Time passed and there were only a few hours left before I completed the 7 days inside this Dimensional Space.
Aside from the other Rank 2 Transcendents reemerging from the other restricted space where they fought against the enemy world, nothing major happened.
Some also failed to come back which resulted in some permanent part of the Dimensional Bridge suddenly appearing within the Dark World's occupied territory.
Although I was away at the frontlines or any other camp of the Dafirae Tribe, I was made aware of what's happening there thanks to Monady.
I declined her invitation to recruit me into their tribe but she still continued contacting me, telling me news about everything.
Now that I'm about to leave, she's requesting to see me before I go.
"Did Monady contact you again?" Irja, noticing my sudden silence asked.
With her sitting close to me or rather, sitting in front of me with my arms circled around her navel, there's no way she wouldn't notice it.
Our situation right now could be said to be closer and clearer than before. However, because I put off answering her request of taking her with me, there's no definite label as to what we are now.
I followed through with what I planned. In exchange for answering her question, I asked for her cooperation in clearing out more ruins. With the two of us, clearing small ruins filled with regular-sized and giant statues was easily done.
Initially, I was stealing every statue kills. Irja wasn't saying anything about it and just continued to stick with me, waiting for my answer while asking more questions.
The ruins weren't many and we avoided venturing deeper into larger ruins with manors or castles. There's no point risking our lives again. Because of that, most of our time was spent resting somewhere, going on about our Absorption Session and talking about each other. And that led to our current situation.
Without the need to sleep, the passing of the day was longer. Well, we chose not to sleep since there's not enough time left. I'm adamant about my plan to leave after all and she's aware of that.
Even when fighting or resting, our conversation never ends and being interrupted by Monady's message wasn't new anymore.
"Aside from Monady, there's no one who has a reason to contact me. So yes, it's her." I answered as I slowly tightened my arms, pulling her closer to me.
Well, there's also Alwyn but she didn't have my personal communication crystal so unless I contact her, she wouldn't be able to contact me. The same goes for Remilia.
At this point, Irja was already aware of my Companions. I told her about them to try and see if it would put her off.
Contrary to my expectation… having multiple wives or husbands or both is an accepted practice in this world. But there's a silent rule that the center of that relationship should be stronger than anyone else.
Because we're stuck like glue to each other whenever we're not cleaning a ruin, I had to ask her for a time when I slipped out to contact my Companions.
Somehow, that felt like I asked for my wife's permission to go out of the house.
Although she's not verbally admitting about her interest in me, her actions all point to it.
As we go on with talking about various things, she finally told me why she was sent to that prison.
A jealous wife and a cowardly Tribal Sovereign. The reason was actually too petty. That Sovereign even has a harem of more than ten wives so being jealous of Irja was kind of a ridiculous accusation when she's just a normal tribe member. Perhaps, there's another reason for it but she stopped delving about it anymore.
No wonder she didn't want to go back to her tribe anymore.
She also told me some things about Klement and Yatapa. Although the latter wasn't really into talking, after being together in that Dungeon for years, they already know each other's life story. Well, she didn't tell me everything she knew about them and I don't think I also need to know about it. Just the points where I am involved like their suspicion about me.
As it turns out it's not just the two but all three of them suspected my identity after tying up the series of events. Perhaps even the Warden of that Irreverent Dungeon.
However, with how long they were locked in prison, the ambition to go up in ranks already waned in them. Klement only wanted somewhere to settle into and Yatapa, like he always mumbled, wanted a quick death but he couldn't deliver it by himself and he's retaliating to those attacking him.
"Heh. That woman. She's not just trying to recruit you at this point." She remarked as she squirmed closer when she felt my arm tighten.
"I don't know. She's not particularly interested in me. That woman wanted the benefits from my skills. By the way, are you jealous?"
"Hmph. Do I still need to get jealous when I'm the one this close to you? Even if she has that kind of design… You're not interested in her."
"That's the case. By the way, I already have an answer to that request of yours." "I wanted to take you but…"
"But? Why is there still a 'but' when you said you already wanted to?"
"Irja, what do you think about the Mortal Worlds?" Instead of answering, I posed a question.
"Where did this question come from?"
"Just answer me."
Noticing the seriousness in my voice, she bit her lips before answering. "Before I got sent to the Irreverent Dungeon, I got sent in one to conquer it. The people there are weak. After dealing with their Transcendents, it's over."
"I asked what you think of one, not your experience in one."
"What's with you? I have no strong opinion about it. I treated being sent there as a duty. Our world needs to conquer and assimilate more for us to grow stronger, it's a necessity." "Ember, no, Daisuke, are you asking this because you're from a Mortal World?"
"That's right and I'm going back to it, that's why there's a 'but'. I can make you one of my Companions but I don't know if you can pass through the Portal."
Irja correctly guessing it is within my expectation, if she really wanted to come with me, I want to know what's on her mind and her opinion about someone from a Mortal World. If her interest waned because of that then… our fates are probably only up to here.
"Huh… Going back? Isn't your world already assimilated to us? What world are you going back to?" This time, Irja turned her head towards me, there's confusion in her eyes.
Ah. Right. I forgot that point.
Because of my Adaptability, I'm no different than a native or someone whose Source Energy is the Dark Energy if someone scanned me.
That's the reason why she's not surprised at knowing that I'm from a Mortal World. She thought I'm just going back to my tribe within the Dark World.
"Not really, I'm not from an assimilated world. I infiltrated this world instead. This is the real reason I have to leave. I have to stop it from being assimilated."
Telling her about this, it's proof that I want to make her my Companion like Remilia. However, unlike Remilia who's aware of my origin, this woman, how will she take this?
Will her interest really flip? Will she try to kill me?
Upon hearing my answer, her body froze. I have no mind-reading ability but she's surely thinking about every possibility at this moment.
Instead of moving away, I kept my hold on her and waited until she made up her mind.
In case that she turns on me and attacks me at this point, I will defend myself and that will be the end of my connection with her.
I know there's that choice of not telling her anything else about me and reject her request. There's a possibility of reuniting with her in the future anyway.
However, I didn't want that when I already decided to make her my Companion.
After a few minutes of silence, Irja's lips finally moved.
There's no violent reaction and instead, she put all her focus on me.
"I understand now. Why your identity is sensitive. Why you don't want to join the Dafirae tribe. I hadn't thought of that possibility. But if that's the case, the Great One Illiana is also aware of your identity of being not from this world. She did that for you. What are you to her?"
I see, so her mind reached that point, huh?
"I'm not sure what I am to her. And even if I have a guess I couldn't tell you about it. I actually expected you to attack me but this… Now I don't know what to think."
"I'm also expecting to know about your shocking identity like a love child of the Great One or something along those lines. But not this…."
Love child, huh? It's not wrong to assume that, given that the Illiana was already living for who knows how long.
"I understand. It's unacceptable, right? Well then, if you changed your mind, it's time to—"
As I was about to release her in my arms, Irja interrupted me.
"Huh? Who told you about me changing my mind? It's truly unexpected but if it's only that, it's not enough to change my mind. What do you think of my interest in you, so small that it will flip out with these revelations? Aren't I originally here to know more about your identity? Is it really about me changing my mind or it's you who don't want to take me with you?"
This woman…
Haa. I guess she's right. I'm just trying to see if she will be discouraged after knowing about it but look at her… even after telling her that kind of secret, she hasn't changed.
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