Chapter 485 : Castle Struggle (1)

After Alon and Alexion had that conversation, late that night—

“Hm~”

“......?”

Alexion's ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍secretary looked at the deeply troubled Alexion with confusion.

Alexion ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was always someone who worried about various matters, but this time he seemed unusually serious.

“Lord ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Alexion? Is something wrong?”

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the secretary asked curiously, Alexion glanced at him and answered with a complicated expression.

“I have a feeling something is going to happen.”

“Something? What kind of—”

“His Majesty mentioned that he might grant one of the inner castles to someone he trusts.”

“......An inner castle?”

The secretary's eyes widened.

But he soon nodded in understanding.

After all, it was perfectly natural for a king to grant a castle to someone.

Granted, bestowing an inner castle was hardly ordinary.

Even so, it did not seem like something that should trouble Alexion this much.

“If it is not too presumptuous, may I ask why that concerns you so much?”

The secretary carefully asked.

Alexion, still wearing a complicated expression, muttered,

“As I said, I feel like something strange might happen...”

“Something strange?”

“For example, I might somehow end up being placed in charge of the 'evaluation' again. Ugh—”

At that moment, he suddenly clutched his head as though PTSD had struck.

Then, looking even more anxious than before, he turned toward his secretary.

“Pretend you never heard this unless His Majesty personally brings it up again.”

“......? Yes, understood.”

“And under absolutely no circumstances mention it to anyone.”

“Understood.”

He thoroughly impressed the importance of secrecy upon him.

The secretary was bewildered but nodded nonetheless.

However, despite all his caution, there were two things Alexion did not know.

The first was that no matter how careful he tried to be, the conversation between Alon and Alexion had already been exposed through perfectly legal surveillance—or rather, protective activities(?).

The second—was that within Alexion's modest residence beside Palatio, far from the castle, there were already individuals secretly observing who were more than capable of spreading that information everywhere in an instant.

Two figures looked at one another.

They had become so accustomed to constantly being near each other that their absence would feel strange.

One was a demon belonging to the Information Guild.

The other was an elf belonging to Black Leaf.

The two also sensed several additional presences nearby.

Without saying a word, they turned their gazes elsewhere.

And soon, every trace of presence around Alexion's residence disappeared.

Extremely quickly.

***

The next day.

Having finally slept in a proper bed rather than outdoors, Alon woke feeling more refreshed than usual.

And the first thing he did was not visit Lainisius—

“All of these?”

“Yes. They are documents requiring your attention.”

—it was going to work.

“Wow. A castle has appeared inside the office.”

[Meow-]

Evan exclaimed in admiration.

Blackie climbed atop one of the document piles, curled into a ball, and repeatedly thumped its tail.

Standing blankly beside Alon, Evan surveyed the office.

Mountains of paperwork filled the room.

“Why are there so many...?”

There definitely had not been this much before.

Unable to finish the question, Alon noticed Alexion subtly shift his gaze.

Following it, Alon looked outside.

There he saw the territory.

While distracted by the castle, he had failed to notice earlier.

The domain had clearly grown larger than before.

“......Huh?”

Only now realizing it, Alon heard Alexion carefully explain.

“The capital continues to develop, so naturally the paperwork has... accumulated quite a bit.”

After letting out a low sigh, Alon soon resigned himself and sat down.

Standing there in despair would not reduce the workload.

'I should call Penia and split this over several days.'

Thinking of a practical solution, he began processing documents.

At the same time, he calmly organized his future plans.

'The divine-bloods are the most urgent matter.'

He recalled what Sculptor had told him.

Soon, not only Second-Stage divine-bloods but even Third-Stage divine-bloods would descend.

At most, eight months remained.

Eight months.

A long time and a short time simultaneously.

Within that period, Alon needed to make preparations.

He already had a rough idea of how.

'After that, I need to go to Rosario.'

Naturally, there were many other tasks as well.

He needed to investigate airships for travel efficiency.

Visit Divine Land.

Research Manifestation.

Meet Arc.

And separately inform the Empire about all of this.

As quickly as possible.

'Though I've already sent letters.'

Most importantly—he needed to conduct an experiment involving his Law.

The Law granted to Alon.

A high-risk, high-return power that granted strength exceeding any restriction he imposed.

After using it on Seolrang, Alon had continued experimenting with it during the journey back.

And through those experiments, he had discovered something extremely interesting.

A fact necessary for making efficient use of a power that carried such overwhelming risks each time it was used.

'Penia needs to prepare something for that first, though...'

Fortunately, she had said the preparations would not take long.

While pondering what to tackle first, Alon continued processing documents.

Some time later—

“Sorry I'm late...”

Penia arrived.

For some reason, she looked utterly depressed.

“Did something happen?”

Alon asked.

Conflict briefly flickered across her face.

She lightly bit her lower lip.

“A letter arrived...”

“A letter?”

“Yes... One that gave me a very bad feeling...”

Alon became curious about the contents.

However, she clearly did not seem inclined to discuss it.

So he chose not to pry.

Penia joined the paperwork with a gloomy expression.

For a while, only the sound of turning pages filled the room.

Blackie, who had been sleeping peacefully atop one of the document mountains, eventually climbed onto Alon's head.

Alon checked the time.

“Let's stop here for today.”

“Yes—”

It was time to visit Lainisius.

“Ah.”

“What is it?”

On the way to the Second Office—once used by Penia but now occupied by Lainisius—Alon suddenly remembered something.

“Come to think of it, your laboratory was taken away. Are you alright with that?”

Penia let out a short sound of realization and waved her hand.

“I'm fine! I was only borrowing it anyway.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Besides, I can just continue researching together in your laboratory, Lord Alon!”

“Still, isn't that inconvenient? If you'd like, I can provide another room—”

“It's fine!”

“If it becomes inconvenient, make sure to tell me.”

“Okay.”

As Alon relented, Penia smiled brightly as though she had accomplished something.

Then suddenly—her expression darkened.

Then brightened again.

Then darkened.

“......??”

The emotional whiplash left Alon bewildered.

'Maybe I really should arrange a separate office until her castle is finished...?'

While considering solutions, they arrived at the Second Office.

Opening the door—

“Oh? It's been a while.”

“Kylrus.”

Kylrus, seated in one of the office chairs, greeted him.

Then Lainisius spoke.

“You've arrived.”

“Lainisius.”

“Sit down. We have much to discuss.”

The moment he saw Alon, he offered him a seat.

Then he turned toward Penia.

“This may sound rude, but could you step outside for a while?”

A very obvious dismissal.

However, Penia alternated her gaze between Lainisius and Alon.

Then—

“Alright.”

She obediently left the room.

After confirming she was gone, Lainisius erected a barrier around them.

Having observed the entire exchange, Alon spoke.

“Is this something important?”

“I believe it would be best if what we're about to discuss does not spread outside.”

“...What exactly did you discover?”

Lainisius nodded gravely.

Then he fell silent.

Kylrus sat with folded arms.

Lainisius remained quiet.

He repeatedly furrowed and relaxed his brow, as though struggling to determine where to begin.

Then—

“Good.”

He finally made his decision.

“After thinking about it, I believe I should start with the facts we uncovered.”

“Facts?”

“Yes.”

Lainisius nodded.

Then, with a serious expression, he looked directly at Alon.

“Alon.”

“The gods of the Forgotten Age are not dead.”

“......What?”

“They are merely imprisoned.”

He spoke calmly.

“Within the Prison of Time.”

***

At that same time.

Having escaped the soul-crushing regular meeting and spending each day grateful simply to still be alive,

Hidan suddenly received a strange report.

“What?”

“To summarize, Golden Moon's residence in Colony has been partially destroyed.”

“......What?”

“The residence was partially destroyed?”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

“Who would do something so absurd?”

Hidan asked incredulously.

The man carefully shook his head.

“We haven't confirmed that yet... Most eyewitness reports simply state that the guild house suddenly exploded...”

“How strange...”

After thinking for a moment, Hidan tilted his head.

Certainly, a house being destroyed was a problem.

But unless there were additional complications, it normally would not justify an immediate report, which was reserved for emergencies and highly unusual incidents.

Therefore—

“Is there something else?”

In response to Hidan's question, the man looked confused but continued.

“There is one additional matter.”

“What is it?”

“Apparently, residences belonging to the other Moons have also disappeared.”

“......The other Moons' residences too?”

“Yes.”

“In particular, Red Moon's residence had been rebuilt... and then collapsed again yesterday.”

“Red Moon's residence as well?”

“Yes.”

“Although, according to rumors...”

“?”

“It seems Lady Red Moon may have destroyed it herself...”

Upon hearing the report—

“???”

Hidan's mind suddenly became very complicated.