As soon as we returned to the Free City, Nysia and the other girls from this world started to busy themselves for our departure.
Nysia would be passing everything to Lexie. Although Lexie still hadn't given her answer about what I asked of her, the League being passed to her hands was already long set by us ever since I decided to bring Nysia with me.
Leianne didn't really have an obligation to the Empire but because of her ambition for this world, she wanted to make sure that the Empire wouldn't go down the same path as her father did.
Elise would be leaving both the Order of the Light's Cradle and Eldur. She didn't have any heir to put into position or if there's a trusted subordinate, she could only pick Amry. Like Leianne, she didn't want to give the power back to those related to Julian.
Lunaria told me that her mother would stay behind for the Confederacy. She will dismantle the various small states comprising it to unify it as one.
The three consulted me about it and together with Nysia, we told them that the United Alliance has to stay in effect.
To make sure that there wouldn't be any new conflict after we leave this world, the United Alliance will still be headed by the Primeval Aegis League. There's a definite chance for us to go back to this world after all. There's Leianne's Ambition and Dannae's mother.
Speaking of Dannae's mother, although she woke up from her comatose state through the help of Noelle's awakened ability, she still needed to undergo rehabilitation before she could stand up and walk about in her peak condition.
She's a bonafide Legend-rank Pilot. Her regeneration was only below that of a Transcendent. Furthermore, the field of medicine in this world also utilized Meta Energy. She only needed a week for her to could go back to her previous peak condition.
After the conclusion of Operation Moonfall, Dannae brought me to meet her mother. We stayed half a day there with Dannae telling her mother the experiences she had over the years, excluding the fact that she was being discriminated against.
However, even if Dannae refrained from telling her about it, when we're about to leave the room, her mother used her minuscule Meta Energy she gathered to send a mental message, thanking me for bringing Dannae out of that place and making her my Companion.
Knowing that Dannae found someone that could accept how different she is filled her heart with comfort.
As it turns out, although she was diagnosed as comatose, there were times when she was aware of what's happening around her. And every time Dannae would come to her room to vent her feelings whenever she was being bullied, she was blaming herself for falling ill and not being there to watch over her daughter.
About Dannae's father, Dianne confirmed that it was Krond. The reason why he left them was because of his Transcendence. He went back to their Mothership and did his Transcendent Trials near their world.
As to the reason why he didn't look for them again after becoming a Transcendent, Dannae would ask him about that.
At the moment, she's on her way to the Anzeans' Settlement to confront him. Although I asked her if she wanted me to come with her, the girl wanted to confront her father alone.
Well, he might get intimidated by me. Let the father and daughter settle their differences. Knowing Dannae, I would be able to hear about it from her later.
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While waiting until the girls who needed to wrap up and prepare for departing this world finished, I used the time to visit the three Heroes and hear their thoughts.
The couple wished to come with us but knowing that I would be taking Nysia and the other four, they chose to stay behind and help with restoring the order in this world while waiting for their Portal back to Earth.
In this way, the two would also have quality time for themselves.
Because of the circumstances from before, I hadn't had time to catch up with them but when I asked who confessed first. Kazeyoshi was about to answer when his mouth closed shut after a literal searing gaze from Amry.
If a word left his mouth, that guy would've gone up in flames.
Well, that answered my question. Amry confessed first. At least my Irja was gentle now. Although she would still act like a tsundere when we're not alone, her attitude would 180 and act even more spoiled than Nysia or Avelin once we got our time alone.
As for Matthew, he silently looked at the idiot couple. Without any words coming out of his mouth, I understood what he meant. He was babysitting the two.
I left behind Energy Stones to the three while telling them my hope for them to complete their Mortal Pathways.
Besides, even if they used up those stones, there were a lot of resources we looted from the moon. I only took half of it while leaving the rest for this world. Lyra and Liam would be able to benefit from that as well as the Researchers.
With three types of technology at their hand, I'm hoping for them to make a breakthrough in manufacturing a Metagen.
Even if we looted a lot of their Darkgens from Operation Moonfall, it couldn't be easily used by Mortal Ranks because of how their invented engine needed the Dark Energy to circulate inside ones' body if they wanted to augment their skills or abilities to it. A Mortal Rank would be corrupted if one tried to do so.
Moreover, when the time comes, I want to bring the Metagen or Powergen technology to Earth. Although there's a high chance that the Earth already had something like that, it's better to have this kind of backup.
Well, what I'm truly aiming for is to bring all Transcendent Allies we will encounter to Earth to repel whichever world would encroach upon it. Even if we're already overpowered in the scope of a Mortal World, it wouldn't hurt to have an extra ally especially if the coming enemies are yet to be known to us.
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Once I'm done visiting those semi-important people of this world, I made my way back to the top of the Nysia Tower to reunite with my Companions.
"D-daisuke."
As soon as I entered the wide room where Nysia and the others should be waiting, Lexie's stuttering voice was what welcomed me.
She's standing straight but her knees were shivering, indicating her nervousness or anxiousness.
Behind her, Nysia and the other girls that were occupying our wide sofa bed were observing with interesting expressions on their faces.
This isn't new. Why do they look like they're watching a spectacle? These girls are too bored, I see.
Lexie is about to give her answer about that offer. Judging from how she's acting anxiously like this, it's too obvious what she picked.
"I understand. You've decided, Lexie."
The first time I saw her was when she was called out by the receptionist to the ground floor of the Nysia Tower. Back then, this tall glasses lady still looked imposing. She's already a Legend-rank Pilot back then and still at the same level as the three Heroes.
However, after the events where the influence and reach of the Order of the Dark Host were revealed, she started to fade into the background.
Not really into the background but she started to get left behind. It started with me followed by the three Heroes and now, her fellow Legend-rank peers; Leianne, Elise and Lunaria. Hell, even Dannae who she was training before already reached Transcendence before her.
Perhaps that's what finally tipped the balance for her to fall into that choice.
"Y-yes. I accept. I will become your Companion." Lexie stuttered once more while she's trying to straighten her back to stop herself from shaking.
I guess this is the first time I'm seeing her acting like this. She's always that trusted subordinate who would do anything for the League. True, there were times where she would get flustered but that was when Nysia or I would say or do something she didn't expect.
Even when on the battlefield, she's level-headed that a greater number of the members of Aegis Battalion were looking up to her.
Anyway, let's calm her down first.
I stepped forward and put my hand on her shoulder. As soon as she felt it, Lexie flinched before her eyes focused on me. "Relax. You don't need to be so tense."
"But…"
"No buts… Where's that confident and diligent Lexie I am already used to seeing on Nysia's side?"
"She got burned from overthinking! This is something that will change my life, Daisuke…"
"Overthinking? That's my expertise, you know? Anyway, you're right, that's why I asked you to think about it carefully."
"And I did… That was the answer I arrived at. Becoming your Companion."
"Are you sure? There's no backing out with this, Lexie."
"Yes. I understand… For me to arrive at this answer, I can only think that this is predestined. Whether or not you will start seeing me like how you see Nysia, it's entirely up to you."
"Predestined? That's new. Perhaps it is and perhaps it's not. But one thing that I can be sure of is… I will start caring for you the same way how I care for all of them. If you're fine with that then… take my hand."
As I held my hand out in front of her, Lexie drew in a deep breath. She looked back at Nysia first as if confirming with her which the latter answered with a nod.
Afterward, Lexie shook her head as if she's trying to clear her thoughts.
A few moments later, ignoring her somewhat disheveled appearance, Lexie stretched her arms and grabbed my hand, "I'm totally fine with that! Don't expect me to come looking for you though."
"Sure."
Because it's me who will possibly look for you…
I refrained from saying that. It's better this way than to confuse her at this moment.
If destiny was as powerful as how Yse explained, for these women to be easily tied with me through these simple agreements… I could only be convinced for now that everything was predestined.
They're all bound to be my Companions. I will care for them the same way I cared for the women I clearly love. Whether the same kind of feeling will develop or not, that will be answered in the future. For now, they're among my Companions but not my lovers.
As soon as our hands clasped, the familiar notification rang out followed by the surge of Energy which instantly lifted the Legend-rank Pilot to the threshold.
We will leave her here but like with Ophelia, I'm sure I will not be able to restrain myself from checking up on her. That's baffling but that's just how it is. I need to completely understand this concept of destiny before everything becomes clear.
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