Chapter 426: The Seeker (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 426: The Seeker (5)
It was at the moment when Kalland, the Vice Tower Master of the Purple Magic Tower, forgot the very message he was supposed to deliver to Alon and went sprinting back.
“Boss, are you sure we shouldn't come along?”
“God, are you going to be okay?”
“I will be fine.”
Alon nodded at the concerns of Ryanga and Historia.
In truth, since no one knew what might happen at the Central Tower, it would have been ideal to bring as much of his strength as possible.
The problem, however, was that taking these two would essentially leave Divine Land defenseless.
“I leave Divine Land in your hands while I am away.”
“You got it, Boss!”
“Mm-hmm.”
After giving them their instructions, he turned his gaze toward Silli.
“Have a safe trip! I’ll make sure to achieve some results while you’re gone!”
She made her vow with brimming confidence.
Beside her, Simus looked at Alon with a strangely moved expression and nodded.
Alon nodded back.
“Then, let us depart.”
The carriage began to move.
Alon tore the letter, just as Penia had instructed him previously.
Riiip—
The sound of paper tearing echoed.
The discarded scraps soon began to emit a purple mana.
Before long, they started to glow faintly and floated up in front of the carriage.
Like a firefly, the mana-like substance began to hover ahead, acting as a guidepost for them to follow.
“Oh….”
“That… it feels different from both mana and divine power.”
Evan and Penia marveled at the sight for their own respective reasons.
After a moment, Penia let out a long, deep sigh. Alon asked, “Are you tired?”
“Well—a little bit, yes.”
“Because of the magic?”
“Yes.”
Penia let out a groan and pressed her fingers against her eyes.
“I didn't realize it because you always use it so effortlessly, Lord Alon, but using this is much harder than I thought.”
“...Is it?”
“I suppose so. You have to maintain the image and the calculations in your head simultaneously. To put it simply, while normal magic implementation only requires proper calculation, this feels like you have to visualize it at the same time.”
“It seems it has a high level of difficulty.”
“Exactly. Mages of lower tiers wouldn't even be able to use it at all.”
Penia estimated that one would need to be at least at the 4th or 5th Tier to manage it to some degree.
Alon watched her intently before asking, “...Is the requirement that high?”
“Yes, quite high. But I think I’ll be able to use it effectively once I get used to it through practice.”
After a moment of thought, Alon added, “...Then, if I bestow my power upon the mages, they too could become part of our fighting force.”
“Well—I suppose so?”
“It is even possible that a mage stronger than me might emerge.”
It was a plausible theory.
“Ah, no. That won't happen.”
However, Penia denied it immediately.
“It won't?”
“No.”
“Why is that?”
Penia chose her words carefully before answering.
“If you bestow your power, Lord Alon, most mages will certainly become stronger. A Magus’s magic has a high ceiling because it is so difficult to learn.”
Furthermore, they would be able to implement magic that was currently impossible to manifest.
Penia continued her explanation.
“But even so, no mage will ever be able to defeat you. Because we cannot use the ‘Sentence.’”
“Ah.”
A soft exclamation escaped Alon’s lips.
She was right.
The reason he had been able to use such high-output magic until now was ultimately because he could use magic even without a Heart Image.
He realized it anew.
“That is true.”
“But even just being able to use the Phrases will be a huge help.”
It was a moment where Alon faced his own abilities once again.
* * *
While Alon’s party followed the illusory purple light toward the tower.
“....”
Norton, the Purple Tower Master, stared at the man before her—or rather, her Vice Tower Master, Kalland, whom she had sent on an errand—with an expression of utter disbelief.
Silence flowed between the two.
How much time had passed?
“Sigh—”
Norton finally let out a sigh.
She pressed her temples as a headache began to throb.
“...So, you met him, but you suddenly had something urgent to say, so you turned back halfway?”
“That is correct.”
“And this urgent thought was so important that even though you spotted him in the distance, you didn't even deliver the message?”
Kalland flinched slightly, but he soon nodded with a determined expression.
“...You’re not seriously expecting me to believe that, are you?”
“But it is the truth.”
“....”
Seeing Kalland’s steadfast posture, Norton’s expression turned peculiar.
She knew exactly what kind of person Kalland was.
Generally speaking, he was arrogant to everyone except her and had a very firm sense of pride.
In short, he was quite the jerk.
However, even if his overall personality was trash, he wasn't the type to lie.
“Fine, let’s hear it. What is it?”
She decided to listen to what he had to say.
Kalland began.
“...Penia Kraysinne. You know of her, don't you?”
“There are few mages who don't know that eccentric girl. She is his right hand, after all. So, what about her?”
“...She—”
Kalland swallowed hard.
“She used the magic of the King of Palatio.”
“What…?”
Norton asked back instinctively.
Her tone remained the same, but her wide eyes trembled slightly, betraying her shock.
Immediately after the silence fell.
“She used Palatio’s magic?” Norton asked again.
“Yes, I saw it clearly with my own eyes.”
“...Are you sure you didn't misinterpret what you saw?”
“I thought so too at first. The magic he uses cannot be replicated by those who study primitive magic, nor could we replicate it. However—”
Kalland paused for a moment before declaring firmly.
“—What she used was undoubtedly Palatio’s magic. The magic she showed then transcended the ordinary laws of providence.”
“....”
Norton was speechless.
At the very least, there was no lie in Kalland’s eyes.
Could he have seen it wrong?
She asked herself the question again, but Norton had no choice but to shake her head.
Kalland.
Though he was inferior to her, he was still the Vice Tower Master of the Purple Magic Tower.
For such a man to misidentify magic?
It was practically impossible.
Especially if he was reporting it this firmly to her, the Tower Master.
“...It is certainly a matter worth rushing back for.”
Thus, Norton finally acknowledged Kalland’s fuss.
The fact that someone else could use the magic that only Palatio could use…
It meant there was a way for others to use that magic.
‘Palatio’s magic….’
Norton instinctively swallowed.
Palatio’s magic.
It was so alluring that no mage could possibly resist coveting it.
Perhaps.
If she could learn that magic—
She would be able to protect the tower from those things called Divine Blood on her own.
She was lost in thought for a moment.
“There is still one more thing I haven't told you.”
“...? What is it?”
“Actually, I also heard how one can use Marquis Palatio’s magic—”
“What!?”
She jumped out of her seat in shock.
“Is—is that true!?”
“Yes.”
“What on earth is the method!?”
Norton lunged at Kalland as if she were about to grab him by the collar.
With an infinitely serious expression, Kalland relayed the words he had heard when he visited Alon a few days ago.
After listening to everything in silence, Norton spoke.
“...If you receive a blessing from him, you can use the magic?”
“Yes, he said so clearly. He stated plainly that Penia Kraysinne was able to use magic because she received a blessing directly from him.”
“...Just by receiving a blessing…. You can use that magic…?”
She dazedly repeated Kalland’s words several times.
“...Kalland.”
“Yes.”
“It seems we need to establish a much deeper relationship with him from now on.”
“I agree.”
“...First, for the jurisdiction we are building, make sure everything is of the highest grade—even better than what the Brown Tower Master is preparing. Do it without them knowing.”
“Understood.”
“And, I’ll have to make some personal preparations.”
She burned with resolve as if she had received the greatest mission on earth.
At that moment.
“...If you receive a blessing, you can use it?”
Manram, the Brown Tower Master, who had come to speak with the Purple Tower Master…
Stood before the door as if in shock, dazedly muttering the same words for a long time.
* * *
A week later.
Alon, who was still heading toward the Central Tower, encountered an unexpected person.
“...Yuman?”
“Greetings, Brother. Or should I call you Your Majesty now?”
It was Saint Yuman.
He offered a warm greeting.
“There is no need for that.”
“I thought as much.”
Alon asked Yuman, who was nodding with a smile.
“But why are you here?”
“I am heading there for the same business as you, Brother.”
“Then—”
“Yes.”
Yuman’s gaze shifted to one side, and Alon followed his eyes.
There, something purple was glowing even more brightly than before.
“We are also moving after receiving a letter.”
“I see.”
“Since it’s come to this, would you like to travel together?”
Alon nodded at Yuman’s suggestion.
“Very well.”
“Then please wait a moment. I will have things ready shortly.”
Behind Yuman, the paladins could be seen just finishing clearing their campsite.
“By the way, did Yutia not come with you?”
“No, Cardinal Yutia is here as well…. Hm? She was here just a moment ago….”
Where did she go…? Yuman muttered as he looked around.
However, Yutia was nowhere to be seen.
“...Well, she was definitely here just a moment ago. It seems she’s stepped away for a bit.”
“Stepped away…?”
“She often disappears for a short while.”
Just as Alon tilted his head in confusion.
“I’m here.”
Yutia’s voice came from behind the carriage.
Alon naturally turned his gaze that way to greet her.
“I’m sorry. Something came up that I had to take care of, so I’m a bit late, Teacher.”
Yutia walked toward them with her usual gentle smile.
However, Alon couldn't easily find his voice.
And for good reason.
“...? Teacher?”
It was because Yutia’s hairstyle had changed.
And it wasn't just any hairstyle—she was wearing twintails.
Considering her age, it was a look that didn't quite suit her.
And then.
“Gasp.”
Along with the sound of Penia catching her breath as she stepped out of the carriage.
In an instant, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Yutia.
““....””
…Soon, silence descended upon the area.
A very, very heavy silence.