Chapter 73

Chapter 73
“……Divine status?”

[Indeed, divine status. What other explanation could there be?]

Alon’s face showed his confusion at the Dragonkin’s statement. He had previously contemplated the idea of divine status, remembering past comments from otherworldly entities, but he had always pushed the notion aside.

His reasoning was straightforward: there was no conceivable way for him to achieve such a thing.

After a moment of reflection, Alon finally voiced his question.

“Then why did you insist I confront the Outer God?”

[Your question lacks clarity.]

“You stated you wouldn’t tell me anything until I dealt with the Outer God. Yet, from my understanding, divine status isn’t acquired by slaying a god.”

According to the rules he was aware of, killing a deity in Psychedelia did not result in gaining divine status or absorbing it.

Therefore, eliminating the Outer God in Lartania shouldn’t elevate one’s standing.

[You are correct, in a way. An ordinary human cannot absorb divine status, even after killing a god.]

The being gave a confirming nod.

“Then why would you—”

[However—]

Just as Alon began to voice his bewilderment, he was cut off.

[—that principle only holds if the one who slays the god is a normal ‘human.’]

“……What?”

Puzzled by this response, Alon pressed for clarification. The Dragonkin appeared to ponder deeply before answering.

[Let me pose a question to you. Why do you believe humans cannot obtain divine status, even after defeating gods?]

“……Well, because—”

[It is because humans lack ‘status.’ To put it more plainly, they do not possess the necessary ‘vessel.’]

It went on.

[Conversely, if a ‘vessel’ exists, then a human can hold divine status.]

“……A vessel?”

[When I say ‘vessel,’ it is not a complex idea. It is simply faith.]

“Faith?”

It seemed to settle on the right term and then continued.

[For mortals, ‘faith’ is a more accessible concept.]

“……So, if someone has faith, even a regular human can attain divine status.”

[Precisely. And you do possess ‘faith.’ That is why I tasked you with handling that entity. You have a minor capacity to contain divine status.]

“Does that satisfy your query?” it asked, resting its chin on a hand. Alon remained baffled.

“I grasp the words, but why do I have faith?”

[Isn’t it odd that you are asking me that?]

“……I suppose, but is it possible you are wrong?”

[Impossible. You undoubtedly hold divine status. Without the vessel or the status, you wouldn’t even be able to meet my gaze.]

“……I see your point.”

Alon gave a nod at its words, though he still held some reservations.

‘Could it be due to my renown?’

Even by his own reckoning, Alon had gained significant fame throughout the United Kingdoms. He wasn’t so famous that his face was instantly recognized, but his name certainly was.

Still, fame was one matter; faith was entirely another.

‘……That doesn’t add up. Why would I be an object of faith?’

Alon furrowed his brow, lost in thought, but soon dismissed it, realizing it wasn’t a puzzle he could solve immediately.

‘It seems I have another mystery to unravel.’

He then returned his focus to the fact that he had, somehow, acquired divine status, and posed another question.

“So, will I also receive powers (異)?”

As he understood it, the gods of this world were bestowed with ‘powers (異)’ once recognized as deities. The abilities granted through divine status were of overwhelming strength.

So, with a sense of hopeful anticipation, Alon looked at it and inquired,

[Unfortunately, your divine status is not that substantial.]

“……Are there tiers within divine status?”

[Isn’t that self-evident? To put it bluntly, your divine status is akin to that of a village god from an isolated hamlet of less than five hundred people.]

“But I’ve defeated two Outer Gods……?”

[Even if you eliminated two of them, you cannot absorb their entire status. And, to be accurate, you did not annihilate them completely; you only banished them temporarily.]

“I see……”

Letting out a short sigh, Alon listened to the explanation. The Dragonkin spoke with a tone of interest.

[Still, it is somewhat unusual. The reason you managed to subdue Ulthultus back then was probably because you had ‘status.’ How could you have been unaware of possessing it?]

“Ah.”

Alon finally comprehended why he had been able to capture Ulthultus just before its full manifestation and let out a soft sound of understanding.

“……Even so.”

[It is peculiar. In fact, many things are impossible without ‘status,’ yet you remained ignorant of it.]

The entity seemed genuinely fascinated, muttering something under its breath that Alon couldn’t catch.

“I didn’t hear that clearly.”

[Pay it no mind.]

As if coming to a realization, the Dragonkin postponed the subject for another time.

[In any case, that is not the crucial point here. What matters is that you have gained at least a minimal status, which permits you to perceive the truth.]

It gave a shrug.

[Let us resume our questions. What else do you wish to know?]

Prompted by this, Alon moved on to his next inquiry.

***

Beginning with the nature of status, Alon questioned the being about faith and other matters he had compiled. He had numerous questions at present.

Regrettably, out of all his questions, only one received a definitive answer:
The name for the lost great god’s beast kin and the mage known as ‘madosa.’

That was the sole piece of information he acquired; he learned nothing else.

“If you can only answer this much, was there any purpose in me gaining status?”

Alon spoke with a hint of frustration, but the being merely shrugged.

[Do not be so disheartened. It is not that I refuse to answer.]

Then why aren’t you explaining anything?

Why not discuss the true name, the successor of will, or even the reason Ulthultus sent me here? Alon listed the prepared questions, and the being responded.

[There are two reasons for this.]

“Let’s hear them.”

[First, all your questions are fundamentally about the same subject. In other words, the answers will become clear once you ‘see’ the truth.]

“……Once I see?”

[Now that you possess status, you will be able to see. But you must journey to the ‘Abyss.’]

“……So, rather than getting answers here, I need to travel to the Abyss?”

[Yes, once you gaze upon the truth there, you will comprehend everything you have asked. Your endeavors have not been wasted.]

Without status, one does not even have the right to look upon the truth, it added. Alon looked at the being and replied.

“Is that why you won’t give me answers? Because I will understand once I see for myself?”

[No, it is not due to laziness or an unwillingness to share knowledge.]

“Then why?”

At Alon’s question, the being grew quiet for a moment before releasing a small sigh.

[Because they are observing.]

“They…… are?”

[Yes, those beings that dwell in the deepest blackness, gnawing at the roots of history and casting the past into oblivion—those that once caused the era of the gods to fall—]

The Dragonkin gave a soft click of its tongue and added,

[-are beginning to stir once more.]

[This is the reason I cannot speak directly of the past.]

Alon stared intently at the being. Though its face was a simple arrangement of black and white defining eyes, nose, and mouth, Alon could perceive that it was speaking truthfully.

“……How do I reach this ‘Abyss’ you speak of?”

In reply, the being handed Alon a necklace bearing the symbol of a black tree, as if it had been anticipating the question.

“What is this?”

[Bring this to the last surviving mermaid on the eastern shore. She will guide you there naturally.]

Hearing this, Alon quietly studied the necklace and then nodded. The eastern shore was, in any case, the location of Raksas, where he intended to travel after this meeting.

“I will go, then.”

[A wise choice.]

Just as Alon started to turn away, he remembered something and turned back.

[What is it?]

“There is one more question I haven’t asked.”

[Ask it. If it is something I can answer, I will.]

“……Ulthultus claimed I was acknowledged by ‘the black one’ and ‘the blue one.’ Can you explain what that means?”

Alon’s question caused the being to hesitate briefly before it responded with a curious expression. After a short silence, it seemed to understand something and smiled.

[Oh, I see… Simply consider it as recognition from a powerful deity.]

“…?”

With that explanation, the discussion appeared to be concluded.

[By the way, if you are interested, I can enhance the Sparrow’s staff for you. However, you would not be able to receive it for about two years.]

“……Two years? Why?”

[It will take that long to make it serviceable and for me to recover enough strength to hold a proper conversation again.]

“Is that so?”

[It is.]

Immediately after, the Sparrow’s staff, which had been silent until now, spoke in a pleading voice:

[Um, I actually prefer staying with Alon. Wouldn’t it be better if I could be of more assistance?]

Though its eyes were not visible, its tone was full of sincerity. Alon glanced at the staff.

“I’ll allow it.”

[Eh? Wait, Alon? No, Count? Hello???]

As Alon finally set the staff down and prepared to leave, the being called out once more.

[Wait, there is one more thing I must tell you.]

“Something else?”

[Yes, it concerns your magic. Listen to this before you depart; it will not take long.]

And with that, the being launched into its explanation.

***

After hearing everything from the Dragonkin, Alon met up with Seolrang, who had been waiting for a long time, and they returned to the colony. The following day, he started getting ready to leave for Raksas.

……Truthfully, there wasn’t much to prepare. Since he intended to join a caravan leaving that day, he only needed food and a few emergency supplies.

He was soon ready, but to his surprise, Yutia came to see him upon hearing of his departure from the colony. Even more unexpected was the arrival of King Carmaxes III of the colony himself, who, along with soldiers, came to bid Alon farewell at the north gate.

“……?? Your Majesty, why are you here?”

“I wished to see you off.”

The colony’s king, Carmaxes III, had come in person to greet Alon.

And—

“What is all this?”

“I am told it is a gift from His Majesty.”

“……A gift for me?”

“Yes. Is that not correct, Your Majesty?”

Two carts laden with gold and jewels stood waiting.

“Yes, that is correct. It is a present from me.”

Alon looked at Carmaxes, who responded to Yutia with a wider smile than Alon had ever seen. Alon, finding it somewhat excessive, voiced his astonishment.

“This seems too generous.”

Alon was not one to turn down money. In fact, he believed that more money was always better. The sight of carts overflowing with treasure made his eyes widen.

However, it was clearly too lavish a gift for him to accept comfortably. It felt excessive for a simple gesture of goodwill, particularly since the giver was a king, implying some political motive he couldn’t discern. He subtly tried to decline the king’s offer.

“Haha, do not overthink it. Please accept it without concern.”

“But still, this is—”

“Do not worry. It is given purely out of fondness for you, with no conditions. I truly wish for you to accept it. Really, ‘sincerely’ accept it.”

“…?”

Seeing the strangely earnest expression on Carmaxes’s face, Alon could only give an awkward nod.

And so, on that day, Alon joined the journey, accompanied by two carts filled with gold and jewels.

As Alon departed, a faint smile touched Yutia’s lips.

And then—

“I am pleased to see the negotiations appear to be progressing favorably.”

“Indeed.”

As Carmaxes met Yutia’s crimson eyes, he was reminded once more of what he had understood the previous day:
No matter what occurs, the Count of Palatio must not be provoked.

‘How draining…’

Before Carmaxes’s eyes, the ghost of the magic herb he had given up thirteen years ago seemed to flicker.