Chapter 397: It Doesn't Change (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 397: It Doesn't Change (2)
Alon wore a dazed expression for a moment.
Soon, he looked at Evan with a face that screamed utter confusion.
"So... what was the question again?"
He let out a long sigh and clutched his head. He asked again, just in case. Perhaps he had misheard?
However.
"I was asking if you were perhaps a god or something in your past life."
"..."
Faced with a question that left him speechless once again, Alon remained silent for a while.
"...Evan."
"Yes."
"Do I look like someone who was a god in his past life to you?" Alon asked back.
His face was expressionless, so it wasn't obvious, but anyone could see he found the situation absurd.
Evan scratched his head.
"...Hmm."
He couldn't answer easily. Just as Alon was about to speak again—
"Marquis, are you feeling alright?"
Penia stepped through the door. She entered while stretching with a groan, her face etched with fatigue, but she tilted her head as she sensed the strange atmosphere.
"...What's with this mood? Did something happen?"
"No, it's nothing like that."
"We were just talking about the Marquis's past life," Evan replied.
"His past life?"
As Penia asked back in bewilderment, Evan nodded.
"I was asking the Marquis if he was actually a god in his past life."
"The Marquis was a god in his past life?"
"No, I'm not saying he was one; I'm asking if he might have been."
"...I don't understand why you're asking such a pointless question," Alon said, shaking his head in disbelief once more.
However.
"...Hmm."
"..."
Penia joined Evan in staring intently at Alon.
"...Honestly, it's not like it's impossible, right?"
"I don't necessarily want to agree with you... but I think it's plausible too," Evan added.
The two exchanged nods of agreement.
"...Exactly what part of me makes you think that?" Alon asked, genuinely unable to comprehend their reasoning.
But Evan and Penia seemed to feel the same way about his confusion.
"...Do we really need to look at a specific part?"
"Then what?"
"Just listing the things you've done so far puts you far beyond the standards of a normal person, doesn't it?"
"Is it really that much...?"
At Alon's reaction, Evan stroked his chin.
"Marquis. It's nothing new, but you really seem to have a screw loose when it comes to things like this."
"...I do?"
"Yes. Usually, other people are dying to brag the moment they achieve even a small feat, but you don't even properly realize what you've done. Of course, it's not exactly a disease, but..."
It's definitely strange... As Evan muttered to himself, Alon cleared his throat involuntarily.
"...Anyway, the point is. You're saying the Divine Blood saved Calliban?"
"That's correct."
"And the reason they saved Calliban was because of me?"
"Most likely."
"Where is that Divine Blood now?"
"I heard they've settled down in Calliban."
Evan continued his report.
"And actually, that's not the only thing I have to report."
"...There's more?"
"It's not exactly the same as the previous case, but something similar happened in Laxas as well."
"The Divine Blood protected Laxas?"
"Yes. Though I heard they disappeared without a word after protecting it... Also, in the North, a giant tiger reportedly protected the barbarians from the Divine Blood."
"...The barbarians too?"
"Yes. According to the Information Guild, the tiger that appeared in the North helped the barbarians while mentioning the 'Star Eater.'"
"..."
Alon let out a sigh.
The situation was certainly favorable. Before coming to the Colony, Alon had sent Historia and Ryanga of Divine Land to the places being attacked by the Divine Blood.
However, after properly facing the Divine Blood this time, he realized something.
The Divine Blood were not opponents that could be handled easily.
From that perspective, the sudden appearance of these helpful Divine Blood was incredibly reassuring, but at the same time, it left him full of questions.
'...The things I have to think about are piling up.'
Ever since he had faced the power of the Divine Blood in earnest—no, perhaps even before then—Alon's mind had been working non-stop.
He had much to do. He had to continue his magic research, and he had to evolve his Divine Power to the next stage.
That wasn't all.
'I have to raise the kids.'
He had heard it from the Wanderer, but this battle had made him realize it even more poignantly.
The Divine Blood could never be stopped alone. They were by no means easy opponents.
To stop them, Alon needed companions—people strong enough to face the Divine Blood.
After continuing his thoughts for a while.
"Ah, come to think of it, Marquis."
"What is it?"
"I forgot because I was interrupted earlier, but I had something to tell you."
"...Has Seolrang woken up?"
"Yes."
The moment he saw Penia nod, Alon immediately stood up.
"Let's go at once."
* * *
When they arrived in front of Seolrang's quarters, Lime greeted them.
"Ah, Marquis."
"Lime."
"Are you alright? Shouldn't you still be resting?"
"I'm fine enough for this. More importantly, how is Seolrang...?"
At Alon's question, Lime let out a sigh of relief.
"Fortunately, there are no major issues."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. I was worried too, just in case, but she's the same Seolrang as always."
Lime clutched her chest in relief. Alon felt equally reassured.
"Please, go on in."
Lime naturally stepped aside.
As soon as he entered, he saw Seolrang. She had been staring blankly out the window while lying in bed, but she turned her head at the sound of the door.
"Ah! Mentor!"
The moment she spotted Alon, a wide smile spread across her face, and she sprang out of bed to lunge at him.
Her eyes overflowed with joy, her lips were curled into a bright smile, and her wagging tail directly expressed her excitement.
Seolrang hugged Alon without hesitation.
Swish, swish—
Her tail wagged even more violently.
"Are you okay, Mentor?"
Seolrang asked naturally, clinging to Alon's waist. He stroked her head as usual and replied.
"Yes, I'm fine. And you? Are you alright?"
"Yup! I'm fine!"
Alon stared intently at Seolrang, who looked triumphant and proud.
Her eyes still held unmistakable joy, her lips were curved in an arc, and her tail was wagging vigorously.
Nothing about her seemed different from usual. On the surface, at least.
"? Master?"
"...Sorry, I just had something to think about for a moment."
"It's okay!"
Seolrang tilted her head, perhaps finding it strange that he was staring so intently. Alon carefully broached the main subject.
"Could you tell me what happened to you?"
"Okay!"
At Alon's request, Seolrang began to recount the events of yesterday without hesitation.
And Alon couldn't help but be surprised.
First, it was because of the word 'Aberrant Blood' that came out of Seolrang's mouth.
And second—
"...And that's how it happened!"
"..."
"...Hm? Mentor?"
Alon, who had been staring at Seolrang, eventually shook his head.
"No. It's certainly... surprising."
"Yeah. I don't really know about the Aberrant Blood—but anyway, I can handle all kinds of lightning now!"
"All kinds of lightning...?"
"That's not all. My techniques have improved too!"
"...Your techniques as well?"
"Yup! As I accepted the Essence, I gained all the techniques of the people who used that Essence. Which means! I'm more than capable of protecting Mentor now!"
Hehehe—I'm a total genius! Seolrang made a V-sign with her fingers. Seeing her like that, Alon couldn't help but smile back and stroke her hair.
"—"
Seolrang flinched slightly, then began to hum as if she enjoyed the sensation of his hand. Watching her, Alon called her name.
"Seolrang."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"If anything happens, make sure to tell me."
At Alon's words, Seolrang looked up at him blankly. Alon also gazed back into her eyes—her calm, golden eyes.
"What do you mean? I'm perfectly fine."
But after a moment, Seolrang tilted her head and asked.
"...Is that so?"
"Yup! My body's a bit creaky, but this much is fine! I'll probably be better after some rest."
"That's a relief."
"Hmm—of course, even after my body heals, I think I'll be like this for a while because I'll be struggling to control that power—"
Seolrang groaned as if she were contemplating something.
"—But don't worry too much! I'll adapt quickly and protect you, Mentor."
She then gave her chest a confident thump with a bright smile. Just as Alon let out a hollow laugh and began to stroke Seolrang's head again.
Bang—!
"M-Marquis! We have a problem! T-The Poison Eater... he's a-alive!!"
"...What!?"
Evan burst through the door and shouted.
"O-Over there—!"
He urgently pointed toward the window. Alon turned his gaze in the direction of Evan's finger and saw it.
Just as Evan said.
The creature that had been rolling around aimlessly in the red Blood Sea until yesterday—
"...For real?"
—The Poison Eater, whom Seolrang had clearly killed.
It had come back to life, its form perfectly intact.
Twitch—!
Alon's brow furrowed. Seolrang was not in a normal state. It was also nearly impossible for Alon to win a fight against the Poison Eater right now.
However, he couldn't just leave it be. He immediately used Thunder God Form and leaped through the window toward the Poison Eater's location.
Soon, he was met with a scene.
The fighters and citizens who had been working hard to rebuild the city just moments ago were all staring at the Poison Eater in terror.
"...Tsk—"
The Poison Eater stood there, completely restored without a single scratch—
"...Huh?"
—Wait, the Poison Eater...?
"...?"
Alon's grim expression softened. The thing in front of him was definitely the Poison Eater. Even the threads it was scattering for some unknown reason were the same ones Alon had seen before.
Yet, the reason Alon was filled with doubt was that the Poison Eater's appearance was excessively dark.
As if a shadow had taken physical form.
And the moment he realized that fact.
[Kyu?]
"...?"
A voice was heard. From the Poison Eater. A voice that was all too familiar.
Just as he was becoming bewildered by the incomprehensible situation, Alon witnessed it.
The Poison Eater's head, which had clearly been covered in dozens of eyeballs—
[Kyuuu?]
...Transformed into the head of a giant Blackie.
"????"
Question marks filled Alon's head once again.