Chapter 329: Are You Taken? (1/2)

The Great One Zaraya. Among all the Great Ones, he was said to be the leader and the strongest of them all, according to their history at least. He led the other two Great Ones to travel the unknown space to locate a higher world and managed to come back 100 years later with possible knowledge from it. And he's possibly the reason why the Dark World converted from being a Transcendent Created World to an Invasive World.

His current influence at the present Dark World was the highest among the six Great Ones. Having seven tribes under him, any Dimensional Space that appeared in his territory was all dealt with easily. Thus, it led them to grow prosperous throughout the years that passed.

According to Alwyn, most of the Mortal Ranks and Rank 1 and 2 Transcendents that were being sent to the Mortal Worlds opened by Zaraya and company 3 years ago came from the three Great One's tribes and subordinate tribes which consisted of those previous Mortal World denizens who passed the trial they set by conquering another Mortal World years ago.

This time, Remilia, someone undercover that was answering to Worldy and Illiana, was sent here by Zaraya himself to assist the Dafirae Tribe.

That possibly means, although it was known that Remilia captured a Transcendent from a Mortal World which is me, it's not a big enough of an issue for Zaraya. Or he has just other designs. Either way, my attempt to guess about her current circumstances at this point is useless. I don't even know the politics of this world apart from what has been told me by Alwyn. And that's because I am still too weak to understand the hidden machinations going on here or even take part in it.

I would just be dipping myself in an ocean called Dark World without knowing how to properly swim and dive to discover what's hidden beneath the surface.

”Ember, you're back!” Udann's elated voice pulled me out of my overthinking habit. He's coming from the interior of this fortress that I am not allowed to set foot into, being one of the freed Rank 1 Transcendents.

Well, I guess they already noticed that he broke through to Rank 2 Transcendent. Instead of lumping him with us again, they probably offered him another task.

If that's the case, using him to hunt for more statues will not be viable anymore unless he rejected them.

”Yes. I just came back. What's happening?”

”Ah. The tribe noticed that I'm already a Rank 2 Transcendent and asked me if I wanted to take up the same task they gave to the other freed Rank 2 Transcendents.”

”I see. Did you take it?”

”You're my benefactor. I can't just abandon you after making use of you, right? I might be like this but I'm not a selfish person. We still have our agreement.”

No. I'm the one who's making use of you. Moreover, our agreement was just about me supporting him for us to benefit together and to let him reach Rank 2. At this point, he could already scrap that agreement and go on his own but he surprisingly had this side.

Well then, let me use you to my heart's content. This place will not close until two months later anyway. And I will only stay here for six days.

Besides, Remilia will not approach me if she finds me with someone else. It's not that I'm running away from her, in fact, I want to know her real stance in all of this but something tells me that it would be good to avoid her for now. At least that's what my intuition told me.

”Thank you. Let's go then. I found an untouched castle ruin not far from here. Before the tribe think of cleaning them up, let's do it ourselves.”

It's the place where Alwyn brought me earlier. Although it seemed like she teleported me, that place was not that far from where I was earlier.

There were a lot of ruins in here but some were just too small that they don't contain any statues and given how wide this Dimensional Space is, it will be hard to find a lot of them. Moreover, there's the possible competition from the Dafirae Tribe and the other freed Transcendents.

”Alright. Lead the way.”

Before leaving the fortress, I tried to look back in the direction where Remilia disappeared to see if she's about to leave.

And as if destiny was really playing with me, it was in that exact moment that she stepped out. With our gazes meeting, her lips curved up into a playful smile. The same one she showed me before capturing me.

”I told you we're going to talk. Are you running away from me? Don't you know that's futile?” Without opening her mouth, her sweet-sounding voice filled my ears.

Being a Monarch, her mental transmission didn't have any fluctuation that could be detected or everyone here was just too weak to detect it.

Illiana's Decree was worldwide. Since Remilia was the one who put me in that Irreverent Dungeon, she knew I got released. Just that, she didn't expect to also meet me here.

”What's wrong? Why did you stop?” Udann asked.

”I forgot I have something to take care of. Let's meet an hour later.”

After saying that, I dashed towards the door and out of the fortress. Even without looking back, I believe that woman will easily catch up to me.

Rather than let Udann see my connection to this seemingly unattainable Monarch, it's better to clear the air between us. It's for the sake of my peaceful farming of stones and energy from the statues.