Chapter 430. The Strange (1)
Emperor Nataman of the Western Empire.
Alon did not know much about him.
regarding the Northern Empire, Contanias was well-known enough to be talked about even in the community of the previous world, but as for Nataman, everything he knew came from what he had heard from Evan.
Because of the Divine Bloods, his territory was torn apart and destroyed.
Other than that, there was no proper information about Nataman.
Of course, he wouldn't know Alon either.
Alon had lived all this time in the Allied United Kingdoms, so he had never had the opportunity to meet the emperor of the empire.
Yes, it had to be that way. It should be that way.
“Nataman~!! What the hell are you doing?!!”
Why was such a situation occurring?
Alon looked ahead.
There was Nataman, wearing a smile, having planted a fist squarely into the face of his own brother, Contanias.
“What am I doing? Why, correcting my dear brother’s etiquette, of course.”
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped Contanias’s lips. But soon, with his face twisted in fury like a demon, he roared.
“An idiot incapable of protecting even a measly piece of shared territory dares to spout such nonsense at me!?”
“As I said yesterday, it was a strategic retreat. I reduced it ‘on purpose’, you know?”
Contanias tried to lunge at him.
But— Snap—!
Unfortunately, the sound of snapping fingers halted the movement, the work of the Mask.
“As I have repeated several times, the Master does not wish for losers to cause unnecessary conflicts.”
The Mask warned politely.
Nataman, looking towards where Contanias had disappeared, smiled kindly again.
“Forgive me. Seeing such a rude brother made me react without thinking.”
With a hahaha, as if it were an innocent mistake, he scratched his head casually. The expressions of those watching him turned strange.
“I will offer apologies in his stead.”
He even bowed his head, to which Alon replied:
“......No, it is not necessary.”
“What breadth of spirit!”
…More than breadth, Nataman had blown Contanias away before Alon could even react.
Alon simply nodded.
Nataman also bowed his head and turned around, disappearing beyond the door.
Alon watched him go, stunned, just for a moment.
“Hmm, so you are the one starring in the rumors.”
Hearing that voice, Alon turned his gaze.
There were two women who, until recently, had been seated next to Nataman and Contanias.
One was smiling softly.
The other observed him with an expressionless face, as if analyzing him.
Upon seeing the two rulers of the Eastern Empire and the Southern Empire, Alon’s instinct searched through his memory.
‘The short one must be Serdea Polanticia, princess of the Eastern Empire. And the taller one, Irene Polanticia, princess of the Southern Empire.’
Both had gleaming golden hair, but the atmosphere they emitted was very different.
While Alon was thinking that—
“Hmm~ but it seems it is not the time to talk now.”
Serdea Polanticia said that and turned around, heading towards where Nataman had exited.
“Brother.”
“Yes.”
“Did you happen to know the imperial prince?”
Receiving a question that sounded as if Yuman were the one who ought to answer ‘Me?’, Alon also left the room.
Yutia naturally stood by his side and walked out with him, casting a glance back toward where Nataman and the princesses had disappeared.
And then:
“…Why didn’t it work?”
The Mask was also murmuring while looking at the spot where Nataman had been, alternating his gaze between that spot and his own fingers.
The next day.
When Alon arrived at the meeting again, he felt many more gazes than the day before.
Most were brimming with curiosity.
Others, however, distilled hatred, even though Alon had done nothing.
But, perhaps because they had received some warning, no one went beyond simply glaring at him.
Alon sighed silently and looked to his side. Siyan was there.
Siyan gave him an enigmatic smile.
In fact, after yesterday’s opening ceremony—which couldn't even be called a meeting—Alon had tried to talk to her, but she disappeared immediately.
‘Today I will definitely talk to her.’
While he was thinking that—
Uuuung—
A soft magical wave appeared, and a black shadow emerged in the main seat, soon forming a body.
It was clearly different from the day before.
The kings present directed their gazes.
Shortly after, a man appeared seated in the main seat.
The man looked… too strange to be alive.
His skin had a grayish tone, almost cadaverous, and in his eyes, there were no human pupils, but strange marks.
And then—
Alon swallowed saliva without realizing it.
Everyone in that room viewed the Seeker of the Path differently.
Some with curiosity.
Others with interest.
Others with doubt.
Infinite feelings crossed the atmosphere.
But Alon felt something different.
Intimidation.
The kings didn’t seem to feel it, but Alon felt the pressure just from his appearance.
That was dangerous.
Sin?
No.
Divine Blood?
No.
What was sitting there…
Was more dangerous than any being he had met until now.
That is why he held his breath for an instant.
The man blinked a couple of times, as if waking up completely, and observed the entire room.
When he found Alon, he tapped the table lightly with his fingers, his eyes tinged with an unusual light.
Suuk—
Immediately, the pressure Alon felt began to fade.
Before Alon could process it—
“Contractors who have come remembering the pact of hundreds of years, I am glad to see you. I am the Seeker of the Path.”
He began.
After his brief introduction, the room murmured.
One of them raised a hand, anxious to speak.
But—
“I know you all have questions, but I will address them later. There is something more important now.”
The Seeker of the Path had no intention of allowing questions yet.
“As you already know, the continent is in an extremely dangerous situation due to the ‘leftovers of the gods’ —the Divine Bloods— that have fallen. Some already know this well.”
He looked around.
“—If we do not stop them, the continent will be destroyed.”
With those words, tension filled the room.
“I do not know how you perceive this situation. Some will believe it will simply pass. Others will want to take advantage and gain benefit from the Divine Bloods.”
“But remember this: the Divine Bloods have come to destroy the continent. What you believe does not change that fact.”
With a cold voice, the Seeker of the Path observed everyone.
“It is not that a prosperous kingdom will fall.”
“It is not that a prosperous empire will fall.”
“In this land where countless empires and kingdoms have risen and disappeared—”
He continued.
“—This time, it will be you who disappear. Without history. Without a trace.”
The kings showed diverse expressions.
Some incredulous.
Others in shock.
Others trying to comprehend the situation as a whole.
The Seeker of the Path, who observed everything calmly, added:
“Therefore, according to the Pact of the Path, I will deliver power. A power that will allow you to fight against the Divine Bloods.”
He snapped his fingers firmly.
Uuuuuuuung—!
With a great sound of resonance—
A massive sphere appeared in the middle of the table.
It was similar to what Alon had used recently for his Faith.
And suddenly, the sphere divided into multiple fragments.
“!”
“What—?!”
The fragments were absorbed inside the body of each king.
They barely had time to be surprised.
Without giving an opportunity to resist, the Seeker of the Path declared:
“I have granted ‘Possibility’ according to the pact. Now I will indicate, one by one, the location of the relics necessary to handle that possibility.”
He spoke as if it were nothing.
And just as he had arrived, the Seeker of the Path disappeared instantly.
Bewilderment filled the room.
But—
“From now on, I will take charge of guiding you.”
The Mask came out, as if he had been waiting for this, and led the first king out of the room.
While the place remained chaotic after the disappearance of the Seeker of the Path and the Mask—
“…Brother.”
Yuman spoke suddenly.
“What is it, Saint?”
“…What entered our bodies a moment ago… was it mana?”
Alon hesitated.
Since the Mask came out, he had also been thinking about the energy that had filtered into his own body. But he couldn't answer Yuman easily either.
It was logical: he himself couldn't identify it clearly.
‘……It is ambiguous.’
He recalled the sensation.
It wasn't mana.
But it was also strange to call it Holy Power.
“I believe it wasn’t mana….”
“I see.”
Yuman murmured, then confessed what he was thinking.
“Honestly… I am a little worried.”
“Yes?”
“Yes. In Rosario, ancient records regarding the Pact of the Path also remain… but a power that is neither mana nor Faith….”
Alon agreed: it was suspicious.
He believed the Seeker of the Path was not an enemy of the continent —not according to the information he knew, nor according to historical records—.
But as Yuman said, it was unquestionable that they had received an unusual power.
Alon looked at Yutia, just in case.
“I am sorry, Master. This… I do not know well either.”
“……I see.”
“I am sorry, Master…”
“No, it is not necessary to apologize.”
It was true.
There was no way Yutia would know the nature of that sphere.
Just like Alon, it was the first time she was experiencing something like this.
…Unless she was living a second run.
Alon inexplicably felt a certain relief.
But then—
“You.”
He raised his gaze.
Serdea Polanticia, the princess of the Eastern Empire, who yesterday had observed him with a peculiar smile, was there.
With a playful touch on her face, she stared at him and thought for a moment.
“Do you know well who I am?”
A question without context.
But it wasn't difficult to answer.
“……I understand that you are Serdea Polanticia, who leads the Eastern Empire.”
Alon answered.
“Mmm~”
Serdea smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
“Then it will be faster to talk.”
“......Talk about what?”
“I will be direct.”
She added.
Before Alon could comprehend—
“How about you become my husband?”
Serdea asked Alon that.
