Chapter 363

Chapter 363. About Sin (1)

Five days had passed since Alon presented his plan to deal with the Sin of Wrath at the meeting.

“Brother.”

“Saint.”

“As you said, the priests will arrive soon.”

“The number—”

“It is practically every available priest we can mobilize from Rosario at this moment.”

“Thank you. May I ask approximately when they will arrive?”

“Considering the distance… I think it will take about two weeks.”

At Yuman’s words, Alon reflected for a moment.

Two weeks.

If the Sin of Wrath moved to destroy a country…

It was an absurdly generous amount of time.

It could even destroy one or two more countries in that span.

…No, it might even have enough time to devour the entire United Allied Kingdom.

However, even so…

Alon did not pressure Yuman.

No matter how much they hurried, the distance the priests had to travel would not shorten.

Furthermore, the priests were not the only ones who needed time to gather.

The combatants and knights of each kingdom.

And the naval forces of Laksas would also take time to mobilize.

‘So, gathering all the forces will take about a month.’

A month.

Long if you consider it long, short if you consider it short.

But there was no way to know if that time was actually long or short.

In the end, everything depended on when the Sin moved.

“Thank you, Saint.”

When Alon bowed his head to thank him, Yuman gently denied it with a smile.

“No, Brother. There is no need for you to do that. I know you are doing everything possible to save the world.”

“Saint…”

Alon felt a small touch of emotion.

Of course, the people close to him—including Evan—had always trusted him without question.

But it was difficult to see that kind of absolute faith coming from an outsider.

Ah, well, they did trust him…

But they didn’t remove their suspicious gaze.

Especially the kings.

And Alon understood perfectly.

No matter what incredible achievements he had attained…

The simple fact that he knew how to face such an absurd monster could only seem suspicious.

That was why, while Alon was silently moved…

The Saint, still with a smile on his lips, said slowly:

“Rather… I didn’t expect you to have seen so far ahead.”

“…Excuse me?”

Alon blinked, not knowing what he referred to.

But Yuman continued:

“Actually, at first I didn’t understand why the Marquis was suddenly creating a ‘Divine Land’.”

Alon let out a silent sigh.

He had immediately understood the Saint’s misunderstanding.

“That—”

He was about to clear up the confusion, but…

“And when the Duchy of Luxible began gathering troops in secret, I was ashamed of myself for allowing my faith in you to waver even a little.”

The words continued without giving him room to correct him. Alon closed his mouth.

Should he really clear up the misunderstanding?

That thought passed fleetingly through his mind.

But then he remembered all his previous conversations with Yuman.

No matter how many times Alon told the truth, Yuman always believed what he wanted to believe.

That was why…

“In any case, I believe it, Brother.”

Alon did not try to stop Yuman, who left the room with a gentle smile.

Just then—

“Master!”

“Brother.”

“Seolrang… and Radan?”

“I found her in front of the Magic Tower.”

Seolrang and Radan entered the room.

“Masterrr!”

Seolrang jumped onto Alon as energetically as always, while Radan stood beside him with a soft smile.

Radan’s countenance looked better than the last time they met.

“It seems you resolved a bit of what was worrying you.”

“Worry…?”

“Yes.”

“Did it show?”

Alon did not answer. But the faint smile on Radan’s lips said it all.

“My, my… my Brother’s eyes truly forgive nothing.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But do not worry. As you thought, practically everything is resolved.”

Alon nodded.

“Rest for now. When the others arrive, we will start talking.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

Seolrang replied while sitting naturally on Alon’s thigh, and Radan nodded calmly.

Shortly after…

“Ah!”

Seolrang, who had been humming for a good while as Alon gently pinched her cheek, suddenly remembered something important and lifted her head.

“Master! Give me your hand!”

“My hand?”

“Yes!”

Although bewildered, Alon extended his hand.

And Seolrang dropped something onto it with a smile.

“This…”

“You said you were looking for it!”

It was the ‘Howling Blessing’, which was located in Colony.

“…You went to look for this?”

“Yes!”

With an expression saying “I’m amazing, praise me now,” Seolrang nodded.

Alon smiled and patted her head.

“Thank you.”

“Hehehe~”

Thanks to her, he now had two. He only had one artifact left.

The Eye of the Sleeper.

‘Where could that artifact be?’

While he was patting the head of Seolrang, who was enjoying the affection…

“Marquis!”

Evan entered in more of a rush than usual.

“What is happening?”

“The Hero’s party— no, Eliban’s party has arrived!”

---

Fifth Floor of the Magic Association Building.

A place where only those who stained the name of the Magic Tower and mages were imprisoned.

Inside that magic prison, awaiting condemnation at the hands of mages…

“…It’s been a while, Yan.”

Alon met with the Hero’s party.

“You remember my name…”

Yan, with a haggard face, replied in surprise.

Alon then looked at the other two, equally exhausted.

“Of course. I also remember Bina and Ralph.”

He said their names and shrugged.

‘Like it or not, in the game they are characters one sees all the time.’

After some short greetings, he continued:

“Most likely, you will have to stay here for a while.”

“…I see.”

Yan lowered her gaze slightly. To Alon, it also seemed unfortunate. The guilty party was not the group, but Eliban. But having acted as a party alongside him, suspicion was inevitable, so upon arrival, they were imprisoned.

It was an injustice.

“But do not worry. I will not allow anything to happen to you.”

Because Alon knew it well: They had done nothing wrong.

“Thank you.”

Perhaps his sincerity reached her, because Yan responded with a small thank you.

Alon remained silent for a moment and then spoke cautiously:

“I heard that Eliban knocked you unconscious, and that when you woke up you understood the situation and came here. Is that true?”

“Yes, that is how it was.”

“Could you tell me in more detail what happened?”

Although he no longer needed to hear more about Eliban…

Alon could not understand it.

Why did Eliban, who wanted to save the world, become a Sin?

“…Honestly, I would like to tell you, but I don’t think we can.”

“Why?”

“…Because the last thing we saw was Eliban’s smile and a ‘thank you’. After that…”

“Did he attack you immediately?”

“Yes. By the time we woke up, already…”

“I see.”

He nodded at Yan’s faint voice.

But then Yan said:

“But… before that, there is something I can tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Actually, we came to this Tower to tell you this, Marquis.”

Alon fixed his gaze on her.

After a few seconds of silence…

“Eliban was… strange.”

She said suddenly.

“Strange…?”

“Yes. He always hid things from us. For example, that he had strength far greater than ours.”

“But we never doubted him. He behaved like a hero straight out of a storybook.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Literally that. Without resting, he eliminated any evil that threatened humanity. He didn’t overlook even the smallest problems, and gave the same kindness to everyone.”

Alon nodded silently.

A player could choose various routes, but Eliban, as a playable character, had a base: Absolute Kindness.

That behavior was natural.

“…Until the end, he remained like that. Although he kept hiding things from us, he kept moving for the sake of everyone.”

“Up to that point, it doesn’t sound like a bad thing.”

“On the outside, yes.”

Yan sighed deeply.

“…But at some point, he started to become obsessed with fame.”

“…Fame?”

“Yes. He had never been like that. But suddenly he stopped holding back in spreading his own achievements. He didn’t exaggerate them, but… yes, it was strange.”

Because before, he didn’t care.

Yan continued:

“Furthermore, if he was delayed even a little in eliminating a monster or a strange phenomenon, he became very anxious. As if he had made a mistake.”

“Perhaps because of the victims that might result?”

“No. It wasn’t that. Eliban eliminated most anomalies even before they were dangerous. And after doing so, always…”

“He divulged his achievements?”

“Yes. From some point on, he started doing that.”

Alon kept silent for a moment and then spoke:

“…Could it not be that he simply started behaving like that? His achievements deserved recognition.”

“I think so too. Even when we rested, he went out alone to eliminate monsters. But his personality didn’t change. Except for wanting to spread his achievements, everything else was exactly the same.”

“…Was there anything else?”

Yan replied:

“He looked at the sky very often.”

“…The sky?”

“Yes. At first, I thought it was a light habit. Whenever night fell, he looked up. But after several years together I realized something: Eliban did not enjoy the night sky.”

“Did he say so himself?”

“No. He just smiled when we asked him.”

“Then perhaps it was a misunderstanding—”

“No.”

Yan denied firmly.

“No matter how I am… I can read the feelings of someone important. That…”

She stopped speaking, fell silent, and looked at Alon.

“Honestly, I thought you knew something.”

“Why?”

“…Because when Eliban spoke of you, he looked infinitely sincere.”

Alon did not answer.

He couldn’t.

Because Alon…

Knew absolutely nothing about Eliban’s strange behavior.

He didn’t know why he spread his achievements…

Nor why he became anxious when fighting.

Nor why he looked at the night sky that he didn’t even like.

That was why…

‘What the hell is going on?’

Alon could only sink into confusion.