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

Hmm... so, are they really doing this?

The joys and sorrows of people are different.

Feeling inexplicably bewildered, Promise did not pay attention to the noisy, shocked people beside him.

Instead, after glancing at Hera, the river goddess Aegina, and Themis standing next to him with the sword of judgment, he instinctively turned his gaze to Athena.

But seeing the goddess's eyes full of excitement and glee, he understood that the Athena he had already labeled as the "joyful demon" and "trash goddess" was utterly unreliable now!

So, unable to understand, he simply stopped thinking about it.

After all, Hera's words just reminded Promise.

This was an unprecedented honor.

In this courtroom, gathered by the powers of the goddess of justice, Themis, he will now exercise the powers of this goddess of justice to judge the gods!

Even if he ultimately fails, this event will be recorded as a brilliant chapter in history.

So, what's the price?

The price was nothing more than being resented by these fickle goddesses, being punished, and eventually dying.

But in return, it will be a legend that will be passed down through the ages, engraved on the heroic spirit rank card, enhancing the quality of the heroic spirit, and allowing him to ascend to the Throne of Heroes!

Therefore, although he didn't understand what was going on, once Promise realized that this was a profitable and highly rewarding situation, he instantly became calm.

Forget it, who cares what these goddesses are thinking, let the trial begin!

And just as Promise made up his mind, the scene...

At the moment Promise made up his mind, Themis's lips couldn't help but curve slightly. 

Her eyes, covered with white cloth yet able to see more, now saw Promise's determination... although she didn't know what exactly he had decided.

So, Themis directly spoke, her voice cold and devoid of any emotion:

"Queen Hera, in a fit of anger, you cast a vicious curse upon this country, causing disasters and plagues to spread, shrouding this kingdom in death, turning it into a living hell. Countless lives perished because of this, correct?"

The emotionless voice of Themis fell in the courtroom, instantly silencing the previously noisy jurors.

It was only now that they realized who had cast the curse that destroyed their world!

Upon hearing this, Hera did not react much.

As mentioned before, although she knew in her heart that what she did was wrong, she didn't actually care.

Because when faced with the river goddess Aegina, who had an affair with Zeus, the only way to quell her anger was to destroy everything Aegina cherished, to fill her beloved country with the stench of death, turning it into a living hell.

Only this could calm Hera's rage.

She had always treated all her rivals, those who had affairs with Zeus, in this manner. 

And as time went on, her punishments became increasingly severe, which was why she often appeared as a villain in Greek mythology.

So, if it were usual times, Hera wouldn't even bother to answer such questions.

However, because it was Promise sitting in the ultimate judgment seat, she explained, "That was because she shamelessly seduced someone else's husband first!"

"I did not!" Aegina gritted her teeth and loudly defended herself.

Upon hearing their statements, the previously quiet audience in the observation seats couldn't help but start discussing again.

Obviously, through such dialogues, these people roughly understood what had happened between these two goddesses.

Themis, however, showed no reaction to this. 

After all, such matters were not unusual among the gods.

She didn't continue questioning this issue but instead asked Aegina, "Daughter of the river god Asopus, Aegina, do you know why you are standing here?"

Aegina was slightly stunned.

"Do you know that Promise is a follower of Queen Hera?" Themis continued to ask.

"I know." Aegina nodded, given the mark Hera left on Promise, anyone could see it.

"Then do you know why he came before you?"

Upon hearing this, Aegina seemed to understand something, fell silent for a while, then answered, "I know, when he first appeared before me, he told me he came to help me and my people, to lift the curse."

"Since you know this, what did you do to this child who came before you to help you and your people, daring to stand before the god he believed in?"

Aegina lowered her head, and after a while, finally answered, "I used him, and not only that, when I saw how much Hera cared for the child, I immediately thought I had to kill him in front of her.

After all, I never thought he could actually make Hera bestow blessings.

I just wanted that vile goddess to experience the pain I felt!"

Upon hearing this, Hera's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Aegina, "What did you say?!"

And as Aegina confessed everything, she finally felt completely relaxed.

She raised her head to look at Hera, even showing a smile on her face, and said, "Because, Hera, since you destroyed everything of mine, why shouldn't I choose to destroy what you cherish?"

"Even though this child is innocent, and despite the risk of being hated and punished by the god he believes in, he still chose to help you," Themis interjected calmly.

"Exactly!" Aegina raised her head and loudly questioned Themis, "He is innocent, but what about my children?!"

"They died painfully because of Hera's curse. I watched them die before my eyes, I watched this kingdom slowly perish.

Were they not innocent too?

Since Hera does not care about any of this, why should I?"

...Huh?

'So, I almost died?'

'Should I be happy or sad about this?'

Upon hearing this, Promise didn't know what expression to show.

And not just Promise, even Aegina's people in the audience were conflicted, unsure of how to react.

Though Promise and they were confused about entirely different things.

But Promise soon felt relieved, deciding he should feel happy.

After all, he thought of Athena.

The more he interacted with the goddess of wisdom, the more he felt that if he died without fulfilling his promise to her, she would indeed go to the underworld to chase after him.

But the problem is, she wouldn't be able to find him in the underworld!

Then, with heroic spirit summoning...

Promise didn't dare to think further.

At the same time...

He looked at the river goddess Aegina, who had just revealed everything and was laughing freely, and at Hera, who looked angrily at Aegina but couldn't find words to rebut.

Promise once again realized that in this ancient Greek era, it wasn't just the virgin goddesses who had problems.

It seemed that almost all the goddesses had some serious issues!

Just as he thought this, Promise instantly felt several gazes turn towards him.

Not to mention the keen Athena, even Themis beside him turned her head.

Frightened, Promise quickly stopped thinking and ceased his wild thoughts.

Then...

"Silence."

Tapping the ground lightly with the sword of judgment in her hand, Themis instantly silenced all the noise in the pure white courtroom.

After doing all this, she finally turned to face Promise.

And that cold voice seemed a bit softer now, "Promise, everything about this situation is now presented before you, with nothing held back, whether right or wrong.

Therefore, now is the moment for your judgment!"

As Themis's voice fell, the ever-swaying scales of judgment finally stilled, settling into a balanced position without favoring either side.

Hera, although angry and frightened by Aegina's words, didn't immediately explode. 

Instead, she looked towards Promise, who was seated at the highest position.

Aegina naturally did the same. However, unlike Hera, she now wore a satisfied smile.

The people in the jury, who had also learned everything and were now silenced by Themis, couldn't help but focus their gazes on Promise.

Now they knew why Promise had come to their kingdom.

They knew that although he was a follower of Hera, he still chose to bring them blessings, standing against his goddess.

They also knew that he almost died at the hands of the goddess they revered.

With so much information, their minds were now in turmoil. 

But regardless, they could only do one thing at this moment... wait.

Wait for the final judgment!

And just then...

"So, what exactly did you see that day?"

"What did your scales of judgment truly judge about Promise?"

Athena's voice suddenly whispered in Themis's ear.

At this moment, only Themis could hear it.

She wasn't surprised by this.

In fact, she was slightly taken aback that Athena had only come to her now.

Athena smiled,

She sat in the most special seat in this pure white courtroom, her silver hair cascading behind her, and her golden eyes quietly observing everything in the court.

"You chose to intervene in this judgment at the moment it was supposed to end, your intentions are not hard to guess. 

Since you came here, you naturally aim to bring absolute justice, especially since... this is indeed a good opportunity."

"Because of Promise, you can make Hera face her actions in the most unique way, and I guess... you've felt a bit guilty over the years."

"After all, it was you who created the concept of marriage and family and entrusted it to Hera, hoping it would bind King Zeus, but it ended up binding Hera instead."

Themis's expression remained unchanged, and she did not respond.

"But these reasons alone cannot justify why Promise deserves to sit in that judgment seat. The answer lies on those scales of judgment."

"Themis, what exactly... did you see?"

When Themis heard these words, a smile finally appeared on her face.

And then, she did something that no one had expected.

She lightly smiled, reached out, and removed the white cloth covering her eyes... The goddess of justice, Themis, was not blind.

The reason she covered her eyes was merely to ensure she made the most impartial judgments without being swayed by what she saw.

However, this judgment was not hers.

So she removed the cloth, revealing her beautiful eyes, as blue as the sky, and quietly focused on Promise, who was frowning and deep in thought.

"I asked two questions."

Then, Themis responded to Athena.

"First, whether this child is inherently good. 

The scales of judgment did not give me an answer, but now I naturally know the answer from you, because he is both abandoned and favored by the goddess of fate."

"Therefore, whether he is just and kind or ugly and evil depends on his future path, his choices."

The Heroic Spirit Rank Card will lead Promise to different eras, leaving legends and then ascending to the Throne of Heroes.

But in fact, not only heroes can ascend to the Throne of Heroes.

"Thus, when I couldn't get a definitive answer, I asked a second question: Is his judgment fair? And at this question, the scales of judgment immediately gave me an answer."

"And it showed me a future scene under his judgment."

Themis can also see the future, knowing many things and secrets that even the king of the gods, Zeus, does not.

For example, the fate of the son of the sea goddess Thetis, who will be stronger than his father.

The sea goddess Thetis is the mother of the great hero Achilles.

"What did you see?" Athena couldn't help but ask.

At this moment, under Themis's gaze, Promise, who had finally made up his mind, stood up and looked at Themis.

"Goddess Themis, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course." Themis gently responded.

Because he was preoccupied, Promise didn't even notice that Themis had removed the cloth from her eyes.

"May I ask, how much power do I hold in this judgment? Can my verdict bring the dead back to life?"

"...Everything, as you wish." Themis answered.

"Thank you." Relieved after getting the answer he wanted, Promise turned to face everyone below and, under their watchful eyes, delivered his judgment: "Noble Queen Hera, river god Aegina, my judgment upon you is... guilty!"

Although bold, Promise's judgment did not cause a huge reaction, as everyone had already reached the same conclusion after Themis's questions.

"Therefore, noble goddess Hera, please heed my judgment: grant the people of this kingdom a nightmare and bestow upon them a great blessing!"

"...A nightmare?" Hera looked at Promise in confusion.

"A nightmare in which their kingdom suffers a curse from a certain god, disasters and plagues fall upon them, they lose everything in the dream. But fortunately, when they wake up, none of it is real..."

At this point, Promise paused slightly.

"And that dream will naturally include this very trial."

Hera was stunned, and even Athena was taken aback at this moment. 

Only Themis, who had removed her white cloth, quietly watched Promise.

And she smiled softly.

"As for the river goddess Aegina, my judgment for you is to build a temple."

Promise looked at Aegina and said, "And that temple must be built by your own hands, with you praying there every day for at least a hundred years.

And the god of that temple will be none other than Queen Hera!"

When Promise's judgment ended, there was no sound at all.

Everyone was clearly taken aback, staring in disbelief at him, who had just made such a judgment.

"...You knew all of this from the beginning, which is why you forcibly intervened and descended upon this trial at that moment?!" Athena couldn't help but ask Themis.

Themis smiled softly, not immediately answering Athena.

Instead, she said, "That child lives up to the prophecy of the goddess of fate. He is the one who can bring glory to both you and Hera... Hera's punishment is to rebuild everything she sought to destroy and to witness it flourish.

The punishment for the river goddess Aegina, stemming from her malice towards Promise, is to kneel before the Hera she despises, before the goddess whom Promise worships, and pray to her."

"But..."

"But these are just the surface," Athena responded. "When the nightmare ends, for the blessings bestowed by Hera, everyone will praise Hera's greatness and forget the past disasters.

Although Aegina prays to the one she hates most, she will also regain everything she lost. Her prayers will prevent Hera from acting against her, and... how can Hera accept all of this calmly?"

"That's right, this is the future I saw," Themis gently nodded, answering. "The kingdom that was heading towards destruction will return to prosperity.

And in the temple that Aegina built, for her devout prayers, Hera will choose to hide behind the pillars, unable to face her..."

Athena's face revealed a look of realization.

She finally understood why this meticulous goddess of justice only smiled when she saw Promise.

And this was precisely the outcome that the scales of judgment had shown Themis.

"This may not be an absolutely just verdict, but... even I would choose to praise such a result!"

Promise's judgment ended, and after a long silence, Themis's voice broke the stillness as she put the white cloth back over her eyes.

"...However, your true reason for placing him in the judgment seat isn't just that, is it?"

At this moment, Athena, having seen through everything, narrowed her eyes at her.

"I should have seen it from the start, the gaze beneath your white cloth always quietly watching Promise!"

"I think the prophecy of the goddess of fate... will be rewritten once again!"

To this, Themis did not respond.

She simply allowed the corners of her mouth to lift slightly in a faint smile.

...

...

At this moment,

In the temple of the goddess of fate.

Threads of fate spread throughout the temple, and within this magnificent temple knelt Clotho, the goddess of fate who controls the future.

She held a crystal ball in her hands, and within the ball appeared the image of a young boy with black hair and clear emerald green eyes.

The threads of fate emanating from the crystal ball connected to both Queen Hera and the goddess of wisdom, Athena, corresponding to the prophecy Clotho had once given.

But now...

Unable to witness the present yet able to see the future, Clotho gazed at the newly emerged threads of fate intertwining with those of the goddess of justice.

She remained silent for a long time.

After a while...

"Chiron's student, Promise, you..."

She gently stood up, cradling the crystal ball that contained Promise's fate, and walked through the temple woven with threads of fate, heading towards the exit.

And at the same time, her somewhat youthful and soft voice slowly said, "You have brought shame upon the goddess of fate because of you..."

.