"What do you want me to do?"
After feeding his infant sister, Shura walked up to Maierin and asked.
Gains and losses, gains and losses—there is always a price. Growing up in chaotic times, he understood this truth well. He didn't believe that Maierin helped them out of mere kindness.
Moreover, he didn't want to return to the way things were before. He wanted to give his younger siblings a bright future.
Hearing this, Maierin smirked and pretended to think: "Hmm… let me see… it seems I don't need you to do anything."
At these words, Shura immediately grew anxious and said, "You have two boys younger than me by your side. Whatever they do, I can do. I can even do twice as much."
"That may be true, but you are not as strong as they are," Maierin said mischievously.
Shura fell silent and lowered his head.
"Alright, I don't need you to do anything. Since I have helped you, I won't just leave you behind," Maierin said with a smile, patting little Shura's head.
Shura didn't respond. He just lifted his head and stared intently at Maierin, trying to read his expression.
"If I had to say, I'd like you to become a Saint Seiya," Maierin added.
"A Saint Seiya? What is that?"
"A warrior who protects the love and hope of the earth."
Shura's reaction was different from most children who heard these words.
Ordinary children, captivated by heroic ideals, would typically respond with admiration and longing. A few, like Deathmask, would scoff at it. But from Shura's expression, Maierin saw anger and resentment.
"If such warriors truly exist, then why is there war? Why has no one saved us?"
"Because… they, too, are fighting their own wars," Maierin answered. "In places you cannot see, they face battles even more brutal than the one you know."
Shura remained silent and continued listening.
"Do you know about the Holy War two hundred years ago? The war between the Sanctuary and Hades, the King of the Underworld? Out of dozens of Saints who fought, only three survived. The goddess Athena perished, reincarnated, and only then was Hades and his army sealed away. The Sanctuary has been in ruin for two centuries, and I, too, was sealed away until I recently awakened. Would you not call that a tragedy?"
Maierin didn't care whether Shura could fully understand—he simply spoke.
Shura remained silent, but he had already formed an answer in his heart.
Whether or not gods truly existed, and regardless of what a Holy War meant or how powerful a Saint Seiya was, the fact that only three survived out of dozens, and the Sanctuary remained in decline for centuries—that was indeed cruel.
However, he was puzzled. Could a war involving just dozens of people really compare to the world war raging now, where tens of thousands were caught in a meat grinder of carnage?
"Our war is unknown to the world. Its scale is smaller than today's world war, but what you don't realize is that even the weakest Bronze Saint has the power to single-handedly destroy an entire regiment of fully armed soldiers. As for the stronger Saints, they could wipe out the Earth effortlessly."
"Our enemies—Hades and his Specters—are just as powerful. If we lose, Hades will rule the Earth, turning it into an eternal land of death."
"We have no reinforcements. No allies. We fight only with our will and our faith. Though we are at a disadvantage, Saints have never retreated. Since the mythological era, we have defended the Earth and humanity from the hands of the gods."
"We cannot afford to lose. Any defeat would be catastrophic for the Earth and humanity—either complete annihilation or eternal enslavement. This… is a war of the gods."
Shura felt like he was listening to a story. He kept telling himself this was just a tale, just a joke—there was no such thing as gods.
But Maierin's solemn nostalgia, the resolute tone in his voice, told him otherwise. This was real.
"Shura, you are talented and capable. That is why I hope you will become a Saint Seiya, to stand with us in protecting this land."
Shura was silent for a long moment before asking, "…Are you a Saint Seiya too?"
"I am not a Saint Seiya."
"Then you…?"
"…I am one of the patron gods of the Saints. One of the founders of the Sanctuary."
Shura froze. His expression grew more incredulous.
"But… you…" He looked at Maierin oddly. He seemed so young. Didn't he say the Holy Wars had been going on since mythological times? That must have been thousands of years ago! And yet, Maierin looked so youthful—was this a joke?
"Heh. Once you reach my level, child, you will find that age no longer has any meaning," Maierin chuckled.
Shura hesitated before speaking. "…I can join you, but I have one condition."
"You needn't worry about them. I will have someone escort them directly to the Sanctuary, where they will be received, educated, and given a choice about their future. Neither they nor you will be forced into anything."
"Deal."
"Kanon."
"Yes, my lord? What do you need?"
"Take them to the Sanctuary tomorrow and settle them in."
"Huh? My lord, do I really have to go back again?" Kanon groaned, his face full of dread. He hadn't forgotten Aiolia's teasing when he last returned. Even though "tomorrow" had technically passed, it still felt too soon.
"If you don't want to return, we can stay here a few more days. I'll contact Shion and have Aiolos come instead," Maierin said with a sigh, smiling at Kanon's predicament. He had heard about Aiolia jokingly calling Kanon a frequent visitor, so he didn't push him. Aiolos wasn't too busy anyway—he was just training some recruits.
Maierin borrowed the hotel's phone. The Sanctuary had changed a lot recently—the ruins were cleared, new housing was under construction, and most importantly, they could now communicate via phone, making coordination much easier.
"Hello, Shion?"
"My lord."
"I'm in Seville, in southern Spain. Send Aiolos over—I have a group of children that need to be taken to the Sanctuary."
"Understood, my lord. I will arrange it immediately."
"Good. Thank you."
After hanging up, Maierin planned to rest in Seville for a few days. Though war had left the city in ruins, high-end hotels, shops, and restaurants were still operating. Money was no issue for Maierin, so he intended to enjoy the comforts of civilization.
However, he hadn't expected Aiolos to arrive that very afternoon.
Dressed in his golden armor, Aiolos descended from the sky, his wings fluttering in the wind.
At the time, Maierin was taking the children for a stroll. Aiolos' sudden arrival drew countless stares.
To prevent chaos, Maierin swiftly immobilized the onlookers with his psychic powers and erased their memories.
"Aiolos… could you not land in the middle of a city next time?" Maierin sighed.
"My apologies, my lord. I was too eager," Aiolos said sheepishly. Though mature for his age, he was still a teenager. Being summoned directly by his patron god had excited him a little too much.
"Sigh. Just be more careful next time."
"Understood, my lord."
Maierin turned to the children. "Go with Aiolos. You will be safe. No one will force you into anything."
"Yes, my lord!" Aiolos led the children away.
As they left, Maierin turned to Milo and Shura. "There's no turning back now."
"I won't regret it!"