Chapter 487 : Castle Struggle (3)

Somewhere within the Empire.

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍place that had once been the capital of the Western Empire.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍now, within the completely destroyed ruins where nothing remained—

“Hmm~”

One ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍man stood there.

Nataman—

No, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Black Eyes sat atop a half-destroyed throne, absentmindedly scratching his head while gazing up at the sky.

“What's wrong?”

A man with long purple hair asked the Black Eyes.

In his hand was a human head.

The sight was bizarre, yet the Black Eyes paid it no mind as he stroked his chin.

“It's just happening faster than I expected.”

“Ah, the descent?”

The Black Eyes silently nodded.

This time, a woman with a tattoo around her eye, standing some distance away, tilted her head in confusion.

“Isn't it a little strange for you to say that?”

“Hm? Why?”

“Well... you're the one who caused this.”

“Mmm~ that's true, but...”

The Black Eyes continued staring at the endlessly dark pupils reflected in the sky.

After watching him for a moment, the woman cautiously spoke.

“Mm. I might be wrong, but...Is this because of Alon?”

“Yeah.”

The Black Eyes nodded without hesitation.

The woman was dumbfounded.

“Yeah.”

“Um.”

“Don't tell me you've suddenly awakened to same-sex love or something?”

At her question, the Black Eyes turned to look at her.

This time, his gaze became icy cold.

“......So that's not it.”

“I'd appreciate it if you chose your words more carefully. What I feel isn't some trivial human emotion like that. It's something far more noble.”

“Isn't it just raising food?”

The woman sneered.

But at that moment—

“Enough.”

At the Black Eyes' voice, the woman froze.

He did nothing.

He merely looked at her.

Yet she became motionless, like a mouse before a cat.

As though even the slightest movement had not been permitted.

After some time passed—

“Don't talk about Alon like that.”

“Understood.”

Sweating coldly, the woman nodded.

Only then did the Black Eyes smile again and speak in his usual tone.

“But honestly, I can't help worrying, can I? You know it too. The ones descending from now on are fundamentally different from the trash that fell before.”

“You're not wrong. Starting with the next wave, they'll even possess Names.”

At her answer, the Black Eyes let out a quiet sound.

His thoughts continued for a moment.

Then—

“Good.”

He seemed to have made a decision.

Waving a hand through the air, he formed a seal.

And with that—

Craaack—!

A massive fissure began appearing in the clear sky.

No.

More precisely, it wasn't appearing.

It was closer to revealing something that had been hidden.

And when the crack fully revealed itself—

“!”

It overwhelmed both the woman and the purple-haired man.

Reverence filled their eyes.

Though she had lost her power now, she had once been among those closest to godhood.

Which was why she knew.

She knew exactly how terrifying the crack in the heavens was.

How omnipotent a power capable of interfering with the world to such a degree truly was.

And just how absurd it was to tear apart the world itself merely to save someone.

Yet the man who had created the crack and was staring at it directly seemed completely unconcerned.

He casually waved his hand.

And then—

Crack—! Craaack—!

The shattered black sky slowly began restoring itself.

Slowly.

Yet undeniably.

The world was healing.

“What is that...?”

The woman stared at the Black Eyes in utter disbelief.

She knew.

The Black Eyes no longer possessed the power of a divine-blood.

Yet despite that—he was repairing the world itself.

Using nothing more than the body of a mere human tool.

For a moment, all she could do was stare.

“Ah, I guess this is the limit for now.”

The Black Eyes smacked his lips in disappointment while looking at the crack, which had only partially sealed.

“Well, this should buy about three extra months, right? The higher-tier ones will have a rough time after descending. Things are a little different from before, but...”

As he muttered those words, heaven and earth began closing once more.

Like a wound being concealed, blue skies gradually filled the black fracture.

Looking at the fully restored heavens—

“Just like before, I'll be counting on you again, Alon.”

The Black Eyes smiled.

And at some point, rings had appeared within his eyes.

“Because whether then or now, you've never disappointed my expectations.”

Two crimson rings.

***

Alon found himself somewhat bewildered by the sudden visit from Yutia and Rine.

Of course, their visit itself wasn't a problem.

Neither Yutia nor Rine were people whose unannounced arrival would make him uncomfortable.

The issue was that neither of them normally showed up without prior notice.

And more importantly—

“Did something happen between you two?”

Alon cautiously asked.

He had never felt this kind of tension between them before.

“No?”

“Not at all.”

Their answers overlapped.

The two women looked at each other.

Both were smiling.

On the surface, nothing seemed wrong.

Yet a strange atmosphere lingered between them.

Just as Alon was trying to make sense of the situation—

Knock knock—

A polite knock sounded.

“Come in.”

The moment permission was granted, Alexion entered.

The instant he spotted Yutia and Rine, he visibly startled.

“Ah, guests are here. I'll return later.”

He immediately tried to close the door.

However—

“What is it?”

Though puzzled by Alexion's reaction, Alon asked his business.

“Well... there's a matter regarding the castle that requires Your Majesty's direct inspection.”

In the end, Alexion was forced to stay and speak, nervously glancing around.

“......Did the Mage Tower Masters install something strange again?”

“They insist it's absolutely necessary, but...”

At the report, Alon sighed.

“Yutia, Rine. My apologies, but I'll step out for a moment.”

“Of course, My Lord.”

“Certainly. We'll wait here, Godfather.”

“Stay here and speak with Evan for now.”

Leaving Evan behind, Alon departed with Alexion.

“Alexion.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You seemed startled when you saw Yutia and Rine earlier. Did something happen?”

Once they were farther from the room, Alon voiced the question.

Alexion rolled his eyes around several times.

“Well...”

“They're extremely beautiful ladies. Hahaha...”

His laugh was painfully forced.

Anyone could tell it was an excuse.

Alon grew confused.

Then—

'Ah. Come to think of it, Alexion came from the back alleys. Maybe he's afraid of Yutia.'

Remembering Yutia's status as a Cardinal, Alon simply accepted it.

Meanwhile, while Alon was misunderstanding the situation—

“?”

Yutia and Rine were staring at each other.

Evan merely watched in confusion.

Then—

“So, Rine, what brings you here?”

Yutia spoke first.

“Oh, I had something to take care of.”

“Mm?”

“I don't think I can remain in Fildagreen anymore.”

“I see? Did something happen?”

“It's a little embarrassing to explain, but the place I was staying collapsed.”

“Hoo~”

“So I thought I'd stay with Godfather for a while.”

“...?”

“?”

Evan frowned.

Something about her explanation didn't make sense.

Of course, her residence collapsing wasn't particularly strange.

Though whether such a thing was even possible was another matter.

Still, unlikely events happened sometimes.

But even so, did she really need to come all the way here?

There was no way Magrina would throw her out of that enormous castle just because one room had collapsed.

“My, what a coincidence. The same thing happened to me.”

Of course, the same applied to Yutia.

Just as Evan was about to ask for clarification—

“Excuse me—”

“Ah, speaking of that. Congratulations, Yutia.”

Rine smiled.

“My, congratulations? Whatever for?”

“I heard your temple was restored.”

“If it collapsed, rebuilding it should take at least three months. I think you've been misinformed.”

Yutia immediately refuted her.

Still smiling brightly, Rine pulled out a magic orb and placed it on the desk.

Then she infused it with mana.

Vwoooong—!

As it activated, the image of Rosario's temple appeared.

“See? It's completely repaired.”

“Oh, it really is?”

The crystal wasn't a recording device.

It was a communication device.

Realizing this, Evan stared at it in fascination.

From within the orb came excited voices.

[It's a miracle from the gods!]

[The temple rebuilt itself!]

[O- OOOOOOH!!]

“...?”

A constant uproar echoed out.

Then—

“Looks like you can return now.”

Still smiling, Rine addressed Yutia.

The moment Yutia's gaze shifted toward the temple—

Boom!

“?”

The self-restored temple, crowded with believers—

Kuuuuuguguguguk—!!

Suddenly began collapsing.

[W-What is happening?!]

[It's collapsing!]

[Aaaaahhh!!]

The temple crumbled like the background of a comic strip.

The believers scattered in panic.

Silence descended upon the office.

The entire event had happened too quickly.

“Oh my, it collapsed again?”

Yutia said cheerfully.

At that exact moment—

Crack—!

The shattered temple began rebuilding itself as though time were reversing.

“???”

Evan could no longer speak.

His common sense had completely shattered.

Unlike him, Rine continued smiling.

“My, it seems the Goddess Sironia is performing another miracle.”

BOOM—!

Immediately afterward came another thunderous crash.

The temple collapsed once more.

“Perhaps Goddess Sironia lacks talent in construction.”

Yet refusing to yield—

Rumble—

The temple rebuilt itself again.

“She seems to be trying very hard.”

BOOM!

The rebuilding temple exploded apart again.

“Effort alone can't solve everything, it seems.”

[A-Aaaaahhh!]

[T-This is terrible!]

[Goddess Sironia is testing us!]

As the temple repeatedly rebuilt itself only to collapse again, the believers screamed and fled.

Even the person holding the communication device seemed consumed by terror, causing the image to shake nonstop.

Yet despite all of that—the two women looked only at each other.

And at last—

“Ah.”

Evan finally understood what was happening.

Then—

Creak—!

The door opened.

Alon entered.

“......?”

The atmosphere was unbearably awkward.

Surveying the room, Alon coughed awkwardly.

Just as Evan opened his mouth to explain—

Crash—!

Someone suddenly burst through the window.

“Seolrang?”

It was Seolrang.

Evan was speechless at both her timing and method of arrival.

Alon stared at her in confusion.

Panting heavily as though she had rushed here at full speed, Seolrang noticed the other visitors.

“Ah!”

Her expression immediately turned into one of realization that she was late.

She hurriedly spoke.

“Master, um, I, what was it? The, the thing—!”

She repeated herself several times, her thoughts too jumbled from rushing.

Then her eyes suddenly sparkled.

“I became homeless because my house disappeared!”

She finally blurted out.

“...Huh?”

For the first time since finishing work, Alon's expression cracked.

His entire body was overwhelmed with confusion.