Fate: I Heard After Death, You Can Ascend to the Throne of Heroes?

Upon seeing her appearance and terrifying form, Medea was so startled that she instinctively clung to the gentle goddess before her, and Thetis accepted her with a smile.

She then raised her head and looked at her former friend in front of her, and her eyes were filled with sadness again.

And Promise, who was standing on the side, looked at this sea demon Scylla...

“Suddenly, I kind of don’t blame the fisherman, even though he was really scummy... right, Brother Horse?”

The latter glanced at Promise and turned away, refusing to answer.

Although it was mentally giving a thumbs-up in his heart, with so many gods watching, it wouldn’t dare to speak the truth!

Brother Horse knows better than Promise what it means to suffer from saying the wrong thing!

"Scylla, don’t do this."

Thetis looked sadly at her enraged and irrational state and said, 

"Circe is not here, and the human who betrayed you has already been punished—I’ve imprisoned him forever in the sea, so please stop."

However, her words didn’t awaken Scylla’s reason. 

Instead, they made Scylla, who glanced at her, even more furious.

She even attacked Thetis directly.

Because Thetis was so beautiful, and at that moment, she herself was so hideous.

..

The water controlled by Thetis blocked Scylla’s attack.

Just as she was about to use Promise’s Pegasus to take them away, a melodious flute suddenly started to play.

Thetis turned her head and saw Promise holding a shepherd’s flute, playing the melody.

That flute was a gift from Hermes to Promise regarding the matter with Io.

It was a divine artifact capable of lulling even the hundred eyes of Argus to sleep.

Soon, Medea, whose eyelids were drooping, fell asleep peacefully in Thetis’s arms.

The furious sea demon Scylla also gradually calmed down and eventually, lay down by the strait and fell asleep.

Only then did Promise stop playing the flute and look at the sea goddess Thetis, who gently laid Medea under a nearby tree and walked toward him.

Seeing that she hadn’t been affected at all, he immediately understood that this goddess was indeed powerful. 

She could have easily dealt with the monster but she just didn't want to do that. 

“…Beautiful goddess, being overly gentle isn’t always a good thing.”

Before Thetis could say anything as she walked towards him, Promise spoke these words to her.

Seeing her slightly stunned by his words, he turned his head to look at the sea demon Scylla sleeping by the strait and said, 

"If she were once my friend, facing her in her current state, I think I would have drawn my sword without hesitation."

Although Promise had saved his friend Actaeon when he turned into a giant stag, but that was because Actaeon hadn’t lost his sanity and hadn’t killed anyone.

But the sea demon in front of him was different. 

Scylla had devoured countless people so far and had long lost her reason, completely turning into a monster.

In this situation, Thetis’s gentle protection, in Promise’s eyes, was more of a harm.

She clearly had the power to end Scylla’s suffering, yet she let her continue to endure this torment.

Hearing his words, Thetis fell silent.

She understood what Promise was implying. 

As a wise goddess among all the sea goddesses, Thetis knew in her heart that Promise’s words were true.

But…

“I’m sorry, child. I can’t do it,” she replied softly, looking at her friend who had turned into a monster with sad eyes.

“I know she’s in pain, and I want to free her too, but…”

Hearing this answer and seeing the goddess lower her head, Promise couldn’t help but chuckle and say with some emotion, 

"Goddess Thetis, you truly are a very gentle goddess. In that case, may I ask if you would be willing to entrust this matter to me?"

“I believe this should be judged in a trial.”

“A trial?” Thetis looked at the young man in confusion.

“Yes… and as it happens, it’s part of an agreement I have with a certain goddess. Although I haven’t reached the end of the road yet, I think she must have been waiting a long time.”

Hearing this, Thetis looked at the young, who was quietly looking at the mermaid Scylla, not knowing what she was thinking. 

After a brief silence, she smiled slightly.

“Then, child, I leave it to you.”

“…Huh?” Such a straightforward agreement left Promise momentarily stunned, and he looked at the goddess in surprise.

“I trust you, and I’ve heard many stories about you,” Thetis replied softly.

Promise’s deeds had long been spread among the gods.

And with those stories, along with this meeting, determining whether Promise was trustworthy was naturally not difficult for the wise sea goddess Thetis.

Moreover…

"The one both abandoned and blessed by fate, you shall create the most beautiful future," Thetis softly spoke, revealing the most crucial reason.

Understanding this, Promise said nothing further and pulled out a painting.

It was an old painting, depicting a sharp sword.

This was the Sword of Judgment of the goddess of justice, Themis.

This sword would protect Promise until he reached the end of his chosen hero's path.

Using it, Promise then took out a pure white brush and drew the scales of judgment.

And so, holding the scales of judgment, dressed in a white robe and golden crown, with her eyes covered by a blindfold symbolizing absolute fairness, the goddess of justice Themis emerged from the painting.

..

.. 

"It's been a long time, Goddess Themis."

Looking at the white-robed goddess holding the Scales of Judgment in front of him, even Promise couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

A lot had indeed happened over the past year.

"Not really," Themis responded in her cold voice, denying this.

"Because I’ve been watching you all along—whether it was the matter with the moon goddess Artemis, or with Demeter and Hades, the god of the underworld, I had never been absent."

Then, under the shocked gaze of the sea goddess Thetis, she reached up and removed the blindfold covering her eyes, revealing eyes as beautiful as the sky.

At that moment, the goddess of justice once again opened her eyes for the boy before her, shedding the heavy robe representing absolute fairness.

And for the first time in a long while, she showed Promise a flawless smile—a sight rarely seen by the other gods.

Themis then stepped forward, handing the gently swaying scales in her hand to his left hand.

When Promise lifted the scales, which had been trembling, they became stable. 

At the same time, the Sword of Judgment that had been protecting him throughout the past year appeared in his right hand.

Promise held the scales in his left hand and the sword in his right hand as Themis stepped behind him and gently covered his bright emerald eyes with the blindfold she had removed.

No words were needed. 

The moment she sensed his call and came here, Themis understood what he intended to do.

Promise wanted to present a gift to the goddess of justice Themis.

And that gift was, just as before—a judgment!

To be honest, she had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.

Hera, Athena, Themis, and Clotho—these are the four goddesses intertwined with the threads of fate connected to Promise. 

The other three had more or less received gifts from Promise, leaving only Themis.

This was because Themis’s vow with Promise involved giving him the sword when he first embarked on his journey, protecting him all the way until he found his own path and answers.

Now, there was no doubt that the sword could be returned.

Promise had already left his mark on this world.

The seven completed paintings and his status as a five-star heroic spirit were the best proof.

For this reason, Themis had long been eagerly awaiting this moment—awaiting the young man to come before her, return the sword, and be painted onto the canvas, fulfilling their initial agreement.

However, their reunion had to take place in a pure white courtroom.

Now that the promise was due, it was only fitting for it to conclude with a trial.

Thus, the pure white courtroom appeared once again.