Chapter 433. The Strange Thing (4)
The room was now dyed a deep red by the moonlight. A heavy silence fell over every corner.
Yutia silently looked at the Seeker of the Path. Her red lips moved softly.
"I came because I wanted to mention something to you for a moment."
A natural smile appeared at the corners of her lips, which were previously expressionless. Seeing that, the Seeker of the Path let out a light sigh.
…At least, according to him, that thing shouldn't lose its smile.
Especially if that was one of those who had crossed over.
"Then, I would like you to release this first."
"Oh, my."
With feigned innocence, Yutia acted as if she had forgotten. The Seeker of the Path regained the freedom of his body.
Only then, stepping away from the window where he was observing the red moon, did he turn his body, and a young woman entered his field of vision. At some point, she was already seated in front of him.
Toc.
There was no clock.
Therefore, nothing should be heard. But, as soon as he recognized with total clarity the sound that resonated in his ear…
"Why did you do it?"
Yutia's question came flying. Her smile was still there, but her expression was infinitely cold.
"…What are you talking about?"
"I think you know very well what I am asking you."
After the interrogation that followed, the Seeker of the Path remained silent for a moment before answering.
Regarding the Star Eater, of course there was no hidden intention. It was simply something he had to tell him at this moment.
"…What do you mean by ‘this moment’?"
"I considered it necessary for him now."
"Is it not simply another one of your rash decisions to easily avoid destruction?"
"I cannot say that intention didn't influence it at all, but it really is something he needs. And you know it too. Since the Divine Bloods descended, things will not be as they were before."
"Although it may not look like it now, there will be others like you in the future. No, in fact, even in this tower there is already someone suspicious. And what I asked of you now as well…"
"Enough."
Yutia stopped his words. The Seeker of the Path closed his mouth without resisting.
Yutia stared him in the eyes.
As if she were observing something amusing.
But with a gaze mixed with analysis.
How much time passed in silence?
"Hmm…"
Yutia tilted her head slightly.
"I more or less understand. You reached that conclusion both for him and for your mission, right?"
"That is correct. My purpose, from before and now, has always been only one."
"Avoiding the destruction of the continent?"
The Seeker of the Path did not answer. He didn't ignore it deliberately.
It is just that both knew very well what answer would come from that.
"…Anyway, even if that is so, it still seems too risky to me."
"It might be difficult. But you are going to accompany him, aren't you?"
"Did you calculate that too?"
"Yes. Of course, even if you go with him, in the end, this is something he must achieve himself."
Yutia nodded, as if she had already heard everything necessary.
"Then, I will keep it in mind."
When her voice resonated again, the red world began to crumble slowly.
The crimson moon regained its original blue.
Finally, when the world returned to normal, the Seeker of the Path murmured:
"…I am glad we could reach an agreement."
"Really?"
"If it hadn't been so, I would have been obliged to use force."
Yutia's steps stopped.
"Oh… Do you think that even if I used my strength, you could escape?"
"…If it were the you from before crossing, it wouldn't be possible. But now it is," he replied, looking at her back.
"Because now you are clearly weaker than before."
She, who was heading to the door, turned only her head to look at him. Beneath her eye smile, a soft curve shone on her lips.
"Do not worry too much."
"Soon, I plan to recover it."
Yutia moved forward again and grabbed the doorknob in silence.
The Seeker of the Path, lost in his thoughts, seemed to remember something and showed surprise just at that instant.
"Ah, right."
Yutia's hand, which was about to turn the knob, stopped dead.
"There was something else I wanted to tell you, but I skipped it."
Without looking at him, she opened the door completely and added:
"If your purpose is to avoid destruction… I think you should pay a bit more attention."
"What…?"
"Even if you stop all the new forms, if he is not there in the end…"
After all… the world will be destroyed anyway.
She left that last sentence in a low voice and disappeared as if vanishing.
The Seeker of the Path stood for a moment looking, stunned, at the place where Yutia had left.
And in silence, he had a doubt.
The expression she used…
“…recover it?”
The Seeker of the Path frowned.
He knew very well that she was someone who had crossed over.
But her power was not something that could be recovered simply by wishing for it.
At least, as far as he knew.
After all, her power…
"…!"
Just when he reached that point, he opened his eyes in surprise.
Because a sudden idea crossed his mind.
If that were possible…
The Seeker of the Path let out an incredulous laugh.
"…Maybe it really is possible."
While he murmured that, he remembered the temple situated at the western end of the continent.
A temple where, perhaps, besides what the Star Eater would seek, there would be someone else who could obtain something.
And the next day.
"Good, let's depart."
"Yes."
"Let's go."
Alon's group departed towards the west.
Although Yutia had joined the journey, there were no major changes.
If anything, the only thing that could be considered a novelty was:
"Hmm-hmm… Alon, this here…"
Penia was acting strangely clumsy, and Basiliora and Blackie, who were always fighting and rolling around over anything, now did not appear at all.
If we put aside those “small” details, nothing out of the normal occurred, and the journey proceeded in peace.
However…
The further the journey progressed, the more Alon's worries grew.
It was because of the matter of the law.
…A law, a law…
Besides his recent small magical studies, what Alon had stuck between his eyebrows was:
What rule or law he would establish upon reaching the second stage.
With Reverse Heaven he had already resolved a part of the risk.
Now he needed something beyond mitigating risks: to take a step forward.
But no matter how much he thought, no appropriate idea occurred to him.
It wasn't because his magic was close to perfection.
His magic still had many defects.
But those were problems he had to solve as a mage, and outside of that, the matter was completely different. That is why Alon had been meditating on it for so long.
Later, as the days passed…
"Alon."
"Yes?"
"We arrived at the border."
"The border… didn't we pass through here recently?"
Alon remembered what happened days ago.
Unlike the border of the Allied United Kingdoms, the imperial border was so empty that it seemed not to matter to maintain it.
"Ah, it seems this is the border of the Eastern Empire."
"Is there another border?"
"Yes, look."
Alon looked out the carriage window.
In front of them rose a huge wall.
As wide as the one they had seen before.
"…They raised another one."
"Yes, it seems they built it after the division of the empire. I think I heard it before."
"I didn't imagine it…"
Alon sighed.
Although the first time he was also surprised, that border was empty, so crossing was easy.
But he never imagined they would have built a second border completely.
"Hmm… What do we do about this…?"
"Yes… the border of the Eastern Empire seems complicated."
Evan, Penia, and Yutia fell into reflection.
After thinking for a while, Alon made a decision.
"Anyway, let's move forward."
They were already there; they couldn't turn back.
The group held a brief tactical meeting before reaching the wall.
"Well, in these cases, there is always the orthodox method based on faith and trust."
"Which one?"
Evan formed a circle with his fingers.
"But if we fail, not only will we never enter, we could end up in prison!"
"Is it that bad?"
"Besides, we aren't even citizens of the empire. I think it won't be that simple… How about this then?"
"What?"
"We reveal who we are and say we come to deliver a message to the princes… I mean, the young princess of the Eastern Empire regarding what happened recently."
"And then?"
"Once inside, we cross the Eastern Empire and continue to the Western Empire."
"And then how do we fix it?"
"That…"
Penia coughed and looked away.
While not very useful solutions were offered, the carriage was already about to reach the wall's gate.
Everyone began to get tense.
Then…
"Do not worry, Master."
"…Yutia?"
Yutia took a step forward.
"Do you have a method?"
"It is not a sure method, but I am under the guidance of Goddess Sironia. And in the empire, there are also those who serve Goddess Sironia."
"Oh…"
Alon let out an exclamation.
If it was as she said, perhaps the passage would be facilitated for them.
After all, she was a cardinal of Rosario.
…Although, didn't the empire worship another god?
That doubt passed through his mind for just an instant.
"Identify yourselves!"
As soon as they arrived, a voice resonated from the top of the wall.
"Let's get down."
"Yes."
Alon and Yutia descended from the carriage and looked up.
High up, almost forcing them to crane their necks, they saw a man with an evidently extraordinary aura.
…By his energy, at least a Master Knight, perhaps more.
Alon evaluated his level by the magic he emanated.
"Greetings. I am Yutia Bloodia, servant of the great goddess Sironia."
The man looked at her with no apparent interest.
But, suddenly, his expression turned strange…
And he disappeared like a ghost from the top of the wall!
Krrrrrk…
And the gate began to open.
"My… it seems Goddess Sironia also works in the empire."
"That is correct."
While Evan and Penia conversed…
"Greetings."
The man ran down and immediately:
"I didn't recognize you, excuse me!"
He made a deep bow towards Alon.
The entire group was left bewildered.
"…What?"
"By chance… are you Alon Palatio, King of Palantia?"
"I am."
Alon answered without thinking too much. The man nodded vigorously.
"I have heard of you. You can pass without a problem."
He said it with total kindness.
"…Why?"
Without understanding, Alon tilted his head. The man, with a proud expression, replied:
"Because you will be the future husband of our princess!"
And with those words…
"…What?"
Yutia's smile disappeared.
And also that of Penia, who was next to Evan.
