Chapter 46: What’s Going On? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: What’s Going On? (2)
Generally, the regular meetings of the Blue Moon concluded without much incident.
During the previous meeting, Deus had flown into a frenzy following a question from Seolrang, causing the session to drag on significantly, but that was strictly an exception.
Now that everyone except Deus and Yutia understood there were certain questions one simply did not ask Deus, such outliers could be prevented.
Of course, Deus—who usually remained silent—would occasionally pipe up as if triggered whenever the Great Moon was mentioned, but those tangents rarely lasted long anymore.
Line and Ladan were desperate to steer the conversation away whenever that happened.
Thus, today’s meeting should have proceeded peacefully, unlike the last one. In fact, thanks to the duo’s efforts, the meeting was scheduled to end within twenty minutes of starting.
[By the way, Seolrang, you mentioned that he was heading to the Colony this time. Did you get to see his face?]
That was the question Yutia asked Seolrang.
[I’m going to marry the Great Moon!!]
[Huh?]
And that was before Seolrang gave her answer.
* * *
...To be honest, the atmosphere wasn't that bad at first.
The other members of the Blue Moon knew that Seolrang occasionally used overly exaggerated expressions, and Yutia assumed this was just another instance of that.
However.
[He is indeed a truly wonderful person. It’s only natural for you to like him, Seolrang.]
[Exactly! That’s why I’m going to marry him!]
[...?]
The moment they realized Seolrang wasn't just being hyperbolic but was entirely serious.
[...What exactly do you mean by that?]
Yutia’s face, which usually maintained its composure regardless of the situation, hardened instantly. The other members reflexively held their breath at the sight.
Everyone participating in the meeting knew exactly what that stiff expression and tone signified.
‘She’s holding it in.’
‘She’s definitely holding it in.’
‘Enduring.’
Deus, Ladan, and Line immediately recognized Yutia’s state and kept their heads down.
Even though this was merely a video conference via mana projection, they instinctively knew how terrifying an angry Yutia could be.
However, the three of them expected the storm to pass quickly.
Like them, Seolrang knew Yutia well and was supposed to be afraid of her.
But.
[It’s exactly what it sounds like! I’m going to marry the Great Moon!]
Contrary to the expectation that she would immediately back down, Seolrang shouted her declaration as if it were a settled matter. The other members stared blankly.
Yutia squeezed her eyes shut for a moment as if trying to maintain her composure, then opened them and asked.
[Seolrang, do you even understand what you’re saying right now?]
[I understand perfectly! We’ll become family. I’m confident I’ll be good at it!]
[...]
Yutia closed her eyes again, looking dizzy at Seolrang’s words. When she opened them, she spoke with a faint smile, her tone like that of someone soothing a small child.
[Even if you’re confident, it’s impossible.]
[Why?]
[Because we are the shadows of the Great Moon.]
[...?? Can’t I be a shadow and be married at the same time?]
Seolrang looked entirely unconvinced, her expression asking what the problem could possibly be.
At that, Yutia’s briefly restored smile cracked.
[Listen carefully, Seolrang. We are the Great Moon’s shadows. A shadow cannot stand beside him, do you understand? You understand what I’m saying, right?]
She spoke as if trying to persuade her, but her face radiated a subtle fury that anyone present could feel. The members looked at Seolrang, thinking the conversation would finally end here.
[Ugh...]
Seolrang flinched slightly, clearly sensing Yutia’s emotions more sharply than before.
However, after shifting her eyes around for a moment, she blinked as if steeling her resolve and replied.
[S-Still! I’m going to marry him!]
The members’ jaws dropped as Seolrang clearly expressed her will despite Yutia’s overt display of anger.
[I know! The Great Moon’s opinion is the only thing that matters anyway!]
They couldn't help but gape at the sight of Seolrang essentially declaring war on Yutia.
[...]
[...]
As Yutia and Seolrang began to glare at each other, a single question popped into the minds of Line and Ladan.
Just what on earth had happened between her and the Great Moon to make Seolrang act like this?
[Do you really think he would choose you?]
[The Mentor said I wasn't half bad!]
Of course, Alon hadn't meant it literally; he had only said it to comfort her when she was whining and acting sad, asking if he hated her.
However, hearing that statement stripped of all context, Line and Ladan froze.
[Wh-What did you say...?]
And just as Yutia was about to succumb to the shock.
[Seolrang, what exactly happened with him?]
[Well, you see—]
Deus asked a question to change the mood, and Seolrang began to recount everything that had happened with the Great Moon.
The atmosphere calmed down slightly.
Ladan and Line looked satisfied, seeing that Deus had extinguished the immediate fire at the perfect time.
[—And that’s how it happened.]
[I see.]
[Right? Isn't he amazing!?]
[Indeed. Hmm—hearing Seolrang’s story brings back memories of the majesty the Great Moon displayed in the North six months ago.]
[[...!]]
As Seolrang finished her story about twenty minutes later, looks of realization dawned on their faces.
Taking advantage of the moment they let their guard down, Deus had naturally transitioned into talking about the events from six months ago.
And so.
[...I can still see it. His figure standing against the setting sun on that barren, ashen land.]
[Ah—I think I know what you mean!]
[[Ah.]]
Line and Ladan looked gloomy as they watched Seolrang chime in, the conversation having shifted exactly as Deus intended before they could steer it elsewhere.
Two hours later.
[Ahem... I suppose I’ve talked for quite a while.]
...As expected, Deus’s story only ended after a long time had passed. The two felt a sense of relief that the meeting could finally end, but.
[Anyway, marriage with him is out of the question!]
[It is not!]
[It is!]
[It is not!!]
[It is!!]
[It is not!!!]
[[...]]
As the bickering between Yutia and Seolrang started up again as if the last two hours hadn't happened, the two of them carved a new fact into their minds that day.
Yutia could be surprisingly childish whenever the Great Moon was involved.
...It wasn't information they particularly wanted to know, Ladan and Line thought as they watched the sky begin to brighten.
* * *
About a week later, Alon finally managed to emerge from the desert.
“I shall come to pay my respects again soon, Count!”
Rad, the head of the Golden Foot Merchant Group, bowed so deeply that one might have mistaken him for a lowly servant.
However, none of the merchants, mercenaries, or mages present questioned Rad’s behavior.
They already knew the fame the Count of Palatio would soon command in the Colony, and the mages and mercenaries among them had witnessed the Count’s power firsthand.
“We shall see if our paths cross again.”
“I am honored!”
As Rad bowed at a 110-degree angle and the merchant group began to move.
“Count.”
The one who called out to the Count as he was about to board his carriage was Rian, the daughter of the Red Tower Master.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if you might be attending the Magic Society meeting next month?”
“Hmm.”
Alon licked his lips behind a stoic expression.
‘The Magic Society...’
The Magic Society.
It was an event where mages from each tower gathered once or twice a year to discuss theories and experiments explored by their respective towers, often accompanied by friendly matches.
‘I do want to go.’
In truth, Alon had business with the Magic Society for a while now.
More accurately, he was interested in the ‘Central Tower’ where the society met, rather than their research materials.
There was an item there that could alleviate the absolute mana deficiency Alon currently suffered from, even if only slightly.
Unfortunately, the rule was that no one could enter the Central Magic Tower unless they belonged to a Magic Tower. Thus, Alon replied.
“I would like to attend, but I’m afraid I cannot.”
“Ah, why is that...?”
“I do not belong to a Magic Tower.”
Rian looked slightly surprised at Alon’s words.
“...I suspected as much, but it’s true that you don’t belong to any tower?”
“It is. I have no reason to lie about it.”
“Then, would you like to participate in the society as a member of our Red Magic Tower?”
“As a member of the Red Magic Tower...?”
“Yes.”
At the unexpected proposal, Alon replied.
“...It’s a good opportunity for me, but I don’t think there’s much I can do for you by participating under the Red Magic Tower’s name.”
“I’m not asking for anything special. Just having discussions about magic with me like we did before would be more than enough.”
Looking at Rian as she spoke while subtly glancing up at him, he thought.
‘The terms are... quite good.’
He wondered briefly why she was offering such favorable terms, but since there was no reason to refuse, Alon nodded.
“Then I shall gratefully accept your kindness. When should I be there?”
“I believe there’s about a month and a half left. I’ll let you know the detailed schedule via letter or magic tool.”
“Understood.”
With those final words.
“Then, I’ll see you then.”
Alon parted ways with the mages of the Red Magic Tower.
After picking up some simple groceries in the first village they reached after the desert, they began moving to return to the territory.
“Ah, Count.”
Evan, as if suddenly remembering something, shared two pieces of news.
“What is it?”
“You know Line, right?”
“What about her?”
“I heard some news recently. Apparently, she’s become a person of great power in Lartania.”
“A person of power?”
“Yes. I heard she’s become one of the members of the Council of Three.”
“The Council of Three... Isn't that the body that decides the overall policies of the Labyrinth City?”
“That’s right.”
“...Line did?”
“Yes.”
“...She’s certainly moved up in the world.”
The first piece of news was that Line had become a new power player in Lartania—pleasant news that suggested there might be more benefits to reap later.
“And Ladan as well.”
“Yes.”
“They say he’s unified five of the Seven Archipelagos and has essentially become the Pirate King.”
“...Is that, uh, okay?”
“I don’t know if it’s okay... but his bounty is said to be over several million gold coins.”
“...Several million gold coins...”
“For reference, it’s supposedly similar to the bounty of the first Pirate King.”
“....”
The second piece of news was the bizarre update that the Somali pirate was promoting himself to the Somali Pirate King.
* * *
Sergius, one of the eight Cardinals of Rosario who had held his position for over twenty years, was a man who loved luxury and pleasure, quite unfitting for his rank.
He was a man who preferred a bottle of wine to a scripture, and embracing a woman to offering a prayer. In a way, it was more accurate to call him a cancerous growth on the Holy Kingdom.
“A pleasure to meet you, Cardinal Yutia.”
“The pleasure is mine, Cardinal Sergius.”
He was currently facing Yutia Bloodia, who wore a faint smile.
In truth, Sergius wasn't close enough to Yutia to have a private meeting like this.
After all, this was only the second time he had seen her face properly.
Nevertheless, the reason Sergius had sought out Yutia was.
“I’ve come to make a proposal. Are you willing to listen?”
For this very purpose.
“What kind of proposal?”
“I’ll speak plainly. I need a ‘name.’”
“A name?”
Sergius nodded at Yutia’s question and replied.
“Yes. It seems there are those on that side who are communicating with the unrighteous.”
“...A name to put on a ‘Re-education Letter,’ I assume?”
“Correct.”
A Re-education Letter.
It was a letter that only those of Cardinal rank or higher in Rosario could send, used when someone was suspected of conspiring with heretics. Writing such a letter required the signatures of at least two Cardinals.
Of course, Sergius had no intention of sending the Re-education Letter for its intended purpose.
It was simply because he had received a bribe. The reason he was making such a request to Yutia, whom he had barely met, was.
“If you lend me your name, I shall reward you.”
“...A reward?”
“How about I promise to remain silent regarding the mysterious death of Cardinal Biantria?”
Unlike other Cardinals with whom he would have to share the bribe, he was certain that with her, he wouldn't have to share a single coin—
“Cardinal Biantria?”
“Surely you won’t claim ignorance. Not when you are the one sitting in his seat.”
—Because the information he had gathered convinced him that she, like himself and the other Cardinals, was already tainted.
“So let’s not deny it and keep things simple. If you lend your name to the Re-education Letter for Count Palatio, I shall remain silent on this matter.”
The moment Sergius finished speaking with a relaxed attitude.
“...I see.”
Yutia, who had been smiling faintly until a moment ago, suddenly asked a question.
“So, what Cardinal Sergius is saying is that you want me to lend you my name?”
“That is correct.”
“To bury Count Alon Palatio?”
“...? Yes.”
The moment Sergius nodded.
“Ha...”
A low, mocking laugh escaped her lips.
And then.
“!”
The world turned red.
It happened so suddenly.
Startled, Sergius tried to move, but he realized his body would not obey him.
Along with that, he felt a chilling bloodlust and instinctively turned his trembling head.
And he saw it.
The woman who had been smiling with her eyes just moments ago now had her blood-red eyes wide open.
“Did you just—”
She was radiating a fury that was unmistakable to anyone.
“Tell me to kill my idol?”
He realized then that something had gone horribly wrong.