Tale of Discovery

Chapter 323: Solution ; Return

"Is that all?" Nao asks in a suspicious tone once I am done giving her a brief recount of my experience over in Agnetem.

"Yeah," I respond in a low tone while thinking of all the details skipped over regarding the girls here. Naturally, I did mention them and the 'reason' I have interacted with them, but that's it. Then again, Nao surely suspects something, which is apparent from the tone she used just now.

Releasing a small sigh, I focus my senses on Dominion, only to find her looking in our direction without any expression on her face.

She must've gotten bored.

"Come on," I say as I 'look' over at Nao, "We should head over back to your world."

"Huh?" a confused voice escapes from her mouth.

"Right, I didn't tell you," I say as I smile wryly, "The reason I've brought you over here is that I was planning to return to the world you're from."

"This means..." she mutters.

"Yes, I can heal your brother's condition now, and the time is perfect," I state with a small smile covering my lips.

Even though healing her brother isn't my main objective, it still is something that I will be doing, so why not tell her?

At this moment, a series of emotions seems to wash over Nao as a somewhat complicated look appears on her face. Surely though, she must be delighted to know that her brother will be getting healed after all this time.

And so, I leave Nao to her own devices as I make my over to Queen.

"I need you to create another link," I state once I am standing in front of her.

"For what reason?" she asks in a firm tone with no expression on her face.

"So that I can return here sooner and bring you the freedom you desire," I respond.

Hearing this, her expression changes as a small smile covers her lips before she says, "In that case, I will do it. But, you're going to have to give me the specifics of where you would want me to create a link for."

Before I can say anything as a response to her words, I sense dense energy abruptly form between me and Queen before changing into a small figure, which I assume is AI's, judging from how there is no expression on her face.

The little girl takes a moment to look around before stepping closer to Queen and pressing her hand against her body.

Following this, Queen's mouth drops open as she looks down at AI with a look on her face that I can only describe as 'intrigued'.

Once she's done doing whatever she was doing, AI turns around approaches me before saying in a calm tone, "Father, the formation of the link won't achieve what Father wills."

"You mean to say that the link will collapse due to her running out of energy before I can return?" I question.

"Affirmative," she responds.

"In that case, can't I just stop time here as a substitute since the time in Project Charlotte will be released anyway?"

Or, so I say, but I am extremely doubtful of that being possible. For instance, what would keep the link going if Queen is in a 'frozen' state?

Expectedly, AI refutes my words by saying, "That's not possible for two reasons. First, doing that might result in Code: Dominion's Core to take severe damage; particularly so since it's currently incomplete."

"Secondly, the ability used between Platforms would instantly get revoked due to the unbalance."

"Then?" I question, "Do you have any solution for this issue?"

"Affirmative. Father could make use of the Time-Key to slow the flow of time and form a link between the Platforms. The end result will be a weakened version of the link that Father wills."

"Weakened version? What exactly do you mean by that and will it pose any danger to those that pass through it?" I ask dubiously, concerned for Nao's and my safety.

"The weakened version of the link will be more prone to external interference," she explains, "Using it as is wouldn't result in any physical consequences, but if an entity of marginal prowess were to assail the link while it's being used, then complications are highly likely."

Hm... So, she's basically saying that the weakened form of transportation will solve my problem, but will also bring with it some risks. As for the risk, it's only there during certain circumstances.

As far as I remember, Project Charlotte didn't have anyone with comparable power to what AI described. The most powerful being I 'encountered' there was Yuno, and she wasn't even an enemy.

The only others that could even be considered mild threats would be ability users that are still all around the globe.

Heck, why don't I just plunder some more abilities while I am at it? Wait... Right. The ability requires me to 'see' my targets, but now, I can only sense them through methods other than the eyes.

How annoying...

Hopefully, I will find a way to 'fix' my sight while I am there, after all, not being able to see is not a small matter. I am already tired of just sensing shapes and not being able to tell colors.

Releasing an audible sigh, I focus back on AI and ask, "So, how do I use the Time-Key?"

"The Time-Key requires to be physically set up in a Platform or the Rift. Father must choose a safe location for it to remain out of the reach of those who wish to harm Father."

In that case, I can set it up over in Project Charlotte and have someone guard it, such as Jeanne.

"Oh, right," I utter upon remembering something, "Are you able to determine the ratio at which time will be hastened wherever the Time-Key is set up?"

"Affirmative," AI responds, "It would be 150:1."

Sweet. That should be enough for me to get whatever I need done over there settled. But then again...

"What about the consequences of switching back from the Time-Key to the three time-freeze remnants?"

"15% of Father's current Essence Energy will be used. The energy taken will take approximately ten days to replenish," she responds.

Huh. It's lighter than I expected. But then again, 15% is no small amount either, especially considering the thing about it taking ten days to replenish. Still, if I were to somehow increase how much Essence Energy I have, would it take less in the future? It should, no?

"Affirmative," AI responds, seeming to have heard my thoughts, "The amount is not relative to the amount of Essence Energy Father has, but is fixed."

In that case, then all is well. As for the period of replenishment, I will simply have to be more vigilant than normal and be even more careful to not waste energy.

"Well then," I say as a smile forms on my lips, "Let's get this done with, shall we?"

--

"Stay safe," I say to the two girls behind me as I stand in front of the newly created link with Nao in my arms.

The link is still incomplete, since the time on the other side is frozen, but once it's released, it will be fine.

It took me some effort to convince Nao that holding her this way would be for the best, but she is still not pleased as she continues to glare at me.

Both Kurumi and Queen will be remaining here. Leaving aside Queen's incapability of passing through a link created by herself, Kurumi simply stated that it would be better for her to stay here.

I have a feeling that the reason she wants to stay is related to Queen one way or another. Even so, it's fine as long as neither of them tries to obliterate the other out of existence.

"Right," I say as I remember something, "There is a girl under the rubble over there. Get her out and see to it that she remains alive."

"Very well," Kurumi responds while bowing slightly before she turns and walks in the direction the section of the building 'cut off' lays.

Now then, AI, release time over at Project Charlotte at whatever interval you deem fit.

{Affirmative.}

And so, I turn my waist to beam them a smile before facing the link once more and walking through it.

Immediately after I do so, an extremely uncomfortable sound assails my ears, as if hundreds of whistles are being blown a few centimeters away from them. Aside from that, there is the same sensation of tiny creatures crawling under my skin, similar to the other two times I passed through a link.

Unfortunately, this time, it takes us a little longer to pass through to the other side. Just a few more seconds, but it feels like an eternity due to how uncomfortable the trip feels.

Once I'm through to the other side, my feet contact with the ground, but lose my balance and almost fall to the ground, only to be caught at the critical moment by my left arm.

"You," a somewhat familiar voice reaches my ears, "You're Victor?"

Turning my head to face the source of the voice, even though there is no need to, I sense that the one speaking is none other than Shinoa - the girl I left behind when I departed from this Platform.

"I told you I would be back before you know it, didn't I?" I say with a wide grin covering my lips.

Following this, Nao, who had been motionlessly laying within my arms, suddenly breaks free and drops to the ground.

Instinctively, I use Vector Manipulation to prevent any harm from reaching her, but the next moment, she leans forth and vomits.

"Nao?" I question worriedly as I crouch and place my hand against her back.

"It's alright," she says in a rugged tone after vomiting for a short while, "I just felt a little sick."

Hey, AI, what's wrong with her?

{The trip through the link strained her body since she had already gone through another link not too long ago.}

And why didn't you warn me of this?

{Since the strain would not be to a great extent, I deemed it unnecessary.}

...

In the future, tell me everything, no matter how insignificant.

{Affirmative.}

Releasing a sigh, I circulate Holy Essence through my arm, before utilizing Healing Factor in order to at least make her feel better.

Fortunately, this seems to work, as Nao shortly places her left hand on my shoulder before using it as leverage to get up from the ground.

I follow suit and stand straight before 'looking over' at Shinoa once more.

What meets my sight - well, senses, is a confused Shinoa who is staring at us wordlessly.

It seems like our reappearance is something of more significance to her compared to the fissure in space behind me...