Chapter 362: Discouraging Her (1/2)

Time passed and there were only a few hours left before I completed the 7 days inside this Dimensional Space.

Aside from the other Rank 2 Transcendents reemerging from the other restricted space where they fought against the enemy world, nothing major happened.

Some also failed to come back which resulted in some permanent part of the Dimensional Bridge suddenly appearing within the Dark World's occupied territory.

Although I was away at the frontlines or any other camp of the Dafirae Tribe, I was made aware of what's happening there thanks to Monady.

I declined her invitation to recruit me into their tribe but she still continued contacting me, telling me news about everything.

Now that I'm about to leave, she's requesting to see me before I go.

”Did Monady contact you again?” Irja, noticing my sudden silence asked.

With her sitting close to me or rather, sitting in front of me with my arms circled around her navel, there's no way she wouldn't notice it.

Our situation right now could be said to be closer and clearer than before. However, because I put off answering her request of taking her with me, there's no definite label as to what we are now.

I followed through with what I planned. In exchange for answering her question, I asked for her cooperation in clearing out more ruins. With the two of us, clearing small ruins filled with regular-sized and giant statues was easily done.

Initially, I was stealing every statue kills. Irja wasn't saying anything about it and just continued to stick with me, waiting for my answer while asking more questions.

The ruins weren't many and we avoided venturing deeper into larger ruins with manors or castles. There's no point risking our lives again. Because of that, most of our time was spent resting somewhere, going on about our Absorption Session and talking about each other. And that led to our current situation.

Without the need to sleep, the passing of the day was longer. Well, we chose not to sleep since there's not enough time left. I'm adamant about my plan to leave after all and she's aware of that.

Even when fighting or resting, our conversation never ends and being interrupted by Monady's message wasn't new anymore.

”Aside from Monady, there's no one who has a reason to contact me. So yes, it's her.” I answered as I slowly tightened my arms, pulling her closer to me.

Well, there's also Alwyn but she didn't have my personal communication crystal so unless I contact her, she wouldn't be able to contact me. The same goes for Remilia.

At this point, Irja was already aware of my Companions. I told her about them to try and see if it would put her off.

Contrary to my expectation… having multiple wives or husbands or both is an accepted practice in this world. But there's a silent rule that the center of that relationship should be stronger than anyone else.

Because we're stuck like glue to each other whenever we're not cleaning a ruin, I had to ask her for a time when I slipped out to contact my Companions.

Somehow, that felt like I asked for my wife's permission to go out of the house.

Although she's not verbally admitting about her interest in me, her actions all point to it.

As we go on with talking about various things, she finally told me why she was sent to that prison.

A jealous wife and a cowardly Tribal Sovereign. The reason was actually too petty. That Sovereign even has a harem of more than ten wives so being jealous of Irja was kind of a ridiculous accusation when she's just a normal tribe member. Perhaps, there's another reason for it but she stopped delving about it anymore.

No wonder she didn't want to go back to her tribe anymore.

She also told me some things about Klement and Yatapa. Although the latter wasn't really into talking, after being together in that Dungeon for years, they already know each other's life story. Well, she didn't tell me everything she knew about them and I don't think I also need to know about it. Just the points where I am involved like their suspicion about me.

As it turns out it's not just the two but all three of them suspected my identity after tying up the series of events. Perhaps even the Warden of that Irreverent Dungeon.

However, with how long they were locked in prison, the ambition to go up in ranks already waned in them. Klement only wanted somewhere to settle into and Yatapa, like he always mumbled, wanted a quick death but he couldn't deliver it by himself and he's retaliating to those attacking him.

”Heh. That woman. She's not just trying to recruit you at this point.” She remarked as she squirmed closer when she felt my arm tighten.

”I don't know. She's not particularly interested in me. That woman wanted the benefits from my skills. By the way, are you jealous?”

”Hmph. Do I still need to get jealous when I'm the one this close to you? Even if she has that kind of design… You're not interested in her.”

”That's the case. By the way, I already have an answer to that request of yours.” ”I wanted to take you but…”

”But? Why is there still a 'but' when you said you already wanted to?”