Chapter 256 – A God…? Me?? (3)

“…Riosh?”

When Alon called the name with a dazed expression, Riosh wore a thick smile.

[Though I am currently called by the name Hazard.]

Looking at Riosh’s confident expression, Alon’s face became bewildered.

Alon had certainly met Riosh in the past.

However, he had never expected that he would have become the god of the lizardmen.

It was natural.

In the past, Riosh was not a god or anything.

Above all, they were not close enough to be called ‘friends.’

[First of all, it’s awkward to talk standing like this, so follow me.]

Soon, Riosh led Alon.

The moment Alon took just one step following him.

Before they knew it, they had reached the end of the pyramid.

[Sit down.]

At Riosh’s guidance, Alon and Evan sat in the chairs placed in front of them, and a short silence flowed for a moment.

“…How did this happen?”

The first to open his mouth was Alon.

[Which part are you talking about?]

“Just as I said. Clearly, when I saw you in the past—”

[Ah—is it from there?]

Riosh nodded his head and…

[It is a bit of a long story, but first, I will explain it briefly.]

He calmly started and…

After some time had passed.

[…That is how it happened.]

Alon, who had heard the whole story, calmly organized the contents.

“So, to summarize, after I disappeared, you gathered faith not as a king, but as a god from then on?”

[Yes. After you returned, the great enemy Baarma eventually disappeared and peace came, but the problem did not end there.]

“Was there something additional?”

At Alon’s question, Riosh nodded his head.

[There was nothing for the elves or the Eastern Kingdom, but it was not the case for the lizardmen.]

When Alon looked at him as if telling him to speak more, Riosh continued the story.

[As you know, I was a tribal chief who led numerous tribes rather than a ‘king.’ In other words, the subordinate tribes only followed me temporarily depending on the situation.]

“…”

[When the war ended and the tribes were divided again, the tribes fought wars with each other. The tribes that had become weak in the war with Baarma quickly became prey for other tribes, and as a result, a chaotic scene unfolded.]

“So, did you become a god to stop the war?”

Riosh slowly shook his head.

[That was part of it, but it is not the essential reason. More accurately, there was a slightly different reason.]

“A different reason?”

[Yes, but that is not a story to bring up now. It is strictly for personal reasons. But regardless of that, I have deified myself and gathered faith since then. And I became a god.]

“Well, it was so hard to gather faith that I even had to show a performance of dying and coming back to life for about a hundred years before I became a god.”
Riosh let out a smirk.

Alon felt like he roughly knew how he had become a god.

At that time.

[Hmph, you are talking as you please.]

An escape familiar voice was heard suddenly.

When Alon and Evan turned their heads, what they saw there—

“…Magrina?”

It was Magrina’s face.

She looked at Alon and immediately wore a bright smile.

[Did you arrive well, Brother? This is a magic projector.]

Only then did Alon realize the fact that her form was translucent and let out a low exclamation.

[…How? You wouldn’t have had a chance to accept.]

A crystal ball placed on one side of the desk.

At the situation where it suddenly operated, embarrassment appeared on Riosh’s face.

At that, Magrina narrowed her eyes and looked at Riosh.

A look that was on a different level from the one she usually showed to Alon.

[Who do you think made this magic ball and gave it to you in the first place?]

[…Isn’t this strictly a discourtesy?]

[Discourtesy or whatever, it seems you have many things hiding from Brother. Isn’t that an even greater discourtesy?]

Then, Riosh slightly turned his gaze to the side as if he felt guilty.

When Alon and Evan looked at him simultaneously, Magrina revealed the truth.

[Brother, he became a god himself using your divine status.]

“…My divine status?”

Magrina nodded her head and told him the whole story.

Alon, who once again heard the whole process just like before, said,

“So, in short, you created a friendship with me, who dealt with Baarma, and used it as a means to gather faith. Is that it?”

[That’s right. Calling Brother ‘Heavenly Sovereign’ or whatever when you weren’t even that close… How cowardly.]

Magrina’s eyes became even colder.

Riosh cleared his throat, then slightly turned his gaze away,

[No, you see? This—when I tried to gather faith by myself, it was really hard. I don’t have abilities like you… Ahem—]

He began to make excuses.

At the appearance of throwing away any dignity,

“Eh…”

Evan, who was next to him, wore the same expression as Magrina as if he had roughly grasped the situation.

Riosh felt embarrassed and cleared his throat.

[…Anyway, I didn’t intend to just wipe my mouth and pretend not to know. If I had intended that, I would have ignored you altogether.]

[It’s a relief that at least a minimum of conscience remains.]

Riosh let out a groan at Magrina’s verbal dagger.

Even so, he steadfastly opened his mouth.

[Anyway, it is an undeniable fact that I received your help in becoming a god. Therefore, I also intend to become your strength from now on.]

“…My strength?”

[Yes, I intend to recognize you as a god and share the Gyeok.]

“That means—”

[It means you can also enjoy the same power as me. How about it? Isn’t it a story that isn’t bad for you either, even though I used my friendship with you recklessly?]

Alon nodded his head.

In fact, Riosh’s proposal was a content that had nothing for him to lose.

By the time the conversation related to that was ripe.

“Ah, and there is also a part that I must additionally convey.”

“What is it?”

“They say they want to see you in the East as well.”

Riosh brought up a new topic.

“…The Eastern Kingdom?”

“Yes, of course, the Eastern Kingdom is a bit far away, so it would be better to go when you have time later. Anyway, I recommend that you try going when the schedule allows.”

“But, who in the Eastern Kingdom wants to see me?”

At Alon’s question, Riosh shrugged his shoulders.

“I am sorry, but I do not know that well either.”

“Is there someone there who was in the past and became a god like you?”

“That is not it. However, the king there said to be sure to convey that he wants to see Marquis Palatio.”

Alon fell into thought for a moment.

‘The Eastern Kingdom…’

The Eastern Kingdom.

As far as Alon knew, that place was.

Just like Greynif and the lizardmen’s land, it was an eastern island country that was unlocked only after buying the DLC.

‘…Who is it?’

However, even after retracing existing information and past memories.

Alon could not easily get a sense of who wanted to see him.

Because among those he had saved in the past, there were no Easterners with whom he had built a friendship.

Therefore.

“First, I understand.”

He reached a tentative conclusion to stop by when there was an opportunity later.

So the audience with Riosh ended.

Alon stepped out of the giant pyramid-shaped temple.

“So, Marquis. It seems like the immediate urgent matters are over. What do you plan to do now?”

“Well, we should also stop by Teria and the Colony—” Evan added.

His words were correct.

“First, let’s stop by the Colony for the last time before we go.”

Alon headed toward the Colony.

####

The center of the continent.

The wilderness between the United Kingdom and the Empire.

A barren wasteland where nothing exists and no living being can be easily found.

In an underground cavity located somewhere there.

“Hmm—”

A man was quietly fiddling with his chin.

In front of him, a man completely covered in black clothes was keeping silent while bowing.

And.

“Marquis Palatio has returned from death… Is that true?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

At the man’s question, the masked man answered while bowing his head deeply.

“Is that so—”

The man’s low mumble resounded.

The masked man slightly raised his gaze and examined the man’s movements.

Soon, a wonder appeared on the face hidden by the mask.

That was because a clear smile was hanging on the lips of the man who received the report—no, his master.

Had he ever seen his master smiling?

The masked man tried to remember, but soon shook his head internally.

As far as his memory was correct.

He had never seen it even once.

The appearance of his master smiling.

Therefore, after staring blankly at that appearance for a moment.

“Why, is it strange?”

“!”

At the words thrown by the master, he quickly came to his senses.

He realized the fact that he had committed a discourtesy.

After bowing his head deeply,

“I am sorry, I committed a discourtesy just now—”

He hurriedly opened his mouth, but.

“No, it’s okay. Since you’ve been with me for a long time, this appearance might be strange.”

The man shook his head instead.

Then he asked the masked man.

“Anyway—is there anything else to report?”

“Yes, there is one more part to report.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the mutants that flowed out toward the border in the United Kingdom last time.”

“Mutants—ah, are you talking about the fellows flowing out from that jungle?”

“Yes.”

“How many individuals were there?”

“There were about 130 individuals.”

“The result?”

“They have all been dealt with. Similarly, all the residues of the Gluttonous Beast that were reported in advance have been dealt with.”

The masked man bowed his head again to show respect.

At that, the man—

“Good work. You may go.”

He gave an order to leave.

The masked man disappeared just like that.

Soon, into the room filled with silence,

“Congratulations.”

A woman appeared and leaned her arm on the man’s chair.

A woman with inverse eyes just like the man.

“Suddenly…?”

“What do you mean suddenly, you wanted to meet him so much, didn’t you?”

“…That is—”

“Am I right?”

The woman was certain as if she already knew all of the man’s thoughts.

At that, he, who was silent for a moment—

“Sister, that’s enough for the jokes.”

“But you are going to meet him anyway, aren’t you? Anyway, the time that strange person mentioned has already passed.”

“That is true, but…”

—No, the King of Curses and.

The man who led the curse users mumbled while bowing his head.

“…I do want to see him, but—”

“Then shall we go and at least give a light greeting?”

“Sister, aren’t you deciding too suddenly?”

“You want to meet him quickly, don’t you?”

“Still, a gift or this and that—”

“Since hearing the news that he would be alive, you’ve been collecting every gift imaginable for 300 years, and you’re going to prepare more here? Besides—”

“…”

“You’ve been helping him with all sorts of things through the information guild in the first place, haven’t you? Without even taking much money. If you go and show off a bit, I think he will like it enough, don’t you?”

“…Will he?”

“He will. He is that kind of person.”

The King of Curses—

“…Sister, now that it’s decided, it’s better to strike while the iron is hot, right?”

“Let’s go immediately. To meet him, who saved us.”

Nang-won raised his head once again.

On his lips, which drew an arc.

An unmistakable expectation was lingering.