Chapter 386: Quickening (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 386: Quickening (1)
[—Because I am the 'Divine Blood' that serves as her original source.]
"!"
At the words echoing from the statue, Alon instinctively began to manifest his magic.
Though it was a sudden development, he remained composed. He had refined his magic specifically for moments like this.
[Whoa, wait a second! Aren't you being a bit too quick to attack?! I'm not your enemy, you know!]
"…Are you not Divine Blood?"
[I mean, technically, yes?]
"Then how am I supposed to trust you?"
At Alon's blatant distrust, a long sigh drifted from the statue.
[I am indeed Divine Blood, but I have no intention of fighting you, okay?]
"And why is that?"
[Because—I'm an outsider.]
"…An outsider?"
[Yes.]
"You just admitted to being Divine Blood."
[So—could you please set aside the assumption that every Divine Blood is a lunatic hell-bent on becoming a god?]
"…Are they not?"
[They are not.]
Faced with such a firm rebuttal, Alon’s expression grew even more bewildered.
"But surely—"
[Stop. Even if you have questions, why don't you listen to what I have to say first before making up your mind? I wanted to meet you specifically to give you at least a rough explanation.]
"…."
At that, Alon withdrew the magic he was about to cast. As she said, he decided to hear her out first. Besides, even though he had reacted instinctively to the name 'Divine Blood,' it was the blue-eyed entity who had told him to seek her out in the first place.
"I'm listening."
The voice from the statue continued, sounding relieved.
[First, let me introduce myself again. I am called 'The Wanderer.' As you know, your kind refers to us as Divine Blood.]
"The Wanderer?"
[You can just call me Wanderer for short. Is there anything you'd like to ask first? Other than questioning my sincerity, that is.]
Alon thought for a moment before speaking.
"…You said you were Divine Blood?"
[Yes.]
"Have the Divine Blood already awakened?"
[Ah—]
The Wanderer easily grasped the intent behind the question and replied.
[Well—the lower-stage Divine Blood have probably awakened in quite large numbers by now.]
"…I heard they haven't made any significant moves yet."
[Well, that's only natural, isn't it? Unless they're like me and left 'fragments' behind, most of them have to start from scratch. They're likely trying to build up at least a small following first.]
"So that's why they aren't moving?"
[Yes. Oh, but I expect that side will be moving quite a bit. What do you call it… the Empire? Yes, over there—]
Quite a few scoundrels fell in that direction, she muttered to herself.
[Now then, let me give you a proper explanation.]
She began her story in earnest.
* * *
[First and foremost, I want to tell you that not all Divine Blood desire to become gods.]
"Why?"
[There are several reasons. To explain the background, do you happen to know where we came from?]
"…Another dimension?"
[Correct. The Divine Blood are called a race, but in reality, we are beings from another dimension who possess the potential to become gods. Most came here driven by the desire for godhood.]
"Doesn't that mean you're the same?"
[No, it's different. Among the Divine Blood who came to this world, there are those who came regardless of their own will.]
"Why?"
[Because they met the qualification requirements.]
The Wanderer shrugged.
[In other words, while there are those who flocked to this world by choice to become gods, there are also Divine Blood who have absolutely no interest in such things.]
"…Are you saying you're the latter?"
[Exactly.]
"Are there many like you among the Divine Blood?"
[Well, though their motives differ, they do exist.]
"Their motives differ?"
The Wanderer answered Alon's question without hesitation.
[Did you see the Divine Blood falling?]
"I did."
[That wasn't just a visual effect; that many actually fell.]
"…And?"
[Out of that staggering number, only one can truly become a god. In other words, the rest—become meaningless. And it's not like everyone starts from the same position, either.]
Realizing her point, Alon nodded.
"So, they don't even bother fighting because they know they'll lose—is that it?"
[Correct.]
"But if they don't fight, won't they eventually die?"
[Well, theoretically, yes. You can't gather faith if there are other Divine Blood around. However, it's possible if they take sides.]
"…Take sides?"
[Exactly what it sounds like. Divine Blood forming alliances. More accurately, it's better to say they join factions.]
"Why bother? Doesn't joining a faction lead to death anyway?"
[Normally, yes. Because in the end, all other Divine Blood must die.]
"Then why?"
[Because once someone becomes a god, they can bring everyone else back to life.]
Alon let out a soft exclamation of realization.
"So they throw their support behind one person to make them a god, and then they get resurrected. I see."
[Exactly. Anyway, that's why the weaker Divine Blood are split into various factions, but most of them belong to one of the four great factions.]
"The four great factions?"
[Yes. Practically speaking, they are the four factions currently closest to reaching godhood.]
The Gazing Void.
The Whispering Void.
The Rot of Eternity.
The One Who Tore the Sky.
Hearing those names, Alon stared silently at the statue before asking.
"Are you part of one of those factions?"
[No. I don't belong anywhere. Strictly speaking, I'm more of a bystander.]
"…Why? Based on your explanation, if you don't join a faction, doesn't that mean only death awaits you in the end?"
The Wanderer replied.
[That's true. But—I don't particularly feel like joining a faction. I'm not very fond of bowing my head to others. Well, I'm also aiming for something else.]
"…Is it the same for the blue-eyed entity?"
At Alon's question, the Wanderer hesitated for a moment.
[I don't think I'm allowed to tell you any more than this. I only agreed to speak about the Four Divine Blood Factions.]
Her voice was crisp as she drew the line, ending the topic there. After a brief pause, Alon spoke.
"…You only share what's convenient for you."
[Don't think of it that way. I have my own circumstances. Anyway—]
The glowing statue's voice continued.
[The Divine Blood will soon begin their activities in earnest. They'll start running wild, making this current peace seem like a lie. If you want to stop them, grow stronger. And make many allies.]
"…Allies?"
[Yes. Surely you don't think you can stop all the Divine Blood by yourself? Let me tell you, that's impossible.]
A question formed in Alon's mind.
"I have one question."
[What is it?]
"The goal of the Divine Blood is ultimately to become a god, right?"
[Right.]
"Then humans to worship that god would be essential, wouldn't they?"
The Wanderer readily agreed.
[As you say, life is important to the Divine Blood. That's true. In previous conflicts, the Divine Blood tried their best not to kill living beings.]
"Then—"
[However, unfortunately, that won't be the case this time.]
"…Why?"
[Because the current Divine Blood—]
She paused for a moment.
[—have already learned through experience that the lives offering faith don't necessarily have to be 'normal.']
That was her answer.
"…Which means."
[Think of it simply. As long as 'life' is maintained, one way or another—something like that.]
The Wanderer added lightly.
Alon felt a strange sense of dissonance. No, he had felt this dissonance from the moment the conversation began, but only after hearing her answer did he realize its true nature.
"…You speak quite lightly of it."
[Of what?]
"The way you talk about such things."
The Wanderer fell into thought for a moment.
[Ah—]
She let out an exclamation as if she had just realized.
[Well, I suppose it could feel that way to you. But it can't be helped. To us, humans are—]
The words that followed were chilling.
[—nothing more and nothing less than tools.]
Alon was reminded once again. The being before him was also a Divine Blood.
"…."
Alon did not bother to respond.
* * *
"Did the conversation go well?"
"…Yes."
At Evan's question, Alon nodded and sank into thought. There were still many questions left unanswered.
I wanted to talk more, if I could—
Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to. The Wanderer had left, claiming her time was up.
Anyway, I should be heading back soon.
Haven't you already descended here?
No. I was forced here through a clone I spread using my ability. We'll likely see each other again… around the time you learn about the Heavenly Law.
A sigh escaped Alon's lips. He recalled the final exchange he had with the Wanderer.
I have one last thing to ask.
What is it?
…What happened to the Goddess Sironia?
There's a flaw in that question. I am the original body of 'Goddess Sironia' to begin with. But if you're asking what happened to the person who has been acting as Goddess Sironia—don't worry. She'll continue to be here until I truly descend again.
Adding that it would be difficult to talk for a few months, the statue began to lose its light.
Oh, right. One last thing. Watch out for the 'Lava Eater' faction. They're likely crawling their way over from the Empire to deal with you.
Ah, then again, maybe you don't—need to worry? With that tiny murmur, which even Alon couldn't hear, the Wanderer vanished completely.
"Whew—"
Alon organized the three pieces of information he had gained in his mind.
"…Hmm."
None of the information was useless, but it was still quite a lot to process. After much deliberation, Alon looked forward.
First, let's do what needs to be done.
"Evan."
"Yes, Marquis."
"Do you have any information regarding the Empire?"
"The Empire? …Nothing at the moment, but I will look into it."
"Please do."
* * *
Between the United Kingdoms and the Empire.
In that desolate wasteland, the Divine Blood belonging to the 'Lava Eater' were on the move.
The first was a massive shadow with twisted tentacles and a scale-covered body. Its movements were slow and mysterious, like deep-sea currents.
The second was a gaunt figure with skeletal wings and hollow eyes. With every step, the dust of the wasteland scattered like painful whispers.
The third was a fluid mass that constantly changed shape. Countless eyes glinted within it, staring as if into the void of the universe.
The fourth and final one was a giant crustacean that made the ground tremble with its heavy footsteps. Unknown patterns, seemingly carved by an ancient civilization, were etched into its back.
These beings, which could unravel a person's mind just by being seen, were carving a grotesque terror into the name of Divine Blood. They were heading toward the United Kingdoms—no, more accurately, toward where Alon was.
[Tsk—he is too far away.]
[I think so as well.]
[But it cannot be helped—]
[I cannot understand why the 'Rot of Eternity' would take an interest in such a lowly creature.]
[Is there a need for questions? Our task is simply to erase that creature and enter his faction.]
They continued to move even as they exchanged opinions. To accept the incredibly sweet proposal offered to them by the 'Rot of Eternity,' they walked without rest.
They walked, and walked.
And they continued to walk—until they encountered it.
[Ah—?]
The creature let out a low exclamation in a voice that sounded like scraping the abyss. With its few remaining eyes—out of the countless it once had—it stared at the scene before it.
What entered its vision was a gruesome sight.
Dark green blood.
The tentacles of its comrades, brutally torn off and discarded in the wasteland.
Crushed carapaces.
And the sight of a skeleton, smashed and dismembered.
And the last thing it saw.
"…Ah."
Was a woman.
She had red hair and exhausted eyes with deep dark circles, within which strange pentagrams were drawn.
The very person who had brutally slaughtered everyone here the moment she appeared.
[How—on earth—]
Looking at the woman, the creature trembled in fear. It couldn't understand how that thing was here 'now.' It couldn't understand why that thing had attacked them.
[Why…?]
The Divine Blood asked in a fading voice, but she did not answer. Instead—
"Hey—"
She suddenly posed a question.
"If I kill you—will the Star Eater…"
In a hollow, weary voice.
"—Will Alon forgive me?"
She asked, calmly.