Chapter 72

“This is the place.”

Maxim, one of the King’s royal guards, spoke with a notable intensity, and Alon gazed at the opening door.

“Once you go inside, you can bring out only one item that you desire. However, if you attempt to sneak out more than one item and are caught—”

Maxim’s gaze turned to Alon.

“Something unfortunate may occur, so please be cautious about that.”

It was a slightly unpleasant warning to hear, but Alon nodded lightly.

He understood Maxim’s perspective.

‘There are always a few who try to cheat during this kind of mission.’

Of course, there weren’t many daring enough to try trickery in the royal treasury, but such individuals did exist.

“You may enter.”

With little emotion, Alon stepped inside the treasury.

“Wow—”

He couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

As expected, the inside of the treasury was filled with various items.

From swords, axes, and spears to ornaments and accessories, the room was littered with objects on tables and the floor.

It was truly a place befitting the term “treasury.”

However, Alon paid no attention to the weapons or ornaments. Instead, he moved unhesitatingly toward a corner and began searching for an item.

He already knew what he intended to take from here.

After about 30 minutes,

Alon, having rummaged around, finally found the item he sought.

“Hmm—”

What he retrieved from a pile of ornaments and accessories was a small dagger.

No, to be more accurate, it was awkward to even call it a dagger. It looked like a long sword made to be wielded by a dwarf.

While it could technically function as a dagger, the handle was absurdly thin, making it unsuitable for actual combat and seemingly only usable as a decorative item.

But Alon didn’t mind and took it.

‘The Seal of the Blind One’s Contract.’

He recalled the name of the item he held.

It wasn’t something he needed right away.

It would only be useful after passing through Raksas with the ring he received from Heinkel.

… Now that he had acquired everything he needed, he only had to meet the Dragonkin, hear their explanation, and head to Raksas.

With that, he exited the treasury and returned to the King’s chamber with Maxim, who had been waiting outside.

Although he wished to leave the uncomfortable palace as soon as possible, he had to express his gratitude to the King out of courtesy.

Hence,

‘How should I politely decline the matter regarding his daughter?’

He was contemplating this when he arrived where the King was.

“…?”

“…?”

The atmosphere felt quite unusual.

Although Carmaxes, still smiling, didn’t exude the same hearty laughter as before Alon went to retrieve the treasure, there was a subtle awkwardness about him.

“Ah, Master!”

In contrast, Seolrang, who had been conversing with the King until a moment ago, was grinning as usual.

“Hmm, hmm— Have you chosen all the items?”

To Carmaxes’s strangely awkward question, Alon bowed.

“Yes, thank you for your grace.”

“Alright then, let’s be off—oh, and about what I mentioned earlier, forget it. It was just a joke.”

“…? Ah, yes.”

With a forced hearty laugh, Carmaxes continued,

“Then, I look forward to seeing you again next time.”

With those words, he dismissed Alon, and

“…?”

The audience ended without even a simple ritual of showing the King the item brought from the treasury and offering gratitude. Alon was simply bewildered.

“Seolrang.”

“Huh? What’s up, Master?”

Suddenly, curious about another matter, Alon asked the grinning Seolrang.

“It didn’t seem like you paid any formal respect to the King when we met him. Is that alright?”

“Huh? It’s fine.”

“…So, the King must have allowed it.”

“That’s right, it’s fine.”

Seeing Seolrang nod as if it was nothing, Alon felt another peculiar feeling.

‘No matter how informal it is, shouldn’t she have shown respect to the King?’

Of course, Alon couldn’t be certain since such details weren’t described in detail in Psychedelia, so he decided to let the topic pass lightly.

“By the way, did you discuss anything with the King?”

“Hmm—just ordinary things?”

“Ordinary…?”

“Just, you know—the usual? Stuff about meals, things to keep in mind… you know, that kind of stuff.”

“I see.”

“Yep!”

With Seolrang’s lively response, Alon shrugged as he got into the carriage.

‘Well… if it’s the same as before, then it probably wasn’t because of Seolrang… I guess the strange atmosphere was just my imagination.’

***

Instead of heading to Seolrang’s guild, Alon’s carriage made its way directly to the ruins outside the colony.

Having acquired everything he needed, it was now time to meet the Dragonkin and hear the story he missed last time.

Thus, bypassing the guild, Alon traveled with Seolrang to their destination, arriving there by the afternoon.

“Alright then, I’ll be back.”

“Okay! I’ll be waiting, Master!”

Seolrang waved both hands enthusiastically as she saw him off.

With her send-off and the still-pleading voice of Sparrow, who kept begging Alon to become his successor, he reached the central tower.

[You have arrived? I have been waiting for you.]

Once again, as soon as he ascended to the upper floor, he encountered it, surrounded by rows of bookshelves.

“Is there a time limit on your manifestation this time as well?”

[There’s no need to worry about that. We have sufficient time to talk.]

“I see. But why haven’t you kept your promise?”

[…Promise?]

“You’re not going to pretend you don’t know, are you?”

When Alon questioned its feigned ignorance, it let out a sound like a cornered animal caught in a lie, and then muttered softly.

[…Master, is this enough now!?]

“I’ll let it slide this time.”

[Why did I ever make such a foolish promise in the first place~!]

With a sigh at Alon’s words, it glanced at Sparrow’s staff and replied.

[But you’re more capable than I expected. I didn’t think you would already possess the staff. Have you tried using magic with it?]

“Yes.”

[How about Self-Summoning?]

“I succeeded, but it was more dangerous than necessary.”

Alon spoke calmly.

Hearing this, the Dragonkin seemed momentarily stunned.

[To think you actually succeeded… I’m at a loss for words.]

It let out a faint laugh.

Then,

[Mage, you tell me. Did the wizard truly succeed in Self-Summoning?]

As if wanting confirmation, the question was directed not at Alon, but at the staff.

[Y-Yes, that’s correct.]

“…?”

Alon wore a puzzled expression.

Just before entering the tower, Sparrow had been chattering noisily, but now he answered in a tense tone.

Alon briefly wondered at the completely different attitude, reminiscent of a mouse in front of a cat, compared to what he had seen over the past few days.

[Good, very good.]

It smiled as if highly pleased, nodding repeatedly.

[There’s something I wish to tell you right away, and some things you need to know. But everything must be done in order. Since there are already delayed matters, let’s start by addressing those.]

Looking at Alon, it continued,

[What do you wish to know? I’ll tell you everything that can be discussed at this point.]

Alon pondered its question.

There were many things he wanted to ask, but now that the opportunity had come, he was unsure where to begin.

After a moment of indecision, Alon finally spoke.

“Last time, you said I would need ‘Mind Resonance’ to hear this story.”

[That’s right,] it responded.

“What exactly is this Mind Resonance?”

Alon’s first question was about ‘Mind Resonance.’

[Hm? That, of course,]

The being, wearing a curious smile as if there was no need for further explanation, responded,

[–is Divine Status]

***

While Alon was listening to the conversation, Carmaxes III was sighing deeply in the office of the Royal Palace in Colony, reflecting on the events from earlier.

‘I’ve never seen such a diverse range of reactions before.’

Carmaxes thought about Seolrang.

Until now, he had never seen *that* Seolrang wearing a bright smile.

The expression on her face had always been neutral whenever he encountered her, whether in the Colosseum or the royal palace.

So, Seolrang’s change in expression was a peculiar sight to Carmaxes, though he did not show it.

That wasn’t all.

‘Enough.’

Carmaxes recalled Seolrang’s voice.

As soon as Count Palatio left, she had dropped her casual expression and delivered a cold declaration in a stern tone.

He remembered feeling breathless at that moment and let out a faint, bitter laugh.

Seolrang’s behavior was clearly rebellious by any standard.

Even though she was accepted as the First Baba Yaga and permitted to use informal speech, displaying hostility toward the king—especially to the extent of emitting a chilling killing intent—was undeniably a rebellious act.

Yet, despite Seolrang’s actions, Carmaxes dared not say anything to her.

There were two reasons for this.

First, Carmaxes was well aware of Seolrang’s strength.

Not just her well-known power as the First Baba Yaga, the “Golden Flash,” but her true strength.

In Colony, which still had two vacant Baba Yaga positions, Seolrang’s overwhelming power was indispensable.

The second reason was that Carmaxes had tried to use his royal authority to exploit Count Palatio, even though he knew full well that Palatio was Seolrang’s Master.

Marriage, in the upper class, is typically a political tool.

Thus, Carmaxes’s initial suggestion to ‘gift’ his daughter to Count Palatio was intended as a beneficial proposition in some way.

If Palatio declined, Carmaxes could create an unofficial ‘debt,’ and if Palatio accepted, he could leverage the count’s rising fame and promising future.

Count Palatio’s renown had been spreading considerably in Colony lately.

However, the real reason Carmaxes wanted to recruit Palatio was that he was Seolrang’s Master.

If he could bring Palatio to his side, he would gain better control over the unpredictable First Baba Yaga.

Additionally, he had learned that Palatio was connected to Yutia Bloodia, a significant figure currently wielding great influence in the Holy Kingdom of Rosario, which is why Carmaxes made such a proposal, even if it was a bit reckless.

“…I didn’t expect her to be that defiant.”

Carmaxes thought about Seolrang once again.

He was aware that her attitude toward him was not ordinary.

However, despite using informal speech, Seolrang had never once crossed any unnecessary boundaries in the past.

That’s why…

‘…Just who *is* he?’

As Carmaxes found himself puzzled by Alon once more and tilted his head in curiosity—

“Your Majesty, the Cardinal requests an audience.”

“Let her in.”

The voice from outside interrupted Carmaxes’s thoughts.

Normally, he would have continued to ponder, but given the Kingdom’s need for support from the Holy Kingdom, he was in no position to refuse the Cardinal’s request.

That was why, even previously, he had been forced to break the kingdom’s tradition and grant one of the treasury’s treasures to her instead of a warrior.

“Your Majesty.”

Yutia, the Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom, entered and bowed lightly in greeting.

As Carmaxes prepared to return her greeting—

“…?”

He felt something was off.

Yutia, who had never lost her smile during their many conversations about ‘support,’ now wore a blank expression, her mouth set in a flat line as if all emotion had drained from her face.

‘Did something happen?’

Carmaxes was momentarily confused.

Yutia, expressionless, walked into the office and approached him directly.

“Your Majesty, I have heard something I wish to ask you about, if that’s alright?”

“What is your question?”

“Well, I heard that you tried to give Count Palatio—no, my Lord—a troublesome gift. Is that true?”

She began,

And then Carmaxes saw it.

Her red eyes.

Carmaxes could not read any emotion in those eyes.

They were utterly devoid of expression.

In one sense, they appeared calm; in another, they seemed indifferent.

“Will you answer me?”

“…”

Despite her lack of apparent emotion, Carmaxes suddenly felt a cold sweat trickle down the hand that gripped his pen.

His body instinctively reacted, even though no discernible feeling emanated from her—like he was facing a being he should never encounter.

Carmaxes, feeling a mixture of confusion and uncertainty, instinctively recalled one crucial fact: her change was related to Count Palatio.

That’s why…

‘Just who is that man… what is his true identity…?’

The King of Colony, Carmaxes, felt even more burdened by his growing confusion, once again reaffirming that Count Palatio’s identity could not possibly be ordinary.