"When there's a chance to live, I hope you'll choose to live."
Dionysus didn't care much about his own death, but Filvis's life still mattered deeply to him.
Not for any complicated reason—simply because he truly loved this child.
"..."
Filvis wanted so badly to say, "I'd rather die with you," but when she met Dionysus-sama's gaze, the words refused to leave her lips.
Not out of guilt, but because she knew he would surely respond with, "I don't want you to die with me."
Perhaps long ago Dionysus-sama wouldn't have said something like that, but ever since her relationship with Lefiya had grown closer, Filvis had sensed—vaguely yet unmistakably—that Dionysus-sama really would say those words now.
Which left her wondering if becoming closer with Lefiya was truly a good thing or not.
"Dionysus-sama…"
"Enough, Filvis. You already know what I want to say."
Dionysus cut her off before she could continue.
There were things Filvis shouldn't speak aloud; otherwise, the rest of her days would become unbearable.
As a god, he had always understood his own feelings. But he also understood that some words were better left forever unsaid—because speaking them aloud would only create tragedy.
With that, Dionysus turned toward Bell.
"Begin."
"There's nothing more you want to say?"
"Some things… will have to wait."
"...Alright."
Bell didn't press further. What needed to be said had been said. Now it was time for farewells.
He didn't even need to gather strength—his hand slipped easily through Dionysus's chest, removing the Divine Core.
Despite the fatal wound, Dionysus's expression showed no pain.
"Dionysus-sama…"
Tears streamed down Filvis's cheeks, her voice thick with grief.
"Don't cry…"
Dionysus could already feel his life fading. He knew his soul wouldn't immediately perish, but it was only a matter of time. And still, he felt no resentment.
Death was simply something one accepted. Even a god who committed wrongdoing must face the fate of being killed—this was the natural order of things.
"My heart has always belonged to you."
He had loved her for so long—the child who struggled with words yet always fussed over him.
"Dionysus-sama…"
Right now, Filvis wished for nothing more than to die as well. Maybe then she could remain forever with Dionysus-sama.
Bell said nothing. He didn't use the Great Sin to corrupt Dionysus's soul, but even so, it only delayed the inevitable for a few dozen seconds.
With his body dead, Dionysus could not linger for long.
His soul soon drifted free of his body.
"Mother of All Things, I beseech you—please take this Authority."
Just like before, an invisible hand descended and took away the Authority belonging to the god Dionysus.
"Thank you, Mother."
Now, Dionysus's soul flickered like a candle about to go out, ready to scatter at the faintest touch.
And that outcome was already unavoidable.
"Well then, Dionysus, your time has come."
"Farewell."
Bell was being unusually courteous; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered speaking. Just like earlier, when the god Thanatos couldn't even finish saying "wait" before his soul was crushed.
At last, Dionysus's soul looked at Filvis one final time—then shattered.
"..."
Filvis's legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees.
The death of a Familia God heavily impacts any member blessed with their Falna. The power granted by the Falna System would now become sealed alongside him.
At this moment, Filvis was nothing more than an ordinary girl—no longer even an adventurer.
"I… I've become just a regular person again…"
The light in her eyes vanished.
The vast world around her no longer held a place for her to exist.
She had believed Dionysus-sama was her entire world… yet here she was, forced to face the day that world was taken from her.
Bell fully understood Filvis's emotions, so he didn't disturb her grief.
"Have you composed yourself?"
After waiting for a while, Bell finally spoke—ten minutes had passed.
Filvis lifted her head, her knees still pressed to the ground. Her eyes were bloodshot, and when she looked at Bell, they were filled with pure, burning hatred.
"You still hate me for Dionysus's death?"
Bell didn't mind that hatred at all. Ordinarily, when confronted with such a gaze, he would eliminate the source without mercy. But this girl was… different.
"Hate? Of course I hate you! You killed Dionysus-sama!"
Filvis didn't bother to hide her thoughts.
"Yes, that's the truth."
"He made his choice. Even a god must bear the consequences of their choices—especially when you didn't have the strength to protect Dionysus. His death was inevitable."
Bell stated the truth plainly.
He crouched down beside her.
"So? What now? Are you going to avenge Dionysus-sama?"
Filvis's fingers scraped against the floor so hard they broke skin, leaving bloody streaks.
"I… I can't…"
"If I try to avenge him… I'll die…"
Bell acknowledged this without a shred of hesitation. Anyone who stood against him—no matter who they were—had to be prepared to die. He had always treated enemies this way.
"That's right."
"You are no match for me. Your greatest strength—your speed—can't even reach the hem of my clothes. Your revenge would be a joke. And if you ever stand against me, no matter who you are, I will kill you instantly."
"Because standing against me means becoming my enemy."
That was the truth.
Filvis understood that perfectly. And because she understood, she realized she could only hold onto her hatred—yet she had no power to act on it.
Because she still remembered Dionysus-sama's final command: to live.
And Bell didn't find her hatred distasteful. In fact… it was pure.
"Heh~ Not bad. If you had lost your head just now, my opinion of you would have dropped sharply."
"As a reward, hold out your hands."
"…"
Filvis bit her lip, but obediently extended both hands.
Bell placed Dionysus's relic—the bloodstained Divine Core—onto her palms.
"Keep it well.
"And don't forget your hatred."
Filvis stared at the Divine Core in silence for a long time, before finally closing her fingers around it with trembling care.
"I'll never forget!"
...
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