Chapter 256: A God...? Me?? (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 256: A God...? Me?? (3)
“...Riosh?”
As Alon called out his name with a dazed expression, Riosh broke into a deep smile.
[Though I go by the name Hazard these days.]
Looking at the confident Riosh, Alon’s face filled with bewilderment.
Alon had certainly met Riosh in the past. However, he had never expected the man to have become the god of the lizardmen. It was only natural; in the past, Riosh was neither a god nor anything of the sort. Above all, they hadn't been close enough to be called 'friends.'
[It’s awkward to talk standing up like this. Follow me.]
Riosh led the way. The moment Alon took a single step onto the stairs following him, they were suddenly at the very top of the pyramid.
[Sit.]
At Riosh’s gesture, Alon and Evan sat in the chairs placed before them. A brief silence followed.
“...What happened?” Alon was the first to speak.
[Which part are you referring to?]
“Exactly what I said. From what I saw, the you of the past was—”
[Ah—so that’s where we’re starting.]
Riosh nodded.
[It’s a bit of a long story, but I’ll give you a brief explanation first.]
He began his calm narration. After some time had passed...
[...And that is how it happened.]
Having heard the whole story, Alon calmly organized the details in his mind.
“So, to summarize: after I disappeared, you began gathering faith—not as a king, but as a god. Is that it?”
[Indeed. After you returned to your time, the great enemy Baarma was gone and peace arrived, but that wasn't the end of the problems.]
“Was there something else?”
Riosh nodded at Alon’s question.
[The elves and the Eastern Country were fine, but the lizardmen were a different story.]
As Alon stared at him, prompting him to continue, Riosh went on.
[As you know, I was less a 'king' and more a chieftain who led numerous tribes. In other words, the subordinate tribes only followed me temporarily depending on the situation.]
“...”
[Once the war ended and the tribes split again, they began warring with each other. The tribes weakened by the war against Baarma instantly became prey for others, and the land turned into a shambles.]
“So, you became a god to stop the war?”
Riosh slowly shook his head.
[That was part of it, but not the fundamental reason. To be precise, there was another reason.]
“Another reason?”
[Yes, though it’s not something to bring up right now. It was a personal matter. Regardless, from that point on, I deified myself to gather faith. And so, I became a god.]
'Well, gathering faith was so difficult that I had to perform a stunt where I died and came back to life after a hundred years before I finally became a god,' Riosh added with a smirk.
Alon felt he could roughly grasp the method Riosh had used to achieve godhood.
Just then.
[Hmph, you certainly talk as it suits you.]
A sudden, familiar voice rang out. When Alon and Evan turned their heads, they saw—
“...Magrina?”
It was Magrina’s face. The moment she saw Alon, her face lit up with a bright smile.
[Did you arrive safely, Brother? This is a Mana Projector.]
Only then did Alon realize her form was translucent, and he let out a low exclamation.
[...How? I never gave permission for this.]
Riosh’s face clouded with embarrassment as the crystal ball sitting on a nearby desk suddenly activated. Magrina narrowed her eyes at Riosh. Her gaze was worlds apart from the one she usually reserved for Alon.
[Who do you think made that magical tool and gave it to you in the first place?]
[...Is this not a blatant breach of etiquette?]
[Etiquette or not, you seem to be hiding many things from my brother. Isn't that a greater breach of etiquette?]
Riosh shifted his gaze away, looking guilty. As Alon and Evan stared at him simultaneously, Magrina revealed the truth.
[Brother, he became a god by using your divine status.]
“...My divine status?”
Magrina nodded and explained the full story. After hearing the entire sequence of events once more, Alon spoke.
“So, in short, you used your acquaintance with me—the one who dealt with Baarma—as a means to gather faith. Is that it?”
[That’s right. Even though you weren't even that close, he went around calling you the Celestial Sovereign and whatnot... How cowardly.]
Magrina’s gaze grew even colder. Riosh cleared his throat and looked away.
[No, well, you see... it’s just that gathering faith on my own was incredibly difficult. I don't have immense talent or anything like you do... Ahem.]
He began to make excuses. Seeing him toss his dignity aside so easily, Evan, who was sitting nearby, made the same expression as Magrina, having grasped the situation.
Riosh coughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed.
[...Anyway, I had no intention of just feigning ignorance. If I did, I wouldn't have acknowledged you at all.]
[I suppose it’s a relief you have at least a shred of conscience left.]
Riosh groaned as if Magrina’s words were a physical dagger. Even so, he pushed on.
[Regardless, it is an undeniable fact that I received your help in becoming a god. Therefore, I intend to become your strength from now on.]
“...My strength?”
[Yes. I intend to recognize you as a god and share my divinity with you.]
“That means—”
[It means you can enjoy the same authority as I do. What do you think? I may have used our connection recklessly, but surely this isn't a bad deal for you, is it?]
Alon nodded. Indeed, Riosh’s proposal was one where he had nothing to lose. As the conversation matured, Riosh brought up a new topic.
“Ah, and there is one more thing I must relay.”
“What is it?”
“The East wants to see you as well.”
“...The Eastern Country?”
“Yes. Of course, the Eastern Country is quite far, so it would be best to go when you have time. Regardless, I recommend you visit when your schedule allows.”
“But who in the Eastern Country wants to see me?”
Riosh shrugged at Alon’s question.
“Regrettably, I do not know that myself.”
“Is there someone there who, like you, was in the past and became a god?”
“No, that’s not it. However, the King of that land specifically asked me to tell Marquis Palatio that he wishes to meet him.”
Alon fell into thought.
'The Eastern Country...'
As far as Alon knew, the Eastern Country was an island nation to the east that, like the lands of Greinif and the lizardmen, was only unlocked through DLC.
'...Who could it be?'
Even after searching his existing knowledge and past memories, Alon couldn't easily figure out who would want to see him. Among those he had saved in the past, there were no people from the East with whom he had built a close relationship.
Therefore.
“I understand for now.”
He reached a tentative conclusion to visit when the opportunity arose later.
After the audience with Riosh ended, Alon stepped out of the massive pyramid-shaped temple.
“So, Marquis. It seems the immediate business is finished. What do you plan to do now?”
Evan added, “Well, we should probably stop by Teria or the Colony too.”
He was right.
“Let’s stop by the Colony one last time before we go.”
Alon headed toward the Colony.
* * *
The center of the continent.
The wasteland situated between the United Kingdoms and the Empire. A barren wilderness where nothing existed and no living creature could be easily found.
In a subterranean cavity located somewhere within that land...
“Hmm—”
A man was quietly stroking his chin. Before him, a man wrapped entirely in black clothing remained silent in a prostrate position.
And then.
“So, Marquis Palatio has returned from the dead... Is that true?”
“Yes, it is.”
At the man’s question, the masked man answered with his head bowed low.
“I see—”
The man’s low murmur echoed. The masked man stole a glance upward to check the man’s reaction and was soon filled with wonder behind his mask.
This was because a clear smile was playing on the lips of the man—no, his master—who had received the report.
Had he ever seen his master smile? The masked man tried to remember but soon shook his head inwardly. As far as his memory served, he had never seen it. Not once.
As he stared blankly at the sight, the master spoke.
“Why? Is it that surprising?”
“!”
At his master’s words, he quickly snapped back to his senses, realizing he had committed an act of impoliteness. He bowed his head deeply and spoke hurriedly.
“I apologize. I have committed a grave discourtesy—”
“No, it’s fine. You’ve been with me for a long time, so it’s only natural you’d find this sight strange.”
The man shook his head instead. Then he asked the masked man.
“Anyway—is there anything else to report?”
“Yes, there is one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“It’s regarding the mutants that flowed out toward the border from the United Kingdoms last time.”
“Mutants—ah, you mean the ones coming out of that jungle?”
“Yes.”
“How many were there?”
“Approximately 130 individuals.”
“The result?”
“They have all been dealt with. Likewise, the remnants of the hungry ghosts I reported previously have also been completely eliminated.”
The masked man bowed again in respect. To this, the man said—
“Good work. You may leave.”
He dismissed him, and the masked man vanished instantly. Soon, in the room filled with silence...
“Congratulations.”
A woman appeared and leaned her arms on the man’s chair. Like the man, she possessed inverted eyes.
“Suddenly...?”
“What do you mean 'suddenly'? You’ve wanted to meet him so badly.”
“...That’s—”
“Am I right?”
The woman spoke with certainty, as if she already knew everything the man was thinking. After a moment of silence, he—
“Sister, that’s enough teasing.”
“But you’re going to go see him, aren't you? The time that strange person mentioned has passed anyway.”
“That’s true, but...”
The man—the Curse King and the leader of the curse users—muttered with his head lowered.
“...I do want to see him, but—”
“Then shall we go and give him a light greeting?”
“Sister, isn't this a bit too sudden?”
“Don't you want to see him as soon as possible?”
“Still, there are gifts and various other things—”
“You’ve been collecting every possible gift for 300 years since you heard the news that he might be alive. You want to prepare more? Besides—”
“...”
“You’ve been helping him with all sorts of things through the Information Guild anyway, haven't you? And without taking much money, at that. If you just go and drop a few hints about that, I’m sure he’ll be happy enough.”
“...Do you think so?”
“I’m sure of it. That person... is just that kind of man.”
The Curse King—
“...Sister, if we’ve decided, we might as well strike while the iron is hot, right?”
“Let’s go right now. To see the one who saved us.”
Nangwon raised his head again. On his lips, curved into a gentle arc, there was an unmistakable look of anticipation.