Chapter 496 ·Anomaly (4)

The population flow through Palantio was enormous compared to other territories.

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍reason was simple.

At ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍present, Palantio was the largest commercial territory in the Allied Kingdom Alliance.

Strictly ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍speaking, calling Palantio the largest commercial territory was somewhat inaccurate.

There ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were several territories larger than it within the Allied Kingdom Alliance, and some were even twice the size of Palantio itself.

Of ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course, once Palantio Castle was fully completed and the entire territory expanded to encompass the whole castle, existing commercial territories would no longer be able to compete.

But ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that was only after completion.

At present, there were many commercial territories larger than Palantio.

Even so, Palantio had earned that title because of one thing.

Its auction house.

A massive auction house unlike anything found elsewhere, coupled with relatively low fees.

And that was not all.

After the appearance of the divine-bloods, the Allied Kingdom Alliance had been attempting to regulate itself, but underworld organizations and bandits continued appearing without end.

Compared to such dangers, Palantio was extraordinarily safe.

As a result, most merchant groups within the Allied Kingdom Alliance had established their headquarters inside Palantio Territory.

In other words, the infrastructure necessary for commerce had become concentrated in a single place.

Furthermore, because it lay along the route leading to Divine Land, the northern gate—which served as Palantio's main entrance—was always overflowing with travelers whenever the gates were open.

The same was true at this very moment.

And yet—

Despite being a place that should have been bustling beyond measure, silence currently hung over Palantio's front gate.

The culprits were four women standing there smiling at one another.

“An elf...? No, that's Cardinal Yutia...?”

“It really is! And even Colony's Babayaga is here!”

“Babayaga? The one who supposedly crushed a divine-blood all by herself? Seriously?”

“Yeah. That's the Golden Flash.”

“Why is the Golden Flash there?”

“No, more importantly, isn't that a High Council Member over there too?”

“Rine Grof?”

“Gasp! The one rumored to have wiped out every underworld organization in Lartania?”

“Why is she here?”

People murmured among themselves.

Yet no one dared raise their voice.

Because of the peculiar atmosphere flowing between the four women.

From the moment someone passing through the gate recognized them—

The crowd merely watched the strangely ominous scene in silence.

Then—

“Rine, why did you come back?”

Yutia's voice rang out.

“Ah, I still had something I wanted to say to Godfather.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me instead. I can pass it along for you.”

“No, that's alright. I plan to tell him directly. More importantly, didn't you say you had things to do, Yutia?”

“It's fine. They were delayed a little.”

“Even so, things that need to be done should be handled quickly. If there's something you want to say, tell me. I'll pass it along for you.”

The two exchanged smiles while carrying on what appeared to be an ordinary conversation.

It was undoubtedly ordinary.

Yet the merchants began growing nervous.

Those skilled in negotiation immediately understood that taking those words at face value would be a mistake.

“My, what a coincidence. I came back as well because there was something I still wanted to say to Brother.”

Seolrang spoke while looking at Magrina.

“Hm~ Even so, aren't you a queen? Shouldn't you be returning?”

“That's right. You shouldn't keep leaving state affairs to someone else.”

Rine and Yutia added their comments in turn.

“That's true.”

Magrina smiled brightly before looking at Seolrang.

“And are you alright, Lady Babayaga? I heard Colony is still in quite a dangerous situation and continues needing your help.”

“Mm. It's fine. They'll handle things well enough themselves.”

“Even so, won't they need assistance?”

“If something happens, I can arrive immediately. So there's no need to worry.”

Seolrang also smiled as she refuted Magrina's words.

After exchanging several subtle blows—

“...”

“Let's continue this conversation inside.”

“Sounds good. I have to go back in anyway.”

Wearing polite smiles, all four passed through the gate together.

“...”

“...”

“...”

Only then did the merchants finally release the breaths they had been holding.

“Come to think of it, every one of those women is connected to the Magic King.”

“Do you know who that elf is?”

“No idea.”

“But judging by the order of the conversation, didn't she call the Magic King 'Brother'?”

“I think you're right.”

“...An elf calling him Brother? What kind of relationship is that?”

“Hm~ No, more importantly, didn't someone call him Godfather?”

“Cardinal Yutia calls him My Lord.”

“And Golden Flash Seolrang calls him Master.”

“But considering those forms of address...The atmosphere between them all felt completely different.”

“I felt the same.”

Soon enough, merchants began forming their own theories regarding the relationships between Alon and the women who had stood at the gate.

As though foreshadowing how little time remained before rumors bordering on complete fiction would begin spreading.

***

At that same time.

Early in the morning, Alon arrived in Divine Land atop the now somewhat familiar Basiliora.

He immediately attached the statue Sili had prepared beforehand to Basiliora and began flying toward the place where Star Root was gathered.

“How long do you think it'll take?”

“At this speed, probably three to four days as planned.”

Alon found himself impressed once again.

“It really is fast.”

“Considering the flight duration is only six hours, it's incredibly fast.”

As Evan said, Basiliora's current flight endurance was roughly six hours.

If Alon could use Reverse Heaven infinitely, flying for twelve hours would be easy.

Unfortunately, doing so was still too taxing.

'Once I become a little more accustomed to Reverse Heaven, the flight time should increase.'

That thought lasted only briefly.

Soon he turned toward Basiliora, who was humming happily while flying.

Apparently, flying remained just as enjoyable as ever.

“Basiliora.”

[What is it?]

“Isn't it heavy?”

There was a reason Alon asked.

While the statue wasn't as large as the giant statue he had seen previously, Basiliora was currently flying through the sky while hauling a rather massive stone statue.

The statue wasn't larger than Basiliora himself.

Even so, it was certainly large enough to be heavy.

Yet when Alon asked—

[Don't worry. This much is nothing.]

Basiliora answered proudly as though it were effortless.

“That's good.”

Listening to Basiliora, Alon continued traveling toward the territory of Ashtalon where Star Root was located.

'...After visiting Star Root this time, I should check it immediately.'

Kalannon had adjusted things so that if he entered his inner world in real time, he could see his Manifestation.

That was what Alon was thinking about.

And several days later—

Upon arriving in Ashtalon, where Star Root was supposedly gathered, Alon realized just how foolish his previous concern had been.

Namely:

'The territory is huge. How am I supposed to find them?'

Because the moment he entered Ashtalon's territory—

He saw divine-bloods.

The divine-bloods initially looked confused when they noticed him.

Then, recognizing who he was, every one of them lowered their heads.

Watching them, Alon moved toward the place where they had gathered.

Not long afterward—

As if they had been waiting for him, he saw the kneeling figures of the Darkness-Devouring Sword, Burned Vegetation, and numerous other divine-bloods.

“...Doesn't it look like there are more of them than last time...?”

“Now that you mention it...”

There definitely seemed to be more divine-bloods than before.

Still—

After staring blankly for a moment, Alon let out a long sigh and spoke.

“Blackie, I'll leave it to you.”

[Meow—!]

At Alon's words, Blackie cried out before immediately lowering the statue it had been carrying onto the ground.

Then it gently lowered Alon himself as well.

With Blackie's help, Alon landed without difficulty.

“...”

After briefly recalling the practice sessions he had conducted with Blackie over the past few days, Alon looked around at the gathered divine-bloods.

Then he spoke.

“I shall grant you an opportunity.”

The divine-bloods immediately began stirring.

For a moment, Alon wondered whether he should have provided more explanation.

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

If nowhere else, then at least before these divine-bloods, he had to maintain the dignity expected of one.

If his deception were exposed here, the consequences would be difficult to handle.

It was a double-edged sword.

And at the very least, if Alon wanted to continue pretending to be a divine-blood, he could not become excessively close to the divine-bloods before him.

[...An opportunity, you say?]

Of course—

He couldn't become too distant from them either.

At Darkness-Devouring Sword's question, Alon said nothing.

Instead, he glanced toward Blackie.

At some point, Blackie had flowed down beside him like a shadow and formed crimson eyes.

Alon gave a small nod.

As if it had been waiting for that signal, Blackie immediately wrapped itself around Alon's hand.

Once he confirmed Blackie had attached itself, Alon raised his hand.

In that brief moment, he observed the atmosphere among the divine-bloods.

'Just as I thought.'

At least from Alon's perspective, the divine-bloods were not particularly fervent.

If he had to describe it—

They looked uncertain.

Yet despite the lukewarm atmosphere, Alon was not flustered.

He had expected this from the moment he set out.

'I haven't shown them anything personally. There's no reason for them to be fanatically devoted.'

Alon still didn't know why the divine-bloods held such misconceptions about him—

About the Star Eater.

He had never granted them powers.

He hadn't even known they possessed such misunderstandings.

And from the beginning, Alon hadn't even known whether he was capable of granting abilities.

Even now, he merely suspected it might be possible.

He still wasn't certain.

He had never tested it before.

Yet despite all that, there was a reason he had come here.

Because he knew something.

A misconception born from who knew where would never be enough to control the divine-bloods before him.

At this moment—

He needed to show them something.

“That's right.”

That was why Alon had come to Star Root.

Wooooong—!

Two spheres floated above Alon's hand, now stained black by Blackie.

The instant the divine-bloods saw them—

[Th-Those are—!]

[Surely—!!]

Excited murmurs spread through the crowd.

Naturally so.

The spheres floating above Alon's hand—

Were the very abilities of the divine-bloods.

Of course, Alon had no idea whether the divine-bloods would actually be able to absorb these spheres.

But that wasn't what mattered.

“If you are capable of it,”

What mattered was making the divine-bloods believe.

So Alon calmly extended the two spheres.

“You will be able to take them.”

Then he spoke the line he had prepared beforehand.

***

Burned Vegetation felt a strange sense of uncertainty as he watched the Star Eater suddenly appear and offer abilities.

Of course—

This was the very situation he had dreamed of.

This moment was precisely why he followed the Star Eater.

Yet recently, a peculiar hypothesis had begun forming in Burned Vegetation's mind.

A question.

What if the Star Eater was actually... human?

Naturally, Burned Vegetation had heard the rumors.

That the Star Eater had intentionally relinquished his status as a divine-blood and become human.

But the suspicion growing within Burned Vegetation was different.

What if the Star Eater wasn't a descended divine-blood at all?

What if he was truly human—

A human pursuing a purpose entirely different from theirs?

The thought arose because of the Star Eater's actions.

At first, Burned Vegetation assumed there was some larger plan.

Yet no matter how he looked at it, the Star Eater acted for humanity.

Not to use humans as tools.

But to protect them.

And if he were truly a divine-blood—

Especially according to the rumors—

Those were choices he should never have made.

As far as Burned Vegetation knew, the Star Eater had abandoned all his power and descended in pursuit of even greater power.

Yet despite that—

He did not seek power.

Instead, he relentlessly eliminated only those divine-bloods who tried to kill humans.

And that wasn't all.

Even though beings of an entirely different level—

Existences practically referred to as Karma—

Would soon descend,

He still wasn't using humanity.

Even though using humans would make it easier to stop them.

As a result, Burned Vegetation had begun to wonder whether the Star Eater might truly be human.

Or perhaps—

Even as a divine-blood, he was using the divine-bloods in order to protect humanity.

And if that were true—

Burned Vegetation—

No, the divine-bloods as a whole—

Should not follow him.

For them—

This was their final chance.

Yet those thoughts lasted only a moment.

[Thank you for granting us this opportunity.]

Burned Vegetation reached toward one of the two spheres the Star Eater offered.

And at that instant—

Crack!

His vision turned pure white.

Then immediately plunged into darkness.

[?]

His confusion lasted only briefly.

Burned Vegetation quickly realized he had entered a mental world.

And the next moment—

[...?]

He saw something strange.

[A moon...?]

It was a moon.

An endlessly dark moon.

A moon resembling the abyss itself.

Then, moments later—

[...Ah?]

Burned Vegetation realized something.

That was not a moon.

It was—

A pupil.

A pupil vast enough to regard someone like Burned Vegetation with absolute indifference.

And the moment he recognized it—

Burned Vegetation saw it.

Wooooooooong!

The giant eye looking down upon him.

As it scattered the abyss across the entire world.

Countless rings shattered and reformed without end—

While devouring innumerable Star Clusters.

An eye.

[...Ah.]

He witnessed the true body of the Star Eater.

He witnessed the apocalypse itself.

And at the same time—

He understood.

His doubts had been utterly ridiculous.

A laughable suspicion.

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