Chapter 46 - What Is Going On? (2)

Blue Moon’s regular meetings generally ended without anything noteworthy happening. Deus had gone off on a tangent in response to Seollang’s question at the last meeting, dragging it out considerably, but that had been an exception. Now that everyone except Deus and Yutia had learned there were certain questions they must never ask him, they could prevent such exceptions.

Of course, Deus would occasionally break his silence as though someone had flipped a switch whenever the Great Moon came up, but those discussions rarely ran long anymore. Rine and Radan made desperate efforts to change the subject before that could happen.

Thus, unlike the previous meeting, today’s should have proceeded peacefully. In fact, thanks to their efforts, it was set to end less than twenty minutes after it began.

["Come to think of it, Seollang, he said he was going to Coloni. Did you get to see him?"]

That was the question Yutia asked Seollang.

["I’m going to marry the Great Moon!!"]

["Huh?"]

Everything had been fine—until Seollang gave that answer.

... Actually, the atmosphere had not been all that bad at first. The other Blue Moon members knew Seollang sometimes exaggerated wildly, and Yutia had assumed this was another instance of that.

But then:

["He really is a wonderful man. I can see why you like him, Seollang."]

["Exactly! That’s why I’m going to marry him!"]

["...?"]

The moment she realized Seollang was not simply exaggerating, but entirely serious—

["... What do you mean by that?"]

—Yutia’s face, which remained composed no matter the situation, abruptly hardened. The other members held their breath at the sight. Everyone attending the meeting knew exactly when that expression and tone appeared.

'She’s holding herself back.'

'She’s keeping it in.'

'She’s restraining herself.'

Deus, Radan, and Rine instantly recognized Yutia’s state and kept their heads down. This was only a video conference conducted through mana projections, but they already knew instinctively how frightening an angry Yutia could be.

Still, the three thought this storm would soon pass. Like them, Seollang knew Yutia well and was afraid of her.

However—

["Exactly what I said! I’m going to marry the Great Moon!"]

Instead of backing down immediately as they had expected, Seollang shouted as though announcing a settled decision, leaving the other members stunned. Yutia squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, apparently trying to regain control of her expression, then opened them and asked:

["Seollang, do you understand what you’re saying?"]

["I understand perfectly! It means becoming family. I know I can do a good job!"]

["..."]

Yutia gently closed and reopened her eyes again, as though Seollang’s words had made her dizzy. A faint smile touched her lips, and she spoke in the tone of someone soothing a small child.

["Even if you’re confident you can do a good job, it’s impossible."]

["Why?"]

["Because we are the Great Moon’s shadows."]

["...?? Can’t I be his shadow and marry him too?"]

Seollang remained entirely unconvinced, her expression asking what on earth the problem was. The smile Yutia had briefly recovered cracked.

["Listen carefully, Seollang. We are the Great Moon’s shadows. A shadow cannot stand beside him. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?"]

Her tone was persuasive, but everyone present could see the simmering anger on her face. The other members looked at Seollang, thinking the discussion would surely end this time.

["Ugh..."]

Seollang shrank back a little, perhaps sensing Yutia’s feelings far more clearly than before. But after glancing this way and that, she blinked as though gathering her resolve and answered:

["B-but still! I’m going to marry him!"]

For a moment, they stared blankly at Seollang, who had plainly asserted her wishes despite Yutia’s visible anger.

["I know! What matters most is what the Great Moon thinks, anyway!"]

The members’ mouths fell open involuntarily at this outright declaration of war against Yutia.

["..."]

["..."]

Soon, as Rine and Radan watched Yutia and Seollang begin staring each other down, the same question arose in their minds. What on earth had happened between Seollang and the Great Moon to make her act this way?

["Do you think he would choose you?"]

["Mentor said someone like me wouldn’t be bad!"]

Of course, Alon had not said that because he genuinely meant it. Seollang had been whining, asking whether he disliked her, and he had said it to console her when she looked sad.

But with all that context stripped away, the words shocked Rine and Radan—and Yutia as well.

["W-what did you say...?"]

["Seollang, what exactly happened between you and him?"]

["Well—"]

In response to Deus’s attempt to change the atmosphere, Seollang began recounting her experiences with the Great Moon one by one. The tension eased a little. Radan and Rine looked pleased with Deus for putting out the immediate fire at just the right moment.

["—and that’s what happened."]

["I see."]

["What do you think? Isn’t he amazing!?"]

["Indeed. Hmm—hearing your story, Seollang, reminds me of the majesty the Great Moon displayed in the north six months ago."]

[["...!"]]

By the time Seollang’s roughly twenty-minute story ended, the two realized their mistake.

Taking advantage of their lowered guard, Deus had smoothly continued the conversation and started recounting the events of six months ago again.

And so:

["... I still remember him standing on that barren, ashen land, with the setting sun at his back."]

["Oh—I think I know what you mean!"]

[["Ah."]]

Before Rine and Radan could change the subject, Seollang was eagerly joining in on the story Deus had begun as though he had been waiting for this chance. Their expressions turned gloomy.

Two hours later—

["Ahem... I spoke a little too long."]

... Just as they had expected, Deus’s story finally ended after a very long time. The two felt relieved that they could at last bring the meeting to a close, but then:

["In any case, you cannot marry him!"]

["I can!"]

["You can’t!"]

["I can!!"]

["You can’t!!"]

["I can!!!"]

[["..."]]

As Yutia and Seollang’s argument resumed as though nothing had happened, the two engraved a new fact in their minds that day: whenever the Great Moon was involved, even slightly, Yutia displayed a surprisingly childish side.

... It was not information they particularly wanted, Radan and Rine thought as they looked at the sky, which had already begun to brighten.

####

About a week later, Alon finally made it out of the desert.

“I’ll come pay you a visit another time, my lord!”

Rad, the leader of the Goldenfoot caravan, bowed so excessively that an onlooker might have mistaken him for Alon’s lackey.

Yet none of the merchants, mercenaries, or mages present questioned his behavior. They already knew of the formidable reputation Count Pallatio would soon gain beyond Coloni, and the mages and mercenaries among them had witnessed his power firsthand.

“We shall meet again if our paths cross.”

“You honor me!”

Rad bowed at an angle of roughly 110 degrees, then began getting the caravan moving.

“My lord.”

It was Riyan, the Red Magic Tower master’s daughter, who called to the count as he was about to board his carriage.

“What is it?”

“Will you perhaps be attending next month’s magic symposium?”

“Hmm.”

Behind his impassive expression, Alon smacked his lips.

'A magic symposium...'

The magic symposium was, quite literally, an event where mages from the various towers gathered once or twice a year to discuss the theories and experiments each tower had researched, along with holding a few friendly matches.

'I would like to go.'

In truth, Alon had long had business at the magic symposium. More precisely, his interest was not in its research materials, but in the “Central Tower,” where the symposium was held. Something there could alleviate, at least a little, his desperately inadequate mana supply.

Unfortunately, the Central Magic Tower’s rules prohibited entry to anyone unaffiliated with a magic tower, so Alon answered:

“I would like to attend, but I’m afraid I cannot.”

“Oh, why...?”

“I don’t belong to a magic tower.”

Riyan looked somewhat surprised at his reply.

“... I found it hard to believe, but it really is true that you have no tower affiliation?”

“It is. I have no reason to lie about it.”

“Then would you consider attending the symposium as a representative of our Red Magic Tower?”

“As a representative of the Red Magic Tower...?”

“Yes.”

Alon replied to the unexpected offer.

“... It would certainly be a fine opportunity for me, but I doubt there is anything I can do for you by attending under your tower’s name.”

“I’m not really asking for anything like that. Just discussing magic with me a little at the symposium, like you did last time, would be enough.”

Watching Riyan speak as she stole a glance up at him, he thought:

'Those are rather favorable terms.'

He briefly wondered why she was offering to let him attend on such terms. Ultimately, however, he had no reason to refuse, so he nodded.

“In that case, I gratefully accept your kindness. When should I go?”

“I believe it’s about a month and a half away. I’ll send you the precise schedule by letter or through a magic orb.”

“Understood.”

With that, she said:

“I’ll see you again then.”

Alon parted ways with the Red Magic Tower’s mages as well.

After picking up some basic provisions in the first village beyond the desert, he set off for his estate.

“Ah, my lord.”

Evan suddenly exclaimed as though something had occurred to him, then shared two pieces of news.

“What is it?”

“Well, you remember Rine?”

“What about her?”

“I’ve heard she’s become a powerful figure in Lartania.”

“A powerful figure?”

“Yes. Apparently, she’s become a member of the Council of Three.”

“The Council of Three... Isn’t that the body that determines the labyrinth city’s overall policies?”

“That’s right.”

“... Rine has?”

“Yes.”

“... She’s certainly risen in the world.”

The first piece of news—that Rine had become a new power in Lartania—was welcome. It felt as though a few more crumbs might find their way to him.

“And Radan, too.”

“Yes?”

“They say he’s united five of the Seven Fleet Isles and effectively become the Pirate King.”

“... Is that all right?”

“I don’t know about all right... His bounty is over several million gold coins.”

“... Several million gold coins...”

“For reference, that’s comparable to the first Pirate King’s bounty.”

“...”

The second piece of news was bizarre: the Somali pirate was changing classes to become the Somali Pirate King.

####

Sergius, one of Rosario’s eight cardinals and a man who had held that position for over twenty years, loved luxury and pleasure in a manner unbecoming of his office. He preferred holding a wine bottle to reading scripture, and considered embracing women more important than praying. In a sense, calling him a cancer on the Holy Kingdom would have been fitting.

“Good to see you, Cardinal Yutia.”

“Likewise, Cardinal Sergius.”

He sat face-to-face with Yutia Bloodia, who wore a gentle smile.

In truth, Sergius was not close enough to Yutia to warrant a private meeting like this. This was only the second time he had properly seen her face. Even so, he had made a point of visiting her for one reason.

“I’ve come with a proposal. Would you care to hear it?”

That was his purpose.

“What sort of proposal?”

“I’ll speak plainly. I need your ‘name.’”

“My name?”

Sergius nodded at her question and answered.

“Yes. It seems there are people over there colluding with unholy beings.”

“... You need a name for a ‘letter of correction,’ then?”

“Precisely.”

A letter of correction was a letter that only those of cardinal rank or higher in Rosario could send when someone was suspected of joining forces with heretics. Issuing one required at least two cardinals.

Naturally, however, Sergius had no intention of sending such a letter for its proper purpose.

He was doing it simply because he had accepted a bribe. And the reason he had brought this request to Yutia, with whom he had never had even a single personal encounter, was this:

“If you lend me your name, I shall compensate you.”

“... Compensate me?”

“What would you say if I promised not to say a word about Cardinal Biantria’s mysterious death?”

Unlike the other cardinals, whom he would have to give a share of his bribe if he asked for their help, he was certain she would not require any of it—

“Cardinal Biantria?”

“Surely you won’t claim ignorance. You are sitting in his seat, after all.”

—because the information he had gathered convinced him that she was already as tainted as he and the other cardinals were.

“So let us dispense with denials and make this easy. If you lend your name to Count Pallatio’s letter of correction, I shall remain silent on this matter.”

The moment Sergius finished speaking with that relaxed air, Yutia responded.

“... I see.”

The woman who had been smiling gently until moments ago then posed a question.

“So, Cardinal Sergius, you’re asking me to lend you my name?”

“Indeed.”

“To bring about Count Alon Pallatio’s downfall?”

“...? Indeed.”

The moment Sergius nodded—

“Ha...”

A quiet, incredulous laugh escaped her lips.

And then—

“!”

The world turned red.

It happened with shocking suddenness. Flustered, Sergius tried to move, only to discover that his body would not obey him. As he felt a chilling wave of murderous intent, he instinctively turned his head, which was already trembling.

And he saw her.

The woman whose eyes had been smiling moments earlier now held her blood-red eyes wide open.

“Did you just ask me—”

Unmistakable fury rose within her, plain for anyone to see.

“—to kill my idol?”

He realized something had gone wrong.