Chapter 421: Until we meet again

When Tsukiko heard Valdel's question he looked at him with wide eyes and then she started frowning. She was still trying to process that Valdel was Kir, but now he suddenly asked this question which caught her even more off-guard.

"Are you really trying to bring back the others? Are you trying to learn the locations of their current reincarnations? Is it Darius, do you want to meet that vampire after all this time?"

"You misunderstood Tsukiko, the one I want to meet isn't someone from the distant past. The one I wish to meet is from the here and now. She's a childhood friend of mine and Ren."

"That's even worse. If you just wanted to find the reincarnations of someone you knew in the past, then that would be somehow alright... But based on what you're saying, you want to do something far, far more difficult. Do you want to bring that person back to life?"

"..." Seeing Valdel's reaction the always happy go lucky Tsukiko got angry.

"You stupid old wolf! Do you understand why despite the entrance of the underworld being in the mortal realm and could be traveled to, no one has ever successfully revived anyone?"

Ren who was listening in suddenly remembered the face of the incarnation he had the most interaction with. Leonard Tranor, that guy had given Ren a brief memory of going to the underworld and successfully reviving someone. The way he did it was ridiculous, but even so, he succeeded in the end. Still, Ren didn't bother to tell Tsukiko as she continued to berate Valdel. That was not something he should probably since the price Leonard, or more specifically Elizabeth had to pay was a great one. Also, it wasn't something Valdel could imitate.

"The reason no one was successful in doing that, is that it's obviously impossible. Even if you somehow get past the God of Death which is unlikely, or you got his permission from him to enter the realm of the dead which is even more unlikely, you wouldn't be able to bring back a spirit to life without a body. Also even if you do have a body in which that person could enter, the base self the thing that makes her who she is would change and that would no longer be the person you know. There is no solution to save that person from Death. Only pain and suffering will assault that person if you continue to be stubborn. It is better to simply leave the dead alone, and allow them to move onto the next life."

"..." Valdel remained silent with a neutral expression on his face.

"Did you understand a single thing I said, you stupid old wolf?!"

"... I do understand, but I still need to try."

"You idiotic wolf! You telling me that just means that you didn't understand a single thing at all!" Tsukiko screamed at the top of her lungs. The way Tsukiko was acting now was so out of character that Leila and even Ren were looking at her in surprise. It was only Valdel who wasn't perturbed by the screaming fox.

"It doesn't matter, just tell me if you know where the entrance is."

"You idiotic wolf! The last time I allowed you to die because I knew that was what you wished for! Yet this time you're trying to die again, but not for yourself, but for someone else! Even if I did know where it is I'm never going to tell you!" Tsukiko then touched the tree of life. The moment she did so the roots of the tree of life came out of the ground and surrounded Tsukiko, seemingly protecting her.

"Hey Tsukiko, come out and tell me where it is!" Valdel punched and kicked the roots but it did nothing.

"Val, don't bother, it's obvious that she won't tell you anything even if she dies, so stop wasting your energy." Hearing what Ren said, Valdel stopped punching and looked at his childhood friend.

"How about you try to convince her, surely she would listen to you."

"In this circumstance, I don't think she will. Let it be Val, surely you have other people to get the information from, right?" After calming down a bit, Valdel sighed.

"Yeah, I do." Valdel then looked at the area where the roots covered Tsukiko and bowed.

"I'm sorry little fox, I shouldn't have forced you to tell me... I'll be leaving now."

"I guess, I'm leaving as well. I promise to come back, Tsukiko. Leila, how about you, are you coming with us?"

"Sorry big bro, but I'm staying here. I need to keep big sis Tsukiko company."

"Alright then, I'll leave Tsukiko in your care."

"See you, big bro."

...

Tsukiko who had hidden within the roots of the tree of life heard the leaving footsteps of Ren and Valdel.

'You stupid old wolf... I just wanted to protect you, just like you protected me all those years ago. In the underworld, if you truly wish for it a person's life may be restored but the way to restore it, the price to pay is greater than what you can give.' Tsukiko sighed as she looked at the falling leaves of the tree of life.

'Even though I haven't told you where the entrance is, surely with Ren by your side sooner or later you will find it. Still, I hope that even if you do find the entrance you will give up, and even if you don't, I hope Ren will be able to save you.'

...

Ren and Valdel headed back to Varzon. As they were heading back, Valdel told Ren about the Temples that should have information on the entrance to the underworld. Upon returning Valdel headed to New Grenton to tell Lara of their plans, on the other hand, Ren needed to meet with Henrietta since she had a ton of reports waiting for Ren. The reports were basically what happened to the other kingdoms surrounding the Serbek Kingdom and the Reschbeauch Kingdom which was now called the Grenton Empire.

Basically, all the other kingdoms have been assaulted by different types of disasters. Some of the Kingdoms were unable to survive this tribulation and had fallen, some had succumbed to the control of the Primordial Demon, and others were like the Grenton Empire as they were able to survive the ordeal.

"The refugees of the fallen Kingdoms are spreading out and a few are heading towards our newly created empire."

"Oh, only a few? Where are most of the refugees heading towards?"

"Most of them were reported to be heading towards the Holy Kingdom, where the Temple of the Goddess of Light is located."

"Hmm, why is that?"

"The Holy Kingdom welcomes every human refugee with a parade. As for the other races, they are still accepted but they're all treated as second-class citizens. So all of those heading towards the Holy kingdom should be human. As for those that are heading to our Empire, they're mostly demi-humans."

"That's a rather interesting Kingdom. I need to see what the place is like, seeing as that place might become a hindrance to my future plans... A Kingdom that only accepts a single race and promotes human supremacy will always lead to something troublesome. I will see with my very own eyes if that place is worth sparing, or if it should be conquered, or if it's not worth saving, I would probably purge it. Also, it's quite a good coincidence that Valdel needed to get information from that place." Ren licked his lips as he got a little excited at the thought of what's to come.

"I'll be heading to the Holy Kingdom personally. While I'm away coordinate with Silika in New Grenton as to what to do with the refugees."

"Understood... Also, Ren, since I have been working so hard how about giving me a prize." Henrietta closed the door to Ren's office and started undressing.

"So it's that kind of prize." Ren happily gave Henrietta the prize she wanted.

...

Valdel who had arrived at New Grenton with Zwei, Nika, and Natasha wanted to head straight for Lara's room, but before he could do so Natasha spoke to him.

"Val, we should part ways here. I need to head back to the Temple and report about what had happened."

"Oh, alright be careful out there."

Valdel had already apologized to Natasha, and he was already forgiven, but despite doing that their relationship became rather awkward after that incident. Natasha herself knew that what Valdel said on that day, despite him being under the influence of the Primordial Demon's malice was him just telling the truth. Even now she was still shocked that Valdel knew about her feelings. She was always under the impression that Valdel was a dense person when it comes to that kind of thing, but after that incident, it doesn't seem to be that way.

'That would mean, he's actively avoiding the topic.' That was the conclusion Natasha came to. So with that knowledge, she no longer knew how to proceed with their relationship.

After saying their awkward goodbyes, Natasha was already at a distance from the gates when she suddenly turned around and shouted at Valdel.

"Val! I know that you already figured out my true feelings about you, and I also know that you're not ready to give a response. So I will wait, until the foolish boy that could only see the justice he seeks, sees me as well. I hope that you respond to my feelings someday, even if it's a rejection I will wait for it!"

Valdel was shocked by Natasha's sudden shout, he wasn't the only one who was shocked, even Zwei, Nika, and the soldiers guarding the gates were stunned. Valdel couldn't say anything as he looked at Natasha dumbfounded. He wanted to say something but he couldn't of the right words to say. While Valedl was still in a state of stunned silence, Natasha had already turned around.

"Until we meet again, my foolish first love," Natasha smiled as she whispered those words to herself, before leaving.