Chapter 84: A Nod (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: A Nod (4)
A dark room.
[He said that?]
“Yes.”
In one of the secret locations established by the Blue Moon throughout the kingdom, Hidan was reporting on the recent incident.
“...He was a man with black hair and blue eyes.”
[Is that so?]
“Yes. I recall his voice being somewhat husky, which didn't quite match his appearance.”
[Hmm—]
Yutia furrowed her brow as if contemplating the detailed description.
But it was only for a moment.
[Don’t worry about that side.]
The simple command fell, and Hidan replied.
“...Is that alright?”
[Yes.]
Though Hidan was momentarily uncertain despite Yutia’s affirmation, he soon bowed his head.
“I shall follow the command of the Red Moon.”
The order was absolute.
However, that didn't mean his curiosity had vanished. Once he confirmed the communication device was off, Hidan remained still.
...Who was he? That guy.
He fell into deep thought for a while.
* * *
The next day.
“Right. Thanks for bringing me this far.”
“Not at all, Brother. It’s only what I should do.”
Having reached the forest located to the right of the Kimin Territory, Alon patted Ladan on the shoulder.
“Well then, I’ll see you next time.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Ah, and I’ll leave those two in your care. They said they have business in Laxas.”
Alon turned his gaze toward Penia and Pellin.
Penia wore an awkward smile, while Pellin watched her with a peculiar expression.
He had decided to part ways with them here. Unlike Alon, who no longer had any reason to stay in Laxas, he had heard that the two of them still had matters to attend to.
“Yes. Since you’ve asked, Brother, I will make sure to do so.”
“Good.”
“Ah, but Brother. May I ask you one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Um... I’m just asking in case, but is there anything you need?”
“Anything I need?”
“Yes.”
At Ladan’s question, Alon tilted his head before answering.
“Nothing comes to mind.”
“Nothing...?”
“Why, is there a problem?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that you’ve come all this way.”
Alon hummed in thought at Ladan’s words.
“Well, I don’t need anything. Seeing your face is enough. As I said, I thought we might not even be able to meet.”
“Is that... so?”
“Yeah. Well, I’ll be going now. Take care.”
With that, Alon stepped off the ship.
Immediately after, the vessel set sail again.
“They’re gone.”
“Indeed.”
Alon and Evan watched the ship grow smaller in the distance before heading toward the Kimin Territory to find a carriage.
It was time to return to the Palatio County.
...The Star Eater, huh.
As the scenery outside the carriage began to flow past, Alon suddenly recalled the conversation he’d had with the Observer yesterday.
‘The Star Eater?’
‘Yes. Do you happen to know of it?’
‘...To be honest, I don’t, but it’s a very unsettling name.’
‘Is it? Why?’
The Observer had not answered Alon’s question.
And he hadn't pressed her further. Through their conversations, he had realized that if she didn't answer, it was because the topic involved something that must not be spoken of.
There’s so much incomprehensible information.
Alon let out a sigh.
However, he wasn't particularly annoyed by that fact. Just thinking back to yesterday, when blood had been streaming from his eyes, nose, and mouth—
...It’s better than dying.
Alon was the type of person who would rather live a long, peaceful life burdened with questions than stick his face into the "truth of the world" only to end up dead.
Of course, that doesn't mean I intend to just sit back... though it’s more like I’m in a situation where I can’t let go.
He recalled the words he had heard from that entity when he looked into the Bronze Mirror yesterday.
Execute the one who was robbed... was it? It definitely said it was an Outer God.
He had heard it clearly.
Hiding. An Outer God is hiding...
These were words he could never ignore.
An Outer God hiding implied many things.
First, it meant he didn't know what the Outer God was preparing while in concealment.
Second, if an Outer God was hiding this successfully, it was as good as saying it had already perfectly manifested.
In other words, to Alon, it was like a fully-primed bomb hidden somewhere, and there was no telling when it might go off.
I have to deal with it no matter what.
The problem was that he had no way of finding where the hidden Outer God was.
After agonizing over it for a while, Alon—
“Phew—”
He let out a long sigh and leaned back against the carriage seat.
Since thinking about it now wouldn't yield a proper solution, he decided to stop his thoughts and take a rest.
“...”
How long had he been staring blankly at the empty air?
Suddenly, Alon turned to Evan and asked a question.
“Evan.”
“Yes, Count?”
“Don’t I look... fairly decent?”
“...Pardon?”
Evan looked a bit bewildered by a topic of conversation that had never come up before, but he soon gave it serious thought and answered.
“Well, isn't that obvious?”
“I thought so, right?”
“Did something happen?”
At Evan’s words, Alon recalled Penia’s behavior yesterday.
Specifically, the voices he had overheard while on his way to greet Penia’s group after running into them on the street.
“No, well... something did happen.”
“Something?”
“Yeah.”
Alon muttered as he recalled the conversation Penia had while she was pummeling Pellin yesterday.
‘Ack! Ow! No, Sister!? Why all of a sudden!’
‘You like it? You think I like it? Are you even hearing yourself right now!? Why on earth would I like Count Palatio!?’
‘No, I just—whenever you’re around the Count, you act so demure...!’
‘You little brat, I was always demure!’
‘No, you weren't—’
‘Bullshit! Why would I ever like that man?! How did you even reach that conclusion!’
‘Then, you don’t?’
‘There’s no reason to like him in the first place, so why would I! I think Count Palatio is—’
The conversation was still vivid in his memory.
Of course, Alon had never once thought that Penia would like him.
They had never been involved in that way to begin with.
Therefore, even if she rejected him, it would only be a bit embarrassing; he didn't harbor any ill feelings.
However, the reason he felt a bit sour about the situation was simple.
Even so, was it really necessary to be that disgusted while beating her brother?
He didn't know how Penia felt, but from his perspective, she looked absolutely repulsed.
To the point of thrashing her brother just for suggesting it.
“Well, I don’t know what happened, but don’t let it get to you, Count. Isn't a man’s ability more important than his looks anyway?”
“...I suppose so.”
“Look at me. See how popular I am?”
“...”
Based on everything he had seen so far, Alon wanted to say, “But you’re not popular at all,” but he suppressed the urge and simply nodded.
“Right. I guess so.”
“So don’t worry too much about it.”
Alon nodded once more at Evan’s words.
However, contrary to his nodding head, he felt a wave of gloom.
...It was autumn, and the leaves were turning.
* * *
Ladan, who had unified the Seven Archipelagos and effectively gained complete control over the eastern sea, sat in his office inside the pirate ship and let out a long breath.
He had become the ruler of all the archipelagos and had taken revenge on those who killed his family, but it wasn't over yet.
He still had a task remaining.
The task of catching the ‘Black Fish.’
“...”
Ladan, who had been lost in thought, soon pulled a small box from his coat.
He stared blankly at the box Alon had given him as a gift before leaving, then opened it to check the contents.
“...A monocle?”
The item inside the box was a monocle—a single-lens eyeglass.
It didn't have any particularly unique features; it looked like a common monocle one could find anywhere.
Looking puzzled, Ladan noticed a piece of paper at the bottom of the box and pulled it out.
* * *
This should help reduce your mysophobia, even if only a little.
* * *
The note was incredibly brief.
However, Ladan couldn't help but be shocked by its contents.
He knew he was somewhat sensitive, but the fact that he suffered from extreme mysophobia was something not even the members of the Blue Moon knew.
Ladan himself had never let it show.
Of course, one might have guessed it by seeing how immaculately he kept the archipelagos he ruled, but it would have been impossible for Alon to prepare a gift based on that.
Alon had been with Ladan the entire time since he arrived at the archipelagos.
Startled, Ladan immediately put on the monocle.
“!”
He felt his sensitivity—the irritation he felt whenever the balance of what he saw wasn't perfect—diminish. After a moment of shock, a question naturally arose.
How does Brother know me so well?
Thinking of Alon, Ladan couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of wonder.
It was always like this with Alon, the Great Moon.
He knew that the captains of the Seven Archipelagos were the ones who had killed Ladan’s parents.
And he even knew about the severe mysophobia that Ladan had never mentioned to anyone.
It was just as Yutia always said: That person knows everything.
To Ladan, it was incredibly fascinating.
But that wasn't all.
...I thought for sure Brother needed military strength.
Ladan knew that this world wasn't particularly kind.
The world operated on the principle of give and take. There was always an exchange, and Ladan understood that law very well.
Because of that, while Ladan felt trust and gratitude toward the Great Moon, he also believed the man must want something in return.
There was no such thing as unconditional kindness in this world.
“...”
However, no matter how much he thought about it, the Alon he saw didn't seem to need military strength.
That was true when he faced the Outer God.
And it was the same when he saw Alon dive in without hesitation to save him after he had been dragged away by the Outer God.
“...”
Ladan unconsciously recalled that moment.
The moment the Great Moon began to form a seal, and clear terror was etched into the eyes that had been staring at him greedily and indifferently from the deep sea.
The awe and the thrill he felt then.
“...Phew.”
Ladan let out a sigh.
From what he had seen then, and from their final conversation today, Ladan realized two things.
One was that Alon’s kindness came with no strings attached.
And the other was that he currently lacked the ability to repay the kindness he had received for free.
Therefore.
I need more power. As I am now, I can’t even serve by Brother’s side.
Ladan made a resolution.
He would grow strong enough to protect the Great Moon.
As his thoughts reached that point—
“...Hypnosis magic... huh.”
He scoffed at the foolish thought he’d had not long ago.
He didn't know back then, but now that he had met the Great Moon, he realized how ignorant and stupid his thinking had been.
Therefore.
“Everything is for the Great Moon.”
Ladan whispered quietly.
I suppose it’s time to bring that out.
He recalled an object buried in the deep sea, his expression filled with resolve.
* * *
After spending about three weeks in the carriage to return to the Palatio County, Alon took a very leisurely rest that night.
He had been traveling back and forth in carriages for years, so he should have been used to it, but sleeping in a carriage was still an incredibly exhausting experience for him.
The next day, after he had rested thoroughly upon his arrival at the estate.
Alon, who received a contact from Duke Altia after quite some time, heard this:
[...You truly are remarkable. We were making preparations as well, but we couldn't find the right timing to attempt it. To think you would dispose of more than eight nobles all at once.]
[...?]
[I didn't think you were paying much attention, so I was truly surprised.]
For some reason, he was being mistaken for the mastermind who had killed eight nobles without blinking an eye.
What on earth is happening now...
Alon let out a low groan.