Chapter 228: News ; Reappearance ; Platform Visit (1/2)
”Misa, there have been no issues with your awakened ability, has there?” I question before sipping on a cup of coffee.
”No,” she responds, ”As long as you're away, that sort of thing won't happen.”
”You're wrong,” I say with my eyes shut, ”From the looks of it, your ability depends on your emotional state. In other words, as long as something elicits some kind of major reaction from you, your ability will activate.
”Well, whatever. I am sure that as long as you practice properly, your control over it will improve.”
Done with this conversation, I don't wait for Misa's response as I directly make my way over to the living room.
”But I need to see him now!” an urgent voice reaches my ears while I'm on my way.
Ravel? Has something happened in the underworld? Are they finally going to make their move?
Arriving in the living room, I set my sight upon Ravel who is anxiously gazing at Nao and Sora. From the looks of it, Ravel just returned and immediately demanded to see me.
Sensing my arrival, Ravel directly looks at me and says, ”Your Holiness, there is a problem.”
”What's wrong?” I say while casually walking over to the sofa that Jeanne is silent sitting on and take a seat beside her.
Sora and Nao both squint their eyes, but I don't heed it much attention as I peer into Ravel's eyes inquisitively.
”The devils aren't the only ones planning to wage war against Your Holiness!” she proclaims.
”Oh?” I say, amused, ”What other factions are going to participate apart from them?”
”Some gods and an unknown faction,” she responds with a solemn expression, ”I don't know the specifics, but I've heard that an unidentified faction is wreaking havoc in the underworld. Rumors are circulating that they are looking for Your Holiness. Aside from that, there are a few gods are planning to side with the devils against Your Holiness. At least, that's what I've heard.”
How interesting. On one hand, there are the devils. I wonder if Zeoticus and Sirzechs would dare face me. There is also that eccentric lady, Serafall, was it?
On the other hand, there are a few unnamed gods and a hidden faction. They sure are doing me a great favor by deciding to battle me.
It's about time that I crushed a few more divine beings as I did with Loki.
Now that I think about it, there were a bunch of peculiar people near the academy earlier today. Could they be the 'hidden faction' that she's speaking of?
At this moment, a gateway forms at the center of the living room, interrupting my thoughts.
The next thing I know, a silver-haired lady exits from the gateway and straightaway draws near me before kneeling.
”I'm terribly sorry, Your Grace.”
Everyone else is stunned as they gawk at the beautiful kneeling Valkyrie.
”Rossweisse,” I say, ”Where have you been?”
She had been here the day before I left for Sorcerers' Lair. But it seems like she left sometime after that.
”Your Grace, there was some urgent business back in Asgard, so I had to leave without informing Your Grace.”
”Urgent business, you say?”
”Yes,” she responds, ”As I only went to deal with the smaller matters, I was unable to find out what was going on.”
Minor matters, huh? I reckon that Odin has made sure that she wouldn't know what is going on now that she is serving me.
If I am to consider Ravel's earlier words, there is the possibility of some Asgardian gods being a part of this upcoming war.
This might be a little problematic. At least, I have a lot of forces at my disposal at the moment. Speaking of which, I wonder if Gula and Ophis will take part in the battle.
”Alright,” I say in a solemn tone, ”You're forgiven.”
Rossweisse's stiff expression softens as a smile forms on her lips.
Taking in a deep breath, I get up from the sofa and say, ”I will be heading over to Sorcerer's Lair for a short while.”
”I won't be freezing time here.”
After all, I have yet to see if the Core Gate works as I expect it to.
As a response to my words, everyone present, apart from Rossweisse, Jeanne, and Ravel, nods their head. That's simply because the three don't know what I'm talking about.
Hold on... Would it be possible for me to bring Jeanne along? Perhaps, summon her there through Norse Magic?
Deciding to test the notion out while there, I lay my head down against the sofa before intoning an invocation as the next moment, my surrounding changes to a limitless white space.
I immediately spot the Core Gate for Sorcerers' Lair.
Before approaching it, I take a moment to think about what just happened.
Unlike last time, my body should be in a comatose state back in the Rift. From the looks of it, there is more than one way to exit the Rift.
I reckon that the method I used to leave for Sorcerers' Lair doesn't grant me the 'immortality' mentioned by Infi in the past.
I'll have to look into this matter in the future...
Not willing to waste any more time, I directly fly through the Core Gate.
The next moment, I find myself in the Lost Continent as a strange sensation appears in my guts.
Checking myself out through Clairvoyance, I notice that my appearance has remained the way it was back in the Rift.
Letting out a small sigh, I proceed to create a gateway connected to my castle in Albion and pass through it.
---
”Surprise,” I say upon barging into the room that was used by Tiffania.
Startled, the previously depressed Matilda jumps off the bed and suspiciously glares at me before asking, ”Who are you?”
”Huh? What are you asking? My appearance shouldn't have changed that much.”
After a moment of confusion, realization hits Matilda as she relaxes before she rushes toward me and throws a punch at my face.
Easily canceling the vectors of her punch, I ask, ”What do you think you're doing?”