Epic of Caterpillar

Chapter 2421: Resolve



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Aside from all these bizarre changes and things that this Dungeon brought, which were most likely based on Frank's memories and past, we happened to find Elfina's entire party here.

I was happy they were alive and well, but when we tried to talk with them, none of them even remembered us... the only one with a faint "feeling" of something was Elfina, but Fiere ended forcing her to dismiss the conversation, that annoying Maid is always getting in the way!

This means that they had most likely reached 100% assimilation, or close to that, becoming complete background characters.

I tried using my magic and powers, but they were too weak to affect their minds or help them remember things directly.

Unless I could release it all and break my seal, which might end up with a huge penalty, I don't think I can do much, regrettably so.

"They have been here for at least a week or more..." said Zehe. "Does time goes faster here compared than outside?"

"Most likely..." I said. "I've been analyzing this entire Realm and... it wasn't just made today or yesterday; it has at least been up for two months."

"T-Two months?!" asked Brontes. "Then Frank... so that's why he doesn't even know us anymore... Or you, more importantly."

"Hm..." I nodded. "We need to do something, if we don't want to become like Elfina's party. I'm sure that once we manage to make him wake up, they'll return to normal."

It was our only choice.

"How are we doing that though, Kireina?" Nesiphae asked, annoyed over her own human body. "If we try too hard, we gain more assimilation as penalty. But if we do this too slowly, we'll get assimilated."

"It said we can't do it directly..." I said. "So the trick is influencing Frank indirectly."

"Indirectly?" Rimuru wondered, eating cheesecake.

"Instead of trying to tell him directly, we have to manipulate his environment to change accordingly to what we need," I explained. "We have to... to create scenarios where he has to question himself, the world, and everything... We must... I have to... I have to make him suffer."

"Eh?" Rimuru muttered. "Suffer? But..."

"It hurts me as well..." I said. "After all, this world, aside from whatever plot other people might have with him, was made out of his own traumas. He misses this life so much, his friends, his family, the simple school life he had to be forced away from... Frank never went into details about his life, but he always told me tidbits, they were confusing, he was someone that had traveled through so many worlds... He probably felt homesick. Always running away, unable to ever find a new home. This is... this is the home he wants."

"...Hmm," Brontes nodded silently.

"I see..." Nesiphae said.

"So that's what's happening..." Zehe said. "Kireina, dear, I am... well, we don't really know him well. You got to know him much better back in Grand Terra. I doubt we could help you regarding him, but in everything else, count us in."

"Of course, thank you," I smiled. "I love you all... let's do this together. And let's save Frank, Elfina, and everyone else."

They nodded in unison, albeit quite silently.

"But didn't we also sense Ryo and Amiphossia?" wondered Rimuru. "Where might they be?"

"I can faintly feel their presences too," said Nesiphae. "But I think they're fine. Probably... maybe already assimilated."

"We can find them today then," I said. "Once we're done doing these... annoying classes." "Can someone remind me why we're doing them to begin with?" wondered Brontes. "Can't we just hang out outside?"

"Masta said that it would be better to meld with the crowd and act as our roles," said Rimuru. "So we don't get penalties! Also we can find better opportunities to approach Frank."

"Right..." I nodded. "Anyways, I have a plan. Although our powers have been sealed and are restrained, we can still do a lot of things. We'll simply have to create the perfect scenario." "What do you have in mind?" Zehe wondered.

"Oh~ I think you'll like what I have thought," I smiled.

Frank, I'll wake you up and drag you out of here, no matter what.

Frank walked out of the school with his sister, after what had happened today, he felt tired...

However, he tried to not lose focus on his mission.

The dreams he had about his future; he wasn't completely sure if they would eventually happen.

But his family being killed was one of them.

When he went to that other world and obtained Hades was when it happened, but right now, within the timeline of his future dreams, this has yet to happen.

"This is definitely the day Matsuo invited me to the second Yokai Area Raid..." thought Frank. "And then after that... there were a lot of peaceful days, then I went to the dungeon back in Terra to level up. But I can't access my App to world travel for some reason, this is odd. Have my powers suddenly weakened?"

It was one of the annoying things lingering within Frank for a while now, out of nowhere, several weeks ago, this power suddenly disappeared, and he had been having dreams about the "future" or well, what he believed to be the future.

Visions of these nightmares rushed through his mind again, showing a mysterious man with white hair wearing a black hoodie suddenly standing in the middle of his massacred family,

all torn to shreds.

"Wasp! That bastard!"

Frank gritted his teeth, remembering his nemesis within these nightmares, a psychopath, a powerful mutant with the ability to shapeshift his body and gain insectoid appearance.

His power was simply unparalleled, belonging to an underground organization whose name he couldn't recall, who had been persecuting him and seeking his powers all this time.

"I have to grow stronger quickly, and stop that bastard from reaching my family..."

His resolve was made, as he walked back home to leave his sister there.

"Where are you going nii-chan?"

"Got some part time work to do, so tell mom and dad I'll come back before dinner."

"Eeeh? That late!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Sorry, I have to hurry."

After kissing his sister's forehead, Frank ran out of his house, and where he had decided to

meet up with Matsuo and Harumi.

"This'll be my opportunity to level up and gain skills, I can't miss it."

Little did he know of the crimson eyes looking at him from afar...