Chapter 420: It's been a while

"Who is the person that knows the way?"

"Truth be told this is just a guess, I'm not really sure of it. Still, there should be a couple of people with the knowledge that you seek."

"I understand, so can you tell me who they are?" Valdel nodded his head as he asked.

"One of them is actually here. She's the one Ren came to meet."

"Oh, so the Demonic Fox knows where the entrance to the underworld is located."

"Supposedly, she might possibly know where it is at. Since the Guardian is linked to the tree of life, which knows everything that goes around in this world. It is possible that the tree has provided lady Tsukiko with the knowledge. You could ask her, but I'm not sure if she would tell you."

"Then just in case who the others that would know about the location of the entrance?"

"The Temples would most likely know of the location. I'm not really sure which ones but based on the relationships between the deities... I'm guessing the Temples of the Goddess of Light, the Goddess of Darkness, the God of Stone, the God of War, and of course the Temple of the God of Death would most likely know of the entrance."

"The Temple of the God of War, I know where that is, but where are the Temples of the Goddess, of Light, the Goddess of Darkness, the God of Stone, and the God of Death located at?"

"The Temple of the Goddess of light is in a human kingdom called the Holy Kingdom. That kingdom only believes in the Goddess of light and thinks that all other deities are weaker and less important. The Temple of the Goddess of light has the worst relationship with all other temples. Still, despite their very provocative ways, the other temples are unable to deal with them, since the Temple of the Goddess of light is the largest and most powerful temple of them all. The only way for them to lose is if all the other temples join together, which would b unlikely. As the one who has the most believers, they should have a general idea of where the entrance to the underworld is."

"The Temple of the Goddess of Darkness is almost the exact opposite of the Temple of the Goddess of Light. The Temple of the Goddess of Darkness is located to the west beyond the desert. The followers of this Temple, are very secretive and are few in numbers, but I heard each member is an elite. Each individual member of this Temple is at minimum at the Sword Saint Level. The relationship between the Temples of Darkness and Death are closely linked, so they might know where the entrance is."

"Now there's the Temple of the God of Stone. This Temple's worshippers are mostly dwarves, who are said to be the children of the newly appointed God. They came into existence a few years after the Death of Demon Lord Kretos. Supposedly the God of Stone knows of the location of anything and anyone that has touched a rock or even a pebble, that would mean that as long as they exist in this world they cannot escape his sights. You can find the Temple in the stronghold of the dwarves at far North."

"Of course, finally there's the Temple of the God of Death. Even though there is a Temple dedicated to him, but its location seems to be changing from year to year, so as of now I do not know where they are at."

"I see, thank you for giving me all that information." Valdel bowed his head.

"Valdel I will once again warn you, Life and Death are a part of nature, to forcefully try and change the cycle will cost you dearly. Are you sure that you're prepared to pay that cost?"

"... Truth be told I'm not really sure if I'm doing the right thing, or if I'm just being selfish, but this is something I feel that I must do. I will deal with whatever comes afterward but for now, I need to meet her." The resolve in Valdel's eyes never wavered as they even grew more intense.

"I see, then there's nothing more that I can say."

...

After talking with Kara, Valdel immediately headed to the Tree of Life to talk to Tsukiko. As he arrived Leila had pounced at him. Valdel was able to react quickly and evaded Leila's attack. Leila once again pounced, but Valdel kept on evading. As he continued to evade Valdel spoke to Leila.

"What do you think you're doing? Why are you attacking me?"

"You're a stranger that suddenly came to Big Sis Tsukiko's territory. Of course, I'm going to attack you."

"Stand down Leila, that's a friend of mine," Ren spoke which made Leila look at Valdel in surprise.

"You're a friend of big bro, then why didn't you tell me?"

"It's because you didn't give me chance, also did you call him big bro? Ren, did you make this girl call you big bro, is that a kink of yours?"

"I didn't make her call me that, she decided to call me that all on her own," Ren responded while shrugging his shoulders.

"Oh, you're the kid that won the tournament. What was your name again, V- something." Tsukiko joined in the conversation.

"It's Valdel, you little fox."

"Oh, as expected of a friend of Ren, you're very rude. Well, since you're his friend I'll forgive you this one time."

"Hmm, how am I rude? I'm just calling a naughty little fox, a little fox."

"Oho, Quite fearless as expected for one so young."

"For your information, I believe that I was the older one between the two of us."

"That tone of yours was funny at first, boy, but now it's starting to get irritating. Do you even know who you're speaking to?"

"Of course I do, aren't you the scared little fox that called herself a demon lord? Aren't I right, Demonic Fox Tsukiko?" When Tsukiko heard what Valdel said she suddenly emitted killing intent as she looked at him with a cold glare.

"You know who I am and yet you still talk so rudely to me? The only one I can allow to talk to me like that is Ren, and no other. Ren, will you please allow me to teach your friend some manners." Ren was about to answer when Valdel interrupted him.

"No need to ask for permission from Ren, it's not like you're going to be able to do anything to me anyway. On the other hand, I'll be spanking a naughty brat's behind."

"Fine, you two do whatever you want just don't kill each other." Ren shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.

"Don't worry I won't kill this friend of yours, but he would wish that I did." Tsukiko's eight tails suddenly erupted with flames at the tip. Tsukiko was about to unleash her foxfire when she saw Valdel taking a stance. At first, she was surprised to see him using that stance, but then she remembered that Ren also taught Lara how to use Kir's fighting techniques.

"It would seem that you do know a bit about me, but do you think I'll be scared seeing you use the Mighty lord Kir's fighting stance? Aside from Ren and Kir himself, no one else can properly use those techniques. So stop embarrassing yourself and just let me punish you."

"Aside from Ren and Kir?... Well, I guess you're right, but little fox, have you truly forgotten who I am?"

"Huh? What are you saying, didn't I already say you're Ren's friend Valdel."

"Yeah, that's right, but you also know me as someone else. Can't you remember little fox? Who was the one that saved you when Darius came to finish you off?"

When Tsukiko heard what Valdel said she was surprised. Aside from three people no one else knew of that event, not even Ren as Kretos. The only ones who knew were her, Darius, and Kir. That's when Tsukiko came to a sudden realization and looked at Valdel with a shocked expression. Seeing her reaction Valdel couldn't help but smile, as he gathered mana into his fist, which he then released upward.

When Tsukiko saw how perfectly executed that technique was, the image of that Lycan who saved her on that day seems to have merged with the person standing before her now.

"It can't be? Are you the Demon Lord of the Lycans, the Mighty Lord Kir?" When Tsukiko asked that question, Leila, who was confused as to what was happening looked at Kir with a dumbfounded expression. Ren, on the other hand, was just watching at the side with not much reaction.

"Well, you finally got it. Though I guess as Ren said, Kir is dead and now only Valdel remains. It's been a while little fox." Tsukiko who was dumbfounded by the entire sequence of events smiled wryly.

"First, Ren reincarnated into a human, then Leila was revived from the ice, and now even Kir came back as Ren's human friend. What's happening here, are all the demons of the past that were connected to Ren reviving in this era? So who's going to be next, is it Demon Empress Nimune, or Vampiric Lord Darius who's going to reincarnate and remember who they are in their past life?" Tsukiko who was usually easy-going, couldn't help but be a little bit overwhelmed by the situation she was in.

"Who knows they might have already reincarnated as well, maybe you already met them and you just don't know it," Valdel responded with a tired smile on his face. "Still, now that we're on the same page. Tsukiko do you remember that you owe me one? I came here to collect." Valdel's smile disappeared from his face as he looked at Tsukiko in a serious manner. Seeing that look Valdel was showing her, Tsukiko calmed down a bit and responded.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing big, I just want information. Do you know the location to the entrance of the underworld?"