CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 389: IMPENDING RITUAL

"What kind of question is that? Obviously, because it was fun" Raya replied in a tone that really made Muku’s hand itchy.

"Don’t you even think about it. I’ll be gone before you can even think to restrain me. And then I will go report you to Mama Audrey" Raya who was as connected to Muku as ever quickly spoke the moment she sensed the slight malice from him towards her.

She immediately realised that he was thinking about spanking her. She hadn’t experienced it before, but had seen a glimpse of it from Muku’s memories when he spanked Iris. From that she decided that she was okay with not ever experiencing it.

"Tsk. Whatever. But why reveal it now then?" Muku backed off after hearing her words.

She was right after all. Their connection meant that she could react instantly to anything he tried to throw her way. And the obvious reaction would be teleporting away because, no matter what he wants to do... It won’t land if she isn’t there.

So, there was no point in trying then having an angry Audrey on his back. To that lady, Raya was like her toddler. And like all mothers with their toddlers, no matter what she does. She’ll fiercely defend her.

To Audrey, it didn’t matter that Raya was as smart as any of them when it really came down to it. What mattered was that she had the age and look of a child. So for that reason, Raya was a child who needed to be protected matter what!...

Hell, there was one time in the last month Muku pinched Raya’s ear for being naughty. Audrey immediately got involved and gave Muku an earful until he apologised to Raya.

So yeah, he’d rather not mess with Raya if it wasn’t necessary...

"Simple. There’s no reason to keep it a secret with Jade around. And I can leverage it for some favours when we’re away from her..." Raya explained with a matter-of-fact expression on her cute and chubby little face.

"What a black-hearted child..." Muku commented.

"That’s just how the world works kid. The sooner you learn, the better your life gets" Raya spoke while puffing up her chest like a wise Sage... At the very least, that’s what she thought wise Sages did.

"I knew I should’ve limited your laptop time" Muku commented while rolling his eyes.

The child was clearly repeating a line from some anime.

"Try it and I’ll cut you" Raya fiercely defended her laptop time.

After all, she could choose what to watch there. Unlike with Muku’s memories where she only saw what he allowed when he allowed it.

"It’s your brain rotting, I guess. Now if you’ll excuse me..." Muku replied while turning to leave.

"Hey wait. Before you go. Can you tell me about Believers? I mean, I was listening in when that wolf was speaking. But I felt your mental state get disturbed a bit during the Believers part so I’m curious to know why..." Raya asked something serious before Muku left.

It was quite interesting how she could switch between childish and serious mode so quickly... It also wasn’t unlike Muku.

So much so, one might say he influenced Raya. After all, she was mostly dependable at the beginning. So the bratty side was all Muku’s handwork even if he didn’t want to admit it.

"You caught on to that huh? Should’ve known. Anyway, it’s nothing serious. It’s just that, when believers were mentioned. I had this feeling that I had experienced the effect of having them. It was when Lisa and her group were praising me. It actually started with Lisa alone. But I couldn’t feel it clearly when it happened. It felt like there was a thin wall in-between me and whatever was causing the feeling. I think that’s the wall between R5 and R6. So I won’t pursue it until after I advance..." Muku explained.

There was no reason to hold back from the one being who was arguably the closest to him. After all, their souls were linked.

They might quarrel and whatnot, most of the time. But when it counted, they didn’t hold back.

"Oh. Okay... This makes me wonder though. Should I go out and look for believers of my own? I mean, from that wolf’s words, advancing further without them is impossible..." Raya replied seriously.

"Not a bad idea. But let’s wait until after we reach R6. I have a plan that should help you rake in quite a lot if executed correctly. And besides, there’s still the impending World Evolution. Better stick together for now" Muku replied.

"Okay. That makes sense. Oh, and speaking of advancements... I think I’m close to my bloodline awakening ritual. Raya casually dropped a bomb.

"What?! Really?! Are you certain?!" Muku reacted exaggeratedly.

Which wasn’t too unrealistic if one considered what happened the last time.

The two of them worked together but almost lost their lives even then.

That huge white hand from the sky sent chills down their spines every time they thought about it.

And now, they were about to face something even worse. So of course Muku would be shaken.

So what if they were a lot stronger now compared to then

Then the trial adjusts itself according to one’s strength after all. And the way it happens is that, it’s so strong that the chance of survival is probably one percent or less.

"I’m very certain. I don’t like it either. And I wouldn’t joke around with it as well" Raya replied with a serious expression on her face.

"Umm. Can’t you take this one on your own? I mean, you’re stronger than me right? I totally believe in you too!" Muku asked with a shameless look on his face while trying to shirk responsibility.

"You jerk! How dare you say that after everything we’ve been through? I’m going to tell Mama Audrey when she wakes up! Hmph!" Raya was instantly angered by Muku’s words.

So of course, she didn’t hold back in the threats department as she pulled out the biggest threat she had from the start.

"Argh. I was just joking. Why do you have to threaten me at every turn? You know me, I’d never ditch you. And besides, even if I wanted to ditch you. I’d have to ask your teleportation about it first. I was just trying to lighten the mood. We can’t be too tense in this kind of thing" Muku backtracked immediately and started the damage control process.

"Really? You really won’t try to ditch me?" Raya asked suspiciously.

She found it harder to trust Muku the more she knew him. Which was odd since he had proved his trustworthiness at every turn.

But she just couldn’t trust him completely. Which wasn’t her fault really. The guy just gave off snaky vibes sometimes.

Plus there were times he refused to help her in battle. Those didn’t help either. So what if she was skipping the context of having refused to help him first? What mattered was that he did it.

"Should I swear to the Heavens?" Muku asked jokingly.

"Yes. Do that. Swear to the heavens" Raya immediately accepted the suggestion.

If he hadn’t said anything about ditching her, she would have been fine. But he just had to say it. And now she couldn’t relax unless she had a guarantee.

"Little Ms. I think you’re forgetting something. If you die. I will lose fifty percent of my abilities permanently. And I won’t be able to fight for a few months after that... So yeah, do you think I’m in a position to leave you alone? Just losing one percent of one’s power in the current world is problematic enough. Let alone fifty and being unable to fight at all" Muku reminded Raya of something she seemed to have forgotten.

"Oh yeah. Right! I had forgotten about that. Hehe. You really are stuck with me. And I with you... Looking back now. Maybe I should have helped you out a little more in the Beast World" Raya replied with a calmer voice as she thought of the things she did in the Beast World.

More of, things she didn’t do. Which included not helping Muku, not helping Muku and not helping Muku until the very last moment.

In her defence, it was because of their bet. But still, she shouldn’t have been so dedicated considering what was at stake.

"Now you realise that. Anyway, if we’re done here. I’m leaving. This sight got old quickly. Plus I have to talk to Lisa’s group who are still waiting for me..." Muku said to Raya as he turned to leave for a second time.

This time, there was nothing she could say to make him stay. If she wanted to talk. It would be done outside.

"Oh yeah. Almost forgot where we were. You really should leave. Your stench is messing up my food. I think I gotta wash it after this" Raya shooed Muku away.

"Tsk. You forget quite a bit for a R5 child. If this continues, people might think that you’re secretly a grandma. And didn’t you say that because of the soul-link, I smell like you, to you? So what do you mean by stench?!" Muku replied as he paused.

He was not one to leave without getting the last laugh after all.

"Yeah well, you leaving your stench here means I’d feel like I’m eating myself when I smell it while eating. Would you have the appetite to eat in such a situation?" Raya replied disdainfully.

"Okay. I’m going" Muku gave up.

He couldn’t argue with that logic after all.