Chapter 344: ???? Years Old (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 344: ???? Years Old (3)
Two weeks had already passed since Alon returned to the Marquis Palatio estate.
During that time, Alon enjoyed a truly comfortable rest.
Of course, he didn't spend all his time idling. He devoted most of his hours to dueling with Kailas and researching magic, but he didn't find it taxing. For Alon, magic research had become a routine as natural as breathing.
Perhaps it was the result of such effort.
"You've definitely improved."
"You think so?"
"Yes. While it's true you're still lacking, the fact that you can hold your own against me is proof enough."
Lately, Alon had been earning a certain level of recognition even from Kailas.
"…I'm glad to hear I'm improving."
"Don't get complacent over a single compliment. You're still far from perfect. Especially when it comes to physical mobility."
Kailas added that he should keep practicing what he’d been taught. Seizing the moment, Alon asked a question that had been on his mind.
"I've been curious for a while—is physical mobility really that important for a Magus?"
Kailas stared blankly at Alon for a moment before shaking his head as if he were looking at someone pathetic.
"Don't ask the obvious. Until now, you've always had helpful people gathered around you, so you haven't faced any restrictions in using your magic. But what do you plan to do if you have to fight an enemy alone?"
"That's—"
As Alon hesitated, Kailas gave a light click of his tongue.
"Remember, whether you're a mage or a Magus, physical mobility is essential for evading the opponent's attacks. You won't last long if you simply block or deflect incoming strikes like you do now."
With those words, he launched an attack on Alon.
"…Ah."
Soon, Alon realized he had returned to reality. It was around the time he pushed the Feet Running Through the Past to one side of his desk.
"Marquis."
"Evan…?"
Alon flinched for a moment upon seeing Evan enter. His hair was a complete mess, looking as if he had been rolling around somewhere.
"…Did you go for a walk?"
"A walk wouldn't leave me like this, Marquis."
"Then what happened?"
At Alon's question, Evan sighed and pointed out the window. When Alon naturally turned his gaze there—
"Let go."
"You let go first."
"I told you to let go."
"Let's both let go on the count of three."
"Three."
"Two."
"One."
"……."
"I said let go!"
"You didn't let go either!"
"Why you—if you weren't the Boss, I would have already—"
There, Seolrang and Ryanga were clutching each other's hair, their eyes blazing with fury.
"…Why are they doing that?"
"I don't know either. I just… tried to stop them and got caught in the crossfire for a moment…."
"Did you roll through the forest or something?"
"You hit the nail on the head. I was basically sent flying."
So I'm not touching them anymore, Evan muttered to himself, letting out a heavy sigh.
"Well, at least the others seem to be getting along well."
"The others?"
"Yes. Deus and Nangwon seem to be on good terms, considering it's only been a week since they met."
"That's good news."
Alon nodded, feeling relieved. Of course, it wasn't a situation he had intended, nor was it a major concern, but he had been secretly worried about whether they would get along. Many of the people Alon had rescued were, for better or worse, quite peculiar.
"Well, thanks to that, it looks like your statue is about to evolve, Marquis."
"…What?"
"I heard Deus is working with Nangwon to upgrade the statue a bit more."
"……."
Alon shifted his gaze to the massive statue standing in the center of the territory. It was a statue posed in a way that reminded him of a certain northern leader.
An MK2 version… of that…?
No matter how much he thought about it, he felt nothing but dread. He stared at the statue with an uneasy expression for a moment before Evan spoke again.
"And those over there seem close on the surface as well."
"Over there?"
Following Evan's finger, Alon saw Yutia, Magrina, Line, and Historia enjoying tea time.
"……."
The three of them were engaged in conversation with smiles on their lips, but their eyes were cold and sunken. Meanwhile, only Historia was repeatedly sipping her tea with a dazed expression, watching the other three.
"…It looks like a scene of political intrigue between high-ranking officials."
"That's why I said they look close on the surface."
"…No, even on the surface, they don't look that close."
Evan shrugged his shoulders, then stroked his chin as if he had realized something.
"Come to think of it, it is quite remarkable."
"Hmm?"
"Usually, when there are six people, it's hard to see all of them through a single window like this, isn't it?"
"Hmm—true."
Just as Evan said, it was a strange thing to be able to see all six of them from where he sat. Alon nodded, but then he suddenly felt the movements of those outside the window stiffen slightly.
"Anyway, that's not the point. Marquis, I have something to tell you. There are two pieces of news—which would you like to hear first?"
Alon turned his attention back to Evan. When he glanced out the window again, everyone was moving naturally, as if his previous observation had been an illusion. He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes, before fully turning toward Evan.
"What is it?"
"Rumors about Elivan and news regarding the Magic Tower."
"I'll hear the part about Elivan first."
"It's said that Elivan has succeeded in closing all the Strange Gates in Ashtalon."
"…All of them?"
"Yes. Thanks to that, Elivan's reputation has been skyrocketing lately."
Alon couldn't help but be a bit surprised. Basically, in Psychedelia, the story involved the player growing stronger by closing Strange Gates and then facing the Sins based on that growth. However, in all his time playing the game, he had never once closed every single Strange Gate in a region.
No, strictly speaking, it was impossible. No matter how much a player focused on closing them, the speed at which new Strange Gates opened was faster than the speed at which they could be cleared.
Yet he had accomplished it.
So it is physically possible, Alon realized anew, nodding his head.
"Yes, Elivan did seem to be quite famous."
"It's only natural. Over the past few years, he's closed an enormous number of Strange Gates without asking for anything in return, and he even took care of Outer Gods, didn't he?"
"…Hm? Wait, he handled Outer Gods too?"
When Alon asked for clarification, Evan nodded.
"Yes. Elivan was busy dealing with Outer Gods just before the commotion broke out, so the rumors didn't spread far, but the count is already around four."
Or was it five? Evan added.
Only then did Alon feel a sense of peace, as if he had gained a new understanding.
…So that's why no Outer Gods have appeared until now.
He had been thinking about Outer Gods all along. It was a natural pattern for Outer Gods to appear after a Sin manifested. However, despite being aware of this, there were two reasons he hadn't worried much about them.
One was that if an Outer God appeared, information would reach him one way or another. The other was the sense of disconnect. This world was already different from the Psychedelia Alon knew.
Anyway, while he hadn't made it a major issue, it would be a lie to say the thought hadn't nagged at him from time to time. Now that this small mystery was solved, Alon nodded.
"Anyway—because of that, Elivan's fame might even surpass yours, Marquis. He's practically being called 'Elivan the Savior' at this point."
"I suppose I've been a bit ignorant of the rumors lately."
"Well—you don't really care for information unless it's something you specifically want."
Evan let out a low exclamation of realization and then added.
"Oh, and recently, Elivan has been saying something quite interesting."
"What is it?"
"He's been saying it so abruptly that no one seems to know what it means. But from what I've heard… 'Only God can take my life.'"
After a moment of thought, Alon replied.
"…Isn't he just using a metaphor for his own strength? Like saying, 'No one but God can kill me'?"
"Of course, most people understand it that way, but since it's so out of the blue, it seems to be becoming even more of an issue."
While Alon thoughtfully stroked his chin, Evan continued.
"And regarding the Magic Tower news."
"Ah, you said there was something about the Magic Tower. Is something wrong?"
"Something is happening."
"Something bad?"
"…Well, there's one good thing and one… ambiguous thing."
"The good news first."
"They've succeeded in deciphering one of the 2nd Tier spells."
"That is definitely good. Then, the ambiguous part?"
"They said you need to visit the Magic Tower once, Marquis. They told me you should check what it is for yourself when you get there."
"Check for myself?"
"Yes. That's what Heinkel said."
Though puzzled, Alon soon nodded. He had to go anyway if the deciphering of the 2nd Tier magic was complete. After a brief nod—
"Is that all you have to report?"
"Yes…. Oh, there's one more thing."
Evan cleared his throat and spoke.
"What is it?"
"The partner candidates will likely all be selected in about a week."
"Really? That's faster than I thought."
"Ahem. According to Alexion, the response from the young ladies was faster than expected."
"…Is that so? For that being the case, I don't think I've heard news of anyone arriving."
Alon tilted his head in confusion.
"Well, they might have just had a quick interview and left?"
"I suppose."
"Anyway, you can make your decision then."
At Evan's nonchalant words, Alon nodded obediently.
"I understand."
* * *
"Phew—"
Lady Miren of the Pedrima Ducal House, a noble of Calliban, let out a light breath as she looked toward the Marquis Palatio estate in the distance.
As the daughter of Duke Pedrima, she had met many different nobles, but she had never been this nervous. She was here for an interview to become the partner of Marquis Palatio.
Of course, some might ask why she was making such a fuss over an interview to be a partner for a Marquis's house. But that was only when the opponent was an ordinary Marquis.
If the opponent was Marquis Palatio, the story changed drastically.
Marquis Palatio.
The leader of Kalpa, the largest faction in Asteria, and a man who possessed numerous aliases—and truly immense power.
Of course, he was a bit late for marriage as a man, but that didn't matter much to Miren. What she wanted in the first place was the power and wealth Marquis Palatio possessed.
It was worth sending all those letters that never got a reply.
Miren smiled, praising her past self for writing and sending letters multiple times despite never receiving a response. If she hadn't continuously made advances toward him, an opportunity like this would never have come.
"Phew—"
Miren took a deep breath to compose herself, and after briefly recalling her secret plan, she stopped her thoughts and put on a smile once more. She gracefully stepped down from the carriage and headed toward the interview room.
"Greetings, Lady Miren of Pedrima."
"Hello, Alexion. As I mentioned in my letter, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity."
She began the interview, offering a warm smile to Alexion.
The time passed very cordially for about thirty minutes. Due to the unique position of the Pedrima Ducal House, she had been drifting in and out of political circles filled with intrigue and schemes since she was very young. In other words, acting the part of the "proper young lady" Alexion wanted was not difficult for her at all.
"I think this will be sufficient."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, thank you very much for applying. If you'd like, would you care to stay for a few days?"
"Since you're being so considerate, I won't refuse."
At Alexion's kindness, the young lady decided to stay at the Marquis's estate for a day. In truth, the fatigue of her journey had piled up because she had rushed there. Soon, she was guided by a servant into a large villa next to the Marquis's residence.
"Then, please call for me if you need anything—"
"I understand."
After confirming that the guide had bowed politely and left, a moment later—
"Lady Miren."
"The servants?"
"They've all been dismissed. Just in case, I've also used an artifact that activates barrier magic so no one can overhear. No sound should leak outside."
"Thank you for being so thorough."
"It was nothing."
The maid bowed and left the room with the words, "Please call me whenever you need anything."
Miren watched her back with appreciative eyes. Soon, after confirming that the sky was turning the color of the sunset, she breathed mana into the crystal ball the maid had prepared a moment ago.
And then.
[Miren.]
At the sight of Duke Pedrima through the crystal ball, she quietly bowed her head.
"Have you been well, Father?"
[Yes. How was it today?]
"It went well, just as you'd expect. You don't need to worry."
[That's a relief.]
"As I've told you many times, there's no need for concern."
At Miren's laughter-filled words, the Duke let out a hum and spoke.
[I'm not worried about you. What I'm worried about is—]
"You're talking about the other candidates, aren't you?"
[Yes. I know nothing about some of them, but according to my private sources, several others are quite formidable.]
A shadow fell over the Duke's face. But despite his concern, she instead—
"I know. You told me, Father. But—there's absolutely no need to worry."
She gave a vivid smile—no, a sneer.
"I'm well aware that the candidates are formidable. But in the end, this isn't a battle of how much power one holds. Power won't be a particularly attractive factor for Marquis Palatio anyway. If so, what's left—"
She let out a mocking laugh.
"Is a battle of who can best wrap a man around her finger, isn't it?"
[…True. Since you are called the Flower of Calliban, I don't think you'll be lacking.]
At the Duke's agreement, Miren covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes crinkling in a smile.
"So don't worry too much, Father. Wrapping a Marquis who's already past his prime around my finger isn't that difficult for me. Even if it takes time, once I enter his heart—"
Everything will be ours, Miren whispered lowly, fiddling with "something" in her bosom—the very thing that had caused her to be called the Flower of Calliban over the past few years.
A chilling smile spread across her face.
However, if there was one thing she didn't know, it was that those words, supposedly blocked by barrier magic—
"How interesting."
"…Indeed."
"Hmph—a bug has attached itself to our mentor."
"Yes."
"How dare she… commit such blasphemy!"
"……."
—were being heard by someone.