C389. Heartbeat/Gestation/Birth (4)
"…The First Prince… killed my father and sided with the Divine Blood."
"…What?"
At Karsem's words, Alon was stunned.
The First Prince of Colony, Karan.
He already knew about him.
It was impossible not to know.
In this world, Karmaxes III hadn't died yet, but originally it was an inevitable fact that he would die. And the one who would become king after that was precisely the First Prince, Karan.
Alon remembered Karan within Psychedelia. In the game, his character was neither good nor bad. If he had to be evaluated more accurately, he was closer to a tyrant than a benevolent king.
Even in the game, he pressured everything he didn't like with power, and because of that, in the mid-to-late game, he ended up in conflict with the player.
Still, the reason Alon couldn't categorically affirm Karan's character was…
That, as long as he didn't get involved in certain specific matters, he wasn't someone particularly troublesome.
"I think… his reputation was?"
A memory already fuzzy. As he tried to recall the moment in the game when a problem arose between Karan and the player, he asked again as if to confirm it.
"Is that… really true?"
"Yes. It is an indisputable fact."
At the response filled with pain, Alon let out a weak exhale.
"Could I… ask you to explain the situation in more detail?"
Alon asked respectfully.
Karsem let out a long sigh.
He seemed to debate where to start, and stayed silent for a moment before speaking:
"…It happened right after the galaxy fell."
Calmly, he recounted everything that happened.
After a good while…
"That was how it happened."
Having heard Karsem's whole story, Alon let out a grave murmur.
"This is… more than…"
"It’s not just an unfilial son…"
Penia and Evan also showed serious expressions.
Alon went over what Karsem said.
"So, right after the galaxy fell, Karan killed the king when he was returning after resolving everything?"
"Yes. And not content with that, he offered my father’s corpse as a sacrifice."
Karsem pressed his lips together so hard that a dry sound came from them.
Even seeing his dejection, Alon couldn't stop his questions.
"Then, the one acting as king now… is a puppet wearing the king’s skin, placed by Karan."
"That is correct."
"…And you, Prince, were going to be offered as the second sacrifice, were locked in prison and… managed to escape."
"Correct."
"There must have been strong surveillance… what a relief that you are unharmed."
"…If Karan had noticed just before imprisoning me that I had reached the Fourth Circle, surely I wouldn't have been able to escape."
Alon nodded gently while playing with his hair.
"So… Karmaxes III is dead."
Alon had known Karmaxes III for a long time, but they weren't very close.
Still, a bitter taste filled his mouth. He remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"I think I understand the whole situation… but, is there a reason why you are hiding like this?"
"That’s true. Wouldn't it be enough to ask the Babayaga for help?"
Penia nodded as if sharing Alon's doubt.
But Karsem shook his head.
"If I didn't know Karan's plan, the very day I escaped I would have asked the Babayaga for help."
"A plan?"
Penia asked immediately.
Karsem replied:
"The moment I reported this to the Babayaga, he would open a portal in the kingdom and summon anomalous entities inside the country."
"Open a portal?"
"Yes. Even though he can open portals inside the kingdom, he is deliberately avoiding doing so."
"…Then, do I understand correctly? Although he could raze the kingdom in a single blow by summoning anomalous entities, he is choosing to maintain this war of attrition."
"Yes. Although I don't know exactly why."
Karsem lowered his head in shame.
Penia frowned, not understanding.
But Alon, even if faintly, grasped Karan's intention.
"Because of faith…?"
Fear can also function as faith.
Alon knew it.
He had known someone who had used it like that.
"If he asks for help, the kingdom will fall immediately. If he doesn't ask for help, it will fall slowly… Both are the worst option."
Evan murmured from the side.
Hearing him, Alon sank back into thought.
At that moment, Karsem suddenly rose from his seat and—
Thud.
He knelt before Alon.
"P-Prince…?"
Lime was surprised by the sudden action.
But Karsem kept his gaze fixed on Alon.
"Marquis… I know this is an unforgivable boldness. But… could you save Colony?"
Karsem bowed his head so deeply it almost touched the ground.
Penia stayed silent, and Lime's eyes trembled, full of confusion.
As the silence weighed down on the room…
Alon said:
"Alright."
He answered so easily that it was surprising.
"…Huh?"
A monotonous response.
Even Karsem himself seemed surprised.
"?"
"?"
"?"
Everyone, including Lime, looked at him in confusion.
"…Why…?"
"No, well… I didn't think you would accept so easily…"
Karsem seemed completely bewildered. But Alon had already finished his reasoning.
"Is there any other additional information I should know?"
He asked it with total naturalness.
"…Ah, yes, there are several things. But it will take me some time to organize them."
"Do you know when the next battle will occur?"
"…Probably in three days."
"Three days… Good. Then let's talk again tonight."
Saying they would meet later, Alon got up and left.
It all happened in an instant.
The room fell silent again.
Lime, looking at the door through which Alon, his group, and Seolrang had left, murmured:
"…Ah."
And with a soft exhale she said:
"…I understand now why Seolrang lives and dies for him…"
She whispered.
After Alon and his group were guided to their room…
"Master, I’m going out for a moment!"
"Alright."
"See you in a while!"
Seolrang quickly went out outside the walls and headed to the western cave.
There, she silently raised the Essence of the Golden Mane Clan.
[…Are you going to do it again?]
"Yes."
As soon as she raised the Essence, she heard the Black Dragon's voice.
[I don't recommend it.]
"Even so, I will do it."
[To protect him?]
"Yes."
At the answer without a shred of doubt, the Black Dragon remained silent.
[…Is there a reason why you must protect him so much?]
"Huh…?"
[Even if you can't protect him, you can be a force that supports him. I don't see any reason to be so anxious. Besides, you are already strong enough.]
The Black Dragon was right.
Seolrang was already much stronger than before.
She had passed several trials of the Essence, and only the final exam remained.
However—
"It’s still not enough."
[…It’s not enough?]
"No. You said that as I am now, I cannot defeat the Divine Blood, right?"
[To begin with, it is almost impossible for a being born in this world to defeat the Divine Blood.]
"Even so, I have to do it."
[Why?]
This time, Seolrang remained silent.
Then she remembered Yutia.
She remembered Rine.
She remembered those who were even stronger than her.
Those who were by Alon's side.
She clenched her hand—
Seolrang didn't answer. She just gripped the Essence of the Golden Mane Clan tighter.
Wuuung!
As soon as she infused magical power into it, she felt her consciousness being dragged into the Essence, and Seolrang reaffirmed her will.
As said, after multiple growths, she had become much stronger.
And, as far as she knew, if she passed the last stage of the Essence…
She would be even stronger.
She had seen a glimpse of the power she could obtain upon finishing the final trial.
While she thought about that, she realized she was already inside the Essence.
The landscape had changed.
The first thing she saw was a blue night sky.
Then a crescent moon.
And finally…
A meadow she had seen countless times.
"Haa…"
She sighed and scattered her magical power, preparing herself.
Dozens,
hundreds,
thousands of trials she had faced in this meadow.
Sometimes the meadow turned into a suffocating battlefield, sometimes into the mouth of a colossal monster.
That was why she was on guard when…
She felt something strange.
Something should happen. It always happened.
But this time, nothing changed.
Confused for only an instant—
Then she realized that the meadow was changing, slowly.
"…A temple?"
In the middle of the meadow, where there was nothing before, a temple had appeared.
Keeping her guard up, Seolrang entered.
And there—
[You have come, child.]
"…You are…"
She met a Seal.
Several hours later.
As they headed to meet with Karsem again, Penia spoke:
"Hey, Marquis."
"What is it?"
"I just thought about it suddenly… why did you do that before?"
"What do you mean?"
"Karsem's request. Why did you accept it just like that?"
"…I don't understand what you mean."
"Well, you could have obtained many things in exchange. Like this, for example."
Penia closed her hand as if asking for money, and Alon looked at her silently before answering:
"It is something I must do anyway."
"Hmm…"
‘Is he too good? Or too stupid?’, thought Penia, who then smiled mischievously.
"Hey, Marquis."
"Yes?"
"I am also in an economic crisis lately. Couldn't you help me?"
"…That is a bit…"
"Ehh…"
Penia made a small noise of disappointment. But Alon walked down the stairs unmoved.
Penia sighed, and Evan, who was watching her, said:
"You didn't understand anything."
"Huh?"
"To ask the Marquis for something, you should have acted more pitiful. And you know the Marquis hasn't thought about benefits for a long time."
Clicking his tongue, Evan added the comment. But Penia responded with a "What nonsense are you saying?" face.
"What stupidity are you saying?"
"…It was just advice."
"Do you think I was really asking him for money?"
"…Wasn't it like that?"
"Of course not!"
Grumbling, Penia continued:
"Besides, helping Colony, the profit is already guaranteed."
"Why?"
"Because when that unfilial son dies, Karsem will ascend to the throne. And he will never ignore the debt he has with the Marquis."
"Also, when the battles start in the kingdom, believers of the Marquis will inevitably appear. It is not a bad thing for him."
Evan made a confused face.
"…If you understood all that, why did you ask the other thing then?"
"Are you really asking that? The Marquis didn't seem in a good mood, I wanted to joke a little to cheer him up."
Evan stood with a blank expression, and then smiled maliciously:
"My, my. Is your love for the Marquis that deep? Still, you'll have a hard time. You have very strong rivals everywhere, so get ready."
He said it preparing his legs to escape. He knew from experience that Penia exploded at that kind of joke.
But…
"?"
Nothing happened.
Between the two there was only silence.
Evan tilted his head.
Any other day, Penia would have exploded.
But not this time.
Although it was only for an instant.
"…Shut up."
Penia glared at him and walked past, going down the stairs towards the bottom.
Evan didn't move.
He had seen Penia's face clearly.
Although she pretended to be annoyed as always, her expression… was different.
"…Is it serious?"
Evan murmured that, with his mouth open.
