Chapter 437: Strange (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 437: Strange (8)
Contanias could not understand.
He didn't understand why Arculainisis, the Guardian Dragon of the Empire, was radiating such murderous mana.
He didn't understand why she was so enraged.
But what he understood least of all was the word she had just uttered.
A single word.
‘...Father...?’
The fact that she had referred to Alon Palatio as her father.
That was the most incomprehensible part.
"Well? Speak up."
The pressure was spine-chilling. Yet, even amidst that crushing weight, Contanias remained hung up on her words.
‘Father... What on earth does that mean...?’
Arculainisis was the Guardian Dragon of the Empire. She had existed longer than the Empire itself.
In a sense, it wasn't that the dragon had lived through the Empire's history, but rather that the Empire had existed within the dragon's history.
Such a being had clearly stated it.
That Alon Palatio was her father.
“....”
Contanias lifted his head to look at Arculainisis.
Her eyes, marked by her trademark dark circles, were filled with a fury he had never seen before.
He couldn't afford to hesitate any longer.
"I am sorry!"
Only then did he hurriedly bow his head. He might be arrogant, but he wasn't stupid.
Of course, his mind was still flooded with a single question: Why would the Guardian Dragon of the Empire call the king of a mere kingdom her father?
However, he did not dare let the question escape his lips.
Until the Divine Blood began to fall, she had lived in this residence, cut off from all communication with the outside world. But even so, it was impossible for a Guardian Dragon to mistake someone's identity.
As far as Contanias knew, she was the closest thing to an omnipotent being in existence.
Therefore.
"I—I acted out of ignorance—"
Fixing this situation was the priority.
But.
"Enough."
Regrettably, the Guardian Dragon cut him off coldly, as if she had no intention of giving him a chance.
"It seems you spewed that characteristic arrogance of yours to my father."
As if she had witnessed it herself, the Guardian Dragon correctly guessed Contanias's behavior.
The Prince gasped for air, his head pressed against the floor, unable to breathe properly.
She looked down at him for a moment.
"...Go to my father this instant and beg for his forgiveness. And see to it that you bring him here."
She commanded.
"Th-thank you so much for giving me this chance!"
The Prince shouted with all his might.
"A chance... A chance, indeed..."
Arculainisis murmured indifferently.
"Yes. You could call it a chance. Because if you fail to receive my father's forgiveness—"
She looked down at Contanias with eyes steeped in exhaustion.
"—a branch of history that I created will vanish."
She pronounced the sentence clearly.
* * *
"...A Law?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
A few days later.
As they headed west through the usual desolation—miraculously without encountering a single drop of Divine Blood—Alon and Penia continued their conversation.
It was about the Law he had been contemplating.
Until now, he had tried to think it through on his own as much as possible, but as the Temple drew nearer, he decided to seek advice.
He knew that once the time came to actually manifest the Law, there wouldn't be any time left for deliberation.
So, when Alon first brought up the subject, the party members each gave it some thought.
"Hmm—it's a difficult problem."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
Penia was the first to speak.
"If I were to think about it simply, I'd want to suggest focusing on advancing your current magic even further... but if what you said is true, Alon, then that would be a clear waste."
Alon nodded.
That was exactly why he hadn't been able to easily decide on a Law.
If the Laws weren't infinite, he could just choose from among them. But because the possibilities were limitless, the decision became difficult.
It was an ironic situation where freedom, paradoxically, constrained his thoughts.
"Hmm—I'll give it some serious thought. I don't think this is something that can be answered with a casual suggestion."
"I'm counting on you."
"Of course."
As Penia finished, Evan stepped forward as if he had been waiting.
"But Alon, if you're choosing a Law anyway, shouldn't you just pick something that looks powerful at a glance?"
"For example?"
"Well, aren't there plenty? If it's like an absolute rule... something like, 'anyone hit by an attack dies instantly'?"
"Or maybe something that nullifies any attack?" Evan muttered. Penia, standing beside him, let out a hollow laugh.
"Does that even make sense?"
"No—but didn't he say you can set it to whatever you want? Then wouldn't something like that be possible?"
"If you think about it simply, I suppose."
"Then why not do it?"
At Evan's counter-question, Penia let out a long sigh and explained.
"Even if you make a Law like that, there's a chance it won't actually grant invincibility or nullification."
"...Why?"
"Isn't the fact that there are so many Divine Bloods out there proof enough?"
"...?"
Evan pondered for a moment before letting out a low exclamation of realization.
"So, you're saying if such an absurd Law existed, there wouldn't be this many Divine Bloods in the first place?"
"Exactly. Well, more accurately, it's a matter of whether it 'works' or not."
Penia added that there was no way others hadn't thought of such simple Laws before.
"...Hmm, that's true."
Evan conceded.
"And above all, they say the stronger the power, the greater the penalty, so we have to think carefully."
"A penalty? Was there something like that?"
"Alon explained it just a moment ago. Right?"
Alon nodded, recalling the words the Blue-eyed Entity had once mentioned in passing.
‘Of course, as long as you haven't fully reached the Creation of Heavenly Law, the more a Law deviates from providence, the heavier the penalty it carries.’
Alon turned his gaze toward Yutia.
She was silent, lost in thought.
After some time had passed.
"Hmm—I think a Law that acts like a hidden trump card would be good, Teacher."
Yutia offered her opinion.
"...A hidden trump card?"
"Yes."
She nodded at Alon's question and continued.
"Ultimately, having a Law means your method of fighting becomes specified in some way. And naturally, once a method is specified, counters will emerge. So, I thought it might be better to create a Law that can flip that script."
"Because you have your magic, Teacher," Yutia said with a smile. Alon stroked his chin.
Of course, it wasn't a perfect answer. In a way, Yutia's suggestion was missing something important.
But.
"...A Law that can serve as a hidden trump card."
It was quite intriguing nonetheless.
As she said, Alon would likely have to fight numerous Divine Bloods in the future.
That meant that while it might not happen at the 1st Stage, from the 2nd Stage onward, he would have to battle amidst countless other Laws.
And the moment he specified his Law, he might find himself at a disadvantage against other Divine Bloods.
‘Against such Divine Bloods... an ability that can serve as a hidden trump card.’
Alon continued his contemplation.
Time passed, and more than two weeks after Alon had entered the Western Empire.
"...It looks like that's the place."
"Indeed."
Alon had arrived.
At the 'Temple' the Seeker had spoken of.
* * *
Rewinding time a bit to when Alon was passing through the border of the Eastern Empire.
"Is that so? The King of Palantia has crossed the border into the Eastern Empire?"
"Yes."
Imperial Princess Serdea Polantisia, who led the Eastern Empire, couldn't help but chuckle at the minister's report.
‘I knew it—there's no man who could reject me.’
She recalled Alon's appearance from a few months ago.
His indifferent expression, which made it impossible to tell what he was thinking, and the way he showed no agitation even in her presence, had left quite an impression on Serdea.
Of course, now that she felt she could see through his intentions, she could only laugh.
"However—will it be alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"You said you saw him in person, but you haven't verified the rumors yet."
The minister was elderly, but he always provided the best advice by her side. She nodded at his question.
"I haven't verified them."
"In that case—"
"Well, it doesn't matter regardless."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. That man didn't seem ordinary. His very aura was different from those other kings of the frontier."
"Though my other siblings don't seem to understand that," Serdea added, curling the corners of her lips.
"Even if I misjudged that aura, it doesn't matter. After all—wouldn't I have more to gain than lose by keeping him close?"
"...Just by taking a king of a frontier kingdom into your fold?"
"Yes. He is a king supported by the United Kingdoms. Even if he doesn't have the ability to control Divine Blood as the rumors say, he is worthy of a place by my side. There is much to be gained."
The minister couldn't immediately respond. He realized all too easily what she meant by 'much to be gained.'
She was smaller in stature than her other siblings. Yet, she was the one who could take a step forward with more resolve than any of them.
"Besides—his face was quite to my taste."
As Serdea murmured with satisfaction, the minister watched her.
"...Then I will have him tracked as soon as we receive word."
He bowed politely.
A week passed after that.
"Princess. It is reported that Alon has passed through the Tria Ducal House."
"...The Tria Ducal House? That's not on the way to the capital."
"Yes, about that..."
As the minister looked puzzled, Serdea pondered for a moment.
"Ah—I see. My, my—he's quite a devoted man."
She nodded as if she had realized something.
"Pardon...?"
"Think about it. What is the specialty of the Tria Ducal House?"
"The specialty... are you referring to the everlasting flowers?"
"Yes. He has a surprisingly thoughtful side."
"...I see."
The minister, catching Serdea's meaning instantly, gave a small nod.
The time of waiting flowed on.
And finally, when Alon arrived at the Temple.
"...Princess?"
"Hmm—ah—well, well. Has he finally arrived?"
Serdea spoke to her most trusted minister.
"Th-that is, it was confirmed late... but it seems Alon has headed toward the Western Empire."
Upon hearing that report.
"....Huh?"
A dazed sound escaped her lips, catching her completely off guard.