"Who are you two?" Ace asked, utterly shocked. He hadn't heard a single sound before their sudden appearance.
"Congratulations, Ace Ukiyo, you have successfully qualified to participate in the Golden Fruit Grand Prix."
Tsumuri performed her usual duties, presenting the Geats ID Core and Driver.
"This is..."
Ace looked at the ID Core and instantly recalled the wish he had written down. He reached out and touched the ID Core.
In an instant, all his memories were fully restored.
Tsumuri briefly informed him of the situation. After listening, Ace was somewhat bewildered, as the developments before him were entirely outside of his expectations.
"So, the Desire Grand Prix is over?" Ace looked at Tsumuri and Raven in disbelief. If that were the case, he wouldn't be able to find his mother anymore.
Seeing his reaction, Raven nearly forgot. The fundamental reason Ace tirelessly participated in the Desire Grand Prix and investigated its secrets was his desire to meet his mother, Mitsume. The early part of the show was even known by fans as "The Little Fox Looking for His Mom."
"Ace Ukiyo, if you perform well in the upcoming competition, I will consider telling you the truth about your mother." Raven said to him.
"So you do know something," Ace's eyes changed sharply upon hearing about his mother, immediately becoming incredibly serious.
"If you want the answer, keep fighting in the game."
Leaving that message, Raven departed with Tsumuri to head for their next destination.
…
On the way to the next target location, Tsumuri finally couldn't help but ask, "Do you really know about Ace Ukiyo's mother?"
She had previously learned from Win Hareruya that Ace Ukiyo's mother was named Mitsume. She was initially shocked because Mitsume was the former Game Guide.
"Do you want to know?" Raven wrapped his arm around Tsumuri's slender waist, and they materialized in a park, settling down to rest on a clean patch of grass.
"Yes."
Tsumuri was also keen to understand why the former Game Guide had suddenly disappeared.
"Actually, the Goddess of Creation is Mitsume." Raven looked at Tsumuri.
In fact, Mitsume had been designed and created by the DGP administration as a Goddess candidate. Tsumuri also possessed the same power of creation as Mitsume, though it had yet to awaken.
"What did you say?" Tsumuri was still very shocked to hear this news. The mysteriously disappeared Mitsume was the Goddess of Creation?
But upon reflection, the Goddess of Creation's appearance in the DGP's past records seemed to coincide with Mitsume's disappearance. She suddenly understood; it explained everything.
"Tsumuri, how much do you know about yourself?"
The weather was nice, the sun bright. Raven lay down on the grass, his head resting directly on Tsumuri's beautiful, stocking-clad legs. Black stockings and white stockings, the 'crit damage build' and 'attack speed build', simultaneously presented themselves. It was truly a feast for the eyes.
"..."
Tsumuri looked down at Raven resting on her lap. For a moment, she wasn't sure how to answer.
"I only know that I was designed by the administration, and my purpose was to become the Game Navigator," Tsumuri replied, still somewhat lost.
"Actually, you were designed by the administration based on Mitsume as a prototype."
Raven decided to tell Tsumuri about her true origins. He revealed everything he knew.
After hearing it, Tsumuri was deeply shaken. She couldn't calm her heart for a long time.
"How can this be? I'm a Goddess candidate?" she murmured.
But she knew Raven wouldn't lie to her.
Raven then continued, "When the Goddess of Creation's divine power is eventually exhausted, they will use you as a consumable, replacing her to become the next Goddess Statue."
It took a long time for Tsumuri to regain her composure. She was fortunate enough to have met Raven.
"Thank you for telling me all this."
In gratitude to Raven, Tsumuri actively lowered her head, blocking Raven's mouth with her own.
A long time passed before the two separated.
Tsumuri then shyly whispered to him, "Husband." She had now fully embraced her feelings, no longer showing the previous reluctance.
Seeing this, Raven smiled, closing his eyes in enjoyment. He just lay there on Tsumuri's stockinged lap, taking a short nap.
…
The next destination was Neon Kurama's location.
Raven and Tsumuri appeared together inside the Kurama household.
Neon was currently locked in her room by her controlling mother, Irumi, to prevent her from running away again. Two bodyguards stood guard downstairs, preventing Neon from escaping through the window.
"Raven-san... please hurry and save me..." Neon had no way to escape now. Without her Driver and ID Core, she couldn't enter the game lobby.
"Why didn't he take me along? He only took Tsumuri, am I not good enough!" she couldn't help but complain.
Neon clearly remembered that after Raven defeated the Game Producer, he had pulled Tsumuri along and left, completely ignoring her. Then the world was reshaped. She thought she would have to go through another memory loss, but luckily, her memories remained intact. This made Neon desperate to find Raven and leave.
But she didn't expect her mother to be so heartless, locking her bedroom door. Now, she couldn't escape even if she wanted to.
"Neon, I came back for you."
Just then, a familiar voice appeared in Neon's mind.
Immediately after, Raven and Tsumuri appeared before her.
Neon froze for a moment. Then, she launched herself at Raven in a fierce bear hug, wrapping her arms and legs around him like a frantic little monkey.
She clung to him like an octopus, startling Tsumuri.
Feeling the soft, fragrant presence clinging to him, Raven quickly soothed her. He thought, This little kitten is too clingy.
"Alright, I came to find you this time so you can participate in the game I'm hosting," Raven said to her.
"Your game?"