Chapter 349: The Vote (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 349: The Vote (4)
““…….””
An awkward silence filled the air.
Within that stillness, Alon sat in deep thought before clearing his throat with a soft ahem and speaking up.
“At any rate, I am deeply grateful to you all for gathering here.”
““…….””
The princes and princesses remained silent.
“……Everyone?”
When Alon looked around at the gathered royals once more, they finally reacted.
“Ah, yes.”
“Hahaha….”
“I, I understand.”
“Yes….”
“Ahem—understood.”
Only then did the princes and princesses offer their awkward responses.
Alon wondered exactly what they understood, but for now, he felt a sense of internal relief and continued.
“Yes, I am very pleased to meet you. I shall see to it that you are well-hosted during your stay.”
“We shall keep that in mind.”
Perhaps emphasizing his hospitality had eased their minds a little, as their expressions softened slightly.
‘But I shouldn’t let my guard down just yet.’
Naturally, Alon knew that those gathered here wouldn't be easily reassured. Divine Land had already grown far too large for that.
How could he make them trust Divine Land completely?
As Alon pondered this, he spoke up as if a thought had just occurred to him.
“Is someone outside?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The moment Alon called, a knight stepped into the tent.
‘It’s Simus.’
Recognizing him, Alon gave his instructions, thinking the timing was perfect.
“Give our guests a tour of Divine Land.”
“Understood.”
“Also, be sure to share your insights regarding the current shortcomings of Divine Land.”
“I shall obey. This way, if you please.”
At Alon’s command, Simus bowed his head deeply. He then led the gathered royals outside.
As soon as they left, Evan, who had been waiting outside the tent, returned and asked, “Is the conversation finished?”
“Well—more or less?”
“But where is everyone going?”
“They’re going on a tour of Divine Land.”
“……A tour?”
“Yes.”
“Did they want to go?”
“No, I ordered it.”
“……Was that really necessary?”
Alon nodded without a hint of hesitation.
Of course, they might have some complaints since he hadn't asked for their opinions, but this choice was unavoidable. Since they had arrived at Divine Land, he wanted to clear away every shred of the invisible suspicion(?) currently directed at him.
“It can’t be helped, even if it puts them through a bit of trouble. We are the ones who need to prove ourselves, aren't we?”
“That’s true, but—”
“I told him to point out the shortcomings of Divine Land as well. By the time they finish the circuit, their suspicions should be somewhat alleviated, even if not perfectly.”
“Shortcomings?”
“Yes. If I really intended to start a war, I would have tried to hide our weaknesses.”
“So, your intention is to reassure them by revealing our flaws without filter?”
“Exactly.”
Evan finally nodded. Hearing the explanation, it didn't seem like a bad choice at all.
‘However—’
Evan recalled the expressions of the VIPs as they left the tent. Every single one of them looked significantly less tense. On the surface, it seemed Alon’s plan was working perfectly.
On the surface, that is.
‘……Their expressions didn't actually change.’
In that brief moment, Evan had captured the fact that the VIPs' expressions hadn't truly shifted. In other words, the faces they were making were merely masks.
And so.
‘I wonder if this will really go well….’
He thought silently as he watched Alon, who was nodding with a satisfied expression.
* * *
The entity wearing the black Holy Shroud was in the forest. It was the very place where the Sin of Sloth had been born not long ago.
“Hmm—”
Every time the entity turned its head, the chains hanging from the waist of the black Holy Shroud rattled, making a metallic clinking sound.
Sensing a presence behind it, the entity turned its gaze. It then offered a greeting with a smile. The grin on its face deepened.
“It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”
Standing where the black Holy Shroud gazed was a man with blue eyes—no, it was Elivan. He wore his usual cool, composed smile.
“Yes.”
A short answer.
The entity smiled as if satisfied by that alone and turned its body fully. Elivan then pulled something from his robe and tossed it toward the entity.
Thud.
Catching the object with practiced ease, the entity checked what had landed in its hand.
It was a Strange Gate Stone. It emitted a light of various colors, as if trying to tempt humanity.
The entity stared at Elivan for a moment before speaking playfully.
“This is… a fragment.”
“Correct. They call them Strange Gate Stones.”
“Hmm—Strange Gate Stones…. Not a very tasteful name. If I were to describe it more fittingly—”
The entity let out a soft, airy chuckle and looked up at the sky.
“—I think calling them ‘fragments of a star’ would be more appropriate. Don’t you agree?”
At that question, Elivan simply turned around, maintaining his smile. It was as if he had nothing more to say.
The entity watched Elivan’s retreating back intently.
“How much time is left, Elivan?” it asked, waving a hand.
Without stopping his stride, Elivan answered.
“About a month and a half.”
A dry response.
Soon, Elivan vanished as if he had never been there in the first place.
The man in the black Holy Shroud stared at the spot where Elivan had disappeared with narrowed eyes for a long while. Then, looking down and rolling the Strange Gate Stone in his palm, he muttered.
“Whether we can reach it or not—”
He began walking in the opposite direction from Elivan.
“—I’m looking forward to it.”
After the entity in the black Holy Shroud departed, the empty forest was left with only three Strange Gate Stones lying on the ground, glowing brilliantly.
As if tempting humanity.
* * *
‘It’s a matter of finances. I originally intended to start small, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the number of people has grown. It’s quite a difficult situation.’
‘We are currently operating as much as possible without any sponsorship.’
The moment Tolenis heard Marquis Palatio’s words, he had already grasped the man's underlying intent to some extent. Unless one was a fool, it was impossible not to realize.
Marquis Palatio was delivering a very polite threat.
Of course, a mundane conversation followed, but that was merely a polite formality. In reality, while being introduced to Divine Land by the knight before them, everyone present clearly perceived the Marquis’s true intention.
……They had no choice but to.
“This area is currently a barracks, but once our circumstances improve, this is where we will build a castle. The estimated cost is a bit high, but it’s not something we can’t manage to fill eventually—”
“This is also a barracks, but if we gather the funds, we plan to use it as a hall. We are experiencing some financial strain, but we’ll manage somehow—”
“This place is a barracks as well, but once the funds are gathered, we intend to turn it into a massive plaza. For your information, the estimated cost is—”
If the Marquis’s words weren't a threat, there was no way the knight in front of them would speak like this so casually.
Of course, this was not Alon’s intention. Alon hadn't given Simus a single specific instruction regarding this. In fact, Alon hadn't even had a proper conversation with Simus since his interview.
Yet, Simus had interpreted Alon’s command in this way.
It wasn't entirely Simus’s fault.
‘This must be what the King commanded…!’
The blame lay heavily on Deus, who had trained the knights. Deus had told all the knights that Palatio Alon would become the Great Sky, and that the knights gathered here would be the guards protecting that Great Sky.
Though Alon himself had never even dreamed of such a thing, the knights, already steeped in Deus’s ‘teachings,’ didn't doubt it for a second. They believed Alon was preparing to become the Sky.
Simus was no different.
“……Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
“……Is there nothing but barracks in this Divine Land?”
“That is correct. There are only barracks.”
“…….”
“Yes, only barracks.”
“…….”
“There is nothing to do, but there are only barracks.”
“……!”
“There is no work to be done, however.”
Simus was performing the command he received from the Sky with absolute obedience. The phrase ‘share your insights regarding the current shortcomings of Divine Land’ could only be interpreted one way by Simus.
If Alon, who was currently busy practicing magic, heard this, he would be flabbergasted, wondering, ‘What? Me? When?’ but unfortunately, he was unaware of the situation.
At any rate, after Simus’s spectacularly disastrous tour of Divine Land—conducted with fervent zeal—was over…
“I hope the introduction was satisfactory.”
Alon tilted his head as he looked at the individuals whose complexions looked even worse than before. He looked at Simus with questioning eyes, but Simus simply nodded.
Nod!
Seeing Simus nod with eyes full of confidence, as if he had perfectly completed his mission, Alon became even more bewildered.
And then.
“……We have toured Divine Land well.”
Tolenis, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
“I see. There are many lacking areas, but what did you think?”
Alon asked casually with a smile. At that, Tolenis’s expression crumpled for a split second, as if he were frustrated.
It was only for a moment, but Alon, noticing the change in expression, began to panic internally.
Tolenis spoke again.
“……I would like to offer some sponsorship to Divine Land.”
“Sponsorship?”
“Yes, about this much—”
Tolenis suggested an amount for the donation. Alon was once again shocked. Not only was the offer of sponsorship sudden, but the amount Tolenis proposed was astronomical from Alon’s perspective. It was an absurd sum to just hand over in the name of ‘sponsorship.’
Therefore.
“I, I appreciate the sentiment—but it’s quite alright.”
Alon refused. He didn't know what Tolenis’s intention was, but the amount was too large, and he didn't want to feel like he owed a debt.
However.
“……Urgh!”
The moment Alon refused the sponsorship, the atmosphere in the reception room plummeted. Everyone’s faces turned into masks of ‘we’re doomed.’
Just as Alon was becoming utterly dumbfounded.
“1.5…… times.”
“Pardon……?”
“I will give you 1.5 times that amount.”
Tolenis spoke with grim determination, as if he had made a difficult decision. His face was set, as if he couldn't go any higher.
But Alon, who naturally couldn't grasp the situation, politely declined once more.
“No, I told you it doesn't matter if you don't sponsor us—it’s actually a bit of a burden.”
“Guhhh—”
“Wait, why all of a sudden—”
“Double…… I will give you double.”
Tolenis’s expression hardened even further as he raised the number.
“No, first, please calm down and listen to me—”
“2.5 times—”
“……??? No, I really don’t need—”
“Three, three times! I absolutely cannot go any higher than this!”
“???????”
……And so, the battle between the one trying to give and the one trying to stop him began.