Chapter 478

C478. Astarotte (9)

When Seolrang received the admiration of the Divine Bloods and gained an insight that no one else could see.

Far away—

“Oh—”

—a man exclaimed in awe while watching Seolrang and Alon defeat the Spirit Invoker.

“Wow… they won in the end, didn’t they?”

The man, with long purple hair and a cheerful expression, contrasted with the woman beside him, who had a tattoo on the right side of her face and observed Seolrang with absolute indifference.

Then, one of the princes of the Empire, who had remained silent until now… Nataman, no, “Black Eyes”, showed a smile so wide it seemed about to tear his lips.

“See? I told you they would win.”

“For someone who was so sure, you didn’t go down there?”

At the woman’s observation, Black Eyes shook his head as if she knew nothing.

“Of course I came. I wanted to see Alon‘s growth with my own eyes.”

“…In the castle, you talk about Alon; here, Alon; there, Alon. You are quite the devotee of Alon Palatio.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t you get tired?”

“How could I? If I saved you all and brought you with me from the start, it was only for Alon.”

“…Ah, right. You said you wanted to become just like him.”

“Yes. I want to be exactly like that guy.”

The woman wore an incredulous expression as she watched Black Eyes genuinely rejoice over his own words.

Although she had accepted his proposal even after hearing such a strange purpose, she couldn’t help but think he was crazy in several ways.

With a weary expression, the woman looked away from him for a moment… and directed her gaze toward Alon and Seolrang.

A slight doubt was reflected in her eyes.

Coldly, she couldn’t understand why Black Eyes showed so much interest in them… no, in Alon specifically.

It wasn’t that she thought Alon and Seolrang were weak.

No.

They were strong.

And Alon’s Law, in particular, was extremely interesting.

But that was all.

Any explanation that this was enough for Black Eyes to be obsessed with Alon… simply didn’t add up.

Because the kind of being she knew as Black Eyes… was not someone who cared about such things.

He was—

“…”

Her thoughts reached that point before she forced herself to stop. She realized too late that there was no point in continuing to wonder.

She averted her gaze.

Black Eyes continued to smile cheerfully.

“But isn’t it a bit dangerous?”

“Hmm? What is?”

“You want that boy to stay alive, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“And for someone who wants that, you seem to let him act too freely.”

She said it with total sincerity.

It was natural to think so.

Alon was strong. But that didn’t mean his life was guaranteed.

The world was full—and would become even fuller—of monsters that would surpass his strength.

“You think so?”

Black Eyes‘ voice came suddenly. She blinked.

“What?”

“That you really believe that.”

“…Well, yes. Honestly, it does seem dangerous.”

Black Eyes stared at her and then said:

“Hmm… well, that makes sense. It hasn’t been that long since I saved you, so it’s not strange that you don’t understand it yet.”

He nodded repeatedly, as if he genuinely understood her stance.

Then he raised his hand and held up seven fingers.

“?”

A gesture with no apparent meaning.

She frowned.

“Look up.”

Black Eyes told her, smiling as if he were amused.

“Up?”

The woman raised her head.

What she saw was just a black cloud.

Aside from that, far in the distance, she saw how the beast woman parted the clouds to let the sun show, but nothing else.

There was nothing particularly strange.

“If I explain it more than this, it would lose the fun.”

Black Eyes seemed to enjoy her confusion.

And then—

She understood.

She realized that the black cloud was artificially created.

“…How?”

It was a comment directed both at the cloud and at Black Eyes.

Even she, who was an expert in analysis, had assumed that cloud was natural.

This meant it was perfect, almost indistinguishable from real clouds.

But Black Eyes recognized from the start that it was created.

That was why she was impressed for only a moment… until she noticed something else.

The black cloud extended widely.

As if covering the entire area.

But upon observing closely, she noticed it had no special effect.

And then—

“…Eh?”

Frowning, she observed the cloud again and let out a small, involuntary scream. She had discovered it.

“Do you understand now?”

She heard Black Eyes‘ voice.

That was it.

She finally understood.

The black cloud never mattered.

It was just a smokescreen to hide that.

The woman let out an incredulous laugh.

What was above the cloud was not the sky.

Nor blue.

Nor the sunlight.

Above the cloud—

A Giant was contemplating the earth.

With glowing green eyes,

from high in the sky,

showing barely its blurred shadow,

in absolute silence.

“—!”

And it wasn’t just that.

On the other side, where it was still broad daylight and darkness should not exist, a Red Moon hung in the sky.

The woman stood open-mouthed, staring at the firmament.

Black Eyes laughed and pointed with his chin in another direction.

“Impressive, right? You no longer have the strength to face it.”

She didn’t even answer.

“But that’s not all.”

He looked into the distance.

Not towards where Alon and Seolrang were, but towards the opposite side.

“Look there. The faithful dog has arrived too.”

Black Eyes looked directly at the woman with pentagram eyes and showed a smile full of ecstasy.

“You are incredible, Alon.”

And he murmured with fascination before turning around.

“Eh? Are you leaving already?”

The man with purple hair finally reacted.

“Sure. I already confirmed that Alon is fine.”

“…So you really came just to check that he was healthy.”

“Ah, you caught me? Anyway—”

Black Eyes cast a broken glance toward Alon.

“Let’s go, prisoners.”

The black cloak he wore—similar to Alon‘s clothes—fluttered once…

And they disappeared.

As if they had never been there.

---

In conclusion, the battle between the squad and Astarote ended in the squad’s victory.

Seolrang defeated the Spirit Invoker, and Astarote no longer existed because the Spirit Invoker had devoured him.

But although they won, none of the Divine Bloods were happy.

The damage suffered had been too great.

Even Alon couldn’t rejoice.

The reason was simple: Seolrang collapsed right after defeating the Spirit Invoker.

Alon carried her and went directly toward the carriage.

“…There doesn’t seem to be a serious problem.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Although I’m not entirely an expert, checking her general condition, she has many damaged muscles and physical wounds, but nothing life-threatening.”

She added that Penia had already treated the worst of her right arm.

Alon sighed deeply and leaned his back against the carriage.

Then he looked at Seolrang with a complicated expression.

He remembered the look she gave him just before fainting.

“…She seemed surprised.”

She had looked at him with wide eyes, as if she had seen something unexpected.

No, more accurately—

There was nostalgia in that look.

While Alon reflected, Penia called him.

“Alon-nim.”

“What is it?”

“Are you… okay?”

Evan added quickly:

“Do you have any wounds we can’t see?”

She checked Alon hurriedly. Penia sighed and explained:

“It’s not that. It’s about your Law.”

“My Law?”

“Yes, your Law too—”

Penia looked at him, then looked outside.

There, the Divine Bloods could be seen approaching slowly.

Even with the multiple barrier shields, Penia was cautious.

Alon replied:

“It’s nothing.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I didn’t receive any damage. It’s just that—”

Alon‘s Law was simple:

“Impose a restriction to receive something greater in return.”

But even if he imposed restrictions, the risk did not fall on him, but on the structure of the Law.

And Alon‘s restriction was temporarily losing his strength.

Yes.

Every time Alon used his Law, he became an ordinary human without any strength for half a day.

That was his price.

Of course, if he imposed a restriction on himself he could compensate for it, but when using the Law on others he remained totally vulnerable.

“—It’s a bit worrying.”

Alon looked outside, and Penia sighed.

Seolrang was unconscious and Alon weakened by the Law.

If the Divine Bloods got upset, there would be no way to stop them.

There were many from the Star Group, yes, but that was no comfort.

Alon knew that the Star Group followed him because of an illusion.

They thought he was stronger than he had actually shown.

But in this battle…

He showed nothing significant.

It was as if his “true strength” had been exposed.

So if the Divine Bloods got upset…

“Alon-nim… the Divine Bloods are gathering here.”

“…I’ll go out.”

While thinking about how to solve it, he got off the carriage.

Upon exiting, he saw all the Divine Bloods gathered.

Not just those from the Star Group, but all affiliations.

‘…I’ll have to make up that Seolrang woke up.’

Just when he was seriously thinking about lying—

[Me too… please allow me to join the Star Group!]

A Divine Blood bowed deeply in front of him.

“?”

Alon stood perplexed.

And before he could process it—

[Me too, please!]

[I am ready to swear allegiance!]

[I will follow the Star Eater to the end!]

Everyone began to bow before him.

Alon remained—

with an expressionless face, but completely bewildered.

…This was not what he expected.