Heaven's Greatest Professor

The first layer wasn't in darkness anymore. Actually, the first layer wasn't even a layer anymore. The earthquake was the aftereffect of the subspace dimension merging into the frontline.

After leaving May and Cole with their returned companions, he joined Jason and decided to return for good.

"We were actually inside when it happened," Jason said, "so we didn't notice much other than the darkness clearing out."

Jason had joined them along with the hundreds of soldiers who came to help with the forsaken problem, which was mostly sorted out by now. Apparently, the higher-ups worked fast on providing reinforcement, but the high time-dilation made even the fastest action outside ten times slower inside the subspace.

Ultimately, the reinforcement arrived when most of the problems were resolved, though not without taking a huge loss.

"Anyway, I forgot, I was supposed to give you this," Jason said, accessing his dimension cube to bring out a spear. "Apparently, the elder you asked made this for you, thinking you'd need it here... However, it looks like his worries were completely unnecessary."

"That's what your father made for you?" Jenni raised an eyebrow. "I thought it would be something more sophisticated than that."

Warden checked the dimensions and weight of the spear before handing it to her. It would require some rune carving before he could use it, though he reckoned this weapon would have been useful if he had it earlier while attempting the inheritance ground.

"It's heavy," she said, making a few clumsy swings before returning it to him.

"Apparently, as payment for his work, your father wanted me to guide you in runesmithing," he said offhandedly.

"What?!" Jenni cried. "Why?"

He shrugged. "That felt like forever ago... Exactly how much time did I spend here..."

It was more than half the time since he woke up near the stream by Xiv's village.

"I need a vacation," he mumbled, storing the spear in his spirit domain. "Do you guys know of any good vacation spots?"

"Doesn't your term still have like two months before you're free?" Jenni inquired.

"Fuck," he cursed.

"If you want a vacation, you might try the Elven Kingdom," Jason suggested. "I've never been there, and it's restricted for most people, but you could make it work with Professor June. I heard it's a beautiful place."

"That's a good option," he muttered, though he didn't believe it would be the right vacation spot, considering June's relationship with her elven part might not let them relax if they go there.

"Let's clear out our identities and go back to civilization," Jenni shouted. "I'm done with adventure, I want a relaxing bath now."

"Jenni!"

Jenni skidded to a stop at the cry. It was none other than Elder Ming, who stood before them, looking every bit confused and enraged at finding his daughter here.

"What are you doing here?"

***

Twilight had managed to achieve a few good points of attributes in the battle without being injured and kept herself hidden. She wasn't injured, though she had exhausted most of her spiritual body's utility.

If another subspace descended on her, she might not be able to shift into a spiritual entity in time.

She hadn't let herself get to such a degree of exhaustion in a long time. The last time had been two years ago, when she barely saved herself and her companion, and descended into this realm.

Still, it was a good workout, she told herself as she moved out of the area. Thankfully, they had lifted the lockdown they intended on the warp gates. Now she could finally leave and concentrate on her real job.

Gods, sometimes I wish they were all simple assassination missions... Twilight couldn't believe how her thinking had changed over the years.

She changed her attire to something normal, which wouldn't raise alarms at the sight of her, and entered the military camp. She still had her face hidden behind a mask, appearing as an unremarkable female soldier.

She mingled with the common soldiers as though she had been part of them from the beginning. She hadn't forgotten to camouflage her aura, ensuring others wouldn't pay attention to her unless she was right in front of them.

Suddenly, their group stopped, as there seemed to be some commotion among the high-ranking members of the military.

"Jenni, what are you doing here?!"

"F-father... umm," said a young woman, her shoulder stiffening. "Your face is red, you must not be feeling well, so I came to check on you."

"Girl, you are decades away from swaying me with such a stupid lie," the older man fumed.

"Holy shit, Elder Wang is going to give Miss Jenni another round of rebuke," said a soldier in her group.

"Hey, Barn, didn't you say you saved Miss Jenni's life inside the inheritance ground?" another private argued. "Shouldn't you go save her from her formidable father now?"

"I said I helped her out of a dire situation, not saved her life," Barn's expression reddened.

"Still, you should say something to Elder Ming," mocked a female soldier. "Who knows, you might score some points with Miss Jenni."
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Barn might have bragged about whatever help he had provided the girl to his friends, but now he couldn't muster the courage to stand before her Gold Rank father, who was berating her out in the open.

The girl, Jenni, looked around for help, but no one stepped up to save her from her father. Then she finally found what she was looking for and hid behind a man who was practically a pillar.

Twilight blinked. Her eyes narrowed on the man Jenni hid behind.

"Warden, save me," Jenni screamed. "I'll work as your assistant for a year."

The more Twilight tried to focus on the man, the more her eyes bounced off him. It was as if he had a similar aura camouflage to hers, though at a higher mastery level, even affecting her and the gold ranker.

"Warden, I respect your views," said the elder, hot air releasing from his nostrils, "but if you had any hand in letting her enter that dangerous place, I'll—"

"I had no involvement in her decision, Elder Ming," the man called Warden said, coming out into the open and removing his camouflage. "It was entirely her choice to enter the subspace. Actually, I learned about it too late, or I would have advised her against it."

A thunderbolt seemed to strike Twilight's mind as she stared at the face of the tall, white-haired man.

"Warden, please," Jenni pleaded, still trying to use him against her father.

"No, Jenni, this is your fuckup," he patted her on the shoulder. "It is time you face the consequences."

This can't be, her mind told her, yet her heart wrenched. Ai, you were right all along... but... he looks taller, even the hair colour... But most of all, why are they all calling him Warden?

His name is not Warden... his name is ...

Before Twilight could even think fast, the man in question flew up into the air.

"I'm so tired of dealing with all this," he mumbled and flew away.

Twilight's mind raced. Without thinking anything, she began chasing after the flying figure, uncaring of her appearance.

It was stupid, but she feared if she let him go out of her sight now, she might not be able to find him again.

After all, it's not every day, I find a deadman I have a weird entanglement with come back to life.