Chapter 201 – Sloth and Thunder (3)

King Familo-no’s awkward smile.

Jenira, with a smile that looked as if it were painted.

Through that two-shot, Alon could guess the situation of the Grand Duchy of Luxivble.

In fact, there was no need to even guess.

Because it was clear to anyone that King Familo-no had been swallowed by Jenira.

‘How did this happen?’

Alon was curious about through what circumstances they reached the current power structure.

But he soon stopped thinking.

It was quite amazing.

But in the end, the fact that the Thunder Snake tribe, to whom he had granted a favor, had taken control of the Grand Duchy of Luxivble…

It was an extremely advantageous situation for Alon.

…Especially now, when he was being misunderstood as Kalanon, the Receiver of Thunder, by the Thunder Snake tribe.

“I am Marquis Palatio.”

“I have heard many stories… no, I have heard much.”

King Familo-no hurriedly checked Jenira’s reaction while speaking and changed his ending.

Glancing around.

The soldiers showed no reaction, as if they were quite used to such a situation.

Alon also ended the audience after exchanging formal greetings.

No, to be more precise.

Alon tried to show some courtesy with formality, but.

“Ahem… it is fine, so you may leave now, Marquis Palatio.”

“Is that so.”

‘Please, get out of here quickly!’
To the king’s expression, which looked to anyone as if he were pleading.

Alon could not help but move his steps outside.

“As you said, thank you so much for visiting.”

As soon as he left the audience chamber, the swift Shircal immediately bowed her head deeply.

Alon shook his head awkwardly.

“No. I came because I had business in the first place.”

“Please tell me what it is.”

“Where is the Thunder… no, my symbol?”

At Alon’s question, Shircal tilted her head for a moment.

Soon, as if she realized, she let out a small exclamation.

“It is at that place from last time.”

“If it is that place from last time, do you mean the ruins?”

“Yes. But…”

She trailed off.

She added with an expression that looked extremely apologetic.

“It will probably be very difficult to go there right now.”

“Why is that?”

“Have you perhaps heard any news from the Ronovelli Jungle?”

The rumor Evan had relayed.

“Are you talking about the black mana?”

“Yes, that rumor.”

“Is there any additional information?”

“There is, but it is not very good information.”

“What is it?”

After a brief pause, Shircal continued with an expression that looked quite troubled.

“There was a rumor that a black mana is spreading in Ronovelli.”

“Is that rumor true?”

“Yes, it is. Because of that mana, it will probably be very difficult to enter that place right now.”

“Hmm…”

Alon let out a small sigh inwardly.

Because he had vaguely expected the situation to turn out like this.

But even so.

He could not just wait here leisurely.

If he could not go there within a week.

Kalanon would be annihilated.

Though it was unintentional, along with a bit of responsibility for stealing the Gyeok…

Kalanon’s proposal to ‘teach how to handle Gyeok’ was also tempting.

He could grasp the nature of Gyeok or wrap himself in it.

But he did not yet know the principles and methods of how to use it precisely.

Additionally.

If the existence currently spreading black mana was the Apostle of Sloth.

From Alon’s perspective anyway, he had to deal with that fellow.

In the end, there was only one conclusion.

“Is it certain that the symbol is inside those ruins?”

“Yes. May I ask if… you are planning to enter?”

“It will probably turn out that way.”

Then Shircal bowed her waist again.

“…In that case, we will join you.”

Alon shook his head slightly.

“There is no need for that.”

“No, our master is entering a dangerous place, so there is no way we, your servants, can stay here. If you could please allow us to accompany you, we would be grateful.”

But Shircal showed no sign of backing down.

“…”

In fact, if Alon were following his original personality.

He would have taken as many people as possible, not just her.

As long as the power difference with the opponent was not enormous.

Having many numbers was naturally meaningful.

The reason Alon was hesitating even so.

‘If that fellow is indeed the “Apostle of Sloth” as I suspect, having many people will rather be poison. That fellow exerts stronger power as more people gather.’

It was precisely because of the characteristics of the existence that scattered this black mana.

Alon, who was pondering to prevent the worst situation…

“Then, I will ask for guidance only until the range outside the black mana.”

He proposed a compromise, but.

“Inside the black mana is the very place that will be dangerous.”

Shircal still could not erase her worry and anxiety.

…It seemed that general persuasion would not work at all.

At her stubborn attitude.

Alon, who was conflicted for a moment, caught his breath and…

“Do not worry, who do you think I am?”

He spoke firmly.

Of course, he thought immediately after saying it.

‘Ah, this is a bit embarrassing.’

If he were clearly a strong person.

There would be nothing to be ashamed of.

But since he himself thought that was not the case in reality.

It was nothing more and nothing less than a bluff.

But.

“I am sorry…”

To Shircal, who was misunderstanding Alon’s identity.

“…”

It became a very wonderful means of persuasion.

“Lead the way.”

Alon braved the embarrassment.

He decided to push forward.

####

“Ahem.”

Alon climbed into the carriage while coughing for no reason due to embarrassment.

The Thunder Snake tribesmen and soldiers surrounding him.

Alon, who was checking outside the carriage, looked at Evan sitting opposite him.

“Are you not going to ask this time?”

“Pardon? About what?”

Instead of answering, Alon pointed out the window.

Evan was someone who always asked questions when an incomprehensible situation arose.

But this time, he was somehow quiet, so Alon asked first.

“Ah…”

Evan lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, I have roughly understood.”

“…What have you understood?”

“That you are Kalanon, the Receiver of Thunder, Marquis.”

“…”

“I have been thinking.”

“About what?”

“I am with you every time, and each time, asking ‘Is this for real?’ also seems a bit strange, does it not?”

‘No, if it were me, I think I would keep being curious.’
Alon thought so, but.

Evan leaned his body back comfortably on the backrest, as if he had given up.

“Well, so I decided to accept whatever it is.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, now I would believe it even if you said, ‘Actually, I am the god Sironia!'”

“Is the god Sironia not a goddess?”

“I would believe it even if you said you are a woman, Marquis.”

As if he had passed a point somewhere far away.

Evan exuded a transcendent atmosphere.

[Ggyu!]

As if responding to that, Kkamangi poked its head out from the pocket and looked up at Alon.

“Is that so.”

“Well, yes.”

Silence found the inside of the carriage again.

After a while.

“We have arrived.”

A voice announcing the arrival was heard.

And in Alon’s vision.

The jungle… no, the territory where black mana was wavering, came into view.

“…Is the entire territory in this situation?”

“No, that is not the case. But since about half has been taken over, everyone has been evacuated for now.”

As if to prove Shircal’s words.

“It is quite desolate.”

Caslot, which was clearly crowded with people, was empty.

While glancing at that empty sight for a moment.

Alon discovered tents pitched near the boundary where black mana was wavering.

“…Those are?”

“They are the knights of Calibun.”

“Why are the knights of Calibun here?”

“I heard they came to find someone.”

“…To find someone?”

At the moment he felt doubt at the unexpected answer.

“…Uh?”

“Hmm?”

Familiar faces walked out from inside the tent.

“…Reinhardt? And…”

It was Reinhardt, one of the Swords of Calibun who had moved with him for a while in the jungle before, and…

“Deus?”

“…Marquis.”

To anyone, he had become extremely haggard.

But Deus was there, with a burning rage held in his two eyes.

Soon, Alon…

“Deus, what are you doing here?”

He could find out why Deus had become such a wreck.

At Alon’s question, Deus clenched both fists tightly and…

“…My younger sister…”

While biting his lip.

He barely spat out a sentence.

“She has been kidnapped.”

Alon could not say anything in response.

####

Alon, who entered the inside of the tent, heard a detailed explanation from Deus.

“To summarize, you are saying the fellow who kidnapped Silly called you here?”

“That is correct. But…”

“You cannot do anything because of this black mana?”

“That fellow… that son of a bitch…”

Deus, who ground his teeth, lowered his head.

“The deeper I entered, he showed me the string around Silly’s neck tightening.”

His two hands placed on his knees trembled finely.

“…Other than that, the requirements?”

“As long as I do not enter the black mana, Silly’s neck is not tightened.”

“In other words, you are saying he is inducing others, not you, to come and rescue Silly?”

“Yes. But other fellows become puppets the moment they enter.”

Reinhardt also added from the side.

“Unless you continuously cut the strings that are created at all times, you will immediately lose control of your body.”

Frowning deeply as if it were an unpleasant experience.

Alon, who heard the explanation from the two people…

He could understand how the current situation was going.

‘He is deliberately inducing people other than Deus to go rescue Silly. Is he trying to wear down Deus’s mind through the deaths of others?’

Additionally, he could realize the Apostle’s purpose without much difficulty.

It was precisely to break his mind, not to kill Deus.

Deliberately taking Silly’s life as collateral and making other knight members move to eat away at his mind.

Finally, there was a high probability that he would deal with Silly in a shocking way to break Deus’s mind.

‘No, maybe at this point, Silly is already…’

Alon looked at Deus’s two eyes burning with rage.

He could not bring himself to ask if he had actually seen Silly alive.

At this point.

Any question regarding Silly.

Was certain to severely shake Deus’s mind.

That was why Alon quietly moved his gaze to the forest seen outside the tent.

“Where is the place that fellow has taken a seat?”

“It is here.”

Deus immediately pointed to a part of the map.

Even though his face was full of fatigue, his actions were swift.

At that time.

“…This place is.”

Shircal joined the conversation.

“Do you know where it is?”

She nodded at Alon’s question.

“It is the place where the symbol is.”

“Then this place is…”

“Yes, it is the ruins where our tribe stayed.”

At that answer, Alon fell into thought for a moment.

Soon he asked Deus and Reinhardt.

“So, what were you planning to do from now on?”

“Originally, I was going to enter and try a rescue, but it was beyond my strength. I myself barely made it out.”

“Did the knights enter with you?”

“Yes, as soon as we entered quite deeply, he immediately launched an attack.”

“The knights…”

Before Alon’s question could even finish.

Reinhardt made a resentful expression.

“They all… died.”

“All of them?”

“Yes. At first, I realized they were being controlled and planned to first knock them all out and bring them back. But as soon as their bodies went limp, their necks were snapped right there, and they died.”

“…”

“Still, there is one thing I have gained.”

“What is it?”

“It seems the black strings cannot control more than three people.”

“Cannot control more than three people?”

At Alon’s question, Reinhardt nodded his head.

“Yes. If I went with fifteen knights, those being controlled were definitely around three at a time.”

“…No more than that were controlled?”

“That was the case.”

Reinhardt continued to explain.

“Anyway, because of that, I was devising a strategy in my own way. If it is only about three at a time, we can respond sufficiently if we divide into pairs.”

“…You mean the whole group will enter at once and reach the place where that fellow is?”

“Yes, after pairing the knights in groups of six, if we advance while saving mana by alternating mana activation in threes, it is not a difficult task.”

Alon, who heard all of his explanation, remained silent for a moment.

Because as far as he knew, the Sin had no limit in controlling individuals.

‘Is there a limit because it is an Apostle?’

Alon, who was agonizing over the new information…

Soon reached one conclusion.

He let out a low chuckle unconsciously.

If his thoughts were correct…

“It would be better to stop that plan.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it is a trap.”

“…A trap, you say?”

That was clearly a trap.

“The fellow who has kidnapped Silly right now is not able to control only three people at once.”

“…Not three? Then why on earth at that time…”

A very nasty and subtle trap.

“He intends to draw you in. His intention must be to deal with you all at once when you have entered deep and can no longer escape.”

“If so…”

“He has deliberately thrown a bait.”

Reinhardt tried to argue but shut his mouth as if something came to mind.

Deus clenched his teeth even more.

He bit them so hard.

Blood leaked out past his lips.

As if giving form to an uncontrollable rage.

Deus, who faintly emitted purple mana, looked at the black forest with eyes full of impatience and rage.

“How… should I…”

At the low murmur that flowed from his mouth.

“Do not worry.”

“…Marquis?”

Alon said with a firm voice.

“I have one plan.”

####

At that point.

“Boss…”

“Whaaat…”

Deep in the Ronovelli Jungle.

The girl, who was sitting on a pile of stones carved from a cliff with a look of utter annoyance on her face…

“Why are you calling?”

She turned her body at the voice calling her.

She looked down at a blue-skinned man.

“You know that black fellow the boss told us to watch?”

“Yeah… what did he do?”

“No, it is not that.”

“Did he cross the territory?”

“It is not that either.”

“Then why?”

A somewhat sharp reaction from the girl.

Because she was a boss who basically became sharp if it was not night.

The blue-skinned man, while scratching his head…

“That, uh… what was it?”

“If it is not a big deal, I will kill you.”

“No, look here… because you are threatening me, I cannot remember it even more.”

“Just tell me quickly.”

“Ah, ah, ah… that human the boss called ‘justification’ or something, right?”

“Yeah.”

“It seems that fellow, justification or whatever, is going to move against the black fellow. Probably from the feeling, it seems he will also suffer a bad fate.”

He relayed the story.

“…What? Wait, Bo… no, why is that person coming here? No, before that…”

The girl, who was being utterly annoyed.

No, the one who was ruling one of the Four Great Forces.

“That bastard is going to touch my ‘justification’?”

The expression of the White Ghost was solidified endlessly.