Chapter 480 : Portents of Upheaval (2)

Late at night, when everyone was asleep.

Evan ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍lay on one side of the carriage, sleeping together with Blackie and Basiliora serving as their pillow.

Penia, ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍too, was sleeping soundly, likely exhausted from dedicating herself to magical research until late.

A ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍night illuminated not by a Milky Way but by the gentle glow of the Blue Moon.

Only ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Alon and Seolrang sat together beside a small campfire.

“……”

“……”

Only silence flowed between them.

From Alon's perspective, there was much to say.

No, beyond that, there was much he wanted to ask.

Starting with whether her body was truly alright.

And extending to an apology for erasing the lightning that had been virtually everything to Seolrang by using his law without her permission.

There was much he wanted to say.

Even so, the reason Alon could not easily begin the conversation was because of the atmosphere.

Yes.

The atmosphere.

Though it sounded somewhat ridiculous, Alon decided to hold off on speaking after observing Seolrang's mood.

The Seolrang sitting quietly beside him was immersed in deep thought.

So how much time had passed while they silently stared at the campfire?

Even after quite a long while, Seolrang remained quiet.

Watching her, Alon—

“What are you thinking about?”

—eventually spoke first.

It was not because the silence felt awkward.

Rather, it was because Seolrang looked so deeply troubled that he wondered whether something was wrong.

However, despite Alon's concern, Seolrang simply stretched lightly before answering.

“Nothing major.”

“......Really?”

“Yeah. I just recovered a few memories.”

Seolrang's calm voice.

Alon's eyes widened.

“...Is that true?”

Smiling, Seolrang stared directly at Alon.

Her tail swayed gently.

Her relaxed eyes looked content.

A natural smile.

Seeing that, Alon felt both surprise and a sense of incongruity.

To be honest, the Seolrang before him was clearly different from her usual self.

Normally, she smiled like a child.

Now, she carried a more mature air.

And yet.

Strangely enough, Alon did not feel as though this was an act.

That was why he felt unsettled.

Then—

“Mm.”

Still smiling, Seolrang nodded.

Suddenly, she grabbed Alon with one hand.

Tap—

And climbed onto him.

The two found themselves sitting face-to-face, Seolrang wrapping both arms around him.

“What—?”

Alon was startled by the sudden action.

But Seolrang paid it no mind and instead flashed a playful smile.

“I'm keeping a promise.”

“......A promise?”

“Yeah. I forgot about it.”

Words he could not understand.

Her tail continued swaying.

Alon searched through his memories.

'Did we ever make a promise like that?'

At least, not that he could remember.

Yet her words did not sound like a lie.

Seolrang was easy to read when she lied.

And right now, there was no sign of that.

So he tilted his head, wondering if perhaps he simply could not remember.

Then Seolrang, still clinging to him, suddenly raised a hand and began touching his cheek.

Alon did not bother asking what she was doing.

He merely watched her.

To ask why she was doing such a thing felt wrong.

Her expression looked far too happy.

Why was she so happy?

No.

Was playing with his face really that enjoyable?

Various thoughts swirled through his mind.

Watching Seolrang fiddle with the corners of his mouth as though she were having fun, Alon finally asked another question.

“...Was there also a promise about playing with my face?”

Seolrang, still smiling, shook her head.

“No. Not that.”

“...Then what promise did we make?”

At that, Seolrang simply stared at him.

Then she slowly began bringing her face closer.

The sudden action left Alon bewildered.

But—

“!”

Soon, he found himself startled.

Because Seolrang had come much closer than he expected.

So close that they could clearly hear each other's breathing.

Yet Seolrang did not stop there.

Eventually, she moved forward until they could barely see each other's faces.

And then—

Nibble.

“Wha—?”

She bit Alon's nose.

Not hard.

Just the tip of it.

Nor was it forceful.

If anything, it felt more like her teeth had lightly brushed against his skin.

After gently biting his nose, Seolrang pulled away.

“—”

Then she shook her head from side to side as though she were having tremendous fun.

Her ears perked up energetically.

Looking at her, Alon—

“...What did you just do?”

—asked while touching his nose.

But Seolrang was already wearing a mischievous smile.

“Secret.”

“Secret...?”

“Yeah. This isn't a promise I'm supposed to explain. It's important that Master remembers it himself.”

She spoke with obvious delight.

Then she added,

“Anyway, don't worry too much, Master. I'm recovering my memories now.”

“You're recovering them...?”

“Mm. It'll take a little more time, though.”

“......Did you find a way?”

“Yeah. So you don't need to use dangerous magic like that anymore.”

Then she got off of him.

And—

“Thank you for everything, Master.”

As though she had said everything she wanted to say, she headed back toward the carriage.

Alon stared blankly at her retreating figure.

“...Huh?”

Then he noticed something strange.

'Did I ever tell Seolrang about the magic?'

The question crossed his mind.

He immediately tried to call out to her.

But—

Thunk.

She had already disappeared into the carriage.

As Alon stared at the carriage in confusion, Seolrang, who had entered it, still humming softly as though in a wonderful mood, settled by the window where she could see the Blue Moon and gazed up at the sky.

What rose beneath the moonlit night were the faint memories she had recovered.

'Isn't that obvious? Do you know how much I like Seolrang?'

'Our Seolrang—cute and adorable Seolrang—'

Within those hazy memories, Alon was smiling brightly, repeatedly patting Seolrang on the head as he spoke.

'It doesn't matter how many times Seolrang loses her memories. Seolrang is still Seolrang to me.'

'No matter what happens, that won't change. So don't worry.'

'Even if Seolrang ends up in danger again and again, I still remember, don't I?'

'As long as I remember, I can tell you. So don't worry.'

'And even if my memories disappear, I'll give my memories to you.'

'As many times as necessary. Again and again.'

As though reassuring her, Alon's calm and gentle voice filled her mind.

'Hm? What if I end up forgetting instead?'

'It's okay. You'll still be there, Seolrang.'

'You just have to remember me.'

'Then you'll bring me back, won't you?'

'What? What if you can't remember? Hmm~'

The memories that surfaced were extremely limited.

There was still far more left to recover than what she had remembered.

Even so, it was enough.

'Then just bite my nose really hard.'

'That'll surprise me enough to remember something.'

'What? That's an expression of affection among your people? Then you can do something else instead.'

'Or just punch me once.'

Seolrang had recovered the most important memory first.

'Anyway, Seolrang, you're the one who'll bring me back.'

The memory she absolutely had to remember.

'I'm counting on you, Seolrang.'

That was why—

“...Wait for me, Master.”

Seolrang quietly murmured as she gazed at the Blue Moon.

A small vow.

Yet one that would never change.

***

The day after speaking with Seolrang, she recovered at an astonishing pace.

Of course, Evan and Penia merely seemed to think, She looks a little more cheerful than usual.

But Alon could tell.

Seolrang had finally stopped acting.

There was, however, one other noticeable change.

“...Seolrang?”

“Mm? Whaaat?”

“Isn't this uncomfortable?”

“Mmm? Nope. Not at all.”

Perhaps it was that Seolrang had started sticking to Alon like glue.

Whether inside the carriage or outside, she remained attached to him as though Alon + Seolrang was the most natural equation in the world.

Evan looked utterly confused.

Penia's expression became increasingly complicated.

By the time they were once again heading toward the Empire's border—

“Hello.”

“...Sculptor?”

Alon suddenly encountered Sculptor.

Appearing as though she had risen directly out of the ground, Sculptor casually greeted him.

Then she said,

“There are quite a few things we need to discuss, but before that, there's something urgent I need to tell you.”

“...Something urgent?”

“Yeah. The humans you've been raising? They're all about to die.”

She said it matter-of-factly.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

At Alon's startled question, Sculptor answered.

“One of the Descender's avatars is heading toward Palantio.”

“......The Descender's avatar?”

“Yeah.”

“If the Descender died, shouldn't its avatars disappear too?”

“Normally, yes. But it seems it made some kind of special arrangement before dying, because they didn't vanish.”

“On top of that, this isn't some weak avatar. It's practically on the level of an ordinary divine-blood. Looks like it's desperately trying to hurt you.”

“......Is that really true?”

“Considering I'll probably need to earn some points with you from now on, why would I bother lying?”

At Sculptor's words, Alon looked toward Penia.

“......! I'll contact them immediately!”

Understanding his intent at once, Penia quickly pulled out a magic orb and poured mana into it.

[...............What is it?]

Soon, she successfully contacted Lainisius.

“You need to evacuate immediately...!”

Penia promptly relayed everything she had heard from Sculptor.

After hearing the entire story, Lainisius quietly muttered,

Then—

[......I see. So a divine-blood is heading toward Palantio?]

“That's right.”

[Not bad.]

His reaction was completely unexpected.

“What?”

Unable to understand what she had just heard, Penia asked again.

[As it happens, there is something I wished to test. I'll evacuate everyone first, so don't worry.]

That was what Lainisius said.

And at that exact moment—

Kuuuuuuung—!

A tremendous noise echoed from somewhere beyond the magic orb.

The sound of buildings collapsing.

Hearing it, Lainisius spoke.

“It seems it has arrived. We'll continue this conversation later.”

Then he ended the call and turned his gaze.

Beyond the window stood a divine-blood clad from head to toe in black armor.

It smashed through the distant walls surrounding the city in a single blow and entered.

Even from afar, its presence felt terrifying.

Yet Lainisius simply stared at it.

“Hmph. So that's a divine-blood?”

A familiar voice came from behind him.

“Apparently so.”

Lainisius nodded.

“It looks revolting.”

“I agree.”

A man stepped up beside him.

A handsome man whose entire body was covered in circuit-like tattoos.

“Well~ at least it's not an opponent we can't defeat. Especially now that my body has finally been perfectly reconstructed.”

“If the two of us work together.”

The one whom Lainisius had restored to the present after successfully researching the Foot That Runs Through Time—

Kylrus.

And then—

“Then let's not waste any time.”

“Agreed.”

At Kylrus's words, the two simultaneously leapt out the window.

And—

ROOOOAR—!!!!

A golden dragon appeared above Palantio.

Then—

“...I never thought I'd end up fighting alongside you.”

[Since we still have no means of dealing with Spirit Dragons, I'll humor you this time.]

As Lainisius spoke, Kylrus formed a seal with one hand.

And then—Lainisius's body, which had been glowing gold, began transforming into something resembling a black shadow.

Black wings spread across the entirety of Palantio.

And then—

Demonic Descent—

The mage who had led a forgotten age, and the Golden Dragon, descended upon the skies above Palantio.