Chapter 84

Chapter 84
In a chamber with little light.

[You truly said that?]

“I did.”

Within one of the many hidden bases the Blue Moon had established across the realm, Hidan was delivering his update.

“The man had hair as dark as night and eyes of blue.”

[Is that so?]

“Yes. Though, his voice was rough and deep, which seemed at odds with his looks.”

[Hmm—]

Yutia’s brow creased in concentration as he turned over the description.

But the moment was brief.

[Do not concern yourself with it further.]

Hearing the straightforward order, Hidan replied.

“…Are you certain that is wise?”

[Yes.]

Yutia’s confirmation was firm, yet Hidan paused for a second before bowing his head.

“I shall follow the decree of the Red Moon.”

The command was not to be questioned.

Even so, his curiosity did not vanish. Once he was sure the communication device was inactive, Hidan pondered:

…Just who is that man?

####

The following day.

“Thank you for escorting me this far.”

“It is nothing, brother. It is my responsibility.”

Having arrived at the woods on the right flank of Kimin’s lands, Alon gave Radan’s shoulder a firm pat.

“Well, until we meet again.”

“Of course, brother.”

“Ah, and please handle the matters over there. They mentioned having affairs in Raksas.”

His attention then shifted to Penia and Felin.

Penia offered a strained smile, while Felin watched her with a peculiar intensity.

This marked the point of their separation.

Unlike Alon, who had no further reason to remain in Raksas, the two still had unfinished business there.

“As you have asked, I will see to it.”

“Good.”

“Ah, but brother, might I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Hmm… I was merely wondering if you required anything.”

“Require anything?”

“Yes.”

At Radan’s query, Alon tilted his head slightly before answering.

“No, I do not.”

“You do not…?”

“Is that an issue?”

“No, not an issue. It is only that you have traveled such a long way.”

Hearing this, Alon fell into brief thought.

“No, there is nothing I need. Seeing you is sufficient. As I told you, I was not certain we would meet again.”

“Is that the truth?”

“Yes. Now, I must go. Farewell.”

With those words, he stepped off the ship.

The vessel soon set off once more.

“He is gone.”

“Yes, he is.”

Watching the ship shrink on the horizon, Alon and Evan made their way into Kimin’s territory to seek a carriage.

It was time to go back to the Palatio estate.

‘Star Eater.’
Gazing at the shifting landscape from the carriage window, Alon remembered his discussion with the Observer the day before.

‘Star Eater?’

‘Yes. Do you happen to know of it?’

‘To be honest, I do not, but the name itself is disturbing.’

‘Is it? Why do you say that?’

The Observer did not reply to Alon’s question.
Alon, in turn, did not press her further.
He had spoken with her enough to understand that her silence meant certain things were better left unsaid.

‘So much knowledge is shrouded in shadows. It is absurd.’
Alon released a weary breath.
Yet, he felt no anger over this.
The memory of yesterday’s event—blood streaming from his nose, his mouth, his eyes—was a stark reminder.

‘It is preferable to death.’
Alon was a man who would choose a life of unanswered questions over a fatal quest for a single truth.

‘Naturally, that does not mean I plan to remain idle… perhaps it is more accurate to say I cannot remain idle.’
Then, he recalled the words spoken by the presence he had met in the mirror yesterday.

“Execute the Deprived One… that was it. It was unmistakably called an Outer God.”

He had heard it clearly.

“Hiding… an Outer God, hiding…”

To him, these words could not be dismissed.
That an Outer God was hiding suggested a great deal.
First, it meant the Outer God was covertly preparing for something.
Second, if it had hidden itself so completely, it was as if it had already fully manifested.
In Alon’s mind, it was a fully assembled bomb, concealed somewhere, capable of detonating at any moment.

“I must deal with this, no matter the cost.”

The trouble was, he had no means of finding the hidden Outer God.
After turning it over in his mind for some time, Alon released a long sigh and settled back into the carriage seat.
Seeing no immediate answer, he decided to let the matter rest for now and clear his thoughts.

How long had he been staring vacantly out the window?
Suddenly, Alon, whose eyes had been fixed on nothing, turned to Evan and asked,

“Evan.”

“Yes, Count?”

“I am fairly handsome, am I not?”

“…I beg your pardon?”

Startled by this unprecedented topic, Evan quickly composed himself and, after a moment’s reflection, answered,

“Well, certainly, you are.”

“I suspected as much.”

“Has something occurred?”

At Evan’s question, Alon recalled Penia’s conduct from the day before.
Specifically, a conversation he had overheard while approaching Penia’s group, whom he had met by chance on the road.

“Well… you could say that.”

“You could say that?”

“Yes.”

Alon murmured, remembering the exchange he had heard as Penia struck Felin.

“Ow! Ow! Sister!? What was that for!?”

“Like? Do I like him? How can you even ask that!? Why would I have any liking for Count Palatio!?”

“It is only that you always become so quiet and formal around him…!”

“You fool, I am always formal!”

“No, you are not always—”

“Stop talking nonsense! Why in the world would I like him!? What gave you that idea!?”

“So, you do not like him?”

“I have no reason to like him! Why would I ever like Count Palatio—”

The words remained sharp in his memory.
Of course, Alon had never believed Penia held any special feelings for him.
There had never been a sign of it.
So, even if she were to reject him, it would be only mildly awkward, and he would think no less of her.
But one aspect of the situation left him feeling unsettled.

“No matter how one views it, she did not have to pummel her brother with such revulsion.”

Alon could not be sure of Penia’s feelings, but from his perspective, her reaction seemed one of pure disgust.
And she had expressed it while striking her own brother for his remark.

“Well, I do not know the details, but do not trouble yourself over it, Count. For a man, competence matters more than appearance, does it not?”

“…That is true.”

“Look at me. See how well-liked I am?”

Having seen ample evidence to the contrary, Alon was tempted to say, “You are not well-liked,” but he held his tongue and simply nodded.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Then, do not let it weigh on you.”

At Evan’s words, Alon nodded once more.
Yet, despite his agreement, a faint melancholy lingered.
It was autumn, the season of falling leaves.

####

Radan, having united the Seven Archipelagos and seized control of the eastern sea, sat in his office aboard the pirate ship and released a heavy sigh.
He had become the ruler of the Archipelagos and exacted vengeance for his family, but his task was not finished.
A final mission remained.
He had to capture the “Black Fish.”
Deep in thought, Radan drew a small box from his coat pocket.
It was a parting gift from Alon.
Staring at the box for a moment, Radan opened it to see what was inside.

“A monocle?”

The item within was indeed a monocle, a single eyeglass.
It was not unique, just a common monocle available anywhere.
Still confused, Radan noticed a slip of paper inside and retrieved it.

“This will help ease your perfectionism somewhat.”

The note held only that brief message.
Yet, Radan was taken aback by its contents.
While many knew Radan was meticulous, no one in the Blue Moon was aware of his severe perfectionism.
Radan had never revealed it.
One might infer it from how orderly he kept his territories, but Alon could not have prepared the gift based on that alone.
From the moment Alon arrived on the islands, he had been at Radan’s side.
Stunned, Radan placed the monocle over his eye and, for the first time, felt his compulsive need for visual symmetry lessen dramatically, shocking him once more.

“How does Brother understand me so deeply?”

Radan could not contain his growing wonder as he thought of Alon, the gift-giver.
After all, Alon—the Great Moon—had always been like this.
He knew the captains of the Seven Archipelagos had killed Radan’s parents.
He knew a secret Radan had shared with no one: his extreme perfectionism.
It was as Yutia often said, “He knows all.”
That was what Radan found profoundly mysterious.
And there was more.

‘…I was certain Brother needed power.’
Radan understood that the world was not a kind place.
The world operates on exchange.
Where something is given, something is received, and Radan knew this principle well.
As a result, Radan felt trust and gratitude toward the Great Moon, but he also believed Alon must desire something in return.
Because in this world, no favor comes without a price.
Yet, no matter how he observed Alon, Radan could detect no hunger for power.
That held true even during the encounter with the Outer God.
Even when Alon leaped forward without a second thought to save him from the Outer God’s grasp.
Unconsciously, Radan recalled that instant.
As the Great Moon moved to seal the pact, the greedy, indifferent eyes watching from the ocean depths were suddenly marked by terror.
The awe and the chill he had felt then.

“…Hah.”

Radan let out a sigh.
From that moment, and from their final conversation today, Radan understood two things.
One was that Alon’s kindness asked for nothing in return.
The other was that he currently lacked the strength to repay that kindness.
Because of this.

‘I need greater power. As I am now, I cannot even stand by Brother’s side to aid him.’
Radan resolved himself.
He would become strong enough to shield the Great Moon from any threat.
Abruptly, reaching this point in his thoughts, he muttered,

“…Hypnosis magic… was it.”

He laughed at the foolish notions he had entertained not long ago.
He might not have realized it then, but since meeting the Great Moon, he now saw how childish and naive his thoughts had been.
Because of this.

“Everything is for the Great Moon.”

Radan whispered quietly to himself,

‘It is time to retrieve it.’
He remembered an object long buried beneath the waves and hardened his expression.

####

After roughly three weeks in the carriage, Alon finally returned to the Palatio estate and enjoyed a deeply restful night.
Though he had spent years traveling by carriage and should have been accustomed to it, sleeping in one remained a draining experience.
So, after arriving home and indulging in profound rest, the next day, Alon received a call from Duke Altia for the first time in a while.

[…Remarkable, as one would expect. We were making preparations as well, but we could not find the right opportunity to act. But to eliminate more than eight nobles in one stroke…]

[…?]

[I believed you were not paying this matter much mind, so I was genuinely taken aback.]

For some reason, Alon was being credited as the architect behind the death of eight nobles, executed without a flicker of emotion.

‘What is this now…’
Alon released a soft, weary sigh.