Chapter 297: The Sin of Greed (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 297: The Sin of Greed (8)
In a silence of infinite gravity.
Everyone stared at the god visible within the rift.
The elves could not even perceive its existence.
The members of the Black Leaf only sensed that something was inside the rift.
Even Alon did not know exactly what it was that he saw through the tear in space.
The only thing certain was the green light radiating from the abyss of that chillingly massive rift.
[How is that...? That wasn't even in the Library—]
As Alon stared blankly at it, he heard the Sin’s mutterings.
The Sin trailed off, seemingly unable to comprehend the situation itself.
And then.
Rumble—
The entity, which until a moment ago had been staring motionlessly from beyond the rift, began to move.
The mere act of raising its arm caused the entire earth to tremble violently.
Soon, above the large hand it had outstretched...
A small sphere formed.
It was a tiny sphere.
However, that lasted only a moment.
As if devouring everything in its vicinity without warning, the sphere expanded until it was large enough to swallow the entire kingdom.
Realizing the danger instantly, the Sin formed a hand seal.
Magic circles began to unfurl before the Sin.
One.
Two.
Four.
Eight.
Countless magic circles, more than Alon could possibly count, began to block the path in front of the Sin.
What was created was an Iron-Blooded Fortress.
The moment the magic circles—appearing so sturdy that no magic could ever pierce them—shielded the Sin’s body...
“Judgment.”
With Line’s murmur.
The massive light gathered within the rift was unleashed.
And just before the world turned pure white.
Alon saw it.
He saw the Iron-Blooded Fortress created by the Sin vanish, helplessly engulfed by the green light.
And then.
──────────!!!!!
After a flash of white light consumed everyone’s sight and hearing for a fleeting moment.
The first thing to return was the sight of billowing dust.
Next was the sensation of thick heat and the smell of burning against his skin.
And finally.
Once the dust cleared, what was revealed was...
“…….”
A massive hole.
A crater so vast that it seemed it wouldn't be filled even if the entire western region of Phildegrin were shoved into it.
And at the bottom of that hole...
[-]
The Sin was there.
Whether the Grotesque Transformation had worn off or not, the Sin had returned to the human form shown in Phase 1.
It did not look to be in good shape.
Its lower body was gone, as if it had never existed from the start.
Not a single one of the numerous papers that had been attached to its wingbones remained.
To the Sin of Greed, that signified only one thing.
Sss—
Death.
The Sin’s remaining body slowly turned to ash and began to scatter.
The Sin’s remaining eyes shifted slowly.
Alon met that gaze.
[I see— ‘You entrusted it.’]
Alon thought the Sin was looking at him, coming to some sort of realization—
No.
It wasn't.
The Sin wasn't looking at Alon.
‘...Behind me?’
The Sin was looking just above Alon’s head.
The moment he realized this, Alon spun around to look behind him, but there was nothing there.
As Alon felt a sense of confusion.
[O Remnant that we excluded.]
The Sin, who was slowly fading away, called out to Alon.
“…….”
Alon looked back at the Sin.
Its expression had returned to its usual apathy, unlike a moment ago.
[I shall watch to see if your choice is correct.]
With those final words, before Alon could ask anything, the Sin vanished completely.
Alon watched the spot where it had been.
“Is it... over?”
The murmur escaped his lips before he knew it.
He turned his head to look around.
Aside from the Sin’s disappearance, nothing had changed.
The sky was gloomy.
A massive hole was gouged into the ground.
Phildegrin had taken a hit even more severe than Rosario.
Yet, the mere fact that they had defeated the Sin allowed Alon to breathe a sigh of relief.
‘First, I need to save Ladan, Seolrang, and Historia... No, I need to finish what I was saying to Line—’
As Alon was organizing his thoughts.
Thud—
“Huh?”
He realized his high vantage point had suddenly dropped.
The next thing he felt...
Was the sensation of something hot trickling down his face.
Alon raised his hand to carefully wipe his face.
But before he could, his body tilted forward.
“You worked hard, Godfather. Now, rest for a while.”
With Line’s soft voice as the last thing he heard, Alon closed his eyes.
* * *
“Marquis, are you waking up?”
As soon as Alon regained consciousness, he heard Penia’s voice.
His head felt foggy.
After staring into space for a moment, the events right before he collapsed began to flicker through his mind.
“……How many days have passed?”
“It’s been five days since then.”
Alon pressed a hand to his throbbing head.
“What happened to me?”
Alon slowly sat up.
“Don’t you remember exactly?”
“……I remember defeating the Sin and turning around.”
“Then you remember almost everything, don’t you?”
“I suppose, but I’m asking why I collapsed.”
Alon looked down to check his body.
It was clean, without a single wound.
“There are clearly no injuries.”
As Alon muttered in confusion, Penia informed him.
“It’s probably because of the overload.”
“……Overload?”
“Your head is throbbing right now, isn’t it?”
“……‘Throbbing’ doesn't even cover it. It feels like someone is smashing my skull with a hammer.”
“That’s likely why you collapsed, Marquis.”
It was Penia’s guess.
“I certainly finished the regeneration with my divinity.”
“It seems that even if the brain regenerates, it isn't free from the effects of an overload... By the way, didn't you say you heard about that from someone named Kailas?”
“I did, but I didn't realize the divinity of regeneration would be so useless against it.”
Penia’s mouth hung open at Alon’s response.
“……Usually, when people are told not to do something, don't they stop?”
“It was an unavoidable situation.”
“I understand that, but still...”
Penia let out a long sigh.
Wincing at the pain for a moment, Alon scanned his surroundings.
“……Is everyone else okay?”
“Well, everyone—”
Penia tried to relay the situation.
“I will tell him that.”
Evan, who had entered abruptly, cut her off.
Penia looked at Evan with a dissatisfied expression.
However, ignoring her, Evan stepped toward Alon’s side.
“Are you alright, Marquis?”
“As you can see, I’m fine. Except for the headache.”
“That’s a relief. Ah—and the three of them are all doing well. Seolrang and Ladan are a bit injured, but they’re mostly fine, and Lady Historia is the same.”
“……That’s good.”
Alon breathed a sigh of relief and asked another question.
“How is Line?”
“Line is fine too. However—”
“……However?”
“She said she wouldn't come to see you.”
Alon was momentarily speechless.
“……What does that mean?”
At Alon’s strained question, Evan hummed in thought.
“She said she would be waiting at the top of the Holy Tower every night at midnight.”
“……The top of the Holy Tower?”
“Yes. She said she really wanted your first reunion to be there.”
“So she won't come to find you,” Evan added.
Alon asked immediately.
“What time is it now?”
“Well, it’ll be midnight in about two hours.”
Alon turned his gaze to look out the window.
The Milky Way was already embroidered across the sky.
“……I’m going.”
“Pardon? Right now?”
“Yes.”
“But it’s not even midnight yet. And you don't necessarily have to go today. She said she’d wait every day. First, you should recover—”
Despite Evan’s attempt to stop him, Alon stood up, clutching his pounding head.
“I wanted to get some fresh air anyway.”
With those words, he walked out of the room.
“Then I shall guide you—”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, read the room!”
“? What did I do? He looks like he’s struggling, so I was trying to help.”
“Wow... seriously...”
“?”
“Sigh... forget it.”
Leaving the bickering Penia and Evan behind, Alon headed for the top of the Holy Tower.
Soon reaching the summit, Alon...
Was met with a slightly cold breeze, along with the Milky Way and the moon elegantly spread across the night sky.
And.
“…….”
Perhaps because the sky felt so close.
He could see her, shining even more serenely beneath the Milky Way, which glowed more brilliantly than any he had seen before.
“……Line.”
Alon quietly spoke her name.
At that, Line, who had been looking at the sky until a moment ago, turned her gaze toward Alon.
Soon, her lips parted into a soft smile.
“You came, Godfather.”
Her voice was calm.
Nodding, Alon walked toward Line, falling into the same ruminations as before.
What should he say?
What emotion should he express first?
What story should he tell first?
Countless thoughts surfaced and vanished in his mind.
Things he hadn't cared about when talking to others now flickered through Alon’s head.
In the end, Alon stood before her without having decided what to say by the time he reached her.
The moment Alon’s lips twitched to speak.
“I’m sorry.”
Line spoke first.
It was a statement that seemed too non-sequitur to have come from her.
“What are you sorry for?”
As Alon looked confused, Line stared at him and replied with a slightly self-deprecating smile.
“Actually, I could have easily escaped ten months ago.”
“……You could have?”
“Yes.”
“Then why...?”
Alon couldn't easily understand.
Looking at his face, Line lowered her gaze slightly.
“It was hundreds of years for me, but it was only a few months for you, Godfather.”
Alon was about to ask what that meant, but then—
“Ah.”
He realized what she was saying.
Line, who had been sealed in the past, had to endure hundreds of years to meet Alon.
In contrast, Alon, who had returned directly to the present...
It was essentially no different from meeting Line again after only a few months.
“……I wanted you to think of me just a little bit more.”
“…….”
“Was that greedy of me?”
The quiet question echoed under the night sky.
“No.”
Alon answered immediately.
“It wasn't greed.”
“I’m glad.”
“But, even if you didn't do that, I—”
Alon opened his mouth again.
However, his words were not completed.
The reason was...
“…….”
Line’s finger had gently covered Alon’s lips.
“You don't have to say it. Not yet—”
‘Our relationship doesn't need to be defined yet, does it?’ Line murmured to herself, then began to fiddle with Alon’s face with the finger that had blocked his lips.
First, the corners of his mouth.
Then, his cheeks.
Finally, after smoothing out the slight furrow in his brow, Line...
“At least for now, this is enough.”
Seeing Alon’s face, which was now showing clear emotion, she gave a smile as bright as the full moon.
Then, she glanced at the Red Brooch on his chest and spoke.
“Godfather. Since we’ve reunited like this, may I ask a favor?”
“A favor?”
“Yes. I was wondering if you could give me a light hug.”
“……That isn't difficult.”
When Alon nodded at Line’s request, she...
Tink—
She removed the brooch from Alon’s chest and tucked it into his breast pocket.
“?”
“I thought the brooch might get in the way of my head if you hugged me like this.”
She answered Alon, who was watching her actions with a questioning look.
Then, as if there were no more obstacles, she gently embraced him.
“I look forward to being with you, Godfather.”
Line whispered, tightening her arms around him.
“Yeah. I look forward to it too.”
Alon replied, a smile tugging at his lips before he knew it.
The Milky Way in the night sky shone down upon the two of them.
Flash—
...And the brooch tucked inside his pocket shone upon them as well.