Chapter 389: Quickening (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 389: Quickening (4)
“…The 1st Prince killed our father and sided with the Divine Blood.”
“…What?”
Alon stood dazed at Karsem’s words.
Karan, the 1st Prince of Colony.
Alon knew of him. It was impossible not to.
In this world, Karmakeses III had remained alive until now, but in the original timeline, his death was an inevitability. And the one who was supposed to succeed him as king was the 1st Prince, Karan.
Alon recalled the Karan he knew from Psychedelia.
In the game, his personality was neither particularly good nor bad. To be more precise, he leaned more toward being a tyrant than a proper king. Even in the game, he used his power to crush anything he didn't like, which led to friction with the player in the mid-to-late stages.
The reason Alon hadn't formed a definitive opinion on Karan’s character was that he was someone who didn't act out unless it involved a specific trigger.
‘Was it fame? Or reputation?’
The memory was faint now. As he tried to recall the circumstances that caused the conflict between Karan and the player in the game, he asked for confirmation.
“Is that… really true?”
“Yes, it is the absolute truth.”
At the grief-stricken reply, Alon let out a low exclamation.
“Could I ask for a detailed explanation of the situation?” Alon asked politely.
Karsem let out a long, heavy sigh. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly debating where to begin.
“…It happened right after the Milky Way fell.”
He calmly began to recount everything that had transpired.
After some time had passed.
“And that is how things stand.”
Having heard Karsem’s entire story, Alon let out a low groan.
“This is a bit much…”
“He’s not just a degenerate son; he’s a monster…”
Penia and Evan’s expressions also turned grim. Alon mentally reviewed the information Karsem had provided.
“So—immediately after the Milky Way fell, Karan killed the King, who had just returned after finishing his duties?”
“Yes. And as if that weren't enough, he offered our father’s body as a sacrifice.”
Karsem bit his lip so hard it made a grinding sound. Despite his visible distress, Alon had to continue his questioning.
“So, the one currently acting as the King is a puppet controlled by Karan, wearing the King’s skin.”
“That is correct.”
“…And you, Prince, were imprisoned to be offered as the second sacrifice… but you managed to escape.”
“Correct.”
“The security must have been tight. It’s a relief you made it out safely.”
“…If Karan had realized I had reached the 4th Tier before I was imprisoned, I likely wouldn't have been able to escape.”
Alon nodded, absentmindedly running a hand through his hair.
‘Dead… huh.’
Karmakeses III had known Alon for a long time, but they hadn't been particularly close. Even so, the news left a bitter taste in his mouth. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
“…I believe I understand the situation, but is there a reason you’re hiding like this?”
“She’s right. Shouldn't you just ask the Babayagas for help?” Penia added, nodding in agreement with Alon’s question.
However, Karsem shook his head.
“If I hadn't known Karan’s plan, I would have asked the Babayagas for cooperation the moment I escaped.”
“His plan?” Penia asked immediately.
Karsem replied, “…The moment I inform the Babayagas of this, he will open portals across the kingdom and summon Unique Entities inside.”
“Open… portals?”
“Yes. He is currently capable of opening portals within the kingdom but is intentionally refraining from doing so.”
“…So, let me make sure I understand this correctly. Even though he could summon Unique Entities and crush the kingdom instantly without this war of attrition, he’s choosing to prolong this situation?”
“Yes. However, even I do not know the reason why.”
Karsem lowered his head as if ashamed of his lack of knowledge. Penia furrowed her brows, unable to comprehend the logic.
Alon, however, caught a glimpse of Karan’s intentions without much difficulty.
‘Is it because of faith?’
Fear also functions as faith. Alon knew this fact well, for he had already seen someone use it that way.
“If you seek help, the kingdom is destroyed instantly; if you don't, it withers away until it’s destroyed… Both options are the worst,” Evan muttered softly from the side.
Listening to his voice, Alon fell back into thought. Suddenly, Karsem stood up from his seat.
Thud.
He dropped to his knees before Alon.
“P-Prince?”
Startled by the sudden action, Lime called out to him. But Karsem kept his eyes fixed on Alon.
“Marquis, I know this is a shameless request. But—could you… could you please save Colony?”
Karsem bowed his head until it nearly touched the floor. Penia fell silent, and Lime’s eyes wavered with confusion. As a heavy silence began to weigh down the room, Alon spoke.
“Very well.”
He gave his answer quite simply.
“…What?”
The response was so matter-of-fact that even Karsem looked up with a bewildered expression.
“?”
“?”
“?”
It wasn't just him. Everyone, including Lime, stared at Alon with puzzled eyes.
“…Is something wrong?”
“No… it’s just, I didn't expect you to agree so easily—”
Karsem seemed stunned by Alon’s attitude, but Alon had already finished his own calculations.
“Is there any other information I should know?” he asked nonchalantly.
“…Ah, yes, there are several things. However, it will take some time to organize the information.”
“Do you happen to know when the next battle will take place?”
“…It will likely be in three days.”
“Three days… Then let’s discuss this again this evening.”
Leaving word that they would meet again shortly, Alon left the room. It happened in an instant.
As silence returned to the room, Lime stared blankly at the door through which Alon, his party, and Seolrang had exited.
“…Ah,” she let out a soft exclamation. “…I think I understand why Seolrang-nim is so devoted to him,” she whispered quietly.
* * *
Immediately after guiding Alon and the others to their room.
“Mentor! I’m going out for a bit!”
“Understood.”
“See you later!”
Seolrang quickly slipped out past the castle walls and headed toward a cave to the west. Soon, she stood inside, silently lifting the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe.
[…Are you planning to do it again?]
“Yes.”
The voice of the Black Dragon echoed as soon as she picked up the Essence.
[I wouldn't recommend it.]
“I’m doing it anyway.”
[Is it to protect that man?]
“Yes.”
The Black Dragon fell silent for a moment at her unhesitating answer.
[…Is there a reason you must protect him? You may not be able to protect him, but you can certainly be a source of strength for him. I don't think there’s any need to be so impatient. Besides, haven't you already become strong enough?]
The Black Dragon’s words were true. Seolrang was already much stronger than before. She had passed the trials of the Essence several times, and now only the final trial remained.
However.
“It’s still not enough.”
[…Not enough?]
“Yes. You said it yourself—that with my current strength, I can't defeat the ‘Divine Blood.’”
[In the first place, it is nearly impossible for a life form born in this world to defeat the Divine Blood.]
“Even so, I have to do it.”
[Why?]
This time, Seolrang remained silent. She thought of Yutia. She thought of Line…
Those who were stronger than her. Those who stood by Alon’s side.
Grip.
Seolrang didn't answer. Instead, she simply gripped the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe tightly.
Wrooom!
As soon as she channeled her mana, she felt her consciousness being sucked into the Essence, and she steeled her will. As mentioned, she had grown significantly stronger through several stages of growth. And as far as she knew, if she completed the final stage of the Essence, she would become far more powerful than she was now.
She had caught a glimpse of the power she could obtain upon completing the final stage during the trials.
As she recalled that power, Seolrang realized she had entered the world within the Essence. The scenery she had been seeing had changed.
The first thing she saw was the blue night sky. Next was the crescent moon. And finally… the prairie she had seen so many times before.
“Whew.”
Exhaling, Seolrang steeled her resolve once more and scattered her mana. Having undergone hundreds, thousands of trials, Seolrang knew that something was about to happen in this quiet prairie.
Sometimes this prairie became a suffocating battlefield. Sometimes the entire place became the maw of a giant monster.
As she stood tense and ready, she suddenly felt something strange.
“…?”
Something should have happened by now, yet there was no change. Her confusion was brief, as she soon realized the prairie had been subtly changing.
“…A temple?”
In the prairie where there had been nothing just moments ago, a temple had appeared. Maintaining her guard, Seolrang entered the temple. And there, she encountered someone.
[You have come, girl.]
“…You are—”
She stood face-to-face with a beastman.
* * *
A few hours later.
As Alon was on his way to meet Karsem again, Penia spoke to him.
“Um, Marquis.”
“What is it?”
“It just occurred to me. Why did you do that earlier?”
“What are you referring to?”
“Karsem’s request. Why did you accept it so readily?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“I mean—couldn't you have gotten a few things in exchange for the favor? Like this, for instance.”
Penia made a circle with her thumb and index finger, the universal sign for money. Alon looked at her silently for a moment before answering.
“It’s something that has to be done anyway.”
“Hmm—”
Penia’s expression became one of serious contemplation, wondering if he was kind or just a pushover, before she broke into a mischievous smile.
“…Marquis.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve recently run into a bit of a financial crisis myself. Could you help me out?”
“…That’s a bit…”
“Aww.”
Penia made a disappointed sound. But Alon ignored her reaction and headed down the basement stairs. Penia let out a long sigh.
Evan, who had been watching her, spoke up.
“You really don't get it, do you?”
“Excuse me?”
“If you’re going to beg the Marquis, you should have acted more pitiful. Besides, you’ve known him long enough to know he doesn't think about profit, right?”
Evan added with a click of his tongue. Penia shot back with an incredulous look.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“…I’m just giving you a tip.”
“Do you seriously think I was actually trying to get money from the Marquis?”
“…Weren't you?”
“Of course not!”
Penia scolded him, asking what he was talking about, before continuing.
“Besides, helping Colony will provide plenty of profit anyway.”
“How so?”
“Once that degenerate prince is dead, Karsem will take the throne. Karsem isn't the type of person to ignore the debt he owes the Marquis.”
“….”
“Furthermore, once the battle begins within the kingdom, people will inevitably start putting their faith in the Marquis. So, it’s definitely not a bad deal for him.”
Evan looked bewildered at her explanation.
“…If you understood all that, why did you even ask him that?”
“Do you even have to ask? The Marquis didn't look like he was in a good mood, so I was just teasing him to lighten the mood.”
At Penia’s sincere answer, Evan stared blankly for a moment before breaking into a slightly mischievous grin.
“Oho—is your love for the Marquis really that deep? It’s going to be tough, though. The competition on both sides of him is pretty formidable.”
He teased her while preparing to make a run for it. Experience told him that Penia usually got angry easily when teased like this.
However.
“?”
He expected her to fire back with an insult, but only silence hung between them. Evan tilted his head. Usually, Penia would have exploded, but she remained quiet.
After a moment.
“…Just shut up.”
Penia glared at Evan, then walked past him and headed down to the basement. Evan had received the insult he expected, yet he didn't move.
He had seen Penia’s face clearly. Though she wore her usual grumpy expression, her face was flushed with a color he hadn't seen before.
“…For real?”
Evan stood there with his mouth agape, uttering those two words.