Chapter 321: Ryanga (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 321: Ryanga (3)
Alon, Penia, and Evan continued their journey.
The trek wasn't difficult—contrary to their initial fears that the mutants would make it a grueling ordeal.
Ever since Ryanga—no, the girl in the white mask—had appeared, the mutants were nowhere to be seen.
To be more precise—
Boom—!
—massive sounds of impact could be heard coming from places just outside Alon’s line of sight.
“…I guess she’s switched to taking them out where we can’t see her now.”
“It seems so.”
“I feel like doing that from the start would have better suited her original intention of hiding her identity,” Evan remarked.
“…That’s true.”
“But why is she even hiding it? Besides—”
As Alon briefly wondered how he was supposed to know, Evan pointed toward a certain spot.
“…If she’s going to hide her identity, shouldn’t she at least clear away the mutant corpses?”
“Well, is there really a need to go that far?”
Beyond the trees lay a mutant the size of a house, stone-dead.
Alon muttered quietly at the sight.
…In truth, whether she hid the corpses or not, he already knew full well that the girl was Ryanga. He just didn't know why she was trying so hard to keep up the charade.
How long had they been traveling with those thoughts in mind?
Alon eventually found the path leading up the cliff, just as Ryanga—no, the girl—had described.
“This must be the place.”
“Let’s head up.”
Just as the group began to move toward the cliffside—
“Wait! You lot—halt!”
Suddenly, individuals wearing masks similar to Ryanga’s jumped out from the forest and blocked their path.
“…And you are?”
“There is no need for you to know who we are! You cannot go up there!”
“Is that so?”
“If you truly wish to ascend, we shall permit only the man!”
They pointed straight at Alon with an incredibly awkward, theatrical tone.
…A momentary silence enveloped the area.
Perhaps even they realized how ridiculous they sounded. They turned their backs slightly and began whispering among themselves.
“Aw, damn it, I told you I didn't want to do this—”
“You lost the bet, you bastard!”
“What are we going to do about this atmosphere?!”
“Ah—we totally screwed this up, didn't we?”
…Aside from the distant howls of mutants, the forest was quite still.
No matter how much they whispered, there was no way their voices wouldn't carry.
Penia and Alon looked at each other, bewildered.
“Ah—whatever, just let the man up and hold the others back. That was the plan, right?”
Regardless of the duo’s reaction, it seemed the group had finally reached a conclusion.
“Only the man may ascend! The rest of you stay here!”
They spun back around and shouted once more.
Alon briefly considered asking what on earth was going on, but he soon decided to play along with their little play.
Regardless of the clumsy acting…
Glisten—
He could feel a desperate plea in the eyes visible behind those masks.
If we ruin this play, we’re dead meat. Please, just go along with it—
Their eyes were practically begging him.
And so.
“…I suppose it can’t be helped. Go on ahead.”
“I’ll be waiting here as well.”
“I’ll do that.”
“You come too.”
[Hmph, and why should I?]
“Just shut up and come here—”
[?! How are you able to lift me?]
“I practiced a bit so I could beat the crap out of you. Surprised?”
Leaving behind Evan, who had hoisted Basiliora up, Alon received the silent gratitude of the masked men and ascended the cliff alone.
When Alon finally reached the top, he saw a girl standing before a magnificent view halfway up the mountain, framed by the setting sun.
“Ryanga.”
At Alon’s call, the figure that had been gazing at the sunset turned naturally to meet his eyes.
Then, she struck an awkwardly surprised expression.
“Oh—um, Boss? What are you—how did you get here?”
The atmosphere was so forced it felt like he could hear her thinking, 'I am currently acting.'
Alon stared at the painfully awkward Ryanga, wondering for a moment how to handle this.
“A certain girl who saved me told me to come this way.”
“R-really?”
“Yes.”
Ryanga stared at Alon in silence for a moment before speaking.
“…Boss.”
“Yes?”
“…Since when did you know?”
…Regrettably, it seemed she had seen through Alon’s acting. It was likely because his performance wasn't particularly convincing either…
Regardless, Alon, glad to drop the charade, thought for a moment before answering.
“…From the beginning?”
“Gah—”
Ryanga let out a strange sound, clutched her head, and slumped to the ground.
“I thought it was perfect…”
“That was…?”
“W-was it awkward?”
“…A little?”
A lot… The word reached the tip of his tongue, but Alon didn't bother adding it.
Ryanga groaned for a while before standing up, her face flushed with embarrassment. Alon watched her squirm for a long moment.
She fidgeted, repeatedly brushing her hair back and pursing her lips, clearly at a loss for words.
Alon, who had been standing still, decided to apologize first.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Huh? Oh, no—there’s no need for you to apologize, Boss. I was the one who chose to wait.”
“Still, I kept you waiting.”
At Alon’s words, Ryanga stared at him intently, her expression turning slightly pouty.
“…I waited a really long time, Boss.”
“Yes, I know.”
“I waited a very, very long time.”
“I apologize again.”
“I was so sad when you pretended not to know me at first, too.”
“That was—”
He hadn't been pretending. It was simply that Alon hadn't fallen into the past yet, so he literally didn't know her.
When he hesitated to answer, Ryanga spoke as if she already understood.
“I know. You hadn't gone back yet, right?”
“Right. I’m sorry about that part.”
“No, you don't have to be. It’s only natural, isn't it? I was just… a little anxious. I worried that maybe you’d never find your memories… But it’s okay now.”
She flashed a smile and continued.
“—You remember now, don't you?”
“Yes, clearly.”
At those words, Ryanga walked up to Alon and leaned her head against his chest with a soft thud.
“Boss.”
“Yes.”
“I worked really hard.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
“I kept my promise to lead the group well and to do only what I believed was right.”
“Thank you for keeping that promise, too.”
To Alon, that conversation had taken place less than two years ago.
But for Ryanga, it was a story from nearly centuries ago.
Alon could only respond that way.
“Hmph—I wanted our meeting to be a bit more proper and dramatic than this…” Ryanga muttered with a hint of regret.
“…Is that so?”
“Yeah. Do you have any idea how much I prepared?”
That was the preparation…? Alon thought, but then—
“Look at that.”
Alon looked out toward the landscape beyond the cliff that Ryanga was pointing to.
“…….”
The view beyond the cliff was breathtaking, even to Alon, who didn't consider himself much of a judge of beauty.
“Do you remember our village?”
“I remember.”
“…A long time ago, I told you, didn't I? That there was a place in our village with an incredibly beautiful view.”
Alon nodded.
Back then, whenever she was active with Alon, she would constantly talk about her village. Much of it was about the scenery.
“I wanted to show that to you, Boss.”
“This… is the scenery of that village?”
“Yeah. I carved it.”
“…You did?”
Alon’s stoic mask finally broke, replaced by a look of shock.
Ryanga looked at him as if he were a marvel, then laughed happily.
“Yeah. It’s almost perfect. I was always looking at that view, so I remember it vividly.”
On the other hand, she added a slight complaint, as if wanting him to acknowledge her hard work.
“It was a huge pain, you know? The cliffs were one thing, but the forest—if you don't maintain it constantly, it changes from the landscape I remember. I had to manage it almost all the time.”
At Ryanga’s words, Alon looked at the scenery once more.
A landscape that could only be described as beautiful.
…Alon stared blankly at her garden, which she had maintained for centuries solely to show him.
“…I don't know how to express my gratitude.”
The words escaped his lips involuntarily.
“Truly, thank you.”
He couldn't help but reflect on it once more.
A wait that was short for him, but had lasted centuries for Ryanga.
At Alon’s reaction, the pouty expression Ryanga had been wearing for a while finally melted into a smile.
“That’s more than enough of a reward.”
She spoke softly.
“Welcome back, Boss.”
“Yeah.”
And so, the two finally achieved their first proper reunion.
* * *
The Black Dragon pondered.
How did things end up like this?
…Looking back, things had been skewed from the very beginning.
It started when Marquis Palatio, someone the possessed body held dear, disappeared.
The dragon had tried to manifest by taking advantage of Seolrang’s unstable mental state.
The situation itself had been ideal.
If Marquis Palatio hadn't returned—no, if news of him had been delayed by even a single day—the Black Dragon would have been able to seize Seolrang’s body.
The problem was that the news of the Marquis’s return reached her just before the Black Dragon could fully manifest.
Having already committed to the manifestation within Seolrang, the Black Dragon found himself bound to her, unable to move to another Avatar, trapped in a state of limbo.
Of course, another opportunity to untangle the mess had presented itself.
Thanks to his comrade, the Sin of Greed, who had yet to fully manifest.
Seolrang’s mind began to waver again at the thought that she might not be able to protect the Marquis.
Furthermore, when she began to falter even more after failing the Trial of Essence from the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe—the source of her power—the Black Dragon saw his chance to manifest once more.
…Or so he thought.
‘Then lend me some strength.’
‘No, you don't have to give it to me. Just let me borrow it for a bit.’
‘I’ll use it and give it right back.’
That was before he saw the look on Seolrang’s face—an expression that suggested she was salivating, as if looking at a delicious treat.
Naturally, the Black Dragon lent Seolrang his power.
It was an unavoidable choice and, at the same time, the best one. Rather than doing nothing, it made sense to try and tempt Seolrang with the sweetness of power.
And the Black Dragon was fairly certain of one thing: once she tasted his power, she would inevitably crave more.
So, the Black Dragon lent her his strength.
…He never imagined that would be his greatest blunder.
“Black Dragon! I used your power well today, too—now take it back—”
Wearing the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe, Seolrang looked at the dragon in the darkness with that same salivating expression.
The dragon replied cautiously.
[You… want me to take the power back?]
“Yeah. I told you I’d return it, didn't I?”
[…How about you just keep it?]
“I don't want to.”
[It is quite taxing for me to do this every time…]
In truth, taking and giving power was simple, but there was a reason the Black Dragon was acting this way.
It was because of Seolrang’s attitude.
She wasn't attached to the Black Dragon’s power at all. No, to be precise, she was merely using his power as a means to an end.
Seolrang was repeatedly borrowing the Black Dragon’s power to clear the Trial of Essence and then returning it immediately afterward…!
The Black Dragon realized that despite lending his power, he was merely being used, and it was actually lowering his chances of manifestation. He tried to resist, but—
“Is that so? Then I guess I just won't borrow it anymore after this.”
[What…?]
“I said I won't borrow it.”
[But you need it to pass the Trial of Essence—]
“Well, I think I can manage on my own from here. Thanks for everything, okay?”
Seeing Seolrang turn away without a hint of lingering regret—
[W-wait a moment!]
“Why?”
[I… I shall lend it to you next time as well—]
“Really?”
The Black Dragon had no choice but to hold onto Seolrang.
…If he didn't infuse her with his power, the possibility of manifestation was exactly 0%.
And so.
[Y-yes.]
“Thanks!”
The Black Dragon squeezed his eyes shut as he looked at Seolrang, whose face already seemed to be glowing with health.