Chapter 425: The Seeker (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 425: The Seeker (4)
Two weeks had already passed since Alon received the letter.
It was an awkward amount of time—too short to accomplish anything major, yet too long to do nothing at all.
However, during that time, Alon had achieved two things.
One was materializing Divine Blood, which had been invisible until now, so that it could be seen with the naked eye.
And the other was—
"Hmm—assuming divine power operates on a similar principle to magic... I think it should function properly."
He was finally seeing the results of the research he had been conducting.
"I hope so."
"If it doesn't work, it'll take much longer to find a solution."
"True. It would mean that while magic and divine power share similar properties, their fundamental principles of operation are different."
"Exactly," Penia nodded.
Alon fixed his gaze on the complex magic circle spread out before them.
It was something he and Penia had spent the last two weeks creating—the automation-related magic circle Kalanon had mentioned.
The blueprints are perfect.
If the magic circle functioned correctly, once Alon bestowed divine power upon a specific Apostle, that Apostle would be able to reclaim 80% of the faith they sent to Alon for their own use.
Wooooong!
Alon channeled the faith he had become accustomed to using under Kalanon’s tutelage.
Divinity flowed from his body like a mist, settling into place.
"Whew."
After taking a moment to steady his breath, he began to draw the magic circle using divine power.
Strictly speaking, it was closer to tracing a path than drawing a magic circle, but...
Regardless, as he worked, Alon thought to himself.
If I had it my way, I would have researched how to leave seeds within those who possess faith first.
Regrettably, he hadn't been able to reach that stage of research yet.
Not only did the current research Kalanon mentioned need to come first, but he also had no idea where to even begin with the latter.
Since Divine Blood had turned Magi into what they were in Babiloia, it was certainly possible for Alon as well.
The Blue-eyed Entity had said that he, too, was Divine Blood.
But even if the possibility was open, he was completely in the dark about how to start.
That was why he had chosen the research that could be completed relatively quickly.
I'll have to start that research as soon as I return from the Tower.
Soon, he withdrew his hand from the magic circle.
"Whew."
He let out a sigh and stretched his limbs.
"It's not easy."
"Ah, are you finished drawing it?" Penia asked, looking toward him.
Alon gave a short nod and announced the next step.
"The preparations are complete. Now we just need to test it."
"Mhm, I hope it works right away. Who are you planning to test it on?"
Alon pondered for a moment before speaking a name.
"It'll be either Silli or Simus."
"Oh? That's unexpected."
"In what way?"
"I expected Silli, but I'm a bit surprised you chose Simus over Ryanga or Historia."
Penia tilted her head, recalling the man who usually stood by the entrance with a terrifying expression.
"This is strictly a matter of faith."
"Ah."
At Alon's answer, Penia let out a small exclamation.
She had momentarily forgotten.
"Right. The entire structure relies on faith to begin with."
"Exactly."
"Then Silli and Simus do seem like the best fit. Well, I'm a little uneasy about Simus since we haven't seen him in a while—but then again, you can always take back the bestowed divine power whenever you want."
Penia was right.
Nodding, Alon suddenly remembered something else.
Come to think of it, I need to test that other thing too.
The idea that had occurred to him a few days ago also required a separate experiment.
He stood up and approached Penia.
"Huh?"
Penia looked bewildered as Alon suddenly closed the distance.
Ignoring her confusion, Alon leaned his face in close and stared into her eyes.
"Eek."
An odd sound escaped Penia's lips at his sudden proximity.
"Um, Lord Alon?"
Her voice sounded somewhat intimidated, unlike before.
Alon called her name.
"Penia."
"Yes...?"
"Do you believe in me?"
"...Do I believe in you?"
Alon nodded, moving even closer.
"Yes."
"S-so suddenly?"
Penia's eyes darted around as she tried to process the situation, then she let out a nervous laugh. "Ah—ha ha—this is that, right? The talk about faith."
Penia held her breath awkwardly, looking as if she might start hiccuping at any moment.
However.
"No, it's not."
"Eh."
Penia froze at his reply.
"Wait, what—pardon?"
"Do you believe in me?"
"I—well, of course I—"
As he asked again, her panic became palpable.
"I mean, I do believe in you...? It's just that this situation is a bit sudden, or rather, a little overwhelming? But it's not like I dislike it, no, yes... I mean, of course I don't dislike it, but this is just so out of the blue that my posture is a bit—"
She rambled incoherently.
But at the very last moment.
"I... well... I do... believe in you...?"
She turned her head slightly and whispered her true feelings.
Alon nodded.
* * *
"...What's with that look?"
"No, well... I had a feeling this was coming... yes."
Alon was puzzled by Penia's strangely deadpan expression as she stared ahead.
She let out a long sigh.
"So... you want to test if I can use your magic too, right?"
"Yes."
Penia hung her head low and muttered something to herself for a moment.
"Phew!"
She took a deep breath and immediately shifted the atmosphere.
"But is it even possible?"
"To be honest, I'm not certain."
The Blue-eyed Entity had said that Alon had essentially gained the same abilities as the Black Eye that had been attached to him.
That meant if the Black Eye could do it, Alon could too.
The problem was that he didn't know the method.
"...Hmm, should we approach it through faith again this time?"
"That's what I'm thinking for now."
"...So that's why you asked if I believed in you earlier."
Alon nodded.
"Ahem... Honestly, I don't really have a feel for this one. Planting seeds to mass-produce gods follows the Principle of this world to some extent, so the logic holds up... but this is about copying or granting the same ability, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"...Then... hmm?"
"What is it?"
"No, it's just a very obvious thought. If you think about it, your magic as a Magus is ultimately a divine power too, isn't it?"
"Hmm."
"And Apostles usually use those divine powers."
"...Right."
"Then wouldn't I be able to use the magic simply by becoming an Apostle?"
Alon paused at Penia's conclusion.
"...Does it work like that?"
"It should...?"
Without waiting, Alon pushed divine power into her.
"Ooh...?"
Immediately, a blue light began to radiate from her body.
Penia let out an exclamation of wonder, but only for a moment.
"Shall we give it a try?"
"Yes, I'll try."
She immediately prepared to cast a spell, but...
"Um, Lord Alon?"
"What's wrong?"
"...Well, I think I'll need a little more time to confirm it."
"Why is that?"
"I've helped you a lot with the theory, but I think using it right away is a bit too much for me."
It was impossible for now. She needed more time.
Three days later.
As planned, he planted the seeds within Simus and Silli.
Just as the party was finishing their preparations to head from the Divine Land to the Central Tower of the continent.
"Lord Alon!"
"What is it?"
"I did it!"
Penia came running toward him, her face flushed with excitement.
Alon's eyes widened.
* * *
Kalland, the youngest Vice Tower Master of the Purple Magic Tower and a disciple of Norton, was currently full of complaints.
There were many reasons, of course.
First, he was being forced into manual labor to build a castle when he should be spending every spare second on magic research.
Second, as if that wasn't enough, he had been ordered to deliver an urgent message to the King of Palantia...
And to top it off, the "urgent message" was the ridiculous question of whether they could add one more castle.
Of course, Kalland understood the situation.
As the Vice Tower Master, he assisted the Tower Master and had some insight into the tower's operations.
Even if he didn't, he roughly understood why the two Tower Masters were so obsessed with castle construction.
He also knew why he, of all mages, was the one being sent to deliver the message with the utmost courtesy.
But that didn't mean his frustration wasn't piling up.
"How did I end up like this—"
As he trudged toward the Divine Land with slumped shoulders, something caught his eye.
"?"
In the distance, two familiar figures came into view.
One was the man he had come to see, the King of Palantia, Palatio Alon.
The other was Penia Kraysinne, the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower and rumored right hand of Alon. She had created a small magic orb.
He wondered why they were out there, but then realized he wouldn't have to go all the way inside.
Kalland approached the spot where the two were standing.
In that moment.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head.
And for good reason.
"Refraction."
A Phrase escaped Penia's lips.
Simultaneously.
The magic orb, which had been ordinary until a moment ago, began to rotate non-linearly.
The moment he saw that—
"!"
Kalland's face was masked with pure shock.
That... that's Palatio's magic...?
Palatio's magic was famous among mages.
It had to be.
His magic possessed power far beyond any magic ever invented.
Any mage who had witnessed his magic even once would find the scene so revolutionary they could never forget it.
But why...!?
Palatio's magic was supposed to be something only he could use.
As if God had permitted that specific Principle only to him.
That was certainly the case.
And yet, Penia Kraysinne was using a fragment of Palatio's magic.
The scene before him was that unrealistic.
While he stood there dazed.
"Look! It's a bit unrefined, but it worked, didn't it?!"
"...Indeed. This is as good as proof that receiving my blessing allows one to use the magic."
Their conversation reached his ears.
...Just by receiving Palatio Alon's blessing... one can use that magic?
Kalland suddenly remembered that day.
The moment at the Central Magic Tower when Palatio Alon had created a sun.
And then.
Watching the backs of Alon and Penia as they disappeared into the distance.
I—I have to—
He turned around and began to sprint back the way he came.
He had to inform the Tower Master of the miracle he had just seen and heard.