Death… And Me

After that, Etherian decided to tell the twins, 'Of course, I would prefer that you two don't go away. You have just joined the Inner Sacred Land, and I don't mind offering some support in the shadows. I truly think your chances are better if you patiently cultivate here until you're strong enough to venture outside. To be honest, our Huring Continent could be said to be one of the easiest continents to live, at least compared to the other continents I've been in so far.'

Rean shook his head and said in response, 'It's fine. We don't want things to be easy since Roan's training methods rely on the difficulties of the cultivation path.'

Roan confirmed Rean's words. 'Having an easier path would instead hinder our progress. Of course, we will make full use of the Sacred Land during the time we're here. I'm sure its repositories and side occupation halls have a lot for us to improve on.'

Seeing that they really made their minds up, Etherian didn't try to stop them anymore. 'Very well. I guess I can only wish you good luck, then. I'll tell you when the things are ready for the Demising Catacombs. That's all for now.'

With that, Etherian finished his faux conversation. "It's good that you two understand. Go back to your residences and cultivate well."

Rean and Roan nodded. "Thank you, Elder Etherian."

The twins then left through the front door, where Paulo was already waiting for them. 

At the same time, Etherian got up and prepared to leave without anyone seeing. However, just as he was about to step out, an old female hand touched his shoulder. That sensation gave him a chill on the back as he could guess who it was. "Claria, can't you pretend you didn't see me?"

The old woman smiled before...

*Pah!*

Smacking Etherian's backhead. "You disappear for so long and force your great-granddaughter to seek me for help. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

"Not even a little," Etherian answered straight away as he tried to escape. 

Unfortunately, Claria was already expecting that. "Is that so?" Claria smiled in response, not trying to stop him at all. "I guess Cassia will want to hear about what a certain old geezer did to catch my attention a few millennia ago. That was so funny. Well then, go ahead. I'm going to see her."

Etherian's face went pale as he immediately turned back. All the ideas of escaping evaporated completely from his mind. "My beloved wife, I was just kidding. How could I leave all my work for our great-granddaughter to do alone? I'm just teasing her a little. Now that I'm back, I'm obviously carrying out all the office work that accumulated during my absence. I have to set an example, after all."

Claria was obviously the one in charge of that relationship. "How very nice of you, old geezer. I expect to hear good news from her in a few days' time when your office table documents are done." Without even looking at Etherian's face, Claria left without remorse. She knew very well that there wasn't any worse punishment in this Realm of Gods than office work for Etherian.

Nevertheless, it was obvious how these two doted on Cassia so much. Otherwise, why would Etherian care about her knowing a few stories of his past? That's because they had three children, and they were all men. Those men all married and had their own children, which turned out to be all men again. In the end, Cassia was the first and only woman in their lineage so far.

With the expression of someone heading to his execution, Etherian made his way back to his office, where all the documents waited for him.

Rean and Roan knew nothing about it, of course. Instead, they were making their way to their new residences in the Inner Sacred Land. However, Rean remembered the glittering coin that Rana passed to them on the way. "Oh, right! Elder Paulo, do you know of a fairy called Tulipa? She should be a member of the Sacred Land?"

"Tulipa?!" Paulo was taken aback once again. "How do you know her?"

Rean answered in all earnest, "We happen to know the Fairy Queen from our Yukirrom Region. Due to a few things, she decided to give us some help in the Sacred Land. We need to find a fairy called Tulipa to pass on her word."

"I see..." Paulo couldn't help but wonder, asking the two, "Just how many important people do you know? Even Core Elder Tulipa is part of them."

"Core Elder Tulipa?" Rean and Roan were taken aback. "Does that mean she's also one of the Ten Greats?"

"No," Paulo replied. "She's definitely strong, but not at the level of the Ten Greats. However, her position in the Sacred Land is very high, thanks to the fairies' karma-related abilities. She could be said to be one of the closest aides of the Sacred Land Head. Even for me, it would be difficult to see her."

Paulo then pondered in silence for a bit before telling them, "However, since her Fairy Queen gave the order, it should be possible. That's how the hierarchy of the fairies work, after all. Let me bring you to her residence and see what I can do."

Rean and Roan nodded in response, although they didn't have much use for Tulipa anymore. They just got the information about the continental barrier, after all. As for information about the continents they would pass by, they could get it from Etherian later. He seemed to have traveled a lot.

Tulipa's residence followed the same style as the fairies back in Rana's home. It was a house carved into a tree, full of colorful decorations. It's just that it didn't seem to have anyone guarding it... or so thought Paulo. However, Rean could see the two light beings sitting in front of the entrance. 

"Halt!" 

Sure enough, those two appeared and showed their true appearance. "What do you want from Elder Tulipa's tree?"

Paulo was just about to say something when Rean took out Rana's Glittering Coin.

"That's...!" The two fairies recognized it straight away. "Please wait for a moment.. We will inform Elder Tulipa of your arrival."