422. The Seeker (1)
“So, a group of Divine Bloods called ‘Star Roots’ has emerged… something like that?”
“Yes.”
Alon, frowning for a moment at Evan’s answer, asked another question.
“And how is such a rumor supposed to have spread…?”
“Huh…?”
Seeing that Evan didn’t understand, he added an explanation.
“The Divine Bloods wouldn’t go around telling humans that they’ve formed an organization or a group, right?”
It was a reasonable doubt.
If it were a human organization, it would be normal for rumors to generate the more they acted. Even if they operated in the underworld, as long as they didn’t maintain absolute silence, words would escape.
But Divine Bloods…?
From the start, they weren’t human. And they didn’t have a size that could be hidden among humans either.
Therefore, for such a rumor to exist was already very strange in itself.
“Hmm… yes, it is a bit weird. I didn’t think to investigate it that thoroughly when I went to the Information Guild. I will find out immediately.”
“Please do.”
“Anyway, it seems that group of Divine Bloods called ‘Star Roots’ is growing within the Allied United Kingdoms.”
“Hmm…”
Alon meditated.
‘…Supposedly, not that many Divine Bloods fell in the Allied United Kingdoms, right?’
That was what he heard from Blue Eyes and The One Who Stands Tall.
As proof, unlike the empire—which was absolute chaos because of the Divine Bloods—the Allied United Kingdoms was relatively calm.
Even counting the appearances of Divine Bloods, they didn’t exceed ten.
‘But you said there were already eight Divine Bloods active in that territory.’
Thinking up to that point, Alon asked:
“Evan, did you hear how big that group called Star Roots is?”
“The Information Guild says they exceed 10 entities.”
“…More than 10?”
“Yes.”
“That… is not good news.”
When Penia, who was listening nearby, muttered with concern, Evan replied:
“Well, it’s not good news, but it’s not bad either, right?”
“…Are you saying it’s not bad?”
“Is it?”
“Haa…”
Penia sighed with an expression of this idiot, seriously.
Evan’s thinking was transparent.
She spoke as if she knew everything.
“I bet you’re saying that because many Divine Bloods have gathered, but they aren’t attacking the Kingdom, then it’s not bad news, right?”
“Exactly. They aren’t attacking, after all.”
“Aren’t you being too optimistic?”
“…You think so?”
“Of course! Right now we might be fighting all over the place against the Divine Bloods that appear, but later, we don’t know what they will do. If all those gathered decide to raze the Allied United Kingdoms, there would be no way to stop them.”
Evan scratched his head and replied:
“It’s not that I haven’t thought about that… but, honestly, do you think they will really do something like that?”
“What do you base that on?”
“From their perspective, I don’t think they see us as a threat.”
“Well…”
Penia thought for a moment and admitted:
“Realistically, yes.”
“See? If they wanted to attack humans, they would have done it already. But if you notice, their number increases, but they don’t attack.”
“That is true…”
If they were going to attack, they would have done it a long time ago, Penia thought, making an indecisive face.
Alon, who was listening to both, reached a conclusion.
‘…Better to be prepared.’
Both were right.
If it were one or two Divine Bloods, he could defend against them. But if there were more than ten…
In the current state, there was no way to stop them.
‘Although we shouldn’t ignore what Evan says either.’
Preparing didn’t mean discarding his opinion. It had a certain logic.
As far as Alon knew, the Divine Bloods were forced to fight among themselves. Humans were limited tools, and they needed to obtain believers as soon as possible to resist the future Divine Bloods that would awaken soon.
But for something as urgent as that not to happen, and instead for them to organize calmly…
It was strange, without a doubt.
“Evan.”
“Yes, Lord Alon.”
“Investigate everything possible about that Star Roots.”
“Understood.”
Alon decided to pay closer attention to them.
The next day.
Alon arrived at Shinto (Divine Land).
And—
“Lord Alon.”
“Yes.”
“We expected it… but even so.”
“I expected it too, but…”
“…It developed more than thought.”
“…I agree.”
Evan, Alon, and Penia, from the cliffs overlooking Shinto, were left speechless.
It was natural. Compared to the last time, the change was abysmal.
Before, what they saw were barely dozens or hundreds of makeshift tents, with some small houses being built on the periphery.
But now, right before their eyes—
“Lord Alon…”
“What is it?”
“How long has it been since we came to Shinto? A year?”
“…Wasn’t it a few months?”
“Right?”
The change was so drastic that Evan doubted his memory.
Hundreds of tents had been replaced by houses. The outer palisade was now practically a low wall.
Lacking only a central castle, it could already be called a genuine feudal city.
“…Where did all that money come from?”
Alon muttered.
And Evan remembered.
The “madness” of the donations and raffles when Palantia was founded.
“Could it be because of the offerings…?”
“Offerings…?”
“Yes.”
“Just with donations, all this is achieved?”
“Well… Rosaria also depends mostly on donations.”
Penia resolved the doubt.
‘…No wonder religions swim in money.’
With a renewed understanding of the world, Alon entered Shinto.
“Welcome, Your Majesty!”
“Boss!”
“Hello, God.”
Silly, Ryanga, and Historia received him immediately.
‘Ah, and if you are worried about your Divine Power, stop by Shinto. There you will find an answer.’
While he greeted them, he remembered Siyan’s words.
‘I’m here, but…’
Maybe it was something foolish. Siyan’s words were speculation, nothing more. But trusting his intuition, he came to Shinto without hesitation…
‘…And now I don’t know what to do.’
No immediate action occurred to him.
Then—
Sound: shing—
A white cat appeared in front of him.
No.
“…Kalanon?”
[Nyam]
Kalanon had appeared. She seemed to have something to say.
While Alon frowned—
shing—
The cat climbed onto the desk, putting its small paw on Alon’s hand.
And at the same time—
“—”
Alon felt his consciousness being absorbed somewhere.
When his darkened sight returned to normal—
“…This place.”
He was in the familiar space filled with a bright blue galaxy.
And then—
“I had a lot to tell you! Why did you take so long?”
“…Kalanon?”
“Huh?”
“No, nothing. You said you had a lot to tell. Did something happen?”
“Yes! A lot!”
“Does it have to do with my Divine Power?”
“Yes. There are several things I want to explain to you, but in summary—”
Kalanon, in her young girl form, revealed surprising news.
“—We have learned how to create a God…!”
“What?”
A phrase sufficient to force Alon to pay full attention.
To the west of the Ampelan continent, where the empire is located. Formerly called the “Western Empire,” now turned into a hell by the Divine Bloods.
There—
In the center of the devastated land that once belonged to the Nix family:
crrrrk— crk—
Like a dragon from oriental mythology, a very long entity reptated in the air.
Its entire body was covered in countless mouths and horrible teeth.
Thousands and thousands of spheres shone around the territory under the setting sun. Among them, the entity swam smoothly:
The Father of Maggots.
One of the most powerful among the Divine Bloods fallen to the surface. Also a servant of Rotten Mouth.
Sliding through the air, he perceived the presence of another Divine Blood.
[What business do you have?]
Even though the other was also a Divine Blood, his tone was one of superiority due to pure strength and authority.
The entity in front of him could not compare.
[…I come to report.]
While nauseating dust fell endlessly from his body, the servant spoke.
[Report?]
[Yes. It is about the order from the great Rotten Mouth… eliminate the Star Eater.]
[Ah, that. I believe Poison Eater was sent.]
The Father of Maggots nodded upon remembering the given mission.
[So, is the Star Eater dead?]
He didn’t have the slightest doubt. Killing a simple human… was nothing for a Divine Blood.
But—
[It seems that he… failed.]
[What?]
The Father of Maggots was disconcerted.
[He failed?]
[Yes… apparently.]
He couldn’t comprehend it. But before getting furious, his thousands of mouths let out a disdainful laugh.
[What a shame for a Divine Blood. Not killing a simple human… absurd.]
Ridiculous.
[But it doesn’t matter, right? He wasn’t the only one sent. I believe Devourer also went… and that gluttonous insect too.]
And he continued sliding calmly.
But—
[…]
[What is it?]
[They also… failed.]
[What…?]
He stopped abruptly.
[Failed?]
[Yes. Both seem to have been destroyed.]
[……??]
He remained speechless.
He knew that Star Eater was not a common human. But in the end, a human was still a human, and in front of a Divine Blood, just a tool.
[…Does that make sense?]
He asked, understanding nothing.
[I don’t understand it either…]
The other scratched his head, equally confused.
An uncomfortable silence fell.
Until—
[…Well. I suppose it can happen.]
The enormous and monstrous Divine Blood accepted reluctantly and went back to sliding.
[After that, Burning Tree was sent, right? And two more accompanied him. They shouldn’t fail this time.]
He remembered Burning Tree. He wasn’t as strong as him, but he was one of the most powerful among the Divine Bloods. And the other two as well.
But—
[?]
[About that too… I have something to report.]
[What is it?]
[It seems that Burning Tree… and the other two… are protecting the Star Eater.]
[…What? Weren’t they going to kill him?]
[…]
“And now they are protecting him?”
[Apparently… yes.]
[……Why?]
[No idea…]
The unexpected “update” forced the Father of Maggots to stop again.
