C400. What is that...? (3)
The Alon Palatio of the past had always viewed King Palmarian IV as a typical monarch of a kingdom: for better or for worse.
A king with great pride, who didn't easily lose his composure regardless of who he spoke to, yet deep down, was sincerely dedicated to the well-being of his people.
He was like that in the game, and he had been that way the entire time Alon knew him in person.
...Perhaps that was exactly why.
“I truly thank you.”
As the king nodded energetically without letting go of his hand, Alon's worry only deepened.
‘Did Palmarian have... those kinds of tastes?’
A hypothesis appeared in his mind.
But it only took him a few seconds to firmly discard it.
No matter how much he searched his memory...
He hadn't heard even the slightest information, nor a faint rumor, that Palmarian had such... inclinations.
And even if he liked statues...
If the statue had the 'Head of the North' pose with that kind of... shape...
Anyone would reject it.
That's why Alon considered another possibility.
Maybe he was being blackmailed—
He looked into Palmarian's two eyes, full of goodwill.
He couldn't say to him If Deus is blackmailing you, please move your fingers as a secret signal, so he diverted his gaze toward Deus to verify.
And he saw him nodding over and over again with an expression of yes, yes, this is the right thing.
Alon understood: it wasn't blackmail either.
...Or was he actually hypnotized?
His eyes were so charged with kindness that the suspicion seemed reasonable.
Besides, hadn't he said the gift came from Silly?
Maybe the statue had some kind of mechanism.
But Alon discarded that idea as well.
When they passed by the statue earlier, he hadn't felt any special energy, like mana or magical power.
...Then, what the hell was going on?
The rest of the group, except for Deus, also had faces full of bewilderment. Alon was about to ask another internal question when—
“We shouldn't stay here. You came to see that person, didn't you?”
The king spoke.
“Yes, but... when I arrived in Caliban I didn't see him.”
Alon had no difficulty deducing who he was referring to by that person.
“Could you wait here a moment?”
Palmarian nodded as if saying don't worry and then—
“...Huh? Yes, understood.”
As soon as Alon responded, the king left together with Deus.
Thus, Alon and his group were left alone in the audience chamber.
After a brief silence—
Evan checked that there were no knights or guards around, and looked at Alon.
“My lord.”
“What is it?”
“...Even if you don't want to apologize, isn't casting hypnosis spells a bit too much?”
“...Are you serious?”
“Well, seeing my lord bowing his head feels strange but—”
“I am also surprised. Such a spell doesn't exist... Or is it perhaps a newly awakened divine power?”
Penia joined Evan.
Alon spoke with a mixture of resignation and regret.
“...If my divine power were hypnosis, that would be strange in a different way.”
“Then it's not divine power?”
“He developed a spell without telling us.”
“...Can we please start from the premise that I did not do anything to the king?”
“You didn't?”
“I didn't.”
“You really didn't?”
“I said I didn't...”
Alon sighed at Penia and Evan's relentless questions.
Both added, impressed:
“...I was sure it was hypnosis.”
“Me too. If it were a normal statue, maybe, but that statue...”
“Ah, I agree on that. After ten million years, we finally think alike.”
“Ten million...?”
“It's the psychological distance between us.”
“...You speak daggers without flinching.”
While Alon listened in astonishment to the exchange between Evan and Penia—
“I took a while. Follow me.”
King Palmarian had returned.
Alon followed him, and they arrived at the royal underground.
“This place is...?”
“An ancient underground precinct built by our royal family. We do not know why it was created.”
Alon could not suppress an exclamation.
The place was immensely vast. So much so that it could be considered an underground city.
How could they have built Caliban on top of something so gigantic?
With that thought, he continued deeper inside.
Until they reached a certain point—
“Can you go alone from here?”
“Is there a reason?”
“That person wishes to speak with you alone.”
Palmarian explained, and Alon, though bewildered, nodded.
Thus, walking alone through that underground, somewhat dark but mysteriously well-lit, Alon stopped in his tracks.
A colossal sensation enveloped him.
His heart raced, his muscles tensed. Alon knew that sensation well.
That's why he looked up.
And he saw a giant.
A giant covered in a blue glow, so enormous that he had to tilt his head far back to see him.
Alon looked at him, tense.
Crack-crack-crack.
The giant began to rise, and Alon moved his mana instinctively.
He knew it was a Divine Blood allied with Caliban, and that he had spoken favorably about him, but... he couldn't be sure.
BOOM!
But the next thing the giant did forced Alon to disperse his mana immediately.
Because the giant knelt before him, bowing his head solemnly.
[I greet the friend of the great “The One Who Gazes into the Abyss”, the “Star Eater”.]
The deep voice rumbled throughout the place.
Alon was speechless.
It wasn't just surprise: he didn't know how to respond.
He wanted to seize the opportunity to ask questions, since the Divine Blood was friendly.
But there was a problem:
Alon didn't understand at all the relationship in which the giant placed him.
What if he said something wrong?
What if the version the giant imagined didn't match reality?
What if they ended up fighting... right under the capital of Caliban?
Impossible to allow it.
While Alon deliberated on acting...
The giant, silent until then—
[I knew it... !]
“?”
He spoke suddenly.
Alon became even more confused.
But his face reflected nothing, so the giant didn't notice his bewilderment.
[It's incredible... !]
“...What?”
[Did you not descend into a mortal body to obtain karma, and yet you struck down two Divine Bloods? It is extraordinary!]
The giant began to clap fervently.
Alon was perplexed.
[But since you left behind your ancient power to achieve your merits, it must still be dangerous for you. Until you recover your strength, I will be at your service.]
Alon finally understood the situation.
The giant thought he was the “Star Eater”, close friend of “The One Who Gazes into the Abyss”, who had abandoned his power and descended to the human world in disguise.
After thinking for a moment, Alon decided:
“I'm counting on you.”
[Yes, sir.]
It would be better to act and extract information.
‘This Divine Blood believes I am a friend of The One Who Gazes into the Abyss, that I descended in disguise and renounced my powers to accomplish a feat... or something like that.’
With that clear, Alon decided on his first question.
Why “The One Who Gazes into the Abyss” called him his friend.
What was the feat of the “Star Eater”.
The first question made some sense: there were those who spoke to him with familiarity in the past.
Although he never understood why.
Thus, after reflecting on how to ask without raising suspicions—
“...I have something to ask.”
[Speak, Star Eater.]
The giant looked at him with shining eyes full of respect. A type of look Alon felt he had seen somewhere else...
“There are other countries, why did you save Caliban?”
In the Allied United Kingdoms there were more than ten countries, not counting the destroyed Ashtalon.
Why choose Caliban?
The giant responded:
[Because this territory is under the protection of the Star Eater.]
“My protection...?”
[Yes. I knew it immediately upon seeing the statue here.]
And with that, the pieces fell into place.
Why Palmarian, as kingly as ever, had been so extremely kind?
[I imagine the others will move in the same way.]
“I see.”
Alon nodded.
The world was in chaos because of the Divine Bloods.
Even so, Silly Makalian continued to fulfill her duties with devotion: gathering believers for the Great Being, sending ‘gifts’ ordered by Him to various countries...
In that context—
“Saintess!”
“Come in.”
Seamus entered Silly's office urgently.
“What is it?”
“It's about... the gifts...”
Seamus spoke cautiously.
Silly nodded, as if expecting it.
Lately, by order of the Great Being, Silly had been sending gifts starting with the largest countries.
And, of course...
Silly perfectly imagined the possible reactions.
Her gift could be interpreted as a provocation.
But she sent them anyway, because they were necessary for the Great Being.
He needed faith. Faith strengthened him.
And Silly, as his Saintess, had the duty to guide the ignorant.
If they rebelled, it would be a disciplinary example.
If they left the statue intact, it would be gained faith.
Of course, they would earn their enmity.
But that didn't matter.
All the hostility would be absorbed by her before reaching the Great Being.
That's why—
“What is happening?”
Reviewing her plan, Silly asked.
Seamus responded:
“All the countries of the Allied United Kingdoms are demanding the gift.”
“...Everyone has complaints about the gift? No, wait, what?”
Silly blinked.
“...Sorry, what did you say?”
“Exactly that. All the countries are asking for one of the statues.”
“...All of them?”
“Yes. We already told them that production takes time and they will be sent in order, but... they say they will pay more just to receive it sooner.”
“...What?”
“In the small country of Kar, they even sent a delegation to kneel and beg.”
“What??”
While she tried to understand, a commotion was heard from outside.
“Let me go, let me go!”
“You cannot enter!”
“Saintess! Please! Give us the statue first! Please—!”
“Get out of here!”
“Please!! Grant us the statue! Pleaaaase!”
And then, desperate voices, which soon disappeared with a strange final moan.
“...Eh...”
What... what is going on?
Silly was completely bewildered.
