“Hey, Libra!”

Karlia’s voice suddenly soared as she raised her eyes into the starry sky. Her contained the residual confidence she had been displaying, but a certain seriousness was etched on it as well.

‘What is she doing? Calling a Constellation like that… don’t tell me—!’ My eyes widened as I interchanged glances from Karlia and the sky she intently looked at.

“I know you can hear me. I also know you understand what the current situation is. You and your Constellation buddies better rectify this problem, you hear me?”

I shivered as I heard Karlia speak. She had such an authorative tone that it made me a bit anxious about the results.

‘Sure, she beat Libra, but if all the Constellations gang up on her… no, even if she’ll be fine, I don’t think we should intentionally piss them off.’

The Constellatons were the only ones who could solve the current problem, after all. Wasn’t it better to resolve things diplomatically?

‘But Karlia should know that. She must have her reasons for taking this approach…’ I focused my gaze on Karlia once more, watching how serious she appeared.

“I said… you hear me?” Her tone grew darker, and her eyes narrowed, clearly forming a threat.

My worry instantly skyrocketed, and at this point I was tempted to intervene.

However…

~SHIIINNNNGGGG!~

… It turned out my worries were unnecessary.

As soon as Karlia finished her last statement, brilliant glows of light appeared in the sky, and the stars above us began to huddle together in order to form words.

Yes! Actual words.

~YES. WE UNDERSTAND.~ The words stated.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“What in the…?” I could hear myself mumble underneath my breath.

“You see, Lewis? It’s going to be okay.” She told me, her smile growing ever so brighter.

I was rendered speechless by everything, so the only thing I could do at this point was nod at her words.

There was still hope for this new world, after all!

I wasn’t sure they could do anything about those who were already dead. Chances were that even the Constellations couldn’t solve that dilemma since it was in the realm of the Nether’s jurisdocation, and he was pretty much nonexistent now.

However, for the future of the Nether Realm, it seemed there was hope. And that was more than enough to make me smile.

‘Karlia… you’ve really become somehing else.’ My thoughts echoed.

But, strangely enough, that only made me love her more.

“You’re amazing!” I jumped into her arms instantly, finding the both of us collapsing under my weight.

“Hahaha! Took you long enough to realize that.” She giggled as I embraced her and she did the same.

Before I knew it, we started kissing and laughing together.

It was an enjoyable moment, and it felt like an entire universal load of weight had been taken off my shoulders.

However, as we enjoyed our awesome time together and indulged in all the fun we could, something suddenly appeared in my mind.

‘H-hold on… can the Constellations see us when we’re having se—??!’

******

A Week Later

“So, what now, Lewis?”

Karlia and I were currently floating in the air, above the landscape where our newfound friends and acquaintances lived, and she looked me deep in the eyes when she asked the question.

“We’ve had a lot of fun, and you’ve shown me around this place, but I can tell there’s still something else you need to do. Something on your mind.” She added.

She wasn’t wrong.

I had shown her the Goblin Village, and took her to what remained of the Labyrinths I experienced to get the Arcanas. And of course, through all of this, we had a lot of fun.

There were still many places we were yet to visit, and a lot more to explore, but besides that, there was something else on my mind.

And it seemed Karlia could tell. No, it was probably more accurate to say she could always tell, but didn’t want to say anything.

At least, until now.

“There’s one last thing I have to do. It’s what Jared entrusted to me.”

Karlia narrowed her gaze and nodded at me. She was waiting for m to tell her more.

“It’s about Legris Damien. You know him, right?”

“Not really. We were both members of the Nether Cult, but I never really liked the guy. Something about him made me feel uneasy.”

“Yeah… Jared felt the same. But, the more time I spent here, the more I was able to understand him more. I don’t know why, but the more I know about him, the more uneasy I feel. Still, there’s no going around the fact that we can’t allow him to have his way.” I explained.

Right now, Legris was at a point where he didn’t exist in the Nether Realm, but also wasn’t a denizen of the Aether Realm.

He was a completely different being, something different from anything me or anyone else.

“Who is he exactly? What’s going on, and how do we stop him?” Karlia’s words were very straightforward, as I would expect.

Inasmuch as she didn’t prefer violence, she was the kind of person who was resolved to do anything if it would ensure her goals being achieved.

… Even if it meant comitting atrocities.

“Hopefully we don’t have to do anything. Jared and everyone else are doing their best to stop him. But, just in case he fails, we should do our best on this end as well.”

That was the deal I made with Jared. I just hoped things wouldn’t get to such a point where it was going to be the last line of defense.

“What exactly is our part to play in all this, though? What aren’t you telling me? Karlia asked me, her brows narrowing.

Before I knew it, a gentle exhalation escaped my lips and I found myself staring down to the world beneath us.

A second later, my gaze returned to Karlia, and a tone of resolve escaped my lips.

“Ready for another field trip?”

*

*

*

A

/N

Thanks for reading!

Next chapter will be the conclusion of this Nether Realm Arc. I know the past two Arcs have had their ups and downs, and some parts felt unneccessary, but its almost time to return to the main story!

I hope you all are excited!

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