Chapter 370. I Regained Consciousness. (2)
The next day.
Fortunately…
Throughout the story Yutia told last night, the unfortunate event of Alon being able to move his body again did not occur.
……Although even if it had been possible, he wouldn't have moved anyway.
Anyway, it’s not that Yutia was only looking out for her own interests(?). She also spoke calmly about her memories with him, with a touch of worry.
Every time, though, she added an absurd amount of footnotes about how old she was back then... but it wasn't a big issue.
Alon simply realized.
Just how much Yutia actually cares about her age... in some corner of her heart.
‘…But, is that really her age?’
Alon calculated it again mentally.
To be honest, he had overlooked it at the time, but he had always thought Yutia was about 20 years old.
After all, Psychedelia never revealed much about her. In the game, the only thing known was her tragic future. So Alon, while reflecting on her age, suddenly felt a slight doubt.
It wasn't a huge doubt.
But, for instance:
If she was really that old, why did she always appear with an appearance approximately 10 years younger, both in the game and in this world?
While he was thinking inside his semi-conscious darkness, the door creaked open.
“Master!”
It was Seolrang.
Her cheerful voice was the same as always. She hopped onto Alon's bed and started making noise among his things. She was definitely doing something.
“Hmmm~ what a pity...”
What is she doing? Alon only had his consciousness active, so he couldn't know exactly. But from the soft sound he heard, he could at least deduce she was doing something with his arm.
And how long did this go on?
“You know what, Master?”
Seolrang started talking. Like Yutia, she also mentioned memories with him.
The only difference compared to Yutia was that...
She at least didn't mention her age every five seconds.
Some time passed.
“Ahem—”
Seolrang's voice, which had been speaking enthusiastically just a moment ago, began to fade.
Her tone became calm, as if preparing for something.
And then—
“Uh… Master, did you know that I was your favorite?”
Seolrang whispered in Alon's ear as if revealing a highly confidential secret.
“Yes, yes! You always found me the most adorable. You hated that stupid horned brat, and the other one who did nonsense without changing his expression too.”
Seolrang had started slandering.
If it were up to him, he would have answered: “What on earth are you talking about…?” but unfortunately Alon had no control over his body.
“Those two pull fox tricks just to get Master's attention, did you know? That horned brat waits for you to leave the office to appear just in time.”
Isn't it better to stop saying those things...?
Alon thought that, until suddenly the image of Ryanga came to his mind.
In a mansion so big that it was hard to cross paths in the hallways...
Ryanga always appeared, at least once, just when he came out of his office.
So it had always been on purpose...?
‘…Ryanga?’ Alon thought with strangeness for a moment, but Seolrang didn't stop slandering Ryanga and Historia for a long while.
“Ahem— Anyway! The important thing is that Master must play more with me, with me!”
With a victorious giggle, as if she had achieved something huge.
“So when you wake up, play with me first... okay?”
She said it holding back her urge to cry. Her voice sounded different from the cheerful one before, with a slight tremor that made it bitter.
…Alon decided that when he woke up, he would give her lots of head pats.
After a brief silence—
“I'm leaving!”
Seolrang, who had been sitting there for a long while, said goodbye energetically and left.
The room, which had fallen silent, soon became noisy again.
“Ahem—”
The one who entered this time was Ryanga.
And—
“…Why are you breathing like that, as if you're panting?”
Cheonggwi.
“Shut up.”
Ryanga's icy voice.
“I mean, why are you so nervous if he isn't even conscious?”
“I told you to shut up. And he might be conscious.”
“Then by that logic you shouldn't speak ill of me either, right? He can hea— GUEK—!”
Cheonggwi's irritated groan and a loud THWACK! resonated almost simultaneously.
Both acted as if they were performing an unexpected comedy sketch.
But it only lasted a moment.
“Ahem— Boss, I came because they said it would be good to share memories. Well… our memories aren't exactly happy.”
Ryanga let out an awkward laugh. Alon felt his heart grow heavy.
He also knew Ryanga's past.
And he knew that her memories together belonged to the most painful time of her life.
“So… it's been a while.”
Ryanga began to speak calmly about the first time they met.
When Alon saved her for the first time.
When he gathered companions to escape Baarma.
When they managed to desperately flee Baarma's army and return to the village.
When Ryanga, crying, begged him to kill Baarma, and Alon, not knowing what to say, could only nod his head.
And then...
“Remember? You told me that you thought I was pretty—”
…Alon… thought Ryanga was pretty…?
???
Alon was confused. When had he said something like that?
“Ahem, but at that moment circumstances didn't allow it, so we postponed that conversation for when everything was over, remember?”
As Ryanga spoke, the question marks in Alon's head increased.
Obviously, he had never said such a thing.
And certainly not back then.
Ryanga looked like an adult now, at least physically, but back then she was small.
Tiny. She reached his waist height.
If Alon had said something like that then...
It couldn't be described as anything other than a total disaster.
‘What are you saying, Ryanga…?’ thought Alon desperately. But since he couldn't move his body, he could only feel dizzy.
“Does speaking while trembling like that make you think it sounds credible?”
“W-What—?!”
Cheonggwi, who was quiet, suddenly blurted out that phrase. Ryanga got flustered.
Cheonggwi sighed deeply.
“And if you're going to invent things, at least do it well. It looks like you're writing a story for chil— GUEK!”
Unfortunately...
Cheonggwi couldn't finish the sentence.
Just when he was clicking his tongue with contempt—
CRAAAAASH!
A deafening roar silenced him completely.
And for the next 30 minutes...
“Please, be more careful...”
“I am very sorry...”
Yutia's soft voice, but impregnated with a terrifying pressure that even Alon felt, made Ryanga apologize.
And the room fell silent again.
Another day passed.
“Sir.”
“…Marquess.”
The ones who entered this time were Deus and Radan.
Unlike the others, Deus started speaking with a slightly subdued tone, recalling stories of the past with Alon.
Radan too.
Alon listened attentively, fearing another “memory alteration” would occur like with Ryanga.
But to his relief, they were simple real memories.
Just when he sighed in relief—
“While you were in bed, Marquess, we have been controlling the situation little by little.”
Deus began a totally different account. Alon paid attention immediately.
And he quickly understood the gist of the current situation.
…The collapse of Ashtalon… and the monsters… huh?
The news Deus gave calmly were not encouraging. Alon had already assumed part of it.
Since Eliban killed several important nobles of Ashtalon and the capital was blown up, it was a matter of time before the kingdom ceased to exist as such.
But what was unexpected was the matter of the monsters.
“Since the galaxy fell, the monsters have increased exponentially.”
From what he heard, it seemed like more than a simple increase. Alon wanted to know more, but Deus didn't have too much information.
What he did say was:
“Marquess, once you officially wake up, we will build a new statue in honor of the hero who saved the United Allied Kingdom. Since we know you love statues.”
That's what he said.
…Alon thought: When the hell did I say that?
But Deus continued, as if he wanted to brainwash him into liking statues. After about 30 minutes of passionate speech, he left.
A few days passed after Deus and Radan left.
During that time, many people visited Alon while he only had active consciousness.
And Alon little by little began to understand what each visitor wanted from him.
For example, the first one who came next was Silly.
She brought a new holy book, saying she had finished all preparations “for when he woke up” and that she had rewritten a “great epic of the supreme god.”
Of course, Alon didn't remember absolutely anything of what the new book narrated...
He didn't know if she wanted him to believe those things or if she really did.
Then came Penia.
She recounted that Alon had always deeply appreciated and respected her very much.
Evan said he had reduced his own salary by half because that's how it should be.
……Of course, in that instant, Alon decided that when he woke up he would reduce the salary to a quarter.
Nangwon and Historia also came.
Nangwon limited himself to remembering old times and then left.
Historia only said: “Recover soon.”
And today.
When his body was practically recovered and Alon began to feel his control again—
“You woke up.”
Alon opened his eyes upon hearing that voice. In front of him, with the darkened window behind, was Rine, smiling.
“How did you know?”
He hadn't shown any external signs, but she noticed instantly. Surprised, Alon asked, and she smiled.
“Hm— intuition?”
“…Intuition?”
“Is it weird?”
“…Coming from you, a little.”
Rine smiled softly and gave the true answer.
“The truth is, I knew.”
“You knew when I would wake up?”
“Yes. With quite a bit of precision. So I was waiting.”
“…Why?”
“Because I wanted to be the first face you saw.”
Alon smiled unintentionally upon hearing her playful comment.
Then he tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
A few days ago, Rine had told the others that she didn't know when he would wake up.
“Godfather. Can I ask you something?”
Her question arrived even before Alon could cast away the doubt.
He nodded automatically.
“What is it?”
“Between a person who acts with a peaceful heart and another who acts with a guilty conscience… which do you prefer more?”
She asked calmly.
The question was so sudden that Alon was disoriented.
“…Rine.”
“Yes?”
“…You didn't just know when I would wake up, did you?”
He looked her directly in the eyes.
At that—
“…Who knows?”
The smile that had never faded deepened.
It seemed different from before, with a playful touch.
“Anyway, welcome back, Godfather.”
And before Rine's warm welcome—
Alon responded with a smile that emerged naturally.
