Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Three days had passed since Alon had gone to confirm the reports of trouble in Al-Kamae.

Resuming his journey with the merchant caravan that routinely traveled to the desert city, Alon released a heavy breath into the oppressive heat.

“My Lord, are you certain you won’t use it just once?”
“A single mistake could encase everything in ice.”
“I would prefer that to being cooked alive…”
“The answer is still no.”

Hearing Evan grumble about the risk of roasting, Alon stared at the scorching sun and contemplated the events of the past few days.

‘What befell Al-Kamae?’

Naturally, without a body, he could not be certain of Al-Kamae’s fate. Yet, the reason he believed something was amiss was the artifact he now carried.

He studied the badge in his palm.
Instead of a golden luster, it was a muted, leaden grey.

In the game *Psychedelia*, this artifact, the Symbol of the Innocent, was an item you could claim after confronting Al-Kamae in the mid-game stages.

‘I never anticipated acquiring it so soon.’

Though currently inert, the badge was famed for its powerful attributes once appraised, particularly for a mid-game item. It was similar to the ring Heinkel had given him, which also remained unused.

‘On my route to Laxas to have the ring unlocked, I should detour to the Labyrinth City for an appraisal.’

In any case, this Symbol of the Innocent was an object Al-Kamae had valued immensely, placing a powerful binding spell upon it to prevent theft.

Simply put, if Al-Kamae were still alive, the badge could not have been taken.
Yet, here it was in Alon’s possession, completely free of any magical tether, convincing him that a calamity had struck Al-Kamae.

And so, that very night, Alon had meticulously emptied Al-Kamae’s mansion.

….

He cast a brief look at the treasure now stacked in the rear of the carriage and allowed a faint smile to touch his lips beneath his stoic mask.

That was not all.
The pouch at his belt was now stocked with the highest-quality magic potions, replenishing the supply he had exhausted in his recent fight with Kailas.

Everything had been plundered from Al-Kamae’s home.

‘The hoard wasn’t as vast as I had envisioned, but—’

Since wealth did not simply sprout from the earth in this world, Alon was thoroughly pleased with the riches now loaded onto the wagon.
For him, money was always a welcome solution.

How long had they been traveling like this?

“Everyone, halt!”

Ding-ding!

At the call from the front, the desert caravan shuddered to a stop, accompanied by the ringing of a bell.

It was the merchants’ signal to make camp. Seeing the sun dipping below the horizon, Alon stepped down from the carriage.

Not long after the camp preparations began…
“Ah, Count, I hope your journey has been comfortable today?”

Unlike the chief of the prior Golden-Haired merchant company, this time a rather slender merchant leader approached Alon with a deep bow.

“It has been adequate.”
“Oh, that is wonderful to hear~”

The merchant leader, who continued bowing despite Alon’s minimal input, flashed a distinctly commercial smile and offered an item to Alon.

“…What is this?”
“Ah, these are specialty goods our group trades. Here we have a wine from the Komur estate, and on this side, foodstuffs sourced from the Kalmian lands.”
“I understand.”
“We brought them in hopes you would sample them.”

Alon gave a slight nod at the excessive politeness, observing the merchant leader bow so low his head nearly scraped the sand.
“I will try them.”
“Yes, my lord! Please, have a restful evening.”

Watching the merchant leader bow several more times before retreating, Alon gave a light shrug.
In the past, he was seldom accorded the full respect of his title, but recently, he found himself receiving lavish treatment almost everywhere.

This was primarily due to his expanding renown and the circulating rumor that he led the most powerful faction within the Asteria Kingdom.
Consequently, anyone with even a basic awareness of the kingdom’s politics endeavored to curry favor with Alon, transforming into flatterers the instant they saw him.

‘Of course, that mainly applies to those operating near the Asteria Kingdom.’

As Alon shrugged, inspecting the gift the merchant leader had provided in hopes of establishing a new trade connection…

“Is that so?”
“Absolutely.”

He overheard Evan’s voice from nearby, chatting with a woman after they had finished preparing the camp.
“That’s incredible.”
“Haha, it’s really not so difficult.”

Noting the woman who was eagerly reacting to Evan’s boasting, Alon soon recognized who she was.

‘The merchant leader’s daughter.’

He made a curious expression watching the pair.
‘It appears more women are gathering around Evan lately.’

Alon had a fairly clear idea why women were suddenly flocking to Evan.
It was a direct result of his own fame.

As the sole knight of the renowned Count Palatio, most women showed interest in Evan, approaching him with a sense of admiration.

Though Alon felt a twinge of an odd emotion at what seemed a case of the laborer doing the work and the merchant reaping the profit, he quickly dismissed it.
‘Well, considering all he’s been through, I suppose it’s fine.’

Seeing Evan putting on a loud and theatrical display, Alon found himself thinking once more.
‘I wonder if Evan is aware. The merchant leader’s daughter is watching him with the sharp eyes of a predator.’

Seeing no reason to interrupt, Alon settled before the campfire to escape the growing evening chill.
“Tasty.”

The sweet potato Evan had prepared was roasted to perfection.

***

A week and a day later, in the pale light of dawn, Alon saw the silhouette of the colony again after almost a year.

‘Hmm~’

While the colony looked largely unchanged, its distinctive architecture still felt novel and vivid to Alon’s eyes.

After a short exchange of farewells with the merchant leader, Alon turned to leave when…
“Master!”

He felt the familiar impact of Seolrang launching herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.
“Hello!”

Seolrang, stuck to him like adhesive, greeted him with bright cheer.
“It has been a long time.”
“It has!”

As Alon watched Seolrang’s tail wagging with exhilaration…
“Look there. Isn’t that the Golden Flash?”
“It is.”
“Who is she with?”
“That looks like Count Palatio.”
“You can’t be serious. The Mad Dog is being that familiar with someone?”

He became aware of hushed whispers drifting from the people around them.
“Seolrang.”
“Yes!”
“You can let go now.”
“Understood!”

At Alon’s words, Seolrang instantly unwound her arms from his waist and planted her feet firmly on the ground.
“Did I do it correctly?”
“You did.”

Seeing Seolrang’s tail wag even more happily from his praise, Alon suddenly registered how quiet the area had become.
Glancing around, he saw that everyone at the colony’s southern gate was staring at him with stunned expressions.

Even the merchant leader and his daughter, who had just bid him farewell, were standing frozen with their jaws agape.
‘…Why is everyone so astonished?’

Feeling somewhat perplexed by the deeply silent atmosphere, Alon scanned his surroundings with mild bewilderment.
Everyone looked as if they were observing a mirage, their faces frozen in pure disbelief.

Seeing their reactions, Alon himself grew confused.
Hadn’t Seolrang greeted him with similar enthusiasm a year ago?
But now, the nature of the onlookers’ stares was profoundly different, leaving Alon momentarily disoriented.

“Ahem, ahem—”

Clearing his throat awkwardly to break the strange tension, Alon spoke up. “Seolrang, I wish to proceed directly to the ruins. Is that feasible?”
“Of course it is!”

With Seolrang’s assurance, Alon promptly entered the carriage. Even as the carriage departed for the ruins, the expressions of astonishment did not fade from the faces of the watching crowd.

***

They were on the road to the forgotten ruins, traveling in the carriage Seolrang had arranged. Just as before, they were escorted by members of the Golden Mane tribe, yet Alon could detect a subtle shift in the air.

‘Something is not the same.’

Alon looked at Seolrang. Seolrang herself was not much different from the year before. The only significant change was that her brilliantly golden hair had grown longer, now falling near the base of her tail. Otherwise, she was the same.

However, unlike Seolrang, the demeanor of the Golden Mane tribesmen guarding the carriage was distinctly altered from the previous year.
‘They seemed more approachable back then…’

Their previous friendliness had been aimed more at Seolrang than at him, but now all traces of that easygoing, welcoming manner were gone. They moved in total silence, their attention meticulously fixed on their surroundings.

Remembering the betrayal Seolrang had suffered a year ago, Alon nodded to himself.
‘I suppose the impact of that treachery was deeper than I realized.’

As Alon thought that he ought to be more attentive toward Seolrang to prevent her from being burdened by such events, she suddenly spoke.
“Ah, Master!”

She called out as if she had just recalled something important, and Alon responded.
“What is it?”
“May I ask you for a favor!?”

Alon was momentarily startled by the abrupt request but nodded shortly after.
“If it is within my power, certainly.”

After all, it was largely because of Seolrang that they were traveling to the ruins so conveniently, and he had been thinking he should be kinder to her. Seolrang’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. She pulled a document from her bag and handed it to Alon.

Then, reaching her hand out the carriage window, an artifact pen was placed into her palm as if by prearranged signal.

Handing the pen to Alon, Seolrang said,
“Here, please sign it.”
“Sign…?”
“Yes!”

She nodded with immense eagerness, looking at him with a face full of expectation. She nodded so vigorously that her long, tailbone-length hair swished through the air.

At this, Alon could not help but think,
‘Is she asking me to guarantee a debt…?’

Feeling an unconscious tension, Alon looked down at the paper. The form already had several complex sections filled out.

With a puzzled expression, Alon read the heading of the document.

…A marriage registration form?
“Sign it!”

Alon was rendered utterly speechless.