Chapter 308: Laxas (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 308: Laxas (4)
“An Egg of... Sin?”
“Did you perhaps bring it here without knowing what it was?”
“...That thing is an Egg of Sin?”
“Yes. At first, I thought I might have misidentified it, but it seems I was right.”
Alon found it difficult to comprehend. He turned to the Observer, who was still staring at the curved jade.
“Was Sin the kind of thing that was... ‘born’?”
As far as he knew, Sins were not things that were born; they were entities that already existed.
The Observer, her eyes fixed on the jade, replied, “No, you’re right. Sins are things that already exist. Even if you deal with those that crawl up from below, you can never truly destroy them.”
Because that is how they were made, she added inwardly.
“When we first met, didn't you prevent me from speaking properly about the 'black things'?”
“I did. But now that the black things have surfaced, there’s no point in keeping silent anymore.”
“...Did you know the Sins had emerged?”
“Yes. If nothing else, I can’t help but know that much as long as I occupy this position.”
With a slightly dark expression, she muttered, “Anyway—” and shifted the subject back.
“Regardless, this is undoubtedly an Egg of Sin. Or, to be more precise, it’s an Egg of Sin that was created but never hatched.”
“...Created but never hatched?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. It was made as an Egg of Sin, but it remains in its egg form without ever having been born.”
“You seem well-informed.”
“I heard about this egg from my predecessor. Besides, analyzing the mana radiating from it makes it certain.”
After a brief silence, Alon asked further, “Is there anything else you know about this jade?”
“Do you wish to know more about the jade itself?”
“No, it’s for another reason.”
Alon explained his reason for coming here. After listening to the whole story, the Observer summarized it.
“So, to summarize: someone whom even you cannot properly perceive told you that if you brought this jade to me, you would find a way to communicate with them.”
“Correct.”
Alon nodded. The Observer took a moment to think calmly.
“First, let me tell you that I don’t know who that person is. Nor do I know how to use this jade to speak with them.”
“Is that so?”
“However,” she said, handing the jade back to Alon, “I can introduce you to someone who does know how to communicate with that unperceivable entity.”
She pointed toward the back of the area.
“There is a door behind me. Follow the path inside. Once you reach the end, you will naturally be able to have your conversation.”
As Alon prepared to move with Ladan, the Observer spoke again, looking at the beastman.
“And... would you mind staying to speak with me for a moment?”
“...With me?” Ladan asked.
Ladan glanced at Alon. When Alon gave a small nod, Ladan accepted the proposal.
“Fine.”
Alon then walked behind the massive pillar as instructed.
“You are—”
“—Am I?”
As the voices of Ladan and the Observer grew faint, Alon discovered a door. It was a wooden door that looked somewhat out of place in the atmosphere of the cave. After staring at it for a moment, Alon stepped inside.
“....”
Immediately upon entering, he found a passage leading somewhere. After walking for a few minutes, he arrived at a room at the end of the corridor. Inside was an altar, looking as if it were meant for worship.
Alon gazed at it silently.
‘...Somehow, this feels familiar.’
He stroked his chin, the thought occurring to him instinctively. He felt as though he had seen a similarly shaped altar somewhere before. But before he could follow that train of thought—
Wooooong!
The black jade, which had shown no signs of activity until now, suddenly began to vibrate violently. Alon looked down at the jade and then instinctively turned his gaze back to the altar.
Clack.
The moment he placed the jade in the center of the altar, a black energy began to spread.
Ssssss—
“!”
Alon couldn't hide his surprise. The energy that instantly began to envelop the entire room was remarkably similar to the energy of a Sin.
Startled, he was about to open his mouth to form a hand seal when a voice reached him.
[There is no need for that.]
It was a very calm, beautiful voice. Alon turned his head toward the spot that had been empty just a moment ago.
[A Sin will not appear here.]
A person had appeared. Or rather, it was more accurate to call it a soul in human form. Though she stood right before Alon’s eyes, her figure was incredibly hazy.
“...Who are you?”
To Alon’s immediate question, she replied to herself first.
[I have a name of my own, but I doubt the person who brought that object came to see me out of curiosity about my name.]
She then looked toward Alon and answered.
[I am the Previous Observer.]
* * *
“...Is the Observer related to the Sins?”
After a brief silence, Alon spoke. He could understand the general situation, but he couldn't understand why the predecessor would appear upon offering the black jade known as the ‘Egg of Sin.’
[No, that is not the case.]
“Then why is there an energy identical to a Sin’s...?”
[That is simply because I am manifesting myself by borrowing the power of this jade.]
The Previous Observer gestured toward the jade. As Alon looked, the black energy the jade had exhaled began to be sucked back into the altar.
“Can you not manifest without the power of the jade?”
[No, that isn't it either. To be precise, I cannot manifest in this manner without a power equivalent to that of an Egg of Sin.]
‘Well, this altar simply absorbs mana to an extent that is normally unbearable; I am not particularly special myself,’ she added.
[So, why have you come to find me?]
“In the East—”
Alon calmly recounted everything that had happened. From obtaining the jade in the East to hearing the current Observer’s story and coming to this room. After listening to the entire tale, the Previous Observer nodded as if she understood.
[I see. I think I understand why he sent you.]
“Do you know who that entity is?”
[Yes. However, I cannot speak his name.]
“Why not?”
[Purely for your sake.]
“...Is it an existence whose name is a burden even to hear?”
[Yes. Even if I were to speak it, you likely wouldn't be able to hear it.]
“Then is there a way to communicate with him?”
[I do know a way. However... the items will be a bit difficult to find.]
“What are they?”
After organizing her thoughts, the Previous Observer spoke calmly.
[You need three things: the Mask of the Walker, the Screaming Blessing, and the Gem of the Blind One.]
“If I gather all of those, can I speak with him?”
[That is correct.]
The items she listed were artifacts Alon was well-acquainted with, except for one.
‘The only one I don’t know is the Gem of the Blind One.’
After a moment of contemplation, Alon decided to set that thought aside. Ultimately, it meant he couldn't speak with that entity right here and now.
Therefore, he asked something else.
“May I ask you something else?”
[What would that be?]
“Do you know anything about the Star Eater?”
Alon threw a different question at the predecessor. She shook her head.
[No, I don't know much about him.]
“I see.”
[Yes. If that were a name that circulated in the past, there is no way I wouldn't know it, but there is no information remaining regarding a ‘Star Eater.’]
“I see....”
Alon muttered to himself and immediately asked the next question.
“Then, can you tell me anything at all about that entity?”
[If you mean him—]
“The one I wish to meet. There are things I don't quite understand.”
[What is it?]
“...To be honest, I don't understand most of it, but—”
[In that case, could you tell me the entirety of the conversation you had with him?]
Alon began to recount the conversation to the Previous Observer, tracing back his memories. Recalling it wasn't particularly difficult. After all, the only things Alon had talked about back then were ‘Rebellion’ and the Sins.
“...That’s about it.”
Even after Alon finished recounting the conversation, the Previous Observer remained lost in thought. After some time had passed, she spoke.
[I believe I can explain that conversation to you.]
“That is good to hear.”
[First, regarding ‘Rebellion.’ I’m not sure about the part where he said you ‘became the Star Eater,’ but ‘Rebellion’ refers to Magi.]
“...Why is a Magus described as ‘Rebellion’?”
[Because—]
The Previous Observer continued.
[Just as ‘The Blind One’ placed a curse on the elves, he completely eradicated the existence of Magi from this world.]
“...What?”
* * *
Around the time Alon began his serious conversation with the predecessor.
“Is the work proceeding well?”
“Yes. Lord Kurak is working hard to collect the promised items from the Strange Gate.”
“That is a relief.”
Shuhtalian V, who was heading to Tern for a meeting, was receiving a report from an informant.
“Were there any other unusual occurrences?”
“There is nothing regarding Lord Kurak, but I have something else to report.”
“What is it?”
“Do you remember the news that Marquis Palatio was founding a knight order?”
Shuhtalian V nodded.
“Well—I remember. It seems he has finished recruiting for the order.”
“That is correct. However, the number of soldiers recruited is—”
“How many?”
“50 knights and 600 soldiers.”
“...That is certainly a lot.”
Shuhtalian V nodded again. However, he showed no other particular reaction.
‘Well, that much is—’
After all, for someone of Marquis Palatio’s standing, maintaining that level of military force wasn't particularly strange.
“In addition, it is said that those soldiers and knights have been moved to a new territory and are being trained very harshly.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Shuhtalian V continued to nod at the subsequent report. He thought it was possible for the sake of training, and he figured the Marquis might have received new territory.
However.
“And, this is the last thing.”
“...There’s more?”
“Yes. I have heard that the believers of Kalanon are moving to the territory where Marquis Palatio newly recruited his soldiers.”
“...?”
The moment he heard the final report, a slight change appeared on Shuhtalian V’s face.
“...If they are believers of Kalanon, aren't most of them mages and knights?”
“That is correct.”
“...And they are all moving there?”
“Yes.”
“How many believers are there?”
“I haven't been able to investigate the exact number, but I understand it is quite many.”
“....”
With a strange expression, Shuhtalian V thought to himself.
‘What is this...?’
50 knights and 600 soldiers? That was plausible. It was a bit excessive just for defending a fief, but if he had received new territory, it wasn't an impossible number to recruit.
Training the knights and soldiers harshly... Honestly, he didn't understand why someone would train a mere defense force so intensely, but he could make sense of it if he tried.
But on top of that, mages and knights were heading in large numbers to the place where the soldiers were gathered? And to a new territory?
“....”
Shuhtalian V’s pupils trembled slightly. For a fleeting moment, the thought occurred to him that something—just maybe—was about to happen.
But Shuhtalian V shook the thought from his head. No matter what, there was no way Marquis Palatio would make such a choice. It was too disadvantageous for the Marquis—
‘....’
Suddenly, a scene from his memory flashed through Shuhtalian V’s mind.
The sight of those strategic weapons moving to destroy Shuhtalian as if politics didn't matter at all, simply because a prince had run his mouth once.
And so.
—Disadvantageous?
“....”
Anxiety began to cloud Shuhtalian V’s expression.