Chapter 431: Strange (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 431: Strange (2)
“Would you care to become my husband?”
At Serdea’s words, Alon’s mind went momentarily blank.
He wasn’t the only one.
The kings, who had been quietly observing the situation, froze at the sudden marriage proposal.
Contanias and Irenena, who had been glaring at Alon with eyes full of hatred until just a moment ago, also stiffened as if their brains couldn't process the words.
Yuman and Siyan, who had ties to Alon, as well as Palmalian and Karsem, were all simultaneously dazed.
The silence was broken by a sharp sound.
Cr-crack!
It was the sound of something being crushed, unable to withstand a powerful grip.
“Ahem… My mistake.”
Yutia leaned down as if she had dropped something.
Alon, still dazed while looking at her, was snapped back to reality by Serdea’s repeated prompting.
“Do you not intend to answer me?”
The thought that this might be a mischievous prank crossed his mind, but Alon quickly dismissed it.
Though a cool smile played on her lips, there was no hint of playfulness in her eyes.
Contemplating how to respond, Alon slowly opened his mouth.
“…Excuse me, but what exactly do you mean by that?”
Alon asked, wondering if he had misunderstood something.
However.
“Hmm? Is there any room to interpret my words differently? I meant exactly what I said.”
“If you mean it literally—”
“I mean for you to become my husband. I am talking about marriage.”
It was a direct strike, devoid of any embellishment.
Serdea spoke as if she found Alon’s consistently expressionless reaction amusing.
“Hmph—how fascinating. Usually, when I bring this up, most people’s faces go through a variety of changes, but you are different.”
“……Was that a joke?”
“No? I am quite serious. I do not particularly enjoy such jokes.”
Alon was lost for words at her firm tone.
To be honest, he couldn't understand why Serdea was proposing marriage to him.
But as if she had read his mind, she asked.
“Are you curious about the reason why I have asked for your hand in marriage?”
“……To be honest, yes.”
“It is simple. I judged that with you by my side, I could truly become the Emperor.”
Another blunt answer.
Serdea slowly approached Alon and reached out toward his expressionless cheek.
At that moment.
Snap—
Serdea’s hand was blocked.
Her gaze shifted to the side at the sudden interference.
There stood Yutia.
“That seems a bit rude, don’t you think?”
Yutia wore a refreshing, yet somehow eerily glinting smile.
Serdea looked at Yutia indifferently before a smile played on her own lips.
“Hmph, is that so?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Well, what does it matter? Touching the face of the man who will soon be my husband might be a bit embarrassing, but it is no great matter.”
“……You speak as if the marriage is already a certainty.”
“Is it not obvious? It is what I desire. There is no way it will not happen.”
Serdea displayed absolute confidence.
It wasn't incomprehensible.
She was an Imperial Princess leading a faction of the Empire and one of the individuals who could ascend the throne. To take her hand was synonymous with possessing all of that.
Of course, considering her ambitions, it seemed unlikely she would be easily swallowed by the Empire.
“I’m afraid the Professor might not like you very much, Princess.”
“Do not worry about that either. Time will eventually solve such things.”
“No, that will never happen.”
The atmosphere began to freeze over as Yutia and Serdea spoke.
A tension hung in the air, as if something was about to explode at any second.
Just as Alon was about to intervene instinctively.
Creak—
The door opened.
“Lord Alon, I would appreciate it if you followed me.”
At the voice of the Mask, Alon was able to naturally excuse himself.
“……I’ll be back.”
* * *
“You’ve come.”
How much time had passed since he followed the Skull Mask?
A sophisticated wooden door came into view.
“You may enter.”
Following the Mask’s guidance, Alon entered alone.
And there.
“You’ve come.”
The Seeker was inside the room.
Sitting at a desk, he gestured toward the chair in front of him.
“…….”
As Alon took his seat, the Seeker’s gaze fixed intensely on Alon’s face.
Then, soon after.
“……I see.”
He let out a small exclamation as if he had realized something.
“What is it……?”
Alon asked back, but the Seeker waved his hand.
“No, it’s nothing. It’s for purely personal reasons.”
The Seeker looked at Alon with an amused expression.
“As I said earlier, I have handed over the possibility to you all, and now I intend to hand over the relics to handle that possibility. Normally, that is.”
“……Normally?”
The Seeker nodded at Alon’s question.
“Yes, normally. But it seems you don’t need my help.”
“……What do you mean by that?”
“You already possess the means to oppose the Divine Blood, don’t you?”
“…….”
As if he knew everything, the Seeker let out a shallow sigh and leaned back in his chair.
He pondered for a moment before continuing.
“So, I will tell you two facts that might be of help.”
“……Something else?”
“Go to the Temple at the West End.”
“The West End…….”
“Yes. If you cross the lands of the Empire and reach the temple there—you will likely obtain the power you need. More accurately, the power to move to the ‘next stage.’”
Alon’s eyes widened.
“If you mean the next stage—”
“Exactly what it sounds like. You will obtain the power to reach Rhythm there.”
“—!”
“But be careful. If you fail to obtain that power, you will die.”
“……If I fail, I die?”
“Yes. But assuming you do not die and can move to the next stage, the advice I can give you is—”
He spoke as if offering a piece of wisdom.
“Think constantly about what you need most.”
“What I need most.”
“Yes. That which comes from the end of your thoughts—”
The Seeker suddenly stopped speaking and eventually shook his head in silence.
“—No, this would be excessive interference. And the other thing. Seek out the Divine Blood of the west.”
Alon felt a moment of doubt before finding the answer.
“……The Dragon of the west?”
“Yes, the ‘Father of Maggots.’ His power will be of help to you.”
While Alon was processing the information.
“That is all. I have nothing more to say to you here.”
The Seeker ended the conversation.
The dialogue concluded so abruptly and, in another sense, hollowly.
Alon, lost in thought for a moment, carefully spoke up.
“……May I ask you something?”
“If it’s about the temple, there’s not much point in asking me. I’ve told you all I can.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then—”
The Seeker shifted his eyes to glance at the clock hanging on one wall before answering.
“—I can take one question.”
Limited time.
Alon pondered for a moment before choosing one.
“The power you put into the kings earlier—what was it?”
The power the Seeker had pushed into the kings, which was neither mana nor divine power.
He was curious about its identity.
“I believe I already told you? It is the power of ‘possibility.’”
“……The power of possibility?”
“Yes, nothing more and nothing less…… Ah, I suppose I can express it in another way.”
Taking a moment to catch his breath, the Seeker uttered his final words.
“The power of Aberrant Blood, that is.”
Calmly.
* * *
The group of Divine Bloods formed in the United Kingdoms, the ‘Star Root,’ had grown considerably in size.
Of course, even then, their numbers did not reach fifteen, but for Divine Bloods who did not belong to a major faction, a gathering of that scale was rare, so it could effectively be described as having grown.
And recently, through the avatar ability of a Divine Blood who had been ‘recruited’ into the Star Root, a secret meeting was held in an underground hideout in a certain city.
A somewhat heavy atmosphere filled the place.
““…….””
No, strictly speaking, this wasn't a meeting of all the Divine Bloods of the Star Root.
Those attending this underground meeting were the five Divine Bloods who had witnessed the Greatsword when they went to the Divine Land last time.
Including the Darkness-Eating Sword.
The Darkness-Eating Sword spoke in a grave voice.
[……We need a decisive move…… I see.]
They had already witnessed Alon’s abilities firsthand.
The talk about the Star Eater’s abilities being fake or whatever was nonsense.
They knew why the Burnt Vegetation had gone through the trouble of creating a group called the Star Root.
There was only one reason.
To appeal to the Star Eater.
The Star Eater did not want to reveal that he was a Divine Blood.
Therefore, the Divine Bloods created the ‘Star Root’ to block other Divine Bloods, appealing to him that they were not enemies while simultaneously trying to accumulate achievements.
The Divine Bloods gathered here judged that the Burnt Vegetation’s choice was not bad.
If they couldn't appeal to the Star Eater by appearing before him directly, acting in this manner was effective.
However, the reason everyone gathered here looked so serious was because of the order.
They were the Divine Bloods who had joined the Star Root late.
In other words, when the time came to receive power from the Star Eater.
In the worst-case scenario, they might not receive power at all or might have to wait a very long time.
Since this was not welcome news.
[……So, to get to the point, we have to compete with the early members, including the Burnt Vegetation. Is that what you’re saying?]
[That’s right. If things continue like this, we’ll have no choice but to receive power from Him late.]
They were contemplating.
[……But it doesn’t seem like there’s much we can do at this point.]
[I agree. In the first place, no matter how we act, it seems difficult to accumulate more achievements than the early ones.]
[……That is certainly true. Even if we bring in other Divine Bloods, the credit will go to the Burnt Vegetation.]
Various opinions were poured out.
However, since no particular breakthrough was visible, just as gloom began to settle on the faces of the Divine Bloods.
[……There is one way.]
The Darkness-Eating Sword, who had been silent until now, threw out a topic.
[……What is it?]
Curiosity sparked in the eyes of the other Divine Bloods.
Feeling their gaze, the Darkness-Eating Sword spoke.
[If we cannot catch up through ordinary means, we simply need to make a move so big that anyone would notice.]
[A big move?]
[Yes.]
With a look of firm determination.
[……The Star Eater must also know who is sending the Divine Bloods here.]
He said so.
The Divine Bloods, who had been wearing puzzled expressions, were all suddenly startled.
[……No way……!]
[The Father of Maggots?]
[……Certainly, if it’s someone like the Father of Maggots—]
[I see—]
They all began to buzz, thinking of a certain existence.
[……This is an opportunity. A peerless chance to leave a lasting impression on Him.]
The Darkness-Eating Sword put the finishing touch on the idea.
It didn't take long for the hesitant Divine Bloods to nod their heads firmly.