Over the following days, Rozen traveled through the worlds he'd once visited, this time bringing Edelweiss with him, and met one old friend after another — even a few past lovers.
In the Automaton world, Rozen ran into Shouko, Yaya, Irori and Komurasaki— the quartet who'd been ruffling feathers with the Order of the rose.
After dealing with the Order of the Rose, he went on to visit Hinowa, Subaru and Mutusra and even dropped by the Akabane household, where Akabane (backed by the Izanagi) was thriving.
He met Akabane Tenzen, Akabane Raishin, Akabane Nadeshiko and the others, enjoyed himself reminiscing, and seven days later departed again — taking Yaya, Irori and Komurasaki with him.
In the Tokyo Raven world, Rozen met Harutora, who was leading the new Onmyo Agency and driving the jujutsu world forward, and also saw Natsume, Suzuka and Kyoko. He spent three days catching up with everyone there, then left with Natsume, Suzuka and Kyoko in tow.
In the Sky Wizard world, Rozen naturally met Kanata, Chloe and Yuri, and also Misora, Lecty and Rico. After three days of reunion, and following a string of events best left untold, Rozen forged Absolute Contracts with Chloe and Yuri and took them away.
Of course, Rozen also returned to the Strike the Blood world: he saw Natsuki, La Folia, Yukina, Nagisa and Asagi, as well as Kanon, Kojou, Astarte and many other friends. After another series of developments kept from outsiders, he formed Absolute Contracts with Natsuki and Yukina, and even with La Folia — ending up taking all three of them with him.
Given how things turned out, it goes without saying that a great many intense and terrifying incidents occurred along the way.
For example, in the Automaton world Rozen had come back openly with Edelweiss — and when he ran into Yaya, the situation became perilously tense. Rozen nearly lost his life there and only barely escaped, eventually being forced under the irresistible pressure of the Setsugetsuka sisters to take them along.
Likewise, when Rozen returned to the Tokyo Raven world with Edelweiss, Yaya, Irori and Komurasaki, the reactions from Natsume, Suzuka and Kyoko were explosive. It didn't quite become a life-or-death skirmish as in the previous case, but it was close — and Rozen only managed to leave with Natsume, Suzuka and Kyoko after things nearly boiled over.
The last two worlds were even more terrifying.
In the earlier examples, although the girls' tempers flared, they hadn't come to blows. In the later two worlds, however, things almost got deadly.
In the Sky Wizard world, Chloe and Yuri teamed up against the Setsugetsuka sisters. The confrontation nearly ended in bloodshed before Rozen intervened. In the end he forcefully bound Chloe and Yuri with contracts and brought them along, turning enemies into uneasy allies at least on the surface.
In the Strike the Blood world, the reactions were predictably dramatic. Natsuki and Yukina were furious to see Rozen return with so many girls in tow; Natsuki nearly had Rozen flayed to death. If Rozen weren't as lucky as he was, he likely would've ended up confined inside the Prison Barrier for the rest of his life.
The scariest was La Folia. She'd been quiet the whole time, smiling and watching the chaos unfold — and yet when Rozen poured his heart out and formed Absolute Contracts with Natsuki and Yukina and promised to take them away, La Folia surfaced, slipped in, and somehow managed to seize a contract slot for herself. By her own ability she became Rozen's familiar, leaving Rozen nearly doubting his own life choices.
That's how it went: after a series of brilliant mind-games, desperate gambles, and perilous escapes, Rozen finally sorted out all the tangled relationships and successfully won over the girls.
If he hadn't acted decisively and moved fast, perhaps Hinowa, MIsora, Lecty, Rico, Nagisa and Asagi wouldn't have let him go either.
One can only imagine the horde of scorned women he'll face the next time he returns to these worlds.
In short, Rozen was genuinely scared.
So — with only the Sword Art Online world left unvisited — he made a decision:
"This time, no matter what, I won't let these girls run around."
Not only would he keep them from roaming free, he wouldn't let them exist like his beast vassal, remain lodged in his blood, peeking out at the world. Otherwise Rozen's mind and spirit would be bombarded nonstop, never at peace.
Besides, the Sword Art Online world's worldview leans toward an ordinary society. If Rozen took a pack of dangerous girls in there, who knows how much chaos that would cause.
On top of that, Rozen had a fiancée in that world — someone he was truly engaged to marry and with whom he'd already had a real relationship. If Edelweiss, Natsuki and the others encountered her… Rozen dared not imagine the consequences.
Moreover, Rozen had a principle regarding the Sword Art Online world: he wouldn't disrupt its normal operation or introduce needless mysteries that would bring chaos.
With that in mind, Rozen used every ounce of effort and finally convinced all the girls to have their presences withdrawn back into their souls.
He even recalled Altera, Tiamat and the twelve Beast Vassals led by Avrora, and likewise retrieved Kinu and Gyokuto — in short, every Beast Vassal and familiar lodged in blood or wandering outside was brought back, leaving only Mash and other Servants still with Chaldea.
Only then did Rozen feel comfortable heading to the final world.
At the same time, the ascension of Rozen's Foreign Mana reached its final critical point.
Even if Rozen made no further adjustments, the ascension would complete in mere days.
When it finished, Rozen's constitution would be fully transformed — he would be able to refine true Foreign Mana by himself and completely master the powers of Miracle and Cleansing.
At that point, Rozen would be truly invincible, triumphant in every battle — indeed, omnipotent.
"I wonder if that omnipotence can solve the troubles in my heart."
Rozen held that thought with a wry attitude and, surprisingly, felt little expectation.
Despite touring numerous worlds, settling countless affairs, and gaining many familiars, the confusion in his heart still hadn't fully vanished.
How should he resolve the matter with Roman?
Rozen remained unsettled.
Carrying that uncertainty, he headed to the final world.
At that moment he did not yet know that in that world he would encounter something capable of changing his mood — and his life — forever.