Chapter 480

C480. Signs of a Great Upheaval (2)

It was late at night, when everyone was asleep.

Evan was lying on one side of the carriage, serving as a pillow for Blackie and Basiliora while he slept.

Penia, exhausted from staying up late studying magic, was also sleeping soundly.

Although there was no galaxy, the soft light of the Blue Moon illuminated the night.

Only Alon and Seolrang remained seated in front of a small campfire.

A deep silence flowed between the two.

In reality, from Alon’s point of view, he had a lot to say.

No, more than that… he had too much to ask.

Starting with whether her body was okay.

And also… to apologize for having eliminated, without permission, the lightning that was practically “everything Seolrang was,” by using the Law.

He had a lot he wanted to say.

But even so, Alon couldn’t get the words out so easily.

Not for lack of courage, but because of the atmosphere.

Yes. The atmosphere.

…It sounded a bit ridiculous even to him, but seeing Seolrang‘s expression, he decided not to speak to her just yet.

She, sitting silently beside him, seemed deeply immersed in her thoughts.

That is why, while they both stared at the fire without speaking, time passed.

He didn’t know how much time had elapsed.

Even after a good while, Seolrang remained silent.

And seeing her like that, Alon finally—

“……What are you thinking about?”

—he broke the silence.

It wasn’t because the situation was awkward.

It was because seeing her so deeply worried made him uneasy.

But at his concern, Seolrang simply stretched a little and replied:

“It’s nothing important.”

“…Oh, really?”

“Yes. I just recovered a few of my memories.”

Hearing that, hearing Seolrang‘s calm voice, Alon‘s eyes widened.

“…Really?”

Seolrang smiled sweetly while looking intently at him.

Her tail moved gently. Her eyes looked relaxed, as if she were in a good mood.

She was smiling naturally.

Faced with that image, Alon felt both surprise and a strange sense of disconnection.

The Seolrang in front of him… was clearly different from the one he used to see.

If she usually had a more childish air, she now emanated a different kind of maturity.

And yet…

Strangely, Alon didn’t feel like she was pretending.

While he processed that contradiction—

“Yes.”

Seolrang nodded with the same smile. Then, suddenly, she took Alon‘s hand…

And she sat on top of him.

Now they were face to face, with Seolrang embracing him with both hands while sitting on his lap.

“……What—?”

Alon was startled by the unexpected action, but Seolrang didn’t seem to care. On the contrary, she smiled playfully.

“I am fulfilling a promise.”

“……A promise?”

“Yes. I had forgotten it.”

Mysterious words.

Seolrang‘s tail kept wagging gently.

Alon went back in his memory.

Did we make a promise like that?

He didn’t remember anything.

But… it didn’t seem like she was lying either.

When Seolrang lied, it was noticeable, but now there was no sign of it.

Maybe it was Alon who couldn’t remember.

As he tried to think, Seolrang raised a hand and began to gently stroke Alon‘s cheek.

He didn’t ask what she was doing.

He simply looked at her.

He didn’t have the heart to ask her “why are you doing that?”, because Seolrang looked too happy.

Why was she so happy?

Did she really find playing with his face that amusing?

Strange thoughts mixed in his mind.

As Seolrang toyed with his face, Alon, who watched her in silence, ended up saying:

“…Was there a promise about… playing with my face?”

Seolrang shook her head without wiping away her smile.

“No. Not that one.”

“……Then, what promise did we make?”

Instead of answering, Seolrang observed him intently. Then she began to bring her face closer to his.

The gesture was so sudden that Alon blinked, bewildered.

“I,”

She murmured.

And before he could react—

Seolrang‘s face came closer.

So close that the breathing of both could be clearly heard.

But she didn’t stop there. She leaned in until their faces could almost no longer be seen…

And then—

Nom.

“¿……?”

Seolrang… bit his nose.

It wasn’t hard.

A small touch.

As if she had barely pressed with her teeth, just enough to feel it.

Alon brought his hand to his nose, stunned.

“…What… did you just do?”

Seolrang, with perky ears and a wagging tail, smiled mischievously:

“It’s a secret.”

“Secret?”

“Yes. It’s a promise where the important thing isn’t that I tell you, but that you remember.”

She said that with a cheerful tone.

Then she added:

“Anyway, don’t worry so much. Master, I am recovering my memories.”

“Recovering them…?”

“Yes. Although it will take some time.”

“…Did you find a method?”

“I think so. And it isn’t necessary to use magic.”

Then Seolrang moved away from Alon‘s body.

“Always thank you, Master.”

Having said that, she stood up and walked toward the carriage.

Alon, stunned, watched her walk away.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly he felt something strange.

Am I… under some spell of Seolrang‘s?

As that idea crossed his mind, he tried to call out to her.

Tak.

But by then she had already entered the carriage.

While Alon watched the carriage, confused…

Inside, Seolrang settled next to the window where the light of the Blue Moon entered.

She hummed softly, still in a good mood.

And she remembered the blurry scene she had recovered.

‘Of course, isn’t it obvious? How much do I like Seolrang?’

‘My Seolrang— adorable, precious Seolrang—’

In that memory,

Alon laughed as always (?), patting her head over and over again.

‘No matter how many times you lose your memory, Seolrang is Seolrang to me. That doesn’t change, ever.’

‘So don’t worry.’

‘Even if you face danger again and again, I will remember.’

‘If I remember, I can always bring you back.’

‘And if I lose my memory… I will give my memories to you. As many times as necessary.’

Alon‘s calm and soft voice filled her mind.

‘Eh? What if I am the one who doesn’t remember?’

‘It’s okay. That’s why I have you.’

‘As long as you remember me… you will be able to bring me back.’

‘What? And if you don’t remember? Hmm…’

The memory disappeared at times. There was still a lot to recover.

But even so, she was calm.

She had recovered the most important thing.

‘Then, bite my nose hard. That will surely make me remember.’

‘Eh? Is that your way of showing affection? It’s fine, you can use another. Or hit me if you want.’

‘The important thing is that Seolrang will bring Alon back.’

‘I trust you, Seolrang.’

That is why…

“…Wait a little longer, Master.”

She whispered toward the Blue Moon.

A small determination. But unbreakable.

---

The next morning, Seolrang returned to her normal state with surprising speed.

Evan and Penia only thought that “she seemed more lively than usual.”

But Alon knew.

She was no longer pretending.

The only notable difference was…

“……Seolrang.”

“Yes? What is it~?”

“Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable?”

“Hmm? No. Not at all.”

…that now Seolrang was stuck to Alon like gum.

Whether inside or outside the carriage, she stayed by his side as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Evan was perplexed.

Penia had a complicated expression.

As they continued traveling toward the Empire’s border—

“Hello.”

“……Sculptor?”

Alon saw the Sculptor appear suddenly, as if she had come out from under the ground.

“I have several things we need to discuss, but first I have something urgent to tell you.”

“…Urgent?”

“Yes. The humans you were raising… are about to die.”

She dropped that without preamble.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Alon frowned, surprised, while the Sculptor explained:

“The avatars of the Spirit Invoker are heading to Palantia.”

“…Avatars of the Spirit Invoker?”

“Yes.”

“If the Spirit Invoker died, his avatar should also disappear, right?”

“Normally yes. But it seems he left some kind of preparation. His avatars did not disappear. And this time, the Divine Bloods are not weak. They are practically equal to a standard Divine Blood. They are desperate to harm you.”

“……Is that true?”

“I have no reason to lie to you when I precisely need points with you.”

Alon looked at Penia.

“…Yes! I will communicate right now!”

Penia understood immediately. She took out the magic sphere and activated it.

[…What is happening?]

Lainicius‘s voice responded.

“You have to evacuate right now… immediately!”

Penia relayed everything the Sculptor had said.

After hearing everything, Lainicius murmured:

[…So Divine Bloods are coming toward Palantia.]

“Exactly.”

[Not bad.]

His answer was unexpected.

“What…?”

Penia didn’t understand.

[I just wanted to test something. I will evacuate everyone, don’t worry.]

And at that moment—

KUUUUNG!!

A huge noise was heard through the sphere.

Something like a building collapsing.

Lainicius said:

[It seems it has arrived. We will talk later.]

He cut the communication and looked up.

In the distance, on the other side of the window—

A Divine Blood completely covered in black armor was advancing, destroying the outer wall with a single blow.

His presence was chilling even from afar.

But Lainicius observed him in silence.

“Hmm. Is that a Divine Blood?”

Just then, another voice rang out behind him. Familiar.

“It seems so.”

Lainicius nodded.

“It gives me chills.”

“I agree.”

Walking beside him was a man covered in tattoos that looked like circuits: Kylus, the True Mage that Lainicius had brought back to this world through his research on the Footsteps Running Through the Past.

“But it doesn’t seem impossible to defeat. My body is completely restored thanks to you.”

“If we combine our strengths, it won’t be difficult.”

“Then, let’s not waste time.”

“Agreed.”

Both jumped out the window at the same time.

And then—

A golden dragon appeared in the sky of Palantia.

“……I never imagined we would fight together.”

[Since I still have nothing to counter spiritual dragons, I will accompany you this time.]

As Lainicius spoke, Kylus formed a seal with his hand.

Lainicius‘s golden body began to transform into a gigantic black shadow.

Black wings spread out and covered all of Palantia.

And then—

The Arrival of the Demon

(魔鬼到來)

The True Mage who led a forgotten era

and the Golden Dragon

descended together over the sky of Palantia.