Chapter 428: The Seeker (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 428: The Seeker (7)
The Darkness-Eating Sword.
No, all the Divine Bloods who had used their powers to create avatars and move near Divine Land stared blankly at the scene before them.
A greatsword floated in the sky.
The greatsword was certainly magnificent, but the Divine Bloods weren't shocked simply because of its size. It was impossibly large, yes, but that was all.
The reason they were all lost for words, unable to tear their eyes away, was something else.
It was the aura emanating from that greatsword.
[What on earth is that?]
[It feels similar to us, yet different—]
Confusion rippled through them.
In the midst of it, one Divine Blood came to a realization.
[I see...!]
[That is—the Faith of humans.]
[Human Faith?]
[Yes. When those tools gather their beliefs together, they can manifest it in such a way. I saw it once from above, but to think I would see it here on the surface...]
At those words, the other Divine Bloods finally realized its identity.
As they continued to watch with curious eyes, the Darkness-Eating Sword, who had remained silent, spoke up.
[...Wait, isn't something strange?]
[What do you mean?]
[Didn't they say this territory is ruled by the Star Eater?]
[They did.]
[Then how can a human wielding a different Faith emerge from within it?]
He couldn't understand it. As the Darkness-Eating Sword’s suspicion deepened, the other Divine Bloods also began to feel the anomaly.
[If this is the Star Eater’s territory, a tool capable of handling another Divine Power shouldn't be able to be born here, right?]
[That is a valid point.]
[What is going on?]
The commotion was brief.
[Wait.]
A Divine Blood who had been silently observing the greatsword since arriving at Divine Land finally spoke.
The attention of every Divine Blood shifted toward him. Despite the focused gaze, he remained calm and unbothered. He was simply concentrating on something, using his grotesquely enlarged ears.
Then, the Divine Blood’s eyes widened.
[...Is that really true?]
A murmur of disbelief escaped his lips. The others grew curious.
[What are you hearing?]
When the Darkness-Eating Sword asked, the Divine Blood, whose ears had already shrunk back to their normal size, spoke.
[It seems the reason humans have become able to handle Faith is because of the Star Eater.]
[What?]
[Is that true?]
The other Divine Bloods scrambled to ask.
[I cannot say for certain if it is true or not. However, one thing is clear: the human who awakened that Faith stated he was able to use it because he received power from the Star Eater. And—]
The eavesdropping Divine Blood took a moment to catch his breath.
[—If we assume those words are true... if the Star Eater can grant humans the ability to use Faith, which they never had before... then it would also be possible for him to grant Divine Power.]
He offered a deduction that was the complete opposite of what the gathered Divine Bloods had expected.
Yet, no one could refute him. Or rather, they had no grounds to refute it.
They had seen it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears.
A human wielding Faith in the Divine Land ruled by the Star Eater. And the testimony of that mere human tool, claiming he could handle such power thanks to the Star Eater.
Therefore.
[...Let us return.]
The Divine Bloods, who had set out to test the Star Eater’s strength, decided to retreat quietly.
It had been only five minutes since they arrived at Divine Land.
* * *
One month had passed since then.
Alon was traveling through the Wasteland, having crossed the border of the United Kingdoms. It was a parched and desolate land where nothing existed.
Staring blankly out the carriage window, he let out a long breath.
"Whew—"
He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. Over the past month, even after meeting Yutia and Karsem, Alon had not let go of his magic research.
Strictly speaking, the research was finished. All that remained was the proof. However, Alon had not yet accumulated the necessary ability for that proof. As a result, he had hit a stalemate.
...It’s harder than I thought.
Alon looked to his side. Penia was absorbed in her research.
Ever since she became able to use the magic of a Magus a month ago, she had spent all day studying it, except for when she was helping Alon. As someone called a genius even in Psychedelia, she was acquiring Phrases at an incredibly fast pace.
She was even faster than Alon, who had started his research a month earlier. Because of that, Alon could somewhat understand why there were so many people who envied her.
...What is the problem?
Penia glanced his way and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Alon sank into thought.
His mastery of basic Phrases was nearly perfect. And yet, Alon still couldn't succeed in casting magic through Intent alone.
As his thoughts deepened, Evan’s voice reached him.
"...There really is nothing here."
Alon pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind.
"Indeed."
"Wasn't Nangwon located around here?"
"I heard their base was in this area."
"I wonder how they even live here when there's nothing at all."
Alon agreed, but he also thought of another individual in this place.
I should meet him before I head back this time.
The Golden Dragon, Rainisius.
The one he had met to deal with Rikrakakmur, and the being who might know why Blackie was using the power of the Divine Blood.
"...But seriously, how much further are we going? At this rate, I feel like we’re going to cross over into the Empire— ...Huh?"
Evan suddenly let out a cry of surprise. Following his gaze, Alon looked toward where he was pointing.
"...A tower?"
There was a tower. One he hadn't seen at all the last time he was in the Wasteland.
Even at a glance, it was a truly massive tower.
"...It looks even bigger than the Central Magic Tower," Penia marveled.
At that moment.
Whoosh—
The fragment of the letter that had been glowing with a purple light until a moment ago shot toward the tower and vanished.
"It seems we've reached our destination."
A short while later, the carriages from the Colony and Rosario, including Alon’s, arrived at the tower.
Stepping out of the carriage, Alon was even more surprised as he looked up at the structure.
...It’s huge.
It wasn't an exaggeration; the tower the purple light had led them to was truly gargantuan. Even the Central Magic Tower, which always felt imposing, seemed small in comparison.
Was it actually touching the sky? The thought crossed his mind.
"You've arrived."
A voice spoke from the side. The Skull Mask, who had appeared when the letter was delivered, was already standing beside them.
"I have been waiting for you."
He bowed politely toward Alon’s group.
"There are still a few days left until the date the Seeker proclaimed, so please make yourselves comfortable."
Stating that he would guide them to their rooms first, the mask suddenly split into three right before their eyes.
"!"
The group was startled by the unexpected feat, but the three masks turned around as if it were nothing.
"The King of Palantia, please follow me."
"The honored guest of Rosario, this way."
"The King of Colony, please come this way."
The three masks moved immediately without further explanation.
"I'll see you in a bit."
"Understood, brother!"
"Yes, Teacher."
The group shared brief farewells and went their separate ways.
Alon, entering the massive tower, followed a maze-like path until he reached a guest room.
"I will give you a brief orientation as we move."
"...Move?" Alon asked back at the mask’s words.
"Yes. Actually, there is someone who arrived before you, and I intend to introduce you to him."
"I don't mind, but why?"
"The Seeker wishes for the Champions to maintain as much fellowship as possible."
Adding that it was for the sake of continental peace, the mask turned again, and Alon followed calmly behind.
After some time had passed.
"It is here."
In the place the mask led him to, a man was sitting.
A man with hair of a brilliant gold that was dazzling just to look at.
"...Hmm?"
The man’s gaze, which had been directed out the window, shifted toward Alon.
"This is the Emperor of the Northern Empire, Contanias."
Alon nodded slightly at the mask’s introduction. Although he didn't know the man well since he hadn't actually played Calypsophobia, he knew what kind of person he was from the rumors Evan had brought.
...The Crying Dragon, was it?
Prince Contanias, the one who controlled the Northern Empire’s guardian deity, the Crying Dragon.
As he recalled that information, the mask began to speak again.
"Lord Contanias, this person is—"
"That's enough."
The mask couldn't finish. Contanias had cut him off.
Contanias stared at Alon with an unreadable expression in the silence.
"My generosity does not extend far enough to hear and remember the name of an inferior being," he spat out.
Only then did Alon realize the emotion contained in his face.
"Consider it a blessing just to be in the same room as me."
It was 'contempt' and 'derision.'
* * *
The capital of the Northern Empire.
Despite a quarter of the empire being wiped out by the Divine Bloods, a massive palace stood in the center of the capital, which still enjoyed a very prosperous life.
It was a palace even larger than the one where the Emperor, Contanias, resided.
And that palace was being dominated by a woman.
A woman with a massive, pitch-black dragon tail, proving she was no ordinary human. No—
"Tell Contanias to come quickly. I have something for him to do."
"T-That is—right now, he is a bit—"
"Is that so? Then is it alright if I leave now?"
The Crying Dragon.
"N-No! Please! Please, calm yourself, Lady Arculainisis!"
"Make sure to call him as quickly as possible."
With tear stains in her red eyes and deep dark circles under them, she murmured quietly.
"I have something to ask him."
She was fiddling with a fragment of someone's coat held in her arms.