Chapter 503

Episode 503. The Guardian Dragon (3)

Two weeks and five days have passed since Alon Palatio began his journey toward the Empire.

—Hmm…

Alon, having descended after flying until sunset as usual, was preparing dinner. Suddenly, he noticed an unexpected drawback to traveling to his destination by air: the supply of information.

When they moved by carriage, it was possible to obtain constant information by stopping at towns along the way, but while flying, that was impossible. Being always in the sky, the occasions to visit villages had disappeared. Of course, going down to a town was not a difficult task in itself. The problem was that Basiliora, Alon‘s mount, was far too intimidating in the eyes of the villagers.

[Ahem—]

—What is it, Basiliora?

[Are we not going to another town?]

Alon looked at Basiliora with a peculiar expression. Ever since they tried to visit a village without much thought and saw the inhabitants flee in terror at the sight of Basiliora, he had asked this question often.

—… Why do you want to go to a town?

[Isn’t it more comfortable to sleep in a village than in the open air?]

—You’re a snake, it’s all the same to you where you sleep —pointed out Evan, who was listening by his side.

[I am, but you all are not!]

At Basiliora‘s rebuttal, Evan let out a chuckle, as if reading his true intentions.

—Could it be that, rather than worrying about our comfort, you want to satisfy your desire for recognition?

[Ha! Do you doubt my purity?]

—Purity? Don’t make me laugh. Every time we pass near a town, you release twice as many lightning bolts, and they’re already noisy enough as it is. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?

[…]

Basiliora shifted his eyes from side to side at Evan‘s words. Alon, observing the scene, finally spoke:

—Well, even so, we will have to stop by one at least once.

[Exactly! Continuous camping fatigues the body and wears down the mind—]

—That said, I don’t plan on flying when we enter the town.

[… Eh?]

Basiliora looked at Alon with a face that seemed to say, “Why are you saying something so cruel to me?”. Despite being a snake, his emotions were so clear that Blackie let out a “Kkyu-” meow while looking at him with pity. Evan, after reflecting on it, commented:

—Hmm, I think it’s not a bad option to stop in a town now. Anyway, after passing this village, we will enter the wasteland. You’re stopping for information, right?

—Yes. Besides, have we already crossed almost all the Allied United Kingdoms in three weeks?

—Right? Even though I already knew it, it’s incredibly fast. At this rate, we’ll arrive in just over two months —exclaimed Evan in admiration. Alon nodded.

—It really is fast.

—I agree —added Rine and Penia, who were also eating sweet potatoes by his side.

The next day.

After spending the day in the town before heading into the wasteland as planned, Alon met with his group.

—Alon-nim.

—Did you get any information?

—Yes. I did, but… there’s a lot of curious information, you know?

—… Curious information?

—Yes. There’s news from the Empire and from our side. Which do you want to hear first? —Evan asked.

—Let’s start with the Empire.

—It is said that a giant defensive barrier has appeared in the Empire.

—A defensive barrier?

—Yes, they say it emerged a few days ago.

—… In the entire Empire?

—In all regions except the East. That alone is unusual, but the strangest thing is the performance of the barrier.

Alon tilted his head at Evan‘s words.

—How good is it?

—Well, although it’s written as a confirmed fact, it’s hard to believe: they say the Divine Bloods cannot cross it.

—… That much?

—Yes. Furthermore, it only reacts to new forms and remains active 24 hours a day.

Evan tilted his head in wonder, and Alon did the same. It was logical. At least according to Alon‘s knowledge, a Divine Blood was not something that could be blocked so conveniently. Or rather, a barrier itself should not be able to function like that. Basically, a barrier consumes an absurd amount of mana depending on its size and resistance. Moreover, although magic existed to classify physical or magical attacks, he had never seen one that distinguished between what is a Divine Blood and what is not.

‘… No, more than that, how on earth did they make the magic circle?’

To activate a barrier of 그 size, a magic circle of equivalent proportions would be required. Alon was still doubting when Penia suggested:

—Wouldn’t it be better to go investigate it directly in the Empire?

—I think so too —Alon agreed.

If the barrier created in the Empire truly had such an effect against the Divine Blood, they had to find a way to replicate it somehow.

—Alright, what’s next?

At Alon‘s question, Evan continued:

—The next thing is about the Divine Land. It seems that Lainicius has begun to speak formally with Silly.

—Ah.

Alon nodded. He remembered that last time he had told Lainicius to ask Silly for help when he finished his investigation.

‘Now that I think about it, I should have contacted Lainicius, but I didn’t.’

Actually, he had wondered several times if Lainicius was doing well. But Alon didn’t want to call him so as not to pressure him.

—Is he doing well?

—Hmm, I’m not sure. But there is a rumor that an incredibly giant statue has been erected in the center of the Divine Land.

—An incredibly giant statue?

—Yes.

Alon understood without difficulty that it was the colossal statue that Silly had shown him previously.

‘… Well, I guess I’ll see the results one way or another when we return from the Empire.’

After that thought, he looked at Blackie.

[Kkyu?]

Blackie tilted his head, looking back at him. Alon stroked him and, moved by curiosity, asked:

—Penia.

—Yes?

—I’m asking just in case… if we had a clone that could exert 50% of my total strength, do you think it would be of great help to our military power?

—Eh…? Where did that come from all of a sudden? —Penia asked, bewildered. After serious thought, she replied—: Hmm… even if it wasn’t an overwhelming help, I think it would be more than enough!

—Oh, really?

—But why do you ask?

—… Now that I think about it, I hadn’t told you all.

Alon remembered that he hadn’t mentioned his talk with Lainicius and conveyed what had happened.

—… So, to summarize, Blackie can use Alon-nim’s power?

—That’s right.

At Alon‘s nod, Penia looked at Blackie in awe.

—He really is a companion with a great many skills —Rine commented with interest.

—I think so too.

—But, is it impossible for him to use exactly the same strength? —Penia asked.

Alon shook his head.

—As I said, unfortunately, that is impossible. The only thing he can imitate perfectly is my physical appearance.

—… Eh?

—? What’s wrong?

—No, it’s just… did you say the only thing he can imitate perfectly is your physical appearance…?

—Literally. His power is 50%, but he can copy my outward appearance exactly.

—T-this… then Blackie can… transform into Alon-nim?

Alon placed a mental question mark at Penia‘s question.

—I suppose so. Was my explanation confusing?

—Ah, no, it’s just… I understood he could use 50% of the power, but I hadn’t heard that he could transform into you.

To Penia‘s doubt, Alon replied:

—Well… isn’t that the least important thing?

—Ah, I guess so. But it’s… curious —Penia said without looking away from Blackie.

—I haven’t seen it either, but according to Lainicius, he can change his appearance to be totally identical —Alon added to confirm.

Rine and Penia let out a subtle exclamation that they weren’t even aware of while looking at the small dragon. Alon, logically, felt strange about their reaction.

[???]

Blackie felt a strange chill and trembled involuntarily. Curiously, the red brooch on his chest also emitted a peculiar glow.

Three more days passed. Alon‘s group had crossed the Allied United Kingdoms and was beginning to traverse the wasteland. In the deep night, after having flown late and camped as usual, Blackie, who was sleeping next to Alon…

[… ?]

Suddenly woke up. The reason was a very slight trace of mana caressing his body, something no one else would have noticed.

[Kkyu?]

Blackie opened his eyes, tilted his head, and looked around. He realized that this mana was coming from behind a cliff near the camp. The mana did not disappear even though Blackie had detected it; on the contrary, it seemed to be guiding him. Blackie began to walk with his clumsy little steps toward the source of the trail. After walking for a while toward the back of the cliff, Blackie saw one of the group members. Someone who should normally be sleeping, but who was strangely still awake at those hours.

—You have to be quiet, okay?

She looked around cautiously and, confirming that the camp was silent, let out a sigh of relief.

[?]

Faced with Blackie‘s doubt, she reached into her clothes and…

—You like this, right?

[!]

Offered him a piece of meat. It was something Blackie hadn’t seen in a week due to the “sweet potato era” imposed by Alon. It was “Palantia Meat”, a dish that could only be eaten at a restaurant called ‘Bourdie’ in Palantia, where merchants rubbed the meat with various spices. Blackie used to get it by doing tricks for the maids in the castle, and now, that same meat was in her hand.

Blackie‘s hand moved instinctively toward the prize. However…

Fwish!

She pulled the meat up, released a trace of aroma, and said:

—Actually, I brought this to eat myself… after all, the food is… always the same… You understand me, right?

[Kkyu-!]

Despite his complaints, Blackie knew the pain of the sweet potato diet and nodded slightly. She looked at him with pleading eyes and said:

—I’ll give you this. But in exchange, could you do me a small favor?

[Kkyu?]

—It’s not that big of a favor…

She toyed with her fingers shyly and finally let out:

—Could you… transform into Alon-nim just once…?

She said while her blue hair trembled slightly.