Chapter 261: Chapter 261 - Reunited(Part 3)

"You sure have gone quiet...where’d all that restlessness go?" I inquired in bemusement.

"I can’t help it, I’m nervous," Frowned Izzy, as Phyurio led us down to the basement of the hospital.

"Uh, is it really okay for me to join you too? I’m a total stranger here, so it might be kinda awkward...," Trailed off Lumena warily.

"Don’t worry, it’s fine...just introduce yourself and mingle, there’s nothing to worry about," I assured her as I gave her a pat on the shoulder.

"What about me? How do I stop being so nervous?" Frowned Izzy, as we reached the bottom of the stairs.

"That’s only natural, anyone would feel nervous when they’re about to meet their lover’s parent for the first time," Pointed out Phyurio wryly.

"I just-...ow! Hey!" Izzy glared at me indignantly as I smacked her hand as she reached up to scratch her face.

"I know it’s uncomfortable, but you can’t scratch, you’ll mess up the makeup and waste the time and effort I spent applying it," I replied dryly.

"Hmph..."

"Okay, here we are," Phyurio informed us, stopping in front of a door before pushing it open.

I stepped inside, and as my gaze fell upon Rhyle, I felt a smile spreading out across my lips as my eyes welled up a bit, a sense of joy rising up inside me as the emotions started to take over...

"Is...is that you, Larrk?"

"Mhm. Sure is," I replied as I lifted the wig up, before Izzy and Lumena trailed in behind me, both kinda hiding behind me.

"It’s good to see you again...you’ve grown up so much, I’m so glad you’re okay."

"Yeah...same here," I nodded, before Izzy peeked out from behind me...

"U-um...hi," She stuttered nervously, before Argent walked over towards her, taking hold of her hand and leading her towards the bed.

"Dad, this is my girlfriend, Izzy," He introduced her with a smile.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Izzy. Thank you for everything you’ve done for my sons, and for helping save me too, I owe you a debt of gratitude," He thanked her gratefully.

"U-uh, no, that’s okay, I-I didn’t do anything special," She shook her head, still looking pretty nervous.

"So, uh...who’s this?" Inquired Rosary, as she glanced at Lumena, who shrunk back slightly in response.

"Right, yeah...this is Lumena Lucidus. She’s with us because...well, it’s a long story. So, basically...," I began explaining what went down after Izzy and I got caught up in one of the teleport traps set outside Obsidian’s east border.

How we got sent down to the very bottom of the Labyrinth in the Dead Zone, fought and defeated the Demonic Grade Monster Plasmuk, the Slime King, before I cut a deal and formed a Contract with him.

I then explained a brief summary of Lumena’s history, and that she decided to join us after we escaped the Labyrinth.

"So, yeah, I think that just about sums up the last month or so, or however long we were in that Labyrinth for. You know the rest, I called Argent and we flew over here, and now, here we are," I concluded.

"I-I can’t believe you guys made it through every floor of a Labyrinth, that’s incredible," Remarked Ilex in awe.

"Honestly, it wasn’t that difficult after we survived the lowest level. By the way, what happened with the whole True Nobility thing?" I inquired warily.

The nation didn’t seem like it was in the middle of any conflict while I was flying over here, but I also made a conscious effort to avoid flying over any of the towns.

"Actually, that matter was settled on the very same day you disappeared. What happened was...," Began Argent, before explaining how that whole conflict ended up.

After he finished his explanation of how that conflict played out in the end, I then proceeded to ask him about how things were going in the rest of the Dark Continent, before mulling it all over as he finished explaining...

"I see, so the threat of the True Nobility is behind us, then," I mused after a brief pause.

Good, good, I was hoping that’d be the case, because with that whole mess out of the way...

"So, what’s the plan now? We’re probably going to have to lay low indefinitely at this point...well, not that that’s anything new. But between Izzy, who’s a Monster, two Heretics and me, a Light Attribute user, we don’t really have a safe place to go. Well, there is the Haven, but we’d only be causing trouble for them if we all moved in there," Frowned Prysm in response.

"Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much. I’ve got a plan in mind, and if it works out, we won’t ever have to worry about having to live in hiding ever again," I declared with a smirk.

"Yeah, you mentioned something like that when you called me, you said it’s going to be a real gamechanger or something. So, what do you have in mind?" Argent asked me curiously.

"Well, it’s pretty simple, actually. As you explained, Argent, the Dark Continent is going through a period of severe instability, and while the situation here in Obsidian has evidently settled down now, the nations to the north of Obsidian are in widespread turmoil...especially Hematite, the northmost nation in the Dark Continent.

Both the Nobles and Commoners of that nation have been severely weakened thanks to their ongoing civil war, making the entire nation vulnerable to invasion, be it from the Light Continent or from one of the other Dark Continent nations," I surmised with a smile.

"Wait, I think I see where you’re going with this, don’t tell me...," Trailed off Prysm in realization.

"Mhm, that’s right. We won’t give any of the interested parties a chance to invade and conquer Hematite. Because we’re gonna beat them to it. We’ll take over Hematite and create a nation where we can all live freely, where there’s no class system or prejudice against people just because of the Magic they happen to possess.

Of course, we don’t exactly have an army, and even with Hematite being severely weakened by the civil war that’s been raging for months now, we might be a bit understaffed. So, we’ll need to add some extra power to our ranks. And there’s a real powerhouse laying dormant beneath the Royal castle."

"Yes!!! Ohh, I’m definitely on board with this!" Grinned Izzy excitedly, her eyes gleaming.

"Huh? Hold on, are you suggesting...?" Responded Rosary with a wide-eyed look on her face.

"Yeah, precisely...we’re gonna free the Demon Lucifer and ally ourselves with her."

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