Chapter 249: …What’s Going On? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 249: …What’s Going On? (1)
“...Phew.”
The Golden Tube had completely severed the space.
Watching the magic circles drawn around her activate and darkness descend over the ashen sky, Line was suddenly struck by a memory.
That memory always began at a small cottage.
Walking into that little hut, she would find a warm home.
Her mother, busy preparing food.
Her father, sitting at a desk, sharing a tender conversation with her mother.
And the sight of three children wandering nearby, chattering happily amongst themselves.
Even though more than ten years had passed, that memory never faded. No, rather, every time it surfaced, it became more vivid.
Then came the clear, ringing voice.
‘Mom! Dad! A big sister told me that there’s a secret only I can know! Do you know what it is?!’
In front of Line, a little girl, too small to even reach her waist, burst into giggles. A girl chirping away, her tiny lips moving with joy—
No, the Line of the past had merely relayed what a strange woman had told her to her parents.
And with that, it ended.
The memory shifted once more to the scene Line always saw in her dreams.
The corpse of a woman whose throat had been torn open.
A man murdered, his limbs twisted in every direction.
And the sight of three children, their life extinguished, blood pouring from every orifice.
The sin she had created.
The horrific sight born of her own ignorance was seared into her eyes.
“…….”
What came next was the memory of ‘that time.’
The meeting with Emil, which occurred when she had been unknowingly arrogant after receiving her powers from her Godfather... the meeting that had caused her to lose something precious by her own hand.
In that encounter, Line had ultimately been unable to do anything.
Even in the fight back then, she had only been a recipient of help.
A being who could protect nothing and only received aid.
A being who could only lose everything if not protected.
A useless existence.
Worthless.
That was the evaluation Line had given herself.
That was why she was actually happy with this situation.
She, who had never been able to protect anyone before, had finally protected someone.
The person she cherished most.
The one who called her family, even though she had trampled over everything through her own ignorance.
Her precious person.
“…….”
Line turned her gaze.
On the other side, she saw the Hungry Ghost being sealed along with her.
An entity without a single drop of reason, yet possessing the unmistakable authority of Greed.
The power she could make her own over the course of seven hundred years was right there.
But that wasn't all.
Line had gained the most precious thing of all: the chance to become a ‘precious existence’ to the person she cherished.
Someone might call her a fool.
They might think she was just being used and would eventually be discarded.
But no matter who whispered such things, the smile playing on Line’s lips would not fade.
Because she knew her Godfather well.
He was a tender-hearted man.
He hated seeing others get hurt.
Even in situations where he could afford to be selfish, he was someone who was fundamentally incapable of it—even if he himself believed he was acting out of self-interest.
To anyone else, he was clearly a man who moved for the sake of others.
Because he was that kind of person, Line was certain.
When she finally stepped out of this space, she would be someone precious to Alon.
“...700 years.”
It was a long time.
Truly, an immense amount of time.
But even so, it was fine.
If it was the time needed to gain the strength to protect her precious person... if it was the time needed to carve out a place for herself in a corner of her Godfather’s heart...
It wasn't that long at all.
Line smiled and opened the books within the library of her mind.
She had a great deal of work to do.
* * *
It had been one month since Alon had disappeared.
The man called the ‘Primordial Elf’ by the elves for reviving the World Tree, and known as the ‘Celestial Being’ by the other demi-human races, was gone.
After he had dealt with Baarma—the entity known as the ‘Black Thing’—the world had rapidly begun to return to its original state.
The ashen sky that had stolen the sun was now dyed with warm sunlight.
The blackened earth began to give off the fresh scent of soil as if the darkness had never existed.
Everything was slowly returning to the way it was.
And in the center of Greinif, the land of the elves that had regained its greenery the fastest, beneath the World Tree...
“…….”
Four men and women of different races knelt silently before a stone monument at the foot of the tree.
“Sniff—”
One was weeping.
“…….”
One remained in silence.
“…….”
And while another wore a look of deep grief, the boy with inverted eyes, who had been silent until a moment ago, stood up and turned around.
“Where are you going?”
It was the question of the sobbing girl—no, the member of the Dragon Race.
The boy spoke with a face that didn't match his age.
“To get stronger.”
“Why?”
“To get revenge.”
“...On who?”
“That white bastard.”
The boy’s eyes were filled with intense rage.
“Hyung-nim could have survived then. I definitely saw him survive at the end of that underground chamber with my own eyes. If only that white thing hadn't suddenly appeared out of nowhere...”
He grit his teeth.
“So, I’m going to find that bastard, wherever he went, and kill him with my sister. I’ll have my revenge for my benefactor—for Hyung-nim... no matter how long it takes.”
Having made that vow, Nangwon turned away.
“Even if it means breaking the promise I made to him.”
He walked toward where his sister was waiting.
After Nangwon had completely disappeared, the others began to stand up one by one.
“...God told me that if a guy named Elivan ever asks for help, I should treat him well. To do that, I’ll have to get stronger. And when that time comes—”
Ria muttered to herself as she departed.
“I— Ugh, uwaaa—”
The Black Dragon, who had been sobbing continuously, walked away weakly, her eyes brimming with tears.
And the last one remaining was...
“…….”
It was Ryanga.
Everyone else had left, and the place was silent. Yet Ryanga didn't move a single step from the front of the World Tree, simply staring at the monument.
Then.
“...I don't believe it,” she whispered.
It was very faint.
So quiet that no one else could have heard it.
But her voice was filled with conviction.
“The Boss isn't dead.”
Others might not have seen it, but she had.
In the final moment.
The Boss hadn't disappeared because of the Abyss that swallowed everything of Baarma’s.
Purple.
Along with something purple, he had disappeared without dying.
The others didn't believe it, but Ryanga believed what she had seen.
Therefore, Ryanga recalled the last words Alon had spoken.
The voice that had suddenly echoed in her mind as he fell.
‘Live righteously.’
Ryanga clenched her fists tight.
From now on, that would be the goal of her life. It would be her justification.
It had to be.
Because the Boss was alive.
Because he would return to her someday.
So, for that moment.
“…….”
She would live on, so she could be recognized by the Boss as someone who had lived righteously.
...So she could see that face once more.
It was late into the night when the Ghost Tribe member who had devoured her own kin finally left Greinif.
And at that same time.
“…….”
In the Kingdom of Greinif.
Magrina, the only High Elf remaining and the only elf who had not suffered any curse, stared blankly at a ring sitting on her desk.
It was a ring of a very simple design, with no particular patterns.
Yet the reason Magrina stared at it incessantly was because she knew it was the ring Alon—no, her brother—had been wearing.
‘Why is this...’
Magrina blankly recalled the events of earlier.
The moment the ring had suddenly bounced into her carriage as she was returning to the royal castle.
‘...The man with blue eyes.’
She had hurriedly checked outside the carriage, but there were too many people around, making it chaotic.
Even so, Magrina had recognized the person who threw the ring into the carriage instantly among the crowd.
‘...Who on earth was that?’
The person had been completely covered, but she had seen it clearly.
Those vivid blue eyes staring intently at her before vanishing.
Who could it be?
She kept pondering, but no answer came. She couldn't think of anyone with such piercingly blue eyes.
“……."
Magrina quietly picked up the ring.
No matter how many times she checked, it was definitely the ring her brother had been wearing.
‘Could it be that Brother is alive...?’
Hope rose within her despite herself.
However, she soon buried that hope deep down.
Because she had seen it.
The Primordial Elf... her brother, meeting his end after saving the Allied Forces deep within that underground chamber.
After wearing a somber expression for a while, Magrina gripped the ring on her desk and recalled her brother’s final words.
[You will be able to lead the elves well.]
Words that cared for her until the very last moment.
Recalling that voice, Magrina quietly vowed to follow his words.
To lead the elves as he had said—
To become their Queen.
Magrina engraved the resolution she had made many times before into her heart once more.
And at that moment.
Beside the shattered World Tree where Baarma had met his death.
A figure stood there, silently gazing at the spot where Baarma’s corpse had been.
With eyes as black as ink, the figure stared into the massive hole where Baarma had died—
No, the man who had once been an Apostle of Baarma...
Heh.
Unconsciously, a smirk escaped his lips.
Even though the god he had believed in, the one with overwhelming power, was dead.
Even though countless believers were in despair.
He was not.
No, there was no need for despair.
Because an existence had appeared to whom he could offer even greater faith than to Baarma.
“…….”
The man reminisced.
The god who had dyed the world in glaciers and painted a Milky Way across the ashen sky.
The great god who had forced him, a worshiper of the strong, to abandon his faith in Baarma.
Slowly lifting his head, he spoke.
“...Worship him.”
He offered his quiet adoration.
Soon, his black horn, of which only half remained, revealed its form faintly beneath the night sky.
* * *
“I think... it’s perfect now.”
“Phew...”
At Penia’s voice, which sounded strangely cautious, Alon collapsed weakly on the spot and stared at the purple world.
This world was now shaped exactly as it had been before Alon fell into the past.
“Do we have to leave right away?”
“No. It’s properly fixed now, so as long as we don't do anything extra, it won't be shaken for the time being.”
“...Then let’s rest for a bit.”
Alon let out a deep sigh.
His mind was a mess, and he rubbed his head vigorously.
It was because of Line.
Alon recalled what he had seen in Greinif before. The moment he had discovered the Mother of Greed, which shouldn't have been there, and felt a sense of doubt.
‘...So that was why.’
His thought of resting was brief; Alon stood up immediately.
He had to release Line’s seal.
Then, he suddenly wore a strange expression.
The reason was...
‘...Where did my ring go?’
The Covenant Ring that should have been on his hand was gone.
‘I’m sure I never took it off.’
But for now, getting out of here was the priority.
Alon turned his gaze toward Penia.
“Let’s head out for now.”
“Ah, yes!”
Penia answered quickly, perhaps sensing that Alon wasn't in a good mood.
As he began to move toward the door with her, Alon calmly recalled the final moments.
The moment he had stopped the children who were trying to save him and left his final words through mana.
‘...I hope they were delivered well.’
As he pictured the children’s faces one by one, he thought of Ria.
‘I didn't recognize her at first, but—’
As they spent more time together, he had realized her name was Historia.
Having realized her identity instantly, he had left a message for her in his own way as well.
His recollection of the final moments was brief.
Alon turned to Penia and asked, “Did we return to the point in time when we were blown away?”
“Hmm—according to my calculations, yes.”
Soon, as they stepped outside, what entered their vision was—
“...Seriously, you didn't tell me a single useful thing and just left like this. What does that make me...?”
It was the very familiar back of Evan.
Dressed in black armor.
Evan was radiating grief in front of a very elegant coffin.
Around him, numerous people were mourning in sorrowful silence.
Other nobles, including Duke Altia and Count Zenonia, were also standing in a line, keeping a quiet vigil.
Even Saint Yuman was right beside the coffin, murmuring prayers while radiating divine power in all directions.
“…….”
For some reason...
It was a solemn atmosphere that felt like it shouldn't be disturbed...
Alon froze exactly where he had emerged.
Penia, who followed him out, also took in the situation and simply rolled her eyes.
And so.
“...But I suppose I have to keep living. It was a pleasure, Marquis... I’ll make good use of the money you left me, too.”
As Evan spoke about the money Alon had never actually bequeathed(?) to him and let out a sorrowful laugh, he turned around.
“…….”
His eyes met Alon’s.
“???”
Evan’s pupils dilated instantly.
But before he could even react.
“...Penia. She was a total bitch, but she was a decent friend in her own way.”
“...She was a bit excessively bitchy, but she was a good friend...”
“True.”
“...Was I... a good... friend?”
At the voices of the mages talking amongst themselves while looking at the other coffin placed next to Alon’s.
“What did you just say, you bastards?”
Penia’s words were spat out along with the sound of her grinding her teeth as her eyes darted around.
In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned toward one spot.
““???””
The heavy, solemn, and sorrowful atmosphere was instantly—
““……?????””
Filled with bewildered silence.
...Alon finally realized what a suffocating atmosphere truly felt like.