Chapter 368: Arriving at the World of Barbarian (1/2)
[You left the Dark World]
[World Bonus has been removed]
[You entered a Dimensional Passageway]
[Destination: World of Barbarian(Mortal World)]
As soon as Alwyn judged it enough for us to enter the Portal, she pushed us into it using the leftover Dark Energy from the piles of stones she used.
Although I tried to look back at her, once passed through that glaring hole in space, the scenery that could be seen from it was already frozen. Alwyn was still in that pose where her arm was in front of her.
She said she will handle the clean-up… I guess I can only trust her on that and hope that nothing goes amiss. When I have the time later, I'll check up on her.
For now, I have to focus on this.
Looking at the hand I'm grasping and the girl next to me, I pulled her closer to me and put her in my embrace. Although holding hands is already enough for us to not lose each other in this seemingly stable yet unstable Dimensional Passageway, I'll be more at ease if I do this.
”You're becoming too touchy since I became your Companion,” Irja remarked despite snuggling closer to me herself when she felt my arm closing on her.
”Well, that's the difference. I will still think of a lot of things if you're not my Companion but now that you are, doing this is just my show of how I don't want to lose you.”
That's the truth. Now that she's one of them, she's now one of the most important to me. Like with the other girls, she'll be with them on top of my priority list.
”So did you think it through when you kissed me twice back there?”
”Technically, that's not a kiss but me administering medicine to you.”
With a resigned expression, Irja sighed. ”Don't you have any shame?”
”I do, of course. But hearing you mention that again, I thought of teasing you.”
”… Somehow, I think I like Ember who's shrouded in mystery better than the shameless guy holding me right now.”
”Well, isn't that your fault for being too curious? Ember is just me trying to be low-key. Don't tell me you don't like this.”
”This and that are different!” Irja raised her voice as a hint of red shades her face.
Seeing that she'll probably be truly angry if I continued, I stopped at this point where I managed to see her involuntarily blushing once more and just smiled at her in response.
Upon seeing me shutting my mouth, Irja pouted and let out a disgruntled hum. Nonetheless, she stayed close and seemingly enjoyed every moment we're sharing here.
With her here with me, I guess this seemingly long but short trip to the World of Barbarian will be more worthwhile.
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After an indeterminable time inside the Dimensional Passageway, the light of the exit Portal finally came into our view. Nudging the napping Irja in my arms, her eyelashes fluttered as her eyes slowly opened. Greeting me with a smile on her lips as my face was the first thing she saw, I dropped my lips on hers before pointing at the front.
”… You know you should've told me about that first.”
”Who doesn't want a good morning kiss?”
”As if there's that concept here! And not everyone likes that!”
”But you do. Well, don't mind the small details. Let's prepare.” Kissing her once more, I supported her up and put her pointed hat back on her head.
”I swear. You've been taking advantage of me ever since that time…”
”Not really, I'm just showing my undisguised affection to you and you're being honest by accepting all of it without any rejection on your part. If you have the slightest sign of rejection, I will not do it, you know?”
Mulling over my words for a while, Irja then let out another sigh. Well, although her words sounded like I wronged her, her actions say otherwise. This girl just couldn't be vocally honest about what she's really feeling.
”I will not win against you, will I?”
”Not really, you already won a lot of times, you were just unaware or you didn't take that as a win. Anyway... I'll take the front.”
Unsheathing the Willful Sword, I stepped forward and held it in my right hand while my left kept its hold on one of her hands.
Even though we're close, who knows what will happen if I let go of her? It's better to be sure than be sorry later.
Irja hummed her agreement as her hand clasped tightly on mine.
We're going to attack those unaware or perhaps they're aware that someone's going to descend due to the surge of Energy that was probably already dispersing from the other end of the Portal.
Just like what we felt whenever someone descends, the stronger surge of Energy which indicated the descent of Rank 2 was probably the leftover force of the Monarch's Energy.
And likewise, they will also feel it with our descent this time