Chapter 398: What Is That…? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 398: What Is That…? (1)
Alon stood dazed for a moment after witnessing the cosmic horror of the Poison Eater’s head suddenly turning into Blackie’s.
[Kkyu?]
When the Poison Eater’s—no, Blackie’s—head tilted to the side, Alon cautiously spoke.
“……Blackie?”
He called out, just in case.
Blackie, who had been wearing the guise of the Poison Eater until a moment ago, let out a low cry and began to shrink its body instinctively.
[Kkyu!]
Soon, it returned to its original size.
……While still maintaining the form of the Poison Eater.
“…….”
As Alon stared intently, Blackie tilted its head. Only then did it realize it hadn't reverted from the Poison Eater's form and shifted back to its original state.
Twitch—
Spider legs briefly sprouted and vanished repeatedly during the process.
“Uh…… what exactly is going on right now?”
Penia, who had followed Alon late, asked with a bewildered expression as she looked at Blackie.
“……I’m not entirely sure myself.”
Alon could only give that answer as he watched Blackie approach naturally, as if nothing had happened, and rub its body against his leg.
* * *
A short while later.
“So, you’re saying Blackie absorbed the Poison Eater?”
“It certainly seems that way.”
Alon nodded.
Penia asked, looking like she couldn't understand.
“How?”
“……I don’t know either.”
“You don’t know?”
“Why do you think I would know?”
“Because you’re Blackie’s master.”
Penia’s point was logically sound.
However, it was a fact that Alon didn't know much about Blackie. After all, the only thing he truly knew was that Blackie’s identity was a Shadow Spirit Dragon.
Alon looked at Blackie, who was repeatedly transforming into the Poison Eater and back again in front of Basiliora.
[Tsk, how utterly hideous.]
Basiliora clicked his tongue.
Offended by those words, something began to leak from Blackie’s body.
[Hmm? AAAARGH! What is this?! GYAAAAAH—!]
The moment the mist touched him, Basiliora thrashed violently like a fish caught on a hook.
Watching the scene, Penia spoke slowly.
“Isn’t that the power the Poison Eater used?”
“……It seems so. Though the potency looks much lower.”
Just as Alon was watching with an absurd look in his eyes, the door creaked open and Evan walked in.
“Marquis, I looked into it as you requested. They say the corpse of The Devourer has vanished without a trace.”
“As I thought, it was absorbed.”
He had realized earlier that the corpse, which should have been where Blackie was, was missing. He had sent Evan to confirm his suspicions, and they were correct.
‘I judged that absorption itself was possible since it absorbed an Abomination last time, but to think it could even absorb Divine Blood…….’
Lost in thought, Alon called out to Blackie.
“Blackie.”
[Kkyu?]
“Can you transform into The Devourer as well? Of course, you don't have to take on its full original size.”
At Alon’s request, Blackie tilted its head a couple of times as if it weren't difficult.
In an instant, it transformed into The Devourer.
It had an unnaturally massive head and dozens of legs with claws, seemingly designed for swimming through the earth.
“……Wow.”
“No, that’s even grosser than I expected……?”
Penia let out an exclamation of awe.
By the time Evan was recoiling in disgust at the dozens of tentacle-like feet.
[Kkyuu—]
Blackie, who had been maintaining the appearance of The Devourer, quickly returned to its original body and slumped down as if it had no strength left.
Anyone could see it was completely drained as it began to melt onto the desk.
Observing this with deep interest, Penia exclaimed.
“It seems that stored mana is required for the transformation.”
“Stored mana?”
“Yes. It looks like it used the mana it received from you during the last battle to transform until now.”
Alon nodded at her analysis, but then—
Gurgle—
“?”
The slumped Blackie made a suspicious sound and spat something out of its mouth.
“……This is?”
“What could it be……?”
They were stones. Two black stones that seemed to refuse to allow even a single ray of light to pass through them.
Alon checked them and turned back to Blackie.
[Kkyuu—]
The little creature let out a tiny cry as if it were exhausted and crawled straight into Alon’s coat pocket.
“……It seems like it will be a great asset, but I think we need to do some research.”
Alon nodded in agreement as he followed Penia, who was watching Blackie with eyes full of curiosity.
* * *
A few days passed, and by the time Alon had recovered his strength to some extent.
After researching Blackie with Penia, Alon discovered two interesting facts.
First, as long as it had enough mana, Blackie could transform into the Divine Blood it had absorbed at any time. Furthermore, it could use their abilities, albeit in a weaker form.
Second, while it could transform into Divine Blood, it could not transform into the Abominations it had absorbed so far.
The second point wasn't a major issue. For Alon, the important fact was that Blackie had gained new abilities and would be a significant help to his combat power.
‘If Blackie can transform into all the Divine Blood it absorbs…….’
A question suddenly occurred to Alon. It was about Blackie’s true identity, something he had pondered several times while researching the creature.
‘……It would be clearer if I could find Kailas and ask him.’
Alon smacked his lips in regret. He might have been able to hear something from Kailas, since he was a Magus who used a Spirit Dragon.
Unfortunately, Alon couldn't meet him.
“…….”
For some reason, the ‘Feet Running Through the Past’—the artifact he used to meet Kailas—had not been working properly since the battle with the Divine Blood.
It was as if it were broken.
‘……I should show it to Alexion.’
Recalling that Alexion had quite a reputation for handling artifacts, Alon tucked the Feet Running Through the Past into his shirt.
‘If even Alexion has no solution…… I might have to go find Rainisius.’
The Golden Dragon Rainisius.
Just as Alon’s thoughts reached the dragon he had met when he first visited the border zone.
“Marquis, you’re planning to leave soon, aren't you?”
Evan asked, and Alon nodded.
“It’s about time.”
“Where will you be heading?”
“……Hmm.”
Alon contemplated. Normally, his next destination should have been Phildegrin, the Magic Tower, or perhaps Teria.
Not only that, but to dig deeper into Blackie’s nature, he first needed to stop by the Marquis’s estate.
……And come to think of it, he also had to consider the Divine Land.
After a brief moment of deliberation, he reached a conclusion.
“……First, let’s go to Calliban.”
“To Calliban?”
“Yes. We can head there and then return to the estate.”
“……Ah, certainly, there is work to be handled at the estate. Then I will assume we are leaving tomorrow and prepare in advance.”
Alon nodded, ending the conversation.
Thus, the day after he told Karsem he would be leaving the Colony.
As Alon was moving to board the carriage—which had miraculously suffered no damage despite the city being destroyed—he was met with a crowd.
“Thank you so much, Marquis!”
“Thank you!”
He encountered the citizens of the Colony, who were bowing their heads to him in gratitude. Every single one of them expressed their thanks.
“…….”
He hadn't done it specifically to receive such greetings.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Alon scratched his cheek. While accepting their thanks, he also felt a sense of doubt. Although he had helped, in the end, it was Seolrang who had finished off the Divine Blood.
“Marquis, why do you look so grumpy?”
“……Because Seolrang was the one who killed the Divine Blood……?”
“That may be true, but your contribution was no less significant, Marquis.”
Evan clearly didn't see it that way.
“We will surely repay this debt.”
At any rate, amid such conversations, Alon reached the carriage. He shared a final farewell with Karsem.
“Mentor! Call me whenever you need anything!”
“I will.”
He also said goodbye to Seolrang, who was smiling brightly.
“Likewise, call me if you need me.”
“Yeah, okay! Mentor, you have to tell me if you need me too! I’ll be waiting anytime!”
Seolrang nodded as Alon patted her head.
After looking into her eyes one last time, Alon boarded the carriage.
Soon, the carriage left the Colony.
After some time had passed.
[Kkyu—]
[ARGH! You crazy brat! Let me go! Hey! Don't just watch, help me!!]
“Ah, come to think of it, Marquis. There was something I hadn't told you yet.”
Alon, who had been watching Blackie—now in the form of a miniature Devourer—swallow Basiliora whole, turned his gaze to Evan.
“Is there some new news?”
“In many ways, yes.”
“What is it?”
“I heard that a Divine Blood appeared in Teria yesterday.”
“……In Teria?”
As Alon looked surprised, Evan immediately replied.
“But you don't need to worry too much.”
“……Don't tell me a friendly Divine Blood appeared in Teria as well?”
“No, it’s not that……. To give you the conclusion first, they say they succeeded in disposing of the Divine Blood in Teria.”
“They disposed of a Divine Blood?”
“Yes.”
Alon was filled with doubt at Evan’s answer.
‘……Is there anyone in Teria capable of facing a Divine Blood?’
But Alon soon shook his head. As far as he knew, there was no one in Teria who could stop a Divine Blood. No, in fact, it was reasonable to assume that at this point, there was no nation or individual capable of stopping one.
The Divine Blood Alon had faced personally was strong enough to make even him, who had prepared without letting his guard down, click his tongue in disbelief.
“……Who on earth did it?”
Alon asked the question.
“Well, to be honest, I find it hard to believe myself……”
Evan scratched his head, hesitating before speaking.
“According to what the information guild reported, it seems the King disposed of the Divine Blood.”
“……The King?”
“Yes. At least according to the information.”
It was news that, naturally, left one's mind blank.