Chapter 502

Episode 502. The Guardian Dragon (2)

—… Using Blackie?

—That’s right.

Lainicius nodded at Alon Palatio’s look of disbelief and began his explanation immediately.

—Do you remember what I said the other day?

—What about?

—That, basically, the power of Spirit Dragons and Shadow Dragons usually follows the nature of their user.

—I remember, but… why bring that up now?

—In simple terms, because thanks to that, we can use Blackie.

—… Because of that?

Lainicius nodded and stared intently at Blackie.

—Before I continue, I must clarify one thing: Blackie‘s capability is, strictly speaking, your own capability.

—… My capability?

—Yes, I am referring to absorbing the skills of the Divine Blood. Although it seems to be the Shadow Dragon’s will to decide when to use them.

—So the skill absorption of the Divine Bloods wasn’t a faculty of the Shadow Dragon itself, but mine?

—Exactly. But it’s not that surprising. After all, you already suspected it a bit, didn’t you?

At that question, Alon fell silent instinctively. It was certainly as he said. Alon had thought that the skills Blackie used might be related to himself. Although he couldn’t use them in the same way as the small dragon, when he delivered skills to the Divine Blood previously, those he possessed disappeared at the same time. Furthermore, the fact that new skills appeared inside him without having personally absorbed anything made sense if one assumed Blackie had absorbed them in his place.

—More than my own capability, I thought we were sharing something.

—It’s not strange. By performing a contract with a Shadow or Spirit Dragon, your soul becomes linked to theirs —added Lainicius—. Sharing skills is a natural consequence.

Alon then asked:

—… But how does the fact that Blackie shares skills with me link to the possibility of distributing blessings automatically?

[Kkyu?]

At Alon’s question, Blackie tilted his head in the opposite direction. Lainicius looked at both of them and spoke:

—There is a complex explanation and a simple one. Which do you prefer to hear?

—… How complex is the complex one?

—About three days.

—… What?

—Explaining it would take about three days and five hours, as there are many parts I would have to detail from the beginning.

—… I’ll go with the simple one.

Faced with Alon’s quick decision, Lainicius proceeded without delay.

—It seems you’ve used it a couple of times already, but Blackie can perform calculations in your place. However, logically, that’s not all.

—It’s not all?

—That’s right. The current Blackie, under the premise that he is supplied with enough mana, can act identically to you… well, not one hundred percent identical, but he could mimic you by 50%.

—50% of me?

—Yes, although his external appearance would be almost 100%.

—… Is that possible? —Alon asked in amazement while looking at Blackie.

[Kkyuu?]

Blackie returned the gaze, tilting his head.

—Yes, it’s possible. If you give him the order, he will execute it without problems —Lainicius continued—. But the key point here is that even if you aren’t nearby, as long as Blackie has a constant supply of mana, he can serve as calculation support according to your wishes. And not only that. Being linked to you, Blackie can identify at will both the faith that enters and the faith that leaves you.

—!

At Lainicius’s words, Alon finally understood the intention behind his speech.

—… So, what you’re suggesting is leaving the automation in Blackie‘s hands?

—Exactly. Of course, it won’t be perfect. The method I propose only works within Blackie‘s perception range.

—… What does that mean?

—He will be able to identify the incoming and outgoing faith, but to return it in the form of a blessing, he needs to directly confirm who that faith is coming from, understand?

Alon let out an exclamation of wonder and looked at Blackie.

[Kkyuu?]

Sensing Alon’s gaze, Blackie tilted his head to the other side again. Alon observed him for a while before speaking:

—… I understand the idea. Certainly, if it’s as you say, it seems he could perform what I’m looking for, even if it’s not in a perfect way.

—That’s right. We could say we’ve already traveled half the way.

Lainicius nodded. However, Alon looked at him and declared:

—But I won’t go forward with this plan.

—Why?

Lainicius asked calmly. Alon took Blackie, who was out, and carefully tucked him into his chest pocket.

—… I appreciate that you’ve thought of an efficient method, but I have no intention of turning Blackie into a machine.

The proposal was excellent, and Alon felt grateful to Lainicius for trying to help him. But regardless of utility, Alon didn’t want Blackie to be an automaton dedicated only to working. In the end, according to Lainicius’s plan, Blackie would become a simple piece of a gear. … Besides, although it was a very old memory, Alon still remembered what it was like to be exploited to the limit in a “mediocre company” in his past life.

—I’m sorry —Alon apologized briefly.

Lainicius stroked his chin and replied:

—No, you don’t have to apologize. It’s true that for a Shadow Dragon, no matter how much mana he receives, the task itself could be overwhelming. After all, he is also a spiritual being.

—Thanks for understanding.

—We’ll look for another method then.

Lainicius nodded. It seemed the conversation ended there, but…

[Kkyu-!]

Blackie, whom Alon had just put in his pocket, suddenly jumped out.

—?

Alon looked at him bewildered. Blackie gently tapped Alon’s hand.

—… You want mana?

[Kkyu?]

Alon understood the message and infused him with energy. Then…

Puff!

—?

—…

Blackie‘s body split in two.

—… Eh?

Alon looked stunned at the two identical Blackies. However, he soon knew who the real one was. Of the two small dragons, one moved with the usual vitality, while the other remained with a lost gaze, simply staring forward.

—… What is this?

While Alon was plunged into bewilderment by the sudden situation:

—Wow…

Lainicius let out an exclamation of wonder, as if he had understood something.

—It seems he has divided himself.

—… Divided himself?

—Yes. It doesn’t seem like he split his power in half, but rather that he has created something.

—… Created something?

—Yes, a “half” that, as long as it receives mana, is capable of performing detection and calculation autonomously.

Lainicius looked at Blackie impressed.

—It seems it’s his answer to your words, isn’t it?

—To my words?

—Yes. You said you wouldn’t use him as a machine. So he is offering you this to use in his place.

Lainicius murmured, “Can a Shadow Dragon be this intelligent?”. Alon looked at Blackie.

[Kkyu~!]

Blackie held his head up high with pride, with an expression that said, “Didn’t I do well?”, and let out a meow.

—… Thank you, Blackie.

[Kkyu!]

At Alon’s thanks, Blackie meowed once more and tucked himself back into his chest pocket.

—The Shadow Dragon has been very considerate of you. What are you going to do? —Lainicius asked.

—… We’ll try it.

Alon replied.

Immediately after, in the course of a single day, Alon was able to obtain key information about Blackie‘s clone. First, that it was created using one of the Divine Blood skills recently obtained. Second, that the clone possessed sufficient calculation and detection capability. And third, that Blackie‘s consciousness could move freely between the clone and the original body as long as the former existed.

There were many more tests he wanted to do, but he couldn’t delay his trip to the Empire.

—I’m leaving.

—Alright. By the time you return, I’ll have finished with the pending investigations, so don’t worry. By then, the experiments will have concluded. And for that experiment, without a doubt…

—There is Silly. If you contact her, she’ll be able to help you.

With that final answer, Alon climbed onto Basiliora‘s back.

—Alon-nim.

—Tell me.

—It seems it won’t be necessary to pass through Teria.

—… Has she still not returned?

—That’s right —Evan replied.

Alon meditated for a moment on whether to pass through the Magic Tower and asked:

—Evan, how long will it take us to reach the Empire?

—Hmm… if we hurry, I think a month or two will be enough. It’s not exact, but around there.

—Between two and four months, then.

He felt satisfied with the speed, which was incomparable to that of a carriage.

‘I’ll pass through the Magic Tower on my return’.

After deciding that:

—Toward the Empire, then.

To meet the Guardian Dragon of the Empire. No. To meet Arculainisis.

‘And to confirm the words of The Wanderer‘.

With that goal, he took flight.

That same night, in the castle of Palantia.

[Hmm… so, to summarize, does it mean that now one can obtain Alon-nim’s blessing just by offering him faith?]

—That’s right.

Lainicius, after finishing the preparations for the experiment, was contacting Silly just as Alon had instructed.

[Those words… could they be true?]

—Which words are you referring to?

[That one will be able to receive the blessing just by praying in Divine Land.]

At Silly‘s doubt, Lainicius meditated for a moment before answering:

—It’s very likely it won’t fail.

At his answer, Silly…

[Hmm… hmm…]

… closed her eyes as if she were lost in thought.

[Alright.]

Finally, she sketched a smile.

—I thank you —Lainicius replied.

However:

[Oh, you don’t have to thank me. On the contrary, I’m the one who is more than grateful!]

—… Oh, really?

[Yes. If what you say is true, I’ll finally be able to fulfill what I’ve been planning.]

—… What you’ve planned?

[Well, it’s nothing out of this world.]

Silly said and added:

[Please, come to Divine Land as soon as possible.]

—… I’ll go as soon as dawn breaks.

[Understood.]

The communication was cut. Lainicius stroked his chin thoughtfully. He had the feeling of having seen a human with that aura somewhere before. After reflecting for a while:

—Ah.

He let out a small exclamation as he realized where he had seen that girl’s eyes.

‘They were the eyes of fanaticism’.

While Lainicius reached that conclusion, in Divine Land:

—Hmm… what good news.

Silly, with a smile of absolute happiness, shifted her gaze from the night sky to one side. There were the believers. Innumerable faithful lifting their prayers to the great Living God she served. And among them, she observed a young female mercenary praying with fervor, and a male mercenary by her side with a subtle expression, but full of a strange expectation.

—Who should we start with this time? —she whispered to herself—. … With the origin point of the Sanctuary.

Her purple eyes shone with a dim light.