"Can you explain that?" Erin stepped forward and pointed at my neck.
Clear bite marks of Irja could still be seen there. Although it was easy to remove it, I opted to let it fade naturally. Well, if they pulled down her collar, they would also see the hickeys I made on it.
Because Erin pointed it out, as the culprit, a blush of shame emerged from Irja's face. She lowered her head as if she's looking for someplace to hide her face into.
Even if I didn't answer that question, they would be able to guess it easily so my eyes eventually stopped at Irja, making the woman further hide her embarrassment.
Upon seeing that, while making an aggrieved expression, Erin pulled me to somewhere the others wouldn't see before clasping her hands to continuously hit my chest.
"You monster, when will it be my turn? When will you show me that I mean the same to you? You saying it through your Incarnation weren't enough." Erin's eyes became clouded with tears that were about to gush out from it.
To answer her, my arms just moved on their own and wrapped around her small and lean body. When she felt it, Erin's arms stopped flailing at my chest and switched to grabbing onto my clothes tightly. She then lifted her head and pulled my head down, locking our lips together into a passionate kiss.
I understand. Because I kept trying to push her away back then, she held it in for this long. Now she has this chance to vent it out on me and she's doing it not minding what the other girls will think.
I know everyone will feel more or less like her but now that I'm here, I will make sure to focus on them without treating one as the most special.
"I knew it. Kissing the real you is a lot better." Satisfied from it, Erin's lips curved up.
"That's obvious. Alright. Let's go back to them."
There will be more chances in the future, this is enough for now.
"Wait. One more."
However, before I could lead her back to that room, Erin grabbed my arm and pulled on it while making a pleading expression.
Helpless at this adorable display of this Barbarian girl, I granted her request. By then, the kiss we had next lasted for a longer time. Her eyes that were about to burst into tears earlier were now smiling and even though she kept calling me 'monster', that already became her endearment to me.
Well, with this, the heavy feeling she kept inside her was already vented out.
As the mood between us relaxed, She immediately went on about bringing me before Old Man Reol to formally ask for her hand. He's already aware of our relationship. It's just that this Barbarian girl has that much respect for her grandfather who raised her after her parents died that she wanted to let me give the same respect to him.
And by the time we finished, we're back in the room. Spending the time catching up with them, the clean-up of the enemies outside ended and Ophelia returned for a report.
Reinys, Caila and Noelle also showed up together making the room become filled with women, except me. I greeted the four newcomers and they all have varying reactions.
Ophelia is still as respectful and full of gratitude as before. She jumped up a whole rank within a few months and she became the most trusted attendant of Erin and Avelin when it comes to managing the division. The two were still lacking in experience after all.
Caila still appeared to be the cool and strong lady who's like the elder sister of their group. Also, she now had the air of a strong leader. If she leads an army, they will be dominating the battlefield.
Noelle is as shy as before but she's now more holistic and purer than ever. It's like there's a Halo hovering above her head and it will be a great sin to taint her.
And lastly, Reinys finally dropped her haughty attitude in front of me as she uttered a word of thanks for the words of encouragement I told her through Yuko.
Well, she kept her head low and refused to make eye contact with me. The death of her Corrupted brother probably changed her for the better.
Let's forget that glare she had on me earlier.
As I asked the four to also be present, we started moving on serious business.
"We killed five Transcendents at their Portal and now, another four will be added. I checked the list of Transcendents they sent in here and there's a total of more than 30. Although some already died, there's possibly still more than 10 of them in this world especially that descendant of the Great One." I started with the information I brought back. "By the way, where's Raiden?"
"He's holding the fort at the eastern side. The Corrupted Barbarians at the Midsummer Coast have been powered up a lot. Most of them became Saint and King Realm overnight and even the Corrupted Leader became as strong as an Emperor Realm. The descendant of the Great One is there and Raiden is having a standoff against him and his subordinates." Yuko answered.
Although that sounded unimpressive given our strengths right now, the one thing to note was that there was hardly any King Realm months ago. Only a large tribe would have one or two. And there's never an Emperor Realm.
Although fast progress could be seen in the members of the Whiteshade Division that the Mortal Realms became Augmented Realms or Augmented Realms reaching Saint Realms, most only have slightly faster progress than before.
Even the Corrupteds didn't have that much of a leap if they were strengthened through the burning of their lifeforce to accommodate the Dark Energy in their body.
This means that descendant has a skill that can increase someone's prowess.
Another support-focused, huh? But if that's only the extent of his skill then… it's nothing against those who will be enhanced by the Domain of Valor.
In fact, I'm more impressed by Raiden. He's having a standoff against a Rank 2 Transcendent and his subordinate Transcendents? Is he as strong as that descendant now?
"That descendant. Is Raiden making trouble for him?"
"From their previous clash, Raiden managed to cut down two Transcendents when he used his Unique Ability."
Ah. I see. I understand now.
That Temporal Acceleration of Raiden is fear-inducing to those seeing it for the first time. It made that descendant conscious so instead of having another match with him, he focused on the Mortal Ranks' battles.
"Great for him. What about here? Why did you let them siege you?"
"That…" Yuko was stumped.
"Uhm…" Erin bit her lips.
"We're occupied by your arrival that we thought of not moving for a while. That way we would be in one place once you arrive. It's also a way to train the others…" And finally, Zerina was the one who answered in their place.
However, after analyzing that answer… I arrived at a conclusion.
"You girls… That last sentence is an excuse, right?"
The three finally had a blush of shame on their faces. Irja watched in amusement at their display. Ophelia, Caila, Reinys and Noelle were all restraining themselves to laugh.
And Avelin, being the one innocently looking at everyone's current expression, stood up and clung to my arm while making an adorable expression. "You'll forgive us, right?"
"What else will I do?" I ruffled her hair which made the girl shrink down while making a very satisfied expression. "You all don't have to make that face. It's fine. Besides, I saw an amazing display of the division's might."
Upon hearing that, the three got reenergized while the four, especially Ophelia and Noelle felt relieved and honored. Yuko scratched her cheeks and was about to say something but I stopped her. Instead, I stretched my arm, asking her to come over to my side.
With Avelin on my right side, Yuko stood up and settled on my left. I saw how Zerina bit her lips and how Erin gritted her teeth. Irja, on the other hand, because she's not completely used to this atmosphere yet, awkwardly smiled on her seat.
Since it concerned me, I would feel bad if I reprimanded them. In fact, the way they waited for me like this put a smile on my lips.
But putting all of that behind me, I shamelessly continued our talk about the current affairs of this world while the two girls made themselves comfortable on my side.
-
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The meeting lasted until the sky turned dark. By then, Ophelia and Yuko's Party Members left the room leaving me and my Companions alone once more.
Around this time, even the scattered Dark World Transcendents would have already become aware of the closing of the Portal and the annihilation of their forces there. Add to that, the failed siege and the disappearance of the four Transcendents leading it.
If they become aware of their current disadvantageous situation, they will be running towards that descendant's side and stick close to him in hopes that he will be able to get them out of this world.
"What do you plan to do, Dai-kun?" Yuko raised a question.
"Well, there's one thing. Everyone's defending all this time. It's now time for us to switch to offense. Before the two months reminded by your father, I will lead all of you starting here to launch an assault on the Dark World denizens in the worlds of everyone connected to my System." I answered which all five of them gulped down. "Before all that, here… Make use of these stones to see if you can complete your Mortal Pathways."
As soon as I finished, two mountains of energy stones appeared in the middle of the room.
When they felt the gush of Energy exuding from the stones, everyone except Irja had their eyes shine with excitement.
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