Chapter 164: A Brief Reunion
--- Chapter 161 ---
"Finally."
"Finally." Huo Yuhao excitedly stared at the system panel.
[You have finished two quests]
[Rewarding: 1x Random Item of All Grades, Beast King's Core, A drop of Fairy Tree's dew, Endless Black Ocean Art(S), and a chance to communicate with the homeworld]
"Master..."
"Master..."
"I'm sorry, it feels so good," Alexandra murmured in her sleep.
Huo Yuhao glanced at Alexandra and sighed in trouble. Summoning the other slaves, he ordered them to check Alexandra's body and give her a room to rest.
Changing the environment, Huo Yuhao stopped at Admante's Family Garden and sat in the flowers area. He tried to get himself together and even used Universal Breathing Technique to calm his excitement.
[Do you want to use a chance to communicate with your homeworld host?] Evo asked calmly.
Huo Yuhao smiled and answered, "I have been waiting for this, Evo. Of course."
[Creating a stealth tunnel between two worlds]
"Huh?" Huo Yuhao frowned when hearing that.
[Connecting to the homeworld, currently Highschool DxD]
[Ding! The tunnel could only last for an hour]
Huo Yuhao's eyes shut down as he sensed something coursing through his soul. It's a weird sense of connection to a familiar place.
"Yuhao!" Tian Meng's worried voice suddenly rang in his head.
"S-Sister Daydream?" Huo Yuhao looked at the golden-haired woman in a white hoodie with a surprised look. He held an urge to cry and hugged her tightly.
Tian Meng was caught off guard and smiled a little, hugging Huo Yuhao back. She patted his back gently and felt the awful mental state her host was currently in.
Bing Di and Eluxia appeared shortly after, seeing Huo Yuhao broken from the prison. "He's back!" The Ice Emperor approached Huo Yuhao.
'What's this darkness?' Eluxia frowned and squinted her eyes, observing Huo Yuhao's soul. 'Huo Yuhao is influenced by something.'
"Bing Di, Teacher." Huo Yuhao freed himself from Tian Meng and went for a hug to other contracted souls.
"T-This is..." Bing Di blushed because Huo Yuhao rarely do something like this. "Why are you hugging me so tightly? Did you miss the much??"
"Yeah." Huo Yuhao pulled her cheeks a little.
Eluxia accepted the hug with ease and asked, "What happened to you, Yuhao? You were in a comatose state for three months, and we couldn't contact nor reach your soul for some reason."
Hearing the question, Huo Yuhao released a weak chuckle and calmly replied, "I'll keep it short because I have less than an hour before the tunnel gets cut off."
Huo Yuhao briefly yet thoroughly explained everything that happened to him in the Titania Bolos and made the contracted souls frown, falling into an awkward silence. Especially Eluxia, who couldn't believe such a world existed, but then Huo Yuhao proved her dimensional traveling was a thing.
'More so... A replication of a dimensional-destroying event? I don't think it would be that simple.' Eluxia was worried about Huo Yuhao's well-being because his emotional state changed so much in just three months. Well, 16 months technically in the Titania Bolos.
'I'm afraid. And protecting a castle of all things, why such a place? There is something hidden in this trial.'
Eluxia opened her mouth and said, "Yuhao, listen to me well."
"I could feel darkness trying to get a hold of your soul. It's both beneficial and horrible because you should never let yourself drown."
"You may embrace this power, but never let it devour you."
Huo Yuhao nodded and returned, "I know. I'll keep your words in mind."
"Well, I don't have many times left to say goodbye."
"So..."
Eluxia's eyes widened in shock because Huo Yuhao suddenly kissed her lips. She gasped for a moment, feeling the probing in her mouth.
She grasped the back of Huo Yuhao's head and let the young man passionately kiss her. It was short but worth it.
Even though Huo Yuhao doesn't say anything, his loving expression says it all. "How unfair." Eluxia scowled at him.
Knowing what would happen next to them, Tian Meng and Bing Di prepared themselves.
"Sister Daydream, please take care of me." Huo Yuhao said, making Tian Meng roll her eyes.
"Hmph, for a scoundrel, you sure know how to flatter someone." Tian Menh tip-toed and leaned on for a kiss, pushing her lips against Huo Yuhao's. She is a virgin and has never kissed someone before.
However, she had seen enough spicy moments through Huo Yuhao's eyes and knew where and what to touch.
"Mm, I never kissed a man before." Tian Meng slowly parted her lips from Huo Yuhao.
"No one wants to kiss you before." Bing Di commented casually, rendering Tian Meng speechless.
"..." Tian Meng.
Tian Meng wanted to refute Bing Di's comments, but deep down knew she was a virgin for her whole life. "Damn you... If only you weren't so hot." She mumbled to herself.
"Technically, I'm cold as fuck. Don't forget that I was the Ice Emperor. Anyway, It is My turn." Bing Di pushed Tian Meng away and seized Huo Yuhao's lips like a majestic ruler.
However, Huo Yuhao won't back down so easily and dominate her tongue plays. Bing Di was taken aback and admitted Huo Yuhao was a worthy opponent.
'It's not bad... Soothing and warm.'
Bing Di faked a cough and shamelessly said, "W-Well, we should do this more often when you are over with Titania Bolos."
"Sure." Huo Yuhao patted Bing Di's head.
"YOU..." Tian Meng was annoyed with Bing Di and Huo Yuhao's interactions.
"Then, I'll leave my Spiritual World to you three. And protect Helena from bad influence, teacher." Huo Yuhao gave them a content look, and Eluxia responded with a nod while holding a pink dragon egg in her embrace.
Watching Huo Yuhao use the Spiritual Manifestation to the outside, Eluxia sighed and commented, "I hope he will be okay."
"What are you talking about, Eluxia? Of course, Yuhao will be fine." Tian Meng crossed her hand.
She glanced at the dragon egg in Eluxia's embrace and continued, "That lad created miracles as easily as he breathes."
"True, true." Bing Di nodded in agreement.
Eluxia's expression finally softened as she responded with, "Yeah."
...
...
Huo Yuhao floated out of the realm that trapped him and glanced at the material used with a frown. "All-Transforming Ink..." He pondered solemnly.
"That's not important now. I only have 46 minutes left."
As he floated out, Huo Yuhao could see the floating island had changed tremendously in just three months. It expanded three times in size and possessed a more assertive Primordial Rune Barrier than before.
He expanded his Divine Senses to all realms, locating everyone's location in just one minute. With overwhelming feelings in his heart, Huo Yuhao's lips trembled.
And he declared, "Everyone, I'm back."
A thousand worried shouts echoed back to Huo Yuhao's ears.
He clenched his hand gently and created a Spiritual Room to gather everyone in one location as he didn't have enough time to visit them singly.
A bright blue-gold light exploded in the Underworld's Sky, spreading and condensing into a sphere. Huo Yuhao stepped in and watched several Spiritual Manifestations appear.
"Yuhao~!!"
"Deshi~!!"
"Hao'er!!"
Huo Yuhao could feel the tightest hugs on his Spiritual Manifestation and saw three heads looking at him with tears. "Ying'er, Shishou, Mom." He let out a relieved sigh, hugging them with a heart-wrenching expression.
Finally, he felt whole.
They are his home.
They are his peace.
A peaceful Huo Yuhao longed for more than a year.
"I miss you all." He caressed Huo Yun'er pinkish blonde hair.
"We miss you too." The ladies responded, sounding like music in Huo Yuhao's ears. He imagined these voices lingering in his head like a hallucination.
However, this is no hallucination.
It's reality.
"Idiot Deshi!" Scathach punched Huo Yuhao in the guts. "We know you'd be alright, but at least told us before entering something like a trial."
She went for a kiss with tears, making Huo Yuhao feel sorry because he was indeed reckless when opening the quest reward: Random Ancient Devil Bloodline.
Also, he doesn't feel the slightest pain from Scathach's punch. It was "clearly." filled with love and worries for him.
Qianye Ying'er is sobbing on his chest, tearing up like a child. Even though Huo Yun'er told everyone Huo Yuhao would be fine three months ago, Qianye Ying'er notices Huo Yun'er doesn't tell anyone the complete truth.
What kind of place is Huo Yuhao trapped in, nor does danger await him there? Huo Yun'er brushed them off from the truth, maintaining a confident smile.
"I missed you, my lord." She whispered with such a longing.
Putting it into perspective, Huo Yun'er has witnessed millions of timelines with her eyes. She had overseen Huo Yuhao's death more than anyone in the Dragon Nest, but she believed in his ability.
She believed in her beloved son.
There is one in 223.009.692 chance Huo Yuhao will lose himself in the darkness "temporarily.". And It was also one of the most irregular timelines when Huo Yuhao realized the abnormality and returned to their sides safely.
No way in hell Huo Yun'er could honestly speak about this to someone else. She couldn't bring herself to tell weak-hearted women that Huo Yuhao might die. They'll fall into despair and spread bad karma, causing a destructive reaction.
'I'm not a true god yet. I can't breach into other realities without triggering other powerful beings. This World(Highschool DxD) is fine, but those cruel universes are beyond my realm.' Huo Yun'er forced a smile, adding more force to her hug.
"I'm okay. I'll be back safely." Huo Yuhai lifted Huo Yun'er chin. "You don't have to worry about my condition, mom."
"All you have to do is to believe in me."
"AHHHH~!!"
Feeling the moistness in her eyes, Huo Yun'er finally cried and hugged Huo Yuhao like a koala. Everyone was speechless because Huo Yun'er always showed her playful and calculating side, but this.
This is the real Huo Yun'er. Even though Huo Yun'er has become stronger beyond this realm's standard, she is still a mother.
Mothers worry for their children.
Even in their dreams, a mother couldn't help but think about it.
That's just one of many wonders of living as a mother.
"I lost you once... I can't lose you anymore, Hao'er." Huo Yun'er instinctively expressed, which made Huo Yuhao's heart tighten for a second.
"Mom, you..." Huo Yuhao looked down in shock.
"Don't tell me you..."
"Shush." Huo Yun'er sealed his mouth with her lips.
'That wasn't important right now. You're still my beloved son, Hao'er.'
'You didn't abandon me back then when you could. Then I won't abandon you for eternity as well. My goal is to live happily with my Hao'er, after all.'
Feeling the emotion from Huo Yun'er, Huo Yuhao could only wait for the answer in the future. After the not-so-pure kiss, the ladies within the meeting room could only cough in jealousy.
They knew the relationship between Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao, but this was harder to see than expected. Especially for Gabriel, who adorably chewed on a napkin and was on the verge of crying as if Huo Yuhao had abandoned her.
Huo Yun'er calmed herself and hugged Huo Yuhao's left arm. "Maybe you should start explaining, Hao'er. The ladies are dying for your story." She said, which made Huo Yuhao laugh in defeat.
Huo Yuhao cleared his throat and stated, "I only have around 39 minutes left, so my explanation will be as short and compact as possible."
"It started..."
He told everyone about the Ancient Ink Devil's trial without disclosing anything related to Evo. He filtered the information enough for them to understand anything without asking for the second time.
And 20 minutes later, they stared at Huo Yuhao with teary eyes.
"Yuhao-sama..." Grayfia rubbed her eyes. "I thought it was my fault."
"No, it wasn't. Fia." Huo Yuhao replied calmly.
"Sometimes, my confidence soared through the roof. I felt invincible and expected others to meet my standard."
"Standard that doesn't fit common sense..."
"Sorry, Tiamat." He glanced at the Chaos Karma Dragon.
Tiamat hurriedly shook her head and replied, "W-Well, It's embarrassing. I'm just too weak compared to those artificial devils. If we want to blame something, I will blame my weakness."
The devil kings felt ashamed when hearing Tiamat's statements because they unknowingly relied on Huo Yuhao's influence the most when attacking the Realm of the Dead.
They got influenced by Huo Yuhao's confidence and believed the devil race would win without casualties. Even Sirzechs couldn't see Huo Yuhao in the eyes proudly anymore.
"Raikou-san... I promise to spend more time with you after this." Huo Yuhao firmly stared at the buxom-looking woman.
Raikou smiled sweetly and replied, "I'll be waiting..."
Huo Yuhao spotted Nico Robin and said, "Sorry, Robin. I brought you to this realm without leaving a single message. Same as Raikou-san, I'll pay you back later."
Nico Robin put on a complicated face and answered, "No, everything is fine, Yuhao-sama."
"Everyone treated me warmly here. The Dragon Nest provided me with more resources than I ever had in my homeworld."
"You don't owe me anything..."
"I-I should be the one who owes you... Even with my body, I'll try my best to pay it back."
Huo Yuhao could only nod, making Robin smile somewhat sensually.
"Father." Gabrial suddenly kneeled before Huo Yuhao.
"Can you please give me a surname?"
"Anything is alright."
"Why?" Huo Yuhao was taken aback.
Gabrial opened her mouth and replied, "I-I felt lonely... I wished to have something to remember and cherish about you. My martial soul won't do it because it doesn't have your essence ."
"Then... I'll grant "Edelweiss." as your surname." Huo Yuhao patted the beautiful angel's head, causing Gabrial to purr in happiness.
"Thank you, father~!" Gabriel couldn't help but smile.
Talking about purr, Kuroka jumped forward and said, "Yuhao-nyaa~!"
"I know you will come back!"
"Don't worry about Shirone and me. We are fine and healthy."
"Maybe we can make some kittens after your trial... Hehe~!"
Everyone glared at Kuroka with a stink gaze, but Nekoshou grinned smugly.
Misla and Venelana pulled Kuroka back to the crowd and greeted Huo Yuhao. "We congratulate you on your return, Yuhao-sama." They said while bowing their heads.
"Mm." Huo Yuhao exchanged a few words with the female bael, promising to spend more time with them.
Ophis stood silently from afar, lowering her head.
"Ophis." Huo Yuhao called the Ouroboros Dragon's name.
"Be a good girl and protect everyone for me, okay?"
"I'll give you a lot of candy later."
Ophis's eyes widened as she smiled and hurriedly hugged him, releasing a muffled cry. "Mm... I'm afraid Yuhao won't come back and leave me forever. I'll be a good girl." She whispered to him.
"Promise?" Her eyes locked on Huo Yuhao's.
"Promise." Huo Yuhao gently patted Ophis's head.
Huo Yuhao talked to everyone for fifteen minutes, telling each other stories and laughing in silliness.
He enjoyed every last bit of this moment.
[Sirzechs Lucifer Loyalty has increased]
[Serafall Leviathan Loyalty has increased]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[Do you want to awaken their martial souls?]
[Yes/No]
"Yes." Huo Yuhao warned everyone about the martial soul's awakening.
After awakening the martial soul of the subordinate with high loyalty, Huo Yuhao told them farewell and stood before Grayfia Lucifuge.
"Fia, do you remember my words not too long ago?" Huo Yuhao asked calmly.
"Yes, Yuhao-sama," Grayfia recalled the promise and nodded, blushing a little.
Huo Yuhao kissed Grayfia's forehead and continued, "After my trial is over."
"Let's go on a date."
Tearing up a little, Grayfia hugged Huo Yuhao and replied, "Yes, Let's go on a date."
"See you later, Fia~."
Huo Yuhao slowly vanished from the meeting room, leaving Grayfia's embrace. She clenched her fist and stared at the sky calmly.
"Grayfia..." Huo Yun'er called the silver-haired maid's name.
"Yes, mistress?" Grayfia wiped the tears and responded.
Huo Yun'er patted Grayfia's shoulder and said with a grin, "Congratulations, you have passed my test."
"EHH?!" Everyone was shocked. Even Scathach and Qianye Ying'er couldn't believe it for a moment.
It took them a few years to gain Huo Yun'er approval, but Grayfia did it less than a year. Impossible!
"Please take care of my Hao'er." The foxy mistress winked, which left Grayfia speechless.
Gaining her composure, Grayfia Lucifuge smiled merrily and answered, "Mm, I will."
...
...
[Disconnecting the tunnel]
[Bringing the host back to the Titania Bolos]
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and saw the flower garden with a calm look on his face.
[Do you feel better, host?] Evo asked monotonously.
"Yeah. 100%." Huo Yuhao replied with a grin.
"Nothing will stop me from finishing this Emergency Quest anymore."
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