Chapter 280: The East (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 280: The East (2)
On the cliffs of Rosario, a city currently being rebuilt after its recent total destruction.
From the dugout where the Pope once resided, a figure silently looked down upon Rosario.
It was a man dressed in a black Holy Shroud, adorned with various chain accessories.
He gazed at the half-shattered remains of Rosario before turning his eyes toward the dugout—or rather, he stared silently at the exact spot where the battle had taken place.
How much time passed like that?
A faint smirk played across the man's lips, the only part of his face visible beneath his hood.
"He disposed of the Hungry Ghost fed on Greed, and even handled that half-baked Sin... I see."
He muttered to himself as if something were amusing.
"Well—it’s not perfect yet, but still."
With those words, he looked up at the sky.
Even though the sun had not yet set, the Milky Way was already glowing faintly.
For a long time.
Silently—
"This should be worth watching. After all, it will appear soon."
He watched.
* * *
Just as Magrina had said, the ritual did not take much time.
Starting in the morning, the ceremony concluded by early afternoon.
However, even after the ritual ended, Alon could not rest.
The reason was simple.
"Lord Alon, I look forward to working with you. My name is Lutvia, and I will be serving you whenever you visit this place."
"Right. I look forward to it as well."
It was time for the elves' self-introductions.
Indeed.
Alon was meeting the elves and greeting them one by one.
And not even in groups—literally, one by one.
He didn't plan on staying in Greinif for long, so he wondered if this was truly necessary.
Unfortunately, Alon had no right of refusal.
Magrina had told him that this was an elven tradition.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Alon made up his mind to graciously go along with the tradition.
...Or rather, he had made up his mind.
At least until he had been introduced to about ten elves.
"...Are you alright?"
"I'm fine..."
Magrina looked at him with concern.
Alon said he was okay for now, then turned his gaze out the window.
Before he knew it, the moon had risen to the center of the sky.
In other words, he had spent the entire half-day from the afternoon until now just on these greetings.
I didn't think she'd actually introduce every single one of them...
Of course, to be precise, she only introduced those who worked within the kingdom.
Even so, the number was staggering, and a sigh escaped his lips involuntarily.
Just in case, Alon asked.
"Uh, is today the end of it, or do we have to do this tomorrow too?"
"Hmm—there's a little bit left."
"How much is 'a little bit'...?"
"About..."
"An hour?"
Alon tentatively voiced his hope.
However.
"...Uh, about half a day?"
"Half... a day?"
"Yes."
Without fail, his hope was immediately crushed.
Alon was momentarily speechless, but he managed to part his lips.
"...You said this was a tradition, right?"
"Yes. If it's too exhausting, shall we stop?"
Magrina asked worriedly.
"No, there's no need for that. Besides, since we've started, it's better to see it through to the end."
If he had known from the start, he would have quietly declined.
But since they were already this far in, there was no reason to quit now.
Thus, the following day as well, Alon received every introduction according to tradition until late afternoon.
"Is it finally over...?"
"You worked hard, Brother."
Alon felt a stiffness in the back of his neck.
"Can I rest now?"
"Yes. Your work here is effectively finished. But before that, may I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Was there anyone you felt uncomfortable with while speaking to the elves?"
"...Uncomfortable?"
"Yes. For example, someone who was difficult to talk to or someone whose behavior was disrespectful."
Alon thought for a moment but shook his head.
A few faces came to mind, but he didn't bother keeping them in his memory.
There had been far too many people he had to meet for that.
"Mmm—no one in particular stands out."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. But why do you ask?"
"Well—you are royalty now, so if anyone treats you that way, I need to give them a warning."
Alon nodded.
Actually, he didn't intend to say anything about the elves being a bit prickly.
No matter how extraordinary Alon was, from their perspective, he was ultimately just a human.
He understood that part clearly.
Nevertheless, the reason he didn't disagree with her was simple.
The way the elves treated him could potentially cause trouble for Magrina.
Alon was now royalty, and every time he was ignored, Magrina's honor could be tarnished.
Since it wasn't a problem he could just overlook simply because he didn't care, Alon decided to leave it to Magrina.
"Anyway, you've worked hard, Brother."
The long, tiring day drew to a close once more.
* * *
Two days later.
Dragging along Penia, who was struggling and crying out, "Please, just one more day...!!!" Alon decided to leave Greinif.
"Then I'll be waiting, Brother. Have a safe trip."
"Right. I'll see you next time."
Naturally, becoming royalty didn't change much for Alon.
The elves who were originally kind continued to treat him well.
The elves who always looked at him sullenly didn't change their attitude either, but Alon didn't pay them much mind as he headed toward where Hazard was.
"Uwaaa—if only I had one more day—"
With deep dark circles under her eyes, Penia reached out longingly toward Greinif.
She looked like the tragic heroine of a romance novel being forcibly separated from her lover, but Alon spoke firmly.
"See them next time."
"I will..."
He watched Penia's lips droop in disappointment for a moment.
"Will it take about two weeks to get to where the Lizardmen are?"
"To reach Hazard, that god... it'll probably take about three weeks to be safe."
Alon discussed the upcoming schedule with Evan.
And after a few more weeks had passed.
[Heh, I was wondering when you'd show up.]
He encountered Hazard, who smiled as if glad to see him.
"Were you waiting for me?"
[Didn't I tell you before? In exchange for borrowing your name, I would give you strength.]
"Ah, that's right."
[You didn't forget, did you?]
He actually had forgotten, but he didn't let it show and asked instead.
"Are the preparations finished?"
"Not quite. Unfortunately, I can't set the stage that easily. I need a bit more time."
"...Then what did you mean by saying you were waiting?"
"I heard from Magrina. You're going to the East, aren't you?"
"That's right. Did you prepare something in advance regarding that?"
At that, Hazard spoke up, looking a bit sheepish.
"Well... strictly speaking, it's different. There's a problem."
"A problem?"
"Yes. It seems it will be quite difficult to go to the East right now."
"What happened?"
At Alon's question, Hazard let out a groan before beginning his explanation.
Alon listened quietly and then summarized.
"So, to put it simply, a large number of Abominations have appeared on the path to the East, making it difficult to pass."
"Exactly. Because of that, even actual trade has been cut off recently."
"Hmm..."
Alon pondered for a moment before asking a question.
"Can't you handle them with your power?"
"It's not that I can't. However, as a Living God, I can only use my power within my own territory."
"...Are there constraints?"
"There are. But explaining that would take too long, so I'll tell you next time. Anyway—it's a situation that's difficult for me to handle."
"So, if I want to go to the East, I have to deal with those Abominations myself?"
"You could wait a bit before going. Such Abominations have appeared several times before, but they usually disappear after about half a year."
Which option would be better?
Wait half a year?
Or, even if it meant taking a bit of a risk, part the sea and head for the Eastern Country now?
The deliberation didn't last long.
"I'll go."
An idea of how he could make it through came to mind, and Alon reached his conclusion without hesitation.
* * *
At that same time in Greinif.
"Queen. Here is the list of attendees."
"Is this the one you got from Ramu?"
"Yes."
"Give it here."
Myu, who also served as Magrina's secretary, handed her a document.
As Magrina began to calmly scan the paper with her eyes, Myu spoke up, sounding curious.
"Um, Queen, if it's not a bother, may I ask you one thing?"
"Yes. Go ahead, Myu."
Magrina showed a benevolent smile without taking her eyes off the paper.
Myu asked as if she had been waiting for the chance.
"It's just that I heard you introduced everyone working in the palace to Lord Alon during the ritual the other day."
"Ah—weren't you there at the time?"
Only then did Magrina take her eyes off the paper and look at Myu.
Myu nodded.
"Yes, I was away on business at the time—"
"Ah, it overlapped with that."
"Yes, yes."
Magrina stared at her intently for a moment.
"Well—it should be fine."
"Pardon?"
She shook her head as if it were nothing.
"Oh, it's nothing. So, what was it you wanted to ask?"
Though Myu found the reaction strange, she brushed it aside and brought up her original question.
"I was wondering why you followed the tradition so strictly. You don't usually like those kinds of traditions, Magrina... and you're not the type to organize a list of people who met Lord Alon like this."
Furthermore, as far as Myu knew, Ramu wasn't just an ordinary elf, but someone belonging to the Black Leaf.
In other words, he wasn't the kind of personnel who should be used to organize a list of attendees, which was why she was curious.
Magrina nodded.
"Well, that's true."
It was as Myu said.
Magrina neither particularly liked elven traditions nor felt they necessarily had to be respected.
She set down the paper she was examining and looked into Myu's eyes.
"Myu, do you know something?"
"What might that be—"
"That we elves show everything on our faces."
"...Show everything?"
"Yes. Elves are pure. That's why they can't easily hide their expressions. Unless they avoid meeting someone altogether, if they like someone, it shows; if they dislike someone, it shows just as clearly on their faces."
"I suppose... so?"
Myu nodded.
However, at the same time, the confusion on her face grew even deeper.
Magrina's answer didn't quite seem to match the question she had asked.
Leaning back slowly in her chair, Magrina continued.
"That's why I like elves. They're pure, and—"
Because they're so very easy to tell apart.
She whispered so softly that even Myu, standing right beside her, couldn't hear, and then looked back at the paper.
The name tags of the attendees, where hidden marks could be seen if viewed with eyes utilizing a specific mana pattern.
And then.
"Y-yes—"
Looking at Myu, who was still nodding blankly without understanding what she meant.
Magrina smiled.
Quietly.