C390
Alon descended underground and met with Karsem again.
After listening to Kaian's rough plan, Alon summarized it.
"In conclusion, what they want is to continue this war of attrition and, when the combat forces are practically annihilated, occupy the place, right?"
"That is correct."
"And if this plan leaks and the people, including the Babayagas, try to escape, they will have no choice but to release the special entities early, right?"
Alon looked at Karsem, who was nodding silently, and continued.
"Did you say that the battles with the special entities happen every three days?"
"Correct."
"How strong are those entities?"
"Ah, I think I can explain that more or less."
This time, the one who answered was Lime, who had been listening quietly to the side.
"The special entities… if we are talking about someone like the Babayagas, they can face them without too much difficulty."
"Even if several pounce at the same time?"
"……I think up to five would be possible."
"And the lower-rank warriors?"
"If they are A-class, they can deal with one entity. Starting from B-class… they will need two or three to join together."
"And how many special entities appeared in the last battle?"
"It couldn't be counted exactly, but between one hundred and one hundred and fifty."
Alon reflected for a few seconds on numbers that didn't add up, until he easily found the answer.
"…Did Seolrang take care of the rest?"
"Yes."
With Lime's answer, Alon meditated on all the information obtained so far.
'What would be the best way to act here…?'
Thinking about everything that had happened up to that moment, Alon didn't have many possible plans.
No, actually there were too many factors he had to consider.
In the Colony he had to fight against, there was a huge amount of people.
If he didn't care about them, designing a plan would be easier.
But Alon had no intention of ignoring them.
And not only that: he also had to consider how many special entities might appear, and in what form the Divine Bloods would manifest.
But, above all…
'…The fact that I made a move and yet Karan hasn't reacted.'
Alon didn't usually tend to be very conscious of his own position. But thanks to Penia and Evan, who repeated it to him constantly, he quickly caught a sense of strangeness.
'He can't not know that I entered the kingdom.'
Was it confidence? Or some hidden plan?
After a brief moment of doubt, Alon decided to ask Karsem, just in case.
"Just to make sure… Karan must know that I entered the Colony, right?"
"Probably."
"Then, do you think he has any reason not to make a move even so?"
"…That I can no longer assure."
Karsem's unsure answer didn't surprise Alon.
He thought the same, but decided to put that idea aside.
It was important to understand Karan's intentions, yes, but he didn't have time to analyze them now.
He had, at most, two days left.
'…Protect all these people scattered in the city while I eliminate the Divine Blood…'
Alon returned to the main problem.
Some time passed.
Then, Alon, who had been lightly tapping the table with his fingers, spoke.
"Let's do it this way."
And he began to explain the plan he had put together mentally.
When he finished…
"……Understood. Then we will proceed like that."
"I will also move with Seolrang starting tonight."
"I leave that to you."
Karsem and Lime left immediately.
Alon also headed to the surface.
"Seolrang?"
As soon as he went up, he could see Seolrang, who hadn't participated in the meeting.
'She's back already?'
He remembered Lime saying that Seolrang had gone out for a moment.
She greeted him with her usual radiant smile.
"Onsa!"
"Where were you?"
"Ah! I had to run a little errand outside."
She ran towards him, but suddenly stopped as if remembering something.
"Ah! Master! Sorry, I have to do something quick, I'll be back in a while."
"Another task?"
"Yes! I should have finished it before returning, but I couldn't!"
Alon stared at her while she kept smiling.
"I understand."
He nodded.
Seolrang left a "See you later, Master" and sped away.
"My, always so cheerful."
"Seolrang?"
"Yes. In such bad situations, it would be normal to be depressed."
"Mmh… maybe it's because for her, as long as you are nearby, everything is fine."
"Certainly, she has a bit of that."
Evan and Penia were chatting while watching Seolrang.
But Alon didn't join the chat. He remained looking in the direction she had left, remembering her expression from a moment ago.
Seolrang was smiling, as always.
A radiant smile.
But strangely…
'…Did something happen to her?'
Maybe it was his imagination.
But, instead of her usual cheerfulness, Alon perceived a strange unease in her smile. As if she were trying to hide something.
He stared at that spot for a while.
The next morning.
Alon verified that the sun rose earlier there than in other places and asked Lime:
"Did the plan go according to schedule?"
"Yes, it was a bit tight, but we finished everything before dawn. The other Babayagas also cooperated."
"Then now only the next part remains."
"Exactly."
Lime nodded firmly.
After thinking for a moment, Alon stood up.
"Let's go to the palace."
"Yes. I gave notice in advance, just as you said."
"Just to confirm… did they authorize my entry?"
"Yes… in fact, it was as if they were waiting."
They headed to the first floor and met up with Penia and Evan.
"Lord Marquis, just in case… should I go with you?"
"No. Stay here in case something happens, I need you to be part of the force."
"…I understand. But even so, please don't overexert yourself."
"I will keep it in mind."
Alon looked at Evan.
He smiled broadly.
"Good luck."
"You're not saying you want to come."
"Eh? How would it occur to me to go to a place like that? If I go, maybe they'll split me in half before you can rescue me."
"Hmm…"
For a moment, Alon thought about taking him just out of annoyance.
But he shook his head.
"Return safely, Lord Marquis."
"I will."
"If you get hurt, someone is going to cry a lot, waaah—!"
"Shut up a bit."
Penia pinched his sides hard, and Evan's cry of pain marked the moment Alon boarded the carriage bound for the kingdom.
It didn't take long until they arrived at the royal palace.
Alon entered without any restriction and headed to the throne room, where Karmaxes III was.
Nothing had changed.
The luxurious ornaments before reaching the room.
The peculiar architecture.
The strange marble.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, had changed.
"Long time no see."
Even Karmaxes III received him as if it were nothing.
Alon even doubted for an instant if Karsem hadn't exaggerated or misunderstood everything.
But that sensation broke soon.
"…Karan."
"I am honored that you still remember me."
The reason was simple:
The First Prince, Karan, was there, stuck to Karmaxes III's side as if he were his secretary, and the strange energy emanating from him.
'No… this is not mana.'
Alon understood it immediately. What emanated from Karan's body was not mana.
"I see."
Perhaps Karan noticed that Alon had perceived it.
A cold voice fell upon him.
The Prince was smiling broadly.
"It seems you came knowing everything. As expected, the little rat was hiding in the burrow of those animals."
Alon hesitated whether to deny it, but ended up nodding.
"That is so."
"Tch, what a nuisance."
Karan clicked his tongue as if he had already foreseen it.
"So, what did the rat tell you?"
"Practically everything important."
"And that's why you came to kill me?"
Karan let out a mocking laugh.
That smile showed absolute confidence in the situation.
And Alon, who had already obtained some information, replied:
"Before that, I want to talk a little."
"Talk?"
"Yes. I have some doubts. Will you allow me?"
Karan looked at him with an undecipherable expression.
"Bah, fine."
And he touched with his finger the body of Karmaxes III, who was still sitting on the throne.
Then…
Chiiiiiiii—
The king's body, which until a second ago was sitting solemnly, began to melt with a nauseating sound.
The eyeballs slid like candle wax, the gums disappeared and the teeth fell out.
In the end, the only thing left on the throne was Karmaxes III's skin.
Karan wrinkled his face with repulsion and pushed the skin with contempt.
Tuk, tuk— Tududuk—
The skin rolled down the stairs.
Alon observed the scene in silence.
"Don't look at me like that. It's just skin."
Karan settled in, completely relaxed.
"…What did you do with Karmaxes III?"
"Just as you see: the skin is there, and the body was given to the Great Being."
He crossed his legs as if talking about the weather.
Alon looked back at the skin rolling on the floor. He felt a little gratitude for having a face that showed no emotions, no matter what he felt.
"Fine. Then let's start with the conversation."
Karan's viscous voice resonated.
Alon raised his gaze.
"Ah, but before that, I also want to ask you something."
And then:
"What the hell are you?"
"…What do you mean?"
"Just as I'm saying it."
Karan asked abruptly:
"I am curious… why among the Great Beings do they call you 'Star Eater'?"
The question fell.
And the silence broke.
