Chapter 199: Sloth and Thunder (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 199: Sloth and Thunder (1)
Shuhtalian stared blankly at Duke Merkillan.
"A god of the demi-humans...?"
"Yes."
"What on earth does that mean?"
Shuhtalian V asked, looking as if he couldn't comprehend the words at all.
Duke Merkillan calmly laid out everything that had happened.
He started with Kurak’s behavior at the Palatio estate, then moved on to the elves who appeared while they were returning to Ashtalon, and finally, the conversation those elves had shared with Kurak.
"..."
Shuhtalian V remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.
"So, Duke, what you're saying is that Marquis Palatio is indeed a god of the demi-humans?"
"...Based on what I've seen so far, yes."
"And even Kurak knelt before him?"
"He did."
"...It's hard to believe."
When he had first brought the man in through a secret contract, he’d had a chance to witness his power. That man possessed a strength that defied common sense. It was so nonsensical that one might even suspect he was a god.
And a man like that knelt?
That meant—
Marquis Palatio must be an even greater existence. Why would such a being...?
As expected, there was no answer. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't fathom why Marquis Palatio would hide his identity and play the part of a mere noble.
But after a moment, Shuhtalian V let out a sigh.
"Whew."
He decided to stop overthinking it—why the man was hiding his identity, or if the person acting as Marquis Palatio was even the real Marquis Palatio.
Instead.
"Duke Merkillan."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I believe you are somewhat acquainted with Marquis Palatio."
"I suppose so."
"...Can you find out what Marquis Palatio likes?"
"What he likes, sire?"
"Yes. More specifically, what he needs at this very moment."
He had made up his mind.
"Can you find that out for me?"
He would bring the Marquis over to the Ashtalon Kingdom.
* * *
A week had passed since Marquis Palatio’s departure.
[...You're doing well.]
"It's nothing, really!"
Even after the Magic Society meetings ended, Penia and Heinkel’s training continued at the Magic Tower.
Despite being pushed ruthlessly all day, Penia’s eyes sparkled with excitement, her face practically screaming, 'This is so much fun! It's a constant thrill!'
Heinkel shook her head in disbelief, yet she couldn't help but feel impressed.
[Good. Now, the 72-Formation. Add link upon link between the magic circles. The key is the straight line. You must deploy the formation so that there is a straight line penetrating the magic of the 72-Formation.]
"Yes! I'll try it right away!"
Watching Penia respond energetically and immediately begin her practice, Heinkel felt a surge of pride.
She hadn't felt it before, but lately, Penia Kraysinne reminded her of her younger self. A self who, no matter what magic she learned, thought 'I'm curious!' before 'This is hard.'
Naturally, her fondness for Penia had grown significantly. Well, aside from that initial lie, the girl embodied the ideal image of a mage in Heinkel's eyes.
On top of that, Penia was a genius—a genius of the caliber that made even Heinkel nod in involuntary approval. Teaching her was genuinely enjoyable. Tell her one thing, and she understood ten; tell her ten, and she realized a hundred.
Her personality is a bit eccentric, but well, a mage ought to have at least one sharp edge.
Yes, indeed.
Nodding to herself, Heinkel watched Penia begin to manifest the magic circles, and her mind drifted back to a few days ago. More specifically, to what had happened when she saw the brooch on Alon’s chest.
"..."
Heinkel’s expression hardened.
Thump-thump, thump-thump—
Even though she was currently a spirit body, just thinking about that moment made her blood run cold and her heart race. It was a vivid sensation she hadn't felt in a very long time—one she thought she would never feel again.
That magic back then... no, that place—
Heinkel ran through the verification process for the dozens of times. In truth, she already knew. She knew what the Abyss was—the magic that the girl had unleashed.
The girl had even seemed slightly impressed that Heinkel had recognized it.
Yet, the reason Heinkel kept retracing the situation was simple.
I just... don't understand.
It wasn't the kind of thing the girl should be able to use right now. It was a power that shouldn't be able to manifest.
That was definitely back then—
Or rather, even if it were to manifest again someday, it was the kind of thing that should never appear now, at this moment.
And so, Heinkel brooded.
...What on earth is that thing doing? How can she exist without losing her power? And why—
The question remained unsolved.
Why is that entity following Marquis Palatio?
* * *
At that same time, Alon had finally reached the Ronobelli Jungle.
"Marquis."
"Speak."
"Regarding Varnos, which you mentioned before... strangely, there is no information."
"No information?"
"Yes. Even the information guilds say they know nothing about it. Apparently, the entire information network in that area has been severed. However, it seems certain that something has happened."
"I see."
"Should I look into it further?"
"No, that's enough."
From the information Evan had gathered, Alon could already tell. What was happening in Varnos was related to the expansion of the Four Major Factions he knew from the game.
In the game, this is how it started when the Hungry Ghost Realm first appeared.
The Four Major Factions, which weren't supposed to appear until the mid-game, were already showing up. Realizing this, Alon fell into deep thought.
What happens in this case? Will the other three factions appear as well?
As far as Alon knew, the emergence of the Four Major Factions marked the beginning of a period of immense chaos for the United Kingdoms. Each faction possessed strength that easily surpassed the current power of the United Kingdoms. Once they began to run rampant, kingdoms would fall in an instant.
In the game, some powerhouses eventually side with the United Kingdoms around the mid-point, so unless the country is destroyed by a Sin, they manage to scrape by somehow.
Unfortunately, in terms of Psychedelia, it was currently the early game. The powerhouses capable of balancing the scales against the Four Major Factions had not yet appeared.
In other words, if the Four Major Factions started acting now, there was no telling what would happen—except perhaps for Ashtalon, which had Kurak.
The only saving grace is that the other factions haven't appeared yet.
But his musing was cut short.
"Marquis, there's something else I need to tell you."
Alon turned his gaze at Evan’s call.
"Is there something else?"
"I heard this while listening to the stories about Varnos. Do you remember the rumor that was spreading in Ronobelli a while ago?"
"A rumor...? Ah, the one about black mana being scattered?"
"Yes, that one."
"Is there more information?"
"There is, but it's not exactly good news."
"What is it?"
After a brief hesitation, Evan continued with a troubled expression.
"There's been a massacre."
"...A massacre?"
"Yes. But the strange thing is, it wasn't caused by a single entity."
"What do you mean?"
At Alon’s question, Evan relayed the details of the rumor.
"So, people killed each other?"
"Yes. From what I heard, it was incredibly eerie. Apparently, their minds were perfectly clear, yet they took up arms and slaughtered one another. Most of the mercenaries and explorers in the jungle are dead because of it."
Alon frowned inwardly. As he listened, a single thought had naturally surfaced.
"...So, their minds were fine, but their bodies moved as if possessed?"
"Yes. One mercenary who barely made it out alive said it felt like he had become a 'puppet'."
"A puppet?"
"Do you happen to have an idea of what it might be?"
Alon didn't answer, but as Evan suspected, he did have an idea. In fact, he couldn't not know. The story Evan just told was something he had heard countless times while playing Psychedelia.
The Sin of Sloth.
Because these were the rumors that spread whenever the Sin of Sloth manifested.
In short, for Alon, it was the 'worst possible rumor.'
Fortunately, Alon managed to maintain his composure.
...There's no way the Sin has manifested right now. If it had, the world wouldn't be this peaceful. Everything would be in total shambles.
He knew all too well how quickly the world went to hell once a Sin was born. But what was the current situation? A horrific massacre had occurred, but there was no news of a Sin awakening. Nor had similar incidents spread to the surrounding areas.
What this meant was that this wasn't the work of a Sin, which would go on a global slaughter spree once awakened.
If that was the case, the only other possibility was—
An Apostle...!
An Apostle of Sin.
Specifically, it seemed an 'Apostle of Sloth' was in Ronobelli.
"...Evan."
"Yes, Marquis."
"Let's get to the Grand Duchy as quickly as possible."
"Understood."
There was no time to waste.
* * *
Exactly one day later.
Alon arrived at the capital of the Luxible Grand Duchy. And the first thing he saw was...
"...It's big."
"It is."
"It's really, really big."
"I agree."
"...Isn't that practically as large as the statue Deus gifted you?"
It was a massive statue erected right in the center of the Luxible Grand Duchy.
Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver.
...A statue that was, for all intents and purposes, Alon’s own back.
It wasn't quite as large as the one at the Palatio estate, but it was more than enough to make him feel incredibly embarrassed.
Staring at it, Alon feigned indifference and began walking toward the palace.
"I've been waiting for you, Marquis."
"Sirkal."
Sirkal greeted him as soon as he entered the palace. She bowed politely.
"I will escort you."
She led Alon inside, and soon...
"...Marquis."
"What?"
"...I'm a little scared."
Evan quietly grabbed a corner of Alon’s sleeve. Alon couldn't bring himself to brush the hand away. He, too, could relate to the feeling.
No, this is a bit much—
Everywhere Alon walked, the members of the Thunder Snake Tribe working there began to prostrate themselves. And they did so with a level of intensity that was frankly burdensome.
Of course, living the life of a noble meant he was never treated poorly, but this kind of lavish reception was a first.
While he was feeling flustered by the overwhelming sight, a question popped into his head.
...Wait, didn't they say they joined forces? Why does it seem like there are no Luxible soldiers here, only tribesmen?
But before he could properly ponder the thought, Alon saw another mysterious object.
"...This is?"
"Ah, this is our tribe's Sacred Slate. We brought it here when we joined hands with Luxible."
It looked a bit rugged to be inside a palace, but it exuded a strange, mystical aura. It was a massive stone slab engraved with characters.
As Alon examined it, he suddenly read the words.
'The day I was first created—'
At that moment.
Flash—!
The space surrounding him shifted. Before he knew it, he was standing in a different space. He hadn't even felt the sensation of entering anywhere. In the blink of an eye, his surroundings had completely changed.
He had been in the palace just a second ago, but this was an entirely different realm. To describe it, it was a space surrounded by a dreamlike night sky, embroidered with a dark blue Milky Way.
And in the center of it all stood a girl with blue hair.
She was staring at Alon with blue eyes that matched her hair, looking quite disgruntled.
"...?"
Alon felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Even though he had never seen the girl before, it felt as if he had met her once. As he searched his memory for the source of this feeling—
Ah.
He realized where he had seen her.
That girl was...
A Thunder Snake NPC...?
She was an NPC who appeared when a player attempted the Thunder Snake Quest to deal with Basiliora, only to disappear once the quest was over.
The moment he recognized her.
"Give it back."
"...?"
"Give me back my divinity—!!"
The girl's voice, filled with resentment, echoed in Alon’s ears.