Chapter 431. Bizarre (2)
"Don't you want to become my husband?"
Alon Palatio was stunned by Serdea Polanticia's words.
And it wasn't just Alon.
The kings, who were observing the situation in silence, also stood motionless before the sudden marriage proposal.
Even Contanias and Irene Polanticia, who until recently were casting glances full of hatred at Alon, froze rigid, as if they couldn't keep up with what was happening.
Yuman, Siyan, Palmarian IV, and Karsem, who had a relationship with Alon, were just as flabbergasted.
Then, that broke the silence.
Ugggrrk–!
Something cracked, unable to withstand the force of a grip.
"Aha… it seems I made a mistake."
Yutia Bloodia, bowing down as if she had simply dropped an object.
Alon, who remained stunned even while watching that, heard Serdea Polanticia's voice again.
"Do you plan not to answer me?"
He finally snapped out of his trance at Serdea's insistent pressure.
“Is this a joke?” he thought for an instant, but denied it immediately. Although there was a soft smile on her lips, there was no trace of amusement in her eyes.
That is why, not knowing how to answer immediately, Alon finally opened his mouth.
"…Excuse me, but what are you saying?"
He asked to make sure he wasn't misinterpreting something. However—
"Hm? Is there something to interpret differently? My words are literal."
"If we take it literally—"
"It means I wish for you to become my husband. That we hold a wedding."
A declaration as direct as a punch.
Serdea spoke with evident enjoyment at Alon's impassive reaction.
"Hmm— how curious. Most change their expression in a thousand ways when I mention something like that, but you do not."
"…Was it a joke?"
"No. I am serious. I do not enjoy those kinds of games."
With that firm statement, Alon was left speechless.
He truly didn't understand why Serdea was proposing to him. But as if reading his mind, she asked:
"Are you perhaps wondering why I asked you to marry me?"
"…Honestly, yes."
"It is simple. I considered that with you by my side, I could truly become Empress."
Another brutally direct answer.
Serdea slowly approached Alon and raised her hand toward his cheek.
At that instant—
Tak–
Serdea's hand was stopped.
Her gaze shifted toward the one who had interrupted.
"I think that is a bit rude, don't you think?"
Yutia Bloodia was smiling radiantly… but with a chilling glint in her eyes. Serdea observed her with indifference and then arched a slight smile.
"Hmm, is it?"
"Yes, it is."
"Well, so what? It is not so strange to touch the face of the one who will soon be my husband. It might be somewhat embarrassing, but nothing more than that."
"…You speak as if the marriage were already decided, don't you think?"
"Of course. It is what I desire. There is no reason for it not to happen."
Serdea's absolute confidence was not unfounded.
She was a princess governing part of the Empire and a candidate for the throne. Marrying her meant obtaining everything.
…Although considering her immeasurable ambitions, it didn't seem simple for her to end up devouring the entire Empire.
"With all due respect, I do not believe Master has affection for Your Highness."
"Do not worry, that will be resolved with time."
"No, it will never happen."
The conversation between Yutia and Serdea caused the atmosphere to start freezing.
A tension that seemed about to explode.
Alon tried to intervene when—
Criiick—
The door opened.
"Alon-nim, I would appreciate it if you accompanied me."
The masked voice rang out.
"…I will return."
Alon took the opportunity to withdraw naturally.
"You have arrived."
After following the masked man, Alon arrived in front of an old wooden door.
"You may enter."
He entered alone and found Seeker of the Path inside.
He was sitting before a desk, gesturing with his hand to the chair in front of him.
When Alon sat down, the Seeker's gaze dug deeply into his face.
And then—
as if he had understood something, he let out a soft exclamation.
"What…?"
"Ah, nothing. It is something entirely personal."
Seeker waved his hand, observing him as if it were entertaining.
"As I said before, I already gave you all the ‘possibility’, and now I should give you the artifact to handle it. In theory."
"…In theory?"
Seeker nodded.
"Yes. In theory. But with you, it seems that is not necessary."
"What do you mean?"
"You already have a means to fight against the Divine Bloods, isn't that so?"
As if he knew everything, Seeker sighed lightly and leaned back in his chair.
After thinking about it for a moment, he continued.
"So, instead, I will tell you two things that will be useful to you."
"…Two things?"
"Go to the temple in the far west."
"The far west…"
"Yes. Cross the Empire and reach the temple. There you will obtain the strength you need. To be exact, the strength to advance to the ‘next level’."
Alon's eyes opened wide.
"If it is the next level—"
"Exactly. There you will obtain the power to reach the Rhythm."
"—!"
"But be careful. If you do not succeed… you will die."
"…If I fail, I will die?"
"Yes. But if you survive and advance to the next level, then—"
By way of advice, he added:
"Think about it tirelessly. What it is that you need most."
"What… I need most."
"Yes. That which you find at the end of your thought—"
He stopped suddenly and shook his head.
"…No. Interfering more would be excessive. Now, the second thing: search for the Divine Blood of the west."
It only took Alon an instant to understand.
"…The dragon of the west?"
"Yes. The ‘Father of Maggots’. His power will be useful to you."
While Alon processed that information—
"That is all. I have nothing more to tell you."
The conversation ended abruptly and surprisingly emptily.
After meditating on it for a few seconds, Alon spoke cautiously.
"…May I ask something?"
"If it is about the temple, it will be of no use. I can only tell you that."
"It isn't that."
"Then—"
He looked at a clock on the wall.
"—I can grant you a single question."
A limited time.
After thinking about it, Alon chose a question.
"The strength you injected into the kings earlier… what exactly was it?"
It wasn't mana nor divine power.
"I already said it, didn't I? It was the power of ‘possibility’."
"…The power of possibility?"
"Yes. Neither more nor less… Ah, but I can give you another term."
After a pause, Seeker finished:
"People also call it: Supernatural Blood."
Serene.
In the Allied United Kingdoms, the group of Divine Bloods called Star Roots had grown considerably.
Although they barely reached fifteen members, for Divine Bloods outside a major faction, it was a difficult number to gather.
And thanks to the duplication ability of the newly recruited member, a secret meeting was held in an underground hideout.
The air was dense.
Although not all the members of Star Roots were there, five Divine Bloods who had personally seen Darkness-Eating Sword in the Divine Land were present.
Darkness-Eating Sword spoke with a grave voice:
[…We need a decisive play…]
They had witnessed Alon's power with their own eyes.
The rumors that the Star Eater was fake no longer mattered.
They knew exactly why Burning Tree had created Star Roots.
For a single reason:
To attract the attention of the Star Eater.
The Star Eater, who did not want to reveal that he was a Divine Blood.
That is why they created Star Roots, to stop other Divine Bloods, demonstrating that they were not enemies and accumulating merits.
Those gathered considered that Burning Tree's decision was not bad.
If they couldn't approach the Star Eater directly, at least they could do so through actions.
But there was a problem:
They were members who had joined late.
Which meant that, when the time came to receive power from the Star Eater…
They could be the last on the list.
Terrible news.
[…But it does not seem we can do much now.]
[I agree. No matter what we do, it will be difficult to surpass the merits of those who arrived first.]
[Even if we recruit more Divine Bloods, that merit will go to Burning Tree…]
Several opinions arose.
But there was no solution, and expressions darkened, until—
[…There is a method.]
Darkness-Eating Sword, who had been silent, spoke.
[…What method?]
Curiosity shone in the others.
Feeling their gazes, he continued:
[If we cannot catch up to them by ordinary means, we must play a card that anyone would recognize as monumental.]
[A great play?]
[That is right.]
With determination, he said:
[Even the Star Eater knows who sends Divine Bloods to this place.]
The others were confused for an instant, until—
[…Don't tell me…!]
[The Father of Maggots?]
[…Right, if it is him—]
[I see—]
They remembered a single being and began to murmur.
[…This is our opportunity. A unique opportunity to leave an indelible impression on him.]
Darkness-Eating Sword concluded.
It didn't take the others long to make a firm decision.
