Chapter 155: The Road Back (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 155: The Road Back (2)
Penia Kraysinne had always lived for her own vanity.
While she threw tantrums like a spoiled brat whenever she pleased, that didn't mean she was stupid or dull-witted.
In short, she was highly self-aware.
For someone like Penia, who understood her own position quite well, a Re-education Letter wasn't actually that big of a deal. Such letters were objects of terror for nobles living political lives, but as long as one wasn't entangled in political ideologies, there was no reason to fear them—provided one didn't commit absurd atrocities like human experimentation involving heretics.
Furthermore, the Holy Kingdom took care not to easily antagonize members of the Magic Towers. There was little to be gained from fighting each other.
Thus, Penia had been indifferent when she heard that Cardinal Yutia had come to see her regarding a Re-education Letter. In fact, when she first heard of the Cardinal's visit, she had been sharpening her claws, hoping the woman would make even a small slip of the tongue. She thought she might be able to vent the work stress that Marquis Palatio had piled onto her.
Consequently, she had glared at Yutia with eyes full of venom. At least, until the moment Yutia stepped inside.
But.
The moment Yutia entered the room and flashed a deep smile at the smug-faced Penia, Penia couldn't help but instinctively sit up straight.
For a fleeting second, she had seen something behind Yutia.
She couldn't see it clearly. However, one thing was certain.
It was the same kind of thing as that.
The thing Marquis Palatio carried on his back.
Something a human must never perceive.
A poisoned holy grail that grants everything in the world the moment it is recognized, but demands one's life in exchange.
Cold sweat began to pour down Penia’s body. The presence of 'that' meant the person before her wasn't just some Cardinal, but an entirely different entity altogether.
Because of that...
‘What is this? How on earth? Why is something like that behind a Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom? Why?!’
As Penia spiraled into a confused panic, Yutia spoke.
"I'm sorry."
"Pardon?"
Penia’s jaw dropped involuntarily at the sudden apology.
"I judged that it would be difficult to have a conversation with the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower otherwise. So I revealed it for just a moment... I didn't expect you to be this terrified."
"Hic—!"
Penia let out a hiccup.
"You don't have to react like that. I didn't come here to harm you. However—"
Despite Penia’s state, Yutia maintained a gentle smile. Soon, she slowly placed her index finger against her lips and whispered.
"—You understand, don't you? This is a bit of a... sensitive matter."
"O-of course! My lips are sealed. Yes. Sealed and locked...!"
Nod-nod-nod-nod!!!
Satisfied by Penia’s frantic nodding, Yutia crossed her arms and tapped her elbow a few times.
"Good. Very good."
"Ye-yes—"
Flashing a groveling smile—a far cry from how she treated Pellin—Penia spoke very cautiously.
"B-but, if I may ask, what is the reason you sought me out...?"
"Hmm, just—I heard an interesting rumor."
"An interesting... rumor?"
Yutia laughed at Penia’s question.
"Yes. I heard an interesting rumor regarding our Vice Tower Master and Marquis Palatio."
"A ru-rumor—?"
At those words, Penia realized in an instant what rumor Yutia was referring to. Simultaneously, her survival instincts began to ring alarm bells, miraculously summoning a memory that had been crumpled away in a corner of her mind.
It was the rumor that Marquis Palatio and Cardinal Yutia were in a close relationship.
The moment she realized this, Penia scrutinized Yutia’s expression. She was definitely smiling, yet she wasn't. Unlike her lips, which were curved in an arc, her eyes were chillingly cold.
Penia struggled convulsively for survival.
"T-that is absolutely not true!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Of course! That's nothing but a false rumor, yes, yes! Definitely...!"
"For a false rumor, I heard you didn't deny it when it was circulating—"
"A-ah, no! I've denied it all now! Recently! There will be absolutely—ne-never—any such rumors in the future! Truly!"
Penia explained herself desperately.
Whether her explanation actually worked or not, the shadow lingering in Yutia’s gentle smile seemed to lift slightly. Witnessing this, Penia realized her lifeline was opening up and redoubled her efforts, continuing her speech to drive the point home.
However.
"I-I mean, the Marquis isn't exactly my... type. Right? He always has that expressionless face and all that, you know? I don't really like people like—"
"What?"
She might have gone a little too far.
"......Pardon?"
"What did you just say?"
The face of Yutia, who had been smiling pleasantly, turned cold in an instant.
Penia’s eyes darted around frantically as she belatedly opened her mouth.
"Ah, well—that is—"
Penia broke into a cold sweat. Why did she have to suffer like this because of Marquis Palatio? Suddenly, a surge of sorrow welled up, and tears threatened to sting her eyes.
But in the next moment.
"Vice Tower Master."
"......!?"
Penia couldn't help but be startled. Yutia, who had been sitting across from her just a moment ago, was suddenly sitting right next to her, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder.
Frozen, Penia wanted to scream, but she managed to stifle it with another hiccup.
"It's very good that you're trying to show your innocence—but that remark crossed the line, didn't it?"
"Hic—"
"Answer me."
"Ye... Yes...! I-I'm sorry...!"
"I'll let it slide this time. But next time... you know what happens, right?"
Tap.
"I don't have much patience."
Yutia whispered in a chilling voice into her ear.
"Good. Vice Tower Master, let's get along well from now on."
"......Yes. I—understand. A-actually, Marquis Palatio does have some quite cool qualities to him... Ha. Haha."
As Yutia stood up, Penia responded with an awkward laugh, but...
"......Does that mean you secretly wanted that kind of relationship with the Marquis?"
As Yutia’s face began to harden again, Penia had to supplement her words in a hurry.
"A-ah, no, it's not like that! The Marquis is cool, but he's not my type in that way—"
"So the Marquis isn't your type?"
"No—it's not that! He's definitely a cool person—!"
"He's not your type, but because he's cool, you're secretly interested—"
"No, that's not it—"
Feeling as if she were trapped in an endless loop, Penia felt an indescribable sense of rage and injustice.
What on earth does this crazy woman want me to say!!!
But as mentioned, Penia was very self-aware. She felt deep in her bones that she could not defy the being before her.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry for being alive..."
She simply bowed her head.
...It was a peaceful afternoon.
* * *
About three days later.
[Khahaha! My victory!]
"You've got to be kidding me—"
[Kyu—?]
Alon, who was in the middle of crossing the desert, looked at Evan, Basiliora, and Blackie, who were getting heated over a strange bet on the driver's seat.
‘......What kind of game are they playing?’
After a brief, idle thought, he reached into his robe and pulled out the gauntlets he had obtained after catching the Scolpirion.
Just like the artifact he had given to Yutia, this artifact was a grayish-white color, having completely lost its power.
‘......An Apostle.’
An Apostle.
It was Alon’s first time seeing an Apostle. They were entities that hadn't even appeared in the game. However, one thing was certain: they were strong.
‘......If Seolrang hadn't awakened, we would have been the ones defeated.’
Alon felt the need to delve deeper into his magical research. Dealing with Abominations was one thing, but he had to prepare for the Apostles who would soon begin to appear.
Judging coldly, if all Apostles possessed that level of power, it was practically impossible for Alon to stop them. If he failed to stop them, the Apostles would eventually create Sins.
Fortunately, Alon had people to help with his research, and he had already thought of a way to increase his own magical capacity.
The concern, however, was 'information' regarding the Apostles.
‘......There's nothing to be known about them.’
Regrettably, no one knew anything about the Apostles. It was the same when he asked Line, and the Dragonkin he visited during his few days in the Colony were no different. The most he got was that someone who survived the war until the very end might know.
Therefore...
‘......Kailas.’
Alon thought of that name once more.
The goblin who had appeared to the Golden Dragon as a Magus, but was currently an Outer God.
‘......After I follow Elivan and obtain that item, I should go see him immediately.’
Another reason to meet Kailas had been added, aside from learning how to use the Shadow Spirit Dragon.
As he was organizing his thoughts...
"Marquis."
Alon turned his gaze at the sudden sound of Evan’s voice.
"What is it?"
"I realized I forgot to give this to you."
Evan reached into his shirt and handed over a glass bottle.
"......What is this?"
Alon asked as he took the bottle containing black powder.
"I heard it's the ash from the Apostle's corpse?"
"......What?"
"Seolrang’s secretary... was it? That person left it behind."
At the following explanation...
"......Why this?"
Alon stared blankly at the finely ground(?) Apostle ash, feeling bewildered.
* * *
At the southern tip of the continent lay a sacred land touched by the hands of elves instead of humans, covered in lush forests.
Deep within that place, which the elves called Greinif, was the Kingdom of Phildegrin. A dreamlike elven nation built around the World Tree.
And in the massive palace located at the center of the kingdom, directly beneath the World Tree...
"......You say you found Lagieni's Blessing?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A man—no, Perion, who had shed his human disguise—was bowing his head as he reported to the Queen.
"......I didn't think it could be found. You have done a truly great deed, Perion."
Queen Magrina, her bright platinum-blonde hair flowing down to her waist, praised him in a voice mixed with surprise and pride.
Perion bowed his head even lower and continued.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. However—there is one thing I must tell you."
"What is it?"
"I was not the one who found Lagieni's Blessing."
"......You didn't find it, Perion?"
"Yes. That is—"
Perion nodded cautiously and began to recount what had happened in Lartania. After listening to Perion for a while, Magrina spoke.
"......So, you're saying a man named Marquis Palatio not only saw through your identity at once but also told you the location of Lagieni's Blessing?"
"Yes."
"The room where Lagieni's Blessing was kept was made to look like a Pagade hideout—"
"......And no one but me had entered that place. And as I mentioned, there was a message written inside."
"......‘I hope this reaches my sister safely’?"
"Yes."
Magrina stared at the Blessing Perion had brought with an expression of disbelief, falling silent for a moment. Her voice began to tremble slightly.
"......Then, Perion, are you suggesting that Marquis Palatio might be the Primordial Elf—my brother? Is that what you're saying?"
"......Of course, I cannot be certain. However, he saw through the fact that I was a member of Pagade with ease, and leading me to Lagieni's Blessing... I believe that is something no one but him could do."
Magrina lost her words again. Perion’s words were logical.
Yet, she couldn't judge the Marquis based on this fact alone. To her knowledge, the Primordial Elf, her brother, had died hundreds of years ago. And she knew well that the dead do not return to life.
While silence still hung in the air...
"I will go and verify it quietly."
Turning toward the voice from the side, there stood Philde, an elf draped in a mage's robe and Magrina’s direct subordinate.
"......Is it possible to verify that?"
"It's not impossible. As you know, Your Majesty, my eyes are a bit special."
"Ah."
Magrina let out an involuntary exclamation. Philde possessed the Eye of Spiritual Sight, which could see souls. If so, verifying Marquis Palatio’s identity would be a simple task.
"......Then, I leave it to you."
"Understood. I shall go with Perion."
As soon as the task was decided, Philde and Perion bowed and left without hesitation. Watching the backs of the two elves, Magrina whispered.
"If... my brother is truly alive..."
She clenched her fists tight.
She knew that, logically, it made no sense. Nevertheless, a faint light of hope couldn't help but flicker in her eyes.