Chapter 432: Strange (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 432: Strange (3)
That night, after hearing the Seeker’s words.
“Lord Alon, you seem to have a lot on your mind today,” Penia remarked, looking at him with curiosity.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Hmm—yes? To be honest, it used to be hard to tell, but lately, I’ve started to pick up on it.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yes. For instance, your posture is slightly different.”
She explained that while Alon usually kept his back perfectly straight, his shoulders tended to slump naturally whenever he was deep in thought or burdened by worries.
Listening to Penia’s explanation, Alon recalled the Seeker’s words once more.
‘...The power of possibility is the power of Aberrant Blood.’
Immediately after hearing those words, Alon had to leave the Seeker’s room. The Seeker had explained that he couldn't manifest for long, making further conversation impossible.
“...Hmm.”
Alon stroked his chin. He needed to organize the information he had gathered so far, piece by piece.
There were only a few concrete facts he knew about the Aberrant Blood.
First, the Aberrant Blood was the one responsible for the destruction of Babiloia and Illanef, nations that were once as massive as the two current empires.
Second, Yutia was referred to as the daughter of the Aberrant Blood.
However, the information he had just received from the Seeker contained parts that didn't quite align with those two facts. Naturally, Alon’s concerns deepened.
Just then.
“Um, Lord Alon... is it perhaps because of what happened today?”
“Today?”
“Yes. Well, I heard you received a marriage proposal from one of the Imperial Princesses.”
Penia threw out the question while tentatively gauging his reaction. Alon pushed his previous thoughts aside for a moment.
“...Such a thing did happen, but where did you hear about it?”
“When I went to meet the Queen of Asteria for a moment earlier.”
“Ah.”
Alon remembered sending Penia and Evan away briefly for his meeting with her. In the end, the Queen had departed the Tower so abruptly that he hadn't seen her face, but it seemed she had shared the news with Penia in the meantime.
“It’s not because of that.”
“I thought so... Ahem. I figured it wasn't, but I just asked just in case.”
For a moment, Alon was puzzled by the way she let out a sigh of relief after waiting with an anxious expression.
[Kyu?]
Suddenly, Blackie, who had been tucked into his chest, popped his head out with a startled look.
“?”
Alon looked down at the creature, wondering what was wrong.
“‘I figured it wasn't,’ she says—the moment she heard that story and saw Lord Alon looking worried, she was stomping her feet in a panic.”
“Shut up!”
A brief exchange flashed between Penia and Evan.
“Hmm? What did you say?”
“Huh? Oh—it’s nothing. More importantly, Blackie seems to have frozen up?”
Alon nodded as Penia smoothly changed the subject with a natural smile.
“Yes, he’s acting strange all of a sudden.”
The moment Alon reached out to pet him, Blackie, who had been looking around with a shocked face, scurried back into his shirt. Alon grew even more bewildered.
“So, what were you actually worrying about?” Penia asked again.
Alon hesitated for a moment before answering.
“It’s nothing to be overly concerned about.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s not a subject that will yield an answer no matter how much I ponder it right now.”
It was best to set the matter of the Aberrant Blood aside for the time being. Continuing to dwell on it now wouldn't lead to a conclusion anyway.
‘If I can meet the Seeker again tomorrow, I’ll have to ask him more then.’
Having settled his thoughts, Alon changed the topic.
“More importantly, it seems we won't be returning to the territory immediately this time.”
“Eh? Why?”
“There is a place I need to stop by.”
While Penia tilted her head in confusion, Alon recalled the other piece of information.
‘The Father of Maggots, and the Temple at the West End.’
The Seeker had told him that there was something he needed at the Temple at the West End, where the Father of Maggots resided.
“....”
Thinking coldly, moving immediately might not be the best choice. The Seeker had said that while there was something necessary there, it was also dangerous.
However, the reason Alon had made a quick decision was that time was not on his side. More accurately, since he didn't know when the 2nd Stage Divine Bloods would break free, he had no idea how much time he actually had left.
“Where are we going?”
In response to Penia’s follow-up question, Alon recounted the conversation he’d had with the Seeker. After hearing the whole story, Penia’s brow furrowed slightly.
“...Then we should assume a fight is inevitable.”
“Most likely.”
“Hmm—will we be alright with just us?”
Her question was valid. Although Alon had a track record of dealing with Divine Blood, he wasn't yet strong enough to face them with ease.
However.
“It will be fine,” Alon said calmly.
Penia looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded as if she had remembered something.
“Ah, come to think of it—” She immediately agreed. “—It certainly might not be that dangerous.”
Alon then recalled another thing the Seeker had said.
‘...Define a Law, was it?’
Just as he had heard from the Blue-eyed Entity, the Seeker had told Alon the same thing. To move to the next stage of Divine Blood, he had to define a ‘Law.’
‘...Law. A Law, huh.’
Alon had never given much thought to a Law until now. After all, he already possessed a power of his own called Defying Heaven.
But if he could obtain a Law here...
If it was necessary for him to move further forward...
Then, as the Seeker said, he had to deliberate. Deeply.
“....”
Alon’s thoughts grew as deep as the night.
* * *
The second day of the Seeker’s council began.
Surprisingly, in just one day, the number of attendees had dropped by more than half. Serdea and the other princess who had flirted with Alon yesterday were gone, and Contanias, who had been shooting Alon hateful glares, was also nowhere to be seen.
Among the Imperial royalty, the only one remaining was...
“Hello, Mr. Alon.”
It was Nataman, who approached Alon with a bright, innocent smile.
“Greetings.”
“Yes, it’s a lovely morning.”
“...I suppose so.”
In a room thick with tension, Nataman alone was beaming. Alon asked him a question.
“I see you haven't left the Tower, Prince Nataman.”
“Yes. There’s no reason to leave in the middle of the night, after all. I’m planning to head out soon.”
Nataman stared intently into Alon’s eyes.
“That’s why I came to see you before I left.”
The relaxed smile never left his lips.
“...To see me?”
“Yes.”
Alon was stunned as Nataman nodded.
“...I hesitate to say this in the middle of a conversation, but did we know each other?”
It was a question that could be considered rude. However, Alon simply couldn't understand Nataman’s behavior. He had asked despite the potential breach of etiquette.
Nataman replied as if he didn't mind in the least.
“No, not exactly. Rather, you could say I’m the only one who knows you.”
“...You know me unilaterally?”
“Yes. I’ve heard many rumors about you.”
“...In the Empire?”
“Yes. In fact, I might even have more information about you than you do yourself.”
Nataman’s lips curled into a grin as he dropped a casual remark.
“Anyway—to put it simply, I’ve come to admire you.”
“...Me?”
“Yes. When you listen to your story through rumors, it sounds like the epic of a great hero.”
“That is one of the reasons I am showing you favor,” Nataman added boldly. Then, looking as if he had just remembered something he’d forgotten, he made a startled face.
“Oh, dear. I really should be going now. Let’s meet again next time.”
With his energetic smile still intact, he leisurely exited the conference room.
“....”
Alon could only stare blankly at the spot where Nataman had been.
Soon, the second day of the council officially began. Contrary to the expectation of meeting the Seeker, today’s meeting was led by the Skull Mask, who appeared to be his familiar.
The main agenda was the lending of items that would be helpful to those who remained. While watching the others follow the mask one by one...
“Teacher.”
Yutia spoke to him.
“What is it?”
“I heard that you aren't returning to the kingdom this time and are going somewhere else instead.”
Alon nodded.
“That’s correct.”
“May I ask where you are going?”
“I believe I’ll be heading west.”
“...To the west?”
Yutia looked as if she hadn't expected that, her expression showing a hint of surprise.
“Yes.”
“...Why are you moving in that direction?”
After a brief silence, Yutia asked cautiously. Alon told her about the conversation he’d had with the Seeker the previous day. She listened quietly to his words.
“...I see. So there is something you need there.”
“Yes.”
“Then, may I come with you?” she proposed.
“...You want to come along?” Alon asked back, surprised by the sudden offer.
Yutia nodded. “Yes.”
“...I expect it will be very dangerous.”
He was naturally a bit worried. At that, Yutia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke.
“That’s why.”
“What...?”
“Because it sounds dangerous, I want to go with you.”
Because I don't want you to get hurt, Teacher, Yutia thought with a faint smile.
“So, will you give me your permission?”
She conveyed her intent to Alon once more.
“...Alright.”
Alon had no reason to refuse her. It was decided that Yutia would accompany them.
* * *
The night of the day Yutia promised to move with them.
“Phew—”
The Seeker, who had been lost in thought while letting out a light sigh, suddenly looked out the window. To be honest, the view beyond the Tower’s window wasn't particularly beautiful. There were no star clusters; only the moon existed in the sky.
As the Seeker stared blankly...
“!”
He suddenly discovered something. The color of the moon, which had been glowing only blue, was gradually changing.
The Seeker, who had been relaxed and bored until a moment ago, tried to move his body in a hurry, but...
Thud.
Regrettably, the Seeker’s body did not move. No, it couldn't move. It was as if he were fixed by something.
And then.
When the blue moon had turned into a complete Red Moon.
The Seeker could hear it. The sound of footsteps approaching calmly from afar.
When the rhythmic clicking of footsteps finally stopped, the Seeker came face to face with her.
A girl wearing black mourning clothes, her deep red eyes glowing like the crimson moonlight that had seized the sky.
And.
“...I had a feeling, but as expected—”
The Seeker looked at the girl, Yutia Bloodia.
“—You’ve crossed over... you monster.”
He whispered quietly.
The blood-colored moonlight settled silently into the room.