C452. Return (8)
Irene, con su oído reforzado, dudó por un instante de lo que acababa de escuchar. Pero…
"Slave? Eh, that is..."
"No, it is true that I am a slave. The contract ended up like that."
When the confirmation came without room for doubt, her mouth opened on its own.
‘Wasn't it supposed... that the King of Palantia was the father of the Guardian Dragon?’
Contanias had said that he was the father of the Guardian Dragon. That is, that Alon was a dragon in disguise.
But a dragon in disguise enslaving another dragon?
‘Could it be that dragons have some culture like that...?’
While she thought, Irene shook her head.
At least according to what she knew, not even in ancient texts did such a thing exist between dragons.
That is why:
‘Then... what is actually the identity of the King of Palantia...?’
With a confused face, Irene looked toward the surface.
‘It seems I will have to personally meet the King of Palantia.’
Taking that firm resolution, she disappeared.
After finding out that the rumor that he "had sacrificed his life to transmit power" had spread because of Silly, Alon remained a few more days in Divine Land.
For three reasons:
The first, to attend to pending matters.
Although Silly handled almost all the work of Divine Land, she could not delegate absolutely everything.
The second, to check his own divine energy.
Since his Divine Powers had detached, he hadn't been able to use it properly.
But since his meeting with Kalanon and after transferring divine energy to the members of Divine Land, he had recovered a certain capacity for use.
Even so, although now he could transfer divine energy to others and his accumulated energy was even greater than before, he remained unable to transform into Kalanon.
He had to find out why.
And finally—
"…Is this Seamus's ability?" "That's right."
To study the abilities of Seamus and Silly, which were developing thanks to the divine power Alon had granted them.
Alon looked up at the sky.
Above Seamus, who seemed to be trying quite hard, floated a sword so gigantic it provoked immediate astonishment.
If it fell just as it was, it could split a small castle in two without difficulty.
But his surprise at the size lasted little.
Ssshhhh—
The sword disappeared, and Alon looked down.
"I'm sorry!"
Seamus was breathing with difficulty.
"No, this is enough."
"No, it's not enough! You gave me such a great blessing, but I am still insufficient...!"
He closed his eyes helplessly, as if his soul hurt. His tight lips were pale.
Alon felt a prick of conscience.
Although it was true that he had transferred the ability, the reason Seamus didn't get stronger more easily... was also Alon.
He only returned a part of the faith Seamus offered him, not all of it.
That is why he felt a certain discomfort.
"Really, it's fine. You have already shown me how much you have tried."
Even before his quiet consolation, Seamus sat up with an ashamed expression.
"I will dedicate my whole life to you!"
He bowed so low he almost touched the ground.
Alon, hiding his discomfort, withdrew from the training field.
"How was it?"
Silly asked immediately.
Alon touched his chin before answering:
"Not bad."
Of course, from Alon's point of view, what Seamus showed was not particularly strong. He knew very well how absurd a Divine Blood was as a reference.
But even so, it had value.
Although Seamus was weak on his own, if soon the knights of Divine Land received blessings from Alon and awakened their power—
‘They will be useful.’
Foreseeing that future, Alon sighed.
"Ah."
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
He shook his head. But his face showed certain pity.
‘I should have brought Lainicius.’
The Golden Dragon, Lainicius.
Maybe, as a Dragon, he didn't know much about divine energy, but he did possess vast knowledge about magic circles.
And that would be very useful for what he wanted to create: automatic hunting, "automatic blessing".
‘I hadn't thought of it.’
He decided to talk to Lainicius when he returned.
"Then, did you already choose the people who will receive the blessing?"
Alon asked Silly.
"As you said, I included Historia and Ryanga, who are away right now, and selected about ten more people. All those who would follow Alon's will without questioning it."
The strict expression behind her tender smile made Alon ask cautiously:
"Without questioning it...?"
"Yes! Without exception! I am sure they would give their life for Alon if it were necessary."
"Give their life?"
"Yes!"
But what came next was even more shocking.
"…Silly."
"Yes?"
"Just in case... you aren't teaching dangerous doctrines, right?"
Although his face showed no emotion, there was a slight unease in Alon's voice.
Silly thought for a moment, then said:
"Hmm... Of course not! Who would do something so dangerous?"
"I see..."
"I only teach them the sacred texts."
"Sacred texts?"
"Yes!"
Alon remembered the texts he had seen once.
And he didn't understand why that made him feel even more insecure.
At that moment:
"Alon-nim."
Just as he entered the tent, Evan approached as if he had been waiting for him.
"What is happening?"
"A report arrived from the Information Guild, about what we asked for the other time."
Since he was looking for a lot of information, Evan added quickly:
"About each of the kings."
"Ah."
Evan hadn't overlooked that task.
"Is there information?"
"There is general data and other more detailed data. I will report them one by one."
Silly took a step back so as not to interrupt.
"Ah, then I'll step out for a moment!"
Evan started his report.
"So... it seems the Empire already obtained special abilities, and the kingdoms too."
"Yes. And in the Allied United Kingdoms, thanks to the 'Star Group', everyone obtained abilities relatively easily."
"…Because of the Star Group?"
"As I said, the Star Group is taking care of the Divine Bloods."
Alon stroked his chin.
"Were you able to find out the kings' abilities?"
"Not in detail yet, but with what was discovered for now, there seems to be variation between them."
"I see..."
Evan continued:
"Ah, and although the Allied United Kingdoms is stable, the Divine Bloods' zone is very chaotic."
"What is happening?"
"They say something called 'fragments' started circulating among them."
"Fragments?"
"Yes. They suppose they come from a giant Divine Blood. It seems they are scattering everywhere, and the Divine Bloods are competing to obtain them."
"Hmm. And if they eat those fragments, do they become stronger?"
"It seems so."
Fragments...
While organizing the information, Alon murmured:
"…It can't be."
An old memory came to his mind.
When he obtained a law in the far east, "The Night That Leads In" had mentioned something similar.
‘He said he devoured part of the power and became level 2.’
He had said exactly that.
If the remaining power had been left loose and turned into fragments, it made sense.
"…This gets complicated."
Alon's face showed tiredness.
That meant that, even now, a level 2 Divine Blood could appear.
"Is there no information on where those fragments fall?"
Evan replied:
"Not precise, but they say there is one near Colony."
"In Colony?"
"Yes."
"…I will have to go soon then."
Alon sighed.
"And about Seolrang, still nothing?"
"Seolrang... no, nothing new."
Evan shook his head.
Alon ran his hand through his hair.
He planned to move calmly, but it was clear that was an impossible luxury.
A few days later.
News arrived that Ria and Ryanga were returning.
Alon was preparing to bless them and then leave when—
[Hello!]
"…Kalanon."
The Kalanon in cat form suddenly appeared on his thigh, taking him to a blue beach with a galaxy sky.
"…The other time you said we should talk, but you didn't call me. Now you do."
Kalanon replied quickly:
[I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it! Although it doesn't look like it, this consumes a lot of divine energy. I am using just enough to be able to talk to you.]
With an attitude of "Be grateful I came", he puffed out his chest.
Alon, speechless for a moment, sighed.
"Then, why did you call me?"
[I came to give you an answer.]
"…An answer?"
[I might not be able to answer directly, but I can listen. And you wanted to talk to me because you could no longer transform into Kalanon, right?]
It was exact.
"Do you know the reason?"
[Of course.]
"Which one?"
[Hmm—]
After a pause, he said:
[It is a somewhat complex concept, but let's say there was a "separation".]
"Separation?"
[Yes. Until now, Alon had accumulated divine energy as Kalanon and transformed thanks to that, right?]
"Correct."
[As you know, that was possible because he had gained faith "as Kalanon". But now the situation changed. Eh—]
Kalanon took a deep breath and explained:
[In short, Kalanon and Alon Palatio finally separated.]
"In other words... that now that the faith is directed to Alon Palatio and not to Kalanon, I can no longer transform?"
[Exactly!]
Alon nodded.
That explained his inability.
Before he could manifest Kalanon because the faith was directed toward "Kalanon".
"Then I won't be able to manifest as Kalanon anymore."
His voice had a trace of sadness.
[I suppose so... but don't worry so much.]
Kalanon's answer was unexpected.
"Why?"
[Because now... —he smiled broadly— finally you will be able to manifest in the true sense!]
He said with overflowing energy.
