Chapter 486

486

—Alon Palatio. The gods of the forgotten era have not died. They are simply all trapped in the prison of time.

Silence took over the room at Lainicius’s declaration.

—… What do you mean by that?

—I will explain it to you right now.

At the question from Alon Palatio, who could not comprehend, Lainicius took out the Footsteps Running Through the Past and placed them on the desk.

—As you know, after you left for the empire, I began to investigate the Footsteps Running Through the Past, and it wasn’t long before I realized a couple of facts.

—First, the Footsteps Running Through the Past do not summon souls through a catalyst, but…

—… it is more like sending a communication to an Outer God who must be alive somewhere.

When Alon Palatio completed the deduction that Lainicius had drawn by observing the object, the latter nodded with a stern expression.

—Exactly. Just as I predicted, this object does not summon souls. It is, for all intents and purposes, a one-way communication.

—One-way communication?

—Yes, it’s about establishing communication with a specific person who is located somewhere through a catalyst. And I mean a target who is alive.

His explanation continued.

—The moment I realized that, I began to use my magic power constantly to connect the communication with Kylus and search for where his original body was located.

—However, it was not easy to find him. To be more precise, it was easy to find the approximate location, but difficult to go further. The communication always disappeared upon reaching that specific place, as if it vanished. After various deductions, I determined that he was in a subspace.

—A subspace?

—Yes. It is a bit complex to explain, but it would be correct to call it a subspace fixed in a specific place.

—Can I understand it as a mirror world?

—It is somewhat different, but that analogy is more comfortable and suitable for understanding the principle I am trying to explain.

—Mmm.

—Anyway, as soon as I realized it, I changed the direction of my tracking and searched for the coordinates of that place using my magic power, and finally, I was able to find Kylus in the rift. No, rather…

Lainicius took a breath for a moment.

—… I could see countless people who were in that subspace, trapped in the prison of time, with time stopped.

—… And did you rescue Kylus from there?

—Yes. Although perhaps the expression “rescue” is strange. He was in a state close to his peak era, except for the fact that his time was stopped.

Alon Palatio mentally organized the explanation he had just heard.

—… Were you able to find out what happened?

—No, I couldn’t. Because the only one I rescued was Kylus.

—Didn’t you say you had seen others as well?

—I saw them. But I couldn’t rescue them.

—Why?

—It’s somewhat complex, but that subspace was divided into thousands of sections.

At the new information, Alon Palatio leaned forward.

—In simple terms, you can see them, but if you don’t enter a specific coordinate, you cannot interfere with the other separate spaces.

—In other words, to rescue the others, one must open the subspace from that specific place?

—Exactly. That’s why I couldn’t rescue the rest.

Upon receiving the answer, Alon Palatio remained silent while stroking his chin. Lainicius watched him for a while before speaking again.

—However, it’s not that I obtained absolutely nothing from there.

—… Did you find something?

At Alon Palatio’s question, Lainicius nodded and took out a small vial in front of him. A vial where something black billowed.

—… This is?

—It is magic power that remained in that subspace. It probably belongs to whoever opened it. And I was also able to make a small deduction.

—A deduction?

—Yes, it is just my personal guess, do you want to hear it?

When Alon Palatio nodded without a word, the dragon spoke immediately.

—In my view, it seemed like they were making a “preparation.”

—… A preparation?

—Yes. I don’t know what kind of preparation it is for, but…

Lainicius continued speaking slowly.

—When I entered the subspace, it wasn’t just the gods of the forgotten era. There were also characters from a much more remote past that I had not seen.

—And their state was mostly the same as Kylus’s. Without any wounds, they seemed trapped in the prison exactly in their peak state. Among them, there were some whose level of strength was incalculable.

—… In other words, they selected only the strong and stored them there?

Lainicius nodded at Alon Palatio’s question.

—Yes. And storing so many powerful ones in that manner…

—… is interpreted as them preparing for some future moment?

—Exactly. Otherwise, there would be no reason to do something like that. However, my deduction has certain gaps.

—Which ones?

—It doesn’t explain how those stored powerful ones receive a specific power every time the five sins appear and they temporarily descend to the outside.

—Ah…

—At the same time, it also cannot explain who is the one who has caused all of this.

Alon let out a low exclamation at Lainicius’s remark. Certainly, that part felt ambiguous now that he thought about it. While Alon reflected:

—Do you want to check it for yourself?

—… Which part?

—The “rift.”

—… Can it be checked from here?

—I have found the coordinate values, so I can give you a look. Of course, I won’t be able to rescue anyone.

After meditating on it for a moment, Alon replied:

—If it’s possible, I ask it of you.

Immediately, Lainicius began to draw a giant magic circle on the floor of the office. A circle so complex that Alon could not easily comprehend it. And immediately after, he began to whisper. Alon did not understand the words, but a murmur loaded with undeniable magic power could be felt.

In that instant.

Ku-duk!

A black dot began to appear in front of Alon. The small dot in the air was so tiny that, if one were to pass it by, they would think it was a mistake of the eyes. But that lasted only a short time.

Tchi-jik!

The black dot began to tear slowly and its size increased in an instant; soon, the space tore completely, creating a rift. A rift where there was nothing. And…

—The time I can maintain it is one minute. After that, you will be expelled.

Leaving behind Lainicius’s explanation, Alon stepped without hesitation into the black rift. What he could see was a sky dark as an abyss, dotted with stars. As if representing a sky where the new forms had not yet descended. Alon, looking at that sky that stretched in a manner similar to when he activated his Reverse Heaven…

“!”

He soon realized. No, they weren’t stars. They were… countless lives. Floating lives, trapped inside membranes that glowed with a white color.

Alon Palatio looked at the sky in astonishment. There were so many lives trapped in those white membranes that they were impossible to count. And all those who were trapped there were people Alon did not know. In fact, it would have been strange if he knew them. Everyone trapped in that sky belonged to the past.

While observing the sky, Alon experienced a strange sensation. In a place where he should not know anyone, he saw a figure that was familiar to him. No, technically, it’s not that the trapped person had a known appearance, but rather that he received the sensation of familiarity.

He felt from someone up there that they had been together for a very long time. Unfortunately, from Alon’s position, he could only see their back, but even so, it seemed like he knew that person.

No, no. He knew them for certain. Therefore, the moment he was going to raise his hand without realizing it…

Tat!

—Ah…

Alon’s vision changed. From that familiar back that shouldn’t be there, to the familiar ceiling.

—Did you enjoy the view? —asked Lainicius, panting a little.

—Has the minute already passed?

—Yes.

—Could I enter one more time?

—Right now it’s impossible. Although it might not look like it, it consumes an enormous amount of magic power.

At Lainicius’s words, Alon stared at him. Although only a minute had passed, Lainicius’s body was soaked in sweat.

‘Even a dragon can only maintain it for a minute…?’

After the initial surprise.

—… I’m sorry, can I ask you for it on another occasion then?

—We will try again when I recover my magic power.

Alon listened to Lainicius while picking up the vial he had taken out earlier.

—… This vial, can I take it with me?

—I don’t mind, but… what do you plan to do with it?

At Lainicius’s question, Alon Palatio replied while putting away the vial:

—I plan to ask someone who might know.

A few days passed since Alon finished his talk with the Golden Dragon.

—Phew, finally finished with everything!

—Good job.

—You also worked hard, Alon-nim…

While Lainicius recovered his magic power, Alon processed all the accumulated documents and collapsed into his chair as if he could finally breathe easy.

—Alon-nim.

—Evan.

But that lasted only a short time; he shifted his gaze to Evan, who entered, opening the door naturally.

—Yutia has come to look for you.

—… Yutia?

Thus he received from Evan somewhat unexpected news.

—Yes, did she perhaps mention to you that she would come?

Without realizing it, Alon looked up at the ceiling trying to remember. But since he had never spoken about that with Yutia:

—No, I don’t think that was the case.

He shook his head but soon rose from his seat.

—But if she has come to look for me, there is no need to question that.

—That’s true.

—Where is she?

—In the reception room.

—Then I’ll go… but…

Alon stopped talking and looked to one side. The reason was that Penia was there. He could see Penia, whose expression of joy for finishing the paperwork had turned pale.

—… Penia?

—Ah, y-yes!

Alon tilted his head at her state, which seemed frozen.

—Is something wrong?

—A-ah, no… n-nothing…?

—Then why are you like this suddenly?

—It’s just that, suddenly… I feel like I don’t feel very well…

Penia began to speak while looking haggard, as if she were waiting for the last leaf to fall. And then:

—T-this, Alon-nim? I… I’m going out for a moment!

—… Suddenly? To where?

—Yes! An urgent matter has arisen!

Saying “See you later!”, she shot out and disappeared. Alon and Evan felt bewildered by Penia’s attitude, but soon shrugged their shoulders.

—Let’s go.

—Yes.

They headed to where Yutia was. Shortly after.

—Master.

—Yutia.

Alon was able to meet with Yutia.

—Have you been well?

—How much time has passed since you returned from the empire?

—Yes, of course.

—Mmm, it has been a short time, really.

Both exchanged light greetings. But that lasted only a short time.

—So, what’s happening? You must not have recovered from the fatigue of the trip yet.

At Alon’s words, Yutia let out a low exclamation and said:

—Well, it’s nothing other than the fact that I won’t be able to use my residence for a while.

—… You won’t be able to use your residence?

—Yes.

—… Ah. Now that I think about it, the temple…

—Exactly, you already knew.

She spoke with a sad expression… although, for some reason, she had a small and strange smile on her lips.

—So, since there is a church around here, I came to see if I could move in temporarily.

—To the church?

—Yes.

“Could she not just move to another place in Rosario? If it’s Yutia, she should have the power for that,” was the thought that crossed Alon’s mind, but he did not mention it. There might be a reason why Yutia could not do it now.

Therefore, Alon, sighing internally:

‘Ah, now that I think about it, there was the castle.’

Although the large castle where Alon would live was not yet finished, the small castles around it were already complete.

—Yutia, if you don’t mind…

Alon opened his mouth, and at the instant in which Yutia’s sad expression was about to turn into a big smile…

Kki-ik!

The door opened and…

—Godfather, are you here?

—… Rine!?

Rine entered. Alon felt confused by Rine’s sudden appearance. However, she bowed to him and then…

—My, Yutia, were you here?

She smiled while looking at Yutia.

—… Rine, you….

Yutia also looked at Rine. Their gazes intertwined in the air. And Evan, at the sudden cold he felt, began to tremble in his whole body.