Chapter 180

The Enchanted Lands, Jingshi. Karla Amatsu furrowed her brow as she sat at an outdoor table. She had hurried to Jingshi from the Heavenly Paradise after learning of the Dark Core’s collapse. And from what she had heard, a door to the Netherworld had opened, and multiple people had gone missing, among them her friends Terakomari Gandesblood and Nelia Cunningham. Actually, it sounded like she was the only one of the Six Valkyries who was still here. It was too ridiculous to believe, but there had been multiple witnesses, and the door was open right beside her, to boot. The phenomenon was right in the middle of the ruins of the Zijingong, which had been destroyed by a meteorite. A circular hole in the air. About three Karlas tall. It glowed white, preventing you from seeing anything inside. Karla had already tried throwing a pebble at it. The rock had vanished into the door and hadn’t fallen anywhere on the other side, so it must’ve been transported to the Netherworld. She let out a huge sigh. There was no time to mope around, but the shock of her friends disappearing was too great. Anxiety over their safety whirled inside her chest. “Don’t worry, Lady Karla. Terakomari Sensei must be all right.” Ninja-girl Koharu cheered her up with a pat on the shoulder. Thankful for the consideration, Karla looked up at her servant. “Yes. She wouldn’t die so easily.” “By the way, Terakomari’s fortune for today was dreadful. I asked the Osui Palace’s Department of Divinities to read it for me, and the result was ‘super-terrible luck.’ Apparently, there’s a great chance of her spontaneously combusting just by walking outside.” “Could you please not…?” Better to not put stock in fortunes. What Karla needed to do right now was come up with a plan based on reality. Determined, she looked at her surroundings. Distinguished individuals had convened at the roundtable. The Mulnite Empress. The Polar Union’s general secretary. Aruka’s vice president. Lapelico’s prince. And the Enchanted Lands’ former Tianzi. A Six Nations Council was about to be held. “Now then, let us talk about what our course of action will be,” spoke the blond vampire sitting next to Karla. Mulnite Empress Karen Helvetius. Under normal circumstances, the former Tianzi would have been leading this meeting, but he was shaking in his seat. He was too overwhelmed by the shock of losing the Dark Core and his beloved daughter, and he kept mumbling to himself, “Lingzi… Lingzi…” So after drawing lots, they’d decided to let the Empress be the emcee. “Mulnite hasn’t delivered a statement regarding internal affairs after the Dark Core’s collapse. That is the Enchanted Lands’ problem. We’re happy to help, but we have no intention of proactively involving ourselves. Any objections, former Tianzi Yizhu Ailan?” “No… The ministers are discussing the matter elsewhere… But Lingzi! Where is Lingzi…? We need to find her…!” “Exactly. That’s the problem.” The Empress gave the door a cold glance as she continued. “That portal must lead to another world, and we believe it appeared alongside the collapse of the Dark Core. Which would mean Terakomari Gandesblood and Lingzi Ailan were transported to the other side. We have to do something about it.” “Let’s send a survey team over to the Netherworld right away!!” A young man slammed the table as he stood up. A beast-folk with the head of a chicken—the prince of the Lapelico Kingdom. “One of our precious commanders was also embroiled in this!! Losing Leona is a tremendous blow to our nation!! If none of you act, then I will go through that door alone!!” “Calm down, Prince. You shouldn’t act recklessly.” “How can I calm down?! Leona was going to have a dinner with me!! I won’t let anyone ruin my schedule!! I’ll put them in the grave!!” “I have to agree…,” said Aruka’s vice president. He was a timid-looking Warblade with a mustache. Karla had heard he’d been Nelia’s guard back in the Aruka Kingdom days. “Aruka is at a standstill without Lady Nelia. We agree with the prince.” “Right!! And what about you?! I’m ready to go to the Netherworld right this moment!! So?! You, from the Heavenly Paradise!! You’ve been staring at the door this whole time!!” Karla jumped at being thrown the ball. The chicken glared at her with fuming indignation. “Whose side are you on?! Mine?! Or someone else’s?!” “No… I…” She wanted to go find Komari and Nelia right this moment, but there were too many unknowns. Things could blow up in her face if she staged a rescue without a plan. “…I think we need a bit more information before we act. Going in without adequately preparing ourselves could be catastrophic.” “…!!” The chicken turned dark red like a grape. I’m gonna have nightmares about this. “You, the ninja!! I don’t know much about you, but you’re a fan of Terakomari Gandesblood, right?! Don’t you wanna say a thing or two to your master?!” “I can’t, as her servant. By the way, Lady Karla hates emotional animals like you.” “Koharu! Shut up!” “She said she’s gonna make fried chicken out of you.” “I’m so sorry Mr. Chicken she doesn’t mean it please forgive us.” “I AM NOT A CHICKEN!!” The prince jumped at her with a cock-a-doodle-doo. Karla shrieked and ran away. The fuming chicken scattered feathers everywhere as he gave chase. Karla nearly passed out from sheer terror, but she would die if she did, so she pushed herself to keep running. “STOPPP!!” “NOW YOU’VE RUFFLED MY FEATHERS!!” The chicken rampaged. The Goddess fled. The vice president shivered. The general secretary grinned. The former Tianzi crouched under the table and mumbled, “Lingzi…” And then, the Mulnite Empress… “PIPE DOWN, Prince! Running after Karla won’t solve anything.” …gave a thunderous shout. “Aw…” The chicken came to a halt under the pressure. “…Egg on my face!! I admit I lost my cool…!!” The chicken broke into a cold sweat as he returned to his seat. Karla glanced at the Empress with a furrowed brow. She looked grimmer than ever. Perhaps she was the one most affected by Komari’s disappearance. The general secretary rested his head in his hand and asked a question. “So, Your Majesty, what is your plan?” “We have an expert coming. Let’s ask for her opinion.” “An expert…?”