze and entering the room with Punghee. Chunza and Solar were holding each other while sleeping. It seemed that the relations.h.i.+p between the two of them had improved a lot.

“Huhu. These kids.” I lay straight on the bed of clouds. It was so fluffy that I seemed like I would fall asleep the moment I lay my head down. Ahh, yes. This was happiness. “Huaaaah. So good...?”

Just then, I could see Punghee standing to the side. Punghee was looking at me with a red face and fidgeting. What was she doing? Did she have something to say?

“Punghee.”

“...Yes, Father. 

“If you have something to say to me, then say it.”

Punghee touched her index fingers together. She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth, “...Can I sleep with you?”

“Hmm?”

The words were unexpected. In fact, we started to sleep separately after Punghee transformed into a girl. Sleeping with a cute weasel and with a girl was a completely different thing for me. However, Punghee seemed very sad about it.

“...It's fine if you don't like it. I just feel that Father keeps avoiding me. Sob.”

Suddenly, Punghee's eyes reddened and she started to cry. I was so fl.u.s.tered that I stuttered.

“N-No. Punghee. It isn't like that.”

“Really?”

“Yes! I'm not avoiding you.”

I stroked the young Punghee's head with a kind expression. It seemed I had been too indifferent to her in the meantime. In some ways, she was a young child right now. Punghee was still in need of care.

“Come here. You can sleep with me today.”

“Yes!”

Punghee snuggled into my arms. I gave her my arm as a pillow and sang a lullaby. Punghee soon fell asleep with a snoring sound. I thought she was very cute. I gently rubbed her cheeks and slowly looked up at the ceiling.

“It is hard to get a young daughter in my late years.”

I slowly closed my eyes. Shortly thereafter, I fell asleep. Moonlight subtly shone on our faces through the window.

***

At a land of vast clouds...

The enormous palace built in the sky above the sky had a very old-fas.h.i.+oned and sacred appearance. This was the residence of the G.o.ds, known as the Celestial Palace. Its name was 'Ura.n.u.s' and the endless clouds that stretched out seemed to prove that it was a place where the G.o.ds lived.

In the middle of these clouds was the Celestial Palace, Ura.n.u.s.

“Hey, can't you be a bit quiet?” In this place, a woman gathered the noisy constellations and scolded them. The golden hair and golden wool wrapped around her body proved her ident.i.ty. Her nickname was 'Impetuous Sacrifice.' She was a messenger of the G.o.ds, had a thorough sense of righteousness, and liked to take the lead without turning away from the weak. She was a member of the Seven Chivalrous Stars, and the current leader of the 12 Zodiacs. She had the true name of 'Aries' and was currently leading the Zodiacs and escorting the constellations after the betrayal of 'Regulus.' Behind her, the Fleece Knights threatened the constellations with an overbearing force.

[You should stop.]

At this time, a man spoke to Aries in a low voice. He was the G.o.d of stars and mercy, Lupeon. He was a G.o.d currently guarding the Star Flow System and was called the king of constellations.

“I'm sorry, Lupeon.” 

[It's fine. I haven't seen you in a long time. You are still the same. That hasty temper...]

“I am embarra.s.sed.”

The sheep star, Aries, bowed her head with a slight blush. Aries was secretly in love with Lupeon. Of course, Lupeon didn't know that.

[It has been a long time since we've come together like this~]

Just then, a woman appeared behind Lupeon with a smile on her face. She was the G.o.ddess of the moon and magic, Hecatiana. Lupeon scoffed at Hecatiana. [Did you come riding that owl again? It is a very handy owl. What's with the appearance? Are you going to keep being like this?]

The moment Lupeon spoke these words with a frown, the Lechuza on Hecatiana's shoulder changed shape. A black-haired man with crescent moon pupils. The power of the moon overflowed from the man and enveloped his body.

[Don't be too much. Still, look how loyal he is to me. Isn't that right, Crescent?]

“It is an honor, Hecatiana.” 

The Lechuza's name was Crescent. Lupeon's eyes shone as he looked at Crescent. Rumor had it that in the past, Jupiter also tried to tame him and failed. However, only Hecatiana and Jupiter knew the truth.

[There are so many constellations.]

[Yes. It is a rich day.]

[It is always new whenever I come here.]

Huera, G.o.ddess of the wind and revival arrived. Then there was Maya, G.o.ddess of rain and abundance. Next to her was Cadia, the G.o.ddess of snow and trials. Lupeon looked at the three G.o.ddesses and spoke, [You are always stuck together. Is your relations.h.i.+p that good?]

Lupeon questioned it and Huera replied, [We are very friendly, Lupeon.]

[If you are jealous, then do you want to join?]

[I hate men who are colder than me.]

Lupeon snorted as he heard the three G.o.ddesses' personality from their answers. Just then, a man with a large pincer for one hand and a pair of scissors in the opposite hand approached. His hair was so neat and elegant that it made people suspect he had a love of cleanliness.

“I dedicate this to the three beautiful G.o.ddesses.”

The flowers in the man's pincer were handed out to the three G.o.ddesses. The three G.o.ddesses each picked a flower they liked.

Maya responded with a smile, [Thank you, Kirkinos.] 

“I'm glad you like it. Then I'm going.” He was a man called Kirkinos and he was the crab zodiac. He was the gardener of the Celestial Palace and the barber of the G.o.ds. Kirkinos stepped back and approached Aries. “Your wool has grown a lot. Shall I organize it, Aries?”

“Get lost, Kirkinos.” 

“d.a.m.n. Do you really dislike it? I think it will be pretty if I cut here...”

“I said to get lost. Can't you see that I'm an escort?”

Kirkinos simply smiled at the fiery Aries' words. He clicked the scissors he was holding and spoke. “Huhu. Call me at any time. It is because I like to organize your wool the most.”

Kirkinos once again clicked the scissors together before moving away. Aries sighed as she watched Kirkinos' back. “Ugh, too annoying.” 

Aries was always dissatisfied with Kirkinos. He always stared at her so blatantly. In fact, Aries also knew that Kirkinos had feelings for him, but Aries liked Lupeon more. She didn't want to give her heart to such a perverted guy. He liked touching her hair. It was the worst. “If only that pervert wasn't so good with the scissors...”

The problem was that the best one at cleaning her wool was Kirkinos. It was natural since he was the gardener of the Celestial Palace and the barber of the G.o.ds. Aries once again looked back at Lupeon. He boasted a cold, n.o.ble beauty as always. It was like the aura of stars was emanating from his face.

Was it because he was the king of the stars?

'So handsome...'

Aries once again fell in love with Lupeon's appearance. 

Suddenly, light emanated from the sky of the Celestial Palace and brightly lit up the Celestial Palace. The G.o.ds and constellations bowed toward the light. It was the same for Aries. The representative Lupeon spoke in a low and polite voice, [G.o.d of light and the heavens, Jupiter, I greet you.]

Everyone repeated 'Jupiter, I greet you.'

Aries immediately lowered her head. She couldn't see Jupiter's face even if she looked up. It was due to the majestic light given to the three G.o.ds by Gaia, the first G.o.d and the G.o.d of all things and creation. The majestic light covered Jupiter's face and made it impossible for people to look up.

The rest of the three G.o.ds—Neptune, the G.o.d of the land and sea, and Pluto, the G.o.d of death and darkness—were also covered in this majestic light. No one saw the faces of the three G.o.ds directly.

[Yes, it has been a while, Lupeon. Who is guarding the Star Flow System now?] Jupiter asked in a rugged voice that seemed quite old.

Lupeon responded immediately, [Currently, the archer star, Chiron, and the scorpion star, Antares, are each leading troops to stop the demons advancing to the Star Flow System. There is also the wolf star, Remus, who died not long ago and settled in the Star Flow System. He will be there soon. The water jug zodiac, Deucalion, is handling the sea. Then the wind...]

[That's enough.]

Jupiter interrupted Lupeon in a low and majestic voice. Lupeon swallowed the word 'Aiolos.' Lupeon recently learned that 'Aiolos' had entered the Star Flow System. The surprising thing was that he came through the underworld with a human woman. He said that his position wasn't vacant, but was filled up by his daughter.

'Well, he will soon find out.'

Lupeon felt there was no reason to report it to Jupiter. There was nothing the omnipotent G.o.d of light and the heavens didn't know if he wanted. He was the only G.o.d who could hear Gaia's voice. Today was the day when Jupiter delivered the words of Gaia, the first G.o.d.

Finally, Jupiter's voice lowered. [Everyone, listen.]

Everyone instantly raised their faces. The dazzling majestic light made Jupiter a G.o.d that no one dared to look at. The sky above the sky. The G.o.d of the G.o.ds, Jupiter, who ruled the heavens. It was a light that suited Jupiter who was called the king of the G.o.ds. Then he radiated an even more brilliant light. The thunderbolt in his hand emitted a white light.

[Everyone knows that the corrupted constellations are trying to devour the human world. They are now demon kings and some of the demon world's army has been transferred to the human world.]

Jupiter's thunderbolt roared like it would tear everything apart. Everyone gulped at the terrifying sight. They were well aware because they had all been through Ragnarok in the past. The thunderbolt crying again meant that Jupiter was ready for war.

[I, Jupiter, G.o.d of light and the heavens, am telling you today. Help the humans prepare for the coming Ragnarok! Collect and bring the Pandora pieces! This is the will of the great primordial G.o.d, Gaia!]

Everyone's expression was firm. What followed was a tribute to Jupiter. The voices of the G.o.ds and the constellations mixed together loudly. It was a slogan they changed before going to war. It was a roar that resonated again 500 years later.

“Let the world see the dignity of the Celestial Palace!”

Results for my celebration event are out. You can check it out in the post linked before.