Chapter 463 : Fragment (2)

Golden lightning dyed the world of sunset in an instant.

Even ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍though it was something that happened in merely a fleeting moment,

Kwaaaaaang-!

-The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍result was unbelievably tremendous.

[!]

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍divine-blood wearing a dark-colored helmet lowered its gaze as if in disbelief. There was a hole there.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍massive hole that could only be fatal, no matter that it was divine-blood.

And the moment it confirmed that.

Thud-!

The body of the divine-blood, which had been emitting an overwhelming presence, fell backward just like that.

Seeing its fallen comrade, another divine-blood immediately moved its massive body back and stretched out a tentacle-like hand. However.

[!]

The moment it extended the tentacle, the divine-blood realized.

That the golden being which had been floating in the air after killing its comrade just moments ago was no longer within its sight.

At the moment it recognized that, the divine-blood saw it.

Sparks of lightning bursting.

And.

That was the last.

Puhseok-!

With its head bursting apart, and its massive body falling backward,

“Hoo-”

After casually dealing with two divine-blood, Seolrang let out a light sigh and landed in the center of the crater.

“Lord Alon.”

“Yes?”

"Somehow… it feels like the standard I had in mind has collapsed. What do you think?”

At Evan’s question, who had been blankly staring at Seolrang’s divine might.

“……I think so too.”

Alon replied, thinking with a mixture of shock and bewilderment.

‘Does that even make sense?’

Of course, Alon knew very well that Seolrang had grown stronger.

From the very beginning, when they first encountered divine-blood, it would have been practically impossible to win without her power.

On top of that, the Seolrang Alon had seen back then had only just obtained her power. In other words, quite some time had passed since then, so he had assumed she would be even stronger now.

But even taking that into account, strength to that extent.

Though he was momentarily astonished at a level beyond common sense.

“Hmm…… for now, let’s go down.”

“Ah- yes. Understood.”

Alon moved toward where Seolrang was.

As soon as they reached the crater, a voice was heard.

“Master, these don’t seem like divine-blood.”

Alon’s steps halted.

“They don’t seem like divine-blood?”

“Yeah, Master.”

“Why?”

When Alon asked back, Seolrang thought for a moment before speaking.

“These guys, overall their bodies are weak.”

“……Weak?”

“Yeah. Compared to the divine-blood we fought last time, there’s a clear difference. And also~”

Seolrang slightly shifted her gaze toward the fallen divine-blood.

Alon likewise turned his gaze toward them.

And.

“.....”

He realized it.

Why Seolrang had looked at the divine-blood.

“There’s no blood.”

“Yeah.”

Divine-blood bleed.

That was the same for any divine-blood.

Thus, while they were observing them with puzzled expressions.

Crack~!

“.....”

The bodies of the divine-blood began to crumble.

Like crushing a can, their bodies shrank rapidly with a crunching sound. Before Alon and Seolrang could do anything, they completely shriveled up.

Kkudududuk~!

Soon, with such a sound, they turned into black spheres and disappeared as if compressed.

“……?”

“?”

“What the……?”

At something that had happened truly in an instant, Alon’s group was left dumbfounded.

Though they were stunned for a moment by what had happened so quickly.

Alon soon calmly grasped the situation.

“Judging from the conversation of those things that seemed like divine-blood earlier, it seems the suspicious bandits that appeared near the Colony are ultimately because of this fragment.”

“I think so too.”

Penia expressed her agreement.

“Hmm~ then does that mean I solved my business and Master’s business as well?”

Soon Seolrang spoke, and Alon nodded.

“That would be the case.”

They had come to the Colony to find the fragment in the first place.

Alon looked toward where the divine-blood had disappeared.

‘What on earth are they?’

When Alon first saw those things wearing black armor, he had clearly felt the same sensation as when facing divine-blood.

However, they were not divine-blood.

Divine-blood bled red blood, but those did not bleed, and even their corpses turned into something black and disappeared.

Thus, though he pondered briefly.

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“Come to think of it, didn’t you talk about divine-blood wearing black armor last time?”

“Ah- yes, I did. I think what we encountered earlier might be them.”

Alon stroked his chin and said.

“Didn’t you say they were dangerous?”

“Yes, I did.”

“But for something like that……”

Alon recalled the black divine-blood from earlier.

It was true that Seolrang had grown stronger.

However, even so, those divine-blood had perished far too easily.

‘……Then why are they dangerous?’

Though he thought that briefly, Alon soon pushed the topic aside.

“Evan. Once we return to the Colony, find information about those divine-blood.”

“Understood.”

This time, Alon shifted his gaze toward the fragment.

Though it was called a ‘fragment,’ its size was far from fragment-like.

If anything, it would be more accurate to call it a massive steel structure.

While he thought that.

Tap!

Blackie, who had not moved at all inside the pocket until just moments ago, suddenly popped out.

“Blackie?”

Penia made a surprised expression at the sudden appearance.

It was understandable.

Originally, Blackie wouldn’t reveal even a strand of its fur when near Seolrang.

However, Blackie paid no attention to Penia, glanced at Seolrang with uneasy eyes once, then.

[Meow-!]

As if making up its mind, it let out a small cry and immediately rushed toward the fragment.

“Wait-!”

Before Alon could stop it, Blackie leapt in and began absorbing the massive fragment in an instant.

With a sssaaaaa sound, the fragment was absorbed into Blackie’s body.

“Lord Alon? Shouldn’t we stop that?”

Evan, who usually just giggled while watching Blackie.

There was urgency in his voice, but.

“I think so too, but… it might actually be more dangerous to forcefully separate it right now~”

Penia argued from the side.

That made sense.

Usually, forcibly stopping something during absorption tended to cause side effects.

Thus, just as Alon’s group was wondering what to do.

[Meow-!]

Blackie absorbed the enormous fragment completely in less than a minute.

Then, with a face that said ‘Ah, so sweet,’ it smacked its lips, before looking at Seolrang again with a tense expression.

And.

“Waa! Blackie~!”

As if she had been waiting, Seolrang lifted Blackie and stuffed it into her arms.

[Meow-!!]

"…Phew.”

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like there’s any problem.”

As usual, Blackie writhed in pain from being held by Seolrang, and Evan and Penia let out a sigh of relief for a moment.

“Hmm?”

Penia’s gaze stopped on Alon.

“Lord Alon?”

“……Hm? What is it?”

“You seem a bit absent-minded..”

“……Was it that obvious?”

“Not your face, but your posture gives it away…”

At those words, Alon recalled it.

When Seolrang had looked at Blackie earlier.

It had been an extremely brief moment.

So brief that no one would have noticed unless they were focusing on Seolrang.

Only Alon saw it.

Her gaze toward Blackie, which had been indifferent, then brightening as if she had realized something.

Alon quietly looked at Seolrang.

After everything was finished.

Alon decided to return to the Colony, albeit late.

Though the sun had almost fully set, he judged that if they moved diligently, they could arrive before late night since he had recorded the entire path.

Alon immediately set off.

After night had fallen, they arrived at the Colony.

The moment they stepped inside.

“Hmm?”

Evan’s puzzled voice was heard.

“What is it?”

When Alon asked, Evan came to his senses and replied.

“No, it seems like a member of the information guild is urgently calling me.”

“A guild member?”

When Alon turned his gaze toward where Evan was looking, there stood a man with reversed eyes wearing a mask over his face.

“I’ll be back.”

“……I’ll be waiting.”

Alon decided to wait for Evan.

After some time passed.

Evan, who had followed the man with reversed eyes into a distant, secluded alley, returned.

“Lord Alon.”

“What is it?”

“Well, I received an unexpected proposal.”

As Alon made a puzzled expression, Evan added.

“Didn’t I tell you before? That there’s a divine-blood selling information to the information guild.”

“You did.”

“That divine-blood… the one in black armor… so, ‘Astarote,’ said they want to meet you to talk about it.”

“A divine-blood, wants to meet me?”

“Yes.”

“For what reason?”

“They didn’t state the reason. Just that they want to talk about Astarote… I didn’t give an answer yet just in case, what should we do?”

Alon pondered briefly, then.

“Let’s meet them.”

He decided to accept the proposal.

Right now, Alon needed information, and it didn’t seem like a divine-blood cooperating with the information guild would be hostile toward him.

And even if they were hostile, he had some confidence in dealing with them.

“I’ll go too, Master!”

“Much appreciated.”

With Seolrang’s shout following, the group headed to Seolrang’s guild house.

And.

“Ugh, I’m dying.”

As soon as they entered, Evan groaned loudly.

“Master! I have somewhere to go for a bit, so go in first!”

“Alright.”

Soon Seolrang left, and Alon went up to the house with Penia.

At that moment.

“Hmm?”

Penia made a puzzled sound.

“What is it?”

“No…… don’t you hear something strange?”

“A sound?”

“Yes. Like… a muffled sound?”

At Penia’s words, Alon enhanced his hearing using mana.

Then.

Mmph—mmph—mmph~!

Clearly, he could hear a voice as if someone was trying to speak with their mouth blocked.

“It’s real.”

“The building itself is mixed with mana stones, so hearing expansion doesn’t work well, but you can vaguely hear it, right?”

“It’s coming from underground.”

Alon and Penia’s gazes instantly turned toward the hidden basement stairs.

“Let’s check it out.”

“Right.”

The two carefully headed underground.

In such a peaceful time, it was unlikely that someone would kidnap members of the Golden-Maned Tribe who followed Seolrang. But just in case.

“It’s getting closer!”

The voice grew nearer as they descended.

And as Alon approached the door visible in the distance.

“?”

He realized that this was not an ordinary sound.

If he had to put it into words, this was—

Mmph—!

—A sound that should not be heard in a situation like this.

“Penia, wait—”

Thus, Alon tried to stop Penia as she approached the door, but.

“I’m opening it!”

Without even listening to him, she opened the door.

And they soon saw it.

“B-brother?”

Karsem, half-undressed, looking at Alon with trembling eyes.

“Eh……?”

Below him, lying in a state not much different from Karsem, was Seolrang’s secretary, Lime.

And.

The moment he saw it.

Alon recalled a sentence Karsem had said yesterday, which he hadn’t understood.

—Yes, and actually, even when you’re not here, brother, I often come here at night.

Now—

It was something he could understand.

Silence heavily enveloped the four of them.