Chapter 452: Return (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 452: Return (8)
With her enhanced hearing, Irenena momentarily doubted her own ears at the conversation she had just overheard.
However.
“A slave? Come on, that’s a bit much...”
“No, he is a slave. That’s how the contract was written.”
When the definitive confirmation followed, her jaw dropped in spite of herself.
‘I was certain... didn’t Contanias say the King of Palantia was the father of the Guardian Dragon?’
Contanias had indeed claimed he was the father of the Guardian Dragon.
In other words, Alon was a dragon hiding his true identity.
But a dragon in disguise, keeping one of his own kind as a slave?
‘Is that some kind of custom among the Dragon Race...?’
Irenena thought for a moment before shaking her head.
As far as she knew, she had never seen any mention of such a culture among dragons, even in the oldest ancient texts.
Therefore.
‘Just what... is the true identity of the King of Palantia?’
Irenena looked down at the ground with a face full of confusion.
‘I’ll have to meet the King of Palantia in person.’
With that firm resolve, she vanished.
* * *
After learning through Silli that a heroic tale(?) about him ‘shortening his own lifespan to grant power’ had spread, Alon remained in Divine Land for a few more days.
There were three reasons.
The first was to handle administrative work.
Of course, Silli was handling most of the duties in Divine Land, but he couldn't just leave everything to her.
The second was to examine his divine power.
Alon had been unable to use his divine power properly since the Divine Blood had fallen.
Then, starting from his meeting with Kalanon and the moment he transferred divine power to the people of Divine Land, he had become able to use it once again.
However, even though he could now transfer divine power to others and his own reserves were fuller than ever before, he still couldn't transform into Kalanon.
He needed to find out why.
And finally—
“...Is this Simus’s ability?”
“That’s right!”
—It was to study the abilities of Simus and Silli, who were currently generating their own power using Alon’s divine energy.
“...”
Alon looked up at the sky.
Above Simus, who looked somewhat strained, floated a sword so massive it commanded instinctive admiration.
If it were to fall as it was, it looked capable of cleaving a small castle in two.
After a moment of being startled by the sheer size of the blade...
Sssssss—!
The sword soon vanished, and only then did Alon lower his gaze.
“I am sorry!”
Simus panted heavily, gasping for breath.
“No, this is more than enough.”
“It is not! You have bestowed such a blessing upon me, yet I am still lacking...!”
Simus squeezed his eyes shut as if he were truly mortified.
His tightly pursed lips turned white.
“...”
Alon felt a twinge of guilt.
While it was true he had passed on the ability, the reason Simus’s power wasn't growing easily was actually because of Alon himself.
After all, Alon was currently returning only a fraction of the faith Simus had offered back to him.
He felt awkward internally, but he spoke calmly.
“It really is fine, so stand up. I can tell how much effort you’ve put in just from this.”
Despite the quiet comfort, Simus stood up looking deeply apologetic.
“I shall dedicate my life to you!”
He shouted, bowing so low his torso was nearly parallel to the ground.
Alon hid his embarrassment and stepped out of the training grounds.
“What do you think?”
Silli asked immediately.
Alon toyed with his chin before answering.
“Not bad.”
Of course, the power Simus had shown wasn't particularly strong from Alon’s perspective.
Alon knew all too well from experience just how nonsensical the existence of the Divine Blood was.
However, it wasn't meaningless.
Simus alone might be weak, but if the Knights of Divine Land were to each manifest their own power after receiving Alon’s blessing—
‘It will certainly be useful.’
As he weighed the future, Alon let out a sudden sigh.
“Ah.”
“? What is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
Alon shook his head at Silli’s question.
However, a shadow of regret lingered on his face.
‘I should have brought Rainisius.’
The Golden Dragon, Rainisius.
Of course, being a dragon, he might not know much about divine power, but his knowledge regarding magic circles seemed like it would have been useful.
He thought the dragon would have been quite helpful in creating the ‘automatic blessing’—the automated hunting system Alon was envisioning.
‘I didn't think of it in time.’
He decided he should speak to Rainisius separately once he returned.
“So, have you selected the personnel to receive the blessing?”
Alon followed up by asking Silli.
“As you requested, I’ve selected about ten candidates, including Ms. Historia and Ms. Ryanga, who are currently away. I chose those who would follow your will unconditionally.”
In contrast to her gentle smile, Alon cautiously repeated her rather strict(?) phrasing.
“Unconditionally...?”
“Yes. Unconditionally! They are people who wouldn't even hesitate to embrace martyrdom for your sake, Lord Alon!”
“...Martyrdom?”
“Yes!”
At the even more shocking word that came out of her mouth...
“...Silli.”
“Yes?”
“I’m asking just in case, but you aren't conducting any dangerous radical indoctrination, are you?”
At Alon’s question, which was tinged with a strange sense of unease despite his expressionless face, Silli thought for a moment before answering.
“Hmm—of course not? There’s no such thing as dangerous radical indoctrination.”
“Is that so?”
“Naturally! I am simply teaching them the scriptures.”
“Scriptures?”
“Yes!”
At Silli’s words, Alon recalled the scriptures he had seen once before.
...He wondered why he was feeling even more uneasy, but just then.
“Lord Alon.”
As soon as he entered the tent, Evan approached as if he had been waiting.
“What is it?”
“It’s regarding the request I made to the information guild last time. They’ve contacted me.”
Since there was a fair amount of information to find, Evan hurried to add.
“About the various kings.”
“Ah.”
Evan hadn't missed the request and had followed through.
“Is there any information?”
“From general overviews to detailed reports, I will tell you everything one by one.”
As the atmosphere turned serious, Silli took a step back.
“Oh, then I’ll step out for a moment.”
Evan’s report began in earnest.
“So, it seems the Empire side has already obtained some kind of ability, and the Kingdoms are the same.”
“Yes, it seems the United Kingdoms obtained their abilities a bit more easily because of the Star Cluster.”
“...Because of the Star Cluster?”
“As I mentioned, the Star Cluster has been dealing with the Divine Blood.”
Alon stroked his chin once.
“Have the abilities of the kings been identified?”
“It doesn't seem we've reached that point yet, but inferring from what has been revealed, there seems to be a variance in the level of their abilities.”
“I see...”
Evan continued speaking.
“Ah—and while the United Kingdoms seem fine for now, it appears things have been very noisy on the side of the Divine Blood recently.”
“What’s happening?”
“I heard that something called 'Fragments' is currently spreading among those of the Divine Blood.”
“Fragments?”
“Yes. They suspect these are fragments of a massive Divine Blood entity. They are currently scattered everywhere, and it seems those of the Divine Blood are working hard to obtain them.”
“Hmm, do they become stronger if they consume those fragments?”
“That appears to be the case.”
Fragments.
As Alon reorganized the situation in his head...
“...Could it be?”
A memory from the past surfaced.
When he had obtained a Law at the eastern edge, he had heard a similar statement from the ‘All-Ensnaring Night.’
‘That fellow said he became a 2nd Stage after devouring a portion of power.’
The ‘All-Ensnaring Night’ had definitely said he devoured a portion of power.
If he assumed the rest of that devoured power had been left neglected and became fragments, the pieces fit together.
“...This won't be easy.”
Weariness clouded Alon’s face.
If this hypothesis was correct, it meant that even at this very moment, a 2nd Stage Divine Blood could appear.
“Is there any information on where those fragments have fallen?”
When Alon asked, Evan replied.
“Not exactly, but there are rumors that a fragment is near the Colony.”
“In the Colony?”
“Yes.”
“...I suppose I’ll have to head there soon.”
Alon let out a sigh.
“And, is there still no news regarding Seolrang?”
“Seolrang? ...No, I haven't heard anything in particular.”
When Evan shook his head, Alon ran a hand through his hair.
He had intended to move with a bit more leisure, but it seemed that was a luxury he couldn't afford.
* * *
A few days later.
News arrived that Ria and Ryanga, who had been out, were returning.
Just as Alon was planning to bestow his blessing upon them and depart.
[Hello!]
“...Kalanon.”
Suddenly, Kalanon in her cat form hopped onto his lap, and he was pulled into the blue coastline where the Milky Way stretched across the sky.
“...You didn't act like this when I asked to talk last time, yet you call for me now.”
Kalanon replied quickly.
[I’m sorry, but I couldn't help it! This might not look like much, but it eats up a lot of divine power. I’m barely squeezing out enough divine power to meet you like this, you know?]
‘Ahem! You should be grateful to me!’
Kalanon seemed to be fishing for credit.
Alon contemplated what to say for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
“So, why did you call me?”
[To give you an answer.]
“...An answer?”
[I might not be able to answer everything, but I can listen. Weren't you trying to talk to me because you couldn't transform into your Kalanon state in the first place?]
Her guess was correct.
“Do you know the reason?”
[Of course I do.]
“What is it?”
[Mmm—]
She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.
[It’s a bit of a difficult concept, but you could say you’ve been ‘separated.’]
“Separated?”
[Yes. For example, until now, you gathered divine power as Kalanon and transformed into Kalanon, right?]
“That’s right.”
[As you know, that was only possible because you gained the belief that you were Kalanon. But the situation is different now. Um—]
Kalanon took a breath and continued.
[To put it simply, Kalanon and Lord Alon have finally been divided.]
“So, you’re saying that because I’ve started gaining faith as Alon Palatio instead of Kalanon, I can no longer transform?”
[Exactly!]
Alon nodded.
Thinking about it that way, it made sense why he couldn't transform into Kalanon.
After all, the reason he could manifest as Kalanon was that he had actually gained faith as Kalanon.
“Then it will be impossible to manifest as Kalanon from now on.”
A faint trace of regret was audible in Alon’s voice.
[I suppose so. But I don't think you need to worry too much about it.]
However, Kalanon’s reaction was unexpected.
“Why is that?”
[Because, obviously—]
She gave a bright smile and then...
[Now you’ll be able to achieve a ‘Manifestation’ in the truest sense!]
...she shouted energetically.