Chapter 466: Fragment (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 466: Fragment (5)
Re-education work.
At Burnt Vegetation’s answer, Arm Spitter looked behind him with a bewildered expression.
A group of Divine Bloods was gathered there.
Well, they were gathered, but…
[…Is that what you call re-education work?]
[Indeed.]
The problem was the nature of the scene.
It was a situation where two Divine Bloods were surrounded by a massive crowd of others.
Arm Spitter fell silent for a moment at the sight of a formation that looked violent no matter how one sliced it. A look of deep flusteredness crossed his face.
He turned his gaze back to Burnt Vegetation.
He had many questions about the situation before his eyes.
However, he also knew the universal truth that "sometimes it is better not to know." Just as Arm Spitter was debating whether to ask, Burnt Vegetation let out a sigh.
[Sigh—it isn’t easy.]
[…What isn’t?]
[Lately, even within our ranks, there have been many guys—no, individuals—who constantly require re-education.]
Vegetation shook his head, looking like he had a massive headache.
Before Arm Spitter could even respond, a scream echoed from behind them.
[…]
It was blatantly obvious how Star Root had "gathered" these Divine Bloods.
Arm Spitter stared blankly at Burnt Vegetation.
He briefly contemplated whether the man truly, sincerely failed to see the problem.
[Ahem—]
He eventually cleared his throat.
In truth, his initial questions had been answered the moment he met Burnt Vegetation, but it felt strange to just leave like this.
Or rather, he could have left, but…
[…]
He felt a strange intuition that he shouldn't. He had no choice but to keep the conversation going.
[By the way, do you know anything about Astaroth?]
[…Astaroth? Ah, those crazy fanatics? I’m aware of them to some extent because of the new recruits coming in.]
[New recruits… I see…]
[Why do you ask?]
[No, it’s nothing.]
Arm Spitter gave a dry cough. Burnt Vegetation continued.
[Now that you mention it, I heard things have been noisy lately because of Astaroth. Is it because of the ‘Fragment’?]
[Correct. I don’t know what possessed a high-ranking Divine Blood to pull such a stunt, but the situation is quite serious.]
[Is that so?]
[I suppose you don’t know the details.]
Arm Spitter gave Burnt Vegetation a brief explanation of the current situation.
[I see. So that’s how it is.]
[But I take it no request for help has reached this side yet? I heard other Divine Bloods are moving to unify the groups.]
Burnt Vegetation shook his head.
[Even if they ask for help, I doubt we’ll move.]
[Is that so?]
[The Great One hasn't moved, so there's no reason for us to step forward.]
Arm Spitter felt a momentary doubt at that answer, but then he realized the "Great One" Vegetation referred to was Star Eater.
At the same time, a rumor he had heard previously came to mind.
[I heard Star Eater is moving, though?]
[…What?]
[I heard he’s already decided to join the subjugation force.]
Burnt Vegetation’s eyes widened.
[…Is that true?]
[From what I’ve heard.]
[…Then, does that mean Star Eater is participating in that subjugation force as a Divine Blood?]
At Vegetation’s follow-up question, Arm Spitter trailed off with an "Uh…"
He had only heard a rumor that Star Eater was joining the force.
However, hearing Vegetation’s words, it seemed plausible.
[I don’t know the details myself… but well, I suppose so.]
Arm Spitter gave a faint nod.
Suddenly, a spark of life returned to Vegetation’s eyes.
[I see—is that so?]
He wore a meaningful smile as if the time had finally come.
[Then, finally—]
He stood up from his seat. It was as if he had been waiting for this day his entire life.
[The time has come to properly serve Him.]
Vegetation’s determined voice vibrated through the air.
* * *
The day after arriving at the Colony, Alon’s party immediately began heading toward the Empire.
They needed rest, but time was of the essence.
It had already been a week since they began crossing the desert.
"Whew—"
In the deep of night, while everyone else was asleep.
In the desert, which had grown incredibly chilly compared to the daytime, Alon stopped the practice he had been doing until a moment ago.
"Hmm—it seems you’ve improved quite a bit. The level of completion is high."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Alon let out a sigh at Penia’s evaluation.
Seeing this, Penia seemed to hesitate before speaking cautiously.
"But Alon-nim."
"What is it?"
"Why are you suddenly practicing that magic?"
"This magic?"
"Yes. Honestly, it’s not a spell you particularly need to practice right now. Besides, it’s a bit dangerous."
Alon thought for a moment before answering Penia’s question.
"Just in case."
"…Just in case?"
"Yes. Just in case."
A mix of worry and curiosity appeared on Penia’s face.
Her large eyes turned toward Alon, but she soon closed her mouth.
She instinctively realized.
Even if she asked further, Alon wouldn't give her an answer.
Thus, Penia decided to change the subject.
"Speaking of which, what are you going to do about that?"
"About what?"
"The Sin. You said you were going to tell Seolrang about it too, didn't you?"
Alon gave a slow nod.
Just as she said, Alon had intended to talk to Seolrang about the Sins.
More accurately, about how to properly handle a 'Sin.'
"I did."
"Are you going to tell her tomorrow?"
"Yes. I should hand over the artifact as well."
"Then should I make separate preparations?"
This time, Alon shook his head.
"No, let’s postpone that for a bit."
"Hmm—all right."
"?"
"Is something wrong?"
"…Aren't you going to ask why I’m postponing the preparations?"
"Ah, that?"
He had expected Penia to definitely question his decision to delay.
However, when Alon asked because her reaction was different from his expectation, she hummed in thought before speaking.
"Because you said so, Alon-nim. I figured you must have a reason."
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. And you’ve been constantly keeping an eye on Seolrang, haven't you?"
She continued.
"…Actually, I don’t know what it is about Seolrang that you’re so concerned about. To be honest, other than the fact that she’s become incredibly strong, she doesn't look any different to me than before."
"…."
"But if you’re still concerned, there must be something there."
Because I trust you, Alon-nim. Evan probably feels the same way, Penia added, looking a bit embarrassed for no reason.
Alon, who had been staring blankly at her for a moment, wiped his face with his palm.
The thought that someone’s pure trust could be surprisingly bashful-making crossed his mind.
After taking a moment to compose himself, Alon spoke.
"Thank you."
He offered a short word of gratitude.
"Don't mention it."
Penia smiled.
And the next day.
At the point where green plains and scattered forests began to appear in the distance, replacing the desert.
"Seolrang."
"Huh? What is it, Mentor?"
"Take this."
Alon handed her an artifact.
"This is…?"
"An Artifact of Sin."
"…An Artifact of Sin?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Alon briefly relayed the story he had heard from Line to Seolrang.
"Ah—so you’re saying if I can properly utilize the Sins, I can become even stronger than I am now, Mentor?"
"Correct. Of course, the Sin that was dealt with—"
Alon stopped mid-sentence as he went to add more.
He suddenly realized that the Sin of Pride had never actually been destroyed.
'…What do I do in this case?'
As Alon was contemplating for a moment.
"Hmm—so the point is to let the Sin dwell in this artifact, right, Mentor?"
"For now, yes, but…"
Seolrang asked.
Alon snapped out of his thoughts and nodded.
Seolrang seemed to think about something for a second, then—
"I'll give it a try!"
She shouted loudly.
"?"
Alon instinctively looked puzzled.
He could have helped her with the method he heard from Line—summoning a destroyed Sin using the artifact as a medium.
However, to house a Sin that hadn't been destroyed, they first had to find where the Sin was located. Just as Alon was about to open his mouth to say that—
"…Huh?"
"?"
—He couldn't finish his sentence.
That was because the grayish artifact, which had been devoid of any color until a moment ago, was slowly beginning to fill with color.
And.
When the color finally filled it completely—
[Just how long were you planning on keeping me locked up!?]
Alon saw it.
A black dragon bursting out of the gauntlet that had been stained black.
"?"
"?"
Question marks floated above both Alon and Seolrang’s heads.
* * *
Around the time Alon was wearing a bewildered expression while looking at the suddenly manifested Sin of Pride.
A strange rumor began to circulate in the Central Magic Tower.
It was about Heinkel.
Of course, rumors about her were bound to arise in various forms.
First of all, she was the idol of idols whom every mage respected without question.
Furthermore, the words she spoke when she appeared in human form were shocking to mages in many ways.
She had defined a miracle that would be vividly etched into the minds of mages who, in reality, did not believe in miracles.
It was only natural for talk to spread among mages just from the fact that a dead person—and the idol of mages at that—had returned to life…
However, the recent rumor circulating in the Magic Tower was a bit subtle.
It was about Heinkel’s "body."
Mages no longer disputed the fact that Alon was a god.
What he had shown was undoubtedly a miracle that could not be achieved through magic.
Yet, the reason mages were interested in Heinkel’s body was simple.
Her body looked far too much like someone else.
…To be more precise, like Penia Kraysinne, the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower.
And perhaps because of that, rumors began to spread in the Magic Tower that Penia and Alon were beyond just having a special relationship—they were already promised to each other for the future.
This was a misunderstanding on the part of the mages.
It had to be a misunderstanding.
Heinkel had kept her body sealed in the Library for a long time for her own purposes, and she had simply brought it out to use this time.
Contrary to the facts, there were two reasons why this ridiculous misunderstanding grew among the mages.
The first was the meticulous historical distortion Heinkel had carried out over the years.
She originally had an appearance that was very young for her age, and she had always hated her own appearance because of it.
As if trying to hide her inferiority complex, she described herself as a woman in all information, including the storybooks she appeared in.
Even when she existed as a spirit, she maintained the concept that she had become younger because she was a spirit.
And the second reason was Heinkel’s own statement.
She had said that the Magic King gave her life.
Those words meant that Alon had given Heinkel a new life and body, which implied that he was the one who created and designed the body.
But since the body he "created" looked remarkably similar to Penia’s childhood—
"…No matter how I look at it, this is the real deal, right…?"
"Look. Both the hair and eye color are blue."
"…Wait, if you look at Heinkel-nim’s legends, wasn't her original color blue?"
"But if you think about her appearance, there’s no way she had that image even as a child, right?"
"That’s true."
"I guess the rumors are true after all."
The rumors spread like wildfire through the Magic Tower, failing to reach the ears of Heinkel, who was busy restoring her mana after recently obtaining a body.
And.
"…Sigh… I was hoping it wasn't true…"
Thinking—no, praying—that the rumors he heard might be even a little—just a tiny bit—exaggerated.
Hidan, who had come disguised as a mage of the Brown Magic Tower to investigate the truth, wore an expression similar to a sad frog.
"…The Vice Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower is going to change."
Thinking of the regular meeting of the Blue Moon, which was only a few months away, he looked utterly devastated.
…It was a chilly autumn.