Chapter 492 ·Castle Struggle (8)

Shortly after Alon departed to test-run Basiliora.

Within ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the inner castle where the owner of the eighth floor had been decided through rock-paper-scissors, matters were being resolved faster than expected.

In ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍truth, it was only natural.

Most ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of the people staying here didn't particularly care which floor they lived on.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the moment those who had been aiming for the eighth floor lost their objective, they no longer had any reason to be picky about floor numbers.

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a result, the follow-up arrangements progressed rapidly.

Everyone ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had practically agreed that they would leave the next day when—

“No matter how I think about it, this is unfair.”

“What a coincidence, Seolrang. I think so too.”

Seolrang and Rine voiced their dissatisfaction.

In response—

“Oh my, at the very least, I don't think I was the one who started this?”

Yutia smiled brightly while looking at Seolrang and Rine gathered on the eighth floor.

Both of their faces were filled with dissatisfaction.

Meanwhile, Yutia's face was full of composure.

More specifically, she looked at them with eyes that seemed to say,

‘So what are you going to do about it?’

Meeting that gaze, Seolrang replied with a pout.

“You're really just pretending to be mature~”

“Oh my, what do you mean by that, Seolrang?”

“I think you're still like a child on the inside.”

“Would that be a problem?”

Yutia calmly asked back.

At that, Seolrang stared at her resentfully before muttering—

“Maybe that's why your chest is childlike too.”

“......What did you say, Seolrang?”

“They say the outside reflects the inside, right? So based on that logic—”

Then Seolrang disappeared.

—KWAAAAAAA!!!

No, more accurately, she flew away.

Straight through the castle wall.

“...You don't even hold back anymore.”

Watching Seolrang fly into the distance like a character launched from a video game, Rine muttered.

“There's no need to hold back anymore, is there?”

Yutia replied with the same smile.

A moment later—

Thud. Thud.

Seolrang, who had just been launched through the air by Yutia, came back through the shattered window while dusting rubble off her head.

“I'm telling Master.”

“Don't worry. I'll fix it before he returns. And let me say this beforehand—I’m only small because I’m still growing. Since you already know that, try not to run your mouth like that?”

Yutia still hadn't lost her smile.

Certainly, Rine and Seolrang, who had recovered some of their memories for certain reasons, knew that fact.

“Hmmm~”

Rine looked at Yutia with a rather subtle expression.

“So you're restricting your growth while leaving only the ‘possibility’ behind~”

“What was that, Rine?”

“Nothing. And could you lower your hand? I'm not as durable as Seolrang.”

She looked at Yutia as if saying,

If you hit me, I'll break.

In the end, Yutia sighed and sat down.

Only then did she bring up the real topic.

“So then, what's the matter? It looks like both of you came here because you had something to say.”

Seolrang brushed the gravel from her hair and sat down as well.

Even though this situation shouldn't have been familiar to her, she acted as if she had experienced it countless times before.

After Seolrang sat down—

“You know, don't you, Yutia?”

“Know what?”

“That things have changed a lot.”

Rine finally spoke seriously.

“......”

Silence briefly filled the room.

But only briefly.

“Of course I know.”

At Yutia's answer, Rine tried to continue.

“Isn't it dangerous?”

“What part?”

“I haven't recovered that many memories, but even taking that into account... the farther things drift from what we know, the less we're able to respond—”

“Rine.”

At Yutia's calm voice, she could only close her mouth once more.

“What you just said is wrong.”

“Wrong?”

“Yes.”

“Rather—”

Yutia muttered quietly.

“The important thing is for things to move farther and farther away from what we know.”

A small smile appeared on her face.

“So don't worry too much. Just do what you think you need to do. That's what's important.”

“Ah, of course, the same applies to me.”

For a moment, Rine simply looked at her silently.

Then—

Thump.

Seolrang rose from her seat.

“Seolrang...?”

Rine called her with a puzzled expression.

But Seolrang ignored her and spoke to Yutia.

“Got it. So I just need to do what I think I should do, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Because there are a lot of things I suddenly feel like I need to do.”

Seolrang nodded firmly.

There was no longer any lingering hesitation on her face.

She simply—

“Yutia.”

“Yes, Seolrang?”

“Don't use it too much.”

“......”

She looked directly into Yutia's eyes.

What filled her gaze was concern.

After staring at Yutia silently for a while, Seolrang finally turned around and left.

Watching her retreating back, Rine then turned back toward Yutia and added quietly.

“I agree with that too. Honestly, even right now—”

She couldn't finish her sentence.

Yutia smiled.

“It's alright. For now.”

“...Is that so?”

“Don't worry. I'm really fine. Everyone isn't ready yet, after all.”

Her voice remained exactly as calm as always.

“For now.”

And with that, the conversation ended.

At some point, Rine had left the room as well.

“Hoo~”

Letting out a sigh, Yutia rose from her seat and looked out the window.

There stood the castle she had seen countless times before.

More precisely—the castle Alon would now be living in.

“......”

She silently gazed at it.

For a long while.

Without stopping.

***

The reason peace still remained within the Allied Kingdom Alliance despite the descent of the divine-bloods could be summarized by two factors.

The first was Star Root.

The divine-bloods affiliated with Star Root had successfully "reformed" most of the divine-bloods pouring into the Allied Kingdom Alliance and absorbed them into their organization.

That was by far the biggest reason.

The second was Divine Land.

Yes.

Divine Land.

Created from Alon's small intention.

Yet expanded through Sili's practical ambitions to the point that every visit left even Alon with more questions than answers.

Divine Land was currently contributing heavily to the peace of the Allied Kingdom Alliance.

Its influence was most evident in the defense against Anomalous entities.

While Star Root was blocking most divine-bloods, entities beyond the capabilities of ordinary humans rarely entered.

Unfortunately, that protection only applied to divine-bloods.

The Anomalous entities they created crossed into Alliance territory relatively easily and caused countless problems.

Not merely problems, in fact.

They carried out massacres and multiplied their numbers.

Each major military asset possessed by the kingdoms could handle Anomalous entities individually.

But there simply weren't enough of them to stop the endless stream of invaders appearing day after day.

The people of Divine Land, however, were different.

The knights belonging to Divine Land could fight Anomalous entities.

And officers at commander level could handle several by themselves.

That wasn't all.

The Four Knights, who were rumored throughout the world to have received the power of the Magic King, displayed astonishing feats.

Each could face hundreds of enemies alone.

In other words—

Divine Land's status within the Allied Kingdom Alliance was immense.

The member kingdoms had reached the point where they were more interested in directly praising Divine Land than preserving royal prestige.

On top of that, a new rumor had recently spread through Divine Land.

Those who proved themselves could be chosen.

The Saintess herself had said so.

As a result, Divine Land's atmosphere had become incredibly heated.

Naturally.

Everyone had witnessed it.

The power displayed by those chosen.

Knights capable of wielding strength beyond what ordinary humans could ever command.

Strength so overwhelming that even Master Knights would struggle against it.

Knights worthy of being called Heroes.

Because of that, knights and soldiers trained harder than ever while strengthening their faith.

And that enthusiasm—

“Please, please, please! I really want to get in!”

—had spread even to the young talents growing up throughout the Allied Kingdom Alliance.

“Why are you acting like such a kid?”

A massive crowd stood in a long line, hoping to become knights of Divine Land.

Kokun, a mercenary from Lartania, scolded the woman beside him.

Her name was Senya.

She had been muttering desperately the entire time.

Instead of being embarrassed, Senya looked at him as if he had asked something obvious.

“What do you mean, acting like a kid? Aren't you nervous?”

“Honestly, I don't even understand why we're standing in line just to take some test.”

“Liar. You're looking forward to it too.”

“Not really.”

Kokun casually denied it.

And he truly wasn't excited.

The only reason he had come here was because Senya—his childhood friend since their days as orphans—had asked him to.

Honestly, he had little interest in any of this.

“Wouldn't it have been better to just make money in a labyrinth? Bone prices have skyrocketed lately because everyone's rushing here.”

At Kokun's regretful comment, Senya raised her voice as if he knew nothing.

“You should've seen it. Before I came here—”

“Enough already. You're talking about the knight who came when an Anomalous entity appeared in Lartania, right? I've heard it so many times my ears are getting calluses.”

As Kokun waved his hand dismissively, Senya puffed out her cheeks.

But only briefly.

Soon her face brightened once more.

“Ahh, you really should've seen it. Once you witness that, your heart can't help but race.”

“Is it really that impressive? Honestly, I'd rather make money and live comfortably—”

Kokun stopped himself midway.

There was no point arguing.

He already knew that.

So—

“Well, whatever. If it makes you happy.”

He simply shrugged for the sake of his childhood friend.

At that moment—

“W-What?”

“Wh-What is that?!”

The surroundings suddenly became noisy.

Everyone in line turned toward a single direction.

“...?”

Kokun and Senya followed their gaze.

And then they saw it.

“What in the—”

A black serpent.

A black serpent clad in dark armor was swimming through the sky.

And that wasn't all.

Black mist poured from the serpent and devoured the clouds.

From those corrupted clouds—

Crackle— CRACKLE!!!

Red lightning began descending.

A phenomenon completely beyond human understanding.

Pure incomprehensible terror.

Everyone present was overcome with fear.

“H-Holy shit!”

“R-Run—!!”

Several people started fleeing as the thing slowly approached Divine Land.

Then—

“W-Wait!”

“There's someone on top!”

“A person?!”

At the shout, everyone looked upward again.

And they saw him.

A man standing atop the armored serpent gliding through the heavens.

His face was so expressionless that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

His arms were crossed as though riding a black serpent was the most natural thing in the world.

His black coat fluttered with the serpent's movements.

Then—

“The Magic... King?”

The moment someone uttered that title—

“That's Divine Land's master...?”

The eyes of everyone who had just been panicking filled with wonder.

As if acknowledging their gazes, the armored serpent looked down at them.

ROOOOOAR!!!

Then it let out a mighty roar, flaunting its existence before flying toward Divine Land.

And—

“......Senya.”

“S-Senya.”

“Huh...? Ah?”

Kokun stared blankly after the disappearing figure.

Then he muttered—

“I... think I suddenly want to become a knight...”

His heart was racing from the sight he had just witnessed.

And so, without even realizing it, Alon had stirred the hearts of countless people.

Meanwhile—

[Kuhahahahaha~! Did you see them? The way they stood in awe of me.]

“Hurry up and land!”

Shivering so badly that he hugged his shoulders tighter and tighter—

“I’m going to freeze to death at this rate...!”

Alon stared desperately toward the ground.

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