...
In the amidst of the peacefulness of the forest, there were two familiar faces that were scouting the area meticulously
"..."
"..."
...As the other person scans the environment, the other looks for other people
"...Got any leads?"
"No, it still is the way it is when we went through this pce before"
"Just what is going on here...?"
The other woman said, as she scratches her head for answers
"What about on your end, Aeris?"
"Same here, my detection skill isn't locating anyone nearby"
"Strange...I thought it can bypass illusions and such?"
"It does! Yet I don't know why it doesn't this time!"
"Does that mean...no one really came here?"
"Huh?! That's impossible!"
Although there was some uncertainty, they knew who the st set of adventurers that accepted the mission
"But where else could they've been? We've been going around this hell of a forest for hours!"
"That's why we're here damnit!"
Casa shut herself after Aeris' statement
"I didn't think they would fail, but I didn't think they would also take this long"
"Who knows if they even survived?"
"..."
The thought of a Heavenly Beast being present struck on Aeris' mind once again
"That can't be...Hikari probably just said that out of awareness, but there's no way something like that would be in this pce!"
"The world is a vast pce you know"
" 'Vast' shouldn't be something you'd be saying in this part of the forest where it constantly changes!"
"What did you expect? The illusion spell is more stronger than before that we can't even make an accurate map of the vicinity"
"..."
Aeris looked at Casa, who was seemingly enjoying the ride
"...You're pretty calm right now"
"I couldn't care less. This is all your fault, your responsibility, not mine"
"You're going down with me if Hikari gets a word about this"
"..."
With no evidences, clues, or leads in hand, the two stood in silence
"...So, what now?"
"Hunterz party is gone missing, it wont be long before someone makes a fuss about it, and then it reaches to Hikari"
"The top adventurers of the Sol Empire, gone missing, just like that. That would surely get his attention"
"Shut up! I didn't know my mark on them would disappear just like that!"
"And without that mark, that made you go crazy about their situation"
"..."
Aeris, getting woke up from Casa's statement, took a deep breath and reassess the situation
"You're right...we can't rule out the possibility of them still alive. Just because the mark wear off doesn't mean that they were also got eliminated as well"
"Well at least you're going on the right track"
"...Thanks"
Aeris said shyly as Casa gave a slight smile
"It will be tougher for us to hide it behind Hikari's back about this if this goes on for too long"
"No, we don't need to hide it from him anymore"
"...?"
"We just need to tell him what happened, with our 'alibis' "
Casa got surprised from Aeris' pn, seemingly getting her intentions
"Such a maniputor..."
"What's wrong with being one? You let yourself getting fallen for that dumb brick's flirty moves"
"?! I AM NOT!"
Achieving to lose her cool, Aeris gave Casa a teasing smile
"Let me be just clear here, no matter what you do at this point from now on, I have nothing to do with it. I won't interfere, but I won't also going to help you"
Aeris scratches her head once more
"Why?"
"Just like Ignis, I only support from the sidelines. That may be contradicting of me especially all of my lines are, but most of the reason is because both you and Hikari are my friend"
"I see..."
Hesitating, Aeris tries to let out another question
"Say...Casa..."
"...?"
...But she wasn't able to say it out loud
"...Nothing, with what you just said, that's something that dumb incel would say as well"
"?!"
As red as a tomato, Aeris walked past Casa as she pat her shoulders
"We should report the whole thing to Hikari now, I believe its time he should know the 'truth' "
"..."
As the other person was happily smiling, the other person kept her face turned at the ground
They left the pce as they put a mark on each trees they passed by on their way out...
...
...
...
Going back to Nirvana, The Goddess of Origin, Divina, can be seen, covered in yellow mist. Her eyes were focused on the person that Rui dealt with...
"That hero...if I remember correctly..."
...
...Yes...he also had-
"Divina sama"
"...?"
"Permission to Enter"
"...You may"
...
Right as the individual entered, she bowed down out of respect for Divina
"Rare of you to show yourself to me"
"I'm only here solely to deliver you the news"
"I know, he's dead"
"...As expected of Divina sama. Yes, a progress on our part"
Divina nods in agreement
"So? What do you think of him so far?"
Divina points to Rui Hanzawa
"I have no comments on the certain individual at hand as I am only tasked to do my role, and to deliver what is expected out of me"
"I see...but he's also going to be the one you'll be relying on the most"
"..."
She looks at the oracle
"If that's the case, then I'm grateful for his actions and easing the burden on my role"
The yellow mist glows brighter
"I assume you're not being direct with them?"
"As what you stated, 'Broad information, clear statement' "
"Yes. They might not get it at all, but one of them will at some point"
"He was the first one to know what it meant, right?"
"No, it was simply coincidental, something out of our control that worked in our favour"
"..."
It was the perfect time for her to leave, but Divina asked
"What do you think of his companions?"
"..."
She look again to the oracle, to see the Demicat and the Lurachnid. Her eyes slightly lit up at the scene
"I'm not the Goddess of Justice, but I can confirm that she would also be delighted at the sight of species coexisting"
"I can only think of the opposite"
"...?"
"...They're under an oath, which Rui Hanzawa is the master"
"..."
No emotions can be seen, but Divina knew that it left a surprise on the goddess
"Powerful Species serving a master...I believe you have met someone like that before"
"Ah..."
Divina remembers that All Gods and Goddesses have access on her memory since She's the 'Origin'. She tries to remember the scene where she met the certain individual
"...He does resemble him...but sadly, I wasn't able to know who that person really was"
"Perhaps 'they' know?"
"...Perhaps...but even I nor any gods or goddesses here knew their whereabouts"
Something that they can't even see, something that they don't know how much power it has...
...something that came before Divina had even witnessed...
"Maybe someday we'll get a glimpse of them. Well then, I'll be taking my leave..."
"Don't forget your tasks, Judicara"
Judicara nods, as she left the scene...
...
"Resembnce..."
Divina looks at the oracle, at Rui
"The possibility is low, but its also possible that, 'that' may be the case..."
She said to herself, grabbing herself another cup of tea, as she watches the Oracle once more...
...
