Chapter 312

C312. What is this… (3)

At the scene spreading out before their eyes, even Penia opened her mouth, saying, “Wow, this is really…”.

Everyone let out an exclamation without realizing it, but only for a moment.

Alon’s group headed to the main gate of Divine Land, which seemed to have been installed temporarily, however—

“…Is this a line?”

“Looks like it, doesn’t it?”

Unfortunately, they couldn’t cross that gate immediately.

It was because of the line that extended as far as the eye could see.

“……Don’t tell me this whole line—”

“I think so… It seems everyone gathered because of the rumors……”

After hearing Evan’s words, Alon broke his neutral expression and showed a face unable to comprehend.

“But even if it’s because of that, is this normal?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Evan clicked his tongue beside him, incredulous.

But then—

“Is it really? It doesn’t surprise me that much.”

Penia looked at them, tilting her head.

“Why?”

“Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? As you know, right now the United Kingdom is in total chaos because of the bandits.”

“Well, that is true.”

“No, I mean it seriously, the situation is extremely grave.”

She added that recently it was normal for a village you visited one week to disappear the next.

“That’s why it is natural for people to look for a way to survive and set their sights on the power of Kalanon.”

“…So they need power.”

“That too, but the most important thing is that… hmm… how to put it…? It has a ‘legal’ air.”

“…Legal?”

“Exactly.”

The thought crossed Alon’s mind: “Does anything legal exist in this world regarding power?”, but he decided to listen to her.

“Look, Abyssal Cores are used by underworld types, right? Besides, if you absorb them, black energy leaks out everywhere when using the power, like those from the Black Tower.”

“That’s true.”

“That’s why, even if it is an easy way to get stronger, someone who fears what others might say cannot use that method. In Rosario, the use of Abyssal Cores is severely punished. You know, like that pseudo-foreigner from the other time.”

When Alon nodded showing he was listening, Penia continued:

“That’s why mercenaries and knights who live off their ‘name’ and ‘reputation’ couldn’t use that method even if they wanted to. But just at that moment appears the power of Kalanon, which you can use just by training. Perfect!”

“…Although they are still rumors.”

“Exactly. And the result is…”

Penia pointed toward the crowd.

Alon nodded helplessly.

It was understandable.

But—

‘……Even so, this is too much—’

It was one thing to understand the logic, but another thing was the discomfort of living through this situation.

For a while now, he felt people murmuring around him, and then everything became silent, but their gazes were directed toward him.

“……Look, it’s Marquis Palatio’s carriage.”

“It’s true.”

“That is the… the one of Kalanon?”

And since everything was silent, even those murmurs reached his ears clearly.

Alon tried to ignore it while still trying to concentrate on Penia’s explanations when—

“Everyone, halt!!!”

From afar, a loud voice resonated and knights began to run toward them.

“He has arrived, my Lord Marquis!”

They formed up before the carriage, where Alon was observing through the window.

And thanks to that—

All the gazes that were already on them, now completely fixed onto the carriage of House Palatio.

Alon—

“I… see.”

He nodded as best as he could, feeling the overwhelming fervor of the knights and the pressure of the crowd.

“I will guide you immediately!”

The knight at the front responded firmly and began to clear a path through the line.

Although in reality it wasn’t necessary: the extremely long line parted on its own.

They followed the cleared path and the carriage entered Divine Land.

“We have arrived!”

Upon getting off the carriage, receiving murmurs and somewhat uncomfortable stares—

“Attention!!”

He saw the knights and soldiers formed up waiting for him.

Since the initial creation of Divine Land, discipline had been strict.

But now…

Any order he gave would be executed without any hesitation.

‘…But they are just the guard.’

And seeing Deus in the distance, looking proudly at the knights and soldiers, Alon realized another detail.

‘Wait… when did they all get their uniforms?’

When they were recruited, only the pauldrons were common. They didn’t have defined armor or designs.

It was natural: they hadn’t had time for anything.

But now…

They were shining with fully equipped, beautiful, and polished armor.

‘When…? And where did the money come from for this?’

Alon shifted his gaze, confused.

Then, among the knights in front of him, he saw a somewhat familiar face.

A man with bluish skin.

“Am I seeing things?”, he thought.

But no, it was unmistakable.

His first impression had been too strong to forget.

So Alon asked:

“…What are you doing there?”

The Cheonggwi in the front row looked up at the sky as if seeking enlightenment and muttered:

“…Yes, I wonder why I am here too…”

With a voice strangely illuminated by resignation.

Cheonggwi remembered what happened a month ago.

When Ryanga, depressed, was venting her stress by pummeling her subordinates under the name of “training”, he decided to go look for Alon to stop her violence.

Up to that point, nothing strange.

But upon arriving at the Marquis’ House, he was told Alon wasn’t there, but in Divine Land.

So he traveled there and then—

Things started to get… weird.

‘Excuse me, I’m looking for Marquis Palatio—’

‘Ah? Are you new? What are you doing standing there? Take off those rags and put this on!’

‘No, I am—’

‘Shhh! No excuses! Quick! You have to change before training! It’s tough here!’

‘Wait, I am not a soldier—’

‘You talk too much! Put it on already!’

That was how it all started.

He asked for the Marquis, and without realizing it, ended up in uniform.

Then he met—

‘…You.’

‘Just in time. Do you remember me?’

‘Yes.’

It was Deus.

Cheonggwi wanted to explain the situation to him.

‘Did you join as a soldier?’

‘Of course not. I am looking for the Marquis—’

‘I see.’

‘I’m telling you I’m not a soldier! Just tell me where—!’

‘True, someone like you deserves something better than a soldier. I will make you a knight.’

‘….What? Wait, I didn’t—!’

‘You will be the captain of the 1st division.’

‘Wait!’

…And so he became a knight.

By this point, he was already a bit annoyed.

No one was listening to him.

He even considered destroying the whole place, but he couldn’t.

For two reasons:

The first: this place was created by Marquis Palatio.

Cheonggwi didn’t care if it had been done by a marquis or an entire kingdom.

But Ryanga adored the Marquis.

And if he caused problems here, she would kill him.

The second reason:

“A knight… impressive.”

“You really are strong.”

“How do you train to be like that…?”

The knights and soldiers admired him without reservation.

Cheonggwi had always been respected, yes.

But that admiration was due to his strength or fear.

He had never received pure respect, without prejudice, without hatred toward his skin, without resentment.

Here, yes.

And the cavalry training was completely different from the savage training of the Hundred Ghosts.

His subordinates in Hundred Ghosts always tried to challenge him out of pride.

Here no one did.

For the first time in his life… he was a comfortable “superior”.

Without realizing it—

A month passed among them, influenced by that atmosphere.

Obviously, he wasn’t going to tell that whole story; so he just summarized it:

“…Well. That’s how I ended up here.”

In Marquis Palatio’s makeshift tent, Alon listened to the story while looking at Cheonggwi, who spoke with eyes full of nostalgia.

“In short, you came for Ryanga.”

“That’s right. I came to find you.”

Alon scratched his head.

‘I thought about going to see her someday…’

But he never did.

“I just have to leave soon, so I will visit the place later.”

“Understood.”

Then he added:

“And, by the way, thanks for the effort. If you want to leave this, you can.”

After all, he had come to find him and ended up entangled in problems.

But—

“No, well… it’s not that.”

“Mm?”

“It’s just that… I already have a position in the order of knights. Wouldn’t it be weird to leave abruptly?”

Cheonggwi averted his gaze.

“…Well, I suppose, but you still have to go back to Ryanga, right?”

“Ah… yes….”

Cheonggwi’s sigh resonated.

Alon was thinking “What the hell is going on?” when—

“Lord Marquis.”

“What?”

“Isn’t that clearly attachment?”

“…Seems like it.”

“What kind of place is Hundred Ghosts for someone not to want to go back…?”

Evan whispered and Alon responded in a low voice.

It was then that:

“But Lord Marquis! With all this, your divine power must have increased tremendously!”

“Oh, that too.”

Penia clapped her hands, and Evan nodded.

“Maybe.”

Alon closed his eyes to examine his interior.

And as soon as he closed them—

He returned to the space he knew so well.

A space full of a blue galaxy.

“This place—”

Alon recognized it instantly and turned his gaze.

And there—

“Nice to see you.”

“…Kalanon?”

He was able to meet The Lightning Receive, Kalanon again after a long time.

But—

“Yes, it’s me.”

Only she was no longer the girl from before.

But an adult, mature woman.