Chapter 523

Episode 523. The Beginning of the War (2)

Alon Palatio quietly observed Yutia Bloodia, who stood with her back to the setting sun. She maintained a subtle smile while her soft red eyes scrutinized him intently.

The first thing that crossed Alon‘s mind was a doubt: “Did I hear wrong?”

But, of course, that was impossible. They were not in a crowded place like the commercial district, but at the top of the clock tower, and an isolation spell (차폐마법) enveloped them. There was no possibility at all that Alon had been confused or misunderstood her words.

Therefore:

—… Truly?

Alon let those words slip out without realizing it. It was a question devoid of ulterior motives, charged with pure curiosity. At this, Yutia Bloodia, with a more playful smile than usual as if enjoying the situation, replied:

—The Master must already know the answer.

And after saying this, she added:

—Mmm… shall we return?

Before Alon could say anything more, she headed toward the tower stairs. Alon made a motion to call her but closed his mouth again. He still had much to ask. Many unresolved doubts.

However, was it right to interrogate Yutia Bloodia about that? She, who had never shown her feelings until now, allowed a flash of emotion to show that suggested remembering the past was something painful. Could he, simply out of personal curiosity, pry into those wounds?

Alon clenched his fists to hide the slight trembling of his fingers and walked toward the stairs. Just as he was about to follow her steps:

—Really…

—?

As soon as Alon stopped in front of the stairs, Yutia Bloodia let out a small sigh and turned around to look at him.

—The Master is too kind.

Alon did not respond. Or rather, it would be correct to say he could not, for his gaze remained fixed on her face. Yutia Bloodia‘s expression contained too many things. The first thing he noticed was a look of “I already knew it.” A look mixed with relief, as if she had anticipated that Alon would act that way and was glad for it.

Then, for a fleeting instant, sadness crossed. Afterward, nostalgia flowed.

—Really.

And finally, it reached happiness. However, strangely, that final emotion of happiness did not feel like such to Alon.

Why would that be? Why, despite having 그 gaze and 그 smile, did she not seem happy?

—Actually, I don’t remember everything either.

… Alon could not know the full truth until the conversation ended.

That night.

With a dry thump, Alon returned to his dormitory and let himself fall onto the bed, covering his eyes with his arm out of exhaustion. At the same time, the events of the day crowded his mind. The first thing he remembered was:

“I don’t remember everything either…”.

Those were Yutia Bloodia‘s words. Today, Alon had heard from her the account of the first round (1회차). More accurately, it was the continuation of how she knew about the Empire’s Consecration Matrix.

“… I vaguely remember major incidents from the first round”.

That was what she told him. That she remembered fragments of massive events, and that the Consecration Matrix was something she remembered because it was linked to one of those occurrences.

“… And at this moment, the situation is developing in a way totally different from the major events of the first round”.

In reality, Alon already perceived it vaguely. Given that even among the new types of Divine Bloods (신형) there were beings who remembered him from the first round, it was logical that history would not repeat itself identically. That is to say, the information that Yutia Bloodia and Rine possessed about the past was limited.

‘… Now that I think about it, I didn’t ask them since when they recovered their memories.’

Judging by the change in her general attitude, Rine seemed to have recovered them after transforming into a new form, but what about Yutia Bloodia? Was it since she was a Divine Blood? Or even before?

Perhaps… before meeting Alon?

‘Thinking about it, Seolrang also…’

Alon naturally remembered Seolrang.

“It’s a secret”.

“A secret?”.

“Yes, it’s not something I should say; it’s an important promise that the Master must remember”.

That smile, which was the same as always but more mature. Alon had turned it over in his mind many times, but he did not remember making such a promise with Seolrang. That meant if Seolrang also remembered…

Alon massaged his temple. The incessant flow of thoughts was giving him a headache. Trying to change the subject, he remembered Yutia Bloodia‘s words:

“… Don’t you think we were lovers?”.

He remembered her smile as she said it. And what followed. Alon replied to Yutia Bloodia‘s question with another question, and she sentenced:

“Don’t you already know the answer…?”.

Logically, Alon did not know it. How could he know it if he didn’t have the memories? However, he could deduce it. Yutia Bloodia had promised him never to lie to him. Following that simple logic, her words must be true: in the first round, Alon and Yutia Bloodia were lovers.

It wasn’t something intrinsically strange. Although he felt curiosity about the process, it wasn’t something he considered impossible. But what really made Alon doubt was Rine. Rine had told him that Alon used to call her “Ronia,” a term of endearment for someone loved. That meant in the first round, Alon had Rine and Yutia Bloodia as lovers simultaneously.

‘… Does it make sense?’

Alon murmured to himself. Of course, it wasn’t entirely impossible. The world where Alon lived before was monogamous, but in this fantasy world, polygamy was not unusual, and Psychedelia followed those same canons. It wasn’t strange for a man to have two wives. However, the reason he found it strange was himself.

How would it have occurred to him, in the first round, to develop a romantic relationship with both?

Alon touched his face. That feeling of expressionlessness where he perceived no emotion. After repeating that gesture distractedly for a while, he sighed and thought:

‘When this ends, I’ll have to ask them in more detail. Whether it’s Yutia Bloodia or Rine.’

The week passed faster than expected, and the day of the festival arrived. Alon gathered with the others in the academy’s central plaza.

—… There are a lot of people.

—Well, between the students and all the nobles who have come, it’s normal. And they say this isn’t even half of it.

—Not even half?

—Yes.

Evan replied immediately to Alon‘s comment.

—So there will be more people?

—For sure. I’ve heard that, being the first public gathering after the formal alliance of the imperial family, everyone has congregated here.

—I see.

Alon nodded. From that perspective, there was no reason for the nobility to miss this festival. It was natural for it to be so crowded.

‘… But I didn’t expect the plaza to fill up like this.’

In the center of the plaza were the students, and surrounding them in the academy’s structures, the nobles. While Alon marveled at the number of imperial aristocrats, he spotted Contanias in the distance stepping out onto the balcony of the central building. He displayed a solemn appearance, very different from the one he usually had in front of Alon.

‘It seems the role suits him,’ Alon thought, before looking at the princesses who were at his side.

‘… Since we share information from time to time, they must already be aware of the situation. I warned them not to make a scene if they saw something suspicious. They will move well in case of a crisis.’

Shortly after, as Contanias began his inaugural speech, Alon asked:

—… How does the program continue after this?

—I understand there will be some light duels after the speech.

—… Duels?

—Yes. They say they select mages and knights from each year, from first to fourth, to perform friendly matches.

—Have they already selected them?

—They chose one per grade, and that chosen one points out another student from their same year.

Alon shrugged his shoulders and nodded. He only thought that standing for so long would be exhausting.

—I see.

Shortly after the end of Contanias’s speech, the center of the plaza began to clear.

Wuuuuu-!

The academy director appeared in the empty space and began to create a combat arena in an instant. White walls that didn’t exist a moment ago flew to delimit the area.

—Ooooh!

—Incredible…

—Is that the eighth Circle…?

The students let out exclamations, but Alon maintained a peculiar expression.

‘He’s doing it half-heartedly.’

Alon observed the director. On the outside, he seemed to be using all his magic, but even with his limited powers, Alon could see what he was really doing.

‘He already had all the magic calculations processed beforehand; he just hit execute. Well, since it’s just for show, it’s not like it’s a big problem.’

Just when Alon thought it was a bit “shoddy,” the arena was ready. The director descended among the cheers and returned to his seat. Then, the duel of the first-year mages began. Logically, Alon had no interest in the combat and bowed his head thinking about his affairs, but unfortunately, he could not continue like that.

And the reason was simple:

—Taylor Alon, get up here!

He had been pointed out. By a Delgard Kadenmeyer who looked exceedingly arrogant on the platform.

And then.

—Ah.

In the moment Alon let out a low sigh… from a distance, someone observing the scene —more accurately, someone who heard that small sigh from Alon, which for him was insignificant but for others sounded like a sign of annoyance— reacted.

—Director…

—Yes, Prince…

—Bring 그 damn dog here right now…!

In Prince Contanias’s eyes, a strange sense of crisis appeared.

—… So it’s that guy.

Deus, who was among the students of the swordsmanship department, cracked his knuckles while looking at Delgard.

And then:

—Mmm…

—… So that’s the boy, huh?

—Yes, that’s the subject.

Rine, Yutia Bloodia, and Penia nodded in silence… while glaring at Delgard.

Would you like me to translate another chapter or perhaps create an image of one of these characters like Alon Palatio or Yutia Bloodia?