Chapter 311

Chapter 311. What is this…? (2)

Hidan never imagined things would end up like this.

At first, the order he had received from Red Moon was nothing more than to notify Green Moon that she would soon be visiting her personally.

In fact, he didn’t even understand why Red Moon had given him that order at all.

Red Moon was already heading toward Green Moon anyway.

But he couldn’t question the order.

So Hidan delivered the message to Green Moon faster than anyone and then tried to leave the room.

He didn’t want to get involved in the meeting between Red Moon and Green Moon in any way.

But unfortunately…

The gods had abandoned Hidan.

He shifted his gaze toward Red Moon and Green Moon.

After greeting each other, they hadn’t done absolutely anything else. They were just drinking tea across from one another.

Their mouths were smiling, and the atmosphere seemed romantic.

But even so, why was the air so cold…? he thought for an instant.

“Hidan.”

“Yes.”

“Get out.”

Red Moon‘s order of expulsion fell like a lightning bolt.

‘Yes, I will retreat then.’

“Thank you.”

Hidan changed what he was planning to say at the last second, and even then, he didn’t have time to correct himself; he bowed hurriedly and exited the room.

And so, in the space where only two people remained, the one who spoke first was:

“I am glad to see you in good health, Rine.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

It was Yutia.

Yutia and Rine were conversing with a smile.

“I heard you will have to stay in Fildegrin for quite a long time. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“What a pity.”

“Yes, it really is. Someone even broke the badge that someone had gifted to my godfather, so it is even more regrettable.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Both continued smiling.

“Yes.”

“Rine.”

“It’s not good to spy, you know?”

“Spy? I am only looking after my master, just like you, Yutia.”

“Do not worry, I am already protecting the master.”

“Were you not spying?”

Clack.

With nothing on top of the table, the upper part of the handle of the teacup Yutia was holding fell to the floor.

“Rine, you have become very bold, hmm?”

Although she exerted a little force when saying it, Yutia did not lose her calm tone.

“That couldn’t be. How could I be bold?”

“Why not?”

“For starters, in many aspects, I am beneath Yutia. For example, in terms of protecting the master.”

“…Saying it so suddenly sounds strange.”

“But it is the truth. Besides that, I have many ‘inferior’ qualities. In strength, I believe I am lower if we look at it coldly, and regarding the secrets of the world… Yutia must know more, don’t you think? Even with me having a library. And furthermore—”

Rine paused her words for a moment. She brought her index finger to her lips and looked at Yutia.

“—like age.”

She winked.

Crack.

The cup in Yutia‘s hands shattered completely.

“Ah, what a waste.”

Rine looked at the fragments with an expression of pity.

And then—

“Rine.”

“Yes, Yutia.”

“…Do you not value your life?”

“How could I—”

Before Rine could finish the sentence—

KUAaaaaAANG~!!!

A gigantic boom resonated.

“Thank you… thank you….”

Just feeling it, such intense mana made the entire body shudder.

And seeing something unidentified breaking the crack of the blue moon and emerging from afar for the last time.

“…I’m leaving…”

Hidan fled without looking back.

A few weeks passed since then.

“We finally arrived.”

“I see.”

Alon Palatio, upon arriving at the Marquis’s mansion, nodded, although he had a slight unease.

The territory before him hadn’t changed much.

The streets were lively with merchants, knights were seen under the statue gifted by Deus, and crowds of people moved from one side to the other in the plaza.

The usual scenery.

“Nothing has changed.”

“…What would have changed?”

Evan asked with curiosity upon hearing Alon‘s murmur.

“No, it’s just that, with the recent rumors, I thought maybe something would have changed.”

“Well, that is true.”

During the weeks of their return, Evan had told him several additional pieces of news.

That the bandits had been completely crushed by mercenaries and knights, and that the bandit gangs of the United Kingdom had temporarily gone extinct.

That now, the bandits who had devoured Abyssal Cores were heading to Rosario of their own free will to repent and receive punishment.

And that Silly, whom Alon had planned to visit near Caliban, had already gathered believers and gone to the Divine Land she created.

…In short, the situation that was supposed to start small—with only ten knights—was inflating to a level that escaped all control, and that scared Alon a little.

But the territory seemed normal.

“I feel more at ease.”

Alon sighed in relief. And Evan called to him, observing him intently.

“But, my lord.”

“Yes?”

“The territory is obviously the same, don’t you think? After all, the mercenaries and knights must have all gathered in the Divine Land.”

“…Well, that is true.”

Alon let out a groan, but Evan had a relaxed expression.

“Actually, I don’t think you have to worry so much.”

“It is true that the rumors spread weirdly, but in the end, they are still just rumors. And if it is confirmed that there is nothing real…”

“…they will vanish, right?”

“The mercenaries and knights will stop coming when they see the reality. And if Silly comes, the Divine Land will grow more than thought, but that isn’t a bad thing, don’t you think?”

That did make sense.

Besides, Alon had something to ask when he spoke with Silly.

“The point is that there is no reason to fear that everything will spin out of control starting now. That is the matter.”

As Evan added—if people came only because of a rumor, they will disperse when they see what it’s really like—Alon felt calmer.

With a more relaxed face, Alon entered the castle.

“Ah—my lord!”

“Penia, you’re back already?”

Penia ran out to receive him.

“Yes, I’m back! Can’t you tell?”

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

Penia put both hands on her waist with pride and laughed boastfully.

“Hehehe~!”

“Did something good happen?”

“Well of course! Although for me it is normal. They accepted three more articles from me at the magic congress!”

With her “I am amazing” expression, she made a victory sign.

“Impressive.”

“Well yes, obviously!”

Evan, who was watching her from the side, asked:

“But… what do you get from them accepting your articles?”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know, I understand it is a recognition of research but… is there anything else?”

“Oh, these ignorant commoners who know nothing of magic…”

Without hesitating, Penia replied:

“Of course it is good.”

“In what sense?”

“Each approved article receives a monthly stipend from the congress.”

“And?”

“And funds for assistants.”

“…And?”

“And extra money.”

Evan tilted his head, thinking if it would be a lot of money.

“And it’s not just that. For a Mage, the number of recognized articles is equal to their status.”

“Is it not reflected in the magic level?”

“Sure, that is also important. But the level is a personal achievement. Fame is something else. Those who contribute to the development of magic are valued much more. So the number of articles is—”

“The hierarchy of honor?”

“Exactly!”

“So that’s why you stopped being discouraged and went back to being you.”

Evan murmured, but Penia ignored him and looked back at Alon.

“Ah, my lord. I just wanted to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“Heinkel asked if she could see you when you have time.”

“Me…?”

“Yes, she said that since you were going to show her magic… and also that she had something to report to you.”

When Penia dragged out the explanation, Alon said “Ah,” remembering.

When he asked Heinkel to teach Penia, he had offered to show her magic as payment.

Alon scratched the back of his neck with embarrassment.

“We will go together later on. And what was it that she discovered?”

“She said she would explain it when she came.”

“I understand.”

“Ah, and regarding your magic, something interesting occurred to me.”

“Something interesting?”

“Yes, it came up while I was talking with Heinkel about the doubt we had.”

Alon listened attentively to what Penia was proposing.

A few days later.

While he rested at the mansion and studied magic alongside Penia, Alon headed to the Divine Land.

Deus was training soldiers, so he considered it polite to stop by and say hello.

Besides…

He felt he should cut off certain baseless rumors.

Anyway, apart from that, Alon kept thinking about the idea Penia had brought him.

“So, to summarize, you say there is no need to do the calculations every time, but that you can—”

“Yes, exactly. If we do it like that, you will be able to use the spells as we originally planned.”

“It would be good if it works. For that, an artifact would have to be created.”

“I already thought about that part too.”

Penia began to explain her plan.

But not for long.

“My lord…”

“Did we arrive?”

“Not exactly, but… can you get down for a moment?”

Alon got out with curiosity.

He followed the direction of Evan‘s gaze.

Not because Evan was looking, but because it was impossible not to look there.

Because there was—

“……What is that?”

“Yes… I don’t know either.”

There was an entire military camp, hidden until now.

…No, strictly speaking, it wasn’t a camp.

It was the Divine Land that Alon had created before.

A place with 50 knights and 600 soldiers.

Although it seemed like a lot, in the vast Divine Land it occupied only a small part.

But now…

“Didn’t you say nothing would happen?”

“Well, yes.”

The entire Divine Land was covered by a colossal military camp.

…And it wasn’t an abandoned camp.

There was so much movement that the bustle could be heard even from afar.

If a third party saw it, they would think they were preparing a rebellion.

Upon seeing the amount of people moving, Alon…

“My lord.”

“What?”

“…I’m actually a bit scared.”

Evan sincerely expressed his impression.

“Me too…”

Alon nodded in silence.