Chapter 494

Episode 494. Anomaly (2)

In the eastern capital of the Empire, which is currently the territory of Serdea Polanticia, inside the imperial palace.

Three people stood face to face. One was Serdea Polanticia, who could be considered the owner of the Eastern Empire; another was Irene Polanticia, owner of the Southern Empire; and finally, Contanias, the owner of the Northern Empire, was seated in his place.

Originally, such a meeting would have been impossible. Even if they were blood siblings, in the end, they were rivals in opposing positions. For this reason, Serdea Polanticia thought that even if Irene Polanticia accepted, Contanias would not come. However…

—Tsk.

Contradicting expectations, Contanias was there, although he showed a clear gesture of discomfort.

“Do not worry. I will take care of all the preparations.”

Seeing him, Serdea Polanticia remembered a voice. The words of that woman who visited her a few months ago and, with a smile, taught her the way the Empire could survive.

—Hum… I thought you wouldn’t come, but here you are —said Irene Polanticia, breaking the silence.

When Serdea Polanticia emerged from her thoughts, Contanias, who had been frowning, clicked his tongue.

—… I didn’t come because I wanted to see you. I’m only here because I had no choice in the face of an insistent request.

—I don’t think Serdea Polanticia asked you that insistently —Irene Polanticia replied.

—I can already imagine it. You probably came because they threatened you, right?

—Shut up.

Contanias reacted very predictably to Irene Polanticia’s words. Serdea Polanticia could easily deduce the background of the situation.

—… Did she go to see you two as well?

—Why else would I come all the way to the depths of the east? —Irene Polanticia answered.

Contanias looked away with a “Hmpf!”, as if the whole situation was bothersome to him. However, that was response enough. Serdea Polanticia was going to ask something else, but…

—Before you say anything, I didn’t hear anything from her. I suppose Contanias didn’t either.

—Hmpf! I did hear something.

—Do you think I’m going to believe you?

—What was it that you heard?

—It seems she didn’t tell you.

—What?

—You’ve always been bad at lying. When you think you’re going to be found out, you stupidly look away to the right.

At Irene Polanticia’s insight, Contanias knit his brows. She, however, continued undeterred:

—The only thing I heard was that if I came to find you, I could protect the Empire, and if I didn’t, I would die soon.

Hearing this, Serdea Polanticia looked at Contanias. He stared fixedly at Irene Polanticia without reacting. Serdea Polanticia took a deep breath.

—First, let me tell you that the reason I have gathered you is also because of her.

With that explanation, Serdea Polanticia proceeded to formally convey what she had heard from Yutia Bloodia. After some time of conversation…

—… Honestly, it’s something hard to believe.

—But it’s also something we cannot afford not to believe.

The three remained silent. In reality, there was no one there capable of determining whether Yutia Bloodia‘s words were truth or lies. It was natural. What she mentioned were events of the future, and unless they lived through them, they could not judge their veracity.

However, they had no choice but to believe her words. Or rather, they could not not believe. All because of a phrase she left behind:

“If time passes and you don’t do it, I will have no choice but to change the heads.”

It was said with utter lightness.

“After all, it is something that must be done.”

But for those who had seen her in person, it was an infinitely heavy warning. As if to prove they all heard the same thing, Contanias’s face turned pale and he began to retch. Even so, Irene Polanticia and Serdea Polanticia did not look at him with contempt. Although they didn’t show it, they felt something similar.

—Fuu…

Irene Polanticia sighed, remembering that moment. When the Seeker of the Path, who seemed most ordinary, looked at her simply smiling. Irene Polanticia did not use her ability to see her. Or rather, it would be correct to say she could not use it. Her ability did not work on her.

But even without her ability, she could feel it. It was pure instinct. Not because she was an empress, but because of a basic instinct that any living being in this world would possess. That instinct warned her that the being in front of her was Incomprehensible.

After sighing, Irene Polanticia looked at Contanias.

—By the way, did the Guardian Dragon say anything?

—… The Guardian Dragon entered hibernation a long time ago.

After a brief silence, Irene Polanticia thought of another person. More accurately, the one the woman called Master and followed… the man who possessed four flames, when even a Divine Blood only has one.

‘Probably, this is something he ordered.’

She knew that the woman who visited her followed that man.

—Fuu…

Irene Polanticia’s body trembled slightly. She had no way of knowing what that man was plotting. But if one thing was certain, it was that she only had one option. Therefore, she looked her siblings in the eyes. As if sharing the same thought, both looked back at her with hardened faces.

—Then, let us begin formally discussing who will do what.

—Just as that man intends.

Thus, along with the alliance, the formal meeting began. A meeting initiated by Yutia Bloodia… but which, for some reason, was colored by a strange misunderstanding.

While the meeting in the Empire progressed accompanied by a misunderstanding that Alon Palatio was unaware of, he was standing in front of Silly and the colossal statue.

—… So you’re saying this is your ability?

—Yes!

—The ability to move that colossal statue?

—Mmm… technically, now I can give movement to statues.

At Silly‘s words, Alon Palatio unconsciously held his head.

—Giving movement to statues…

—It could be something cool, right? —muttered Penia and Evan at his side.

[Oh…]

[Kkyu-!]

Basiliora and Blackie also let out exclamations of admiration while looking at the statue of Alon Palatio that stood with crossed arms. Only Alon Palatio looked at Silly without words. She had a radiant smile.

—So you’ve obtained a control-type ability?

—Yes! And besides, I can strengthen various things.

—… Strengthen?

—Yes!

Alon Palatio was curious about what kind of strengthening it would be, but decided not to ask. Seeing that Silly‘s eyes glowed with a blue tone since she started controlling the statue, he sensed that something complicated was happening. Instead, he remembered the question Silly asked him yesterday.

—By the way, Silly.

—Yes! Tell me!

—I understand about your ability… but what does this have to do with Basiliora?

Silly answered immediately:

—If Alon Palatio-nim plans to continue using Basiliora as a mount, I thought about adding her to the colossal statue.

—Adding her?

—Yes! Although, of course, I’ll have to reduce the size a bit for the proportions.

—… Is there any reason to add a statue of Basiliora?

—Of course! If Lord Alon uses her constantly, I’ll also be able to move that part!

Alon felt something strange in the explanation.

—… Can’t you just move any statue of Basiliora?

—Mmm, no. I can only move statues of Alon-nim.

—Only my statues?

—Yes! And if something is related to Alon-nim, I can move it too!

—… Really?

—Yes, really!

Only then did Alon understand why Silly asked about Basiliora, but at the same time, it seemed strange to him that such a peculiar restriction existed without being a law.

—Have you tried moving other statues?

Silly nodded at the additional question.

—Yes, I tried, but I couldn’t move any that weren’t a statue of you, Lord Alon.

—I see.

Alon looked up. The colossal statue was so immense that, if strength were decided by size, it could crush three Level 1 Divine Bloods at once.

Shortly after, Alon gave permission to create the statue of Basiliora. However, he found no answer as to why Silly could only move his statues and those related to him. Finally, Alon returned to the surface.

—Evan.

—Yes.

—Where did you say the Star Group was?

—It is said they are gathered near Ashtalon. Do you plan to go immediately?

—Yes, since we are out. The travel time isn’t long, so we can go and come back.

It was still before noon. Just as Alon was about to start preparations.

Duk!

The white cat, Kalanon, jumped onto the desk.

—… Kala?

When Alon called him, Kalanon nodded and tapped the desk a couple of times, as if asking him to sit down. Alon, though puzzled, sensed that Kalanon wanted to talk and took a seat.

In that instant.

Pak, pak, pak!

[Kuk!?]

Blackie jumped and hit the head of Kalanon, who was trying to approach Alon. Kalanon, surprised, backed away with an expression of injustice.

—Blackie. Don’t do that.

When Alon picked up Blackie to scold him, he tilted his head and tucked himself back into the pocket. Kalanon, still startled, approached carefully and put its paw on the back of Alon’s hand. Simultaneously…

—How cruel! You should have defended me earlier!

A familiar voice was heard, and an image of the galaxy at dawn unfolded.

—I’m sorry. I couldn’t react either.

The girl put her hands to her head with tearful eyes. Alon scratched his cheek shyly. Kalanon let out a whine and sighed.

—It’s okay. My luck is just like that…

—Didn’t you say things were going well for you lately?

—Don’t be a coward and don’t use cold logic instead of empathy!

—So, what is it?

After the exchange of greetings, Alon shrugged and Kalanon softened her expression.

—Something good has happened, but since it seems you don’t know, I’ve come to tell you.

—Something good I don’t know?

—Yes.

—What is it?

—I think you can now perform a complete Manifestation.

Alon was stunned by Kalanon‘s words.

—Suddenly? Didn’t you say before it would only be possible after accumulating enough image?

—That’s how it was. But now you are more than capable! You even have the respect of beings who are not ordinary humans.

—… Beings who are not humans?

—Yes. Mmm… are those the Divine Bloods? Certainly, each of them is impressive.

Kalanon nodded, amazed again.

—Anyway, since it seemed you didn’t know exactly, I came to tell you.

—That is good news.

—Of course! —Kalanon replied energetically.

Alon asked suddenly:

—By the way, if I perform the Manifestation this time, what form will I take?

—This time?

—Yes. I don’t have a clear idea, but you mentioned it would take the form in which the believers trust most, right?

—It will probably be like that when it manifests.

Then Kalanon seemed to remember something.

—Ah! If you are curious, do you want me to show it to you provisionally?

—Mmm?

—Since we are connected, it’s not hard to show you the image of your Manifestation.

—In that case, could you do it?

—Yes!

Kalanon closed its eyes immediately. Alon Palatio stroked his chin expectantly.

‘What form will it be?’

He hadn’t thought much about it until now, but at the real possibility, he began to get excited.

‘Will it be the image I showed to the Divine Bloods when I used the Immortal Thrust? Or perhaps something related to the stars that appeared afterward?’

“Well, any option is fine.” While Alon imagined with satisfaction…

—It’s about to appear.

As soon as Kalanon finished speaking, a large distortion appeared in front of them. And the first thing Alon Palatio‘s eyes, full of expectation, saw was…

A giant eye. An eye so enormous it was chilling. And the next thing he saw…

Was a mass of gigantic stars connected to that eye as if they were parasites, and around it billowed an abyss that seemed capable of devouring everything. But that wasn’t all. Around the abyss, strange characters appeared and disappeared repeatedly, floating like dust near the eye.

It was an appearance similar to a Lovecraftian being, as if it had been designed under the order: “Create something that instantly convinces that its appearance means the end of the world.”

—… What is this? —Alon managed to ask.

—Th-this… seems to be your form of Manifestation —Kalanon replied naturally.

Alon rubbed his eyes and looked again.

‘My image… is like this?’

An impact so large that he couldn’t even close his mouth hit him full force.