Chapter 583: The Thing Called the Karma Seat (4)

What was an Origin to a mage?

It was something close to a unique system possessed by mages who had reached the extreme limits of magic.

The knowledge accumulated by a mage through interacting with magic up until now, combined together with the ideology they had built, creating an independent phenomenon.

And ultimately, manifesting a phenomenon that absolutely no one else could replicate.

That was what could be called a mage’s Origin.

And in that sense, the Origin Penia had finally manifested within the world of the past was, speaking objectively, somewhat unusual for something created by a mage who had reached the limits of tier magic.

After all, the true nature of Penia’s Origin was not an existing Origin that created an entirely new magical phenomenon.

Rather, it was the type that imitated what already existed—

Yes.

In other words, it was “Assimilation.”

However, that did not mean Penia’s Origin was inferior to the Origins of other mages.

In a certain sense, her Origin possessed a higher ceiling than anyone else’s.

Because the person she followed—

—the person she sought to imitate was Alon himself.

That was why Penia, despite fully understanding that her Origin was unusual, did not particularly care.

No, rather, she actually liked her own Origin quite a lot.

Still, separate from that, the reason she had been slightly flustered when Heinkel asked to see her magic again was because there was nothing especially strange or spectacular about her Origin itself.

Unlike the Origins of other mages, Penia’s Origin ability was simple.

Assimilation.

That alone was the entirety of her ability.

And furthermore, she still could not perfectly imitate Alon.

After learning much of the language of True Mages from Kylrus, she could imitate him far more clearly than before, but she was still far from perfection.

In other words, neither its outward appearance nor its magical capability appeared particularly special.

Certainly not enough for Heinkel to ask to see it again.

“......”

......Especially not enough for her to be making such an intensely serious expression like that.

“......Um, Lady Heinkel?”

After ending her Origin, Penia called out to Heinkel in slight confusion.

However, Heinkel continued silently staring at Penia as though deep in thought.

And just as Penia was about to call her name again—

“......You still cannot use it perfectly yet, can you?”

Heinkel slowly opened her mouth.

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Penia answered cautiously with a nod.

Heinkel silently looked at her for a moment before saying—

“It would be better to widen the scope a little more.”

And after saying that—

“You may go now.”

Without even giving Penia a chance to ask questions, Heinkel waved her hand dismissively.

Penia still looked confused, but—

“Understood.”

—she obediently nodded and withdrew.

Because she already knew.

Even if she asked more about the hint Heinkel had just given her, Heinkel would not provide any proper explanation anyway.

However, she still could not understand why Heinkel had worn such a serious expression the entire time while looking at her Origin.

‘......What was that?’

Carrying that question with her to the very end, Penia had no choice but to leave the old library.

####

The next day.

“Then I’ll see you next time. And don’t take so long to come back this time.”

“Understood.”

After exchanging farewells with Heinkel inside the completely empty Central Mage Tower, Alon soon rose into the sky atop Basiliora.

Still apparently disliking Heinkel, the moment it heard they were leaving, Basiliora immediately shot into the sky as though it had been waiting for this exact moment.

[Hufufufufu-]

And once the Central Mage Tower had shrunk into a mere dot behind them, Alon unconsciously formed a small smile while watching Basiliora laugh again as though it had finally returned to its usual personality.

“......? Penia?”

For some reason, Penia seemed absentminded.

“Ah, yes, Lord Alon.”

Only after hearing Alon’s voice did Penia immediately snap back to her senses.

“You have seemed troubled ever since yesterday. Did something happen with Lady Heinkel?”

Yesterday he had simply let it pass, but now that her state had continued for over a day, Alon asked with slight concern.

However, Penia shook her head.

“No, it’s not really a serious problem.”

“......Really?”

“Yes, but...... I just don’t really understand Lady Heinkel’s expression.”

“Her expression......?”

“Yes.”

Penia continued with a strange look.

“It’s like she wasn’t trying to show it outwardly, but she looked extremely serious.”

“......Did she not say anything in particular?”

“No. Honestly, I thought she was going to explain something too, but she didn’t really say anything. Ah, though she did give me some advice.”

Something along the lines of trying to think more deeply about the scope of my Origin, she added before letting out a groan and lightly frowning.

“It just feels strangely unsettling. Usually even when teaching magic, she never made such a serious expression.”

“Hmm......”

At Penia’s words, Alon recalled his memories briefly before nodding.

Certainly, although he himself had not spent an especially long time around Heinkel either, he had likewise never seen her wear such a serious expression.

‘......What could it be?’

Thus Alon also briefly sank into thought with growing curiosity.

Still—

“Well, don’t worry too much. If it were truly something serious, she probably would have told us.”

That was what Alon said.

Partly because he wanted to ease Penia’s unease.

But also because, to some extent, he genuinely believed it himself.

At least, the Heinkel Alon knew was that kind of person.

“Mm, that’s definitely true.”

Penia nodded repeatedly as though agreeing, then soon spoke again with curiosity.

“By the way, Lord Alon.”

“What is it?”

“After stopping by Rosario this time, where are you planning to go next?”

“After that— probably Teria and Ashtalon.”

“Ashtalon and Teria?”

“Yes.”

As Alon nodded, Penia made an “Mm—” expression before soon nodding as though she understood.

“If it’s Ashtalon— you mean the place where the Divine blood are gathered, right?”

“Yes. I have not visited for quite some time.”

“Mm— well, that makes sense. And no matter how you look at it, it’s only natural that you’d be concerned about that place.”

Penia muttered quietly.

Certainly, she was correct.

‘Though it doesn’t seem like there are any particular problems for now.’

At present, the Divine blood gathered in Ashtalon appeared to be remaining relatively quiet without taking any special action.

However, regardless of that, they were still Divine blood.

Even if they currently believed in Alon, there was no guarantee that faith would not someday waver.

‘......Though part of the reason I paid attention to those two earlier Divine blood was precisely to resolve that issue—’

Because even if they themselves had no malicious intentions, the Divine blood within Ashtalon remained dangerous existences regardless.

And above all else, there was also a high probability they would become meaningful support in the battles against the descending Karma Seats that would soon begin.

Thus, Alon intended to continue paying close attention to the Divine blood if possible.

“If battles break out in the future, they’ll help Lord Alon one way or another.”

As Alon thought that, Penia seemed to reach the same conclusion and continued speaking after a small hum.

“And if you’re stopping by Teria, that means it’s to meet the Queen of Asteria, right?”

“Yes.”

“You still haven’t managed to meet her at all. But this time, since she apparently returned to Teria, you should finally be able to see her. Hmmm—”

After saying that, Penia crossed her arms with a strange expression.

“What is it?”

“No, it’s just that now that I think about it, it feels a little strange.”

“What does?”

“Normally kings don’t really move around outside their capitals very often, right? Ah, well, Lord Alon moves around like that too, but...... we’re a special case.”

“That is true.”

“Anyway, now that I think about it, it feels strange that the Queen moves around so much.”

At Penia’s words, Alon nodded.

Certainly, even if the Seeker had granted her power, it was still strange for a queen to leave her kingdom unattended for such a long period of time.

“Well, we’ll gradually learn the answer once we meet her.”

“I think so too. You should be able to meet her this time.”

It seemed Penia had already pushed thoughts about Heinkel aside, as she smiled while saying that.

Seeing her like that, Alon gave a small nod.

####

It did not take especially long to travel from the Central Mage Tower to Rosario.

It only took Alon’s group roughly a week to arrive there.

And even that was because they deliberately traveled slowly for two days since it would probably not have been very good for Basiliora to openly appear near Rosario.

[Honestly, why do we have to hide at all?]

[Kyuu-]

Of course, during those two days, Basiliora continued grumbling with dissatisfaction while Blackie stared at it as though it were pathetic—

“Looks like we’ve arrived.”

“Indeed.”

—but regardless of that, Alon’s group eventually reached Rosario.

For a moment, Alon gazed at Rosario’s scenery, which still carried the same atmosphere as a pure white city as before.

And soon after arriving in Rosario, he saw a very familiar face.

“It has been a long time, Saint.”

“Yes, I have been waiting for you, Brother.”

It was Yuman, smiling as though he had known Alon’s group would arrive.

“However...... where is Yutia......?”

Alon asked while glancing around slightly.

Yet at that question, Yuman unusually showed a somewhat awkward smile.

“Cardinal Yutia has currently been remaining shut inside her room.”

“......Is that so?”

“Yes. It seemed she was aware that you would be coming, Brother, but—”

At Yuman’s awkward response, Alon nodded to himself in understanding.

‘......She probably can’t bring herself to come out.’

Based on the personality Alon understood Yutia to have, merely showing that side of herself before had probably become an extremely embarrassing dark memory to her already.

Of course, separately from that, if one asked for Alon’s personal impression, he actually thought she had looked rather cute.

However, if he ever said something like that aloud, she would probably dislike it even more.

“I’ll visit her personally later.”

That was what Alon said.

“Yes. Once your business is concluded, I shall guide you there personally. For now, this way—”

Likewise accepting Alon’s words, Yuman soon led him toward the Saint’s chamber where one could speak with the Wanderer.

And while leisurely following behind Yuman, Alon opened his mouth.

“How has Rosario been lately?”

“As you can see, it is peaceful.”

“......It certainly appears that way.”

The Saint’s words were not wrong.

Just as he said, despite the enormous damage Rosario had once suffered due to the Sins, peace had returned.

Even now, at a time when Divine blood had appeared.

......Because Rosario was effectively the Wanderer’s territory.

“......”

Alon turned his gaze toward the children playing throughout Rosario.

Unlike the noisy atmosphere of Palantia, Rosario’s scenery felt sparse yet peaceful.

Thinking that he still did not dislike that atmosphere, Alon soon entered the Grand Temple following Yuman.

“Vice Tower Master.”

“Ah, yes. I know.”

Upon arriving near the Saint’s chamber, Alon saw Penia naturally stopping at Yuman’s words.

And after entering the Saint’s chamber together with Yuman—

“Then I shall see you again shortly, Brother.”

“Understood.”

Seeing Yuman bow his head as though he had completed all his duties, Alon likewise inclined his head in return.

And just as Yuman was about to leave—

“Ah.”

He suddenly let out a quiet exclamation, as though only now remembering something he needed to say, before turning back around.

“Brother, would you perhaps have some time after this matter is concluded?”

At Yuman’s question, Alon tilted his head slightly.

“Yes. Unless something unexpected happens, I imagine I’ll remain here for a day or two.”

“Ah, then that is fortunate.”

“Is something the matter?”

“It is not that something has happened, but there is something I need to deliver to you.”

“Something to tell me?”

“Yes.”

At that, Yuman smiled and nodded.

Then—

“......Elivan has awakened.”

“......!”

—he delivered those words to Alon.