Chapter 354

Chapter 354. Dance (3)

“Think, Alon. This world has repeated its destruction again and again, with nothing enduring. Even when this omnipotent magic existed in the very distant past.”

At Heinkel‘s words, Alon fell silent for a moment.

After reviewing the phrase in his mind, he spoke slowly.

“…So, summarizing what Heinkel says. There are beings even more ancient than the era of the forgotten god, and not even with such omnipotent magic could they handle the Sins… is that it, right?”

“Exactly.”

The conversation continued calmly.

“I would like to ask something: is that magic whose nature you identified really that omnipotent? To the point that it could eliminate even the Sins all at once?”

Heinkel also kept silent for a few seconds before answering.

“First, let’s clarify something: I have never seen a Sin with my own eyes. I don’t know what characteristics they possess. The only thing I know is the level of damage they caused when they appeared in the world.”

“But even considering all that, I don’t think this magic wouldn’t affect them. If this magic doesn’t work, it would mean the target isn’t even a life form.”

Alon did not answer. He simply fell into his thoughts.

…The only remaining Sin is Wrath.

In Psychedelia, the Sins appeared following a pre-established order as the player advanced in the story.

That also meant the order could be altered according to the player’s decisions.

And obviously, being a game, the Sin’s statistics varied depending on the moment of its appearance.

For example: the Sin of Sloth that appeared first was incomparably weaker than the Sin of Sloth that appeared last.

Wrath worked the same way.

Even so, the Sins always ended up being eliminated by the player.

They weren’t sealed or banished: they were destroyed.

It didn’t matter if the strongest of the Sins appeared last.

Eliban always ended up defeating it.

That is, no matter how powerful the Sin of Wrath was now…

It shouldn’t have reached a level of omnipotence as to ignore that magic.

That’s why, while Alon reflected—

“Ah.”

He reached a conclusion.

It is time.

Time.

All Sins, just like the Outer Gods, needed time to manifest completely, and the Sins the player fought were only incomplete versions.

Thinking up to there, Alon reached a reasonable conclusion.

“…Does a Sin that appears in fifth place become impossible to handle if it manages to manifest completely?”

After all, even the Sin of Sloth…

Because it appeared late, it almost caused the total destruction of the continent.

Remembering what happened, Alon shared that conclusion with Heinkel.

Heinkel nodded.

“You mean that when a Sin manifests and a certain amount of time passes, it becomes unstoppable, right?”

“Exactly. If the people of the Forgotten God’s era were destroyed even having such powerful magic, there is no other explanation. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

Alon nodded.

What Rine had told him the other time came to his mind.

“It also depends on the strength of the host.”

“The strength of the host?”

“Yes.”

Explaining the information he only found out when Rine visited the marquis’s house:

“…So there are many variables.”

“That’s right. Which means there are still possibilities for us.”

Heinkel nodded again, although with a somewhat uncomfortable gesture.

For an instant her face showed displeasure, but she hid it before Alon could ask.

“Well, alright. I understand.”

Alon felt curious about Heinkel‘s strange expression, but continued speaking.

“I didn’t know you were interested in this matter.”

“Hmm? Which part?”

“The Sins. I didn’t know you were worried about that.”

Heinkel let out a brief laugh.

“How could I not worry? If the Sins destroy this world, I die too. Although, being honest, rather than worrying… I was thinking: how is it possible that they lost even with this magic?”

“Hmm…”

“Ah, right. You said you wanted to know why the mages are hanging themselves, didn’t you? I already explained everything else, so I’ll tell you that now.”

Heinkel began to describe the fragments of knowledge she obtained by analyzing the magic.

After a while, when they exited the inner world:

“Then, I take my leave.”

“Yes. Ah, and while you’re at it, handle the mages too.”

“You want me to recruit them?”

“As you wish. Right now I already have enough, but if you want to bring more, go ahead.”

“Understood.”

Alon left the library.

Behind him—

Sss—

Heinkel observed the invisible eyes moving stealthily in the darkness.

And when Alon disappeared completely:

“Phew…”

Heinkel let out a sigh.

“Worry, huh…?”

Of course Heinkel also had worries.

When the world was destroyed, she, whose origin was linked to the library of the Black Tower, would disappear without fulfilling her wish.

But what really worried her weren’t the Sins.

“Variables…”

She repeated Alon‘s words.

If there really were so many variables…

Maybe his theory was correct.

And even worse: the magic she had analyzed wasn’t even completely deciphered.

She had barely understood its basic functioning.

Perhaps, as Alon said…

A Sin generated by countless combined variables could ignore even magic close to omnipotence.

That’s why the remote past had been destroyed by the Sins—

Heinkel pushed the other hypothesis she wanted to avoid out of her mind.

---

The reason why the Apostle of Envy and Jealousy could deduce the identity of Wrath.

It was because of the last moment.

When they failed to manifest the Great One and fled to try on another occasion…

The Apostle of Wrath appeared before Envy and killed him.

Atrociously. Making his body explode.

And it wasn’t enough.

He even destroyed all the cells Envy had prepared in advance.

So that he would die for real.

But Envy did not die.

There was a cell she didn’t know about.

No, a cell she could not know about.

The corpses of the beings that transformed into white and pure beings, left by the Sin at the cliff.

When the Sin died, its cells vanished… except one.

Envy, who died just before they disappeared completely, managed to transfer his soul to that cell and resurrected.

Once one has a cell, creating a body isn’t difficult.

That’s why, although he lost most of his power, Envy survived.

And then he understood everything.

It was impossible not to notice.

The fragments of his body, while he was dying, adhered with more density to Yutia Bloodia‘s body.

Since then, the Apostle of Envy investigated Yutia Bloodia and discovered several facts.

That she, who should be in an isolated space, had been outside for 10 years.

That she had a very close relationship with Alon Palatio, who was interfering with the manifestation of the Sins.

That Yutia Bloodia…

Was controlling the manifestation of the Sins.

Each of those facts was incomprehensible to Envy.

The apostles should remain locked in the isolated space. How could Yutia act outside for ten years?

And also:

Why was she controlling the arrival of the Sins?

He couldn’t understand it.

And in the end, he could only deduce two things: a truth and a theory.

That the Apostle of Wrath deeply appreciated Alon Palatio.

And that, at some point, the Apostle of Wrath had been replaced.

Although he didn’t know if the second was true, the first was enough for him.

That truth was enough to manipulate the Apostle of Wrath like a puppet.

“How did you know?”

“When I regenerated my body, you were the only one carrying my dying cells on you.”

“Oh, you can tell from that? I didn’t know.”

Yutia replied calmly.

While she smiled with interest, Envy continued confirming his theory.

“So, I wanted to continue talking about the previous topic. How is my identity supposed to become a weakness?”

“Stop pretending to be calm, Wrath. If this truth reaches Marquis Palatio’s ears, you’d be in real trouble, right?”

“And doesn’t it occur to you that I can turn you into a puddle of blood before you open your mouth?”

“Of course it occurs to me. But—”

Twisted smile.

“Do you really think I came to see you without any preparation?”

“What preparation?”

“When I die, all the information I discovered will be revealed throughout the United Allied Kingdom.”

“Did you take the information guild?”

“No, something much more secure. Did you know that my duplicates function perfectly for a month even if I die? With that time, it would be enough to spread your truth all over the world.”

A vile smile appeared on Envy’s face.

That fact alone was already a blow to Yutia.

But even more important:

It would also harm Marquis Palatio, intimately related to her.

And that was something Yutia Bloodia would never allow.

Envy grew confident, convinced of his victory.

But Yutia remained serene.

“I see.”

Suddenly, she took something between her fingers.

It was a small pocket watch.

When Envy saw her action, he frowned, not understanding.

Clack.

Yutia opened the watch and, without stopping smiling, said:

“Before continuing, let’s clarify a few things.”

She spoke calmly.

“First: as you investigated, I am not the Apostle of Wrath. I changed, as you suspected. At some point.”

Envy was stunned.

Something didn’t fit.

What was it? What was wrong?

While he looked at her, Yutia continued:

“Second: I do not control the appearance of the apostles.”

Only then did Envy understand the feeling of strangeness.

He had said he discovered several things about Yutia.

But he never said which ones.

“And third: you said that I and the master… no, that I and Alon have a close relationship—”

Yutia‘s voice continued, and Envy’s mind began to crumble.

What was happening?

Had she finished the entire investigation before sending the letter that summoned Wrath? Or was it mind reading?

No, impossible.

Such a convenient ability couldn’t exist.

“—Saying it like that makes me sad. Alon and I have a much deeper relationship. One that cannot be broken.”

With the smile still on her face, Yutia stared at him.

And it was there that Envy understood something was terribly wrong.

She didn’t use force.

She didn’t release mana.

She didn’t threaten.

She just spoke.

And yet… his instinct screamed danger.

And then—

“Ah. And the fourth point… do you want to hear it too?”

At that question, Envy answered without realizing:

“…The… fourth?”

“Yes, the fourth. Ah, although in this case maybe I shouldn’t call it a fourth point. I’m referring to the fact you wanted to tell me just before dying, remember? The one you planned to use as your final blow.”

His eyes snapped open.

It was true.

Besides the other three pieces of information, he had a last card prepared.

More than a card…

It was a curse.

A truth destined to completely destroy Yutia Bloodia in the instant prior to her death.

“Alon Palatio is not the person Yutia Bloodia is looking for.”

“Eyadiya~”

With those words of hers, Envy understood.

That wasn’t mind reading.

Nor was it that she had investigated him beforehand.

It was—

CRACK.

“Huh?”

While his mind analyzed rapidly, Envy let out a choked gasp.

And then he noticed it.

His body.

His limbs.

They had disappeared.

As if they had never existed.

“GAAAAAHHHH!”

A dry sound upon falling.

And next to him, a tearing scream.

Blood seeped between the cracks of the broken floor.

Envy writhed in agony.

But his confusion wasn’t because of the pain.

Why… why?

His cells were not regenerating.

It was as if time had stopped.

While Envy fought desperately—

“Ah, there’s no need for you to keep talking. I already know on what proofs you based your words, I already know what evidence you think you have. I already know all that.”

Yutia‘s calm voice reached his ears.

“I already knew everything.”

“…What?”

“Everything. That Alon is not the ‘master’, that his letters mean nothing, even the ‘maybe’ of your theory.”

Without variation of tone.

A completely serene voice.

“…Then, why…?”

Envy murmured, unable to understand.

Yutia raised a finger and smiled.

“Because none of that matters to me.”

“Wait! You know what will happen if you kill me right now!”

Envy screamed desperately upon finally understanding her intention.

But—

“Yes, I know. If you die, there will be enormous damage in the United Allied Kingdom. You prepared well. There are several things you didn’t tell me.”

She answered calmly.

“In the capitals, the white beings you hid will appear and massacre citizens. There will be many casualties.”

“The monsters and the fools will become even wilder thanks to the Abyssal Cores that you and your clones will release.”

“And the rumors your duplicates will spread will interfere with Alon‘s plans, which until now were going perfectly… but it’s okay. Because—”

Because that is not going to happen.

While she murmured, Envy wanted to open his mouth.

But no voice came out.

His vision descended.

Down.

Down.

Down.

More and more.

Until finally—

His sight was filled with blood.

“And even if it happens, I don’t care.”

The last thing he heard was:

“That the subjects of Rosario are massacred, or that the citizens of the United Allied Kingdom are massacred… even if all the humans of the kingdom die.”

A voice that almost whispered.

“If it’s not Alon, nothing matters to me.”

An absolute declaration.

“No matter what happens.”