119 What does it mean to visit friends and relatives?

Putting aside how Hypnos summoned Danaus to the Underworld Temple, let us shift our focus back to Kurama, who was currently engaged in a conversation with Yuko and the Count.

“‘The Favored One’?”

The term, uttered by Kurama, seemed to stir some long-buried memories deep within Yuko’s mind. The witch murmured thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“I believe I once heard such a term from Kuro, that cunning glasses-wearing boy, but back then we only treated it as a joke.”

“Because…”

“To achieve such an ‘accomplishment,’ the providence and fortune required are truly beyond measure.”

Indeed, even those exalted beings at the pinnacle of their original world’s laws—favored by fate, accompanied by great luck and extraordinary encounters—only very rarely, perhaps one or two in countless multitudes, could become the legendary ‘Favored One.’

Thus, even Yuko, a dimensional witch capable of communicating and interacting across countless timelines, had never truly encountered any of these so-called ‘Favored Ones.’

Yet now, in the world where the Creator God had left a message, Kurama had seemingly stumbled upon one by sheer luck.

How could Yuko not feel that something was amiss, that the whole matter was steeped in suspicious coincidences?

But while puzzled, Yuko was also acutely aware that such glaring doubts could not have escaped Kurama’s notice.

Frowning slightly, she lifted her gaze towards the silver-haired fox on the other side of the screen, whose smile remained unchanged.

“Don’t you think there are too many ‘coincidences’ here?”

“Indeed.” Kurama smiled and nodded, as if completely expecting such a question from Yuko. “Rather than ‘coincidence,’ I’d say it’s unmistakable evidence.”

“Oh?” Yuko’s brow relaxed, and a spark of curiosity lit her eyes. “You mean to say the Creator God deliberately prepared this most difficult condition for you in advance, as a second expression of His... ‘sincerity’?”

At the mention of ‘sincerity,’ Yuko couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, her tone laced with playful sarcasm.

Kurama, however, nodded earnestly once more.

“Exactly. Mokana and I believe this is what the legends call a ‘token of allegiance.’”

“Though the term may not be entirely fitting, there’s no doubt the Creator God is reaffirming His attitude and stance towards us.”

“He truly harbors no ill will against me and genuinely hopes our transaction—or rather, exchange of conditions—can proceed smoothly.”

“Although I don’t fully understand the purpose behind His elaborate efforts to see this through, since He promised no harm would come to me or those I hold dear... why not take the gamble?”

Saying this, the fox raised his face, his brilliant golden eyes meeting the witch’s thoughtful gaze with a smile.

“Miss Yuko, do you think my decision is somewhat arrogant or reckless?”

The black-haired witch met his eyes silently for a long moment.

“No.”

Finally, her lips parted softly, a captivating, gentle smile blooming across her face as she whispered her reply.

Their gazes locked across the distance once again, and then—both smiled warmly at each other.

The Count, watching this exchange, blinked in sudden understanding, recalling why Yuko’s tone and expression became so tender whenever she spoke of Kurama before.

It appeared they truly got along well.

Taking a sip of tea, the black-haired beauty curved her lips into a smile.

***

Having finally resolved the lingering issue concerning the Creator God that had troubled them since the Steel Alchemy world, both Kurama and Yuko breathed long sighs of relief.

Though the ultimate outcome remained uncertain, at least for now, they no longer needed to remain on constant high alert.

Despite the matter reaching a conclusion, Yuko and Kurama were in no hurry to end their communication—after all, the Count had gone to see Yuko in person, and who knew when Kurama could contact him again? It was a good opportunity to chat a bit more, especially since mere communication didn’t expend much of Mokana’s energy.

From the Voidgrass space, Kurama produced a casual table, soft chair, tea, and snacks, then gently lifted the floating white orb down onto the table to sit. As he sipped his tea, he chatted with the two on the screen.

“By the way, how did the Count come to be with Miss Yuko? Was it by chance, or...?”

Kurama had been curious about this for some time and, during their casual talk, boldly asked.

The Count smiled faintly.

“Certainly not by chance,” he said softly. “I came because I knew you and Yuko could communicate. I specifically sought her help to confirm your safety.”

“The coordinates of Yuko’s world are peculiar, which is one reason I could accurately traverse space-time and arrive at her side. The other reason is my ‘Ark.’”

“The Ark records the coordinates of every world it has visited. When I want to go to any of those worlds, I can use its records to perform precise space-time teleportation. Worlds the Ark has never reached are like when Mokana performs space-time jumps—unpredictable and unlocatable.”

The Count glanced apologetically at Kurama.

“Sorry, your original world…”

Belonged to the type that is not recorded in the Ark’s logs.

Kurama smiled faintly.

“Why apologize? It’s not your fault, Count.”

Though a trace of disappointment lingered in his heart, having endured so much before, the fox’s resilience was forged like refined steel. Such a minor emotion passed swiftly without stirring greater unrest.

“But come to think of it, the method provided by the Creator God is somewhat similar to your Ark.”

“Oh?” The Count was intrigued by Kurama’s redirection. “What method? Can it locate space-time coordinates as well?”

Yuko also showed evident interest.

Facing their shining eyes on the screen, Kurama tapped his fingers lightly on the table, gathering his thoughts before speaking carefully.

“Rather than ‘locating,’ it’s more like ‘sensing.’”

“...‘Sensing’?”

“Exactly. It senses the position of my original world through my aura—something like that. It doesn’t directly pinpoint the space-time coordinates but allows me to gradually adjust my path during the journey by gauging the strength of the sensed aura, inching closer to the final destination.”

“Wait.” The witch, eyes half-closed in enjoyment as a young April First boy poured her drink, interrupted. “Gradually adjusting? How is that possible? You know Mokana’s space-time jumping is uncontrollable once activated.”

“So it requires not only ‘sensing’ but also ‘guidance,’” Kurama said with a sly smile. “Otherwise, Miss Yuko, why do you think a ‘Favored One’ is necessary? Because only one who possesses both the gifts of this world and another can penetrate the veils of space-time by aura sensing, and also guide the chaotic space-time jumps, controlling direction and course…”

Yuko sat up sharply.

“So you mean to take the ‘Favored One’ with you when you leave?!”

Kurama nodded with a smile.

“Of course.”

“What is their identity? They must be a principal deity as well.” Yuko’s mind raced with calculations. “One can’t be so favored by the laws of this world without attaining the rank of a principal deity.”

“And if this individual is a principal deity from this world of gods... Kurama, do you realize what consequences there might be if you remove them from their original space-time?”

Disruption of order and world turmoil would be the mildest outcomes. More severe consequences could see the entire world’s cosmic trajectory unsettled, leading to complete collapse and ruin.

The thought darkened Yuko’s expression with grave seriousness.

Unperturbed, the fox on the other side of the screen narrowed his eyes, smiling as always.

“That’s why I previously exchanged something with Miss Yuko.”

“...That thing?”

Yuko was baffled.

The fox gave a knowing smile and reminded her.

“The very thing. After I sent you the Holy Grail and was asked for two conditions, I impulsively traded for that item.”

“I’d thought I might never use it.”

Upon Yuko’s sudden realization, Kurama’s lips curved slightly.

“The ‘Kuro Mirror.’”

A powerful magical item personally created by the great mage Kuro Lido, manifesting the ‘Mirror’ card of the Kuro Deck. It can project an image of the person reflected within, creating a mirror clone almost identical in appearance, abilities, and even memories.

“Although the clone’s abilities are somewhat diminished due to its divine origin, with the original’s cooperation and unique secret arts, this mirror clone can possess at least 80% of the original’s strength.”

“So... no need to worry about causing any turmoil, right?”

Seeing the fox’s confident smile that seemed to say “everything is under control,” Yuko shook her head with a wry smile.

“You’re still forgetting something.”

She chuckled softly. “What about the cost of taking that ‘Favored One’ along on a space-time journey?”

Kurama’s smile faltered slightly but his expression showed neither surprise nor panic.

“As for that... Miss Yuko, would you be willing to discuss it with him in person?”

He then turned his gaze toward the long corridor’s far end.

“He’s there now.”

—In the very heart of the Underworld Temple, inside the Lord of the Underworld’s chamber.

Yuko raised one elegant brow.

“So you’ve already made your plans.”

She snorted softly.

The fox smiled silently.

The witch shot him a playful glare.

“Then what are we waiting for? Call him out.”

—If that is your judgment.

“...”

Noticing the flicker of unspoken thoughts crossing Yuko’s face, Kurama paused for a moment.

After consideration, he offered her a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Miss Yuko. He... should be someone trustworthy.”

Seeing Yuko raise her brow again, but a fleeting look of relief passing through her eyes, Kurama turned his focus—his intention, or rather his small cosmos—toward the Lord of the Underworld’s chamber.

Minutes later, the heavy doors leading to the rear garden were pushed open.

Within the shared vision of Yuko, the Count, and Kurama, the black-haired Lord of the Underworld appeared, accompanied by the two Sleeping Death Gods, slowly making his way toward Kurama’s position...