Tale of Discovery

Chapter 228: News ; Reappearance ; Platform Visit

"Misa, there have been no issues with your awakened ability, has there?" I question before sipping on a cup of coffee.

"No," she responds, "As long as you're away, that sort of thing won't happen."

"You're wrong," I say with my eyes shut, "From the looks of it, your ability depends on your emotional state. In other words, as long as something elicits some kind of major reaction from you, your ability will activate.

"Well, whatever. I am sure that as long as you practice properly, your control over it will improve."

Done with this conversation, I don't wait for Misa's response as I directly make my way over to the living room.

"But I need to see him now!" an urgent voice reaches my ears while I'm on my way.

Ravel? Has something happened in the underworld? Are they finally going to make their move?

Arriving in the living room, I set my sight upon Ravel who is anxiously gazing at Nao and Sora. From the looks of it, Ravel just returned and immediately demanded to see me.

Sensing my arrival, Ravel directly looks at me and says, "Your Holiness, there is a problem."

"What's wrong?" I say while casually walking over to the sofa that Jeanne is silent sitting on and take a seat beside her.

Sora and Nao both squint their eyes, but I don't heed it much attention as I peer into Ravel's eyes inquisitively.

"The devils aren't the only ones planning to wage war against Your Holiness!" she proclaims.

"Oh?" I say, amused, "What other factions are going to participate apart from them?"

"Some gods and an unknown faction," she responds with a solemn expression, "I don't know the specifics, but I've heard that an unidentified faction is wreaking havoc in the underworld. Rumors are circulating that they are looking for Your Holiness. Aside from that, there are a few gods are planning to side with the devils against Your Holiness. At least, that's what I've heard."

How interesting. On one hand, there are the devils. I wonder if Zeoticus and Sirzechs would dare face me. There is also that eccentric lady, Serafall, was it?

On the other hand, there are a few unnamed gods and a hidden faction. They sure are doing me a great favor by deciding to battle me.

It's about time that I crushed a few more divine beings as I did with Loki.

Now that I think about it, there were a bunch of peculiar people near the academy earlier today. Could they be the 'hidden faction' that she's speaking of?

At this moment, a gateway forms at the center of the living room, interrupting my thoughts.

The next thing I know, a silver-haired lady exits from the gateway and straightaway draws near me before kneeling.

"I'm terribly sorry, Your Grace."

Everyone else is stunned as they gawk at the beautiful kneeling Valkyrie.

"Rossweisse," I say, "Where have you been?"

She had been here the day before I left for Sorcerers' Lair. But it seems like she left sometime after that.

"Your Grace, there was some urgent business back in Asgard, so I had to leave without informing Your Grace."

"Urgent business, you say?"

"Yes," she responds, "As I only went to deal with the smaller matters, I was unable to find out what was going on."

Minor matters, huh? I reckon that Odin has made sure that she wouldn't know what is going on now that she is serving me.

If I am to consider Ravel's earlier words, there is the possibility of some Asgardian gods being a part of this upcoming war.

This might be a little problematic. At least, I have a lot of forces at my disposal at the moment. Speaking of which, I wonder if Gula and Ophis will take part in the battle.

"Alright," I say in a solemn tone, "You're forgiven."

Rossweisse's stiff expression softens as a smile forms on her lips.

Taking in a deep breath, I get up from the sofa and say, "I will be heading over to Sorcerer's Lair for a short while."

"I won't be freezing time here."

After all, I have yet to see if the Core Gate works as I expect it to.

As a response to my words, everyone present, apart from Rossweisse, Jeanne, and Ravel, nods their head. That's simply because the three don't know what I'm talking about.

Hold on... Would it be possible for me to bring Jeanne along? Perhaps, summon her there through Norse Magic?

Deciding to test the notion out while there, I lay my head down against the sofa before intoning an invocation as the next moment, my surrounding changes to a limitless white space.

I immediately spot the Core Gate for Sorcerers' Lair.

Before approaching it, I take a moment to think about what just happened.

Unlike last time, my body should be in a comatose state back in the Rift. From the looks of it, there is more than one way to exit the Rift.

I reckon that the method I used to leave for Sorcerers' Lair doesn't grant me the 'immortality' mentioned by Infi in the past.

I'll have to look into this matter in the future...

Not willing to waste any more time, I directly fly through the Core Gate.

The next moment, I find myself in the Lost Continent as a strange sensation appears in my guts.

Checking myself out through Clairvoyance, I notice that my appearance has remained the way it was back in the Rift.

Letting out a small sigh, I proceed to create a gateway connected to my castle in Albion and pass through it.

---

"Surprise," I say upon barging into the room that was used by Tiffania.

Startled, the previously depressed Matilda jumps off the bed and suspiciously glares at me before asking, "Who are you?"

"Huh? What are you asking? My appearance shouldn't have changed that much."

After a moment of confusion, realization hits Matilda as she relaxes before she rushes toward me and throws a punch at my face.

Easily canceling the vectors of her punch, I ask, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Where is Tiffania!?" she exclaims while glaring at me.

"In another world," I casually respond.

Hearing this, Matilda's eyes widen before she confusedly questions, "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like," I reply nonchalantly, "Do you want me to bring you over to her? She has been feeling lonely without you being there for her, you know?"

A slightly wretched expression forms on her face before she shakes her head and says, "And you expect me to believe this?"

Rolling my eyes at her, I intone, "Arena."

The next moment, we both appear in the rejuvenated city of Dubai. Every damage done to it has been reversed, so now it looks rather mesmerizing to the shocked Matilda.

Reaching my arm out, I pat Matilda's head and say, "You mortals always have to complicate things."

Breaking out of her stupor, Matilda's body begins shivering as she looks down, seemingly avoiding my eyes, before nervously asking, "What are you?"

"That doesn't matter," I respond while shaking my head, "I just need you to take my words seriously from now on, understood?"

The usually hot-blooded Matilda meekly nods her head as confirmation.

"Anyway, the world that I will be taking you to is going to be similar to this one. Technology there is very developed, so if you have any questions, you may ask the other residents of the mansion you'll be staying in."

Before she can respond, I exit the Arena with her in tow.

"Now, wait for me here. I'll go and check on the state of affairs before returning."

Once again, Matilda just nods her head with a complex look on her face.

Seeing her like this, a small grin forms on my lips as I step forth and give her a light peck on the lips.

More than a little startled, Matilda steps back a few times before staring at me with widened eyes.

I issue a light chuckle as a response to her reaction before using Clairvoyance to search the castle for certain individuals.

---

Fortunately, nothing unexpected has happened during my time away from Sorcerers' Lair. If anything, things are going rather smoothly.

This way, I won't have to be that concerned about this Platform during the upcoming war in the Rift.

"Are you ready?" I ask Matilda upon arriving in the room I left her in.

"Yes," she resolutely responds.

Naturally, I'm aware that even if I were to bring her along, it would take a week in the Mete for a body to be created for the Rift.

Before I leave, however, there is something that needs to be tried out.

Using Norse Magic, I focus my mind on the space in front of me while picturing Jeanne's beautiful figure.

The next moment a bright light shines before the familiar young lady appears in front of me in the same battle attire she had on the first time I summoned her.

Jeanne has a confused look on her face as she looks around before setting her eyes on me and immediately kneeling.

"Get up," I say, "What did you experience just now?"

"I don't know," she responds, "I was about to carry My Lord's body to the bed in a room per Lady Sora's instructions, but then I just found myself here."

Thank goodness that I summoned her. Just imagining her lifting my body causes me to shiver.

Setting that aside, looks like the rest have introduced themselves to her. I wonder if Sora said that is my sister. What kind of reaction Jeanne would have to that statement?

Shaking such notions aside, I gaze at Jeanne and say, "Get up; there is something I'd like to show you."

Doing as she is told; Jeanne rises to her feet with a slightly curious glint in her eyes.

Matilda has an odd look on her face as she inspects the new arrival.

Ignoring her, I proceed to create a gateway connected to the sky above the castle we're in.

Then, I step forth and take Jeanne's hand into mine before gesturing at Matilda to follow us as I walk through the gateway.

Using Flight and telekinesis, I keep the two girl's bodies stable in the air. Jeanne is in my arms, while Matilda is simply floating in the air.

The two ladies look down at Albion with intrigue as I say, "Jeanne, this is another world that I take direct actions in. Here, I am a king ruling over this floating kingdom."

An understanding look appears on Jeanne's face as she gazes at the capital.

"We should get going now," I say before creating another gateway that leads to the Lost Continent.

"Matilda," I say while floating in front of the giant statue that's 'holding' the Core Gate, "You'll arrive a week after me."

Seemingly taking my word for granted, she just nods her head and says, "Alright."

As such, I move her closer to myself before placing my palm against her chest, startling her.

The next moment, I channel Destruction into my arm and conveying to her body, resulting in her turning into minuscule particles.

Irene, store her soul.

{Affirmative.}

"Let's get going then," I say while beaming a smile at Jeanne before floating into the Core Gate.

The next moment, we find ourselves in the endless white space. Jeanne has an odd look on her face as she looks around for a few seconds before asking, "Where is this?"

"The border between worlds," I respond, "The world we were in just now is separated from the other one by this location."

Despite seeming to have not understood properly, Jeanne nods her head before looking over at the Core Gate we just exited from with intrigue.

Shaking my head, I say, "Irene, the Rift."

{Affirmative.}