Chapter 495

C495

Alon Palatio watched the scene before him with a lost gaze. That image, similar to a Lovecraftian being he had seen before, still floated in the void like a physical representation of the apocalypse.

—… Are you saying that is, truly, my form of Manifestation?

—Yes. Well, what’s wrong with it? —Kalanon replied, shrugging her shoulders as if she didn’t understand the problem.

Alon asked in disbelief:

—Doesn’t it seem strange to you?

—Hmm, are you referring to the appearance?

—Exactly. No matter how you look at it, there are a thousand things to criticize!

Alon spoke with total sincerity. He was a human being, but that form not only transcended humanity, it made one doubt if he had ever had any relation to it. However, Kalanon tilted her head, confused.

—But that is the image you project, Lord Alon.

—… What kind of image do I have then?

Faced with his stupefaction, Kalanon looked alternately at Alon and the projection of his divine form.

—Hmm, there are certainly some small differences.

—They aren’t small, they are abysmal.

—I wouldn’t say that much.

—In what sense, exactly?

Kalanon put on an expression of “does he seriously not know?” and added:

—Well, anyway, the external appearance isn’t that important, right?

—It is very important from the moment I look like that…

—There isn’t much to do. The form you take when manifesting is the figure created by the yearnings and desires of your believers.

—Created by their yearnings?

—Yes.

—But I’ve always shown myself as a human!! —Alon exclaimed, still stunned, looking at that floating end of the world above the Milky Way. Kalanon let out a long sigh.

—I’ve seen some similar cases. Normally, this happens due to a gap in perception.

—Gap in perception?

—Yes. It’s a bit complex, but in short: it happens because people see you as someone much more grand than you are.

As Alon remained silent for her to continue, she proceeded:

—In other words, even if you act like a human, they think: “Alon is such an incredible being that his true body must be somewhere else! And that original body must look like this!”. Something like that.

—… And the result is that thing? Who the hell had such a misunderstanding…?

—It seems obvious.

Alon murmured desolately. Kalanon focused her gaze and offered a guess:

—Judging by the timing, it seems it was the Divine Bloods.

—The Divine Bloods?

—Yes. Before, when you only had the faith of humans, you couldn’t even manifest. But it became possible upon receiving the faith of the Divine Bloods. That is to say…

—Is it very likely that the Divine Bloods imagine me like that?

—Yes.

—So, if I change the image the Divine Bloods have, will that appearance also change?

—Hmm, in theory, yes. A god takes the form his faithful give him. The more normal humans believe in you instead of the Divine Bloods, the more that form will change.

Thus, Alon added one more task to his list. Under no circumstances did he want to transform into “that.”

‘The work keeps increasing.’

While he internally meditated on how to change his image before the Divine Bloods, Kalanon looked at the giant eye and commented:

—But… honestly, doesn’t that form look cool?

—Do you think that’s okay?

Alon wondered if she was right in the head. Kalanon, although somewhat embarrassed by Alon’s gaze, replied:

—Aesthetically it’s… particular, but it would be excellent for gathering faith.

—Surely as a God of the Apocalypse… —she added, looking away.

Alon’s determination strengthened.

After finishing the talk with Kalanon and returning to the real world…

—Silly.

—Yes?

—Do you have any spare statues?

—T-this… —Silly was bewildered for a moment but replied quickly—. There is one I will finish by tomorrow.

—I’m sorry to ask, but could I use that statue?

Seeing Alon’s interest, Silly’s face showed more expectation than usual. Alon nodded firmly.

—Yes, I have a place to use it very urgently.

—Then I will prepare it immediately!

—I would like it to be sculpted as well as possible.

—Don’t worry about that!

Silly’s eyes sparkled.

—Why is he like this all of a sudden?

Penia and Evan, who knew well that Alon didn’t usually appreciate statues much, were confused.

—Evan, first we will return to Palantia.

—Aren’t you going to meet the Divine Bloods?

—I’ll do it tomorrow. I have to take the statue with me.

Saying this, Alon mounted Basiliora to return to Palantia.

It was during the journey back when Penia and Evan finally understood why Alon had made that decision.

—… So, it was a giant eye?

—Yes.

Evan let out a groan and nodded.

—Certainly, it must not be pleasant to suddenly transform into a monster like that.

—Right?

Alon replied quickly and looked at Penia. She seemed to be lost in thought.

—Is something wrong, Penia?

At his question, Penia snapped out of her reverie.

—It’s nothing. I was just thinking about something.

Her smile was somewhat forced. Alon had doubts, but he shrugged his shoulders.

Upon arriving in Palantia, Alon first said goodbye to those who were preparing to leave.

—I’m heading out, Brother!

—Alright.

Radan left, waving his hand coolly, with no trace of regret after having secured his place in the castle. Alon thought that, for him to act like that, he didn’t know why he had lied saying he had run out of a home.

‘I should have suspected since he came saying that…’

After accepting Radan’s farewell, Nangwon and Deus also approached.

—I’m leaving too, Brother.

—I’ll come visit you again.

—Boss! Me too!

—I’m leaving as well, God-nim.

Ryanga said goodbye energetically, while Historia waved her hand slightly. Finally, Rine approached.

—I’m leaving too, Godfather.

—Rine, where do you plan to be?

—I’ll be in Fildegreen for a few months.

—I’ll go visit you soon.

—Oh, to see Ar?

—I must see her at least once.

—Understood. I’ll be waiting.

At Rine’s smile, Magrina intervened:

—Brother, if you’re going to see Ar, could I accompany you?

—… Are you sure?

—Yes, being away for a few days won’t be a big problem.

Rine nodded and Alon accepted:

—Alright. We’ll go together then.

—Thank you.

Magrina gave a slight bow. Then, Alon looked at Yutia Bloodia.

—I’ll also stop by Rosario soon.

—Wow, that makes me very happy, Master.

—Or… if you want, you can come with us in a week. I think we’ll leave by then.

That was the estimated time after meeting with the Divine Bloods. But Yutia Bloodia shook her head.

—I appreciate the proposal very much, but I have a place I must stop by first.

—Oh, really?

—Yes. So we’ll see each other in Rosario.

She said, smiling. The goodbyes were finished.

—Master!

—Seolrang.

Alon looked at Seolrang. She was no longer pretending as before; she looked at him with a truly radiant face.

—I’m leaving too!

—Alright.

Alon stroked her head as he saw her wagging her tail with joy.

—Do you know, Master? If you are in danger, tell me immediately.

—Understood.

Alon nodded. Seolrang smiled at him sweetly and, quite naturally, brought her face close to his.

Ang!

She bit Alon’s nose. It didn’t hurt at all, as it was barely a graze of teeth. But, aside from the pain, Alon felt a bit of embarrassment.

‘Ah, someone might misunderstand this.’

While he accepted Seolrang’s pampering, Alon had that thought. He remembered that Evan and Penia had already gotten the wrong impression before. Looking up, he saw that they were indeed looking at him with astonished faces.

Alon was going to say something as soon as Seolrang let go, but…

—Seolrang? I told you that you shouldn’t bite his nose lightly, right?

Yutia Bloodia scolded her as if she were reading Alon’s mind. He felt relieved, thinking that the perceptive Yutia Bloodia hadn’t misunderstood him.

—Oh, was it the nose?

—Ah. Hmm…

—What a relief.

—… I was seriously considering if I should take Brother away so he could escape.

Everyone sighed in relief after Yutia Bloodia’s words. Rine added:

—It’s true, Seolrang, stop making Godfather uncomfortable.

Hearing her, Alon intervened:

—No, it’s fine.

—Eh?

—?

Yutia Bloodia’s and Rine’s eyes widened. Alon was also surprised by their reaction.

—Well, this is just a light display of affection. It’s nothing I can’t accept.

He shrugged his shoulders naturally.

—Eh…? Even the nose is a safe zone…? —Ryanga murmured, stunned.

A brief silence followed. And then:

—Brother! I remembered I have something urgent, I’m leaving now!

Deus and Radan, as if detecting something, said goodbye hastily and disappeared.

—Hmm… I should go too.

—Yes, I want to leave too.

One after another, they began to leave.

—Master, goodbye!

When even Seolrang left, the reception room was empty. Alon was left with a question mark over his head at the massive and swift flight of his friends.

The next day.

—Let’s go.

—Will we stop by the Divine Land first?

—Yes.

[Hahaha! It’s time for me to be needed again!]

As Alon departed for the Divine Land riding on Basiliora.

At the main gate of Palantia:

—… Wow, Rine, didn’t you say you were leaving?

—And you, Yutia Bloodia? Didn’t you say you had an urgent matter?

The four who had supposedly left yesterday for their respective homes…

—Hmph, what business do you all have with the Master?

—Thinking about it, I also had something to talk to him about.

… found themselves face to face, smiling at each other. Although their eyes were not smiling at all.