Chapter 245 – Enlightenment (2)

From the next day, the capital of the Alliance began to grow busy.

The soldiers, who had been standing listlessly like old trees, moved without rest to prepare something.

The people also helped the soldiers without exception.

In that situation, Alon…

“You are mean!!”

“…”

He came to meet the children he had saved until now.

Alon looked down at Arculainisis… no, Ar, who was crying like a child with her tail wrapped around his waist.

“Why did you not come to see me?!”

“…It has only been a few days.”

“Still, it is mean! You could have come to see me yesterday and the day before!”

Ar said everything she wanted to say even while sobbing.

“Get off already, you stupid dragon.”

“No!”

When Nangwon, who was watching that sight with a pathetic expression, said something, Ar shouted.

Alon left Ar, who was clinging to him like a cicada, and asked Nangwon.

“Have you been doing well?”

“Yes, thanks to your care, Brother, I was able to stay very comfortably. Thank you.”

Nangwon bowed his head politely just like before.

Alon thought it was a relief.

‘I did well to arrange a place for the children to stay inside the royal palace.’

Even if it was not the case for Liang’a, Ar, or Lia…

In the case of Nangwon, he had intentionally provided a residence within the kingdom because he felt that problems might arise if he were left outside.

By the way, about Liang’a…

“Boss!”

As soon as Alon was about to ask, Liang’a came running from afar.

Even so, a clear smile was etched on her face.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, I was practicing.”

“Practice?”

“…Yes, I am not used to it yet, so I have to practice handling it.”

Liang’a replied with an awkward smile.

Alon, who was looking at her as she hid both hands behind her back, glanced down.

Blood was flowing from between her feet, which were wrapped in bandages.

“Take care of your body while you practice. You cannot do anything if your health is poor when it really matters.”

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

Following Liang’a, even the fox beastfolk Lia arrived late.

After checking on the children’s condition, the next place Alon headed was…

“Penia.”

“Marquis, you are here?”

It was precisely where Penia was.

“Has there been any new progress?”

The reason Alon sought her out.

It was to hear Penia’s opinion on the hints he had received from Dowon not long ago.

“Well… it is not perfect, but I have managed to interpret it in my own way.”

Penia recited Dowon’s words that Alon had shared with her again.

[First, do not dwell on the technique called Reverse Heaven, and ponder what you truly need.]

[Second, do not try to find the law.]

[Third, engrave it at the moment of birth.]

[Fourth, the green divinity is regeneration…]

It was as if someone unknown had foreseen that Alon would come to the past.

The technique they had requested from Dowon.

Alon had already repeated those words to himself several times.

“…In my opinion, these hints cannot be interpreted as anything other than a message to create a new law and become a magus.”

“As I thought?”

“Were you thinking that too, Marquis?”

“I was in a state where I could not be certain. However, there were the words you told me last time.”

“You mean that all magi possess the potential to become gods…?”

“Yes.”

Penia also nodded in agreement.

“To be honest, I interpreted this part while thinking of that phrase. Well… in the first place, it can only be interpreted that way.”

“Did you not gain any other knowledge?”

“There were so many different books, so I found out quite a lot… but there was nothing in particular about the essence of a magus, the fundamental part.”

“…Essence?”

“Yes.”

Penia spoke after a moment’s thought.

“From the knowledge I have acquired, in the end, except for the magi who created the very first laws… they all develop by passing down their ‘imagery’ to future generations.”

When Alon nodded for her to continue, Penia went on with her story.

“Because of that, how a magus becomes a magus… is mostly written in vague terms. Even though other parts are there.”

For example, parts like the Law of Words or the Law of Beastfolk.

Penia, who had been murmuring, suddenly went “Ah,” and…

“Still, this part might be helpful to you, Marquis.”

“That is true.”

“Right? It would be very helpful, would it not?”

Her eyes sparkled.

“…What artifact do you want to research?”

When Alon asked, having noticed Penia’s hidden intention, she chuckled.

“I will tell you that next time. In any case, it is certain that one becomes a magus through the process of becoming a god…”

“The question is the process itself.”

“Exactly.”

She groaned, holding her head as if it were a headache.

“Well… it seems difficult to reach a conclusion hastily without actual experimentation. Anyway, that is the extent of my interpretation.”

“I see.”

“…But it is certainly subtle. Did you not receive a hint to reach the 5th tier last time?”

“I did.”

“But you have already reached the 5th tier, have you not?”

“Since I can use Mana Burn, which requires reaching the 5th tier, I can be considered at the beginning stage.”

In fact, Alon had already reached the 5th tier before coming to the past.

“Do you feel any path you should take next? You do not, right?”

“Of course not.”

“…Is there no connection between the hints?”

The deliberations of Penia and Alon continued as long as their conversation.

####

Exactly one week from then.

During that time, Alon spent his time with the children or contemplating techniques with Penia.

In addition, he listened to Magrina at night or had simple conversations with Rine.

Thanks to being so busy, the one-week period passed like an arrow.

“Everyone, move!”

The time had come to move toward the final battlefield.

The army and civilians began to move, effectively abandoning the capital.

This was because the World Tree was located even further back than the capital of the Alliance.

Most of the civilians remaining in the capital moved together out of fear of being slaughtered.

And so, Alon, who was quietly watching the endless procession…

“Let us go, Godfather.”

“Yes.”

Soon joined the procession.

‘Is it about two weeks now?’

Around the time Alon recalled the story he had heard last time.

“Come to think of it, Marquis,”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I had not thought much of it until now, but where did that guy go?”

“…That guy?”

“…That, Basiliola.”

“Ah.”

He let out a low exclamation at Penia’s casual question.

Penia turned her head back and forth, scanning the surroundings.

“I accepted it for Blacky because you kept saying he had been asleep since last time, but Basiliola is nowhere to be seen.”

It was just as Penia said.

Blacky had appeared a few times after coming to the past.

But after that, he rarely showed his face because he was mostly sleeping.

However, Basiliola was even more so.

She had not shown herself at all immediately after coming to the past.

Alon immediately checked the ring.

“…?”

The ring was the same as usual.

He injected mana next.

But since there was still no significant change…

‘What is it?’

Alon stared at the ring for a while with inquisitive eyes.

####

The Allied forces advanced steadily toward the location of the World Tree.

Exactly two weeks after the march began.

The Allied forces arrived at Greynif, the land of the elves where the World Tree was located.

Everything was as expected.

They arrived at the World Tree within the time bought by Yongrin’s sacrifice.

The World Tree, which had suffered significant damage, still maintained its form.

However, one thing.

That they had not predicted.

“H-how are Baarma’s followers…!”

It was Baarma’s followers.

They, who ordinarily should not have been able to enter Greynif.

Were encamped as if they had been waiting for the Allied forces to arrive.

And as if that were not enough…

“Baarma…!”

Baarma himself appeared.

The god who grew his body by feeding on the life and fear of other races.

As if flaunting his savage madness, on a high and large throne decorated with flesh and bone.

He sat on that throne and looked down at the Allied forces.

“U-aaah…”

“B-Baarma is… here…!”

“H-he surely shouldn’t be able to enter now…”

“Just how…”

At the sight of the Allied forces falling into instant chaos just by his appearance.

The corner of Baarma’s mouth, who was sitting on the hideous throne, twisted upward.

Baarma’s appearance was extremely grotesque.

From all over his body, which was almost the same size as Dowon’s.

Mouths that looked as if they would chew and swallow anything clamored as if asking for food.

His red inverted eyes, like an abyss.

Bestowed desperate fear upon people just by looking at them.

The moment everyone’s gaze was focused on Baarma.

Kwajik-!

Underneath Baarma’s foot, which was slowly descending.

One of the followers who had been prostrated to praise him was crushed.

A mistake that was even more horrible because it was so vain.

However, no one dared to object.

The followers instead bent their bodies even more to praise him.

The bizarre degree of fanaticism pressed down on the air even more heavily.

Eventually.

[Welcome, my banquets.]

Baarma’s voice fell.

The Allied soldiers clearly heard the word that emerged from his twisted mouth,

Referring to them.

Not as ‘enemies’, but as ‘banquets’.

Baarma then rested his chin on his hand…

[Quite nice faces. Expressions that are more mouth-watering than anything as a final banquet.]

He spoke arrogantly.

“…Just, how…?”

To Surang, who was murmuring as if he had lost his mind, he threw a sneer.

[What are you so curious about? Are you curious how I could enter this place even though that guy Yongrin sacrificed himself? Or are you curious that I was waiting for you, knowing you would come here?]

Heheh…

His sneer grew even deeper.

[The answer is simple. His sacrifice, as a living offering, has long since seen its power fade.]

“A living offering?”

[Yes. It took quite many sacrifices until that power faded. Because of that, I could not even eat and wasted them all using them there.]

■■■■■■■■■-!

■■■■■-!

■■■■■■■-!

Following the corners of Baarma’s mouth.

The mouths attached all over his body burst into sneers together, revealing sharp teeth.

Surang clenched both fists.

“Then why did you not attack…”

However, his mouth soon fell silent.

Alon was the same.

Because he knew the answer.

Because he had already experienced something similar.

Why he did not kill them immediately.

Why he had intentionally left hope.

Because he had heard the explanation.

From his apostle.

[Heh…]

Whether he realized the reason Surang fell silent.

Baarma rose from his seat and began to walk toward the World Tree.

Each time his foot moved.

The bodies of the prostrate followers were crushed and killed brutally.

No one among those with their heads to the ground.

Raised their body.

Immobile.

The chillingly faithful fanaticism.

Overwhelmed the surroundings more and more.

And finally.

Arriving in front of the World Tree, Baarma brushed the massive tree.

The tree that had already burned once but still maintained its life.

Baarma, who was stroking the tree much larger than himself several times.

[This must be your hope.]

Smiled while looking at the Allied forces.

Kwajik-!

Then thrust his massive hand into the World Tree.

Kwaduk… kwadudududuk…!

At that moment, the World Tree, which had been maintaining half of its life, began to swell in an instant.

Kwagagagagagak…!!!

Burst in an instant and was completely shattered.

So suddenly.

So simply.

“…”

No one could easily breathe.

The Allied forces’ gaze merely turned toward the void in despair.

Fragments of what was once the World Tree scattered in all directions, creating a roaring sound.

The World Tree, which had soon become completely shattered.

Beside it, Baarma wore a smile close to ecstasy.

Only then.

“Ah…”

A low exclamation broke out from someone’s mouth.

An infinitely powerless exclamation.

At that moment, amidst the despair where everything flowed according to Baarma’s intentions.

While looking at the fragments of the shattered World Tree.

“…!”

Only Alon gained an enlightenment.

He instinctively put his hand in his pocket.

And fiddled with something.

That thing which had already been in his pocket for a long time.