Chapter 224: The Way Back (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 224: The Way Back (3)
Thousand Year Ice had interacted with Historia for quite a long time in his own way.
However, since he didn't actually know much about her in detail, he had always been full of curiosity regarding her.
For instance, he wondered why she, who hailed from the Eastern Country where only Beastkin lived, used the name Historia—a name far removed from the naming conventions of the Eastern Country.
He was also curious why she lived in such a small forest when she could lead a truly comfortable life if she went to another kingdom or back to the Eastern Country.
But at this very moment...
He was curious about only one thing.
"……Alon Palatio?"
"Yeah, do you know him?"
It was about the existence known as Alon Palatio.
Thousand Year Ice did not know of him.
It was only natural.
He basically stayed holed up in the Snow Mountain.
Even the name Elivan was something he had discovered only after descending from the Snow Mountain, startled by the power he had encountered when he was defeated by him.
"Hmm."
The son of Count Palatio, was it?
He had come to ask about Elivan, but now he was even more curious about this man named Alon Palatio.
Just what kind of person was he to make the Sword Saint, who had never once shown a change in emotion, radiate such heat?
"……I, uh, I was asking about a fellow named 'Elivan,' not 'Alon Palatio.'"
"I told you I know the name."
"No—that's not what I mean. I'm asking why the name Alon Palatio popped up when I mentioned Elivan."
"So, do you know anything about Alon Palatio?"
"……I do not."
Droop—
"……I see."
When Thousand Year Ice shook his head, Historia’s wagging tail went limp, and she became dejected in an instant.
Thousand Year Ice was struck with astonishment once again, but only for a moment.
Driven by an unbearable curiosity, he spoke cautiously.
"Is, uh, Alon Palatio a very important person?"
"If you don't know, then never mind."
Historia turned her head away sharply, her ears drooping as she sat back down.
What was this?
He asked about Elivan, but every answer came back as a question about Alon.
However, he realized he wouldn't get much of an answer even if he asked more about their relationship here.
Instead, Thousand Year Ice decided he should look into this Alon Palatio, the man who had managed to make Historia so lively.
"……I could look into him for you, if you'd like."
"Really?"
Historia’s drooping ears perked up halfway.
Seeing the change, Thousand Year Ice nodded.
He was still curious about Elivan as well.
It was fascinating that a young man who didn't even look twenty possessed such nonsensical strength. The overwhelming difference in power had piqued Thousand Year Ice’s competitive spirit.
But for now, observing Historia’s reaction was more interesting than his competitive drive.
"It won't take very long."
"Thank you."
"If I bring back information, will you talk to me?"
"About what part?"
"About that Alon Palatio."
"……Fine."
"Make sure you keep that promise."
Thousand Year Ice stood up after securing her promise.
* * *
After Seolrang’s intense welcome was over...
Blackie, who had been tucked away in Alon’s arms only to peek his face out for a brief second, was relentlessly snatched up by Seolrang. In that state—
"Waaaah, airplane!!"
[Kyuuuuu—!]
"Higher!"
[Kyuuuuuuu—!]
He began a game(?) with Seolrang.
"Higherrrrr—!!"
[Kieeeeek—!!]
Alon wasn't sure if Seolrang was playing with Blackie or if Blackie was playing with her...
He watched Seolrang, who had already repeatedly tossed and caught Blackie in the air several times, and Blackie, who seemed to have accepted that he couldn't escape once caught by her, now merely letting out screams(?) in a state of resignation.
How much time had passed?
"I'll play with you again later—!"
[Kyu…….]
After tossing and catching him a few more times, she finally set him down. Seolrang smiled contentedly as she watched Blackie immediately dive back into the front of Alon’s shirt.
Alon asked her.
"Seolrang, why are you here?"
"I came to see Mentor!"
"To see me?"
"Yeah!"
"Not because something happened?"
"Nope!"
"Just to see me?"
"That's right!"
The answers were concise.
Instead, Seolrang looked up at him with an expression that seemed to ask, 'Is there a problem?'
Come to think of it, the Beastkin she usually traveled with were nowhere to be seen.
"……Is it okay for you to wander around alone?"
"Hmm, it's not like it doesn't matter, but—"
"But?"
"I missed Mentor!"
Seolrang wagged her tail vigorously as if saying, 'Didn't I do well?!'
At that, Alon felt a slight pang of guilt.
"I made you come all this way. I would have gone to see you if you had waited a bit longer."
"Really?"
"Yes. I was planning to stop by the Count's estate and then head to the Colony anyway. I should have let you know in advance."
"This is even better!"
"……? Is it?"
"Because now I can go with Mentor until we reach the Colony!"
Alon couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at her incredibly positive way of thinking.
After sharing more news like a father and daughter reuniting after a long time, they returned to their respective lodgings as the day grew late.
The next day, after a comfortable rest, Alon set off for the Count's estate with Seolrang.
* * *
Exactly two weeks after Alon left Calliban.
Around the time they passed Lartania and were approaching the Asteria border...
"♪♬—"
Alon was enjoying an incredibly peaceful life.
To be more precise, a 'quiet' daily routine.
The reason for this was—
"♩♬♬—"
Because of Seolrang, who was sitting on Alon’s lap, enjoying the sensation of him gently pressing down on her ears.
In fact, when Alon first set out with Seolrang, he thought the journey would become very noisy because of her.
He knew well that she wasn't just naturally cheerful, but also loved to play pranks and couldn't stay still for a single moment.
However, contrary to his expectations, the journey became quiet as soon as Seolrang joined them.
First of all, Basiliora hid inside the ring and refused to come out.
On the first day of the journey, the fellow had come out to needlessly pick a fight with Evan, only to be caught by Seolrang.
'[Kraaaaagh! I am a male! A male does not wear clothes like this!!!!]'
He had been dressed—no, wrapped up—in a female dress that Seolrang somehow possessed.
After enduring all sorts of humiliations(?) under the guise of play, he seemed to have been traumatized and hadn't come out since.
Blackie was in the same situation.
From the very first day, he hadn't even poked his face out from Alon’s chest.
As a result, Evan drove the carriage while looking at the surrounding scenery even more leisurely than usual.
Since Seolrang’s main routine consisted of chatting a bit with Alon before falling asleep with her head on his lap, the entire journey was bound to be serene.
"……."
This was the first peace Alon had experienced since traveling with Basiliora and Blackie.
He didn't dislike this silence, but on the other hand, it felt a bit empty.
'It's certainly nice that it's quiet, but it feels a bit lonely because it's too quiet.'
Back when those two weren't around, it had been as serene as this, but now that things were noisy almost every day, this silence felt a bit foreign.
'Is this that thing where you don't notice it if it was never there, but you feel the void once it's gone?'
After thinking that for a moment, Alon soon shrugged his shoulders.
It wasn't that he disliked being with Seolrang right now.
In many ways, Seolrang acted in a way that made Alon feel like a father.
Even right now.
"───"
Seolrang was dozing off comfortably against Alon, seemingly enjoying the sunlight streaming through the carriage window.
Just looking at her brought a natural smile to his lips.
He had felt it at other times too, but whenever Seolrang showed such a defenseless side, he felt proud knowing that she trusted him immensely.
While continuing to press her ears for a while, Alon enjoyed her reactions as he stroked her hair several times.
Then, out of habit, he closed his eyes to contemplate his internal state.
He was so used to it now that he could check his divinities in an instant without even consciously thinking about it.
As Alon checked the divinities floating before his eyes as usual...
'……Huh?'
Suddenly, he noticed that another divinity had been created.
A divinity that emitted a very faint, ash-colored light.
'What…… is this?'
Alon’s mind was filled with questions.
* * *
The North.
A place where barbarians moved to descend south, and where knights fought endless wars to stop them.
Furthermore, rumors had recently circulated that Ruraka, the tribal chief who was the spiritual pillar of the barbarians and the one who unified and led them, had gone missing.
As if to scream that those were false rumors, the barbarians were attacking even more fiercely, leading to an even more intense struggle.
And deep within that region...
In the territory of the 'Blue Toe' tribe, the largest of the barbarian tribes and the one Ruraka had led...
"……It, it is all finished."
One man.
Turtur, who was once the adjutant of the Great Chieftain Ruraka and was now the chieftain of the 'Blue Toe' tribe...
Was bowing his head to a woman.
No, to Yutia Bloodia.
"Is that so?"
"Yes—"
"Let's have a look."
When Yutia stood up with a gentle smile, Turtur stood up with frantic haste and led the way.
He guided her to a massive cavern attached to one side of the Blue Toe territory—a place that had previously been used only as a sacred ritual site for selecting the chieftain.
"It is over there."
Turtur reported in a trembling voice as soon as they entered.
Following his lead, Yutia slowly shifted her gaze.
She could see a massive statue and a crowd of people at the end of the vast cavern.
A giant statue standing in a dignified posture, wearing a black coat and a red bone mask.
And below it, numerous tribesmen were bowing their heads.
"Hmm—"
Yutia examined the expressions of the tribesmen.
Every single one of them had a face stricken with a small amount of terror.
"……I am sorry. I will educate them better."
Perhaps it was because Yutia was staring so intently at the tribesmen.
Turtur, who had been watching her every move, hurriedly bowed his head.
At that, Yutia suddenly wore an inscrutable smile and opened her red lips.
"Turtur."
"P-please, speak."
"In your eyes, does it look like I might turn you all into a handful of blood at any moment?"
"Th-that—"
"You may answer honestly."
In the brief silence, Turtur answered while forcing himself to calm his pounding heart.
"To be honest, yes."
After saying that, Turtur instinctively clenched his teeth.
He wondered if he had made a mistake.
He was overwhelmed by a wave of disjointed regret and fear, thinking that perhaps his head—and the tribesmen he had to protect—would be turned into a handful of blood because of this.
However...
"Thank you."
"……Pardon?"
"Since you spoke honestly, I will speak honestly as well. I have no intention of killing you."
The answer was unexpected.
Turtur’s expression went blank for a moment, and Yutia continued.
"Are you surprised? But it's the truth. As long as you worship that person, I have absolutely no intention of harming you."
"……Is that true?"
"Yes, really. As long as you worship that person, you are people I must protect."
"……From whom?"
At Turtur’s question, Yutia still maintained her gentle smile.
"From everyone, of course."
"Everyone?"
"Yes. From barbarians like yourself, from the knights who prevent you from going south, and perhaps even from the great God Sironia—I will protect you from them all."
"……."
Turtur almost instinctively asked, 'Are you serious?' but he kept his mouth shut.
The thick fanaticism flowing from her eyes made any words from Turtur’s mouth feel useless.
Instead—
"……Why?"
"Why what?"
"……Why would you go that far for us?"
He asked for the reason.
He couldn't understand why she would do so much just for them believing in a god.
At Turtur’s question, Yutia fell into thought for a moment before answering.
"Because except for him, I don't care what happens to anything else."
"……What does that—"
"It's exactly as it sounds. Whether the knights all die, the priests are massacred, whether you all topple the United Kingdoms—or even if the world suddenly ends—none of that matters to me."
"The only thing that matters to me—" Yutia paused to catch her breath.
"Is that person, and him alone. Other than that, I don't care what happens."
She spoke firmly.
Her face had become expressionless as she whispered, 'No matter what happens—'
Looking at her, Turtur realized instinctively.
That the being before him was fundamentally different from himself.
And that he must never, ever cross her.
Therefore...
"I understand."
Turtur bowed his head respectfully.
"I'm glad you understand so well."
"……However, I have one thing to ask."
"What is it?"
"The name of the one we are worshiping—what is it?"
Turtur asked Yutia cautiously.
As if he had pointed out something very important, she let out a small exclamation of "Ah," and then...
"You're right. Then—"
With a small smile, she spoke.
"Let's go with 'Star Eater.'"
So she declared.