"Sign... This moment is finally here, after all... People say that between one's dream and reality, there is no distance, no time, that one should wake up to their dreams and live them as reality..."
"...but for me, waking up is to forget my dream, a 'awake' machine cannot dream for humanity, it's really sad, ahh...."
Under the last gleaming rays of the setting sun, on a random hill outside Jerusalem, Roy and Romani stood side by side, gazing at the ancient city of Jerusalem at their feet.
Roman's voice was dripping with melancholy and grief. His spiritual information is stored in the "Throne of Heroes" within the Nasuverse.
As a Heroic Spirit, his spiritual information is based on his life before becoming a heroic spirit, so no matter what he has experienced, when he returns back, it won't affect his spiritual information, all his experiences will be lost, all these moments will just become a fleeting dream that had never happened from his point of view.
In the fullness of time, he saw the scenery outside the world, and finally got his humanity.
He got to feel what is a human being, he got to feel varieties of emotions, he got to meet Magical girl Mika-chan, this should have been a plethora of happiness for him, but all said and done when the ending comes, all the happiness is like dream bubbles, and Romani, who has gradually becoming rich in emotions, exhibited it punctiliously.
"Are you scared, Roman?"
Roy stood by his side, looking down at the ancient city of Jerusalem stained with the setting sun rays dying the city reddish gold proliferating it's grandness; his gaze gradually turned towards the sorrowed man as he asked with a light chuckle.
Roman nodded and shook his head at the same time, making it more confusing to fathom what he wanted to imply.
"Of course I am afraid. I can't wait to turn my head and run back from where we came from, and then, then scream wildly to vent all the fear in my heart."
"...You know, just when I came into this world, my eyes read the past and the future of this world from a place called Astral Plane, more specifically the Memories of Void, and I instantly knew what type of existence Heretic Gods are, a being, no, rather a monstrosity who incarnate disasters on mankind as long as it exists."
"If it was 'King Solomon' who was not a coward like me, on knowing that his own existence will bring disasters to mankind, he will surely end his life peacefully by commiting suicide even if the Judaism forbids so."
"But ah, the heretic concept of the Heretic God distorted King Solomon's 'perfectness', it made him want to try to live as a human being. The impulse grew bigger and bigger, eventually overwhelming the mechanism by which King Solomon should abide by. This made me... a human lost in dreams."
"But! Now I can tell you aloud that this impulse is really the most correct choice that King Solomon has or will ever take. I am very, very, very happy to live here as an imperfectly perfect human, as Romani Archaman! Happy, so happy that I want to sacrifice myself to protect this world that makes me so happy!"
Romani's smile was pure and innocent, although there were shadows of fear on his face. But at critical moments, he was like always able to make a decisive judgment without hesitation.
"This time, it was not King Solomon who made this choice but a human named Romani, ah... I really admire those heroes who are always able to bravely welcome their death and unhesitatingly sacrifice themselves for others. From this point of view, I really lack the bearing of a hero from every angle."
"You are not a hero in the first place, Roman. You are just an carefree otaku... Look back at what you have done since you came here... If it wasn't for the work I forced you to complete, you would just get fatter by eating cake and drink coke every day and we will get a fat otaku version of King Solomon."
"Or either playing games or watching live broadcasts, and you are still hooked on the virtual idols. You are far away from becoming a hero of justice... in fact, don't try to become one, it's burdensome."
Roy couldn't help but comment, unknowingly evincing the black belly trait he got from Aiwass.
"Ahahaha... I know, I know, Roy. There is no need to insert another blade in an already dead body, those characters in game say these types of lines at the end so I thought it would be cool, Eto~ Eto~ Baka~ Waifu~ Oni-chan~ Umu~ ... anyways, it was cool, right?"
"..."
"...right?"
"...more like mental disability."
"I-Is that so?"
Roman scratched the back of his head, showcasing a free hearted smile, "Well you can't blame me, Coke is refreshing. Strawberry cake is delicious. Virtual idols are so cute. If you don't indulge in such beautiful and cute things, wouldn't it would be a waste of your life? Moreover, a online friend of mine also gave me a new motto, Loli is justice!"
"No, no, you are wrong my friend, oppai is true justice, well smaller ones are cute too, mhm... Cough, anyways, the wind is refreshing, good..."
"...."
Two people fell silent once again, an awkward silence surrounded the vicinity.
After a long time, Roy was the first one to open his mouth, "If you had manifested as a heroic spirit... the situation would have been different."
Roman was stunned and then he smiled bitterly, "At this time, you are still tempting me, you are making my determination waver, Roy."
"This is not temptation, but a fact. Although the Heretic Gods are incarnation of disaster, it is not absolute. There are many examples of Heretic Gods calming down to become True Gods without instability. If you want to, you can do this."
Roy turned his head to look at Romani's profile.
"I know...."
Roman released a low sigh, gritting his teeth, he continued, "Of course I know that there is actually a way to deny the calamity raging in this vessel, but this is not my world after all. I should return to my original world, where is my home, my absence will cause unpredictable changes, the cause and effects will disbalance."
"You say you are a coward and envy the bravery of a hero, but at this moment, Romani, you are already a otaku hero."
Roy released a muted sigh, then smiled at him:
"Then, at this sad moment, I will tell you something that will make you happy, the Heretic Gods and Heroic Spirits are different more then only externally, a servant will lose all memories on returning to the Throne of Heroes. But after Heretic God die, they still get to retain their memories."
"But this memory cannot affect the information that has been solidified on the Throne of Heroes, but when you are called again to manifest in any form, this dream-like memory will make you remember again even if you descend as the emotionless King Solomon, even in form of a Servant."
"This memory will also give you the urge to become a human again, so wait hopefully. Wait for the moment when someone once again summons you as King Solomon, this dream will become a reality."
Roman was stunned—next, he looked at Roy with some curiosity and asked, "Roy, you seem to know my world very well. Heroic spirits, Throne of Heroes and Servants are not at all the concepts of this world. It is clearly far beyond the knowledge of this world, a distant place outside the dominion of Root, but Roy, you seem to know everything about it."
"No, I just know what I know. I don't know everything."
Roy shook his head.
Romain didn't dig inside, even though he was curious, he respect other people's boundaries, after a moment of hesitation, he asked timidly, " ...Are we friends now?"
"Of course, if such a relationship cannot be defined as friendship then what can be?"
".....Roman, I have a hunch. Maybe one day we will meet again, and maybe in your world!"
Roy exhaled deeply, putting up his thoughts together, suppressing the throes of emotions springing in his heart, he diverted his attention.
"Friends... it's nice to be friends with you. This is really fortunate. This is a feeling and vocabulary that Solomon will never understand."
Roman smiled happily, and said cheerfully:
"It's great to meet you. My best friend, Roy! I will be waiting for you. Waiting for the moment when the dream becomes real again, now, let us finish the initial promise."
He raised his right hand as five rings manifested on his finger, with his hand moving towards his heart, he asserted: "...the time has come to say goodbye. Um..."
Before Romani could finish his words, he felt pain grasping on his being. He lowered his head and looked at the blood red point of the sword passing through his chest, "It h-hurts. W, what does it mean?"
Roy, who had come to Romani's back loosened his grasp and smiled at him.
"Lord does not allow his believers to commit suicide. As a devout believer, you should not violate Lord's teachings, so leave this duty to me, a Campione."
"Remember, every man and every woman is a star, it radiates energy, it glows, it is a point of view, absolute, original, independent and... free."
"Glow brightly and outshine the sun, my friend, Romani Archaman."
"Hahahaha, Roy, you are really one of a kind, my best friend..... Umu~ Umu~ hahaha!"
"This time it was really cool, right?"
"...."
"Damn you, Roy, atleast fulfill a dead man's wish—!
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Greed is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but it is also the motivating force for mankind, which includes me.
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Special thanks to *Oluwatimileyin Olayemi* and *GooseElite*
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