C432. The Strange (3)
After hearing the words of the Seeker of the Path, that very night.
"Alon-nim, you seem to have a lot of worries today," Penia said with curiosity.
"Does it look like that?"
"Hm... yes. Before it was hard to notice, but lately I perceive it a little."
"…Really?"
"Yes. For example, your posture changes slightly."
Normally Alon keeps his back straight, but when he has many things to think about or is worried, his back slouches naturally.
While he listened to Penia's explanation, Alon recalled the words of the Seeker of the Path again.
"…The power of possibility… is the power of the Supernatural Blood…"
Just after hearing that, Alon had to leave the Seeker of the Path’s room.
The time during which he could manifest was not long, so continuing to converse was impossible.
Alon ran a hand over his chin.
He had to organize all the information gathered so far.
The truth is that there wasn't much precise information about the Supernatural Blood.
First, that the Supernatural Blood was responsible for destroying the Illaneph Empire and Babiloia, two empires as large as Colony had been in the past.
Second, that Yutia Bloodia was called the daughter of the Supernatural Blood.
But the information acquired this time through the Seeker of the Path did not fit completely with those two points.
Naturally, Alon's worry could only increase.
At that moment:
"Alon, perhaps it is because of what happened today?" Penia asked cautiously.
"What happened today?"
"Yes. I heard that one of the princesses of the Empire proposed marriage to you."
Penia threw out the question while carefully observing his reaction.
Alon put his worries aside for a moment.
"…It is true that it happened, but where did you hear it?"
"When I went to see the Queen of Asteria for a moment."
"Ah."
Alon remembered that he had sent Penia and Evan to meet with her.
In the end, she suddenly left the tower and they didn't manage to see her, but it seems that at some point Penia received the news.
"It's not because of that."
"I imagined so… hehe, anyway I just wanted to ask just in case."
She sighed, somewhat relieved after having waited with a somewhat tense face.
[Kyu?]
Blackie, who was in his chest, suddenly jumped with a surprised expression.
"Hmm?"
Alon looked at him, wondering what was wrong.
"I suspected it," said Evan. "As soon as he heard what happened before and saw Alon thoughtful, he started running in circles."
"Shut up!" Penia retorted.
A brief exchange arose between the two.
"Huh? What did you say?" asked Alon.
"Me? Nothing, it was nothing. But Blackie froze," answered Penia, changing the subject with a natural smile.
Alon nodded.
"Yes, he suddenly got like that."
As soon as he tried to pet him, Blackie, who had been looking around terrified, hid in his chest again.
Alon was even more confused.
"Then, what were you thinking about?" Penia asked again.
Alon reflected for a moment.
"It's not something I should worry about too much."
"Do you think so?"
"It's a topic where no matter how much I think now, I won't reach an answer."
It was better to postpone topics related to the Supernatural Blood.
Anyway, nothing would be solved simply by mulling it over.
‘If I can see the Seeker of the Path again tomorrow, I will ask him more.’
Having finished organizing his ideas, Alon changed the subject.
"By the way, it seems we won't return directly to the territory this time."
"Huh? Why?"
"There is a place I must stop by first."
While Penia tilted her head in doubt, Alon recalled another piece of information.
“The Father of Maggots, and the temple in the far west.”
That was what the Seeker of the Path told him.
That there was something necessary in the temple of the far west and something related to the Father of Maggots.
If he thought coolly, moving immediately wasn't the best decision. The Seeker of the Path had warned that that place was dangerous as well as necessary.
But even so Alon decided quickly, because the given time was not enough.
More precisely, because he didn't know when the second-stage Divine Bloods would escape, so he wasn't certain of the available time.
"Where will you go?" Penia asked.
Alon told her the conversation he had with the Seeker of the Path. After listening to everything, Penia's brow furrowed slightly.
"…Then, it is almost certain there will be a fight."
"Probably."
"Hmm… will we be okay with just us?"
The question was reasonable.
Although Alon had the experience of having faced a Divine Blood, he was not strong enough to be overconfident.
However:
"We will be fine."
Penia looked at him in surprise for an instant, but then seemed to remember something.
"Ah… that's true."
She nodded as if something had clicked in her mind.
"Yes, it might not actually turn out that dangerous."
Alon recalled other words from the Seeker of the Path.
"…Establish a law."
Just as the blue eyes had told him, the Seeker of the Path also conveyed the same thing to him.
To advance to the next stage of the Divine Blood, he had to establish a "Law".
"…Law… huh."
Alon had never thought too much about it.
After all, he already had Reverse Heaven, an ability of his own.
But if he could obtain a Law there…
If it was something necessary to continue advancing…
Then he had to think.
More.
Alon's worries became as deep as the night.
The second day of Seeker of the Path's meetings
Surprisingly, in just one day, the number of attendees was reduced to less than half.
Among the missing were two princes, including Serdea Polanticia, who had flirted with Alon the previous day, and also Contanias, who had cast looks full of hatred at him.
The only members of the imperial family remaining were…
"Good morning, Alon," said Nataman with a bright smile.
"Good morning."
"Yes, a nice morning, isn't it?"
"…I suppose."
In that atmosphere charged with tension, Nataman was the only one smiling cheerfully.
Alon asked him:
"By the way, I see you haven't left the tower, Nataman."
"Yes. There was no reason to leave at night. I was about to leave now."
Nataman stared at him.
"So I came to see you before leaving."
The confident smile did not disappear from his face.
"…Me?"
"Yes."
Alon was bewildered.
"Forgive the question if it sounds rude, but… did we know each other?"
It was a question that could be considered rude.
But Alon could not understand Nataman's attitude.
That's why he had to ask.
Nataman answered without being bothered at all:
"No, not exactly. Rather, it is I who knows you unilaterally."
"Unilaterally?"
"Yes. I heard many stories about you."
"From the Empire?"
"Yes. In fact, I might know more about you than you yourself."
With a crooked smile, Nataman added:
"In short, I ended up admiring you."
"…Me?"
"Yes. If one listens to your stories, they seem like an epic of a great hero."
That is one of the reasons why I offer you my goodwill," he added with pride.
Then, as if he had suddenly remembered something, he said:
"Ah, I should go now. See you later."
And he left without wiping off his lively smile.
Alon could only remain looking at the empty space where Nataman disappeared.
Contrary to expectations, it was not the Seeker of the Path who led today, but his servant with a skull mask.
The meeting consisted mainly of handing out useful items to the few who remained.
While everyone went up one by one behind the mask…
"Master," Yutia called.
"What is it?"
"I heard you won't return to the kingdom this time, but will go to another place."
Alon nodded.
"That's right."
"May I know where?"
"To the west."
"…The west?"
Yutia seemed surprised, or perhaps simply didn't expect it.
"Yes."
"Why there?" she asked cautiously after a silence.
Alon also related the conversation with the Seeker of the Path to her.
She listened attentively and then said:
"…Then there is something there that you need."
"Exactly."
"Then, may I accompany you?"
She proposed to accompany him.
"…Accompany me?"
Alon was surprised at the sudden offer.
Yutia nodded.
"Yes."
"…It will be dangerous."
Alon expressed his concern. But Yutia tucked her hair behind her ear and replied:
"That is exactly why."
"What…?"
"Because it will be dangerous I want to go with you."
Because I don't want you to get hurt," she said, smiling softly.
"Will you allow me to accompany you?"
Alon had no reason to deny it.
"Alright."
And so it was decided that they would travel together.
That night
"Hoo…"
The Seeker of the Path exhaled, immersed in deep thoughts.
He looked out the tower window.
The view was not particularly beautiful: there were no stars, only the moon.
While he contemplated it without thinking too much…
"…Huh?"
He noticed something.
The moon, which shone in blue, was beginning to change color.
In the instant he tried to move quickly…
Piiit—
His body did not move.
No, he could not move.
As if something had fixed him in place.
And then.
When the blue moon turned into a complete Red Moon…
The Seeker of the Path heard footsteps approaching slowly.
When the footsteps stopped…
He saw her.
A girl dressed in a black sacred habit, with red eyes as deep as the moonlight that dominated the sky.
And then.
"…I suspected it, but…"
Looking at the girl, Yutia Bloodia, the Seeker of the Path murmured:
"…You have crossed. Monster/Supernatural."
The red moonlight fell silently inside the room.
