"What about me?"

Kyla’s question directed all the attention towards her.

"Indeed, she’s still part of the group but..."

"Maybe we should have kidnapped her AFTER we dealt with Richard’s issues"

"Can’t we just leave her here?"

While everyone was whispering about the problems with Kyla’s participation, Hana was the one who voiced out the most logical idea.

"Would she mind?"

Richard asked, he didn’t really have a good idea on how Kyla felt but he thought that she wouldn’t really feel well being left behind alone in a house that was likely filled with mystical things.

While the fantasy of a magical tower owned by a flower fairy was something people may want to experience. The house that Richard, Cindy and Ragnar lived in was anything but-

The living room was a mess of tomes which Cindy got her hands on using the money she took from Richard’s stash.

The kitchen smelled badly of the curing meat that was made from the mystical beasts hunted by Ragnar.

Finally, the second floor was filled with the tools and other mystical objects that were owned by Cindy, taken out by the Goddess and test creations of Richard.

It’s not like he created two artifacts in one try right?

Even the gun was barely successful because he had the assistance of Cindy.

Moreover, he can’t just start crafting artifacts because of magic. There were trials he had to go through and those failed products were scattered about in the second floor of the house.

Normally, one would think that following along with Richard and the others was safer than staring in a house where a wendigo like monster could randomly appear- just because.

But surprisingly, Kyla didn’t seem to mind.

"I’ve talked with mom and dad, I won’t be able to use magic but Dad already passed on the ownership of the artifacts to me. After you’re done with your revenge, could I ask for an advance? Not money, just a twerk to the brass knuckles... maybe turn it into a baton or a gun if possible..."

Kyla’s words left Richard speechless, while he had some questions about the quick actions taken by Kellin and Yarah.

The fact that Kyla spent most of the time in his workshop with the Goddess was enough of a reason for him to just- accept the fact.

Somehow, Richard already developed an idea of "if it’s the goddess, then it should work".

<This revenge plot, I won’t assist you though>

"Why?"

<It’s a test, if you succeed then you’ve proven your ability. If you fail? As long as Cindy could harvest your body then we could do something about it. Also, your soul could take on a different vessel>

"..."

There were some things he wanted to say but he decided not to.

While he viewed this revenge plot as a gamble, everyone else seems to take it as a done deal, one that had zero losses.

"It’s not like you have anything to lose right? Even your life is not that big of a deal now. At worst, you’d end up like the Goddess and Ragnar- also, your dead body is pretty vulnerable. Easy pickings for a pact"

Cindy acted out her "cute and innocent" face while giving him the full plan she had in place.

Whether she could succeed in her plan or not, it would depend on the failure or success of Richard’s plan.

"Haaa...."

Richard could only let out a sigh as he pocketed the magic gun. He had yet to test the halberd but that did not need much testing.

It was basically a magic stick with a pointy tip.

All it did was extend Richard’s reach with his close contact magic.

While he would have loved to bide his time, get stronger and reach a power level equal to or even greater than his ancestor before making a move.

Something inside him was screaming for him to act immediately.

But the news reports and the online resources he went through showed nothing major happening.

The streets were calm and aside from the thing at the junkyard and the gas leak explosion, nothing else happened.

Moreover, the stories that involved the "mystical" did not really change in frequency.

It was still the same old y*ut*b* channels talking about wendigo’s and other mystical creatures. Nothing about witches or the like.

Even searching witches only had videos that tried to paint witches as abused women or as "products of the patriarchy".

Just the normal political pandering and escapist media.

Still, there was something inside Richard that grew stronger the more he developed magic.

<Merlin was a clairvoyant, it’s an inherent ability which he made sure to pass down his bloodline- at least, that’s what the legends about him in the mystical world claim>

The Goddess neither confirmed nor denied his thoughts, all she did was give him random pieces of information that vaguely connected to his own suspicions.

But maybe her roundabout way of confirming or denying his thoughts was also her own personal way of helping him out?

After all, some of his crazy ideas would have broken him.

<...>

With no response from the Goddess, Richard finally calmed himself down.

"We need to take action immediately, I’m sure you’re all worried and yes, I don’t have a concrete plan but... so does Andrea. Maybe she has connections to witches or other mystical organizations. Maybe they set up a trap for me. But- I’m sure they won’t expect Ragnar"

"I don’t mind being the vanguard, I’ve charged into even more hopeless situations under Merlin’s order, this ones childsplay"

Ragnar did not seem to be bothered but Richard did not stop there.

"They also won’t be expecting... the... fact that I learned magic and made a magic gun and halberd!"

Richard was so close to saying something bad at that moment but he held back. He maintained his serious atmosphere as he turned to Cindy.

"How many pets could you help out?"

"The original three are enough, the rest would only become cannon fodder and that would be a waste"

"Cannon fodder would be helpful..."

"Are you planning to start a war?"

"Hehe"

*cringe*

Richard made a silly remark as he tried to respond with an "oopsie" attitude but Cindy didn’t seem at all impressed.

Well of course she wouldn’t, it was one thing for a cute girl to do it but a man?

It doesn’t matter how hot one was, for a man to make a cute "oopsie" was just the peak of cringe.

If he did it in a cool way, he would have at least been a "handsome prince" or if he had a "shota like" appearance then he’d be forgiven.

But he was a genuine American man, he may not have much hair on his face but his features were too "manly".

Richard’s appearance was at that point where he looked "a bit manly" but not "Chad". He was just a "bit of a hunk" and that kind of man was doing the "air head gesture".

Fortunately for Richard, there was no other man in the area. At least he wouldn’t need to smell vomit but he did get the ire of Cindy.

Because of that, Richard did not keep up the act for long as he turned to the Goddess.

"Your teleportation works with strong intent right?"

<Mm-hm?>

"You could read my mind and memories, you should know what I want to ask you right?"

The goddess paused, for the first time, she hesitated as she looked Richard straight in the face and asked.

<Are you sure?>

"Is she there?"

<tomorrow... night- maybe>

The hesitation in the Goddess’ response made Richard suspicious but he can’t really force her to do his bidding.

But it did plant a certain seed of doubt in his mind. But he didn’t let it cloud his judgement.

"How about the other things?"

<Those would work better>

The Goddess could teleport to areas with a strong connection to the people whom she made a pact with. She could also teleport to areas where objects that have a strong bond with those she made a pact with exists.

While the things Richard had left behind were items which he had before his awakening. Since he was of mystical descent, he had a suspicion that the items he owned were at least influenced by him even if it was only a little.

He didn’t expect them to have obtained magical properties but the connection he had to some items should be strong enough.

Fortunately his guess was on the mark- although he wished it wasn’t but the first response the goddess gave really did mess with him a bit.

After all, the item he thought of at that time was a pair of rings-

Rings which were supposed to open the next Chapter to Andrea and Damien’s life.

Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, the day he was going to propose just happened to be the day when Andrea’s attitude towards him took a turn for the worse.

It wasn’t outward hate, but maybe it was his mystical heritage at play but he felt Andrea change.

That day marked the loss of the flame that kept their relationship together.

Happy moments became dull and even the joyful trips and dates they went to became cold.

Although Andrea did start to pester Richard about marriage on that day- she even went as far as to subtly hint at being aware of his purchases.

’I... hope- no... ’

There was a spark of hope that lit up in his heart but Richard kept it down. He didn’t want to experience another moment of shock.

He already went through it once, he won’t go through it again.

While he was going through such thoughts, the Goddess only stared coldly at Richard. Her emotions were unreadable as she maintained her regular apathetic expression but Cindy who was curiously assessing the interaction between them noticed the subtle change in the Goddess mood.

’I knew it was interesting~’

The young witch thought as she too repressed her own emotions, stifling the grin that was threatening to form on her face.

’I can’t spoil the drama... it would be fun to watch how Richard reacts’

She didn’t know anything but as someone who lived in the mystical world for more than half of her life. If there was anything she knew about truth and lies- it was that truth being discovered is more entertaining to watch than having it be revealed.

The group was in a chaotic mess but there were people who were calm.

"I don’t know what the hell is going on but I don’t want to die"

"If you fear death, then don’t join in."

"I really want to but..."

"Ahh~ true, it’s difficult to evade the goddess"

"Can’t you kill her? Didn’t you and the bear skins maul God’s to death?"

"That was years ago, when we had the support Merlin and the blessing of Avalon"

Ragnar and Hana avoided getting involved in whatever fucked up situation Richard and the others were in.

Kyla on the other hand found an isolated spot, closed her eyes and hugged the pair of brass knuckles tightly, ignoring whatever was happening behind her.