Chapter 454: Why Are You Doing This…? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 454: Why Are You Doing This…? (2)
The Risen One did not particularly enjoy mingling with other Divine Bloods.
In fact, he wasn't the only one.
Unless they belonged to the same faction—and sometimes even if they did—Divine Bloods generally disliked socializing with one another. No matter how closely they were bound by a faction, they were ultimately potential rivals.
While being in the same faction essentially made them allies, competition within that faction was inevitable. Unless an individual possessed a truly peculiar temperament, a streak of individualism was the norm.
Which was why the scene unfolding before his eyes was so utterly incomprehensible.
[Aaaargh!]
The once-imposing Macerated Tree was being unilaterally pummeled by no fewer than five Divine Bloods.
And what’s more—
[Are you joining the Star Cluster or not?!]
[Gwaaaah!]
He was being subjected to a most bizarre form of extortion.
[….]
Naturally, the Risen One, who had been deep within Calliban, knew a fair amount about the "Star Cluster." Even while he was underground, the King of Calliban had brought him various bits of news.
I heard they were a group of Divine Bloods growing in power within the United Kingdoms…
The Risen One watched the scene with that thought in mind.
[I’ll do it! I’ll join! I said I’ll do it!]
[Are you joining the Star Cluster?!]
[Yes! Yes!]
The sheer madness radiating from those mercilessly beating the Macerated Tree was palpable. They looked at the Divine Blood before them as if he were mere prey.
And then.
[Now then, we should probably hold an initiation, shouldn't we?]
[Finally, our fourth success….]
[At this rate, we’ll definitely make the first-string—]
As soon as the Macerated Tree gave his consent, they nodded several times in deep satisfaction.
[Let’s go, hehe.]
They grabbed the Macerated Tree by his tail and legs and dragged him off into the forest.
At that moment.
[…!]
The Risen One’s eyes met theirs.
His body flinched, and his hand instinctively tightened around his spear. However, the Divine Bloods whispered among themselves while glaring at him for a moment.
[Not that one—?]
[Right—]
[Shame—]
Thump. Thump.
Muttering unintelligible words that he couldn't quite catch, they vanished into the woods, dragging the Macerated Tree behind them.
The scene of the mad Divine Bloods' kidnapping(?) had come to an end.
However.
“….”
The Risen One stood there in a daze for a long time.
* * *
“…A way to get stronger?”
“Yes, Godfather.”
Line took a breath before continuing.
“Does it catch you off guard that I’m saying this?”
“….”
Alon remained silent.
To be fair, he was indeed caught off guard. He had never mentioned anything of the sort to Line.
…Wait, did I?
Alon searched his memory once more. He might have mentioned it in passing, but they had never had a serious conversation like this.
“It is a bit surprising,” Alon admitted, though he also thought it was for the best. Since he needed allies to face the Divine Bloods, he had intended to bring it up eventually anyway.
Despite Alon’s reaction, the smile didn't leave Line’s face.
“I’ve been thinking about what you might need most, Godfather. Was I being intrusive?”
Alon shook his head.
“No. I was actually going to ask you first. It’s just… a bit curious.”
Line’s smile turned slightly mysterious.
“I’ll satisfy that curiosity next time.”
“…Next time?”
“Yes.”
She smoothly moved on to the main point.
“Then, I’ll keep the explanation brief.”
Line’s explanation continued for a while.
“…And that is the method I’ve discovered.”
When she finished, Alon thought for a moment before speaking.
“So, you’re saying you intend to use the power of the Five Great Sins?”
“That’s right.”
Line nodded and elaborated.
“As I explained earlier, the five of us—myself included—possess excellent qualities as Vessels for the Sins.”
“But haven't most of them already been extinguished? It seems difficult to wield their power now.”
What Alon said was true. Before the Divine Bloods began to fall, Alon had fought the Sins and extinguished four of them. In other words, the sources of that power were gone.
However, Line shook her head lightly.
“As you said, Godfather, most of the Sins have been extinguished. But that’s alright.”
“It’s alright?”
“Yes, as long as we have the ‘Artifacts.’”
“…The Artifacts.”
Alon recalled the Artifacts of the Sins he currently had in his possession. According to the game’s lore, these were items kept by the Abominations that would grant the Sins even more catastrophic power should they obtain them.
Then, a realization struck him.
“…Are you saying the Sins can be revived using the Artifacts?”
“Exactly. To be precise, it allows us to properly utilize them as weapons.”
Alon nodded at Line’s answer. He remembered the fact that the Five Great Sins were originally the Guardian Weapons of the Illanef Empire.
But after a moment of contemplation, Alon asked her another question.
“…But will that really be enough to help?”
“Hmm… do you feel like it won’t be helpful?”
“No, I don’t think it’ll be completely useless, but…”
In truth, Alon didn't think the power of the Sins was weak. Every manifestation of their power he had seen was as irrational and overwhelming as that of the Divine Bloods; they would certainly be a great help in the coming battles.
However, having already experienced a 2nd Stage Divine Blood, Alon knew just how absurd their power was, which forced him to ask the question.
Sensing Alon’s hesitation, Line thought for a moment.
“You don’t need to worry too much about that part.”
“…I don’t?”
“As you know, Godfather, the Five Great Sins are Guardian Weapons. In other words, they weren't made to fight on their own, but to be ‘used.’”
“Which means—”
“The power you and I have seen isn't their full potential.”
She continued.
“And there’s one more important thing.”
“What is it?”
“Your Law, Godfather.”
“…My Law?”
“Yes. How strong they become will depend on your Law.”
The smile remained fixed on her lips.
* * *
The following day.
After bestowing blessings upon the three of them, including Historia and Ryanga, Alon said his goodbyes to Line.
“Are you heading back to Phildegrin?”
“Yes. As I mentioned before, I can move my body freely now, but I’m not in perfect condition yet.”
Adding that she would be completely free with just a little more work, Line bowed to Alon.
“Then, I’ll see you again next time.”
“Boss, I’ll work hard!”
“Me too, God.”
Alon gave a light nod toward Ryanga and Historia, who were speaking energetically beside her.
“Have a safe trip! Leave this place to me!”
“…Understood.”
Feeling a strange sense of unease at Silli’s bright, flawless smile, Alon gave one last nod and boarded the carriage.
As Alon let out a sigh, Evan asked, “Lord Alon, are we stopping by Palantia before heading to the Colony?”
“We’ll likely stop by the Magic Tower on the way.”
“Ah, come to think of it, Penia went there, didn't she?”
“She asked me to take care of some business there.”
Evan nodded with a thoughtful hum.
Alon leaned back deeply into his seat, recalling what Line had told him yesterday.
…The power of the Sins…
The power of the Sins.
Based on Line’s explanation, it would certainly be a boost to their military strength. If what she said was true, the power of the Sins he had seen and felt thus far was, hilariously enough, not even their full potential.
“Hmm….”
Actually, there was nothing to worry about. Line had told him how to revive the Sins, and he already had all the Artifacts in his possession, save for one.
Yet, the reason Alon remained lost in thought was because of the last thing Line had added.
My Law is important…
Line had definitely said that. That the Law Alon had obtained was the key.
What does that mean…?
Alon stroked his chin. He was agonizing over it because Line hadn't told him anything beyond that.
As he sat lost in thought for a while—
“…?”
A strange sense of dissonance suddenly washed over him. It was the feeling of having forgotten something.
As Alon continued to think with a blank expression—
“…Oh?”
A short exclamation escaped his lips. An unexpected fact had just flashed through his mind.
…Did I ever tell Line about my Law?
Alon hurried to look out the window.
…Line was no longer in sight.
The next day.
Still harboring doubts about Line’s comment on his Law—and having belatedly realized he never actually told her about it—Alon arrived in Palantia.
“Don’t you think it looks a bit more… cluttered than last time?”
“It does, but….”
“Well, it’s not a dramatic change, but it is a bit strange.”
Just as Evan said, the castle of Palantia was now adorned with various dangling decorations.
Dismissing it as something he could now easily overlook, Alon entered the castle, only to be immediately caught up in something unexpected.
In truth, it wasn't anything major; he just had to attend to some guests. However, there were two reasons why Alon felt he had been "caught up" in it.
First, the guest who had come to Palantia was none other than the famous Imperial Princess of the Eastern Empire, Serdea Polantisia.
“Ahem—it’s been a while, my lord!”
And second, that very Serdea Polantisia was sitting right next to Irenena Polantisia, the Imperial Princess of the Southern Empire.
This alone was enough to make Alon feel exhausted. No matter if he was a king, dealing with Imperial Princesses was mentally taxing.
But what Alon found even more incomprehensible was Irenena’s behavior.
“….”
“….”
“….”
“…So.”
“Y-Yes…!”
For some reason, even if Alon just started to say a single word, she would freeze in her seat and snap into a rigid, military-like posture.
“….”
Alon felt an inexplicable wave of fatigue wash over him.