"...I know you want to make up for your previous mistake."
"But now is an opportunity, isn't it?"
"As long as you let me meet AO and tell him what happened, everything will become clear..."
"And your past dereliction of duty will be redeemed as well..."
Not long ago.
When the Fate Stone Tablet had been stolen.
The one responsible for guarding it had been none other than—
The God of Protection—Heim.
And for the item to vanish without explanation while under his watch.
For Heim, who had always been rigid and unyielding.
There was no doubt.
It had been an utter disgrace!
The greatest humiliation of his life!!
Thus, fully aware of this, the Goddess of Magic.
Had now chosen to strike at Heim's weakness.
Intending to soften his hard-line attitude with words!
And indeed, things unfolded exactly as she had expected.
At that moment.
A trace of hesitation appeared on Heim's rigid face.
It was a sign that he had been moved.
As the God of Protection, an item his superior had ordered him to safeguard had vanished right before his eyes...
To him.
It truly was an indescribable humiliation.
Like an ace bodyguard discovering that his employer had been kidnapped right in front of him.
His professional competence had immediately been called into question!
Therefore.
If possible.
He truly did want to make amends for it...
But not long afterward, after pondering deeply for a while.
Under the Goddess of Magic's disappointed gaze.
Heim ultimately shook his head and refused:
"Your words make a great deal of sense."
"But their essence still runs contrary to AO's orders."
"So, although it sounds good, I must still refuse your proposal."
"Leave this place and return to where you came from."
His words remained as forceful as ever.
With that