Though I tried to jinx it, the Eccentric never arrived and the two days of our remaining time has soon passed.
I spent it just cultivating and accompanying Jayna around the city. Yumiko gave her consent to have me satisfy Jayna's wishes. Because of that, Jayna never held back as she pulled me along everywhere she wanted to create memories with me. She might be new to that kind of emotion but the way she explored and showed it was kind of adorable. I will surely remember her clumsiness, her elegance and that cute giggles she often produces. Her father even came here to see what state our relationship has become. When he saw how attached Jayna is to me, he sent me a telepathic message congratulating and thanking me. And of course, he never changed the way of calling me Ember.
We're back to the same shrine we first appeared from. Apart from the old Spiritas tending it, there's only our group sending us off, Jayna, Rei, Ren and Jagu.
Ah. Harlan and Jayce were also at the distance, watching.
The Spiritas received the treasures and due to Yumiko, Harlan's faction grew stronger again. After telling them about the Higher World and Transcendent, most members of the Council went into a closed-door Cultivation hoping to become a Ruler Spirit with a new mindset.
With the glowing portal appearing behind us, it was safe to say that it was already beckoning for us to enter it.
"Well then, Please take care of Jayna for me. And Yumiko too when she comes back here."
Asking them to look after my girls, apart from Jagu who didn't have any reaction, Rei and Ren assured me. Even if they're the ones weaker, the twins were both matured enough to look after Jayna.
"So it's really true that you might not come back with her next time."
Jagu commented.
I smiled wryly before explaining it to him.
"That's how it is. I have a different kind of duty than the Heroes like Yumiko but if there's a chance, I want to go back here."
"We'll defend this world and also become a Transcendent, won't that allow us to meet again in a Higher World?"
Ren who seldom speaks talked about their ambition. Being sidelined by that old man in the mansion ruins probably sparked something in them.
"Probably, yes. But first, don't let those Dark Elves prevail."
This world is still clean of any corruption, that's to say that compared to the World of Barbarians and World of Systems, this world's denizens didn't have the kind of greed the Corrupted Barbarians have or the grievance the Corrupted Individuals has towards 'The World'.
"Uhm. Daisuke, we'll go and look for the Eccentric and ask her to make the same equipment. You wanted more of it for your use, right?"
Jayna broke her silence and told me her plan. I expressed to her at one point that I wanted to get the same communication equipment to let me also have a way to check on her.
"Thank you, Jayna."
I thanked her and beckoned for her to give me a hug. She happily jumped into my arms as if she was waiting for it since earlier.
"Come back soon…"
With teary eyes, she looked up to me and whispered her wish. I patted her head and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Try to use the scrap metals from the higher world if you ever find her, that will surely garner her interest."
Yumiko added. She's the first one who saw her and as someone who experienced how eccentric that legendary craftsman is, maybe only metals from a higher world could be put into her eyes.
After a few minutes, Jayna went back to where she was standing.
Bidding farewell to them, Yumiko and I stepped into the portal.
With almost a month of stay in this world. Not only we finished the tasks we set before coming, but we both also grew a bit stronger than when we left.
Ah. For me, not just a bit. I benefited a lot and grew ever closer to the Heroes' current strength.
? Yumiko also inched closer to being a Noble Spirit, with the addition of the Totem, I don't know if I should keep it or let the Principal hold onto it to let the Heroes borrow the pole if they're in need of additional strength.
[You left the World of Spirits]
[The World Bonus has expired]
"Welcome back Yumiko-chan, Kuramoto-kun."
The same smiling face of the Principal welcomed us when we appeared back in his office. There are no other people here but him. In front of his table were stacks of papers that he didn't seem to want to finish.
"You can both go and rest first. The report can be made later. I'm sure, you both needed some time."
As if hinting about something. The Principal smiled mysteriously. Did he see us getting together with his Clairvoyance?
Haa. It's not that I'm not expecting it. He's probably also aware of the other girls left behind in the Otherworlds. But yeah, he's like Yuko who was so accepting towards it as if its normal.
Upon realizing what the Principal meant, Yumiko suddenly blushed and pulled me out of the room.
"Ah. Yuko will be back in a few days so… Make sure to remember that."
The Principal added before the door closed. I see, Yuko is still at the World of Systems. I wonder what's happening there.
While holding my hand, Yumiko drew near me and looked up with a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Daisuke, Is it bad to feel relieved that Yuko isn't here yet?"
"You're thinking too much, you know? Don't take the overthinking trait from me. It's quite normal to feel relieved like that."
Though it looks really wrong in many ways, Yuko will know about us. I'll never hide something like this from her. Yumiko also confessed even if she knew I already have Yuko, that's why her worrying about being relieved or not is already trivial. Even if she didn't ask, I'll spend time with her while we're here on Earth.
It's almost a month and today is a weekday so the school is kind of rowdy. We avoided the main campus, especially her fans, and went straight to the girls' dormitory. I thought of taking her into my room but she insisted on taking me to hers.
That's probably her way to be considerate with Yuko.
This time, Yumiko also cast off her identity as the invincible Priestess. Changing from her revealing shrine maiden outfit, Yumiko showed me her casual wear. With her brown hair put up into a ponytail, she wore an off-shoulder yellow dress which gave her a different vibe.
Seeing her like this, it's really different than what I got used to during our time in the World of Spirits. Due to that, I couldn't help but take the initiative to hug her and we spent some time in that kind of atmosphere between us.
Throughout the day, as the rest allocated to us by the Principal, I spent it inside Yumiko's room. We talked about our experience and reflected the decisions we thought were done hastily.
"The Principal will give you time to rest, right? What will you do?"
Yumiko asked when we ran out of topics. We're on her sofa with both of us still stuck to each other.
"Investigate some things about my past and also to know more about our world's situation."
That will include most if not all of the Principal's information. If what Yuko remembered about our past were all false, then the only one who could know what really happened should be him.
Ever since that first day where he even had to use Bind on me and offered Yuko's hand as the benefit he could only give me, he didn't really let off a lot of information and just introduced me to my ability and made Yuko explain the specifics. Even when he brought me down to the Pocket Dimension, he let me understand my ability by myself.
When I exchanged the information I got from the Corrupted, he gave me the general view of our current world. With the Heroes not only centered in our country and the governments were already made aware of it. There's probably more that he's holding back, right?
"Can I help you? Just until before I am needed in the World of Spirits again."
Yumiko whispered as if she's afraid I might reject her. Is she still thinking of how Yuko will react?
"I'd love that. But Yumiko, are you still worried about Yuko?."
"Un. I just wonder how I should explain to her. About me also falling for you. I only thought of waiting for my chance when I confessed but you accepted me right away."
Err… right that was my fault, eh?
"Then, I'll be there to explain with you."
Now I feel like I am taking advantage of how accepting Yuko is…
Ah. No, I really am taking advantage of it.
Even if I blame it to the 'destiny' only the Spirit Queen could see, it wouldn't happen without my acceptance.
I have to make it up for Yuko or everything won't feel right.
Our talk ended there and we soon retired for the night, next to each other. Yumiko really wanted to take what little time she thought she have before Yuko comes back to spend it with me.
When the morning came, we had our breakfast together before I went to the Principal to do the report.
I relayed everything that happened, of course except some of the most important bits that I thought of using as a chip to get information from him.
"So, Kuramoto-kun. What things did you discover this time?"
As if he's already expecting that I will do this. The Principal put his hands together and rested his chin on top of it while staring at me.
"Could it be you already saw this from your Clairvoyance?"
"Well, yes. But just the scene where you will tell me things you discovered."
He nodded as if it's a matter of course.
"Then, I'll get straight to the point, Principal. Can you tell me everything about my past?"
He kept talking about how his Clairvoyance wasn't Omnipotent but it seems he has a clear view of what's about to happen around him.
"Why do you assume I know it? Didn't Yuko-chan already tell you what she remembered?"
"Just a hunch and also a hunch that what she remembered was either tampered or planted deliberately."
It's not that I don't trust Yuko. But what she told me was too beautiful? I don't know if that's the right word.
Why did my memory disappear though? If what happened was according to her memory, there's no reason why my memory of that part of my past became blank.
"I see. Without knowing how you could actually remember it, you also became suspicious of her memory."
The Principal nodded without letting off any hint that could be a clue for me.
"Can you be honest this time?"
"I'm always honest with you, Kuramoto-kun. But let's see. The amount of what I will tell you depends on the information you brought me this time."
He's always honest, he's just not telling the whole truth? Is that what he's telling me?
Haa… Even if this looks like I'm getting the short end of the stick, I'll have him tell me something about that dubious past before I start my own investigation.
It's quite laughable that I even thought of swindling him, this father of Yuko is too crafty.
But really, even now I have no idea if he's just as strong as the Heroes or…
Is it possible that he's hiding his real strength? Just like how that incarnation could suppress his overwhelming presence, he's also suppressing his?
Haa… There's no use guessing over it. Better to ask him after this. Whether he will answer or not, that's already on him.
"Then…"
I started telling him the important points that I purposely left out during my report to him. For my past. Not only I wanted to remember, I also wanted to know why I became something like a special existence not just for the Heroes but for everyone.
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