Chapter 395: Quickening (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 395: Quickening (10)
Cardinal Sergius, who served the Goddess Sironia in the Holy Kingdom Rosario, had been feeling a strange sense of dissonance lately.
To be more precise, it was less a feeling of dissonance and more a lingering question.
"……Um, Lady Yutia?"
Sergius’s voice reached Yutia, who was staring out the office window at the landscape of Rosario.
However, Yutia remained motionless, gazing blankly at the scenery as if she hadn't heard him.
"……Lady Yutia?"
"Ah."
When Sergius called her name once more, a low sigh escaped her lips, as if she had only just snapped back to reality.
She turned to look at him, her previously expressionless face now wearing a gentle smile.
"What is it, Cardinal Sergius?"
"That—I have finished processing everything you ordered last time."
At Sergius’s answer, Yutia tilted her head.
"Processing? What do you mean?"
"Ah—didn't you mention it the other day? Regarding the matter with the eastern village."
The gentle smile remained on Yutia’s face as she let out a soft "Ah" of realization.
"I see. Was it handled well?"
"Yes, I took measures exactly as you instructed."
"That’s a relief. Thank you as always, Cardinal Sergius."
"Think nothing of it. Well then, I shall take my leave."
"Yes, please do."
With a final bow to the smiling Yutia, Sergius stepped out of the office.
As soon as he closed the door, he thought to himself:
Something is definitely wrong.
He voiced his doubts about Yutia Bloodia internally.
Of course, if anyone else had overheard their conversation, they would have wondered what on earth he found suspicious. It had been a perfectly normal, brief exchange.
Yet, Sergius’s doubts only deepened.
He had maintained this kind of relationship with Yutia for several years now.
While it was true that their relationship hadn't started on the best of terms, the past few years had been enough to provide Sergius with a sense of stability—and enough time to get to know the person named Yutia to some extent.
That was why he had immediately sensed the change in her lately.
……Why is she forgetting so many things?
It was natural for humans to forget. Even the most brilliant person would forget things they didn't consider important.
But such forgetfulness did not suit the Yutia Bloodia that Sergius knew.
She remembered everything.
In fact, she knew most necessary information to such an extent that it felt as if she were prophesying the future.
But recently, something about her was off.
The instances of her forgetting things had increased significantly.
For example, she frequently forgot orders that she herself had issued just moments ago.
It wasn't that she was becoming a simpleton. Aside from that one quirk, she was still the same Yutia Bloodia Sergius knew.
And that was precisely why Sergius felt such a sense of wrongness from her.
……What is going on?
Sergius stood there for a long while, staring at the door to her office.
* * *
Seolrang stared at the man before her.
A beastkin with golden hair just like hers, sitting in the middle of the temple, waiting for her.
[I shall ask once more. Are you ready to cast everything aside and accept the ‘Fragment’?]
At the beastkin’s question, Seolrang nodded without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes."
Her voice was firm, devoid of even a shred of doubt.
The man looked at her with interest and let out a curious exclamation.
[You were trembling with fear only a short while ago, yet now you speak with such conviction. What gave you this certainty?]
"Because I need strength."
[……What a cliché, yet straightforward answer.]
"Just give it to me. You said you would last time."
At Seolrang’s urging, the beastkin let out a smirk.
[Don't be in such a hurry. If you're worried because the situation outside is urgent, don't be. As long as you are here, time outside will not flow.]
"……It won't flow?"
[To be precise, it will flow extremely slowly.]
Seolrang watched the beastkin shrug, then bit her lip hard before speaking.
"You... you talk too much."
[Calling me 'you'? Isn't that a bit harsh to the person about to give you power?]
"You said you'd give it to me whenever I accepted, didn't you?"
[Don't be so impatient. Didn't I tell you? Time here flows at a snail's pace. And—]
The beastkin’s expression remained relaxed.
[—I'm just a little curious. Only a few days ago, you were backing away even when I offered it…… Why is it that you want to receive this power at this very moment?]
He rose from his seat and approached Seolrang.
[As you know, the power of the Essence—no, this power is immense. Therefore, there is a price.]
He held up three fingers, then folded his thumb.
[First. If you accept this vast power but fail to control it and go berserk, your entire body will be shattered, and you will become a cripple.]
Next, he folded his middle finger.
[Second. Even if you succeed in controlling the power and fully accepting the strength of the Aberrant Blood, you will no longer be yourself.]
[I explained this last time. Once you use the Essence, the user's age is fixed until all the trials of the Essence are complete. And the moment the trial ends, you will receive all the 'maturity' you missed out on all at once.]
Finally, he folded his index finger.
[Third, in that state of extreme dissonance, you must accept the memories of everyone who has ever used this Essence. And when that time comes—]
The beastkin looked at Seolrang and spoke with an air of detached observation.
[—I wonder, will you still be able to remain as 'you'?]
He stared at her intently with red eyes that resembled someone else's, looking somewhat amused. Seolrang remained silent.
[If you have talent, and if heaven smiles upon you, you might be able to maintain 'yourself.' But let me tell you now: though many have reached the final trial, none have ever fully accepted the power of the Aberrant Blood.]
[That was true when you were called the Golden Mane Tribe, when you were called the Cursed Bloodline, and when you were called by any other name.]
[Even so, no mercy is granted. In the first place, this trial was created by the Great—]
The entity continued to speak.
However, Seolrang wasn't listening; she was reflecting on the price he had mentioned.
“…….”
Becoming a cripple because she couldn't handle the power?
She wasn't afraid of that.
She might feel differently if she thought about what came after, but to protect her Mentor, she could make that choice without difficulty.
Regaining her maturity?
That didn't scare her either.
She could endure any mental anguish resulting from it, as long as she could save her Mentor.
But...
The last part was terrifying.
‘Shall I explain in detail? Accepting the memories of those who used the Essence means your head will be filled with the memories of dozens of people.’
‘Countless values will clash and break against each other, and a new set of values will be formed upon them.’
‘The things you like, the things you hate—everything will become entangled with those countless values and turn numb.’
Seolrang recalled what the beastkin had said when they first met.
It was a terrifying prospect.
It meant that all the values she held dear would vanish.
The things she cherished. Her family.
Her Mentor.
“…….”
They were so precious to Seolrang.
Yutia, who became family to her when she had nothing.
Line, who always looked after her silently.
Ladan, who always listened without a word when she complained.
Deus, who always played with her quietly.
And her Mentor, who never hesitated to throw his life away to save her in any situation.
They were everything to her.
In fact, they were her entire world.
The beings Seolrang wanted to protect even if it meant trading everything else.
That was why she was afraid.
Afraid that the things precious to her would no longer be precious.
Afraid that the things she loved would no longer be lovable.
Afraid that the things she considered important would no longer be important.
Afraid that everything she possessed...
Would eventually be regarded as nothing at all.
So she had run away.
Even though she could have reached the end, she didn't.
Even though she could have obtained the power, she didn't.
But.
"Give it to me."
[What?]
"I said, give it to me."
Despite everything, Seolrang made her choice.
She was still afraid.
Her trembling body betrayed her fear, and her wildly shaking eyes spoke of her terror.
Yet, she chose.
She had to choose.
She had to protect them.
Even if the things precious to her were no longer precious.
Even if the things she loved were no longer lovable.
Even if the things she considered important were no longer important.
Even if everything she possessed...
Was eventually regarded as nothing at all.
She wanted to protect them.
My family.
My Mentor.
Alon.
[…….]
At Seolrang’s determined, resolute answer, the beastkin looked down at her silently with those characteristic red eyes, so similar to someone else's.
Then, he smirked.
[Hey. Did you know? Even if you don't take the power here, that fellow will probably survive. Of course—]
"That would be the extent of it," he muttered, his gaze never leaving Seolrang.
"……Hand it over. Now."
Seolrang answered once more.
[Why? I told you, even if you don't take the power, he won't die.]
The beastkin asked back, as if he truly didn't understand.
Seolrang spoke without hesitation.
"Because that's not what Mentor would want."
Seolrang knew.
She knew what kind of person her Mentor was. And because she knew, she knew how much he would grieve.
Seolrang didn't want to see him like that.
And.
[…….]
The beastkin, who had been staring at her expressionlessly after her firm reply, suddenly—
Grin!
A deep smile spread across his lips, as if something had made him incredibly happy.
[Fine. I shall pass it to you.]
Memories flashed through Seolrang’s mind.
Every single one was a precious memory.
She brought them to mind over and over.
She held onto them again and again.
So she wouldn't forget.
So she could keep cherishing them.
And then.
[Congratulations. Beastkin—no.]
The beastkin laughed joyfully, his red eyes glowing.
[O thou, who has become able to command all lightning.]
He spoke.
And then.
Whooooosh!
A brilliant white light enveloped everything.
* * *
The moment when the massive mouth was only seconds away from closing completely to swallow Alon’s body.
The Poison Eater’s dozens of eyes glittered as it smiled, as if enjoying the predetermined conclusion.
Is it really impossible after all……!
At that moment, as Alon racked his brain to find a breakthrough in the desperately short time remaining—
"……!"
The closing mouth of The Devourer stopped, as if by magic.
No.
That wasn't it.
It hadn't stopped.
It was.
Unable to move.
Alon could tell. He could feel it too.
A blood-chilling aura that made his heart feel like it was about to burst.
And soon, Alon was able to find the source of that aura.
Seol……rang?
A single beastkin stood there.
Even at a glance, she was a giant, standing over two meters tall.
The first thing he saw was her golden hair, which reached down to her calves.
The next thing he saw was the golden crown, like a halo, resting atop that golden hair.
And the last thing he saw.
Were golden eyes, chillingly indifferent.
Yet, Alon had no trouble recognizing that it was Seolrang.
The moment their eyes met.
Seolrang vanished.
And.
Alon saw it.
Despite it being the middle of the day, the world was being dyed in night.
As if the night were eroding the day.
The world of midday was erased, and the world of midnight was cast over it.
Thus, a night was created where a vivid golden moon rose.
"Swaying Spear (狼槍狼槍)—"
A golden moon made of lightning, emitting a light so brilliant it turned the day into darkness.
Falling Moon (落月).
It began to plummet toward the earth.