Arpious of the Planes

"Mm…" I slowly nodded my head with my knees nearly buckling upon my overflowing emotions.

"Alright, just sit down," Mother said, bringing me over to a chair and then helping Zehar up, who had just opened his eyes.

He tried to fight against her help, but after a few stern words and glaring eyes, he finally gave in and just shut up.

His grumbles of anger and disappointment didn't stop even as my mother sat down, but this time I knew what question she would ask.

"Tell me where Hades is… now."

…

(Arpious POV)

"Tell me where Hades is… now."

They were silent as I uttered these words, but even if they didn't say anything, I could already expect Yin to take me to him.

I just wanted to test how much my children really trusted me right now.

"He's still in your castle… the one we all used to live in. But, I will say, he isn't the same boy that you used to know," One of them spoke up, but what surprised me was that it was Zehar instead of Flora.

But I didn't immediately assume Flora didn't trust me. Instead, I believed that she wanted to protect me from Hades for some reason.

It was as if she expected me to be disappointed in him or something.

"I will say, though… I don't think you'll like how he turned out. He was an abusive husband before his wife eventually ran away with his children… and he's turned into such a heavy smoker to appease the stress of being king that just walking into his office will guarantee you a cloud of smoke in the face,"

"So he couldn't handle the stress, huh? Makes sense," I muttered before slowly getting up out of my chair and walking over to Flora.

She stood up before me and gave me a warm and comforting hug, this time without the nerves of before.

And once I moved on to Zehar, I noticed he had also stood up, but as always, his face was glaring at me.

"You haven't earned my forgiveness yet,"

"Then I'll work hard to one day earn your forgiveness,"

Yin soon appeared behind me, already knowing what to do as I needed a guide back to that place since it had been quite a while.

Losing myself in these mountains is definitely possible, plus it's nice to have somebody to talk to while speeding through trees.

『Status』

[Name: Flora]

[Race: Cursed Nature Dryad]

[Status: Happy]

[Level: 91/100]

[HP: 300/500  MP: 800/800  SP: 300/500]

[Strength: 70]

[Defense: 70]

[Magic: 400]

[Speed: 150]

[Luck: 1]

[Charisma: 25]

[Skills: [Body Enhancement] [Black Jungle Magic] [Ancient Forest Magic] [Domain of the Fallen Haven] [Plant Manipulation] [Plant Growth] [Black Vine Creation] [Black Vine Manipulation] [Cursed Roots of the Ent Creation] [Cursed Roots of the Ent Manipulation] [Ancient Fire Magic: Amaterasu] [Starving Fruit Creation]

[Body Modifications: [Cursed Blood]

[Titles: [Third Horseman of the Apocalypse]

…

『Status』

[Name: Zehar]

[Race: Deathly Plague Siren]

[Status: Sad]

[Level: 100/100]

[HP: 500/500  MP: 700/700  SP: 500/500]

[Strength: 160]

[Defense: 150]

[Magic: 160]

[Speed: 160]

[Luck: 1]

[Charisma: 50]

[Skills: [Body Enhancement] [Fire Magic] [Wind Magic] [Intense Focus] [Poison Immunity] [Poison Secretion] [Deadly Poison Mist] [Flying Sense] [Smiling Malice] [Sea of Poison] [Tidal Wave of Poison] [Embodiment of Poison] [Virus] [Virus Immunity] [Disease Immunity] [Enhanced Senses] [Enhanced Regeneration] [Summon: Zombie] [Summon: Skeleton] [Summon: Plagued Horse] [Horsemans Deathly Presence]

[Body Modifications: [Poison Body]

[Titles: [One who has Suffered] [Servant] [First Horseman of the Apocalypse]

…

"You all are so powerful now… but Zehar, how come you haven't evolved yet? You've reached the cap, yet here you are, still the same evolution as before,"

"I… I don't know… I can figure it out by myself, though," He replied, but it was obvious something was up that he was already aware of.

"Then… when I come back, we'll talk about it, alright?"

"Sure…" He sighed, and as we waved the two goodbyes, I talked to some of the maids on my way out.

I told them to take care of my children as always, and upon seeing me, it seemed they gained a new burst of motivation.

"Alright, Mistress… let's go," Yin muttered, grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the massive palace doors as I just seemed to be unable to walk any further.

"You're quite bold now, aren't you? Is it because you've gained the confidence to defeat me?" I chuckled, and Yin quickly realized what she was doing and let go of me.

"S-Sorry! P-Please, forgive me!" She immediately bowed, but before she could reach full depth, I grabbed her forehead and brought her up to look straight at me.

"Don't bow so needlessly… people will think you're easy,"

"I-I'm only like this with Mistress," She muttered, nuzzling her cheek into my hand and then slowly approaching my embrace.

"I see… well, let's get going," I muttered, pushing her away and gesturing for her to take the lead.

She couldn't help but smile as she kissed the back of my hand lightly and ran with such speed that I could catch up by flying.

It took us only about half a day to reach the main capital of the Empire of Twilight, and as soon as we arrived, we walked down the top entrance.

I greeted the many new servants who didn't recognize me, but it was fine as Yin was the one leading me.

They didn't say much, but from what I saw, they were extremely kind and hardworking… all the way until we reached the lower levels, where I saw a few familiar faces.

"Ah… Mistress… is that you?" One of them asked monotonously, yet her face still held a bit of a tired smile.

I quickly healed them with my golden flames, but before I could ask them anything, they led me into an underground part of the castle, which I assumed was added after Hades rose to his throne.

"Thank you for the healing…." A few of them spoke up, slight tears running down their faces as we picked up the speed.

What the hell is Hades doing?