Chapter 240: Formula (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 240: Formula (3)
The next day.
It was late in the afternoon by the time Alon’s group finally arrived at the Allied Forces' base.
“Who goes there!”
“Open the gates!”
At first, the soldiers showed clear wariness at Rangban’s shout.
“Huh?”
“Wait—isn’t that Lord Rangban?”
But as soon as they recognized his face, their demeanor shifted instantly.
“I-it can’t be!”
“Inform the higher-ups! Lord Rangban has returned alive!”
The area became a whirlwind of activity.
Rumble—!
Before long, the massive castle gates ground open.
“Let us go in.”
Following Rangban’s lead, Alon stepped through the gates.
“A-Ah, Lianna!! You’re alive—!!”
“Father—!”
“You crazy bastard! I knew you’d still be breathing!!”
“Don’t give me that crap! You were wailing like I was already dead!!”
“I told you he was alive!!”
He was met with a scene of passionate reunions.
Soldiers had cast aside their weapons, rushing toward familiar faces to pull them into tight embraces. The atmosphere turned boisterous in an instant.
It was then.
From a distance, a Beastman dressed in remarkably elegant clothing came running toward them.
The middle-aged Beastman stopped in front of Rangban, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
“Rangban—! You really are alive!”
He pulled him into a powerful hug.
“Father, who do you think I am?”
Rangban returned the embrace, calling the man 'Father.'
How long did that tearful reunion last?
After a brief moment of sharing their pent-up stories, Rangban’s father turned his gaze toward the back.
“……A human?”
Upon spotting Alon, he showed clear signs of hostility.
“Father, they are the ones who saved me.”
“What? Is that true? Humans saved you?”
“Yes. To be precise, it was those people over there.”
His eyes widened in shock at his son’s explanation.
After a moment of silence, he approached Alon.
“I am truly grateful.”
He bowed his head deeply.
* * *
Suddenly, a hush fell over the area.
“……I only did what needed to be done.”
Alon felt a bit puzzled by the sudden silence surrounding them, but he nodded politely in return.
“Let’s head inside and talk first.”
Rangban, watching the two of them, gave an awkward laugh and led Alon’s group further in.
They headed toward a massive city located in the heart of the Allied Forces' territory.
The moment Alon saw it, he couldn't help but pause. He felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had seen this place somewhere before.
He tried to search his memories, but he couldn't just stand there staring at the city forever.
Eventually, they reached the palace.
While Alon’s group took a brief rest for about two hours, they learned a startling fact.
And that was—
“……A prince?”
“That is correct.”
Rangban, who had been traveling with Alon all this time, was actually a prince of the Eastern Country.
“Eh—?”
“…….”
Penia’s eyes went wide with disbelief, while Line tilted her head as if something felt off.
Rangban, who had changed out of his grimy armor into the refined robes of royalty, bowed with a formal air.
“Allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Arangira.”
“……Ah.”
At that, Line, who had been furrowing her brows until a moment ago, let out a soft exclamation as if she finally understood.
“So that’s why he wasn't in the library—”
She whispered just loud enough for Alon, who was right next to her, to hear.
Alon looked at Arangira.
“Why did you go out of your way to hide your name?”
“Strictly speaking, I didn't exactly hide it. I was active as a warrior of the Azure Martial Corps, and I simply didn't inform others of my royal status.”
“Did the other Beastkin not know your identity either?”
“Most of them did not.”
Arangira’s answer was immediate.
“What is the reason for a royal to hide their identity and act as a warrior?”
“It is a tradition that every prince of the Eastern Country must undergo.”
“A tradition?”
“Yes. To inherit the throne, we must live for at least five years without revealing our true identity.”
“You managed to keep it even in such a crisis.”
Arangira shook his head.
“It wasn't so much about keeping tradition as it was about not wanting to cause unnecessary friction. If there are two leaders in one pack, it only leads to needless conflict.”
“I see—”
Alon nodded in understanding, then paused.
“But for someone who says that, the soldiers at the gate made quite a fuss the moment they saw you.”
“Ah—that’s because I achieved quite a bit of merit under the name Rangban.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Believe it or not, I rose to the highest rank among the warriors of the Azure Martial Corps on my own merit.”
Penia, who was listening to him, scanned Arangira with a peculiar expression.
“You’re not wrong, but—”
“Yes?”
“You’re kind of annoying.”
“…….”
The corners of Arangira’s mouth twitched awkwardly.
But it was only for a moment.
“……Ahem. Anyway, would you follow me? I’ve heard the general situation of the Alliance, but I believe you should hear it as well, Alon. Oh, and you can keep calling me Rangban.”
“Very well.”
Following Arangira—no, Rangban—Alon’s group began to move again.
* * *
“……Welcome, Foreign God.”
Immediately after entering the massive doors within the palace, Alon was met by three people sitting at a round table.
An Elf, a Lizardman, and the middle-aged Beastman he had seen earlier.
Behind the round table stood a magnificently decorated throne.
Noting this, Alon stepped inside and greeted them.
“I am Alon.”
He took a seat at one side of the round table as guided by Rangban. Penia and Line stood behind him like guards.
The three figures watched them, then glanced at each other.
“First, let us introduce ourselves.”
A brief introduction followed.
‘Are they the kings of each kingdom?’
As Alon suspected, they were the leaders of their respective races and the ones leading the Alliance.
Surang, the King of the Beastman nation, ‘Eastern Country.’
Kalandra, the King of the Elves’ nation, ‘Phildegrin.’
Riosh, the Great Chieftain who led the Lizardmen.
Once the introductions were over, Surang was the first to speak.
“I thanked you earlier, but I must say it again. Thank you for saving my son.”
Surang bowed his head deeply.
Even if this was the past, Alon knew the weight and value of a king’s bow. He could feel Surang’s profound affection for Rangban.
“I’ve heard the gist of it from my son, but I understand you are looking for Lady Yongrin?”
“That is correct.”
Surang got straight to the point, and when Alon confirmed it, Kalandra, who had been silent, spoke with a somber expression.
“We are truly grateful that you rescued our precious kin from that hell…… but unfortunately, I’m afraid we cannot grant that request.”
“May I ask why?”
At Alon’s question, the atmosphere turned solemn.
“Regrettably…… Lady Yongrin sacrificed herself for us.”
The one who broke the silence was Riosh, who hadn't said a word until now.
“……What does that—”
Rangban was the first to react. He looked bewildered, as if he hadn't heard this at all.
“I shall explain the current situation of the Alliance.”
With a heavy heart, the Beast King began to recount the current state of the Allied Forces.
* * *
Thirty minutes later.
“……That is the situation as it stands.”
Sitting at the round table, the state of the Alliance Alon heard was far more dire than he had imagined.
After glancing at the silent kings, Alon let out a faint, invisible sigh and organized the information he had just received.
Shortly after the 'Black Things' were dealt with through the sacrifice of the Dragon, the Magus, and many others, the Believers of Baarma from the human side attacked.
The demi-humans had urgently formed an alliance to oppose them, but due to the aftermath of the previous battle, the Alliance had been fighting a losing battle from the start.
During a total war that took place a month ago, just as the war was about to end in defeat, Yongrin sacrificed herself to buy them two months of time.
‘So that’s why they pulled back the front lines? To prepare something?’
As he organized his thoughts, Surang gritted his teeth and muttered.
“……If only those damn humans hadn't run away—”
Surang looked incredibly frustrated.
Seeing this, Alon asked, “I heard from Rangban on our way here that there is a Human Race Union. Did they flee?”
“No. They didn't even offer help in the first place.”
“……They didn't even help?”
“Yes. Those bastards withdrew the moment they realized Baarma was attacking us and not them. Furthermore, even though they know the Baarma are related to the Black Things, they’ve been turning a blind eye this whole time…… the sons of bitches.”
Alon finally understood why Rangban had shown such blatant hostility at the mention of the Human Race Union.
He continued his questions.
“What do you mean by the Black Things and Baarma being related?”
This time, Kalandra answered.
“Exactly what it sounds like. From the Apostles of Baarma onwards, they use a power similar to the Black Things.”
“A power similar to the Black Things?”
“Yes.”
“……I believe I understand the general situation. So, is the Alliance currently preparing for a final battle a month from now?”
Kalandra let out a groan that was even deeper than before.
“We are preparing for a decisive battle, but the situation is not favorable.”
“……Is there a problem?”
Just as Kalandra was about to say something in response to Alon’s question—
“……?”
A commotion broke out outside the door, followed by a knock.
A soldier hurried in and began whispering something to Surang.
“What……?”
Surang’s expression crumpled instantly upon hearing the report.
“……It seems I must leave.”
“What happened?”
“A problem has arisen with what we were preparing. I’m sorry, but let’s postpone our talk until tomorrow.”
He stood up abruptly and headed for the exit.
The atmosphere became frantic in an instant, leaving the remaining people bewildered.
“I should follow him.”
Riosh, looking equally serious, followed after Surang.
Just as Alon was about to stand up as well—
“Wait.”
Kalandra, who had remained behind, suddenly looked up at Alon.
“Thank you.”
He bowed his head low.
“……?”
Alon was momentarily taken aback by the sudden gratitude.
“If it weren't for you, my daughter would have died.”
“Your daughter?”
“Yes. Here she comes.”
Following Kalandra’s hand, Alon turned his gaze.
As if she had been waiting, a human girl was stepping inside.
She looked somewhat familiar.
As he tilted his head in confusion—
“……You’re from back then?”
Alon remembered.
She was the child he had rescued during the previous frontline escape—the human girl who had been the first to thank him.
As Alon stared blankly, the girl smiled and took off the bracelet she was wearing on her wrist.
With that, her appearance began to change.
Her short hair grew long. Her brown eyes shifted into the blue eyes characteristic of Elves.
And then.
“Allow me to introduce myself again, God.”
Following the introduction:
“I am Magrina, the Princess of Phildegrin.”
“……Ah.”
Alon let out a soft exclamation in spite of himself.