Chapter 359: What Must Be Done (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 359: What Must Be Done (2)
The moment the noble’s neck snapped, pandemonium erupted.
“Guard—Guards! The Hero has gone mad!”
“R-Run!”
“Get out of here, hurry!!”
“Move! I said move!”
The relaxed atmosphere shattered in an instant.
The nobles let out screams that were more like animalistic shrieks, scrambling desperately to escape the hall.
Some tried to shield themselves with the private soldiers they had brought along.
Others, surprisingly—as if they had prepared for such a situation—pulled items from their robes and attempted to flee.
However—
Crunch!
Regrettably, the nobles could not escape.
Beyond the smiling Elivan, another noble’s neck twisted, and they fell dead.
Then another.
Then another.
Then another—and it continued.
They were being slaughtered relentlessly.
The once-splendid ballroom was now carpeted in corpses and fresh blood.
The golden chandeliers were splattered with gore.
Thick blood soaked into the carpets and the gold embroidery along their edges, stifling their brilliant luster.
And so, all that remained...
“Ah—Aaaah…”
Standing at the very front was Duke Phimarian, who had been facing Elivan.
He hadn't fled; he simply stared blankly at Elivan.
No, to be precise, it wasn't that he hadn't fled, but that he couldn't.
His legs were trembling so violently with terror that he couldn't run, and his mouth was frozen in a pathetic quiver, unable to even let out a scream.
Yet, amidst that horror and dread, Elivan maintained a radiant smile.
The Duke could not understand it.
To be honest, he couldn't make sense of a single thing happening.
Actually, he could understand the logic behind Elivan’s actions.
He was the Hero.
He had used his own birthday party to lure out the nobles connected to the underworld and was now massacring them.
They were certainly villains by any definition.
Yes, up to that point, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible—even if the method was far too gruesome and radical for a Hero.
However, the question gnawing at the Duke’s mind was something else entirely.
“Just… why?” the Duke muttered unconsciously.
If the Hero wanted to kill them, it didn't have to be here.
Given that unprecedented power, he could have likely killed them all in silence.
But Elivan hadn't done that.
He had intentionally lured the nobles here.
He had even drawn the attention of the entire United Kingdoms under the pretext of a birthday party before killing them.
It was as if he wanted to broadcast this event to the world.
It was an incredibly foolish move.
No matter how much of a villain or underworld-connected scum they were, what he was doing was reckless enough to destroy the prestige of 'Elivan the Hero' entirely.
Just why, for what reason—
“You seem curious.”
Duke Phimarian, who had been agonizing fiercely amidst his fear, gasped.
“…”
At some point, Elivan had turned his gaze toward him.
Elivan’s expression was the same as before—a cheerful smile played on his lips.
But the horrific sight filling the Duke’s vision made him realize that Elivan’s smile was no longer normal.
He couldn't easily find his voice.
“What are you so curious about? Why I gathered the nobles here to kill them? Or why I’m throwing my own reputation into the gutter?”
Unlike the Duke, Elivan asked nonchalantly.
Before the Duke could even respond, Elivan gave the answer calmly, as if he had already seen through his thoughts.
“The answer is simple. You’ve probably guessed it already. Every noble gathered here is trash. They are pests who would eventually take root in the underworld and stain the kingdom with corruption.”
“Pests, you say?”
“Yes, pests. There is no more appropriate word.”
The Duke felt a flicker of doubt.
It was true, as Elivan said, that everyone gathered here was involved with the underworld.
However, among them, there was absolutely no one who currently held—or was likely to hold—enough power to corrupt the entire kingdom from the shadows.
In fact, as far as he knew, the true power players of the current underworld had not been invited to Elivan’s party.
That was where the doubt stemmed from.
“…But there is no one here capable of such a thing…”
Despite the overwhelming fear, the Duke managed to squeeze out the question, his mouth barely moving.
Elivan nodded with an “Ah.”
“Yes, you’re right. Everyone here right now is just small fry. At least, for ‘now.’”
Including you, Elivan added—a comment the Duke couldn't quite grasp.
“And the reason I went out of my way to gather and kill you all here is simple,” Elivan continued.
“A reputation that has soared high falls even further into the depths when it crashes.”
The corners of his mouth remained turned up.
Naturally, the Duke did not understand why Elivan was doing this.
However, there was one thing he did understand.
The Elivan standing before him was a far more dangerous individual than he had ever imagined.
“P-Please, spare me. You’re… you’re the Hero, aren't you?”
The Duke begged for mercy.
He knew how futile it was.
But he still wanted to live. His mind, consumed by the instinct for survival, clung to even the slimmest of chances.
Looking at the Duke, Elivan replied calmly.
“No? I’m not the Hero.”
“What…?”
The Duke asked back, bewildered.
Elivan smiled again at the sight.
“Exactly what I said. I am not the Hero. Strictly speaking, I am more like ‘someone who was helped by the Hero.’”
Both then and now.
Regrettably, no further answer came from the Duke.
The moment Elivan spoke those words…
Thud.
The Duke’s neck had already been snapped.
Blood pooled with a wet, squelching sound.
Watching the scene, Elivan naturally turned his gaze.
Before he knew it, the entity wearing the Holy Shroud had appeared.
“And outside?”
At Elivan’s question, the entity replied with a chuckle.
“They are swarming toward this place. It seems everything has gone exactly as you desired.”
“…”
“So, are the preparations complete?”
“Yes.”
At that answer, the entity flicked something toward Elivan.
It was a Red Fragment.
It was hard to even call it a gem; it was simply a fragment of pure red.
And the moment that fragment touched Elivan’s hand—
Creeeeeak!
His body began to be consumed by red veins erupting from the fragment.
Slowly, yet rapidly.
Watching Elivan being quietly swallowed by the red veins, the entity in the Holy Shroud suddenly posed a question.
“Are you not worried? If your prediction is wrong, you won't be setting out on a path to save this world, but rather to destroy it. You are about to become the strongest Sin.”
It was a dispassionate question.
To this, Elivan simply replied.
“No.”
A very simple answer.
Yet, despite the short response, a strange light flickered in the entity’s eyes.
On Elivan’s face, as he was being consumed, there was unmistakable ‘trust’ and ‘faith.’
It was as if he had seen the future with his own eyes.
And so, the entity simply vanished with a final smile.
Elivan quietly looked up at the sky.
The evening sky, which had just been dyed in darkness, was embroidered with the Milky Way.
It shone brightly, as if looking down upon the earth.
But even as he looked at the Milky Way, the look in his eyes remained unchanged.
Because this was the only correct answer he had found.
Elivan filled that gaze with trust.
Elivan filled his heart with faith.
And so, Elivan simply closed his eyes.
And then.
“…”
Wrath opened its eyes.
* * *
[I thought I was going to die!]
[Kyuuuuu—]
Around that time, Alon arrived at the Marquis’s estate a bit earlier than usual.
As soon as he entered his office, Basiliora and Blackie came bursting out, panting.
[Damn it! Why won't that strange Beastkin brat leave us alone!]
[Kyu! Kyu-kyu-kyu!!]
As soon as Seolrang disappeared to settle an unfinished game match with Ryanga, Basiliora and Blackie had popped out to pour out their grievances.
The two of them looked at Alon simultaneously.
[Alon! Send them away already! I can’t take it anymore!]
[Kyu!]
It was a cry filled with resolute determination.
However, behind his expressionless mask, Alon felt a bit awkward.
He could bring it up if he wanted to, but it felt a bit much to tell Seolrang to ‘get going’ already.
“…Well, I’ll try asking.”
Since he couldn't just ignore the pitiful gazes of the two, Alon nodded as if he understood.
Just as Alon was calming the situation, the door creaked open.
“It’s been a while.”
Evan stepped into the office.
[You scared me, you idiot!]
[Kyu!]
After nearly retreating into Alon’s pocket and ring at lightning speed, Blackie and Basiliora glared at Evan.
“Should I call Seolrang for you?”
[Kyuuuuu—!]
[Tsk—I’ll admit it. For now, you are stronger than me!]
Evan chuckled as if their reaction wasn't even worth his time and threatened them. The two of them retreated, making pained noises as if they had just encountered the world’s greatest villain.
“Hehehe.”
Evan let out a laugh, his shoulders shaking as if he had won.
Looking at him, Alon spoke.
“…Is this fun for you?”
“Of course it’s fun, Marquis. There aren't many times I can get the upper hand on those two.”
I have to keep them in their place while I can, Evan added. Alon then asked, “So, did you find Silli?”
“Ah, I actually came to tell you about that. It seems Silli has already headed back to Divine Land.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“…It seems I’ll have to make another trip to Divine Land soon.”
Recalling what Sirkal had said previously, Alon suddenly remembered something and asked another question.
“Come to think of it, didn't Silli say she had something to do in the territory?”
“Yes, it looks like she built a church.”
“…A church?”
“Yes. She built it right across from the one Yutia built.”
“…”
For a moment, Alon’s lips thinned.
He didn't know whether to start by questioning how she built it without his permission, or why she built it right across from the Sironia church.
Since he was planning to see Silli soon anyway, Alon decided to ask her then.
Immediately after, Evan delivered some peculiar news.
“Oh, and they say they’re going to start building small-scale housing in Divine Land.”
“…Housing?”
“Yes. They’ve been using tents like a military camp this whole time, so it seems they want to build new structures now.”
Alon nodded, humming in thought.
It was true that housing was necessary now that the population had grown so much.
However, the reason Alon had put off that thought until now was the cost.
The Palatio Marquisate was very wealthy.
In fact, even if Alon retired now and spent his days in leisure, he would never run out of money for the rest of his life.
Of course, that would be a different story if he lived extravagantly, but Alon wasn't the type to indulge in luxury.
However, building houses in Divine Land was no small financial undertaking.
It was an amount that could make even the wealthy Alon stumble slightly.
And so.
“…How much will it cost?”
Alon asked with a hint of tension, but Evan replied casually.
“Pardon? There is no cost.”
“…? No cost?”
“Yes.”
“Then how are they going to build the houses?”
“According to the report, it will be covered by donations.”
“Donations?”
“Yes.”
“They collected enough donations to start a housing project?”
As Alon asked in bewilderment, Evan shared more news as if he had just remembered.
“Ah, come to think of it, they’re also going to refurbish the roads.”
“…The roads too?”
“Yes. With donations.”
“…”
“In addition, they’re planning to build a small city hall.”
“Don’t tell me, this time too…?”
“Yes, with donations.”
“…???”
A faint look of confusion washed over Alon’s face…