Chapter 434. The Strange (5)
Alon doubted his own ears for an instant.
The consort/husband of the Imperial Princess.
He couldn't even imagine how anyone had reached that conclusion.
Alon was left speechless, prolonging an awkward silence.
“Ahem… Her Highness the Princess left a message before departing. She said you would come anyway, so she ordered us not to waste time and leave the path open.”
Only then could Alon get a general idea of the situation.
…Although he still didn't really understand it.
Anyway, he understood something.
That was a good opportunity.
Perhaps the best opportunity to cross the most problematic border without major difficulties.
That is why, when Alon glanced sideways at Yutia, she continued with her usual soft smile, as if lost in thought.
Only there was something subtly different: her smile looked… much colder than usual.
“Hmm, I see.”
She nodded with slight stiffness.
“Yes, well, this… yes, I suppose…”
As if trying to rationalize something.
“Yes, yes… everything was to be expected. That damned mouse of—”
“That makes twice now—”
“Next time I'm really going to— the entire Empire—”
She murmured almost inaudible words, which didn't even reach Alon's ears, and then smiled sweetly at him again.
“Master?”
“Ah, yes… that…”
Something in her voice and gaze imposed a strange pressure, and Alon reacted a second later without realizing it.
After a brief silence:
“Well then, in the name of Falkindas, I permit the border crossing.”
The group crossed the border much more easily than they had imagined.
“…Very… simple, right?”
“That is correct.”
Evan was bewildered, and Alon too.
At their reaction, Yutia smiled and commented:
“It is true.
“Even so, isn't it good that we passed without incidents?”
“What a relief. All thanks to the Princess opening the way.”
“…True.”
“Well, although… it must all be a misunderstanding.”
“Hmm?”
“Ah, it's just that they must be thinking that you came to the Eastern Empire to become the consort.”
“Right, Master?”
Yutia's last words.
She kept smiling just like always, but Alon had the immediate intuition:
The following answer was going to be very important.
“That is correct.”
Alon nodded naturally, and only then did Yutia seem truly satisfied.
And that same night…
“Hmm~ statistically, it is true that short people tend to have a slightly arrogant personality.”
“Oh, do you really think that? I agree to a certain extent. Well, more than agree… it is like you said, it is just statistics.”
“Yes, exactly! Short people are arrogant and presumptuous, according to popular statistics.”
“Yes, yes. Lady Penia, we really agree. Perhaps it is because you are such a cultured mage.”
“Ahem… don't flatter me so much.”
“If I had been born in the Empire, I would have gone much further.”
“Ah no, I wouldn't want to be born in the Empire. Imperials are nothing but arrogant cowards! And short.”
“True. Short and arrogant. Especially the higher their rank.”
Yutia and Penia.
Normally they were extremely awkward with each other—well, actually Penia was the one who was always self-conscious—but this time they had joined forces with enthusiasm to rant against the imperials, creating a curious spectacle.
“…Hmm, Alon-nim. Is there such a statistic?”
“…I don't know.”
“How can a dwarf be arrogant…? If he's just going to end up beaten to a pulp…”
While Evan murmured understanding nothing, Alon bit into a sweet potato.
…It was delicious as always.
The Father of Maggots was not in a good mood lately.
There were two reasons.
The first: his group was losing territory.
The second: the news about the elimination of the Star Eater was not arriving as easily as he had hoped.
Also, one of the four great groups of the east —the Void— seemed to be plotting something, which also bothered him, though not as much as the previous two problems.
“Huu…”
At first, the Father of Maggots hadn't paid that much attention to the Star Eater.
Although it was a direct order from That One, killing a simple human was something ridiculously easy.
It didn't even deserve to be called “work”.
And he didn't even have to do it himself. Just That One's name was enough to mobilize other Divine Bloods.
But for some reason, the news of the Star Eater's death didn't arrive.
And, as time passed, the news was getting worse from his perspective.
The only thing he had heard was:
That the Divine Bloods sent to eliminate the Star Eater had formed a group to protect him.
And that even Darkness-Eating Sword, who had gone with another Divine Blood to eliminate him, had disappeared.
There was no way for him to be in a good mood.
At that point, the Father of Maggots assumed he would have to cross into the Allied United Kingdoms himself and kill the Star Eater.
If he stood by watching how other Divine Bloods failed, he wouldn't have the face to present himself before That One later.
But there was a problem.
If he moved, other groups could take advantage to attack his own.
It was a dead-end situation, and he could only sigh…
[…Darkness-Eating Sword?]
The Father of Maggots saw a figure.
Darkness-Eating Sword was approaching him.
He had a moment of doubt…
[…Heh.]
Then he smiled broadly.
That Darkness-Eating Sword had returned could only mean one thing: mission accomplished.
He began to laugh with his whole body.
But…
[…?]
The closer Darkness-Eating Sword got, the more his expression furrowed.
Because, although he had declared he would depart alone, this time five Divine Bloods were coming behind him.
So…
[…What is happening?]
He asked when Darkness-Eating Sword arrived close enough.
Without saying a single word, with his empty eyes full of cadaverous shine, Darkness-Eating Sword declared:
[It is a pity.]
The Father of Maggots frowned.
And then he saw it.
The sword that Darkness-Eating Sword was holding.
[Ha…]
The incredulous laugh escaped from between his fangs.
[…Are you serious?]
[Yes.]
[If you touch me now, That One will not stand by idly.]
It was an explicit threat.
A threat that normally worked against most Divine Bloods.
After all, regardless of the faction, falling out of favor with That One was exhausting and dangerous.
[Don't worry. We have already prepared everything.]
Even so, Darkness-Eating Sword raised his weapon.
Faced with that open hostility, the Father of Maggots finally released his own killing intent.
[Don't expect me to die so easily.]
His body rose into the sky.
The sky, which until a moment ago was clear, became covered in black clouds.
The dozens of mouths hanging from his long body emitted strange shrieks and began to exude unknown fluids.
And then—
[Do you think that just because you are strong you can defeat me so easily?]
He said with twisted confidence.
Darkness-Eating Sword observed him and responded calmly:
[True, if I were alone it would be difficult.]
[Oh—?]
[But I do not plan to face you alone.]
He only said that.
[Huh?]
Only then did the Father of Maggots see it clearly.
The five Divine Bloods behind Darkness-Eating Sword —whom he had forgotten for an instant— were already ready to attack him.
[Ah.]
From hundreds of mouths escaped a resigned sigh.
When the journey to the west had already lasted a month and two weeks, Alon felt a small doubt.
“Evan.”
“Yes.”
“Shouldn't we have entered the western territory by now?”
“…I think so. We are right in the center, aren't we?”
Upon hearing the answer, Alon frowned.
…Then why haven't we encountered a single Divine Blood?
According to the information Evan had brought before leaving, almost the entire west of the Empire had been devoured by the Divine Bloods, so finding them should be a common occurrence.
However, even after a good while inside the west, they hadn't encountered any.
It was strange.
Then Evan replied:
“Well, isn't it better this way?”
“Yes, but…”
At Alon's tepid reaction, Evan added:
“In fact, we are almost there.”
“What do you mean by ‘almost’?”
“According to the information, the place where the so-called ‘Father of Maggots’ lives should be around this area.”
Alon nodded with greater seriousness. Penia, who was lately very conscious of Yutia, asked cautiously:
“…Alon-nim… will you continue with the plan?”
“Yes.”
Alon, of course, had not come to face the Father of Maggots without a plan.
He had already fought against the Divine Bloods in Colony. He knew how dangerous they were.
Although Yutia was with them, caution was still essential.
First I must observe from afar. Then…
He went over the plan mentally for the umpteenth time.
Then—
Boom, boom!
A gigantic roar resonated in the distance.
A sound impossible for any human creature.
Alon stopped thinking immediately.
He formed a seal with his hands.
At the same time, Yutia's soft holy energy shone in her hand, and Penia's magic began to manifest surprisingly well—
“Ah… A-Alon-nim?”
Evan called him.
“Did a Divine Blood appear?”
“No, no, that's not it… we're here.”
“…Yes?”
“Yes. According to the map, that is the place. But…”
“But…?”
“I think… you should see this with your own eyes.”
Puzzled, they got out of the wagon.
And there they saw it.
A huge creature, so big it gave chills, covered with dozens, no, hundreds of sharp mouths —probably the 'Father of Maggots' the Seeker of the Path spoke of.
And…
[KRAAAAARGH—!!]
…that Divine Blood was being surrounded and brutally beaten by other Divine Bloods.
“………What… is happening?”
A surprise impossible to hide escaped from Alon's mouth.
