Chapter 492

Episode 492. The Dispute over the Castle (8)

Immediately after Alon Palatio set off for the performance test of Basiliora.

In the inner castle, where the owner of the eighth floor was decided through rock-paper-scissors, things were being processed faster than expected. In truth, it was the natural course. Most of those present did not particularly care which floor they stayed on. And even those who aspired to the eighth floor, the moment the goal disappeared, no longer had any reason to be selective.

For this reason, the subsequent processing advanced at great speed, and just when everyone thought they should depart the following day as if by mutual agreement:

—I still think it’s unfair —said Seolrang.

—What a coincidence, Seolrang, I think exactly the same thing —added Rine.

Both expressed their discontent. To this:

—My, I don’t think it was I who started first?

Yutia Bloodia smiled radiantly, looking at Seolrang and Rine, who were gathered on the eighth floor. Discontent was reflected in the faces of both, but Yutia Bloodia‘s was full of smugness. More precisely, she looked at them with eyes that said, “So what? What can you do about it?”

Seolrang, meeting that gaze, replied with a grumpy face:

—Always pretending to be such an adult…

—My, what does that mean, Seolrang?

—I still think that on the inside, you are like a child.

—Is that somehow wrong? —Yutia Bloodia asked calmly.

Seolrang stared at her with resentful eyes and let out sharply:

—Could it be that your appearance is small because your interior is immature?

—… What did you say, Seolrang?

—They say the exterior follows the interior, right? Under that logic…

Kuaaaa—!

Suddenly, Seolrang disappeared. Or rather, it would be more correct to say she went flying. Piercing through the outer wall of the castle.

—… She doesn’t even bother to control herself anymore —Rine murmured, watching Seolrang fly into the distance, as if it were a scene from a video game.

—There’s no longer a need for control, don’t you think?

Yutia Bloodia replied, still with a smile. Before long, Seolrang, who had just gone flying after the blow, returned through the broken window while complaining and shaking off the debris.

—I’m going to tell the Master.

—Don’t worry, I’ll fix it before the Master returns. And I’ll tell you in advance: the reason I am small is because I am still in the growth stage, you know? Don’t go around saying nonsense when you already know the reality.

Yutia Bloodia did not erase her smile. Certainly, Rine and Seolrang, who recovered their memories for some reason, knew that fact. However:

—Hmm… —Rine looked at Yutia Bloodia with a very subtle expression—. Certainly, limiting growth to leave only the “possibility”…

—Did you say something, Rine?

—Nothing. And please, put your hand down. I am not as resilient as Seolrang, you know? What if I break if you hit me?

Rine looked at Yutia Bloodia with a face that said “I am fragile.” In the end, Yutia Bloodia let out a sigh, sat down, and finally addressed the main topic.

—And well, what is happening? It seems both of you have come because you have something to say.

Seolrang shook the stone remains from her head and sat down. Even though they had not been in this situation before, she moved with a familiarity as if she had lived it many times. After sitting down:

—You know it, right, Yutia Bloodia? —Rine said seriously.

—To what are you referring?

—To the fact that things have changed a lot.

A momentary silence followed the question. But it lasted little.

—Of course I know.

Rine tried to continue after Yutia Bloodia‘s response, but:

—… Isn’t it dangerous?

—In what sense?

—I haven’t recovered everything, but even so… as we move away from what we know, we lose the ability to react…

—Rine.

The calm voice of Yutia Bloodia forced her to go silent.

—That statement is incorrect.

—… Incorrect?

—Yes. On the contrary… it is important to distance ourselves even further from what we know.

Murmuring that, Yutia Bloodia sketched a small smile.

—So don’t worry too much and do what you believe you must do. That is what’s important. Ah, of course, that also goes for me.

After looking at her in silence for a moment, Seolrang jumped up.

—Seolrang…?

Rine called her, puzzled, but Seolrang ignored her and said to Yutia Bloodia:

—Understood. I only have to do what I feel I must do, right?

—That’s right.

—Good. Anyway, my head is full of things I must do.

On Seolrang‘s face, as she nodded firmly, there was no longer any trace of doubt. Simply:

—Yutia Bloodia.

—What is it, Seolrang?

—Don’t overexert yourself too much.

She looked at Yutia Bloodia with direct eyes. In her gaze, there was worry. After looking at her in silence for a while, Seolrang turned around and left. Rine, observing her back before looking at Yutia Bloodia again, added:

—I agree with that too. Honestly, even now…

The phrase remained unfinished. Yutia Bloodia smiled.

—It’s okay, you know? For now.

—… Really?

—Don’t worry. I really am fine. It’s not like we are all ready yet, right?

Her voice remained the same as always.

—For now.

Thus the conversation ended. Soon, Rine also left the room.

—Fuu…

Exhaling a sigh, Yutia Bloodia stood up and looked out the window. There was the castle she had seen countless times. More precisely, the castle where Alon would reside now. She observed the castle in silence. For a long time.

Now that the Divine Bloods had descended, the peace of the Allied United Kingdoms was maintained for two main reasons.

The first was the Star Group. The fact that the Divine Blood belonging to the Star Group had managed to “evangelize” (?) the majority of the Divine Bloods arriving in the Allied United Kingdoms, absorbing them into the organization, was the most important defensive factor.

The second reason was the Divine Land. Yes, the Divine Land. Created by the small wish of Alon Palatio, but which grew so much out of pragmatism that even Alon Palatio found new doubts every time he visited it.

The area where the Divine Land held influence was defense against the Special Creatures. Given that the Star Group blocked most of the Divine Blood, beings that human power could not handle did not usually enter. However, unfortunately, that only applied to the Divine Blood. The Special Creatures they created crossed into the territory of the Allied United Kingdoms with relative ease, causing problems.

They were not simple “problems”; they carried out massacres and increased their numbers. Although the main forces of each kingdom could face a Special Creature individually, their numbers were not enough to halt the daily invasions.

But those of the Divine Land were different. The knights of the Divine Land could face the Special Creatures, and even the sub-captains or captains eliminated several by themselves. And was that all? The 4 Knights, who were said to have received power from the Master, showed the prowess of facing hundreds on their own.

That is to say, the position of the Divine Land in the Allied United Kingdoms was immense. The kingdoms exerted more effort in praising the Divine Land to strengthen ties than in maintaining the prestige of their own dynasties. Furthermore, another rumor had recently been circulating: the words of the Saintess that “those who prove it, may be chosen”.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the Divine Land was ardent. It was natural. The members of the Divine Land had witnessed the power of the chosen knights. Powers that an ordinary human could not wield, a strength that not even the Master Knights could defeat. Knights worthy of being called “Heroes.” For this reason, knights and soldiers trained with more vigor and accumulated faith. And that…

—Please, please! I have to get in!

It became a powerful stimulus for the young talents of the Allied United Kingdoms. An immense crowd made long lines to try to become knights of the Divine Land.

—Why are you acting like a child?

Coon, a mercenary from Lartania, scolded his friend Senya, who was murmuring fervently at his side. Senya replied as if it were obvious:

—Me, a child? Are you not nervous?

—Honestly, I don’t understand why we are in this line just for an exam.

—You’re lying, you’re excited.

—I really am not.

Coon denied Senya’s words lightly. He certainly did not expect much. He was there only because Senya, his friend since they were orphans, asked him to; he was not very interested in this.

—It would have been better to earn money in the labyrinth. Now everyone comes here and the price of materials has gone up.

At Coon’s words, Senya raised her voice:

—It’s just that you should have seen it. I, before coming here…

—Enough, stop. It’s the same thing as always, isn’t it? The story of the knight who came when the Special Creature appeared in Lartania? Don’t tell me anymore, I already know it by heart.

Coon made a dismissive gesture, and Senya puffed out her cheeks. But soon her face lit up again.

—Uf, it’s just that you should have seen it. If you saw that image, your heart would race without remedy.

—… That much? I think it’s better to earn money and live peacefully…

Coon was going to refute again, but fell silent. He knew it would be of no use. For that reason:

—Well, if it makes you happy…

He shrugged for his childhood friend. At that moment:

—Eh, eh?

—Wh-what is that?

Suddenly, the surroundings became agitated. Everyone’s gazes in the line focused on one point. Coon and Senya also turned their heads. In that instant, what entered their field of vision was…

—What…?

A black snake. A black snake wearing jet-black armor swam through the sky. And that was not all. The black mist emanating from the snake consumed the clouds. And from those consumed clouds…

Pachik! Pachichichik!

Red lightning began to fall. It was something incomprehensible under human common sense, the inexplicable itself. Before such an overwhelming vision, everyone was filled with fear.

—It-it’s crazy!

—We have to run!

Just when some were trying to escape seeing that thing approaching the Divine Land…

—W-wait!

—There’s a person up there!

—A-a person?!

At someone’s shout, everyone looked up again. And soon they could see it. A man mounted upon that which wore the jet-black armor and swam in the sky. His face seemed indifferent, as if he did not know what to think. He was crossing his arms, as if riding upon a black snake were the most natural thing in the world. His black coat billowed along with the movement of the snake. And…

—The Master?

In the moment someone pronounced that name:

—Is he the owner of the Divine Land…?

In an instant, everyone’s confusion turned into awe. The snake in jet-black armor, as if wanting to flaunt its presence, let out a roar and flew toward the Divine Land.

—… Senya.

—Eh… what?

Coon, who followed the back of the snake with a lost gaze:

—I think… suddenly I want to be a knight.

His heart beat without him realizing it at the scene he had just witnessed. Meanwhile, Alon Palatio, who had stirred people’s hearts without knowing it:

[Hahaha! Did you see it? The look of those guys who revere this great being.]

—… Get down quickly.

Alon, shrugging while hugging himself because he was dying of cold:

—At this rate… I’m going to freeze to death!

He looked toward the ground with a desperate expression.