Chapter 481 : Portents of Upheaval (3)

How much time had passed since contact with Lainisius was cut off?

As ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍they drove the carriage toward the border, Penia repeatedly attempted to reconnect, but the magic orb refused to establish a connection.

Eventually, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍when anxiety was beginning to show clearly on her face, Sculptor suddenly spoke.

“Mm~ ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍It seems the situation isn't very good.”

Alon ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looked at her silently.

“Don't ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍look at me like that. I'm only making an objective assessment.”

Sculptor ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍awkwardly added that after being met with his indifferent gaze.

“As you know, no matter how strong dragons are, dealing with a divine-blood isn't easy. I don't think I need to explain that. Well, the primordial dragons were supposedly a bit stronger, but honestly, those two aren't quite at that level—”

“Ah, it's connected!”

At that moment, Penia's cry interrupted Sculptor.

Confusion appeared on Sculptor's face.

Alon turned his gaze toward the magic orb.

There, Lainisius appeared.

And he looked surprisingly unharmed.

[That took a little longer than expected.]

Lainisius's calm voice rang out.

“Are you alright?”

Alon asked to confirm.

Lainisius nodded immediately.

[Of course.]

“What happened to the divine-blood?”

[I dealt with it.]

His answer remained perfectly calm.

At those words, question marks seemed to appear above not only Sculptor's head but Alon's as well.

Of course, Alon knew Lainisius was quite powerful.

After all, Dragon Speech possessed by dragons was strong enough to be considered a superior version of virtually all magic.

But divine-bloods were beings even more unreasonable than dragons.

“You dealt with it...?”

[Yes.]

“How?”

Alon could not help asking.

Lainisius answered as though it were nothing significant.

[I fired mana at it relentlessly and expended a considerable amount of strength, so I'm somewhat tired, but it wasn't impossible.]

[Besides, I had assistance.]

“Assistance?”

[Indeed. Didn't I mention that I had something I wanted to test? This is an extension of that.]

After saying that, Lainisius stepped aside from the magic orb.

Then a brief sound could be heard.

“I don't want to. Why don't I want to? We can just meet in person later. Why bother? Just come out and say hello. Ah—”

A short argument.

And then the person who appeared within the magic orb was—

“......Kylrus?”

[...............It's been a long time.]

It was Kylrus.

In human form.

“How?”

[My old friend seems to have exerted himself quite a bit.]

After answering Alon's question, Kylrus immediately stepped out of view as though he had nothing further to say.

Lainisius glanced toward him as though he had no idea what was wrong with him.

[Of course, Kylrus wasn't the only one who helped. The mages also provided assistance. In any case, thanks to that, we were able to eliminate the divine-blood.]

He finally concluded the matter.

[We'll discuss the rest another time.]

“Is something wrong?”

[Part of the city was destroyed due to the divine-blood's arrival. Fortunately, it never reached the territory itself, so there were no casualties. However, if repairs aren't made quickly, it could become troublesome.]

In short, there was a labor shortage and he needed to attend to it.

Leaving behind a promise to speak later, Lainisius ended the call.

Even after the magic orb went dark, silence lingered for some time.

Then—

“......Lord Alon.”

“What is it, Evan?”

“Was that tattooed man just now really Kylrus?”

Evan asked.

“...? He was.”

Since Evan had asked about Kylrus rather than the divine-blood, Alon became somewhat confused.

But Evan simply rubbed his chin with a grave expression.

“Isn't the world fundamentally unfair no matter how you look at it......?”

He let out a deep sigh.

Penia looked utterly dumbfounded.

Seolrang tilted her head.

Meanwhile, Sculptor, who had been watching alongside Alon's group—

“......This is a little unexpected. It should have been close to an ordinary divine-blood...”

—quietly muttered with an awkward expression.

After a situation that could have become quite serious was unexpectedly resolved, Alon found himself curious about how exactly Lainisius had defeated the divine-blood.

However, he decided to speak with Sculptor first.

“So you're saying there's still one avatar left?”

“Well, based on what I've been able to determine, yes. Though I have no idea where it is.”

Alon fell silent briefly.

He would have felt somewhat relieved if Star Root had already returned.

But at present, Star Root was not in the Allied Kingdom Alliance.

Eventually, Alon sighed.

There was no practical benefit in worrying about it now.

“So then, what was it you wanted to tell me?”

Rather than continuing to worry, Alon chose to hear Sculptor out.

After all, he had already been told she had come for another reason.

Sculptor thought for a moment before speaking.

“The divine-bloods will be descending soon.”

“......How much time is left?”

“One year. Or perhaps even less.”

Silence fell once more.

If what she said was true, the situation was certainly bad.

If second-stage divine-bloods began pouring down like first-stage divine-bloods had, Alon had no confidence he could stop them.

“However, another problem has appeared.”

Just as he was processing the implications, Sculptor added something else.

“A problem?”

“Mm.”

“Didn't you come to warn me about the divine-bloods descending?”

“Why would that be the problem? That's only natural.”

Once again, Alon was reminded that the person before him was a divine-blood.

And then—

“During the next Star Descent, most of the divine-bloods will likely descend.”

“By most, you mean—”

“All of them except the high-ranking divine-bloods.”

“...!”

Sculptor delivered shocking news.

An even heavier silence than before settled inside the carriage.

Penia's and Evan's eyes widened dramatically.

Only Seolrang listened attentively, one ear perked up.

“......Why?”

Alon asked after calming himself.

A complicated expression appeared on Sculptor's face.

“Several things happened at once.”

“......What do you mean?”

After organizing her thoughts, Sculptor elaborated.

“First, because of the Fragment.”

“The Fragment......”

“Obviously, you know where that Fragment came from.”

As she said, Alon indeed knew why the Fragment existed.

“......Because of the Fragment?”

“Mm. Strictly speaking, yes. But as I said, several things happened simultaneously. Someone forcibly damaged the heavens and released the prisoners.”

“What does that mean?”

“You don't know?”

“I don't.”

“A divine-blood shouldn't be able to not know that...?”

Alon could not understand the explanation.

Yet Sculptor seemed even more bewildered by his reaction.

When it became clear that Alon truly did not know, she stared at him with an unreadable look before sighing.

“I'd heard the rumors, but was it really true? That you gave up both your power and portions of your memories just to descend to the surface first?”

'Gave them up? Me?'

Alon wanted to ask.

But there was no reason to ruin a narrative that had conveniently created itself.

So he remained silent.

Sculptor eventually continued.

“To put it simply, the prisoners are the divine-blood who came closest to becoming the Victor, along with his subordinates.”

“The one closest to becoming the Victor...?”

“Yes. The one who destroyed this world and came closest to becoming a god.”

“You know?”

“The divine-blood who created the magic you're using.”

“!”

“Anyway, those individuals escaped, and in the process the heavens—which should have been properly regulated—were damaged.”

“And because of that—”

“All divine-bloods will descend.”

“Exactly.”

“Of course, they won't be able to use their full power immediately after descending.”

“But the fact remains that this world is destined for destruction.”

Alon closed his mouth.

For now, he understood what kind of future she was describing.

Of course, whether it was true or false remained to be seen.

But there was little reason for Sculptor to travel all the way here merely to lie to him.

Which meant her words likely brought him one step closer to the truth.

And if so, there was only one question Alon needed answered.

Namely—

“Then why are you telling me all of this?”

Why was Sculptor revealing everything to him?

Sculptor shrugged.

“Because I was told to help you.”

“......Help me?”

“By whom?”

Instead of answering directly, she made a suggestion.

“Why not visit Rosario?”

Alon immediately understood what she meant.

“......! If it's Rosario, then—”

“That's enough. We'll stop here.”

Sculptor interrupted him as she rose from her seat.

Then, as though she had nothing more to say—

“The rest of the story can be heard in Rosario.”

She instantly slipped out of the carriage and began sinking into the ground.

“Wait—”

“We're done talking.”

Alon tried to stop her.

But Sculptor gave him no opportunity and continued disappearing.

Then—

Bang—!

“!?”

Someone grabbed Sculptor by the head.

“Master said he wasn't finished talking yet, didn't he?”

In that brief instant, Seolrang had seized Sculptor's head.

Sculptor was utterly shocked when she looked up and saw Seolrang staring down at her.

Naturally, she was.

Was it because Seolrang's physical abilities were exceptional?

No.

Sculptor had already witnessed Seolrang's overwhelming strength when she defeated the Descender.

The real reason she was shocked—

'How is she ignoring my law!?!'

Seolrang was disregarding her law.

In this world, laws were absolute.

Yet Seolrang was completely ignoring Sculptor's law.

With such absurd brute force that one could mistake it for a law of its own, she was holding onto an avatar that was trying to return to its original body.

“H-Hey, okay?”

The stunned Sculptor suddenly found Seolrang's face filling her entire field of vision.

At some point, Seolrang had crouched down and was staring directly into her eyes.

To Sculptor, Seolrang's expression looked deeply strange.

There was none of the sunflower-like smile she always wore around Alon.

Only—

“Should I find your original body while I'm at it and drag it out?”

A chillingly expressionless face.

Of course, as a divine-blood, she should not have felt fear.

Humans were merely tools to divine-bloods.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

“Or should I crush it?”

And yet.

Even so.

“Answer me.”

For some reason, those terrifying golden eyes filled her with unbearable fear.

“......S-Sorry.......”

Without realizing it, Sculptor apologized using formal speech.

At that response, Seolrang immediately turned around.

“Master! She says she still has time to talk!”

She shouted toward Alon with a bright sunflower-like smile.

All while holding Sculptor by the hair.

Naturally, after witnessing the entire scene, Alon's expression became rather complicated.