Chapter 180 – Birth…day? (1)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Alon stared blankly at the dragon that had swallowed the ruined world.

Aside from the red glow in its eyes, it resembled Kkamangi, its entire body wavering like shadow.

Then, as soon as Kailus changed his hand seal, it slowly scattered and disappeared.

“…That was a Death Shadow Dragon?”

Alon murmured blankly.

“No. Strictly speaking, what I showed you was a fully grown spirit dragon. One that I once handled.”

There was a trace of affection in Kailus’s voice.

Soon he shook his head once, as if throwing off that sentiment.

“Anyway, twice that.”

“…Twice?”

“I mean the size of a fully grown Death Shadow Dragon.”

“Twice the size of what I just saw?”

It was hard to believe.

He could not properly feel the reality of it.

The spirit dragon Kailus had just shown was already overwhelming in size.

‘It looked large enough to swallow this entire world and still have room left… and a Death Shadow Dragon would be twice that?’

Without realizing it, Alon looked down.

Kkyu.

For some reason, Kkamangi was looking up at him proudly.

Could this tiny thing really become something like that?

“But, brat. Where did you obtain the egg of a Death Shadow Dragon, or rather a spirit dragon?”

Snapping out of his daze at Kailus’s question, Alon explained everything that had happened.

A little later.

“I see. So that is what happened.”

Murmuring as if something now made sense, Kailus looked at Alon.

“You received the legacy I left behind.”

“…The legacy you left behind?”

At Alon’s question, Kailus nodded.

“That was an item I left for the last remaining magus.”

“…The last remaining magus?”

“Yes. Though it seems you received the legacy instead of that one.”

One thought suddenly crossed Alon’s mind.

“The last remaining magus you spoke of. Was it perhaps Duke Komalon?”

“…Duke Komalon? Regrettably, I do not know that name.”

“Hm…”

The question itself had been wrong from the start.

“…I once met a half magus.”

“…A half magus?”

“To be honest, I am not even certain he truly was one. He only called himself that.”

“Tell me in detail, brat.”

After thinking for a moment, Alon explained everything exactly as it had happened, beginning from his first meeting with the artificial god.

After listening to the entire story in silence, Kailus spoke one name.

“…It seems the one you met was Diad.”

“…Diad?”

Kailus searched through his memory.

“He was one who had greater pride as a magus than anyone, yet never properly inherited a mind-image. And he was also the disciple of a close friend of mine.”

“…”

“He could not join the magi in battle. He had not properly inherited even a mind-image, let alone formulas. That is likely why he survived.”

His voice sank slightly, perhaps because he was recalling a distant past.

He muttered quietly.

“I see. So that fellow has been clinging to life all this time. Merely to follow the words his teacher spoke to comfort him.”

“…Are you saying that teacher told him to slaughter humans so that the black thing could not rise?”

“He would not have wanted to call it that. More accurately, it must have been a choice forced upon him.”

“…A forced choice?”

“Yes. In the end, a magus who survived only because he was half-baked and had inherited no proper power could do little else. Well, I am the same.”

Kailus clicked his tongue once after saying that.

For a brief instant, a strange blend of discomfort and regret crossed his eyes.

That sight reminded Alon of what he had seen before.

The scene of Kailus slaughtering people indiscriminately.

After some silence passed.

“Hey, brat. You asked me to teach you how to handle a spirit dragon, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I will teach you.”

“Really?”

“But before that, I will ask your purpose first.”

“…My purpose?”

“Yes.”

Kailus stared directly into Alon’s eyes.

“Why do you want to learn how to handle that Death Shadow Dragon?”

“I…”

“For reference, do not feed me some idealistic answer. That is not what I want to hear.”

Alon fell silent and thought.

To be honest, even without offering some idealistic answer, it would not have been hard to tell Kailus what he wanted to hear.

Based on everything Kailus had said so far, Alon had a rough idea of what kind of thinking he held.

But rather than giving the answer Kailus would prefer, Alon chose to reveal his true purpose, just as Kailus had asked.

“For a peaceful life.”

“…For a peaceful life?”

“Yes. That alone. I want to learn so that I can sweep away every threat that is coming in the future.”

A plain answer.

And yet.

“Not bad.”

Kailus nodded with a satisfied smile instead.

“Good. Then I will teach you the technique.”

“In addition, I also made a contract with Rainisius.”

“…With Rainisius?”

Alon also told him about the conversation he had with Rainisius.

“…Whether I like it or not, I was in a situation where I had to teach you.”

Kailus let out a low sound and looked at Alon as though he were some fascinating creature.

“But may I ask one thing?”

A question had suddenly occurred to Alon.

“What is it?”

“You said you lost everything and only your name remained. Then how are you able to use techniques related to the Death Shadow Dragon?”

Kailus looked around as though the answer were obvious.

“Simple. Because this is the mindscape.”

“…Because it is the mindscape?”

“Yes. Here, it is not difficult for me to recreate magic by relying on my memories.”

Though even so, it is only an empty shell.

Muttering bitterly, Kailus rose to his feet.

“In any case, it is nearly time to part.”

“…What do you mean by part?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. I am running out of mana, so it is about time we separated.”

“There was a time limit?”

“There is no time, so I will briefly tell you what you need to do before you come here again.”

Kailus then listed, one by one, the things Alon needed to do before their next meeting.

And right after that.

“Then I will see you next time.”

Before Alon could say anything, a white light wrapped around him.

And.

When Alon opened his eyes again.

“…?”

The familiar scenery was not there.

After the white light stole his vision, what he saw was.

“!”

A black abyss.

####

Alon was flustered.

The last time he had used the Foot that Runs Through the Past, reality had appeared as soon as the white light faded.

That meant reality should have appeared this time too.

But what lay before him now was.

‘What is this…?’

An abyss.

Something impossible to measure.

Something he did not know.

No.

That was not right.

He did know this place.

He had seen this abyss before.

The instant he realized that fact, Alon noticed the nebula caught at the edge of his vision.

Then he understood what was in front of him.

An eye.

It was the same abyss-like eye he had seen in the mirror given to him by the Observer.

That oppressive eye was slowly opening.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heart pounded madly.

The thing before him had not yet offered any impression.

It had not even judged him.

And yet merely perceiving it made his chest feel ready to burst.

His entire body trembled as if it would tear apart.

Alon struggled for breath beneath that uncontrollable pounding.

Then he met the fully opened eye.

A giant pupil filled with brilliant nebulae.

Bewitching and beautiful.

Terrifying and yet worthy of reverence.

The Eye of All Things.

And then.

[So, you can see now.]

The thing spoke a sentence he could not understand.

[Reach the root, Devourer.]

[Learn there.]

[How to use the rank.]

The voice was clogged with noise, yet it carried the force of a command.

[Close your eyes.]

Unable to resist that overwhelming authority, Alon closed his eyes and opened them again.

“Hah.”

The breath he had been holding burst out of him.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

His blood raced through him like a carriage at full speed.

Clutching his aching heart, Alon barely lifted his head.

Then.

“My lord. Are you all right?”

He realized he had returned to where he was supposed to be.

Evan had already rushed in.

Wearing a face full of worry.

Alon answered with difficulty.

“I am… fine.”

“You do not look fine at all. Can you not tell what state you’re in right now?”

Evan urgently grabbed Alon’s shoulders with both hands.

“Blood is running from both of your eyes.”

Only then did Alon feel something running down his cheeks.

He slowly touched it.

Bright red blood stained his fingers.

‘That… what exactly was it?’

A hollow laugh escaped him without realizing it.

He was remembering the eye he had just witnessed.

That overwhelming existence.

####

The next day.

After finishing what he needed to do, Alon decided to leave Colony immediately.

What he really wanted was to rest for a few days and move at a slower pace.

But several things were bothering him too much.

‘…Greynif.’

As soon as he returned to the marquisate, Alon intended to begin preparing to head to Greynif.

When Siyan had first told him about it, he had planned to move slowly.

There had been no mention of urgency.

And personally, he still had a number of thoughts he wanted to sort through.

But after speaking with Kailus.

After realizing that there would be much for him to gain if he went to Greynif.

He decided to act sooner.

“Master, you’re leaving already?”

“Yes.”

By now Alon pressed Seol Lang’s ears automatically, even without her asking.

Seol Lang purred in pleasure and cried out.

“Got it. Then see you in one month.”

“…In one month?”

“Yes.”

At the sudden appointment, Alon reviewed his schedule in his head.

“I do not have any reason to come to Colony in a month.”

No matter how he thought about it, there were no plans to visit Colony then.

“I know. I’ll be the one going then.”

“…You will, Seol Lang?”

“Yes. Master, that’s your birthday.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Alon let out a low sound of realization.

That was right.

A month from now was Alon’s birthday.

“Are you planning to give me your present in person?”

“Yes. I have to hand this present to you directly or I can’t give it to you at all. You have to accept it, Master.”

“I look forward to it.”

Seol Lang’s tail wagged furiously, as if the very thought of giving him a present excited her.

An indulgent smile formed in Alon’s mind on its own.

‘…In that case, should I spend the birthday first and move after that?’

Considering that unexpected adjustment to his plans, Alon’s carriage left Colony.

At that same time.

“At last. It’s finished.”

“…Is this Eldest Brother’s present?”

“Yes. Isn’t it amazing?”

“…It is amazing, but…”

The owner of the Second Isle, Luna Bloodsail, barely swallowed the words, ‘Isn’t that a little too much?’

Beginning with Hidan’s present, which he showed off with obvious pride.

One birthday gift for Alon after another was being completed.