691: The Way Out

The Way Out

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With Sam and Noelle off to assist with the restructuring and reconstruction of some of the locations in Blue Dawn that needed it, the 'diplomatic matters' were temporarily left in Crystal's hands. Of course, Emilia's secretary and Dixie were also by her side for help.

After 'angrily' cutting off the call from the president of Red Dusk, she couldn't help but giggle. "It's quite amusing that they're trying so hard to appease us for their 'mistake', when Emilia was the one who did it."

Dixie also couldn't help but giggle, but just then, a familiar charming voice ended up interrupting their 'gossip'.

"Oh… are you blaming me…?"

The blonde girl was shocked for a moment before she turned around to face the 'intruder' and rushed at her with a grin. "Emilia!"

"Ehehe… looks like someone missed me a lot?"

Back in her lover's embrace after so long, she couldn't help but hum angrily. "How come no one let me know when you got here?"

Obviously, even Dixie could understand how the girl was dissatisfied, having missed receiving the crimson-haired beauty from the airport.

Emilia chuckled. "I told Noelle to keep it a secret… plus, I wanted to check if I could sneak in or not."

Obviously, the security at the Blue Lotus Palace wasn't good enough.

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With most of her 'worries' now gone, everyone initially expected Emilia to go back to her cheery and naughty self from before the war, but while the crimson-haired beauty was all smiles, she didn't really tease any of them much.

Their sensitivity to Emilia's emotions soon made them realize that there was still something weighing her down, and her words soon confirmed everyone's thoughts.

"I know you're all curious, but just wait for big sister and Noelle to get back. We'll… figure it out together."

Crystal and Dixie looked at each other before nodding.

Of course, exactly what it was that they needed to figure out… the blonde girl didn't need to be a genius to know it had to do something with Emilia's departure from this world.

It was a discussion that they'd had in their 'chat group' more than once, after all. And if Emilia just wanted to confirm if any of them would be willing to come with her or not… Crystal felt that it wasn't really necessary, but she understood the crimson-haired beauty's worries.

Everyone had their 'burdens', after all. She, for example, had her mother who would be left all alone in this world if she couldn't be brought along, and Emilia wouldn't just take them with her without even a warning no matter how confident she was in their love.

Crystal couldn't help but sigh. 'She cares for us just as much, after all… though I wish she didn't even have to worry.'

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-Follower Summoning (Cynthia) has been activated!

—Cynthia's projection can be sustained for:  5 hours 13 minutes 25 seconds

Obviously, the raven-haired girl knew what her partner wanted to discuss before she had even been summoned out of her body. But she didn't take the initiative to reveal it, and just smiled curiously as she plopped down next to the crimson-haired beauty on the sofa.

"What is it? For you to call me out in a place so… lively, I guess you must have a good reason?"

Samantha and Crystal shifted awkwardly, while Dixie and Noelle just frowned.

Although they'd been aware of Cynthia's existence for a while now, they didn't really have much of an understanding of her 'character', or who she was as a person.

After all, while Emilia trusted them, they couldn't just blindly believe in her words. Otherwise, wouldn't Crystal be the purest, most saintly girl in the world, and Dixie the cutest, most obedient one?

Of course, being of the same otherworldly species as Emilia, they couldn't deny that their girlfriend hadn't exaggerated how pretty the girl was, but that hardly mattered much.

Noelle didn't even want to guess her 'image' in the girl's mind, so it was only natural to not fully believe that Cynthia could be as benevolent and kind as the crimson-haired beauty claimed.

Obviously, much of their 'bias' against Cynthia stemmed from Crystal's 'observations' from her brief meeting with the raven-haired girl. Though she had been reluctant to share much, the blonde wasn't particularly good at concealing her thoughts, especially in front of someone as sharp and astute as Noelle.

As if feeling their 'thoughts', Cynthia turned her emerald eyes to the 'offenders', staying on each one for only a moment before moving away.

She may not have said anything, but they could clearly feel the disdain from her gaze.

Of course, although Cynthia wasn't 'afraid', she still subconsciously concealed it from Emilia.

"You know why…"

Cynthia smirked. "I won't if you don't say it."

Emilia sighed. "Alright… tell me then, how do I take everyone back with me?"

The raven-haired girl tapped her lip thoughtfully. "Even if we had an unlimited amount of energy, you can't just take 'everyone' back with you. Well, I think so, at least."

Emilia blinked in surprise. "You… think?"

Cynthia nodded. "Mhm… it honestly depends on how they feel for you. I can only create the bond and pull, whether they can be dragged along or not depends on their 'resistance' to the shift."

The crimson-haired girl mulled over her words for a while, and after a few clarifications, it soon became clear to her. "So every person I 'link' to while we're leaving will need some energy to 'move', and if they even subconsciously 'resist' leaving this world somehow, the link will break, and the energy will be lost?"

Cynthia chuckled. "That's not all. If it happens too late in the process… they might even be lost between the two planes. If they're lucky, they'll 'return' to their own world, though probably in a different time and space, and if they're unlucky… well, I guess they'd be instantly atomized."

Emilia understood that her partner was warning her out of goodwill this time, so she obviously didn't get very upset by her words, but the same couldn't be said for her girlfriends.

Weren't the raven-haired girl's words the same as doubting the sincerity of their feelings for Emilia?!

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