Whether You Call Me a Guardian Dragon or Not, I’m Going to Sleep

[The sin of monopolizing a goddess?]

At Yama's words, Keres, who was standing next to him, spoke with a dissatisfied expression.

[No, it's annoying that he monopolized the goddess for decades... But will you really count that as a sin? If the goddess finds out, she will surely be greatly offended.]

[That person needs to be more aware of the position she is in.]

Yama spoke softly. His expression was not revealed as his face was covered with veils.

[She is in a position to rule over the entire world, in the position of the ruler of the world... For herto remain by his side for a human lifetime, how much damage it has done to this world. Don't you know?]

Yama looked down at the hero with an endlessly cold gaze.

[The time the goddess spent as the Dragon's Priestess by the hero's side. Thinking about how much she had to do during those decades... I don't need to say how great a sin it is to have wasted her time. Of course, she did handle things remotely, but the difference in the amount of work handled directly is heaven and earth.]

[No, but rather than blaming the hero for that, wouldn't it be faster to talk directly to the goddess? Huh? If she finds out that you've framed this sinless soul with a sin, she will truly be furious! And to the soul of the human she cherishes! To the innocent soul! This is false accusation! False accusation!!]

[Therefore, I object! I object! I don't want to overlay sins on the hero who has worked so hard for the world! Objection! Absolute objection!]

Keres shouted loudly.

[And clearly! It will be discovered by the goddess later! I don't even want to imagine the backlash then!!! If you want to be buried, bury yourself! Don't drag other gods into it!!!]

[I'm for it. Keres objects. Then, what about Thanatos?]

Yama turned the arrow to the silent Thanatos, who was watching the situation.

[......]

Thanatos looked at the hero.

What thoughts were hidden in that black shadow?

[I...]

Thanatos' taciturn mouth opened.

[I agree with the point that the Goddess of Life should be more aware of her position.]

[What?! Even Thanatos?! The two old men are persecuting me!!!]

[However, I object to framing that as a sin and imposing it on the hero.]

Thanatos' words contained both agreement and disagreement.

[Uh... So which side are you on?]

[The problem should be addressed directly to the goddess. Don't impose it on an innocent human.]

[However, I don't think the goddess will easily listen to our words.]

[Still, not this one. We can't make an innocent, guilty].

Thanatos spoke softly.

[Then it's one in favor, two against, right!?]

Keres spoke in a slightly excited voice, and Yama nodded slightly and said.

[Hmm... It seems that way. However, if it weren't for this drastic measure, I don't think the goddess would understand.]

[But still, this is not right. No matter how important to get the message across, you can't do that to the human the goddess cherishes! Absolute objection!]

Yama sighed at the pouting Keres.

[I understand. I will also give up on my intention.]

[Un. I guess that's why the Goddess made the Afterlife a triad to prevent this from happening!!!]

[Maybe she just liked the number three].

The hero simply watched the conversation of the three gods in a daze.

[In a short time... Did I go back and forth to hell?]

[Yes. You understand. Yama is usually gentle, but when it comes to the Goddess of Life, he becomes more radical.]

[Honestly, I don't think there is a god who doesn't admire the Goddess of Life. Especially in the case of the old generation dragon-born gods, many of them have regained their physical bodies and become gods through her grace.]

Keres grumbled and skewered the faint form on the scale with the tip of her greatsword, returning it to the hero.

[Alright, then let's deliver the judgment. Hero Yohanan. Not guilty. Go to paradise.]

Yama slammed the end of the bamboo scroll he was holding onto the table with a loud thud.

Then, a light poured down from above the hero's head, and the soul began to slowly rise.

[Go in peace, hero.]

[Please tell the goddess. While she was by the hero's side, she didn't fulfill her duties properly, and the hero almost ended up being found guilty.]

[Oh, no! Don't say that! If you say that, she will surely come to overturn it!]

The light that had been pouring down covered the ground beneath his feet, and the hero's eyes were covered in light.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Alright, where were we..."

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"Page 54. It's the part about the gods of the Afterlife."

"Un. Thank you, class representative."

The teacher, adjusting his glasses, confirmed the page and then picked up the chalk and began to write on the blackboard.

"You probably know that the gods of the Afterlife are not just one or two, but let's talk about the three gods with the greatest authority."

Thanatos, Moros, and Keres.

The names of the three divine figures known as the Afterlife Triumvirate are written on the blackboard.

"The reason the Afterlife Triumvirate exists is probably for various reasons, but the biggest reason would be... to deliver the right judgment."

A line is drawn between Thanatos, Moros, and Keres, and a triangle is formed with their names at the vertices.

"They are divine figures whose importance is immeasurable in dealing with the souls of the dead. If these divine figures were to run amok, the damage would be incalculable. The one who created the Afterlife is said to have considered this point and constituted the Triumvirate."

A slight hook is attached to the ends of the lines pointing towards each other, and the lines become two-way arrows.

"They check each other to prevent wrong judgments. Whoever created the Afterlife must have been a very wise being."

"Isn't it known who created it?"

At the student's question, the teacher nodded.

"Many theologians and historians have looked and investigated, but... they couldn't find out. Even in the oldest book that describes the Afterlife, [A Brief Reflection on the Afterlife], there is no record of who created the Afterlife."

"Wasn't it created by the three gods of the Afterlife?"

"There is such a claim, but it has not gained much persuasiveness. Rather, the Goddess of Life, who is considered the superior of the gods of the Afterlife, is more likely..."

"Again, that goddess? She must have created the whole world."

"A separate book has been published summarizing and interpreting the deeds of that goddess in the theology textbook..."

"Our heads are going to burst from memorizing her deeds!"

At the students' grumbling, the teacher also nodded in agreement.

"Honestly, it's a bit excessive. Thanks to this, some in the academic community have secretly suggested that the many divine figures that existed at the time were conquered and assimilated under the name of the Goddess of Life. The pilgrims of the Temple of Life have been famous since ancient times, and they also had sufficient military power. And... her deeds were so numerous that they cannot be explained otherwise."

"Is it okay to make such a claim? Won't the Temple of Life say anything?"

"Of course it's not okay. So keep what I said here a secret. I don't want to be dragged before the Inquisitor of the Sect of Life either."

The sleepy-looking girl who had witnessed the scene of the class simply yawned softly.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After the dazzling light disappeared,

"This is..."

The hero saw a familiar landscape.

The small mountain village where he had lived until just before his death.

The village where he had lived in peace after marrying his wife.

That landscape was spread out before his eyes.

And.

"You have come."

The silver-haired girl with a mischievous smile on her. The Dragon's Priestess was standing there.

"It's a good thing you weren't late, or we wouldn't have this reunion."

No, the revered older sister was right in front of him.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, sister."

"Un. Welcome to paradise, hero."

"Am I still a hero even though I'm dead? When will you start calling me Yohanan?"

"Once a hero, always a hero."

She let out a chuckle.

"Ahem. Since you are the first soul to reach paradise, I have prepared a gift for you."

"Huh? A gift? What kind of gift all of a sudden..."

"First, close your eyes. I can't give you the gift if you keep your eyes open."

At his sister's words, the hero tilted his head, not quite understanding, but closed his eyes.

And after a moment.

"Alright, it's all done. Open your eyes and take a look."

The hero slowly opened his eyes.

And there,

"Dear...?"

In front of the hero's eyes, his wife was standing.