Chapter 46

Chapter 46
Typically, the routine gatherings of the Blue Moon would conclude without any notable events.

The last assembly had been prolonged considerably because of Deus’s reaction to Seolrang’s inquiry, but that was an isolated incident.

Now that everyone except Deus and Yutia had learned that some questions were strictly off-limits to Deus, such deviations could be prevented.

Even when Deus, who was normally quiet, chose to speak up whenever the Great Moon was discussed, those dialogues did not last long anymore.

This was due to Rine and Radan skillfully steering the discussion elsewhere.

Therefore, today’s meeting should have been tranquil, unlike the previous one, and with their diligent management, it was anticipated to finish within twenty minutes.

[Speaking of which, Seolrang, that individual mentioned he was visiting the colony this time; did you encounter him?] Yutia inquired of Seolrang.

[I am going to marry the Great Moon!]

[What?]

This outburst came before Seolrang could even respond to the question.

Initially, the mood was not particularly tense.

The other Blue Moon members knew that Seolrang often employed dramatic language, and Yutia assumed this was another instance of that.

However.

[That person is truly magnificent. No wonder Seolrang holds him in such high regard.]

[Precisely! That is why I will marry him!]

The moment they understood Seolrang was not being facetious but was entirely sincere.

[…What are you saying?]

Yutia’s face, typically composed in any situation, suddenly grew stern, and the other organization members froze at the sight.

Everyone present recognized precisely what her shifting expression and tone signified.

‘She is restraining herself.’

‘She is truly holding back.’

‘She is suppressing her anger.’

Deus, Radan, and Rine instantly detected Yutia’s mood and withdrew slightly.

Even though they were connected only through magical projections for this virtual meeting, they were instinctively aware of how fearsome Yutia could become when enraged.

Yet, the three of them believed this turmoil would quickly subside.

Seolrang understood Yutia well and was also afraid of her.

But.

[I am serious! I will marry the Great Moon!]

Contrary to their expectation that Seolrang would retreat, she boldly announced her plan as if it were an irrevocable decision.

The other members were left in stunned silence.

Yutia shut her eyes briefly, as if struggling to master her expression, then reopened them and asked,

[Seolrang, do you comprehend the meaning of your words?]

[Of course I do! We will be a family. I am sure I can be a good wife!]

Yutia closed her eyes again, as if feeling lightheaded, then slowly opened them.

Wearing a slight smile, as if humoring a child, she spoke in a gentle voice.

[Even if you are sure, that is not possible.]

[Why not?]

[Because we are the shadows of the Great Moon.]

[…?? Can we not be shadows and still get married?]

Seolrang’s expression showed no understanding, instead questioning why it was such an issue.

A fissure appeared in the faint smile that had returned to Yutia’s face.

[Listen carefully, Seolrang. We are the shadows of the Great Moon. Shadows cannot stand beside their master. Do you grasp what I am telling you?]

Yutia’s face, which everyone could see now held a subtle but definite sharpness of anger, led the others to believe this discussion was finally over.

[…]

Seolrang, seeming to perceive Yutia’s emotions more acutely this time, withdrew slightly.

But then, as if mustering her courage, she blinked and replied,

[Even so! I am going to marry him!]

Even after Yutia’s mounting frustration became evident, Seolrang’s resolute statement left the members briefly astonished.

“I know! Ultimately, the most crucial thing is what the Great Moon thinks!”

The organization members could only stare in disbelief at the scene, as Seolrang was now openly challenging Yutia.

As Yutia and Seolrang began to stare each other down intensely, a single question ran through the minds of Rine and Radan.

What in the world occurred between Seolrang and the Great Moon to provoke such behavior?

“Do you truly believe that person would select you?”

“Master told me that I am not so bad!”

Of course, Alon had not said this with full sincerity, but merely to console her when Seolrang was complaining and asking if she was disliked.

However, stripped of its context, only that fragment of the conversation emerged, causing Rine and Radan to react.

“What, what did you say…?”

Just as Yutia was about to be struck by this revelation.

“What exactly transpired between you and that person, Seolrang?” Deus asked, trying to divert the subject.

“Well,” Seolrang started to narrate her encounters with the Great Moon, gradually calming the atmosphere.

Seeing that Deus had successfully eased the tension, Rine and Radan exchanged looks of relief.

“…And that is what happened.”

“I understand.”

“So? Isn’t that incredible!?”

“It is. Hmm—listening to your account suddenly brings to mind the grandeur the Great Moon displayed in the north six months ago.”

[[…!]]

As Seolrang’s story, which took nearly twenty minutes, drew to a close, both Rine and Radan wore looks of dismay.

Deus, capitalizing on their momentary lapse, smoothly returned the conversation to the events of half a year prior.

And so—

“…I can still see it clearly, the image of that person, poised against the sunset on the desolate, ashen ground.”

“Oh! I know precisely the scene you mean!”

[[Ah.]]

Before Rine and Radan could intervene to guide the discussion, they saw Seolrang nodding enthusiastically, as if she had been longing for this topic, and their expressions fell.

Two hours later.

“Hmph… that was quite a long story.”

As anticipated, Deus’s tale finally concluded, and both Rine and Radan felt a wave of relief, thinking the meeting was at last over.

“Anyway, you cannot marry that person!”

“I can!”

“You cannot!”

“I can!!”

“You cannot!!”

“I CAN!!!”

[[…]]

With the dispute between Yutia and Seolrang igniting once more as if it were nothing, Rine and Radan imprinted a new understanding in their minds that day.

Yutia reveals a surprisingly immature facet whenever the Great Moon is involved, even in the slightest.

It was not precisely the sort of knowledge they desired to acquire, Rine and Radan reflected as they looked up at the sky, which was already growing light.

***

Approximately a week later, Alon finally succeeded in leaving the desert.

“Then I shall call upon you again next time, Count!”

Rad, the head of the Golden Hair Merchant Guild, bowed so profoundly he might have been mistaken for a humble servant.

However, none of the merchants, mercenaries, or even the mages present questioned Rad’s conduct.

They were all cognizant of the increasing fame of Count Palatio from the colony, and among them, the mages and mercenaries had seen the Count’s capabilities for themselves.

“Until fate brings us together again.”

“Thank you so much!”

As Rad bowed at a sharp angle and started organizing the merchant guild for departure, a voice spoke up.

“Count.”

Just as the count was about to enter his carriage, someone addressed him. It was Liyan, the daughter of the Red Mage Tower’s master.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Do you intend to be present at the magic conference next month?”

“Hmm.”

Alon clicked his tongue, his face impassive.

‘Magic conference…’

A magic conference.

It was essentially a gathering where mages from the various towers convened once or twice a year to debate theories and experiments from their studies and participate in amicable contests.

‘I do wish to attend.’

In truth, Alon had wanted to go to the magic conference for some time.

More specifically, his interest lay less in the conference’s research materials and more in the “Central Tower” where it was hosted.

Something existed in that place that could relieve, at least partially, Alon’s severe shortage of magical power.

Unfortunately, the Central Mage Tower’s regulations mandated that one must be part of a tower to enter, so Alon responded,

“I would like to attend, but it appears I cannot.”

“Eh? Why is that?” Liyan asked.

“Because I do not belong to any mage tower.”

Liyan looked somewhat taken aback by Alon’s words.

“…So, it is true you are not aligned with any tower?”

“It is. I have no cause to deceive you about that.”

“Then, would you consider participating in the conference as a representative of our Red Mage Tower?”

“As a member of the Red Mage Tower…?”

“Correct.”

Alon pondered the unexpected offer briefly before answering,

“…Well, it is certainly a favorable opportunity for me, but I do not believe I can contribute much by simply attending under the Red Mage Tower’s banner.”

“I am not asking for anything in return. Just as before, it would suffice if we could exchange ideas on magical subjects during the conference,” Liyan said, with a subtle upward glance at Alon.

‘Fine, that is a reasonably good arrangement,’ Alon thought.

Though he briefly questioned why Liyan was proposing such advantageous terms, he could find no reason to decline, so he nodded.

“Then I will accept your kind offer. When should I depart for the conference?”

“I think there is about a month and a half remaining, but I will send you the precise schedule by letter or magic orb.”

“Understood.”

With that, their discussion ended.

“Until then.”

Alon said farewell to the mages of the Red Mage Tower and started collecting supplies from the first village he reached after crossing the desert, making ready to go back to his lands.

“Ah, Count!” Evan suddenly exclaimed, as if recalling something, and relayed two items of news.

“What is it?”

“Well, it concerns Rine.”

“And?”

“I heard she has become an influential person in Lartania.”

“An influential person?”

“Yes. According to reports, she has joined the ruling council of the Triumvirate.”

“The Triumvirate… That is the body overseeing the general administration of the Labyrinth City, correct?”

“Exactly.”

“…Rine?”

“Yes.”

“She is certainly advancing in status.”

The first news was that Rine had gained power in Lartania, a welcome development that could potentially yield advantages for them.

“And Radan…”

“Yes?”

“It seems he has brought together five of the Seven Archipelagos and has effectively become the Pirate King.”

“Hmm, is that favorable news?”

“I am uncertain if it is favorable or not… but his bounty has now exceeded millions of gold coins.”

“…Millions of gold coins…?”

“Yes, apparently, it rivals the bounty on the former Pirate King.”

“…”

The second news was that Radan had evolved from a pirate into the Pirate King of the Somali Archipelago, a rather peculiar development.

***

Sergius, one of the eight cardinals of Rosario, had occupied his position for more than two decades. He was a man who favored luxury and excess, a far cry from the expected demeanor of a cardinal.

He preferred a bottle of wine to studying scripture, and valued embracing a woman more than prayer—he could easily be viewed as a corrupting influence within the Holy Nation.

“A pleasure to meet you, Cardinal Yutia.”

“Likewise, Cardinal Sergius.”

Yutia Bloodia offered a faint smile as she sat across from Sergius.

In truth, Sergius was not familiar enough with Yutia to justify a private meeting like this.

Indeed, this was only the second occasion he had seen her in person.

Still, there was a motive for Sergius seeking her out.

“I came to propose a deal. Would you care to hear it?”

This was that motive.

“What kind of deal?”

“To be direct, I require a ‘name.'”

“A name?”

Sergius nodded at Yutia’s question and replied.

“Yes, it seems there are individuals colluding with unclean forces on that side.”

“You wish to use my name for a ‘conversion letter,’ is that right?”

“Precisely.”

A conversion letter—a special document that only the higher ranks of Rosario, specifically cardinals or above, could issue. It was sent when there were suspicions that someone had formed an alliance with heretics. To compose such a letter, the endorsement of at least two cardinals was necessary.

However, Sergius had no plan to use the conversion letter for its intended purpose.

The actual reason was that he had accepted a bribe, and the explanation he was now appealing to Yutia, whom he had never properly met before, was—

“If you lend me your name, I will ensure you are adequately compensated.”

“Compensed, you say?”

“I will refrain from commenting on the suspicious demise of Cardinal Biantrea. How does that sound?”

Unlike the other cardinals, with whom he would have to share the bribe, Sergius was convinced that Yutia was someone he would not need to pay off. This assurance stemmed from the fact that—

“Cardinal Biantrea?” Yutia asked.

“I assume you will not pretend ignorance, given the office you hold.”

—he had collected sufficient intelligence to be certain that she, like himself and the other cardinals, was already corrupted.

“So, let us not make this difficult. If you lend your name for the conversion letter concerning Count Palatio, I will remain silent on this affair.”

Confident in his relaxed strategy, Sergius was prepared to end the discussion.

“…I see.”

The gentle smile that had graced Yutia’s face moments before vanished, and she asked another question.

“So what you are stating, Cardinal Sergius, is that you desire me to lend my name?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“To destroy Count Alon Palatio?”

“…? Yes, that is right,” Sergius nodded, but as he did—

“Hah…”

A soft, deep laugh escaped her lips.

And then.

“!”

The world turned crimson.

Everything had occurred in an instant.

Sergius, startled, attempted to move, but soon found his body would no longer respond.

Along with this realization came a crushing wave of terror, and he instinctively turned his shaking head toward its source.

And there he saw.

The woman, who had been smiling kindly just moments before, now gazed at him with brilliantly scarlet eyes.

“Did you just inform me—”

Anyone could perceive the clear fury emanating from her.

“—you will murder my God?”

It was in that moment Sergius understood something had gone horribly awry.