A Relationship Takes Shape

After picking up Lemoni, who looked to be in quite good spirits, from the road, Aga piloted the Elma all the way back to Atlantis.

After returning to Atlantis, the group did not head out on any more adventures. Instead, they obediently remained in Osoka Town, training their bodies at sea.

More than a year passed like this.

Everyone understood what Oceannus had said. He himself was a god's pawn—just a restless pawn who did not want to be one.

To defy the fate of having been born a pawn, Oceannus honed himself day after day upon the sea, sparring with Lachtar and refining his combat skills.

But after all that day-after-day training, Oceannus's sense of sorrow and urgency only grew more intense.

—Could he really succeed in resisting?

—Could he really break free from this damned fate?

He controlled massive waves to scour his body, standing firm and unmoving as he asked himself those questions.

The answer was that he did not know.

Elma watched the once cheerful, optimistic young man gradually become silent, and she could not shake the feeling that something was wrong.

After returning from Doris Island and truly witnessing the real side of the demigod Oceannus, Elma felt that her impression of him had changed somewhat, though she could not say exactly how.

In the end, all she could do was sigh and continue their daily interactions in the same brotherly manner as before.

"Yo—we're back!" Ruslan pushed open the door to Elma Tavern and walked in.

Ever since people learned that Elma's Five Heroes were here, Elma Tavern had remained packed with customers, and the five of them often came here to drink.

But today—

"Oceannus didn't come with you?" Seeing only four of them and noticing that blue-haired figure was absent, she asked