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

"Hmm, so you're not leaving?"

Outside Mime's cave, looking at Thrúd who had returned, Promise scratched his head and, after exchanging a glance with the little bird Shini, couldn't help but ask.

"This is the divine oracle given to me by the great god."

Thrud replied calmly, though her crimson eyes gazing at the young boy before her were not as composed as they appeared.

Thrud did not doubt the prophecy given by Odin in the slightest, after all, he was the Allfather of the Norse gods.

As a Valkyrie, and one second only to Brynhildr, Thrud naturally knew of the Rhinegold, the ring that even the gods of Asgard dared not touch.

Thus, she was deeply shocked by the god-king's evaluation of Promise.

By the way, she also found Odin's final expression and the words he said, combined with Promise's ability to rewrite fate and create miracles that even the gods marveled at, to be... inexplicably amusing!

Kind, valiant, his very existence a miracle, yet... still incapable of not causing worry?

Somehow, it was... quite endearing.

As she looked at the young man in front of her, Thrud couldn't help but think so.

And so,

That very night.

In the sacred land of Asgard, by the holy spring beneath the World Tree.

Holding a giant's tome crafted from the bark of Yggdrasil, the mysterious and serene Norse goddess of fate, clad in an elegant black gown, sat as always upon the branches of the World Tree, quietly listening to everything Promise recounted.

In fact, with Shini by Promise's side, Skuld had already witnessed everything.

But since Promise wished to speak, Skuld naturally did not interrupt.

After Promise finished his tale, Skuld offered no comment on the matters of Jörmungandr or Thrud.

Instead, she merely said in a light tone, "Since the matter is settled, and you have already depicted Jörmungandr, I suppose you'll remain quiet for a while. So... what are your plans now?"

"The matter of Sigurd is not yet the right time. Though, if you wish, you could attempt to awaken the slumbering Brynhildr with the Valkyrie's aid first."

Hearing this, Promise looked at the goddess of fate before him and, after thinking about it for a moment, couldn't help but ask, "Won't you give me a divine oracle?"

Skuld gently shook her head, her waist-length hair swaying slightly as she replied, "I am not the goddess of fate bound to you by oath. Your fate and mine are unrelated, and I do not yet possess 'wisdom'... By now, you surely understand."

"I sought you out and aided you merely out of curiosity."

"As a goddess who peers into fate, I am simply... deeply intrigued by the future you carry."

Promise's future was not unreadable.

It was just that, in the moment of glimpsing his destiny, one would see countless possibilities.

Thus, until his path was truly set, even the goddess of fate would not know what his future would hold.

This was why Skuld was interested in Promise.

And it was also why Shini followed him.

So Skuld would not give Promise a divine oracle, nor would she interfere with his future.

Whatever he chose to do, this goddess would simply watch quietly by the holy spring.

After all, he already had a goddess of fate by his side.

As for Skuld's words, Promise showed no particular reaction.

Just as Skuld had said, he had long since guessed as much.

In fact, among all the gods Promise had encountered thus far, this goddess of fate was perhaps the most godlike of them all.

"What about the imprisoned wolf, Fenrir?"

The god-slaying wolf Fenrir—

Skuld had once promised Promise that she would arrange a meeting between them, as part of their "observation" agreement.

Well...if it were some other time, the Norn of Fate, would have readily agreed.

After all, the beast was now bound by special chains, so a meeting would pose little issue.

But now...

Even the usually composed Skuld couldn't help but slant her gaze at Promise. "You can try. I can take you to see it, but... I cannot guarantee the Gungnir won't be aimed at you."

Speaking the most ruthless words in the calmest tone!

As for the trouble he had nearly caused, Promise did have a sliver of self-awareness deep down, and could only offer an awkward chuckle.

"Well, it seems I don't have anything particularly urgent to do in the near future."

After thinking about it for a moment, Promise replied, "In martial arts, I was taught by the centaur sage Chiron. As long as my body keeps up, I'm confident I can hold my own against most heroes."

"As for magecraft, my paintings are the finest sorcery in this world. The gods themselves are my magecraft."

"Even the unique runes—once my painting of the World Tree is complete, I'll naturally master them as well."

Promise spoke casually, and Skuld offered no further comment.

Because his words were undeniably true.

He was no longer the naive child of the Greek Age of Gods and had long understood that his paintings were his magecraft.

Moreover, they were the strongest sorcery and Noble Phantasm—unreplicable by others, belonging solely to him.

"I'll wait and see."

Then, he added, "I'll see if the script the Allfather has arranged for me is a trial I can accept... I know he made some deals with Athena, but not even she would force me to do something against my will."

Skuld nodded slightly without responding.

She was merely an observer, and thus would not comment on whatever choices Promise made.

"As for now... I think I'll go see Idunn, the goddess of youth."

Promise smiled.

"I promised to paint her a picture, as thanks for the golden apples she's given me so far."

And then, dawn broke.

A few days later, when Shini returned to Asgard and, as usual, went to seek out the goddess of youth Idunn on Monday to retrieve Promise's golden apples—

To her surprise, for once, the gentle goddess was nowhere to be found in the sacred orchard of golden apples.

Feeling a bit puzzled, Shini spent some time searching the divine realm.

Soon enough, she found the goddess of youth.

Idunn was holding a painting in her hands.

And every time she encountered another god, she would eagerly approach them and proudly show it off.

It was a breathtaking painting—a depiction of the sacred orchard of golden apples, and beneath it, the goddess dancing in the sunlight.

Her expression was gentle, her smile sweet.

She flaunted this rare and magnificent tribute, delighting in the envy and faint jealousy in the eyes of the other gods.

Just like how the gods who once doted on Promise would behave after receiving one of his paintings.

The little bird Shini took it all in.

And after returning, she stared at Promise for a long, long time.

Finally, when the latter couldn't take it anymore and asked what was wrong—

After fidgeting a little, she blurted out:

"Promise, uh... You know how I bring you golden apples every single day? Even if it's not that impressive, I still put in the effort, so...

...Could you paint me too?"

?

You're a bird. What do you need a painting for?