Chapter 470: Astaroth (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 470: Astaroth (1)
Serdea Polantisia was the Imperial Princess, and within the Eastern Empire, she was treated as the de facto Emperor.
This meant that, with the exception of her father, the Emperor, she had never experienced anyone looking down on her from above.
Consequently, this situation felt incredibly alien to Serdea.
No, it went beyond mere strangeness—
Hic!
It was terrifying.
At least, that was how Serdea perceived it.
"W-what is this?"
She looked around with a bewildered expression.
The sunlight that had been beating down under a clear sky just moments ago had vanished. In its place flowed a crimson light, the color of fresh blood.
And beneath that light...
Yutia, who had been smiling with her eyes only a moment ago, was now staring at Serdea with vivid, red eyes.
Serdea felt a surge of panic at the surreal sight.
But it was only for a moment.
She soon recalled the words she had just heard from Yutia.
'Do you want to die?'
It was an outrageously offensive remark, one that Serdea—a princess now treated as an Emperor—had never heard in her entire life.
"Wh-what did you just say to me?"
Heat flared in Serdea for a moment. She glared back defiantly, enduring the terror that wrapped around her entire body.
"Hic!"
But it was fleeting.
Her mouth clamped shut again.
Yutia’s eyes were far too eerie for her to express any anger.
Yutia took a step.
Lightly, gracefully.
While the girl walked toward the throne, Serdea couldn't utter a single word. Eventually, the girl’s face was right in front of Serdea’s nose.
"I asked if you wanted to die."
At the cold voice dropping quietly—
"N-no, that is not it..."
Serdea lowered her eyes, casting aside her imperial dignity.
Ridiculously enough, Serdea, who possessed sharp intuition, realized it instinctively: the being before her was by no means an ordinary person.
Even if she used the powers she had gained or called the guards outside, she would never be able to defeat this human—no, this inhuman entity.
As the realization dawned, fear began to crawl into Serdea’s eyes, replacing her defiance.
"W-why are you doing this to me?"
A trembling voice finally leaked from her lips.
At that question, Yutia tilted an eyebrow slightly.
"Surely you aren't asking because you really don't know?"
"...I have done nothing..."
Yutia took another step toward Serdea, who was timidly asserting her innocence.
"Really? That’s strange."
The girl’s pale hand reached for Serdea’s hair, her fingers beginning to toy with the strands.
And then.
Thump! Rumble! Craaaaash!
"!!"
Serdea saw it.
In the distance, the capital’s walls were being pulverized, collapsing as if they were made of paper.
"I’ve heard quite a few rumors that you’re going to marry Teacher."
Serdea froze at Yutia’s low, following voice. Her eyes darted around frantically.
...In truth, it was Serdea who had spread those rumors.
Of course, she had previously heard from Irenena Polantisia that Alon was a dangerous man. Nevertheless, she had no intention of giving him up.
If anything, she wanted him even more.
With the Western Empire destroyed, Alon’s power would clearly be a boon in the tension between the remaining empires, and Irenena was someone she would eventually have to overcome anyway.
However.
No matter what, her 'life' was her most precious possession.
"...I-I am sorry. I will take responsibility for that and—"
"You’ll have to issue a correction, won't you?"
"I-I will make sure to issue a correction."
Serdea nodded, repeating the words of the smiling Yutia.
Only then did Yutia tilt her head with a satisfied expression.
At that moment.
Flash!
"...Huh?"
Serdea looked around blankly.
Everything had returned to normal.
The walls that had crumbled in the distance stood firm, guarding the capital as if nothing had happened. The sky, which had been bathed in crimson light, shone clear and blue.
It was as if the scene from moments ago had been nothing but an illusion.
She was left dazed by the unbelievable situation, but Serdea knew. What she had seen earlier was no mere hallucination.
Just as Serdea’s face clouded with further confusion—
"Now then, since that talk is over, let’s get to the main point."
"The... main point?"
Regardless of whether Serdea was still bewildered or not, Yutia nodded with a smile.
"Yes, the main point."
"...Is it about the Temple?"
"No? Why would it be? I told you earlier, didn't I? The Temple doesn't matter at all."
"Then what is it?"
"Hmm, to put it simply—I’m planning to tell you how you all can survive. Using the method I obtained from the Seeker."
And so, the story began.
Without giving Serdea a chance to ask anything.
After some time had passed.
"Is... is that true?"
"I’m not so idle that I’d come all this way just to tell such lies."
Serdea’s eyes widened in disbelief. The smile remained on Yutia’s lips.
"Well then, I’ll be going now. Make sure you keep your promise."
As if she had said everything she needed to, she turned around without hesitation.
Watching Yutia prepare to vanish like the wind, Serdea—
"W-wait."
She called out to her instinctively.
"What is it?"
"...Why on earth are you telling me this?"
She simply couldn't understand.
Yutia thought for a moment at the question.
"It’s not for your sake."
"...What?"
"It’s not for the Empire’s sake, either. It’s just—"
She turned back toward the door.
"—for Teacher’s sake."
Leaving behind the words, "He didn't seem to want to see you," she walked out of the audience chamber.
"..."
Serdea stared blankly at the spot where Yutia had left for a moment.
Bam!
Suddenly, the door swung open. It was Yutia, who had just left so casually.
"?"
Serdea flinched and took a step back, puzzled.
However.
"Ah, just in case, let me tell you this. Make sure the correction is thorough, okay? If I keep hearing those rumors even after I leave—"
"..."
"—I don't know what will happen next."
At the following 'advice,' the princess’s face turned pale, and she could only nod her head vigorously.
Click.
Finally, silence descended upon the audience chamber.
####
A month had passed since Alon crossed the imperial border and finally reached the Eastern Empire.
It was a time that could be considered long or short. During that period, several changes had occurred for Alon as well.
First, he had gained information.
The protagonist of Calypsophobia had already vanished before the Divine Blood appeared. Since then, even the information guilds had been unable to find his whereabouts, leaving it a mystery.
Another change was that the preparations for his magic were almost complete.
To be more precise, the preparations for the magic that would return Seolrang to her original state.
"..."
Alon naturally looked at Seolrang, who was sleeping beside him.
Even during the journey, she had been 'acting' as if it were the natural thing to do. She wore a smile as if she were constantly enjoying herself, and her tail still wagged gently. As if this were the right way to be.
"Lord Alon."
...Just as he was thinking about finishing the preparations a bit faster, Evan’s voice broke his reverie.
"What is it?"
"I think we’ve almost arrived."
Alon naturally turned his gaze outside the carriage.
In the distance—
"That is..."
Along with numerous instances of Divine Blood, he discovered a rift. A rift so massive that the Divine Blood could enter it.
"It seems that is the place."
Alon nodded at Evan’s words. It was exactly as he had heard from the Sculptor.
There was one difference from her explanation: there were quite a few Divine Blood entities around the rift, which she had said would be empty.
After observing the situation for a moment, Alon spoke.
"I will go alone from here."
He prepared to step out of the carriage.
"You’re going alone?"
"Yes."
"...Wouldn't that be a bit dangerous?"
"I think so too."
Penia immediately agreed with Evan’s opinion.
"Eunsa, let’s go together."
Even Seolrang stepped forward, but Alon shook his head firmly. It would be fine if nothing happened, but he couldn't rule out the possibility of something occurring inside that rift.
‘I could take Seolrang, of course—’
But if a problem arose, he also needed someone to protect this area.
"Don't worry."
Alon reassured the group and stepped out of the carriage alone.
"...Will he be alright?"
From a distance away from the rift, Penia muttered as she watched Alon walk through the Divine Blood entities.
Evan scratched his head with a somewhat complicated expression.
"Well—he’ll be fine. It’s Lord Alon, after all."
"I suppose so...?"
"Ugh—"
Evan nodded for now but couldn't hide his frustration.
"My heart feels a bit complicated every time this happens."
"Ah, I feel the same way."
"Right? Even if we want to be of help... the scale of things is just so damn different."
Evan muttered, wondering if some kind of awakening event would drop for him too.
Even so, he kept his eyes on Alon so as not to lose sight of him.
Then—
"...Hmm?"
He suddenly made a questioning sound.
"What’s wrong?"
Without answering Penia’s question, Evan stared intently at where Alon was moving before opening his lips.
"That—"
"That?"
"I don't know if it’s just my imagination or what..."
"If you’re going to say something, just say it already without dragging it out."
At Penia’s urging, Evan fell silent for a moment.
"...Why did wings form on Lord Alon?"
He finally spoke.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Penia gave him a look as if he were talking absurdities, but the moment she turned her gaze back toward Alon—
"...Eh?"
A look of deep confusion appeared on her face as well.
Just as Evan had said, a pair of massive wings had formed behind Alon as he walked toward the rift.
And they weren't just any wings; they were a left and right wing made of countless strands of Divine Blood, following behind Alon.
Because of that.
"...It’s not a coincidence, is it?"
"...Does it look like a coincidence to you...?"
"I don't think so, but..."
They could only watch blankly, understanding nothing, as the Divine Blood near the rift gathered together as if by magic and followed Alon into the rift.
"???"
"???"