Chapter 420: This Is… a Castle? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 420: This Is… a Castle? (1)
A month had already passed since Alon began his stay at the Central Magic Tower.
“I’ll be going now.”
[Hmm—honestly, I’d like to keep you here a bit longer to firm up your basics, but that would take too much time, so I won't hold you back.]
“I’ll drop by again soon.”
[Alright. Interpreting the 3rd Tier will take a long time anyway. I should have one or two of them decoded by the time you return.]
After exchanging farewells with Heinkel, Alon left the Central Magic Tower and set off for the Marquisate—no, for Palantia.
Two weeks passed. The carriage was passing through a village, just as it always did.
“Hmm...”
Alon stared out the window with a peculiar expression.
“Is something the matter?” Evan asked, noticing his look.
Alon stroked his chin thoughtfully before speaking.
“Evan.”
“Yes?”
“Is it... a trend these days to change one's hair into all sorts of different styles?”
It was an unexpected question.
“Hair?”
Evan asked back, bewildered, and followed Alon’s gaze outside.
“...Huh?”
A moment later, he let out a small exclamation as if he’d realized something.
“The people’s styles have become quite diverse, haven't they?”
“Huh...? Oh, you’re right.”
Penia also pressed herself against the window, her eyes darting around.
From young children to adults, people were sporting a vast array of hairstyles. Alon felt a strange sense of dissonance at the sight.
‘...Usually, everyone sticks to similar styles, don't they?’
If they were passing through a city or a major estate rather than a small village, it wouldn't have felt so out of place. Since there were many wealthy residents in cities, even commoners often pursued various fashions.
But small villages were usually different. Most people were engaged in farming or logging, and those with jobs like herbalists or hunters didn't typically pay much attention to their hair. Completing the day's labor was far more important than their appearance.
Even if there were an occasional eccentric style, it was usually limited to one or two people. The scene before them was incredibly surreal.
“Evan, if even you don’t know about it, I suppose it’s not a trend.”
“...Right? Why would everyone in this tiny village go out of their way to care about their hair style?”
“Mmm—it’s not like those kinds of hairstyles are quick to do, either,” Penia added.
Evan and Penia both looked equally mystified.
“Anyway, it is strange.”
Evan, who had been staring blankly outside, suddenly tilted his head.
“...Wait. I’m pretty sure it wasn't like this when we arrived yesterday—”
“Did you say something?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing. I just felt a strange sense of deja vu. It’s probably nothing.”
Scratching his head, Evan changed the subject.
“So, what do we do next?”
“About what?”
“Where we’re stopping, of course. If we go for about three more days, we’ll reach the Tubasta Territory. Shall we head there?”
“Is there a village nearby?”
“There is.”
“Then let’s go there.”
Evan let out a sigh at Alon’s decisive answer.
“It really is amazing.”
“...Suddenly?”
“No, I mean, the reason you’re avoiding the estates this time is because it’s burdensome, isn't it?”
“....”
Alon didn't answer. As Evan said, that was exactly why he wasn't stopping at the major estates.
‘...No matter how much I think about it, that was a bit much...’
In fact, Alon had initially stopped at estates as he usually did. There was, after all, a difference between a village inn and an estate’s guest house.
However, ever since the founding of Palantia, the lords would make a massive fuss the moment he arrived. They welcomed him so fervently that they were even willing to give up their own bedrooms for him.
“Usually, people are dying to be treated like that...”
“....”
Evan wasn't wrong. Alon did enjoy being treated well to some extent. But having people act as if they’d give him their very hearts and souls was more of a burden than a pleasure.
After visiting two estates like that, Alon had decided to stick to small villages for the rest of his journey.
“Ahem—anyway, is there any new news?”
When Alon asked to change the subject, Evan obediently brought up other information.
“Actually, there is something I should tell you.”
“Is it about the Divine Blood?”
Lately, there had been a lot of news regarding the Divine Blood. Alon’s guess was spot on.
“Correct. However, as I always say, it’s not a serious rumor.”
“Then this time too...?”
Alon asked, just in case. Evan nodded.
“Yes. Just like before, they say a Divine Blood entity that fanatically worships your greatness beat down another Divine Blood that tried to invade.”
“...Is it another different Divine Blood this time?”
“Yes. It seems that in just a few weeks, more than ten Divine Blood entities following you have appeared. Congratulations.”
However, Alon couldn't purely accept those congratulations. Of course, it was a good thing that Divine Bloods were taking care of other Divine Bloods. Thanks to that, the United Kingdoms were maintaining their strength without collapsing.
But Alon, personally, could not understand this situation at all.
‘...What on earth is going on?’
From what he knew, there were only three Divine Bloods helping him, including the ‘Risen One.’ Yet, strangely, the number of Divine Bloods who seemed to follow him was increasing, now exceeding ten.
‘What is happening...?’
Just as he was falling into deep thought over how things were spiraling out of his control, Evan added more.
“Oh, come to think of it, this latest Divine Blood seems to serve you almost maniacally.”
“...What?”
“I heard that while fighting the other Divine Blood, it said things like, ‘That person and I are one! An attack on him is an attack on me!’”
“...Seriously, what is going on?”
Alon’s face was clouded with even more doubt and bewilderment.
* * *
After Alon’s carriage passed through the village and completely disappeared from sight.
“Everyone, stop.”
The woman who had been laughing and chatting with the village wives just a moment ago—no, Yuna, one of the two executives who practically managed the Blue Moon (excluding the Five Moons)—raised her hand.
Immediately, the people with various hairstyles who had filled the area vanished as if they had been waiting for the signal. Left behind were the original villagers, looking utterly confused.
Ignoring her surroundings, Yuna leaped through an open second-story window. Inside was Hidan, lost in silent thought. Dark circles hung all the way down to his chin.
“Did you find it this time?”
“...Not yet. I’m not certain.”
Hidan’s voice was thick with exhaustion. Yuna couldn't understand the current situation at all.
“Look, I’m doing it because you told me to, but why on earth do we need to know what kind of hairstyle the Great Moon likes?”
Yuna’s question cut to the core of the matter. But Hidan didn't answer. No, he couldn't.
How could he reveal it? That this entire situation...
‘I-I will find out what kind of hairstyle the Great Moon prefers!’
‘Hmm—you don’t really have to do that, though?’
‘I desperately want to find out.’
‘Well, if you insist that much, alright.’
...stemmed from his desperate struggle to survive the Red Moon, who had been wearing her hair in twin-tails at the time.
And so.
“This is... far more important than you think.”
“...Is it?”
“Yes.”
Hidan had no choice but to give a firm(?) but vague answer.
“If you’re being that serious, it must be a grave matter, so I won't complain...” Yuna said, reporting the situation as if she had no choice. “First of all, this time, the Great Moon seemed to be looking at both twin-tails and ponytails.”
“...The same as last time.”
“He did seem to look at the twin-tails a bit longer, though.”
“Twin-tails... Does the Great Moon truly prefer twin-tails?”
“Well, probably? Usually, people look longer at things they like... Though, of course, the Great Moon isn't a mere human.”
In reality, Alon had only stared a bit longer because he found it fascinating that an adult was wearing such a hairstyle. Unfortunately, they had no way of knowing that.
“...I’ll just have to try one more experiment.”
Hidan’s struggle was postponed once again.
* * *
A few weeks passed.
After marveling at the people with different hairstyles in every village he passed, Alon finally arrived near Palantia.
“Ah, it looks like the expansion of the territory has begun.”
“Indeed.”
The numerous shantytowns had been cleared away, and in their place, the foundations of castle walls, various buildings, and new roads were being constructed.
Unlike the other areas undergoing expansion, far across an empty plain, pillars driven into the ground in various patterns came into view.
“...That must be the new castle they’re building.”
“Oh, it looks like it. I see mages working over there too.”
“Wow, it’s huge.”
Alon, Evan, and Penia each offered a comment. Certainly, the area covered by the pillars in the empty plain was exceptionally vast. Even from a distance, its scale was hard to fathom.
‘...Isn't it too big?’
Even so, he couldn't tell them to reduce the size of a castle that already had its foundation work finished. Besides, he had received a report that it was essentially free, so he figured it wasn't too bad.
“It’s bigger than I thought, but it’s good. It’s a kingdom, after all; if the castle is small, it lacks dignity.”
“Ah, I agree with that.”
[Hmph—a royal audience chamber should always be grand.]
Evan, Penia, and even Basiliora, who usually had no interest in castles, all nodded in agreement.
Upon entering Palantia, Alon was met by Alexion.
“I-I am terribly sorry, Your Majesty.”
Alexion bowed his head as if he were deeply ashamed.
“It’s fine. I’m the one who left the castle construction entirely to you.”
“Thank you so much for your understanding.”
Alexion bowed even deeper.
“Well, seeing it being built from afar, it didn't seem too bad. A castle needs to be big to have some dignity, after all,” Evan added with a smile.
“Oh, you saw the construction of Castle No. 4?” Alexion replied with a bright smile.
And then.
“...Huh?”
A sudden silence fell over the office.
“Uh... Castle No. 4?”
Evan, being the first to snap out of it, asked back.
“Yes. That is the outermost wall, Castle No. 4.”
“...Uh... if it’s Castle No. 4... does that mean... there’s also a Castle No. 3...?”
“Of course. There are Castles No. 3 through No. 1.”
“So... you’re saying... that thing being built over there, which looks like five of our auction houses put together... is Castle No. 4...?”
“Do not worry. Thanks to the mages, construction on the other castles will begin soon as well.”
Alexion confirmed with a refreshing smile.
In a situation where only Alexion was smiling, Alon turned his gaze out the window.
There, ‘Castle No. 4’ was being built—a structure so massive it couldn't even be compared to the castle Alon was currently staying in.
‘...What am I looking at?’
His head truly began to spin.