I sighed as Cici, my mom, Rachel, and myself made to the rock that housed the portal chamber underneath it. I haven't been so relieved in my entire life. I didn't feel right being on Earth anymore, and I didn't feel like myself. On the way here, Cici had told me that she felt kinda like that too, and she attributed it to Earth having no mana. We still had our powers and abilities, but some of them felt muted in some ways.
We had quickly picked up my mother, and it was funny watching her glare at Rachel during the whole walk to the portal. I wasn't necessarily happy with the fact that she wanted to go with us, but she had already seen a lot, and besides an emotional response, I truly didn't have a reason to deny her. I felt like I would be no worse than her or Keith if I just made a decision like that based on how I felt, since she really didn't do anything terribly wrong. Besides, my heart had been mended, and then expanded, thanks to Cici.
"It's... a rock." Rachel mumbled, causing me to laugh.
"Yup. A nice, big rock." I replied, and she squinted her eyes at me.
"It's not just a rock. I can feel... something." My mom said, causing both myself and Cici to raise our eyebrows.
"How can you tell?" Cici asked, and my mom shrugged.
"No idea... I just know. Is that weird?" My mom asked.
"Well... yeah. But, you're not wrong." I said, and nodded at Cici to continue.
My mom had said a few things recently that had intrigued me, but I didn't know exactly what it was. My feeling from her didn't show any mana... but I had noticed something was different about her compared to other humans, but I didn't know what. After a moment, I decided that my best bet was to just bring her home, and see what the Framework said. I was more than done with this shitty Earth arc of ours, and I just wanted to get the hell off of this world.
Cici placed her hands upon the rock, and once again, mana coursed through her hand and into the rock, causing it to disappear right before our eyes. I probably should ask her how to do that, in case I did have to use it at some point. My hope was obviously to not have to, but you really never knew what could come up. My mom and Rachel both jumped back and their eyes widened significantly.
"HOLY SHIT!" Rachel exclaimed.
"I don't believe my eyes..." My mom muttered much more quietly.
"This way." Cici said, gesturing them to continue on down the stairs.
Rachel and my mom looked at her, at each other, and then finally at me. I sighed.
"Nothing bad will happen. There's a portal at the bottom that will bring us home... to the other world. Once we're there, we'll answer more of your questions and teach you things about it, but for now... can we just go?" I said, ending my sentence with a pleading look that must have looked quite odd on my face.
With one final pause, both women nodded, and then proceeded down the stairs, my mom taking the lead, making me breathe a sigh of relief. Once they were inside, I followed behind them, with Cici waiting for me near the entrance. Once I was in far enough, she closed the entrance back up, the large rock asserting its form back into place. Cici then laced her fingers through my right hand, making me smile down at her as we proceeded down the stairs together.
The other two had already reached the bottom and were waiting, staring at the large blue entrance to the other world in awe by the time Cici and I had reached the final step. I watched with some amusement as they circled around the portal, almost like it was a dangerous creature that they had no idea how to explain.
I didn't really understand it much other than it was magic, and I was supposedly a godlike being. I didn't really live like one, but I really didn't care. My life was terrible for long, that enjoying the simple pleasures of life without any pain was good enough for me, and I didn't care what I was. I just wanted to live my life and love my wife. Maybe explore, do some cool fantasy world things, and have some fun. Being able to one shot everything was just a happy bonus.
"You... want us to go in this?" My mom asked cautiously, and I nodded.
"That's the plan." I said simply.
Rachel on the other hand looked a little giddy. I had almost forgotten, but she did like this kind of stuff. Well, by that I mean, she read a lot of fantasy world smut and the like, but she always would talk about how interesting the magic systems were, or how well it was incorporated into the sex. Oddly enough, the Framework did make having sex pretty easy. Women being able to avoid pregnancy with a simple "Yes" or "No" was a pretty cool cheat.
"Can we go?" Rachel asked, and I just nodded.
"Go for it." I said, and without any preamble, she jumped inside. She didn't have to literally leap through it, but she did anyways. At least she was feeling better, I guess.
I grabbed my mom's hand as it was clear she was still hesitant to enter.
"It's fine. I'm right here with you." I said, and Cici, to my surprise and gratitude, took my mom's other hand.
"I'm here too." Cici said with a smile, and I was so glad to see her coming back to herself. It still might take some time, but I knew she'd be okay.
Together, all three of us stepped on through, and the sight that awaited us was kind of amusing, I'll admit. Rachel was currently looking around at the multicolored trees, grass, and plant life like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Hell, right now, for her, it probably was.
"Oh wow... this is... beautiful." My mom said, looking around in awe.
"I think you'll be pleased once we reach the village." Cici said, and that had me thinking about how nice it'll be to go back home and take a damn bath.
As I thought that, I looked up into the sky, and actually began laughing. The sun had barely moved. We were gone for hours, but it seemed like barely an hour had passed here. Hell, I wasn't good with math, so it could be even less. Made no fucking sense. Maybe this world existed in a different dimension or something, but ultimately, I didn't really care. Earth didn't concern me anymore. I'd only go back if I absolutely had to, or if I figured out how to make the electronics or something work here. I did miss anime and video games.
"What's this box in my face??" Rachel asked, and my mom echoed her a moment later.
I chuckled as I grabbed Cici's hand, and gestured for them to follow. We had a short walk, so I'd explain we'd explain the Framework to them as best we could, and answer more questions later when we got back. Right now, I just wanted to go home with my family, and with my mom back... it was complete.
■ ■ ■
Clarissa sat in her room at her desk, and let out a heavy sigh. Being the Baroness was a duty she had taken willingly, as she wanted to prove that those of noble station could, and should care about more people than just themselves. Even though she technically held the lower noble rank, that didn't mean she didn't have a voice. She had been in contact with various other towns, and even larger cities, speaking to the others who ruled in those areas.
Most of the smaller towns were ruled by the Barons and Baronesses, with some of larger major trading hubs belonging to a Viscount. Like every rank system though, someone alway answered to someone else. Just like the man who was sent here today. The Count of Morston, Reynold Rentier. He was actually a fairly kind and fair man, as far as nobles went. Her dad never liked him, which she immediately took as a good sign. He was also a very strong man at A rank, and from what she heard, he gained all of his power legitimately through hardwork and training.
He had done a great deal with helping her secure good and honest people to work as her guard, as well as helped negotiate trade deals as well as a steady supply of goods and services like food and clothing, just to name a couple. In short, he was a good man who was more than happy to help Clarissa once he found out that her father had been succeeded by her. Although, many people in the nobility did not feel she earned her title fairly, as she only received it because her father had been slain.
Many of the nobility even accused her of killing her father, while most of the intelligent ones knew that there was no way she was strong enough to pull off something like that. The official story, given by not just her, but many of the citizens, was that he was killed by a power and mysterious stranger, and thag the baron did something he shouldn't have. It was easier to avoid much scrutiny since she had also provided a heavy amount of documentation on his crimes and misdeeds.
"Ma'am."
Clarissa was drawn from her thoughts by her guard caption, a very strong B ranked woman named Marina. She was strong, loyal, and had been helping her ever since she first met and hired her. Clarissa didn't understand why a woman so much stronger than herself would want to work for her, but she appreciated everything Marina did for her nonetheless.
"Yes Marina." Clarissa asked.
"Count Reynold Rentier is here." She said, and then stepped out of the way for the man to enter.
Clarissa had gotten a message from the Count directly from a courier. It was an urgent message sent via a message crystal. Those were expensive, so she knew that whatever this was couldn't be good. All he said was that he'd be arrived in 4 days from that time, and now, here he was. Clarissa held back a sigh.
The man that walked in looked to be around his mid thirties, but he was probably far older than that. The stronger you became, the longer you extended your lifespan. He had brown hair neatly combed back, and he had a short goatee. His piercing blue eyes stood out the most, accented by his very elegant and expensive looking outfit, which was a open dress coat, sleek black pants, and a black pair of dress shoes. His coat was outline with blue and gold threaded into the seams, as were his pants. His outfit probably cost more than Bergast had right now.
"Baroness Clarissa Osark." He said, and he surprised her by giving her a respectful bow.
"N-No need for that, Count Reynold! You are a much higher station than me!" Clarissa blurted out as she stood and bowed back, and Reynold actually smiled at her.
"A gentleman always bows to a lady." He said simply, causing Clarissa to blush.
"W-Would you like some tea?" Clarissa asked, and he once again smiled.
"I'm quite all right." He said, walking to the chair in front of her desk, and gestured for her to sit back down. As he sat down, his mood immediately changed, and Clarissa did not like it one bit, "I am unfortunately not here to deliver pleasant news."
"No... no I figured not. How bad is it?" Clarissa asked, and that caused a smirk to return to Reynold's lips.
"You are a breath of fresh air, young lady." He said, before the smirk vanished as quickly as it came, "I was sent by Marquis Goldwinn, who works directly under the Duke."
Clarissa froze, as that was definitely not what she expected to hear. The Duke, Martin Seruud, the one who ruled over their territory. Many different villages, towns, and cities were within the territory that the Duke ruled over from the capital city of Arbigold. What a man like him could possibly want from her, she couldn't know. Despite what happened, a man like him wouldn't get involved with a lower rank like her.
"What... is going on?" Clarissa asked, a sudden surge of fear overcoming her.
Reynold took a deep breath, before looking her in the eyes.
"He requests that you visit the capital as early as possible to settle a dispute that has been brought up by the Duke of the neighboring territory of Darumond. He claims that your acquisition of the title is outrageous, and claims foul play. He wants answers, and consequences. Duke Martin Seruud wishes to work this issue out before it goes even higher than them. Like... the Grand Duke for example."
Clarissa gulped. That was far too much for her. It was already. Clarissa didn't even know who this other Duke was other than he went by Duke Karovac. A lot of her information was given to her by her father, but he actually probably talked about Darumond the least. He never had anything to say about any of them, let alone their Duke.
"Is there a reason why this Duke is doing this? He has no stake in our territory." Clarissa asked, her anxiety beginning to eat away at her, and what she heard was not what she wanted to hear.
"You probably don't know this, given your reaction..." He said, grimacing before he met Clarissa's eyes, "The Duke of Darumond, his full name, is Karovac Osark. His brother was Renard Osark, your father."
Clarissa's blood became colder than any spell she could cast.