Good Morning.

When faced with an unknown disaster, an unexplained epidemic, or when the masses fall into incomprehensible madness…s swept up in such disasters cannot endure despair, and eventually abandon their own judgment, longing for an omnipotent being to save them.

Nevertheless.

There were those who maintained their reason while suppressing such instincts, and went around saving people in the midst of madness.

Those who awakened faith to save people with their own strength, compromising with reality rather than their ideals despite believing in the non-existent, not desperately seeking forced salvation.

For them, salvation was something to be given to the patients on the operating table, not themselves, and it was none other than their own hands that had to accomplish it.

Even if there existed a panacea created from faith.

While choosing to use it only as a medical tool like a scalpel or disinfectant.

“Sion…”

Yes, she was a being raised receiving the faith of such people.

A being that stops at giving comfort and encouraging courage so that trust in oneself, not illusions, doesn’t break.

The path of striving while wishing for just that much is more arduous and difficult than anything else, and therefore those who advance on it will always be a minority in any era.

But because of that, they don’t fall into madness.

Because she receives support from such believers, she can be reborn as a ‘noble being’ more than any god despite being weak.

“Did Sion send you?”

Clea, the goddess of medicine.

The nobility felt from her was what she had always felt whenever her husband treated her.

“…”

But she doesn’t answer her words, just silently smiling and putting her daughter down on the floor.

Although still injured and unconscious, her breathing was nonetheless extremely peaceful.

‘There was hardship, but in the end she survived.’

The goddess of medicine quietly withdraws her hand from her daughter as if her role has ended with just that.

When she then silently reaches out her hand towards herself, Celia unconsciously shrinks back, feeling intimidated.

“No, I’m fine.”

Isn’t it strange?

Although she clearly competed with someone worthy of being called a god until just now, she’s this nervous in front of a being much smaller and weaker.

No, perhaps she felt it instinctively.

Wishing that her own ugliness wouldn’t be transmitted to this noble being, just like her daughter.

“Rather than me, my daughter… Ugh!”

Nevertheless, Clea silently reaches out her hand towards her.

Although she hesitated while trying to avoid that hand, Celia eventually had no choice but to allow the hand she extended.

There was no way she could refuse.

The light felt from her was the same as what her husband used to wield.

‘Celia, I’m not saving you because I’m a moral person. It’s just to prove to everyone.’

‘Prove, what?’

‘People will claim that treating diseases and wounds is the realm of gods… But that’s just denying it because they don’t want to accept something new. It’s that scary to change what they’ve believed so far.’

He said.

That humans are beings who only believe what they see.

No matter how much evidence based on facts exists, if there’s no strong proof like light, the masses won’t feel it directly.

Nevertheless, it was human nature to repeatedly make claims, and think that if such claims bring harm to existing positions, they should be rejected…

‘But why go that far?’

What he was trying to do at the time was to prove his correctness to such foolish masses.

Fearing because of ignorance.

Therefore, revealing the true face of this world to the masses wrapped in madness.

‘…Because I have to.’

Yet he didn’t hesitate.

Even becoming a sinner to scold the unjust aspects of this world.

‘Celia, I want to create a world where humans can help humans.’

It must be because he was faithful to such convictions that she, who had to live with a terminal illness, could be saved.

‘So please, won’t you let me help you?’

She came to love such a man.

Because she loved him…

“…I see, you were just helping.”

It must be that she can fully accept the light revealed by the being before her, in this body she thought would deny even gods.

“Sion’s will was being transmitted to my daughter through you.”

Feeling the bond continuing from the united being in a place she didn’t know, on a path she hadn’t taken.

Even without any particular words, even though they were apart for a long time, she realized that they encouraged each other, conveyed comfort and boosted courage through the being in front of her.

“Is my daughter doing well?”

She asked such a woman.

Although she had never properly acted as a mother…

“Is she adapting well to this era?”

But because she loves her.

Because she loves her, she couldn’t help but be curious, only able to watch without saying anything or approaching because she loves her.

What kind of thoughts this child had and what kind of life she lived in a place she didn’t know.

Whether she’s truly living a life not shameful to the nobility she possesses.

“…”

Clea still keeps her mouth firmly shut even to such a question as a mother.

After releasing her hand from her arm, she quietly raised her pure white hand and made a gesture.

Probably an action called sign language…

Although Celia had never learned it so she couldn’t understand what words she was conveying, she could vaguely understand the meaning nonetheless.

‘Because I’m just helping.’

Perhaps if it were Sion.

If it were he who contributed to this woman’s birth, he would surely have said so.

‘If this child didn’t truly wish for it, I couldn’t have come here.’

With those final words, the woman’s body smiling.

-Flutter!

Eventually disappeared from that spot with rough wing beats.

What remained was only feathers proving that the current meeting was not just a momentary dream.

“…She’s quite shy, isn’t she?”

Celia unconsciously smiled bitterly at the warmth still remaining in those feathers.

Although the fingertips she had recovered still ached, isn’t it enough just to be able to move, she thought.

“But I’m glad. It seems our child is doing well without shame before you.”

From such imperfect healing, Celia could vaguely feel the conviction held by her daughter who serves her.

In an era where miracles are materialized.

Her being by her side must be no different from proving her own nobility.

It’s just that she hasn’t yet realized the fact that she herself awakened such feelings.

-Rumble!!

But the situation isn’t very good to be immersed in such warmth.

The balance of the underground that had become precarious due to fierce battle is unstable.

As its aftereffects are now approaching signs of collapse, it’s only a matter of time before being swept up in the collapse if we stay here.

“…It’s about time to go back.”

Although various parts of her body still creak and hurt, Celia didn’t consider this situation a crisis.

Feeling alive from the pain.

Because she knows she can move if she endures that pain.

“Let’s go back, my daughter.”

In the end, it’s one’s own will, not god’s, that walks the journey.

Reminding herself of that point, Celia soon slung her daughter’s arm over her shoulder and crossed through the collapsing scene.

The bond continuing from the united being is transmitted to her.

Realizing at this moment that she has become a crutch for the one she cherishes.

---

And, in the early morning hours that came after time passed.

“Chirp!”

At the chirping of birds heard from outside the window, a boy lying in bed slowly raised his body.

Smoothing his messy hair, perhaps from tossing and turning in the middle of the night.

“Yawn.”

Along with a stretching yawn, the boy who stood up soon sat on the bed and fully took in the sunlight shining through the window.

Sunbathing that takes in sunlight as if doing photosynthesis.

It was a very precious time for the boy who came up to the surface from an underground city. To the extent that he felt he had received enough reward for coming to the surface just by savoring this moment.

“Chirp chirp.”

“Chirp!”

The bird sounds enjoyed along with such light are also elements that make the morning more heartwarming.

“There’s a lot of chirping.”

The boy gazes out the window with a satisfied smile. As he blankly stares out the window feeling warmth, a word begins to come to his drowsy mind.

Birds chirp, and there are many birds chirping in the trees at this moment, so if you express that in one word, chirp…

“Chirps.”

“…Hmm.”

The boy is startled by a voice suddenly heard from behind.

When he turns his gaze back, he encounters someone staring out the window by his side before he knew it.

Deus Ex Machina. A girl doll in maid uniform nicknamed Maki.

“That’s right. The countless chirps ringing in the morning. That heralds that morning is the time of chirps.”

-Chirp chirp!

Sparrows cry out in sync with the blunt voice.

As if considering that a response, Maki confidently clenches her fist and shouts.

“Therefore, we shall chirps from now on. The highly praised time of chirps heralding the start of the day…”

“What crazy nonsense are you saying!!”

-Thud!

Maki is hit by a roughly thrown pillow and falls over.

The boy blankly stares at the sight of her miserably lying on the ground from the attack thrown with mana, then quietly raises his head to look at the one who threw the pillow.

Beans Jogret.

A red-haired girl wearing pajamas made of soft fur.

“Really, if I let my guard down for a moment you start blabbering nonsense again…”

“Nonsense? I said that birds chirping happily together is chirps. Chirps means playing with friends, what on earth was Kongkong thinking to misunderstand my words?”

“Be quiet!”

“Pffft.”

“…Really.”

Beans smooths her messy long hair with an annoyed voice.

Although she usually ties her hair in twin tails, now it’s exposed in its bare state without styling, perhaps because she just woke up.

Yes, thinking that child slept in such an appearance today too.

“Um… Did you sleep well?”

The boy cautiously greets Beans like that.

Beans flinches and shrinks her body, then soon calms her breathing and looks at the boy.

“G-go…”

Meeting the pure gaze staring at her.

“…Good morning.”

The girl awkwardly returns the greeting.

Her face is red, and her shoulders are shrunk, but…

Still, it was clearly an action that could be called a greeting.

At least the boy felt so. There’s still distance, but that distance is gradually decreasing.

“I-I’ll go wash up!!”

But even that seems awkward as Beans jumps up and dashes out.

At that moment, Maki who had fallen on the floor gets up and begins to follow after Beans.

“Maki will go too.”

“W-why are you following me?”

“I do human too. Therefore I wash. I learn from Kongkong.”

“You can do that with someone else, not me.”

“Then I’ll wash with Dale.”

“No, not that!”

“Why not?”

“You’re different from Dale. For humans, it’s natural for men to wash with men and women with women.”

“If there’s a difference we can’t do it together? Then since Kongkong’s chest is smaller than mine, if we do it together…”

“Shut up!!”

The two people grumble as they leave the room and head to the washroom.

The boy tilts his head as he blankly watches the two.

‘Have they gotten closer?’

They say friends grow by fighting, but coincidentally, the boy couldn’t quite gauge how close the two had become.

He had always longed for friends, but it hadn’t been long since he was surrounded by and mingled with so many children like this.

“Dale.”

At the moment the voice of one of those surrounding people is heard.

The boy begins to gradually move his gaze to the side, as if drawn by the voice calling him.

A man sitting upright on the bed, staring down at him…

No, he’s just big, but there was a profound feeling in the eyes looking down at him.

“Good morning.”

Latello Den.

A thoughtful one year senior who is blunt and quiet, but always greets him nonetheless.

The boy raises his hand with a bright smile as he meets that kindness.

“Yeah! Good morning to you too, Latello!!”

Dale Enberton.

A boy who came up from the underground city to the surface just wanting to make friends.

Today was the third day since that boy had a sleepover with his friends.