Chapter 259 – Branches (3)

The Apostle of Purity could not understand the current situation.

From one to ten, he couldn’t understand anything.

The King of Curses had been peaceful until just a moment ago.

Why had his expression distorted like a demon’s?

Why was he emitting a bone-chilling killing intent that made his body numb?

…Why was the King of Curses.

Reacting so violently to the name ‘Alon Palatio’?

‘I’m clearly aware that there’s no relationship between them…!’

The Apostle of Purity’s face hardened.

Naturally, the Apostle had done a certain amount of preliminary investigation before coming here.

About Alon Palatio.

And about the King of Curses, the leader of the curse users.

However, there was clearly no particular connection between the two existences.

No, beyond there being none.

In the first place, did they even know of each other’s existence?

The Apostle of Purity tried to open his mouth in wonder, but.

Snap—!

Unfortunately.

The Apostle’s next words were blocked by black hands that completely twisted and even severed his neck.

Crash—!

As soon as the Apostle’s head was severed, the torso began to spill out thick blood.

In fact, the expression of Nang-won, who was watching that sight, was still distorted.

“Nang-won, you were too hasty. Shouldn’t you have heard everything first?”

“Sister, even so, isn’t it a bit much to just listen to that guy saying we should kill Brother?”

“That’s true—but that guy, he escaped, didn’t he?”

At the words of Nang-yeon, Nang-won’s sister who was leaning her arm on the chair and resting her chin.

Nang-won looked forward once again.

The corpse was still gushing out red blood as if it were real.

However, when the black hands soon tore that body to pieces.

“…Tsk.”

Instead of human organs that should naturally be there,

Only red blood fell to the abyssal floor.

Nang-won, who confirmed that appearance.

“I knew it, but I still didn’t want to hear it.”

“You already heard it… Well, it’s a reverse scale for you, so it can’t be helped. He’s a one and only hero for you, right?”

At Nang-yeon, who asked playfully with her eyes narrowed.

Nang-won rarely turned his head slightly to the side and grumbled.

“…That’s a story from hundreds of years ago, and you’re still talking about it?”

“The way you look hasn’t changed at all from hundreds of years ago until now, has it?”

Nang-yeon, who giggled as if teasing Nang-won was the most fun.

Soon, she looked down at the Apostle whose body had completely turned into red blood and disappeared—

“Anyway, it seems we should go quickly. It seems something slightly bothersome is aiming for him.”

“I’m asking just in case, but no information has been collected separately, right, Sister?”

“If I had collected information, I wouldn’t have even thought about meeting that guy. Didn’t I call him in the first first place to collect some information?”

She urged her younger brother.

“Anyway, let’s go meet him soon. Did you pick all the gifts?”

“Not yet…”

“Until when are you going to pick? As I said, I can give gifts continuously, so why don’t you just take something small?”

“Still, it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen him—”

“Don’t worry. He’s the type of person who would be happy even if you just bought a bottle of wine from the market and brought it to him. Isn’t that right?”

“…That’s true.”

Nang-won also agreed.

The corners of his mouth twitched with anticipation.

Nang-yeon, who smiled while watching that reaction.

“Well then, let’s go. To see him.”

She moved her body.

Nang-won also stood up from his seat following his sister.

####

On the way back to the Colony after emerging from the ruins.

Alon recalled the words Yong-rin had said earlier.

‘That—no… is it my misunderstanding?’

‘…I might be wrong, so ask that guy. But as far as I know, if it’s as you said, that is—’

Yong-rin, who mumbled something and soon disappeared, leaving only the words to see him next time.

Alon, who pondered while stroking Seollang’s head for a moment.

‘Well, if I ask the guy inside, I’ll be able to know why she was so surprised.’

He organized his thoughts while looking at the red jewel.

At that time, Evan suddenly spoke to him.

“Marquis.”

“?”

“I’ve become a bit curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“You went to the past 700 years ago, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, like that elf from last time, did you also meet that guy called the White Ghost King or something 700 years ago?”

Alon nodded his head.

“That’s right.”

“Then shouldn’t you go see him?”

“…It’s not that I haven’t thought about it, but isn’t there a lot to do right now?”

Alon also intended to go see the White Ghost King once.

It was just that there was no time right now.

Evan agreed.

“Certainly, there is a bit much to do.”

“Yes, I plan to see him when I have some more leisure.”

“Then do you also plan to go around and meet other people you had a relationship with in the past?”

“Other people?”

“Yes. From what I heard last time, it seemed like there were quite a few, wasn’t it?”

Alon thought deeply.

‘…I certainly want to meet those from the past.’

Unfortunately, except for the White Ghost King, he did not properly know where the rest of the children were.

‘The only one I know roughly is Historia. I don’t know Arculysis at all… Ah, I do know Nang-won, but—’

Nang-won.

As soon as he thought of the guy, Alon’s expression became subtle.

‘I didn’t have the leisure to think properly then, but certainly—the sense of disparity with his current appearance is no joke.’

The King of Curses, the leader of the curse users he saw in Psychodelia, had a very hideous appearance.

However, since his appearance in the past 700 years ago was unmistakably that of a beautiful boy.

If not for the inverse eyes, it would have been hard to believe they were the same person.

‘I’m curious how that appearance became such(?) an appearance.’

Alon, who gained one more personal question.

‘I should also go and see Nang-won once later when I have time.’

After reaching such a conclusion, he shared more minor conversations with Evan.

Soon, around the time the sun went down.

Alon arrived at the Colony.

“Ah, you’ve come.”

Lime, who welcomed him with a smile as soon as she saw Alon.

However, behind the smile, there was a sense of restlessness.

“Is there something bothering you?”

“Bo, bothering me? Ah, no, there’s nothing like that.”

“Really? You look somewhat anxious for some reason.”

“Ho, how could that be?”

Aha, Lime laughed awkwardly.

Alon was a bit bewildered but soon shrugged his shoulders and called Seollang.

“Seollang.”

“Yes, why, Benefactor?”

“Have you decided where to go on a trip?”

He had previously promised to go on a trip with Seollang.

To be honest, since so many things had happened, he wanted to return to the Marquisate and rest.

But he couldn’t fail to keep the promise he made to Seollang.

At that, Seollang pondered for a moment and,

“I’ve decided, but we don’t have to go right now!”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes! Because you look tired, Benefactor. We can go next time! Because I want you to be happy too!”

She smiled brightly, twitching her ears.

Alon felt a lump in one corner of his chest and stroked Seollang’s head.

Because of that, he didn’t know.

The fact that Lime, standing behind him, was looking at Seollang with a quite strange expression.

The next day, after shaking off the fatigue of the journey.

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

“Yes. I understand, Benefactor!”

Ending with the greeting from Seollang, who was waving her hand vigorously, Alon left the Colony.

###

Not long after that.

[I, I can finally speak!]

A raw voice leaked from Alon’s chest.

It was exactly the voice of Sparrow.

Alon, who was looking at the long lines of merchant carriages in the distance, looked down at his chest.

“It seems you can finally speak now.”

[Alon! You jerk! How could you sell me out to that guy!]

“…Sell you out?”

[You sold me out!]

At Sparrow’s angry reaction, Alon recalled the past of a few years ago for a moment.

‘…Did I sell him?’

Strictly speaking, it was closer to entrusting him than selling him.

But at that time, Sparrow had certainly been taken aback.

“Well, it wasn’t selling you out, it was entrusting you. And so I eventually received you back like this, haven’t I?”

[Kuaaaaak—!]

Sparrow let out a scream as if Alon were being obnoxious.

At that time, Basilliora, who was relaxing on top of Blackie’s body because Seollang was gone, intervened.

[Who are you talking to?]

“Can’t you hear it?”

[I can’t hear it at all.]

“I’m talking to this.”

When Alon showed the jewel in which Sparrow was indwelling, Basilliora’s eyes lost interest and,

[Ah, is that so—]

As if he didn’t want to understand, he enjoyed peace on top of Blackie’s body once again.

After a while.

“By the way, I have something to ask.”

[What is it…?]

Sparrow reacted somewhat crossly to Alon’s question.

But since he didn’t refuse, Alon calmly brought out the formula he had heard from Yong-rin yesterday.

Sparrow, who had been answering Alon’s story simply for a while,

[…Wait, what?]

“What is it?”

[The formula of Reverse Heaven.]

Around the time Alon talked about the law.

He asked back in a voice that seemed surprised just like Yong-rin.

“It’s reversing the laws of magic. Strictly speaking, it would also be correct to say it reverses concepts. But is that something to be surprised about? Yong-rin showed a similar reaction.”

At Alon’s following explanation, Sparrow was silent for a while and.

[Yes, it is something to be surprised about.]

“Why is that?”

[Because the law of that formula you mentioned is the law of the ‘One with Closed Eyes’ who birthed the black things.]

“…What?”

He spat out a surprising truth.

####

[Are the preparations going well?]

“Yes, they are going well.”

At the tribal chief’s report, Riosh, the god of the lizardmen—no, Hazard, let out a deep sigh.

[Prepare well.]

“Yes, I understand. But—”

[?]

“Great One, may I ask one question?”

[Go ahead.]

The request of the tribal chief, who had almost never asked a question until now.

When Hazard nodded, he opened his mouth cautiously.

“…May I ask your intention behind trying to guide him to the same position as the Great One?”

Why, indeed—

Hazard pondered for a moment.

In his opinion, he was more than qualified to be revered as a god.

In addition to that.

Because he had essentially become a god with his help.

Of course, the thought of whether he should share the Gyeok like this also occurred to him, and he thought it was a waste.

No, beyond it being a waste, it was to the extent that tears almost came to his eyes.

But even so, the reason Hazard took the lead and proposed to Alon was.

‘Because he is an opponent that it’s not good to have as an enemy.’

Hazard recalled that time.

At that time, Hazard was able to grasp Alon’s power even if only as a fragment.

He instinctively noticed the eyes in the hidden world behind Alon, which he hadn’t noticed in the past.

That was not all.

‘…That girl.’

What he felt when Alon visited this place recently.

The existence that he still clearly remembered.

She didn’t particularly show any hostility toward Hazard.

But she possessed a powerful force that he had no choice but to recognize just by her entering his territory,

“…”

The beast-girl with golden eyes who was secretly watching Alon.

Hazard unconsciously recalled the question he had harbored several times again.

Exactly what kind of existence is Alon—Marquis Palatio.

But soon he erased that thought.

As long as he doesn’t become Alon’s enemy, there is no need to worry about that part.

Also.

He knows it well.

Becoming his enemy.

Is a fact that must never be done.

Therefore, the only answer he could give was just—

[Because he is qualified for it.]

“Is that, so.”

That was all.

‘…Anyway, what was that beast-girl? Is she something like a bodyguard?’

Well, whatever.

He would never become Alon’s enemy.

Hazard made a determined resolution.