Chapter 328: In the Name of Sloth— (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 328: In the Name of Sloth— (1)
The eastern desert of the Colony.
In a place not far from Ashtalon.
"Whew—"
Elivan was staring blankly at the Milky Way stretching across the night sky.
He stood perfectly still, not moving an inch.
How much time had passed like that?
"What are you doing, Elivan?"
Only after Yan sat down beside him and spoke did Elivan finally move his head.
"Just... looking up at the sky."
"You really like the night sky, Elivan."
"Does it look that way?"
"Well, you spend several days a week looking at the sky alone like this, don't you?"
At Yan's words, Elivan gazed at the Milky Way in silence for a moment before answering.
"Does it look like I enjoy it?"
"Hmm—is that not it?"
"Actually, I don't like it all that much."
Yan looked at him with surprise at his answer.
"...Then why do you stare at it so intently?"
"..."
He didn't answer her question. Instead, he changed the subject.
"What are the others doing?"
"Getting ready for bed? Since we've finished dinner."
"I see."
It was a blatant change of topic. However, Yan simply shrugged. It wasn't the first or second time he had redirected a conversation like this, so she was used to it.
Yan, who had been quietly looking up at the sky alongside Elivan, asked slowly.
"By the way, Elivan."
"Yes?"
"About Marquis Palatio. Is he going to be okay?"
"...So suddenly?"
Elivan asked back, looking puzzled. Yan nodded.
"There's been a lot of talk about Marquis Palatio lately, hasn't there? Like how he suddenly established a territory and all that."
"...Ah, you mean the rumors about him founding a new kingdom?"
"Yes. Right now, the rumors are positive, but if he officially steps forward to become a king, a lot of blood will surely be spilled."
Yan's point was a natural one. For a new person to stand above others, a corresponding amount of corpses and blood was required; history had proven this time and again.
"And?"
"I know you like the Marquis, Elivan, but I wondered if this goes against the 'peace' you believe in."
"Against 'peace'... I see."
Elivan seemed to fall into deep thought. But then—
"No."
"...Pardon?"
"On the contrary, I think it's a good thing."
He spoke plainly. Yan tried to ask something in return, but he continued without giving her an opening.
"Yan, do you think I'm saying this just because I like Marquis Palatio?"
"...To be honest, yes."
After a brief hesitation, Yan nodded. However, Elivan simply smiled.
"It's not that."
"...It's not?"
"Right. It's true that I like the Marquis. But this is... less about personal feelings and more because it aligns with my purpose."
"The Marquis trying to become a king... aligns with your purpose?"
Yan asked back, unable to understand. She knew that Elivan liked Marquis Palatio to an almost bizarre degree. Yet, when it came to his goal of 'peace,' he was cold and uncompromising. His ideology regarding 'peace' was so upright and precise that anyone would think he wouldn't make an exception even for the Marquis.
...And depending on how one looked at it, he was incredibly dogmatic. To the point of feeling inhuman.
That was why she was surprised. She knew that the answer Elivan just gave was the truth.
"...Well, I don't expect you to understand right now."
Seeing Yan's shocked expression, Elivan laughed and slowly stood up. Then—
"But you'll find out soon enough. What my words mean."
He left her with those cryptic words. Finally, muttering that they should go to sleep, he headed toward the campsite.
"..."
Yan stood there for a while, silently watching Elivan's retreating back.
* * *
It had been a little over a week since Alon arrived at the Magic Tower.
Alon had gained a tremendous amount during that time. To point out two major things:
One was that he had learned from Heinkel a way to interpret Tier Magic much faster than before.
And the other was—
[How is it?]
—He had finished interpreting 'Magic Bolt,' one of the 1st Tier magics.
"Wow—"
"...You really solved it in just a week."
Heinkel shrugged as she watched Penia marvel and Alon agree.
[It's a bit of a misnomer to say it took only a week. I just organized and finished up what you two had already started.]
Heinkel spoke humbly. ...Of course, while her words were humble, her attitude clearly screamed, 'Ahem, ahem—this is a feat that absolutely no one but me could have accomplished.'
[Besides, it's not fully complete yet, is it? You still need to find a Beastkin.]
"Even so, it was fast."
Of course, Heinkel wasn't wrong. She had stepped in at the point where Alon and Penia had already found all the Phrases. However, finding the Sentences required an even higher level of difficulty. If it had been just Alon and Penia, it would have taken at least a month or two, if not more.
[Ahem, don't flatter me too much. It was only a bit faster this time because of the new method I discovered. 2nd Tier will still take a long time.]
Evan, who had been watching them from the side, asked.
"So, Marquis. Are you going to perform a demonstration this time as well?"
"A demonstration?"
"Yes."
Alon nodded.
"Even though we haven't found a Beastkin yet, I think it's best to try a demonstration. But why do you ask?"
At that, Evan scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"No, it's just—last time, the magic you used was Light, but that came out, right?"
"...It did."
"I was just wondering what on earth will come out this time."
When Evan added, "I'm quite curious," Alon nodded as well. Alon was just as curious, as it was impossible to even attempt a demonstration until all the Phrases and Sentences were found.
[Then why don't we do it right now? I'm curious too.]
"A magic demonstration?"
"I want to see, I want to see too—"
At Heinkel's words, Selaim and Sharan reacted instantly. The sight of them constantly scribbling something on paper like zombies just moments ago was nowhere to be seen. Though only a week had passed, they looked quite different from their usual dignified roles as Tower Masters.
Alon was momentarily taken aback by their appearance—they had the eyes of graduate students he had occasionally seen passing by in university—but he soon spoke.
"Then let's go right away."
He brushed himself off and stood up.
"Are we going to the demonstration hall?"
"...I think it's better to just test it outside."
"Ah, right—the demonstration hall is currently under construction."
"It's not really because of the construction... It's just that it would be a shame to break it again."
At those words, Penia thought for a moment and then said.
"No? I think they'd prefer you showing them new magic even if you break it."
"...Really?"
"Of course."
"Ah, that's right. Every time I go down to talk to the information guild, people ask me about it day in and day out."
Seeing Evan shudder as if the mere thought of it was exhausting, Alon began to move to demonstrate Magic Bolt.
* * *
The northern part of the Ashtalon Kingdom.
"...What on earth is—"
Philian Merkillan and his knights had come north to assess the situation under the orders of Shuhtalian V. They were all staring blankly at the carnage unfolding across the plains.
No, could this truly be called a plain?
Philian Merkillan couldn't turn his eyes away, his every thought frozen. The first thing that caught his sight was the black earth, stained pitch-dark. Growing upon that black earth was a crimson meadow that should have been lush greenery. City walls were smashed here and there, and the territory was a complete ruin, dyed red.
And then, what came into view were—
Thud— thud— thud—
The figures of people.
"..."
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
A monotonous sound reached their ears. The sound of something being stabbed mechanically. The knights, and Philian Merkillan, knew where that sound was coming from. They couldn't not know. The source of the sound was right before their eyes.
A man and a woman entered their field of vision. A man and a woman wearing identical rings on their ring fingers. The man was stabbing the woman's already mangled abdomen with a dull knife.
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
There was no emotion in his repetitive actions. He was simply carrying out the act calmly, as if it were the natural thing to do. Yet, strangely, tears of blood were streaming from the man's eyes, which no longer held any spark of life.
And the woman, whose belly was being mindlessly stabbed by the man—
Crunch— crackle—
With her mouth, she was gnawing on the man's neck. Like the man, she was shedding tears of blood, mechanically repeating the act of chewing and spitting out the man's flesh.
That wasn't all.
In one place, a child was slicing open an old man's back. In another, soldiers were mechanically stabbing the necks of knights. And in yet another—a child was gnawing on a young woman's head.
It was bizarre. It was so bizarre that Philian couldn't properly process the phenomenon. The knights were the same. Their vision provided intuitive information, but their minds couldn't understand it.
Strangely, it felt like a dream. Even though the scene before them was undoubtedly a scene from hell. Philian wondered why that was.
"...!"
Before long, he realized.
'There is... no sound.'
Specifically, the sounds that should be there were missing. There were no screams that should naturally accompany war. No clashing of weapons. No one shouting.
All that existed here was the sound of tearing flesh. That unrealistic situation was stripping the reality away from the knights. Finally, at the moment everyone there realized this—
"Ugh— BLEAAARGH!!"
Someone collapsed and began to vomit loudly. The eyes of the knights were simultaneously filled with terror. In that situation, Philian spoke quietly.
"...Vice Commander."
"Yes."
His face was pale, as if his stomach were turning. However, the Vice Commander managed to nod and answer, and Philian asked.
"...Is this place correct?"
"There is no mistake. This is Triman."
Triman. The territory of Count Harvest, often called the land of gold mines within the kingdom. A massive territory inhabited by a large population.
"Ha—"
Hearing the Vice Commander's report, Philian let out a hollow laugh despite himself.
"From the place His Majesty ordered us to check to here, how many villages and territories were there in total?"
"...Eight villages and one territory."
"Then they too—"
"..."
The Vice Commander did not answer. He simply expressed his affirmation with silence.
"..."
Philian lowered his gaze. Even now, a shadow was slowly spreading like a shadow turning away from the sun. Watching that sight, he recalled the King's words.
'Philian Merkillan, three of the Strongest have not returned, so go and uncover the truth. Do so secretly, without informing anyone.'
A very simple command. ...But as he recalled the command that was now utterly impossible to fulfill, Philian spoke.
"Vice Commander."
"Yes."
"You return to His Majesty immediately and report this situation. The rest of you will follow me to the surrounding villages and territories to spread word of this."
"Understood."
"And—be sure to report this to His Majesty as well."
Philian hesitated for a moment before making his decision.
"Tell him that it can no longer be concealed."
With that, he moved quickly. Even then, the black shadow was endlessly expanding its domain.
...Truly, without end.
* * *
"...Crazy—"
Evan blurted out the word before quickly coming to his senses and covering his mouth. He might have said such things once or twice when he was alone with Alon or with Penia, but not now.
"Crazy—"
"This is unbelievable—"
However, as if to alleviate Evan's worries, Selaim and Sharan, who had looked intrigued until a moment ago, also cried out in shock.
"...This is Magic Bolt?"
Alon, the one who had demonstrated the magic, was also looking on in disbelief, his face showing a rare display of emotion.
[...I was surprised last time, but this is truly incredible.]
And finally, Heinkel, who had been watching blankly, muttered.
[This is without using a Beastkin, right?]
"That's correct."
[Then, tell me, are there any Beastkin related to focusing forms?]
Heinkel asked quickly as if she had thought of something. After standing there for a while and discussing various things with her, Alon spoke.
"...I'll try an experiment like that tomorrow."
[Not right now?]
"Normally I'd want to, but unfortunately, my mana—"
[Ah—]
Heinkel nodded as if she understood.
"...You're saying that's really Magic Bolt?"
"To be honest, it's hard to believe, but it is."
"But wasn't it too different? Especially this time—it seems like the power just changes drastically depending on how much mana you pour into it—"
"I never imagined it would have such high versatility."
"I think so too."
"I'm curious about what happens when you pour in all the mana you have. Just how far—"
Sharan, Selaim, and Penia descended the Magic Tower while sharing their opinions. And when they reached the first floor—
"...?"
Alon sensed something strange. The atmosphere of the Magic Tower, which had been bustling before they went up, had become incredibly heavy.
"..."
Alon glanced around and checked the faces of the mages. Every single one of them looked bewildered or serious—or they were frowning as if they couldn't properly understand the situation.
"You there—"
"...Ah, Tower Master—"
"What's going on?"
When Selaim, sensing the atmosphere, called out, one of the mages, who had been holding his head, snapped out of it and answered.
"...We received word from the Purple Magic Tower—it seems something very serious has happened in Ashtalon."
"...Serious? What do you mean?"
"Have you, by any chance, heard the rumors about Ashtalon before?"
"You mean the rumor about monsters massacring each other?"
"Yes. Recently, in the northern part of Ashtalon—"
The mage naturally relayed what he had heard to Alon's group.
"They say a black domain that drives people mad is constantly encroaching upon the land."
When the story was finished.
"...A black domain?"
Alon asked back.
"Yes, that's right. They say a black domain that was never there before is devouring the earth."
"..."
Alon could easily grasp the gravity of what was happening in Ashtalon. At least as far as he knew—
'...The Sin of Sloth.'
—This was what happened when that appeared.
"...So, a request for reinforcements has been sent to the entire United Kingdoms, including the Magic Tower."
The mage added with difficulty, speaking slowly.
"...It seems tomorrow's magic demonstration will have to be postponed."
Alon had to head to Ashtalon immediately.