"Ahem, ahem." Varian cleared his throat as Isadora was about to enter the vortex.
The holy squad of three who were killed just a few minutes ago turned their heads and gave him a disapproving gaze.
"I have something to share." He said.
According to the story of Eternal Empress, he should've regressed back to the very beginning. But his time powers came in handy and he altered the starting point.
While he didn't mind spending time with the 'princess', he feared that the time wasted here might lead to unfavorable results.
If Immortal and that other guy somehow tracked them all the way to Paradise, what's the guarentee someone else wasn't doing it?
Maybe there's already a horde of assassins on the way.
Defeating Immortal—most likely his clone—seemed too difficult already. And there's another guy who's suspected to be equally strong.
Their chances of survival would plummet the longer they stayed in this wretched world.
Even if there's no assassin sharpening their daggers, the creator of paradise was an unpredictable danger.
While his head was filled with thoughts about the complex situation at hand, Isadora had turned to face him with hands folded.
"If you want to back out now, get out." She said with a contemptous tone.
But through the link they shared, Varian could sense her actual emotions. While she wanted him to accompany him to learn about her mysterious memories, princess Isadora was hesitant on letting him face the risks.
'I will most likely die, so I can't see him again. I should learn truth about these memories before I die.'
'But if he's so important in my memories, then it's not right to let him die.'
The two opinions clashed.
Previously, she decided to take him with her after she convinced herself that she'd survive and learn everything about herself.
This time, with Varian showing reluctance to enter, she decided to send him back from danger.
'Don't die, Varian…no, why do I have this thought?'
The Princess couldn't understand why that line felt so familiar. It's like she had been saying it for thousands of times already.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about dropping out." Varian raised his hands and approached the princess. "I just have some sensitive intel to share before we leave."
The holy squad's hammer warrior stepped forward and put his hand on Varian's shoulder, preventing him from reaching the princess any further.
"How about you share it with everyone? We are in this together."
Even though he spoke with a smile, the old man's eyes looked at him with a very strict gaze.
His behavior, which was seen as reluctance by Isadora, was considered as preparation for an assasination by this veteran.
From the onset, it didn't make sense for a person like him to appear out of nowhere.
Even though the princess reassured them, the veterans would rather believe the princess was decieved than change their judgement.
"Ahaha, it's something I can only share with the princess. No hard feelings." Varian gripped the wrist of the old man and moved it with a force that could easy pulverize a star.
The old man snorted and his other hand went over to his hammer.
Isadora stepped between them and created a barrier enveloping her and Varian. While it blocked off all sound and obscured lip movements, it didn't stop them from sensing the situation inside. If they felt anything was amiss, they could act immediately.
The holy squad couldn't object and begrudgingly watched the conversation unfold.But they couldn't leave it at that. They didn't trust Varian at all.
So, they used their powers and spied on what Varian was speaking.
"That old bald guy holding that hammer?"
"Huh?" The old man gripped his hammer.
"I'm dying do know. What shampoo does he use? And which barber does he visit?"
"…"
The old witch and the space wizard looked at the hammer warrior with a look of pity.
"And the old witch, why does she dress like a young woman when she's ten times their age? Grandma, no one wants to look at your cleavage. Please stop murdering
my eyes."
A killing intent spiked for a moment before the old witch retrieved it. Gnashing her teeth, she tightened her black top to fully cover her chest.
The space wizard swallowed his saliva and waited with an apprehensive expression.
"And that old guy…"
Varian's voice remained casual.
"He…"
"Gulp."
"Is really…"
"Yes?"
"Really, really…"
"Yess?"
"I mean, really…"
"You son of a bitch, are you going to say it or not?!" The space wizard slammed his staff and marched to the young man in the barrier, only to be held back by the hammer warrior and the old witch.
"Don't be so angry, Kaikoo! Let him speak." The hammer warrior elbowed him.
"He must be gathering his thoughts." The old witch laughed.
"You bastards!" The space wizard sighed and gritted his teeth.
"That old guy looks like he can fight against the two of them and still win. Shouldn't he be alone for this expedition? Didn't you say he slayed a dragon in his prime? I'm telling you, princess. This guy is enough for us."
The more Varian spoke, the more the space wizard's chest puffed out. In the end, he was puffing out so much that his back curved and it's starting to hurt.
On the other hand, the other two marched toward Varian to stop him. This time, the space wizard stopped them.
"Come on, let him speak, yeah? He must be gathering his thoughts, hahahaha!"
While the holy squad were decieved by Varian's play, he concluded the actual speech in their link.
"…So, after we pass the restriction of no sound, there will be blue crystal creatures. The real danger is their boss, a peak rank 9 beast which shoots powerful laser beams.
If we go past it, we'll be meeting the 4th prince and 9th princess of the other kingdoms. Unfortunately, the prince will be hostile.
We can't win him by ourselves."
Princess Isadora looked at him with a suspicious gaze but for reasons she didn't fully understand, trusted his words.
"Alright."
