Jake had been busy with his life, so his mind was occupied with many things. However, when he was alone, he always remembered his past failures. He let 'her' die as the vessel of the Nine-tailed Demonic Fox, allowing it to gain its full strength.
After that incident, Jake slowly came to terms with it. He slowly accepted his fault and moved on. Even 'she' wanted him to be happy. However, after hearing Marilyn's secret, his trauma resurfaced again. He didn't want to lose another person who was dear to him.
"No... No! I don't accept it. There must be a cure for your curse. I will find it."
Jake activated his [Akashic Eyes]. Unlike in the past, he was equipped with a great ability. In this universe, there might be an ability to purify a great curse.
First, he searched for further information regarding [Stigma of Death]. After a moment, he found it, but he could only read the ability's brief information because the level was too high. He still couldn't read the information on how to learn it. However, he didn't mind it because he only needed the information of the ability's rank.
"Rank 9 spell!" Jake felt despair when he read the information. Wizards could only learn rank 9 spells when they reached level 91. That meant the Elder Thing who had cursed Marilyn was at a world class level. It was on par with his mother and Aunt Mercedes. However, he found something wrong. If Aunt Mercedes, the greatest wizard in the world, couldn't dispel the curse, that meant the curse was too powerful for her. Was there even a cure for Marilyn's curse?
"No, I can't give up. The universe is vast. There must be a cure for everything." Jake's spirit body delved further into the Heavenly Access Galaxy, and more information entered his mind. His mind didn't experience overheating, but if he used this ability for too long, he would experience mana fatigue.
His mana constantly decreased like water that was flushed by a sink. However, Jake didn't give up. He would only stop if he fell unconscious due to mana fatigue. However, he found a piece of information he was looking for before he used up all his mana.
[Name: Extreme Light Magic: Evil Exterminating Spear. Rank: 9. Description: destroy all curses in someone's body without harming them. After that, inflict 200% damage to the curse user.]
Jake bookmarked the information and stopped using [Akashic Eyes]. As he opened his eyes, Marilyn looked at him expectantly.
"Did you find something?" Marilyn asked, sobbing.
Jake placed his hands on her face and wiped her tears. "You should have told me earlier. I have found a way to purify your curse."
"I-I just didn't have the courage to tell you, but after someone targeted you because of me, I just couldn't hide it anymore."
Jake felt grateful. Even though he had promised to tell her about his past, she had told him about her secret first. "Marilyn, the weekend date, shall we do it now?"
"But we still have classes."
Jake smirked. "Let's ditch them all."
Marilyn looked at Jake's charming yet evil-ish expression and nodded weakly. She let him help her to wear the blindfold, and then he carried her in his arms.
Jake used repulsion force and propelled himself toward a building roof. After that, he ran and jumped between buildings. His steps were light, and he didn't produce any sound when he ran.
As he successfully arrived at the last building without attracting any attention, Jake faced an enormous wall. There were magic towers at certain sections on the wall, and they shot out wisps of mana to the sky, forming a giant barrier. There were guards at the gate too, so it was impossible for intruders to come out or in.
"Oh, yeah. What is the next step again?" Jake muttered. He actually was confident to go out of the Academy safely. The key was in Marilyn.
As if reading his mind, Marilyn took out two permission cards. With them, they could leave the Academy from the front gate. "Use these," she said.
"As expected, you own them. How many do you have?" Jake looked at her suspiciously.
"Err, a dozen," Marilyn admitted.
Jake laughed. "Guilty as charged. I bet you left the academy often. This is corruption, so I won't report this to the teacher if you give me a few."
Marilyn pouted. "Hmph. Bad Jake."
"I take that as a deal." Jake jumped down the building and landed safely. He let her go, and they walked toward the gate together.
---
Jake and Marilyn rode a pegasus carriage to the Yellow Palace. When they arrived, Marilyn pouted. She had expected a fancy restaurant when Jake mentioned a date, not her home. It wasn't like she hated her home. She just wanted to go to a fancy restaurant with Jake.
They entered the throne room and met Aunt Mercedes. The Empress ordered everyone to leave the throne room. After that, she approached them.
"Marilyn? Jake? You didn't skip the classes, did you?" Mercedes asked in a suspicious tone.
"We did, Aunty. I told Marilyn to skip classes."
Mercedes gasped. "Jake, I trusted you to be a good influence for Marilyn."
"We did it because Jake has found a solution for purifying my curse, Mom," Marilyn said, covering Jake.
Mercedes suddenly grabbed Jake's shoulders and asked in a hurried tone, "Is that true?"
"I did indeed find a solution, but only you can cure Marilyn, aunty."
"Tell me. I will do anything."
Jake gave her a note he had written in the carriage. "I want you to find the information of this spell and learn it."
Mercedes read the note and shook her head. "I never heard of this spell. This spell must be from another world. Do you know where they create this spell?"
"Sadly I don't know either. There is no information about the source of the abilities. This is my ability's flaw. This is why I want you to find it. This spell can save Marilyn without harming her."
Mercedes nodded. "I understand. If I can't find it in this world, I will search for it in another world."
"Mom, don't tell me...."
"I will challenge rank nine gates and find a clue about this spell," Mercedes declared.
In this world, gates were classified into ranks from rank zero to rank nine. There were nine rank nine gates scattered throughout this world, and they only had conquered two gates so far, the Gate of Gluttony and the Gate of Demonic Fox. Each of them was world class, and they had the power to threaten the world. It was not something someone could step in alone.
"It is too dangerous, mom. Dad hasn't come back yet. I-I don't want to lose you too."
Jake's father and Marilyn's father were inside the third gate in order to pursue the leader of the Arcanline Troupe. They hadn't come back yet ever since they entered it.
Mercedes rubbed Marilyn's cheek and comforted, "This is the only way to save you, dear. Besides, I won't go alone. I will form a subjugation party with other world rankers."
"Still... Who is going to protect this empire if you go? Arcanline Troupe has been active lately. If you go, I am afraid this empire will face danger. Please don't go, mom."
Mercedes smiled. "Marilyn. I have lived for hundreds of years. I have experienced all the beauty in this world. But you... You are young. Your life is just a fleeting moment. You haven't experienced many things yet. That's why mom wants you to have a long life and experience many things."
Jake patted Marilyn's head and said, "Calm down, Marilyn. Aunty has lived for hundreds of years. Out of all the world rankers, she is the most experienced. She has survived many dangerous battles. I am sure she can come back safely. And for this empire, I am sure she has prepared countermeasures in this situation. Am I right, aunty?"
"Indeed. Even if I am gone, this empire won't be annihilated. We will experience difficulties, but no matter what will happen, no one can take your life," Mercedes said confidently.
"Then do you have a picture of where to start?" Jake asked.
Mercedes rubbed her chin. "Let's see. That spell has a light attribute. There is only one rank nine gate with the light attribute, the Guardians' Sanctuary."
"When are you planning to go?"
"I still have to prepare many things, so maybe I will be ready in one month."
"Understand. You can invite my mom too and...." Jake patted his aunt's head. "Please don't neglect your survivability. Marilyn and I want to experience the beauty of this world with you around. Please be safe."
"Fufufu, of course. I still want to see her get married and have a baby," Mercedes teased.
Marilyn didn't bother her mother's words and looked at Jake with an annoyed expression. "Jake, your hand...."
"Hehe, it's fine. Please pat me more. Only my son in law is allowed to pat this Magic Empress," Mercedes said cheerfully. With that, the serious atmosphere disappeared, and they had cheerful moments together.
That night, they had dinner together. This was a rare quality moment Marilyn could have with her mother before she went to a nine rank gate. The dinner lasted for several hours, and it was already too late to go back to the Academy, so Mercedes told the Academy in advance and told those two to stay the night.
After dinner, Jake rested in the guest room. Usually, he would fall asleep when he touched the imperial bed, but many things happened that day, making him restless.
Jake looked at the ceiling as he recalled everything he had to do in the future. He realized he was really busy. He didn't have time to laze around.
"Uh, I can't sleep after thinking of my schedule," Jake muttered.
As he thought of that, someone opened his door, making Jake alarmed. He had locked the door, so it should have been impossible to open it. He was about to ambush the person, but he relaxed when he saw Marilyn.
"No, wait. What are you doing here?" Jake asked.
Marilyn showed Jake a key and dropped it to the floor. After that he locked the door using the master key.
Jake gulped nervously. He didn't dare to look straight at her for some reason.
Marilyn smirked. She took off her mantle, showing her night dress underneath. After that, she crawled on the bed and approached the nervous Jake.
"M-Marilyn?" Jake backed down, but he couldn't escape any further. He could only stare as she brought her face closer to him.