Fate: I Heard After Death, You Can Ascend to the Throne of Heroes?

Under the cursed kingdom and the sacrificial altar, the gathered people, tormented by the curse, held high their torches, driving away the darkness and illuminating the night.

As their revered gods, the river goddess Aegina and the most exalted goddess of this era, Hera, descended together, the people, in their panic, bowed and worshipped, lowering their heads.

They couldn't hear the conversation between the three, as Aegina knew these were not words for them to hear.

"You said you knew from the beginning that this curse was cast by Hera. If that's the case, then why... why..."

Aegina, deeply shaken, looked at the black-haired, green-eyed boy before her, illuminated by the flames, and asked in disbelief, "Why do you still stand before her, your goddess?!"

She was an innocent and kind goddess. 

Even though she deeply despised Promise because of Hera, when Promise collapsed outside the tower room from exhaustion, she still gently carried him to her bed.

Thus, Aegina had mentally prepared herself. 

When she thought she had used Promise to spite Hera, she had already prepared to be hated by the boy who was willing to help her for the rest of his life.

To soothe her guilty conscience, Aegina repeatedly told herself that it was the boy's own choice to side with Hera.

Therefore, at this moment, when Promise, in a matter-of-fact tone, said that he knew the curse was cast by Hera, which was why he came here and stood before her, praying for her blessing, Aegina was stunned, disbelieving, and at a loss.

She couldn't believe that her so-called preparation was merely wishful thinking.

She couldn't believe that the boy before her truly stood before the gods for her and this kingdom.

And this god was not only the most exalted goddess of this land but also the Goddess that this boy worshipped!

At the same time, Hera was equally at a loss.

When Aegina asked her question, full of deep turmoil, her amber eyes instinctively turned towards Promise.

Having recovered from the joy of receiving Promise's offerings, which included everything he had, she now finally realized where she was and who the goddess glaring at her with hatred was.

"Because the Hera I know is a kind and gentle goddess," Promise replied.

One cannot lie to a god, so what he said was the truth.

After all...

"You said Queen Hera is a kind and gentle goddess..." This was Chiron's response to Promise's question during his studies.

Moreover, this description was clearly recorded in the legends.

Did Hera not know that what she did, casting a curse and taking away innocent lives, leading a once-prosperous kingdom to ruin, was wrong?

She knew, of course.

But as the goddess of marriage, a staunch defender of monogamy, who could not have a fulfilling marriage herself, she became pathologically bitter, hating everyone who tainted her marriage.

Thus, while Hera knew, she didn't care. 

She just wanted to destroy anyone who tainted her marriage, to ruin everything Aegina cherished.

But because she actually knew, when Hera heard Promise say this and saw this faithful believer trusting her, a strange feeling surged in her heart.

And she couldn't help but turn her head away.

At that moment, she was even grateful that she wore a veil tonight.

"Kind and gentle goddess... Ha, haha, Hera, you... you... what virtue or ability do you have for such praise?!"

Aegina laughed bitterly, her voice filled with mockery and resentment.

Usually, if Aegina, a mere river goddess and her rival, dared to be so disrespectful, Hera would have punished her harshly.

But today, Hera didn't. 

She didn't even glance at Aegina, her eyes fixed only on Promise.

"Child, you have offered me everything you have, and all you ask is for a blessing... a blessing for this kingdom that has nothing to do with you?"

Turning her veiled face away, Hera asked Promise.

"No, it is not unrelated to me, noble and kind Queen Hera," Promise replied with words he had prepared long ago. "Because I know you are a kind goddess, I cannot ignore the calamity before me.

After all, I am your believer, noble goddess.

Therefore, high and exalted queen, please hear my wish again. I ask you to grant your blessing to this kingdom, so that the world will know your name and your greatness!"

Aegina fell silent.

Even though she hated Hera deeply, at that moment, she too felt a surge of hope.

Hearing Promise's wish, Hera turned her head even further away.

At that moment, Hera finally understood the feelings she had just experienced. 

They were the joy of being trusted by this boy and the shame of betraying his trust.

For the most exalted goddess of Olympus, Queen Hera, to feel ashamed, it could only be said that Promise was indeed worthy of the wisdom goddess Athena's prophecy.

Hera's indulgence.

"It's over."

At the same time, the goddess of wisdom, Athena, who had been witnessing everything from the best seat in the house, couldn't help but reveal a satisfied expression.

As the spectator in the best seat, she had witnessed this drama unfold on stage, from its beginning, filled with all kinds of dramatic developments, to its climax!

Given her understanding of Hera, Athena knew Hera couldn't refuse Promise's wish at this moment.

She also knew that Hera would definitely flee immediately after agreeing and wouldn't show up in front of Promise for a long time.

So, just as she was about to get up from the audience, step onto the stage to replace Hera and Aegina, and bring this performance to a close...

"Athena, do you know why I have been standing here all this time?"

The voice of the goddess of justice, Themis, sounded beside her, asking Athena with a cold tone.

Athena, who was about to move, instinctively turned to look at Themis when she heard the question.

And she froze.

Because she saw Themis... No, at that moment, she saw the goddess of justice and judgment.

Unnoticed, Themis had raised the scales of judgment in her left hand and the sword of judgment in her right hand.

Athena knew Themis was there, naturally drawn by the injustice happening in this kingdom.

And Themis was also her safeguard for Promise.

If something went wrong, her presence would be enough to make Hera stop.

"Because when that child came before me, I raised the scales and measured him..."

'Are you not afraid of angering the exalted queen because of this?'

'And why did you come here to stand before her?'

Watching Themis, Athena widened her eyes.

Because she finally saw, saw this meticulous goddess show a rare smile due to Promise's arrival.

"And, oh wise goddess, do you know what I was measuring?"

Without waiting for Athena's response, Themis took a step forward and stepped onto the stage.

Just as Hera nodded and was about to agree to Promise's wish, then turn around and flee, as Athena had predicted.

Wearing a white robe, with eyes covered by a white cloth, holding the scales of judgment in her left hand and the sword of judgment in her right, the goddess of judgment appeared before everyone.

Then, she raised the scales in her hand.

In the silence of all, her cold and undeniable voice announced: "Here... there must be a trial!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Themis' power enveloped everything present.

Promise only felt a dazzling white light coming, which made him close his eyes subconsciously.

At this moment, Athena was surprised by this completely unexpected development, but she finally understood.

The climax of this stage has finally arrived!