"Though his combat style is rather underhanded, that boy's growth has been astonishingly fast."
Hera set aside the issue of his "fighting style," focusing instead on Bell's rapid development.
"At most, that child has been in Orario for less than a year. Even if we assume he's been there a full year, could any normal adventurer possibly reach his current strength in that time?"
A fourteen-year-old, with only a year of adventuring experience, already displaying power above Lv.6—how could that be reasonable?
Such a thing would be unbelievable even for Alfia.
A trace of worry flickered in Hera's eyes.
"Growth this abnormal means the troubles waiting for that child may be far harsher than what Alfia and the others once faced."
As the topic turned grave, the elders of Zeus Familia and Hera Familia—who moments earlier were feeling proud and relieved by Bell's rapid growth—now wore expressions of unease.
"Zeus, Bell won't end up like they did back then, will he?"
"..."
Faced with his own child's question, Zeus found himself unable to answer.
He knew very well just how extraordinary Bell's growth truly was—so fast that even in the age when heroes were abundant, none could compare.
Not even Alfia, once called a "monster of talent" within Hera Familia, possessed such growth speed.
Which naturally meant that Bell's potential far surpassed even Alfia's. Yet it was precisely because of this that it felt unsettling.
Zeus drew in a slow breath, his gaze deep as he looked toward the sky.
"Perhaps it's because the time is almost upon us."
As one of the ancient gods, he understood the pact between the Dungeon and the divine.
If the gods failed to conquer the Dungeon within the designated time, or failed to defeat the final target of the Three Great Quests, the world would move toward its true end.
Zeus knew what the time limit was—and he also knew that the deadline was no longer far away.
It was because of this knowledge that he and Hera chose to withdraw from the chaos of Orario and instead raise the other child he had placed his hopes upon.
"When the gods fall into sloth, and adventurers lose the will to fight, the flame of the heroic age can no longer illuminate the world. The world will be swallowed by the darkness that destroys all."
"When the world faces its crisis, the final hero will, by their own choice, cut through the darkness covering the world and bring forth a future of light once more."
Zeus recited the final passage of the Mythology text, word by word.
"This was a prophecy from long ago about the future shape of the world."
"This passage gradually revealed its meaning after Hera and I failed. Everything unfolded exactly as the prophecy described."
"It spoke of the end of the age in which Hera and I symbolized heroism. Because of us, the gods sank into indulgence, and children across the world lost their will to fight. A shroud of darkness fell over everything, like the final glow before destruction."
"The key lies in the second line: 'The Last Hero'."
When Zeus had first read these words, he hadn't understood them at all. Gods cannot foresee their own future.
"Though I didn't grasp the meaning back then, I understood the moment I saw the newborn who inherited the bloodline of Hera and me."
"'The Last Hero' wasn't referring to anyone from the Age of Heroes. It meant a newborn who inherited the hero's bloodline after that age had already come to an end."
"That was when I became certain—the 'Last Hero' meant Bell."
Though it seemed obvious now, when Zeus first learned of this prophecy, no amount of contemplation could give him the right answer. The first part was easy enough to understand, but the phrase 'Last Hero' had left him completely confused.
Hera had been in a decent mood while listening to Zeus speak seriously, but the moment he brought up Bell's birth, her expression darkened instantly.
"It's all because of that brat from your familia! Who knows when he seduced Meteria! Just thinking about that brat's face makes me want to rip his teeth out!"
The faint grinding of Hera's teeth could still be heard.
Cold sweat ran down Zeus's back. He quietly shifted his seat away. Even he didn't want to provoke Hera when she was like this.
"I honestly have no idea what Meteria saw in that little brat."
Hera still held deep resentment. Meteria had been her most cherished child. While her strength wasn't as extraordinary as Alfia's, Meteria carried a rare, dignified aura. She was the only one among all Hera's children who, when angered, could make Hera herself kneel down and receive a scolding.
To Hera, Meteria was like her own daughter.
So even now, the thought that the little rabbit had stolen Meteria's final moments made her blood pressure spike immediately.
"My poor Meteria… she passed away right after giving birth to Bell."
The memory of Meteria's frail condition made Hera's face fall. Watching her die the moment Bell was born had left Hera heartbroken for a long time.
"This might be similar to Alfia's condition."
Meteria had always been physically weak, remarkably similar to Alfia. The two sisters likely shared the same illness.
Yet Zeus found something else strange. His son shouldn't have been the type to ever raise a hand against Meteria.
"I still don't understand how that brat managed to win Meteria over."
"...I also find that strange," Hera admitted.
She suspected Zeus was trying to excuse his son, yet she couldn't deny her own confusion—why had Meteria fallen for that rabbit?
Because of her frail health, Meteria never joined Dungeon expeditions or trained to increase her strength. She usually stayed at home; she rarely encountered outsiders.
As for that exceptionally fast-footed rabbit from Zeus Familia—though his strength wasn't anything impressive within the familia (an orthodox Lv.7)—he still participated in Dungeon expeditions. So how could he possibly have spent enough time with Meteria for anything to happen between them?