"I forgot that most Mortal Worlds have their own Power Levels. Let's see. Mortals are ranked by 1 to 5. Rank 1 is the weakest while Rank 5 is the strongest among Mortals. After that, if you surpass your own world, you'll stop being a mortal and become a Transcendent."
He put a hand on his forehead before slowly explaining the Power Level he mentioned. That's probably the universally accepted level. And maybe it was the reference used by the Invading forces, the 1-leaf to 5-leaf Dark Elves as well as 1-star to 5-star Beastmasters. Then what about after that? Do they continue to 6-star or change it to Transcendent?
Ah. Why am I worried about their Power Levels? At least. My theory of converging paths was proven by meeting this… expert?
"Are you a Transcendent?"
I couldn't help but ask. The answer is already clear though.
"You could say I'm at that level. This might be an encounter that shouldn't have happened so I can't tell you more than this. One advice. Leave this place after achieving whatever goal you set. If you encounter someone not as lenient as me, it will be a waste. Especially for you three. You have the potential to become a Transcendent and know more things. You can only have the qualification to completely explore this place if you started hearing my name."
So by his statement, there's not only him who is currently in this dimension. Did the previous expedition encounter one of them which resulted in that high casualty?
"This dimension has a restriction on who can enter, I doubt we can go back again after leaving this time."
This is why the Spirit Queen and King couldn't go in. But here he's saying that we need to be a Transcendent to completely explore this place.
"Restriction? That's only an illusion that Mortals like you wouldn't be able to break. Most probably to stop you Mortals to flock inside. Once you become a Transcendent you can then ignore that. However, be careful not to divulge the location of this dimension."
I see. It makes sense if it's like that. The Spirit Queen being unable to enter is because she couldn't break that illusion with her current strength.
"Why can't we?"
Will something happen if the location leaked out? Is there some huge secret inside this dimension? Seeing he appeared before us arriving at the very mansion, it's highly possible. He's here to protect that. If not for the line restricting him, we wouldn't be able to go past the gates or even go down here.
"If you remember everything I said and asked since I appeared before you, then you will understand."
Ugh. He kept talking in vague terms. He could just be brutally honest but no, he chose to be like this.
If I recall correctly he asked us about which world sent us in. That's it, right?
"I see. Then since you're already this lenient with us, can you give us more advice?"
I tried testing his patience since he couldn't get past that line, then I could squeeze more info from him.
"You're a clever kid. You noticed, right?"
Hearing my words, his eyebrows raised.
Yumiko was pulling on my hand as if asking me to stop. She also knew but she wanted to be cautious.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I tried playing dumb and this time, Jayna also started pulling on my arm. I am really doing something dangerous and I'm betting on the fact that he couldn't get past that line.
"Great! However, kid. It's fine to be greedy but if it's too much, who knows? It might be the end of you."
He caught on it and the tone of his voice changed. It went back to earlier where it feels like we'll be killed instantly if we ever move a muscle.
"You're right, I almost stepped over the line. We won't disturb you anymore and thank you for being lenient. May we meet again."
I bowed to him before urging everyone to turn back. Though the others were still kind of scared, seeing me and Yumiko falling back they all followed us.
"You've got guts, I give you that. Remember what I told you."
I hear the owner of the Mansion said before we got out of the vicinity of the mansion which turned into ruins once again.
Not guts but stupidity. I just endangered them. I shouldn't do that again. If he's any other existence, he would've been already enraged by my questions.
But apart from knowing some bits of knowledge beyond our current level, there's nothing noteworthy apart from his existence as well as the possible treasure or something important he was protecting.
If there's another chance. I'll go back here and explore this place thoroughly.
Going back our way, we rode the water elevator and arrived back at the suspended waterfall, only when we're out of that place did the others start panting as they release the tension they built up.
"I don't think I can continue further."
Rane suddenly said after she collected herself. Her knees were still shaking from the fear that the old man caused her. Because of how calm I am, I seemingly forgot that the others didn't have the same ability as me. They could clearly feel how fearsome he is.
"Me too."
Abe and the rebellious Spirit Beast also uttered after they calmed down. They already got their harvest through the necklace so they probably thought that it's already fine to turn back before they could truly be stepped on by someone at the same level as that old man below.
"I'm sorry. I was rash and might've endangered you. If you have already decided to turn back now, I won't stop you."
I apologized to them as it was really my fault this time.
"Like he said, if that's what you decided, we have no reason to stop you. Give this to Yse and Ezyn for me."
Yumiko also stepped in and handed them the excess storage necklaces. There's still 7 of it. Though we could actually take it for ourselves she's also thinking that it will be helpful for them if they found something useful there. I'm sure that the Spirit Queen will also only take one for each of them and store the remaining to wait for our return.
"Thank you. We'll certainly deliver it to the Queen."
Rane took the necklaces and stored it inside her own storage necklace.
"What about you Jagu?"
Abe couldn't help but ask when he didn't say anything.
"I will continue this exploration with them, you don't have to worry."
Jagu answered.
In the end, from 9 we're now down to 6. After that encounter below, we might've gotten some benefits but we were faced with something we could never hope to prevail if something went wrong.
"I'm kind of rash, so Yumiko. Use your strength to stop me if I did it again."
"No. You probably accounted that he won't do anything, and he didn't. He might even have a good impression of you."
"I think so too but if you really go over the line, we're here with you."
Jayna commented as well.
"I couldn't accept that he only picked the three of you as someone with the potential to become a Transcendent so I chose to stay. I might be weaker and not as opinionated but you can count on me."
Jagu also voiced out his frustration.
That's right, among every one of us, he only focused on me, Yumiko and Jayna. The others were only mentioned as Rank 3. Maybe Rei and Ren were also feeling the same as him however, they're already used to not voicing it out.
Since it's almost half a day since we entered this dimension, Yumiko proposed to camp and pass the first day at this relatively safe area for now.
No one objected because they're also eager to use the stones we got to cultivate here, to increase their strength.
There's no need for a campfire. It's not cold anyway. By making a schedule to have 2 to be on watch while the other four will rest or cultivate, we started resting at the side of that suspended waterfall.
With Yumiko and I being the first watchers, we talked about the experience we just had from that mansion ruins.
"What should we do for tomorrow?"
I asked Yumiko. This experience was also new for her and as the leader, she probably felt like she was lacking.
"Shouldn't you be our leader now, Daisuke? You have a better grasp of our situation than me."
See. She's trying to admonish herself.
Before I could answer her, she continued talking with helplessness in her voice.
"Earlier, I was like them. Scared out of my wits. Even with my current strength, there's no way I can beat him. I would be as shaken as them if you didn't reach for my hand."
"But you stayed firm. With you in front of us, we felt safe."
Even if I'm the one giving advice and the one who talked to that old man, she's the pillar everyone was relying on.
"Uhm. You know, during my time in the World of Spirits, I'm used to being relied upon. However, earlier, when facing that scary old man, a thought came upon my head. I too also want someone to rely on."
Yumiko turned her face towards me and reached for my hand, clasping it in her small palm before continuing.
"And when I'm shaking in fear, you held my hand like this and shouldered what should have been my role. At that time, I thought, 'I already have someone I can rely on.'."
"I'm your support, Yumiko, I did what I had to do but look at what happened. My judgement wasn't always right. I almost endangered everyone down there."
Saying this again, I became something like a broken plate. I want to own up to that mistake.
"But nothing happened right? You judged that he couldn't do anything that's why you became that bold and you stopped at his first warning. You have a clearer head than me."
Yumiko just shook her head at what I said. For her, she saw my recklessness differently.
"Even so, it might not always result in that. I'm not perfect, I'm mostly guessing all the time and if I guess wrong, it will really be fatal for everyone."
"Then Daisuke, don't just stand behind me. Stand beside me. With you at my side, we'll be stronger together. Let's be equals, not just a Hero and her Support."
With Yumiko still holding my hand in her palm, she said all of these confidently. She believed that it would happen. Just like Yuko…
"You sounded like Yuko just now. She kept saying that to me. That we're equal even if I had just started to tread this path of being the Heroes' only Support."
With only that image she saw during the awakening of her Foresight, she started to believe in me.
"I see, it's not me who first saw this point. Yuko really is amazing. Among everyone in our class, she's the one I most admired. I couldn't really get it at first when I saw you two being that affectionate to each other. But now that I'm having this experience with you, I suppose that was just her being her true self."
Yumiko wryly smiled upon knowing that Yuko already treated me like that even when I still don't have my current strength.
"Yes. She's amazing and so are you. I'm always in awe of your plans and the way you did things, you know?"
Even without my help, she can surely pull off a successful siege in that Fortress.
"Ugh. You really have your way with words... No wonder even that innocent girl got taken in by you."
"Err… I didn't do anything."
I turned my head away to escape her teasing gaze. And my reaction made her giggle as if she enjoyed it.
After a while, Yumiko once again asked me.
"So, Daisuke. Can you lead with me?"
"If that will put you at ease, then alright."
With everything that she said if I still reject then that's just pathetic. Correcting each other's mistake in judgement, will that really make us stronger? We'll see.
"Thank you!"
After saying that, just like last night, Yumiko closed in the distance between us and placed her lips over mine. With her arms slipping itself around my neck, this kiss will not be just a quick one.
And with her being this proactive, I responded to her this time and held her in my arms.
Soon enough, we separated from each other with Yumiko as red as an apple. I waited for her to calm down before we discussed what would be our new goal after what we learned. We will not be able to complete this exploration so we changed it to just reach the last landmark to see if there are still any survivors from the previous expedition.
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