Chapter 465 : Fragment (4)

“No. I mean, really not?”

……

“I’ve ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍already denied it several times though?”

“Really?”

“I’ve ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍never even exchanged a single word with any divine-blood belonging to Star Root to begin with.”

At ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Alon’s words, Sculptor became flustered.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was because of Star Eater’s statement.

‘............Star Eater isn’t the owner of Star Root?’

Of course, he couldn’t blindly believe everything Star Eater in front of him claimed.

Star Eater was famous.

But that didn’t mean people knew much about him.

He was only famous because the four divine-bloods closest to ascending to the divine seat at present had mentioned him in one way or another; aside from that, the ‘Star Eater’ was shrouded in mystery.

In other words, since no one knew what kind of divine-blood Star Eater was, his words couldn’t be easily trusted or judged.

Even so, there were two reasons why the thought ‘Does he really not know?’ arose in Sculptor’s mind.

First, there was absolutely nothing Star Eater would gain from telling such a lie to Sculptor.

There was no reason to tell a lie that brought no benefit, or one that would obviously be exposed soon anyway.

And above all, secondly.

‘It really doesn’t seem like it............?’

It was because of the words he had spoken.

Even if he wanted to hide the fact that he was the leader of Star Root, was there any need for him to call the very group he led a ‘trash group’ or ‘sinister bastards’?

Thus, after briefly entering a light mental freeze and being filled with question marks for a while, Sculptor—

‘For now, let’s just leave it at that.’

—decided to stop thinking about it.

There were more than one or two things that bothered, but that wasn’t why Sculptor had come to meet Star Eater in the first place.

So.

“Alright, I’ll just take it that way for now.”

Having roughly wrapped up that topic, Sculptor immediately brought up the main point.

“I’ll get straight to it. I’d like you to participate in the subjugation of Astarote.”

“Astarote… if you mean those divine-bloods wearing black armor…”

“That’s right, those guys.”

At Sculptor’s words, Alon thought for a moment before requesting,

“I’ll need more explanation.”

“Which part?”

“The whole thing.”

At that, Sculptor pondered for a moment.

“......Seems like you don’t have proper information yet.”

“?”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t. I came here to explain that anyway.”

He then looked at Alon and asked,

“First, you know about ‘Fragments,’ right?”

“Yes.”

“And what kind of effects those fragments have?”

“I know.”

“Then this will be easier.”

Sculptor continued.

“As you know, fragments of high-ranking divine-blood have been scattered at this point in time. We don’t know why or how that happened, but the key issue is that those fragments are the starting point of the problem.”

“I’ve heard that a lot of battles between divine-bloods have been happening because of those fragments.”

“......If that were all, I wouldn’t be going around like this. Fights between divine-bloods are natural to begin with. The problem is the ‘Descended Vessel,’ the leader of Astarote.”

“The leader?”

At Alon’s question, Sculptor nodded.

“To be honest, Astarote weren’t that dangerous. Even if their ideology was dangerous, they were still only at Stage 1. Sure, they had some momentum early on, but they were nothing more than a bunch of nobodies.”

“But things changed once the fragments were scattered.”

“Exactly. Not just changed—things became a bit serious. More precisely, it started right after Astarote’s leader absorbed a fragment and reached the next stage.”

“......Did they become stronger?”

“Of course they got stronger. The problem is, they can become even stronger beyond that.”

Sculptor steadied his breath and looked at Alon.

“How much do you know about fragments?”

“All I know is that if a Stage 1 absorbs a fragment, they can reach Stage 2.”

“That’s not wrong. But one thing you don’t know is that fragments aren’t something you can absorb just because you want to.”

“What do you mean?”

“Simply put, it takes time. No matter how many fragments you have, you can’t consume them all at once. The problem is—”

“....”

“Descended Vessel, leader of Astarote, can absorb fragments infinitely without restriction.”

“.....”

At Alon’s insight, Sculptor showed a surprised expression.

“You knew?”

“No. But I thought that was the only possible conclusion.”

“That’s right. Just as you said, after reaching the next stage, that guy became able to absorb fragments. And infinitely at that.”

From Sculptor’s words, Alon was able to grasp the current situation roughly.

“In short, if that Descended Vessel is allowed to keep absorbing fragments, the situation will keep worsening.”

“The situation has already worsened. If he absorbs more fragments in this state, it’ll become impossible to stop him.”

“So the divine-bloods are forming an alliance to take down Astarote?”

“That’s right. If he grows any further, he might truly become the ‘winner.’ That’s why I came to find you.”

“.....”

“Though it’s a bit different from what I expected, if it’s Star Eater, he’ll be helpful even without a group.”

There must be a reason he’s famous, Sculptor muttered.

After a brief silence, Alon asked,

“Just in case… isn’t there a possibility of getting stabbed in the back?”

“Don’t worry about that. If we gather, everyone will be bound by a divine-blood oath. There won’t be betrayal.”

They would know better than anyone how foolish it would be to backstab in this situation.

“Where should I go?”

After thinking for a moment, Alon made his decision.

“Good choice.”

Sculptor smiled brightly.

***

After meeting the Sculptor, Alon returned to the carriage.

“They seem a bit similar to humans.”

At Penia’s words, Alon turned his gaze.

“You mean the divine-bloods?”

“Yes.”

“In what way?”

“...............The way they try to drag someone down no matter what? Ah, of course, I don’t think that’s wrong. It’s just… it made me think again how human they are.”

Alon stroked his chin.

He had felt something similar himself.

Divine-bloods were strong.

And they didn’t even consider humans as living beings.

That didn’t change whether they were divine-bloods friendly toward Alon or hostile toward him.

Yet even so, divine-bloods clearly had aspects similar to humans.

“Isn’t it because they all started as humans in the end?”

At that, Evan added his opinion.

Hearing that Penia let out a sigh.

“......As expected from a former mercenary, your ability to reason is lacking.”

“Ah, there you go again, acting smart just because you’re a mage. And I’m not a mercenary—I was born a noble, you know?!”

“I don’t think anyone would believe that.”

“I’m serious?”

“......You really were a noble?”

“Even you, Lord Alon?! Isn’t that too much??”

Evan shouted as if wronged.

But Alon hadn’t intended to tease him—he was genuinely surprised.

In Psychedelia, Evan had only ever appeared as a mercenary; there had never been a single mention that he was from a fallen noble family.

So even now, Alon knew nothing about Evan’s background.

“I wasn’t trying to tease you. I was just surprised.”

“I’m telling you, it’s true? I was quite a successful noble, you know? It’s just that before I even turned ten, my entire family…”

As he spoke that far, Evan scratched his head.

“Anyway! I’m from a noble family, that’s what I’m saying!”

“Hm~ Then is the name Evan fake too?”

At Penia’s question, Evan clicked his tongue.

“Now this name is the real one. I’ve been using it since I started living by the sword.”

“Hm~”

At that, Penia glanced at him and then quietly shut her mouth.

Alon also didn’t continue the topic.

Penia had likely asked playfully, but the moment the answer came back, it wasn’t hard to guess Evan’s past.

The fact that he didn’t mention his family and had completely abandoned his name—

That meant his noble house hadn’t fallen in any ordinary way.

“Hmm-hmm—”

Perhaps thinking he had brought up the topic unnecessarily, Evan awkwardly scratched his head.

After watching him for a moment, Alon turned his gaze to Seolrang.

Still pressed close to his side, gently swaying her tail as she looked out the window.

Seeing that, Sculptor’s earlier words came to mind.

‘Must be quite distracting.’

Those were the words the Sculptor had said while looking at Seolrang as it told Alon the place where the divine-bloods would gather three months later.

What does it mean?

After saying that, Sculptor had disappeared without adding anything further.

Seolrang herself had only shown a puzzled expression at those words.

“Ah, by the way, Lord Alon.”

At Penia’s voice calling him, Alon turned his gaze again.

“What is it?”

“Are you going to head there right away?”

“Hmm.......”

At her question, Alon nodded.

If what Sculptor said about three months was true, then he didn’t have much time left.

“I’ll prepare for a few days and then leave immediately.”

“Master! I’ll go too!”

As soon as Alon answered, Seolrang immediately turned and shouted.

“You too?”

“Yeah!”

“......Is that alright?”

“It’s fine! The bandits are gone now, so it’ll be okay!”

Seolrang said with a smile.

After confirming that her tail was still swaying, Alon—

“Alright.”

—nodded.

***

The reason Arm-Spitting One Vessel came to Burned Vegetation was ultimately because of a rumor he had recently heard.

A rumor that a group called the Star Cluster was growing at an incredible speed.

As far as Arm-Spitting One Vessel knew, aside from already established groups and a few peculiar ones, divine-blood groups couldn’t grow that large.

That was only natural.

Most factions among divine-bloods were already formed.

Of course, Stage 1 divine-bloods moved between factions more freely compared to higher-stage ones, but that was only movement between factions—divine-bloods rarely left the faction system entirely.

Yet the Star Cluster was breaking that convention and expanding wildly.

And since he had some idea why Burned Vegetation had formed a faction, he assumed he wouldn’t be treated with hostility and went to Star Root to satisfy his curiosity.

And so, he was able to meet him.

[It’s been a while.]

[Yes, it has been a while. Though even after so long.............]

He met him, but..................

..

[....What is that?]

[Ah, you don’t need to mind it.]

Arm-Spitting One Vessel looked behind Burned Vegetation.

There were two divine-bloods there.

More precisely—

[Sto, stop~ Kyaaaak-!]

[I, I won’t come again! I won’t target the Star Eater again! Agh-!]

—divine-bloods being beaten by other divine-bloods.

[We are in the middle of reformation work.]

[.....Reformation, work?]

[Yes.]

At Burned Vegetation’s continued words, the single pupil of Arm-Spitting One Vessel trembled slightly.