Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 162

Chapter 162: The Forgotten Goddess’s Prophercy
As I stood in that divine chamber, surrounded by gods and shimmering remnants of ancient magic, I couldn’t stop thinking about her—the Goddess of Benevolence.

What had she gone through to become like this? How much pain did she carry when she sacrificed everything and ended up forgotten even by her divine kin? It pained me to imagine it. But slowly… I began to understand.

This wasn’t just some accident or twist of fate. No, this was the curse of that accursed God (???)/Outer God—the one whose name still eluded us. The being responsible for corrupting the realms, birthing the Unique Monsters, and shattering the harmony of Cosmoria.

And he dared to erase her.

Just thinking about it made my blood boil.

How could the gods forget someone so selfless? So powerful? She gave everything to protect them—and the worlds they watched over—and they couldn’t even remember her name. My chest tightened with a mixture of sorrow and fury. I couldn’t imagine the loneliness… the crushing grief… of becoming a shadow in the very world you saved.

In my mind, I tried reaching out to her.

“Goddess of Benevolence… are you there? Please, answer me.”

But she remained silent.

No words. No visions. Just silence.

Yet I knew—I knew she was there. Somewhere in the realm between Earth and Aetheria. I could feel her presence, faint but persistent, like a distant heartbeat. She was still fighting—alone—trying to hold back the creeping corruption of the Outer God. Carrying a burden no one else could see.

That thought alone crushed me.

I wanted to help her. I wanted to stand by her side. But in my current state… I wasn’t strong enough. I couldn’t reach her. Not yet.

No—I had to move forward.

I needed to finish the Trial of Blessing and face the final trial. Only then would I truly become a Hero in the eyes of the gods. Only then could I complete the Main Quest she had given me: to defeat the Demon King, the one wreaking havoc across Aetheria.

But maybe—just maybe—defeating the Demon King was more than just saving the world. Maybe it was the key to weakening the Outer God. To breaking his grip on the realms.

To lifting the curse…And bringing the Goddess of Benevolence back.

As that possibility filled my heart, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I had more than one reason to fight now. More than just protecting this world… more than just saving my loved ones.

I wanted to save her.

The one who saved me. The one who gave me a second chance at life. I owed her everything. If I could bring her back—if I could help her smile again in the light of Cosmoria—then I would walk through hell itself.

Suddenly, in the quiet of my mind, I remember her face.

That gentle smile…But there was sorrow behind it. A loneliness she never spoke of. It was a smile that tried to hide centuries of pain.

And then, without even realizing it, I shouted in my heart—

“I’ll save you… I promise. Just wait for me, Goddess of Benevolence. We’ll meet again—no matter what!”

At that very moment, a bright notification flashed before me:

[Goddess of Benevolence smiles upon hearing your resolve.]

My heart surged with emotion.

She heard me.

She’s still listening.

That was all the confirmation I needed. I would fulfill this promise. I’d walk the path laid out for me, no matter how dark or dangerous.

After hearing everything from Solis—her story, her sorrow, her battle with her brother—I finally understood. I was the Child of Fate the Forgotten Goddess spoke of. It was written in prophecy, and now I felt it burning in my soul.

Turning to Solis, I spoke gently, “So that’s the truth… I’m sorry for what happened to your brother.”

She looked down, grief still clouding her golden eyes.

“I had a brother too,” I continued. “We had our differences… maybe more than that. So, I understand what it’s like to carry pain that doesn’t go away.”

As I said those words, I reached out and held her hand.

At first, she flinched slightly—caught off guard—but then she met my gaze, surprised.

“I know you’ll meet him again,” I said with a grin. “And if he’s still a bad guy… I’ll help you beat some sense into him!”

For a moment, there was silence. Then, to my surprise, a small, warm smile crept onto Solis face. It wasn’t forced. It was the smile of someone who had found a little hope again.

Before I could enjoy the moment, Miranda suddenly yanked my hand away from Solis.

“Hiyaa! What do you think you’re doing?! Don’t just go around touching a Goddess!” she snapped, her face bright red.

Hearing her say that was so funny because she had been hugging me tightly on her bed earlier. It turns out Miranda has a funny side like this.

Flareth let out a hearty laugh. “Hahaha! You’ve got guts, kid! Not bad!”

Zarion, ever the proud and serious one, scoffed. “You better follow through with that promise of yours.”

Aqualia, clearly flustered, waved her hands. “W-Wait! You’re a user of Dark Magic… If you keep touching Solis like that, you’ll take damage! That’s not safe!”

“I won’t allow that!” Miranda added, glaring at me with crossed arms.

Zephyra simply chuckled, shaking her head. “Yare-yare… you’re quite the interesting man, aren’t you?”

In that moment, I glanced at Solis once more. The storm in her heart had passed. Her face, once filled with sadness and fury, now held a calm warmth. Her smile reminded me of the sun rising after a long, dark night.

It was a smile of healing.

And I was grateful to be the one to witness it.

…

After the echoes of Solis’ story faded, the discussion turned serious once again. The gods and goddesses began to focus on me—on the Child of Fate.

I looked around at them, trying to mask the storm of uncertainty building in my chest. Then I finally asked the question that had been weighing heavily on my mind.

“I understand now what the Child of Fate is… and what’s foretold to happen based on the prophecy left behind by the Forgotten Goddess. But… if I really am this Child of Fate, then what am I supposed to do now?”

My voice wavered slightly. I wasn’t trying to sound unsure, but I couldn’t help it. The gods exchanged glances among themselves. None of them offered an immediate answer.

It became clear that even they didn’t know the details of the prophecy. Most of it was vague—only fragments remained, and even those lines lacked clarity. A single sentence couldn’t explain the whole destiny it hinted at.

We hit a wall.

Then, unexpectedly, Solis stepped forward, her expression lit with a sudden idea. She looked at me and said, “There might be a way. Come with me—to the Spire of the Forgotten Goddess. That’s where the prophecy is etched. Maybe we’ve missed something.”

Without hesitation, the rest of the gods agreed. We set off together.

When we arrived at the spire, my heart sank. The place was in ruin—deserted, silent, and draped in the dust of forgotten time. Not even angels watched over this place. Cracked stone pillars, faded murals, and crumbling stairways surrounded us. This was once her home—the Goddess of Benevolence. And now… it was left to rot.

My chest tightened. I steadied my steps and pressed forward, trying to remain composed. But deep down, I felt like I was walking through the memories of someone I deeply owed—someone whose pain still echoed in the broken walls around me.

We finally reached her throne—aged and untouched. Before it stood the heart of the spire, a glowing core barely pulsing with divine energy.

Solis turned to me and gently said, “Touch it. It might respond to you.”

I reached out and placed my hand on the core.

Suddenly, a surge of light burst forth.

The entire room was engulfed in radiant energy. The symbols and carvings across the chamber began to glow. Then, before all of us, new lines appeared on the prophecy—as if the Spire itself had waited for me all this time.

The gods gasped in disbelief. Even I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

The prophecy now read:

[The Child of Fate shall bear the blessings of the gods and goddesses and save the world from its end. But in the end… he will face a choice—one of impossible weight.]

A heavy silence fell over the spire.

Even the most stoic gods—Zarion, Terra, Zephyra—now looked at me with a new sense of certainty. They no longer doubted it. I was truly the Child of Fate.

The phrase “bear the blessings of the gods and goddesses” could only mean one thing: they would each grant me their divine blessings. I was to become the vessel of their power.

But it was the final sentence that lingered in my mind.

A choice… of impossible weight.

What did it mean? Would I have to choose between saving this world… or saving my family back on Earth? Would it be a sacrifice?

I didn’t have the answer. Not yet.

Before I could dwell on it too long, I felt two massive hands clap against my back—hard.

“Oof—!”

“Hahaha! I knew it! You’re really the Child of Fate! I didn’t bet wrong!” Flareth laughed loudly, her usual boisterous energy shaking the silence.

Zarion followed, nodding with a proud smirk. “We finally found him. Get ready, kid. You’re about to receive my blessing, so hold tight.”

The mood in the room shifted. Joy, relief, even pride lit the expressions of the divine. One by one, the other gods stepped forward. Aqualia, Gaia, Terra, Zephyra, and Solis all voiced their agreement—they would each grant me their blessings.

Then Solis stepped closer and gently took my hand. Her smile was warm, her golden eyes shimmering.

“Naoki von Blackmore… Child of Fate… though the Forgotten Goddess can no longer here and The Almighty One doesn’t speak to us, this prophecy is the only clue. She wants us to help you. And now what you can do is you will receive our blessing and make it into a power to fight the Demon King… and maybe even more.”

I nodded.

I accepted their will—and the power that came with it.

Now, I sat at the center of an ancient magic circle, drawn in radiant script, positioned at the heart of the Spire. Around me stood the gods and goddesses, forming a ring of divine presence.

They began to chant in unison, weaving their magic into the air, into me.

I closed my eyes, steadying my breath.

This was it. The moment everything would change.

I prayed that the ritual would go smoothly—that I could carry their hopes, their power… and move forward toward the final trial.