"Artoria, are you going back?"
After scamming Heaven for a hefty sum, Artoria found that the remaining Infinity Stones had all been conquered. Their flickering seemed to tell Artoria that time was running out. Yes, the Ancient One had said that this consciousness travel triggered by the Infinity Stones would end once they truly recognized Artoria as their Master; she would return to her own world and leave this body. The Ancient One had clearly noticed this, but saying goodbye to a youngster didn't fit his elderly mindset, so he left Hell without a word. Little Mili was much more sensitive than the other Great Sins. She seemed to have sensed something, her large eyes shining like starlight as she stared straight at Artoria. Hearing Mili's words, the other Great Sins, who were celebrating, put down their wine glasses and looked at Artoria.
"That's right. Actually, I'm not from this world..."
Since she was about to leave, Artoria had nothing to hide and directly revealed her biggest secret about coming to this world, explaining that she would leave after the banquet. After hearing Artoria's story, the Lust Demon Lord looked at Artoria with some regret. she had wanted to invite Artoria for some 'deep' interaction recently. Knowing Artoria was human, she and the Seven Deadly Sins didn't reject her identity.
After all, she was a powerhouse who saved all of Hell. She wanted to'serve' this powerhouse; it was what they, the Lust Demons, were best at. But she didn't expect her savior to be leaving so soon, which made her a bit dejected. Likith, however, noticed something and looked at her with contempt. Looking closely, a puddle of water seemed to have appeared on the ground. Others might not have noticed, but she did; this gal seemed to be in heat.
"Won't you stay? Being a demon is actually quite good, at least you live much longer than humans."
The Little guy threw herself into Artoria's arms; this was the first time she had actively 'thrown herself' at her. She raised her cute face and looked at Artoria with those starlight-filled eyes, trying to persuade her. This was a first for her. When she first met Artoria, because Artoria stopped her from joining the battle, she thought Artoria was a bad person and a deserter. She didn't expect Artoria to eventually agree to help her.
She had even saved Hell, so she owed a huge debt of gratitude. Having been in a deep slumber for years due to her abilities, her simple-minded nature made her deeply grateful to Artoria. She wanted to use this method to convince Artoria to stay. After all, don't humans all love immortality? Barring accidents, a demon's lifespan could easily reach hundreds of thousands of years. Moreover, Hell had a complete reincarnation system that could change Artoria's race in a second.
"That's right, Artoria, stay! We can even give you the position of the Lord of Hell."
Artoria, captivated by the Little guy's cuteness, couldn't help but rub her soft, adorable cheeks, a motherly smile appearing on her face. The atmosphere was incredibly warm, but it was quickly interrupted. The Pride's declaration shocked all the Seven Deadly Sins, but they soon fell silent. Indeed, if Artoria were to turn into a demon now, she would certainly be at the Lord level or even higher. The enhancement of the Blood Pool wasn't about starting from scratch; it meant Artoria's strength might remain the same or even become more powerful. Given that Artoria's current strength could defeat the Lord of Heaven, the Sins present had no objections to her becoming the Lord of Hell. Now, it all depended on whether Artoria wanted to change her race.
"Maybe I'll consider it once I've had enough fun in the human realm."
After a moment of silence, Artoria gave a non-committal decision. She didn't want to be any Lord of Hell right now; she wanted to go home. No temptation could compare to the allure of going home. After all, that was where her familiar family was. Although her family in this world counted, they weren't the ones she grew up with, and Artoria always felt a bit of a barrier in her heart. Even if the Tony of this world was a great beauty, Artoria wasn't the type to lose her head just because she saw a beautiful woman.
"Then the gates of Hell will always be open to you."
Artoria's words took the Sins by surprise, but they ultimately decided to respect the strong and Artoria's choice. They stated that Artoria could return to Hell whenever she wished and that she would always be welcome. Artoria nodded in understanding. Except for Mili, who was still a bit dejected, the other Sins began to restore the lively atmosphere of the banquet. Likened to Lilith, she glanced at Artoria, shook her head, and sighed. Thinking back to her first meeting with Artoria, it still felt somewhat surreal. She hadn't expected that a whim would lead her to trade with a powerhouse capable of destroying the world. She didn't know whether to call it luck or misfortune.
"In the end, I'm just a passerby in this world."
Ignoring Likened to Lilith's complex gaze, Artoria tenderly rubbed the Little guy's head. Although she wanted to offer comfort, she knew that time would be more effective than words in fading the pain of separation. With that thought, she tucked the regret of parting into her heart and held the Little guy with one arm to feed her. Perhaps it was the instinct of a parent, but seeing a cute child made her want to kiss, hug, and lift them high. Along with feeding, just seeing a child's cute smile brought a strange sense of satisfaction. All of this was likely what's called instinctive behavior—the instinct to protect the young.
"You must come back! Artoria."
The banquet passed quickly. Sated with food and drink, Artoria didn't plan to stay in Hell any longer. She still had things to do; she needed to see the Ancient One. Even if the Ancient One wouldn't see her, she had to say goodbye to the old Master. The debt of teaching and guidance was one she could never forget. Artoria wanted to bid a proper farewell to the Ancient One before leaving. Although she didn't know if she would ever return to this parallel Universe, Artoria felt it was what a disciple of the Sorcerer Ancient One should do. Looking at the massive Gate of Hell that had been opened, the human world lay on the other side. The gate was slowly closing, as it couldn't stay open forever. Just as Artoria was about to step through, the Little guy pulled on her hand.
"Don't worry! I'll definitely visit when I have time."
With no guilt about tricking the little girl, Artoria reached out to stroke the Little guy's head. Watching the child enjoy it like a kitten, she marveled at how her petting skills had improved again. Artoria glanced at the other Sins and, under the watchful eyes of all the Great Sins, slowly walked toward the closing gate. Soon, Artoria's figure entered the Gate of Hell, and the gate shut tight.
"Deceiving a child like that... the guilt is actually quite strong."
Perhaps because the sadness of parting and the guilt of coaxing the Little guy were mixed together, Artoria felt a bit uneasy. But there were still goodbyes to be said. Stepping out of the passage between Hell and the human world, Artoria saw an endless grassland. With her telekinesis surging, she flew directly into the air. She felt her time was running out and had to speed up. Five minutes later, after confirming she was in the United States, she used the Space Stone to flash into Kamar-Taj.
"You shouldn't have come here, child."
Upon arriving at Kamar-Taj, the first person she saw was the Sorcerer Ancient One, standing quietly not far away. His deep gaze made it impossible to tell what he was thinking. He spoke those words in a very calm tone, but Artoria could feel he was suppressing his emotions. Artoria looked at him with a smile, and finally, he sighed as if conceding, inviting Artoria to the tea table for a cup of tea. Master and disciple talked a lot, but time would not wait for Artoria. The stones on the Infinity Gauntlet were no longer glowing, and Artoria's control over the body gradually vanished. Her consciousness went blank, and 'Artoria' collapsed to the ground. A white light flew out from 'Artoria's' forehead, hovered briefly before the Ancient One, and then vanished into space. The Ancient One looked at the 'Artoria' on the ground and sighed. A portal opened beneath 'Artoria', and her body was returned to Toni's home. An hour or two later, 'Artoria' opened her eyes again, her gaze filled with nothing but coldness.
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