Chapter 354: The Ball (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 354: The Ball (3)
“Think about it, Alon. This world has repeatedly faced destruction, and nothing ever carried over. Even though such omnipotent magic existed in the distant past.”
Alon fell silent for a moment at Heinkel’s words.
After mulling over the sentence, he slowly spoke.
“……So, to summarize what you’re saying, Heinkel. Beings from an era even further back than the forgotten Age of Gods failed to deal with the Sins, even with such omnipotent magic.”
“Exactly.”
the conversation continued quietly.
“I’d like to ask one thing. Is the magic you identified truly that omnipotent? Perhaps—enough to handle even the Sins all at once?”
Heinkel remained silent for a moment, just as Alon had, before speaking.
“Let me start by saying that I’ve never actually seen a Sin. I don’t even properly know what characteristics they possess. All I know is the extent of the damage they caused when they appeared in the world.”
“…….”
“But even considering all that, I can’t imagine this magic not working. If this magic doesn’t work, it would mean the opponent wasn’t a living creature to begin with.”
Instead of answering, Alon sank into thought.
‘……The only Sin left is Wrath.’
The Sins of Psychedelia basically appeared in a set order if the player followed the story.
This also meant that the order of their appearance changed depending on the player’s choices.
“…….”
Naturally, since it was a game, their stats also changed depending on when they appeared.
For instance, the ‘Sin of Sloth’ that appeared first and the ‘Sin of Sloth’ that appeared last were incomparably different in power.
The same went for the Sin of Wrath.
However, even so, the Sins were destined to be destroyed by the player.
It wasn't a matter of sealing or banishment.
No matter which Sin appeared last with the greatest power.
Elivan eventually defeated the Sins.
In other words, no matter how strong the Sin of Wrath had become now.
It shouldn't have reached such a level of omnipotence.
As Alon pondered this.
“Ah.”
He reached a realization.
‘Is it time?’
Time.
Basically, all Sins, like the Outer Gods, needed time to fully manifest.
And the Sins the player faced were all ones that hadn't perfectly manifested.
Thinking that far, Alon reached a reasonably logical conclusion.
‘……Does the fifth Sin to appear reach a level where it can’t be handled at all if it perfectly completes its birth?’
Even with the Sin of Sloth.
It was later than the intended time, and the continent had almost been destroyed.
Recalling the past, he conveyed his conclusion to Heinkel.
“……Hmm—”
Heinkel nodded.
“You’re saying that once a Sin manifests and a certain amount of time passes, it becomes unstoppable?”
“Yes. If the people of the era before the forgotten Age of Gods were destroyed by the Sins despite having such magic, I figured that must be it. If not that, then……”
“Is there something else?”
Alon confirmed.
It was because the story Line had told him last time naturally came to mind.
“I heard it also changes depending on the strength of the host.”
“The strength of the, host?”
“Yes.”
When he shared the fact he hadn't known in detail until Line visited the Marquis’s estate.
“……That means there are a great many variables.”
“Indeed. Which means—it’s not like we don’t have a chance either.”
Heinkel nodded again, though she seemed unconvinced.
For some reason, a look of dissatisfaction lingered on her face.
However, she quickly wiped that expression away before Alon could ask.
“Well, if you say so, I understand.”
Though Alon felt suspicious of the expression Heinkel had shown for a split second, he continued.
“More than that, I didn't know you were interested.”
“Hm? In what?”
“In the Sins. I didn't know you were harboring such concerns.”
At that, Heinkel gave a short laugh.
“Isn't it obvious? If the Sins wreck this world, I’m dead too—well, actually, rather than constantly worrying, it was more like, ‘They lost even with this magic?’ That thought was bigger.”
“Hmm—”
“Ah, come to think of it, you said you were curious about what the mages are so obsessed with, right? I’ve told you everything I originally intended to, so I’ll explain it now.”
She began to tell Alon about the scraps she had picked up while interpreting the magic.
* * *
After time passed and he emerged from the inner world.
“Then, I shall be going.”
“Yeah. Oh, and try to organize the mages as much as possible.”
“Are you telling me to recruit them?”
“Whatever you want. Honestly, we have enough now, but if you want to recruit more, go ahead.”
“Understood.”
As Alon walked out of the library.
Twitch—
Behind Alon.
Heinkel watched the eyes moving secretly in that invisible space.
And finally, after Alon had completely left.
“Whew—”
Heinkel let out a sigh.
“……Concern, huh.”
Naturally, Heinkel had concerns too.
The moment this world was destroyed, she, who was rooted in this Magic Tower’s library, would also perish without achieving her cherished wish.
However, what Heinkel had originally intended to mention out of concern wasn't about the ‘Sins.’
“Variables……”
Heinkel muttered the word Alon had brought up.
Certainly, if that many variables acted on the strength of a Sin as he said.
Her hypothesis might be wrong.
“…….”
Furthermore, the magic she had interpreted wasn't even perfectly decoded yet.
She had only recognized how this magic was activated; there was no progress beyond that.
Perhaps, as Alon said.
A Sin that appeared through the meeting of countless variables could be strong enough to ignore even this near-omnipotent magic.
And that is why the past of the distant future was destroyed by the Sins—
Heinkel forced another assumption that came to mind aside.
She reached a conclusion that, for some reason, she didn't quite like.
* * *
The reason the Apostle of Jealousy could deduce the identity of Wrath.
It was because of the final moment.
When he was fleeing to somehow promise a next time after failing to manifest the Great One.
The Apostle of Wrath appeared before Jealousy and killed him.
Miserably, by blowing him apart.
As if that wasn't enough.
She even destroyed all the cells Jealousy had prepared in advance.
So that he would meet an eternal death.
However, Jealousy did not die.
It was because there was a cell she didn't know about.
No, to be precise, there was a cell she couldn't have known about.
The corpses of those who had metamorphosed into Pure White Existences, which the Sin of Jealousy had left on the cliff while manifesting.
As the Sin died, the cells naturally perished and disappeared.
But luckily, Jealousy, who met his physical death before they completely vanished, was able to resurrect by easily moving his soul to the remaining cells.
As long as he had cells, creating a body wasn't a difficult task.
Thus, Jealousy, who survived having lost most of his power,
Also realized the identity of the Apostle of Wrath at that point.
No, he couldn't not know.
Because the fragments of his body that were perishing in real time as they were blown apart—were attached most heavily to Yutia Bloodia’s body.
From immediately after that, the Apostle of Jealousy investigated the person named Yutia Bloodia.
And he was able to learn a few facts.
That she, who should have been in the severed space, had been active outside for ten years.
That she was in a very close relationship with Alon Telia, who was interfering with the manifestation of the Sins.
And even that Yutia Bloodia.
Was ‘controlling’ the manifestation of the Sins.
Each and every one of those facts was utterly incomprehensible from Jealousy’s perspective.
The severed space where all Apostles must absolutely be trapped.
Then how could Yutia have been active outside for ten years?
And.
Why was Yutia controlling the manifestation of the Sins?
He couldn't understand it at all.
In the end, all he had managed to find out.
The truth and the hypothesis he had drawn from it were only one each.
That the Apostle of Wrath cherished Alon Telia very much.
And that the Apostle of Wrath had been swapped at some point.
The latter hypothesis aside.
The former truth was sufficient information for Jealousy.
A truth more than enough to use the Apostle of Wrath, who had killed him without hesitation.
Like a puppet.
“How did you know?”
“The moment I regenerated my body, you were the only one walking around drenched in my perishing cells.”
“Oh my, you can tell from just that?”
I didn't know that.
Yutia replied calmly.
Just as Jealousy was beginning to think his hypothesis was becoming a fact due to her attitude.
“So, I’d like to continue the conversation from earlier. How exactly does my identity become a weakness?”
Yutia asked.
Even wearing a smile as if it were interesting.
Jealousy answered.
“Don’t act so composed, Wrath. If this fact reaches Marquis Palatio, whom you know so well, won't you be in trouble too?”
“It seems you haven't considered the possibility that I could turn you into a puddle of blood before that happens.”
“No, I’ve considered it plenty. However—”
Grin—
“Do you think I would have come to meet you without any preparations?”
“What kind of preparations did you make?”
“The moment I die, all the facts I’ve discovered will be announced to the entire United Kingdoms.”
“Did you occupy an information guild or something?”
“No, it’s more certain than that. Do you know? My clones can function perfectly for about a month even if I disappear. And that much time is more than enough to announce your truth to this world.”
A despicable smile played on Jealousy’s lips.
Just this fact being known would be a huge blow to Yutia.
But more important than that.
Was the fact that this rumor would also deal a blow to Marquis Palatio, who was closely linked with her.
And that would be something Yutia Bloodia absolutely wouldn't want.
Thus, Jealousy grew triumphant, but.
Even while looking at Jealousy, Yutia remained calm.
“Hmm— I see.”
Suddenly, she grasped something in her hand.
What she held was a pocket watch.
A pocket watch small enough to fit in her palm.
And the moment Jealousy wore a puzzled expression at Yutia’s actions.
Click— Yutia, who opened the pocket watch to check it, still wore a relaxed smile.
“Let me just point out a few things.”
She spoke calmly.
“First of all, I am not the Apostle of Wrath you investigated. I was swapped, just as you hypothesized. At some point, that is.”
“……?”
For some reason, Jealousy momentarily went blank.
Something was strange.
What was it? What was strange?
Looking at the dazed Jealousy, Yutia calmly continued her story.
“And secondly, I wasn't the one controlling the timing of the Apostles’ emergence.”
“……!”
Only then could Jealousy realize the nature of the dissonance he felt.
He had certainly found out a few facts about Yutia.
But while he had said he found out those facts.
He had never said what he had found out.
“Thirdly, you said Alon and I—no, Teacher and I—are in a close relationship—”
As Yutia’s voice continued.
Jealousy felt his mind beginning to twist into a mess.
What on earth was this?
Had all the investigations already been finished from the moment he sent the letter to call out the Apostle of Wrath, Yutia?
Or was it mind reading?
No, that was also impossible.
There was no way such a convenient ability existed.
“—It’s a bit sad to put it that way. Alon and I have a much deeper, inseparable relationship.”
“…….”
Jealousy, his eyes fixed on Yutia who hadn't lost her smile.
Realized that something had gone wrong.
It wasn't that she had done something with brute force.
She hadn't emitted mana. She hadn't made a threat.
She had simply continued speaking.
And yet, the Apostle of Jealousy felt instinctively threatened.
Something was wrong. And then.
“Ah. And shall I tell you the fourth thing as well?”
At Yutia’s subsequent question, the Apostle of Jealousy asked back as if possessed.
“……The, fourth?”
“Yes, the fourth. Ah—should I not call it the fourth in this case? Since—it’s about the truth you were going to tell me when you couldn't survive no matter what you did.”
“……!”
His eyes widened involuntarily.
It was exactly as she said.
The Apostle of Jealousy had one final move left, excluding the three facts he had originally thought of.
No, to be precise.
It was closer to a ‘curse.’
Because it was a truth he would spit out to grant despair to the Apostle of Wrath—no, Yutia Bloodia—when his death was certain.
“‘Alon Telia is not the person Yutia Bloodia is looking for.’ ……”
“!”
And at the words she spat out, the Apostle finally realized.
That wasn't mind reading.
Nor was it a prior investigation into the Apostle of Jealousy.
That was—
Crunch—!
“Ah—?”
The Apostle, whose thoughts were racing, let out a low exclamation involuntarily.
And only after that did he realize.
The fact that his limbs had disappeared.
As if they hadn't existed from the beginning.
“Aaaaaaaagh—!”
A simple thud sound.
And a contrasting, desperate scream rang out.
Blood flowed between the broken stone floor, filling the gaps.
Writhing in horrific pain, Jealousy fell into confusion.
It wasn't because of the pain.
‘Why—why!!’
It was because his cells didn't ‘regenerate.’
As if they had stopped.
Into the ears of Jealousy, who was writhing with all his might in such pain and confusion.
“Ah, you don’t have to talk anymore. I know very well on what basis you said that, and what evidence you have. But what should I do about this?”
Yutia’s voice, still composed, reached him.
“I already knew everything.”
“……What?”
“Everything. That Alon isn't the ‘Master,’ and that the letters he sends are just letters with no meaning. Perhaps even that ───────.”
Without the slightest change in pitch.
A peaceful voice.
“……Then, why?”
Jealousy muttered as if he couldn't understand.
But Yutia, still smiling, raised a finger.
“Because that kind of thing wasn't important to me.”
“Wait—! Do you know what you’re trying to do right now!?”
Belatedly realizing her intention, Jealousy spoke urgently, but.
“Yes, I know. If you die now, a lot of damage will actually occur in the United Kingdoms. You’ve made a lot of preparations, haven't you? There are things you haven't told me, too.”
Yutia was still just calm.
“In the major capitals, the hidden Pure Whites will rise and massacre the citizens once again. A lot of damage will surely occur.”
“The monsters and idiots will run even more rampant thanks to the Abyss Bodies that you and your clones will create until the very, very end.”
“The rumors your clones spread will interfere with Alon’s plans, which were all going smoothly……. But it’s okay. Anyway—”
Because that won't happen.
Toward Jealousy, as she whispered softly, he tried to open his mouth.
“—!”
But no voice came out.
Instead, his field of vision lowered.
Down.
Down.
Down.
Down.
More and more.
—Down.
And finally.
When Jealousy’s vision was filled with the blood-soaked floor.
“And even if such a thing happens, I don’t care.”
The last thing he heard was,
“Whether the citizens of Rosario are massacred, or the citizens of the United Kingdoms are massacred. No—perhaps even if every single human in the United Kingdoms is ground to dust.”
A whispering,
“Except for Alon, I don’t care about any of it.”
Assertion.
“No matter what happens to anything else.”