Chapter 1963: Happy End
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As everyone celebrated, Maria’s older sisters and her little brother walked toward her, accompanied by her mother.
"Maria!" Amelia ran to her and hugged her so tightly that Maria would have been squeezed if she weren’t as strong.
"Haha, Amelia! Calm down," Maria giggled, patting her head and kissing her forehead. "Thank you for helping so much! And just as we promised, now that the tower is gone, you can live with all of us too—with Little Veronica."
"Yes... I want to live with family," little Veronica said. She stood right there, her form now a more human-like ghostly figure that mimicked her original appearance. "I like Nyx. She’s nice."
"Heh, well! I’m glad you two are getting along," Maria giggled, patting her head. "Laura, have you gotten along with Amelia?"
"Yeah, she’s fun. She always has something interesting to talk about," Laura laughed, hugging her little sister. "Well done, Maria."
"Yeah, well done!" her mother said, pulling her into a warm embrace and kissing her face. "I’m so proud of you, my dear... and I’m sure your father would be proud as well."
"Thank you, big sis... Mom," Maria smiled. "Ah! Hey Arthur, come here already..."
"I-I just didn’t want to disturb your time with your sisters and mother..." Arthur said shyly.
"They’re your family too! Right?" Maria asked them.
"Of course. It’s been twenty years since we met, Arthur. Come here," Laura said, spreading her arms.
"That’s right, dear. You’re definitely part of the family now," their mother nodded.
"Hm... thank you," Arthur replied. He stepped forward and was immediately enveloped in a group hug from Laura, Maria, and their mother, his face flushing.
A lot of men across many worlds would have said that, in that moment, Arthur was the luckiest man alive.
FLUOSH!
A black portal to Helheim opened, and Hel stepped through with their child, Zephriel.
Zephriel looked around curiously. To them, not much time had passed, yet everyone was celebrating with such joy.
"What happened? Is today a festivity, Mommy?"
"Hahaha, yes! We won, and the tower is gone!" Maria clapped.
"Yeah," Hel smiled. "Well done... I wanted to help more, but you insisted I stay with our child. Ugh, now I feel like I just freeloaded."
"There’s nothing to worry about. I didn’t want little Zephriel caught in the middle of such a dangerous war," Maria said gently. "It’s fine. Come here."
Maria kissed Hel’s lips, then pressed a kiss to Zephriel’s forehead. Their baby giggled innocently and hugged both mothers.
After that, the rest of her children rushed over to celebrate with Maria and wrap her in hugs.
"We did it!" Oberon cheered. "It was so awesome when I became your sword with Mom! It was freaking cool—like whoosh and flash!"
"It was certainly a unique experience, haha," Celeste laughed heartily.
"Wait, did we all become swords?! Anyway, you did amazingly, Mom! You rock!" Ernestina giggled, hugging her mother and resting her head on her shoulder.
"I became a sword with Daddy! It was INSANE!" Isabella giggled cutely. "Right, Mom?! We did it! Yaaaay!" She was as hyperactive as ever.
"We unfortunately couldn’t make a cool dragon sword..." Thanatos said, a little disappointed. "But we helped at the end with Dad and Nyx... so it wasn’t so bad."
"Yeah, yeah! Don’t worry about those things!" Maria nodded. "The best part is that we’re all here, alive and happy. Let’s enjoy our lives from now on, alright? Let’s stop worrying. All of you can finally continue living... and that’s what makes me the happiest."
"Ah... I guess I still have to go to school tomorrow too? Ugh..." Liam rolled his eyes beside his mother.
"Hahaha! Well, you can take a year off if you want?" Maria offered. "Take it easy. Come here!" She pulled Liam and Alma into a warm hug.
At last, Liam’s usual serious expression softened. He smiled, closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and finally felt at ease.
Once Maria had greeted everyone, a grand feast began. Major representatives from every world attended. People talked, laughed, and shared music and countless dishes to suit every palate.
Susanoo arrived with his siblings, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. He soon stole Maria away for a moment, hugging her tightly and kissing her in congratulations.
"Well done, my sword sister! I knew you could do it! I entrusted you with my very soul as a sword, and you didn’t disappoint me!"
"It was a little risky, Susanoo... but thank you for trusting me so much. Come on, let’s join the feast with everyone else!"
"Hahaha, right! Do you have some sake and sushi?"
"I do. Let’s go!"
"Nice! This is why you’re the best woman there is, Maria! Gahahaha!"
"Oh geez, you don’t have to go that far."
As the festivities continued into the night, the second moon of Yggdrasil glowed with an ominous purple light. A bridge of moonlight surged downward and reached the surface.
Dozens of Moon Elves rushed onto Yggdrasil’s surface to join the celebration now that the sun had set—better for their pale skin.
Among them was a beautiful elf with long tentacle-like hair and a slender, voluptuous body. She radiated exotic, otherworldly beauty and an immense aura.
"Maria! My beloved!"
She called out just as Maria was in the middle of a drinking competition with Susanoo and several other Kami known for their love of booze.
"Guh?!"
Maria spat out her sake when she saw Seleneum step into the feast in her Moonlight Avatar form. No longer confined to the Mind, she could now fully materialize outside her gigantic main body.
Even as an avatar of an outer god, her aura left several guests dizzy and ill.
"Seleneum! A-Ah! Please lower your aura—it’s affecting some people."
"Oh? Is that so? I apologize... I am quite new to these things! My love, will you honor your promise now?"
"Promise? What promise?"
"You promised me ten years ago, when you visited me the second time, that you would marry me... once everything was over."
"I did?!"
Maria quickly recalled that moment and felt a headache coming on. She had been "high" from psychic intimacy with Seleneum and had said many foolish things without thinking.
"Oh..."
"Y-You won’t honor the vow?"
"I... I will. Sorry for not remembering."
Maria wouldn’t dare break the heart of a mighty outer goddess—especially one who had helped her so much.
"Truly? I’m so happy!"
BBTTZZZ!
As Seleneum celebrated, a wave of psychic energy swept outward, giving people headaches.
"D-Don’t do that!"
"Oh, so sorry... I’m still getting used to this. I’m so sorry..."
After apologizing, she sat on Maria’s lap and acted lovey-dovey with her. Maria didn’t mind. She genuinely liked Seleneum and happily let her taste all kinds of new dishes.
That night, Maria snuck away with Seleneum, and the two spent the night together. Seleneum experienced physical intimacy for the first time, and it blew her mind.
The next morning, Seleneum returned from the skies with joyful news for a very sleepy Maria, who still had bed head.
"Maria, thank you for your seed. I have gently placed it in the womb of my true body," Seleneum said with a gentle smile. "After a few years—or perhaps eons—our child shall be born! What name should we give them?"
"Huh?!" Maria gasped and coughed in surprise. "W-Wait! Wait! What happened? Womb? From... the huge moon body?"
"Yes!" Seleneum nodded happily. "A-Are you upset?"
"Ah, no... it’s just really surprising..." Maria sighed.
"Oh, but it’s a good surprise! I’ve heard humans love happy surprises," Seleneum smiled, clapping. "Now what should we do? I am not used to this idle daily life."
"Well, I’ll teach you..." Maria sighed, patting her head.
After bathing with Seleneum, Maria walked downstairs and found her whole family already having breakfast. Her wives glared at her with slightly annoyed expressions, while Seleneum remained oblivious to their jealousy.
"Good morning, everyone! May the moonlight shine brightly upon all of you."
Seleneum greeted them warmly, and the children did their best to make her feel welcome. She was quite "alien," however, and adapting to everyday life was difficult for her. Still, everyone tried their hardest.
Seleneum had no inhibitions when speaking, so she casually revealed that her true body was pregnant—in front of everyone—prompting Maria to reprimand her later.
After lunch, Maria was gently scolded by her wives for not spending the night with them...
She apologized sincerely, and that night she made sure to give them all the love they desired.
Thus, every day unfolded like this: people talking, laughing, and living peaceful, idle lives. There were no threats, no worries. People could finally live.
Yes. This was exactly what Maria had wished for.
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