Chapter 482 : Portents of Upheaval (4)

Alon obtained two pieces of information from Sculptor, who had been summoned back by having her head grabbed.

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍first was exactly as expected.

Sculptor ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a subordinate of Wanderer in Rosario, and above him stood Blue Eyes.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍second—

“In ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍other words, your goal—or rather, all of your goals—can be said to be closer to protecting this world.”

“For ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍now... yes?”

Surprisingly, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Alon was finally able to glimpse a tiny part of Blue Eyes' intentions.

“Is that really true?”

“Even if you ask me that......”

Sculptor answered timidly, speaking politely and claiming they had been acting with that intention from the beginning.

The leisurely attitude she had maintained before having her head seized was nowhere to be found.

“W-Well, I really don't know anything else. I think you'll have to learn the rest in Rosario.............”

“I see.”

“Then, would it be alright if I left the carriage now?”

Unlike earlier, when she had run off without asking, Sculptor made her request with utmost courtesy.

Seeing such an unusual(?) side of a divine-blood, Alon nodded with mixed feelings.

“Alright.”

“Thank you!”

Like a student finally freed after being extorted by a delinquent, Sculptor instantly fled into the ground.

It may have been somewhat undignified, but it was understandable.

“It's a miracle she didn't lose all her hair.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

A massive crater had formed where Seolrang had grabbed Sculptor's hair.

'It didn't even seem like she used much strength...'

As Alon thought that and looked toward Seolrang—

“I did well, right!?”

She puffed out her chest with a confident grin.

Pat pat—

As he stroked her head, Seolrang happily shook her head from side to side and clung to him.

Then—she wrapped both arms around Alon's waist.

'Alright. From now on, I should probably avoid saying anything bad to Seolrang whenever possible.'

Alon quietly made that resolution.

“Let's keep moving.”

The carriage resumed its journey toward the Empire's border.

***

Two months passed.

“Safe travels!”

Alon crossed the border and arrived at the wastelands separating the Empire and the Allied Kingdom Alliance.

“We got through surprisingly easily.”

“Indeed.”

Evan was right.

To begin with, the only time crossing the border had ever been troublesome was when they encountered Serdea.

Yet what made this smooth crossing surprising was—

'The rumors should have disappeared by now.'

The rumor that Serdea and Alon were getting married had already been proven false.

There was no reason for the border guards to be especially kind to Alon's group.

Which made their continued friendliness strange.

“Well, good is good, isn't it?”

“That's true enough.”

That was a fair point.

Alon decided not to think too deeply about it.

“Still, we're halfway there now. Another two or three months and we'll arrive.”

“That's right.”

“A month of travel used to exhaust me, but maybe I've gotten used to it. It doesn't bother me much anymore.”

Evan shared his positive thoughts while driving the carriage.

Alon watched him before shifting his gaze elsewhere.

A carriage racing across the wasteland.

The companions inside it.

Penia was asleep, likely because she had immersed herself too deeply in research the previous night.

Meanwhile, Seolrang and Blackie were making a tremendous racket.

Or more accurately—

“Waaah—!”

[Meow—!]

“So high!”

[Meowwwwww~!!]

—it was difficult to tell whether they were playing or tormenting each other.

In any case, at some point, Blackie had begun cautiously coming outside even when Seolrang was around.

As a result, Alon found himself frequently witnessing the two together.

“Phew.”

Though Basiliora still stubbornly refused to leave the ring under any circumstances.

Watching Seolrang quietly whisper something into Blackie's ear, Alon turned his gaze outside.

During the past two months, while crossing the Empire, Alon had heard one particular piece of news.

The Imperial princes and princesses were holding a gathering they almost never convened.

Because of that, Alon had given up on meeting Serdea personally and instead decided to send a letter.

'I would have preferred to speak with her directly.'

The topic he wished to discuss was the divine-bloods Sculptor had spoken of.

If second-stage divine-bloods truly descended, it was obvious the Empire would not endure for long.

Of course, even knowing in advance that divine-bloods were coming did not mean they could easily stop them.

“Phew...”

A sigh escaped Alon's lips.

He recalled Sculptor's warning from several months earlier.

Alon was not arrogant enough to believe he could save everyone.

No matter how strong he became, saving everyone was impossible.

Still, it did not feel good.

Sculptor's words were essentially a death sentence for the world.

'Will the Empire be able to stop it?'

Then again, the situation was not completely hopeless.

The Imperial princes and princesses, as well as the kings of the Allied Kingdom Alliance, had received power from Seeker.

According to him, it was the power of the Abominable Blood capable of protecting a nation.

If Seeker had spoken the truth, then perhaps they truly could protect their countries even in a world overrun by divine-bloods.

The only issue was that, from Alon's perspective, the power of the Abominable Blood did not appear nearly as beneficial as it sounded.

That was why he worried.

Still, Alon did not dwell on it further.

There was little point in endless worrying.

Instead—

'Star Root.'

Alon began considering how he might utilize Star Root.

There were risks involved, and he still had no idea why the organization had been created.

Yet at the moment, it was the most useful card available to him.

Of course, one condition was required.

Just as the divine-bloods of Star Root believed, Alon would actually need to be capable of granting them abilities.

'There are plenty of abilities I could potentially give.'

Alon examined his inner self.

Countless abilities moved within him.

Before the battle against the Descender, there had only been four.

Now, their number had increased dramatically.

The problem was that Alon himself had no idea why so many abilities had appeared.

'It probably happened because of the battle against Descender.'

Until now, he had assumed he only gained abilities by personally defeating targets.

The sudden increase left him puzzled.

'Well, having more abilities is ultimately a good thing.'

Finishing his introspection, Alon opened his eyes.

'I need to visit Arculainisis as well.'

He turned his gaze back toward the Empire's border.

Come to think of it, he needed to seek out Ard too.

'I needed to talk with her anyway. Perhaps after returning, I'll take Rine and visit her.'

Having organized his thoughts, Alon finally leaned back comfortably.

It was early spring.

And after another month passed—when the carriage crossed into the Allied Kingdom Alliance—

“Master! I'm heading out!”

Seolrang announced her departure.

“You're leaving immediately?”

“Yep! I've been away for a long time. And I have something I need to do.”

“Something you need to do?”

“Yep! For Master!”

Though Alon looked confused, Seolrang continued nodding energetically.

Seeing her, he unconsciously smiled.

“Thank you, as always.”

“It's okay! You take care too, Master.”

“I will.”

After hearing his reply, Seolrang began moving away from the carriage.

Then—

“Ah.”

As though she remembered something, she turned around and approached Alon once more.

Then—

Nibble.

“!”

In an instant, she moved close and gently bit his nose.

Just like she had done before when they spoke after she lost her lightning.

Then—

“Master, call me whenever you need me.”

This time, the smile she gave Alon felt less cute and more reassuring.

Leaving behind those words—

“See you later, Master!”

—she kicked off the ground and vanished in an instant.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

As Alon absentmindedly rubbed his nose—

“......Eh?”

“What just happened?”

Voices filled with shock came from behind him.

Penia and Evan stood frozen with their mouths hanging open.

Penia in particular looked as though she had witnessed something utterly unbelievable.

Alon was about to question their reaction when realization struck.

From behind, the angle had undoubtedly made what happened look highly misleading.

Thus began Alon's explanation session.

***

Late at night.

Beneath a sky illuminated solely by the Blue Moon after the disappearance of the Milky Way.

[Everyone's here.]

For the first time in a very long while, the regular meeting of the Blue Moon was convened.

[Hm~ It's been a while.]

[It really has.]

[Indeed.]

In response to Radan's comment, Seolrang and Rine agreed, while Deus also voiced his concurrence.

After a brief exchange of greetings and updates—

[So a meeting was called after such a long time. What's happened?]

When Radan got straight to the point, Yutia nodded.

[Not exactly. There are simply things we need to start preparing for. Better to know about them in advance.]

[Things we need to prepare for?]

[Yes.]

A long time passed as Yutia explained.

Eventually, she looked around at the Sins, who had all fallen into thought as though by prior agreement, and smiled.

[It's not urgent, so prepare at your own pace.]

[Then is today's meeting finished?]

[As far as what I wanted to discuss, yes. Though there are still reports to hear.]

At Deus's question, Yutia gave a glance.

Immediately, Hidan—who had been anxiously darting his eyes around until now—clenched his fist.

[I-I do have a report.]

Looking around cautiously, as though both resigned and determined, he began speaking.

[First—]

Despite the serious expression on his face, Hidan's report proceeded remarkably smoothly.

The contents were so ordinary that one might wonder why he had looked so tense.

However—

[And finally~]

Hidan glanced sideways.

[The Vice Tower Master of the Blue Mage Tower appears to be spreading somewhat disrespectful rumors regarding the Great Moon.]

Those words introduced his final report.

[Disrespectful rumors?]

[The Vice Tower Master of the Blue Mage Tower? You mean that one?]

[Penia?]

Radan, Deus, and Seolrang reacted immediately.

And then—

[It seems she has been spreading rumors that she shares a special relationship with the Great Moon. There are even more disrespectful rumors beyond that.............]

As Hidan continued, the brows of those who had initially reacted twitched almost simultaneously.

[How presumptuous.]

[Even if she's helping the Great Moon, she's crossing a line.]

[Hee. I didn't know that.]

Radan and Deus openly displayed their displeasure.

Seolrang smiled as though she had heard something interesting.

Yet her eyes certainly were not smiling.

The reaction was exactly what Hidan had expected.

Yet he found himself becoming even more nervous.

Because the two people who should have reacted the most violently—Red Moon and Green Moon—remained strangely quiet.

Suppressing his growing unease, Hidan carefully shifted his gaze toward them.

[If that's what you're referring to, we already heard about it.]

[So did I.]

His confusion only deepened.

Their reaction was far too mild.

[Please don't worry too much. We've already taken measures regarding it.]

[My, what a coincidence, Yutia. So have I.]

[Is that so?]

[Yes. This has gone a bit too far.]

[I agree. I think it's time to correct the issue.]

[I agree as well.]

The two smiled warmly while exchanging opinions.

Seeing that, Deus and Radan quietly looked away.

They had noticed something.

Though those two were smiling—they were not smiling at all.

Inside their hearts, Deus and Radan offered a small prayer for the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Mage Tower.

Because they knew one additional fact.

They knew exactly what happened whenever those two wore smiles like that.

And—

[......Was it when they wiped out that kingdom?]

[Right. When they insulted the Great Moon for no reason, that duchy vanished within a few days......]

After overhearing the whispered exchange between Silver Moon and Purple Moon, Hidan quietly closed his eyes.

He wanted to go home.