Chapter 314: Something is Strange (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 314: Something is Strange (1)
Two weeks had already passed since Alon returned to the Marquisate from Divine Land.
In that time—long or short, depending on how one looked at it—Alon had enjoyed a well-deserved rest.
Even though Alexion usually handled the administrative duties, the final drafts still had to pass through Alon. He had to work for a few days, and even now, things weren't much different.
However, one thing had changed: his free time.
This was thanks to Penia, who was helping with the workload in hopes of getting her hands on the artifacts Nangwon had left piled up. Thanks to her, Alon finished work that would have normally taken at least a week in nearly two days.
As a result, Alon had spent most of the past two weeks, excluding those two days, quite enjoyably focusing on magic research.
But as he spent his days alternating between managing the territory and practicing magic, Alon began to notice something.
"Hmm..."
"Is something the matter, My Lord?"
Recently, he had been feeling a sense of oddity.
"No, it's just that something is bothering me."
"Which part? The magic? Well, it certainly isn't coming along easily. It’s a bit more difficult than expected."
Seeing Penia shake her head, Alon shook his own and corrected her.
"No, it's regarding my divine power."
"Divine power?"
When Alon nodded at Penia’s question, she asked immediately, her curiosity piqued.
"What’s wrong with your divine power all of a sudden?"
After a brief silence, Alon spoke slowly.
"It increased."
"Your divine power?"
"Yes."
"Uh... then isn't that a good thing?"
"It is, but..."
"Is it strange for it to increase?"
"...Because normally, it shouldn't be increasing like this."
Of course, an increase in divine power was a positive development. The problem, however, was that the divine power currently growing within Alon belonged specifically to Divine Land.
...Why?
If it were the divinity of Kalanon or the Primordial Elf that was gathering more than usual, he would have accepted it. Both of those made sense to some degree.
But the fact that the divinity he had created upon proclaiming Divine Land was growing was, frankly, difficult to understand.
When he had last seen Divine Land before leaving, there were far more people drawn by distorted rumors than there were sincere believers, and it looked as though they would leave the holy land sooner rather than later.
"Hmm. Based on your explanation, it is a bit strange."
Penia placed a hand under her chin, nodding in agreement beside the pondering Alon. Alon nodded back quickly.
"Right?"
"But in the end, isn't an increase a good thing regardless?"
"It's the fact that I don't know the reason that bothers me."
"...I suppose. Unless the rumors suddenly became true or something... Has the divine power risen that much?"
"Well... not to that extent."
Alon contemplated his inner world. While the divine power had increased, it wasn't by an overwhelming amount.
"Then perhaps it's just a temporary phenomenon? Even if things were chaotic, the sheer number of people entering was quite high, wasn't it?"
"That's true."
Though he thought it would be normal for people to leave once the rumors were proven false, Alon soon shook the thought from his head. There was no point in agonizing over it alone.
I should have Evan look into the situation in Divine Land.
Just as he made that decision...
"Ah, by the way, My Lord. Have you thought any more about the magic?"
Following the change in topic prompted by Penia’s question, Alon shook his head.
"I have. But I still haven't caught the knack for how to store it."
"As I thought."
Recently, Alon and Penia had been researching the 'storage' of magic.
Strictly speaking, it should be called a magic simplification formula.
Essentially, Alon became unable to use most magic properly when utilizing certain formulas. This was also true when he used 'Shadow Awakening' to temporarily borrow Blackie's calculation abilities. Even if he could use magic for a brief moment, it wasn't the magic formulas he usually employed.
Therefore, this research was intended to improve that—to allow him to use magic even when his calculations had reached their limit. To achieve this, they were trying to pre-store the formulas of magic he could normally use.
"...It's difficult."
"It really is. Storing it in artifacts was a failure as well."
"Even if I store it in the gauntlets, it won't connect—"
Alon looked down at his gauntlets. Penia’s first suggestion had been to store magic within the gauntlets and use it from there. However, this suggestion failed before it even began. Magic stored in the gauntlets operated independently, entirely beyond Alon's control.
They had spent the past two weeks researching various other methods, but nothing had come of it.
After a moment of silence, Penia spoke up.
"Ah, since you'll be heading to see Lady Heinkel soon anyway, why don't you try getting some help from her then?"
Alon agreed with her suggestion. Just then, the door to the 2nd Office opened and Evan walked in.
"So this is where you were."
"Is the work finished?"
"Yes, well—if it's about finding those items, I've already received a response."
"And?"
Evan seemed to search his memory for a moment before answering.
"First, I've received confirmed information on the locations of two of them. The 'Mask of the Walker' is in the Ronobelli Jungle, and the 'Screaming Blessing' is said to be in the treasury of the Kingdom of Calliban."
Alon nodded. Both were within his expectations.
"Was there any information on the Jewel of the Blind One?"
Evan shook his head.
"No, not as of yet."
"I see..."
"They said they would keep looking, so please wait a little longer."
Alon nodded and spoke again.
"Ah, and one more thing. Have you heard anything regarding Divine Land recently?"
"Divine Land?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Nothing in particular lately... Ah, there is one thing."
"What is it?"
"Didn't you say Silli was going there? I heard she arrived not long after we left. Other than that, I haven't heard of anything major happening."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes."
While nodding, the thought 'Did Silli do something?' flickered through his mind.
"But why do you ask?"
Evan asked back immediately, giving him no time to dwell on it. Alon gave a brief summary of the conversation he’d had with Penia.
"Well—isn't it just a temporary phenomenon? Like Penia said."
"You think so?"
"Right? Even if it's Silli, she can't make the impossible possible."
Alon agreed with that sentiment. With the conversation concluded, another week passed.
"Let's head out."
"I will prepare at once."
Alon finally set out on his journey, with the Magic Society as his destination.
...I feel like my divine power has increased even more than before.
He traveled with that one lingering, unsolved question...
* * *
Deus Macallian didn't place much significance on the knights and mercenaries who had flocked to the city this time.
Of course, knights and soldiers were helpful to the Great Moon's plans. In fact, with a scale this large, it was a certainty. For the Great Moon to stand in the heavens, there had to be those below to support it.
Nevertheless, the reason Deus Macallian had no expectations for those who gathered was because he knew why they had come to Divine Land.
Distorted rumors.
The rumor that one could use the power of Kalanon if they trained in Divine Land.
For those gathered for such a reason, even training was meaningless. That was why Deus didn't pay them much mind—until Silli arrived.
"I-Is it true...!"
Deus watched from a distance as a crowd surrounded a single person.
These were the mercenaries and knights who, until recently, had been expressing their dissatisfaction. Standing before them was Silli, wearing a flawless smile.
"I-I have power—"
And there was a frail-looking knight, staring at his sword in disbelief.
"I told you, didn't I? That you could do it."
"Yes, yes...!"
The knight muttered, unable to take his eyes off his sword, as if possessed by Silli's words. But that only lasted a moment.
Zap!
The lightning that had flowed from the frail knight's sword vanished, leaving only a small spark behind.
"Ah—"
The knight let out a low lament. However...
"Do not be too disappointed. Only the beginning is difficult. The power dwelling within you will respond to your efforts."
At Silli's following words, the knight nodded with a look of ecstasy. He then clutched the book Silli had given him to his chest.
"Thank you...! Thank you so much...!"
He bowed repeatedly. Silli watched him with a benevolent smile, then turned her gaze toward the other knights and soldiers who had gathered around her.
"S-Saintess—could you grant me your teachings as well?"
"Me too—"
"Please, me as well!"
"And me! Me too!"
Every single one of them wore a desperate expression. Silli, her face remaining serene, spoke.
"Do not worry, everyone. His power is not permitted only to the special—"
She opened a blue book.
"—It is permitted to everyone, to all who believe."
She gave a gentle smile. A short while later, the knights and soldiers, who hadn't even glanced at the scriptures before, scrambled desperately toward the few available blue books.
Watching the scene, Deus let out a small sigh.
"Phew."
"You worked hard."
He spoke to Silli as she stepped away from the crowd.
"Ah, Brother."
Silli approached him with a smile.
"Wouldn't it be better to distribute more scriptures? I believe there are quite a few left."
The crates Silli had brought were certainly filled with scriptures. However...
"No. We mustn't do that, Brother."
"Why not?"
"Because the time is not yet right."
"...The time is not right?"
"Yes."
Silli refused, speaking in riddles.
"Brother, do you remember what I said?"
"...?"
"That everyone harbors a very small hope."
"Ah, yes. I remember."
As Deus nodded, Silli continued with a soft smile.
"The people here have now seen that tiny hope realized with their own eyes."
"...Then isn't that enough? Now people have seen that hope can become reality."
"No. That's not it, Brother. I put a lot of effort into it, but in truth, a tiny hope is like a candle flame."
It's so fragile that it could be blown out with a single breath, Silli murmured, turning her head to look in one direction.
"That's why, to others, the light of that candle isn't very bright."
"..."
Deus followed her gaze. Just as she said, there were those who still wore sullen expressions, unlike those scrambling for the scriptures.
"...Wouldn't it be better to just give up on those fellows?"
"Of course not. They will all become precious soldiers for our God."
"Even when they're like that after you showed them hope?"
Silli spoke without losing her smile.
"Brother, do you see the difference between those two groups?"
"...The difference?"
"Yes. Those trying to borrow God's power right now are relatively weak, while those who continue to doubt are strong."
"...I see."
Deus nodded. It was exactly as she said.
"From now on, I'm going to give those people power. Secretly, of course."
"...You're going to bestow power?"
"No, it will only be temporary."
"Then is there any point to it?"
"It all has meaning."
Silli looked back and forth between those with sullen faces and those obsessed with the scriptures.
"One side will realize that His power isn't just the dim hope of a candle, but a truly special power. The other side will come to believe that the power is exactly what their weak selves need."
"...But isn't what you're giving them only temporary?"
At Deus's question, Silli's gaze stopped on one spot.
"Temporary is fine. As long as it gains us their faith."
"..."
Where Silli was looking stood the frail soldier from earlier, the one who had been able to manifest the power of lightning. The knight was now muttering the scriptures as if in a trance.
"...Surely."
"Do not worry. The faith I have planted in them is firm enough to be rewarded by Him."
Silli smiled.
"Anyway, that's why it's not yet time to grant the scriptures freely."
"Then how will you know when the time is right?"
"When they have planted faith in one another, and thus the scriptures—no, when He has become someone special to these worthless vagrants."
She wore a very deep smile.
"At that time, everyone is scheduled to receive His grace."
The grace bestowed by God.
For some reason, Silli's purple eyes were glowing dangerously. Looking at her, Deus thought silently.
...Is this really the younger sister I used to know?