Chapter 469 : Fragment (8)

The day after the mercenaries’ festival held in Shu.

Alon ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍once again began moving toward the Empire.

“Ah~ ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍here we go again~”

Evan ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍spoke leisurely while looking at the forest.

“Indeed.”

Penia ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not ask what had happened with Seolrang yesterday.

“Wow! ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Master! Look at that! That tree looks weird!”

Seolrang, too, was acting just like before, as if she had forgotten everything that happened last night.

“I see.”

“Right?”

At the sight of Seolrang smiling at him with a refreshing smile like the autumn sky, Alon felt a strange sensation but followed her gaze upward.

The autumn sky was piercingly blue.

“It’ll take about two more months, right?”

While Alon was absentmindedly looking at the sky, Evan asked.

Alon nodded.

“Well, probably.”

“Ugh, that sounds tiring.”

“Haven’t you gotten used to it by now?”

At Alon’s question, Evan let out a thoughtful hum.

“I mean, I have, but still… you know how it is, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the days we ride in a carriage far outnumber the days we don’t in a year, so I guess I’m just getting sick of it.”

Alon unconsciously agreed.

Evan was definitely right.

Recently, the days spent riding a carriage had far increased compared to those that didn’t.

Especially since they had started going back and forth to the Empire.

So.

“Maybe I should consider a new means of transportation.”

Alon stroked his chin.

Right now, whether riding a carriage or camping out had become familiar enough that he didn’t think much of it, but when considered, they were spending a long time just on travel.

“A new means of transportation?”

“Yes. There have been quite a few cases where travel alone eats up too much time.”

“Hmm—well, it was already like that before… but it definitely got worse after we started going to the Empire.”

Penia, agreeing, continued.

“In that case, realistically speaking, the only faster method than now would be an airship.”

“An airship? You mean the one Radan uses?”

“Radan?”

Momentarily puzzled by Alon’s words, Penia soon exclaimed in realization.

“Oh, no, not something that incredible. Of course, if you wished, Lord Alon, it could be made, but those kinds of things can only be used if you have an excess of mana to spare.”

“Because the mana consumption is huge?”

“Yes. It’s already been over 30 years since airships were developed, but even so, there’s no place that actually operates them, right?”

That was true.

Even when playing Psychedelia, he had never seen an airship.

“If, by any chance, a storage that could hold near-infinite mana were created, then the story would change.”

“In that case, it would definitely be viable. No matter how much mana it consumes, as long as you use Reverse Heaven, Marquis, you could replenish enough to travel.”

Though, she added, efficiency would still need to be adjusted.

Looking at her, Alon—

“?”

Suddenly had a thought cross his mind.

Something he had seen in Calypsophobia.

‘Or… would it have already been used by now…?’

Piecing together fragments of information he had picked up long ago from community discussions—without ever trying it himself—Alon pondered.

But only briefly.

“Lord Alon, what are you thinking about?”

“It’s nothing.”

‘Well, I know the location itself, so I can just go check it directly.’

At Penia’s continued question, Alon lightly waved his hand.

Then suddenly, he recalled something he had forgotten.

‘Wait. Come to think of it, where is the protagonist of Calypsophobia?’

He had forgotten because of the collapsing divine-blood and the Empire falling apart, but there should definitely be the protagonist of Calypsophobia in the Empire.

And not just any protagonist, but one even more monstrous than Eliban, according to the setting.

Yet, throughout all their movements so far, there had been no news about that protagonist, which made the question grow.

“Evan.”

“Yes?”

“When we arrive at the next village, look into rumors about a certain individual.”

“Rumors about a person?”

“Yes.”

“…? Understood for now.”

Alon decided to find a clue through Evan.

***

Another month passed.

Alon’s group crossed empty boundaries and approached the Empire’s border ruled by Serdea.

If they wanted to travel comfortably, going to the northern Empire border would have been easier, but unfortunately, that would not leave them with enough time.

Having finally reached the border, Alon—

“What should we do?”

“Hm…”

fell into thought.

‘Will we be able to pass easily?’

Alon recalled when Serdea Polantisia had come to see him before.

‘It feels like we could just go through.’

Although they hadn’t been able to properly talk because of Irenne Polantisia, Serdea had clearly come intending to pursue some form of peace.

“For now, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

After pondering, Alon made that decision.

The moment he moved forward—

Boom—! Rumbleeeee—!!

As the gates opened—

“Welcome!”

The man he had seen when crossing the border before, Commander Falkindas, greeted Alon.

And with an extremely bright expression at that.

And then—

“Then, in the name of Falkindas, I grant you passage across the border!”

Without even exchanging much conversation with Alon, he shouted that instantly.

Alon’s group wore blank expressions for a moment.

“…Huh.”

Naturally, Alon was the most bewildered.

Because he had not expected a situation like this.

‘I didn’t think we’d be treated coldly, but…?’

This was far beyond his expectations—treatment even better than before.

While everyone was confused, Falkindas quickly showed proper courtesy to Alon without much explanation.

“Ahem! Please remember the name Falkindas!”

The man laughed heartily, as if trying to curry favor in advance.

Looking at him, Alon wanted to ask questions but soon decided to hold back.

Whatever was going on, one thing was certain—Falkindas had goodwill toward Alon and willingly opened the border gates.

And thanks to that, they crossed comfortably.

Of course, even if everything went smoothly, the questions didn’t disappear.

Suppressing that itching curiosity, Alon passed Falkindas and reached beyond the border.

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“Just in case… there’s no chance that man hasn’t heard the rumors yet, right?”

“Hmm—probably not? We were already rejected once, weren’t we?”

“…Then the misunderstanding from before must also have been resolved, right?”

“Logically speaking, yes.”

At that moment—

“What about the possibility that new rumors spread?”

Penia suggested another possibility.

After thinking briefly, Evan looked toward the border where Falkindas stood and said.

“If he’s acting that blatantly to curry favor, then unless the rumor that spread this time is something like ‘Alon is confirmed to marry that young princess,’ I can’t think of anything else.”

“That does make sense. But realistically, there’s no way such a ridiculous rumor would spread.”

Though her words sounded slightly harsh midway, Penia still maintained composure.

Seolrang, curious about the conversation, glanced at Penia, finding her sudden shift in mood strange.

But Penia was right.

At this point, after everything had already been settled, such a rumor made no sense.

So.

“Evan, can you check it out?”

“Yes, I’ll confirm it as soon as we reach the next village. The information guild is starting to settle in the Empire, so we should get information fairly quickly.”

With that, Alon gave Evan the order and wrapped up the situation.

***

Three days passed as they moved toward the Eastern Empire.

“Lord Alon.”

“What is it?”

“Do you remember? You asked me to look into that rumor before.”

“Did you get information?”

“Yes, but something rather surprising happened.”

“What is it?”

“What we expected was correct.”

“Correct?”

Alon heard the truth of the rumor.

“Yes, a rumor has spread among the nobles that you and Princess Serdea are to be married.”

“???”

A question mark appeared over Alon’s blank expression, and—

“…Hah…??”

Penia frowned in disbelief.

But only for a moment.

“Anyway, it seems the rumors at the border stem from the ones spreading among the nobles. And there’s one more thing to report.”

“What is it?”

“I heard that Yutia is in the Empire.”

“…Yutia?”

“Yes. Apparently, she went to meet Serdea regarding the goddess Sironia.”

At Evan’s words, Penia’s previously stiff expression suddenly brightened like a lie.

“Really?”

“Hm? What?”

“That Lady Yutia went to meet her.”

“According to the information guild, yes.”

Evan shrugged at her question.

With that confirmation, Penia smiled, even humming briefly.

“I see.”

Leaning back with a face that embodied the word ‘relief,’

“Master, she’s kind of…?”

Seeing Seolrang gesture toward Penia, whose expression kept shifting, Alon awkwardly fell silent.

***

As Alon crossed the Empire’s border and moved to participate in the subjugation that was not far off, in the palace where Serdea Polantisia resided—

“Hm~ so, you’re the one who requested to build a temple here as well.”

“That’s right?”

“Do you truly think I would permit such a thing?”

Serdea Polantisia and the girl said to be a cardinal of the goddess Sironia, Yutia Bloodia, were conversing.

“Oh my, is it impossible?”

At Yutia’s playful question, Serdea made a dumbfounded expression.

She hadn’t realized it immediately upon meeting, but the girl before her was someone she already knew.

And not in a good way, but a bad one.

So Serdea tried to respond—

“Well, actually, it’s fine.”

Before even hearing the answer, Yutia continued speaking, and confusion appeared on Serdea’s face.

“I didn’t come here just to increase the number of temples anyway.”

The moment Yutia finished speaking—she saw it.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

In the sky that had been filled with sunlight, a red moon suddenly rose.

And without even having time to comment on it—

“…Do you want to die?”

Yutia’s chilling voice pierced Serdea’s ears.