Chapter 315 : Something Feels Off (2)

Just over a week had passed since Alon left the marquisate for the academy.

“There have been more Strange Gates popping up than before?”

“Yes, and it's been causing a lot of problems here and there lately.”

Evan muttered, “Seems like things were already a mess because of the bandits, and life just won’t cut me a break.”

Alon asked, “Weren’t the bandits all but wiped out?”

“Well, that’s true, but people like that tend to pop up endlessly anyway. It’s not really an issue around Lartania... but there are still a few incidents in other areas. Still, the biggest problem lately is definitely the Strange Gates.”

At that, Alon thought to himself.

‘Strange Gates, huh. I suppose it's about time they start appearing more frequently.’

He scratched his head, reminded again that it had been about two years since the beginning of the original story.

‘By now, would it be the middle-to-late part of the source material?’

It was hard to even call it the “original” story anymore since things had diverged so drastically.

Still, in terms of the timeline and events, it did line up with the second half of the original.

If memory served, during the middle-to-late stages of Psychedelia, depictions of the world slowly turning apocalyptic due to the rising number of sins and Strange Gates were common.

‘But compared to that, things are definitely still peaceful now.’

In the “original,” no matter how hard Eliban worked to stop the sins, the damage was always massive.

And that made sense, considering the sheer number of powerful individuals and soldiers that had to be mobilized.

On top of that, the Outer Gods—

“...Huh?”

“Is something wrong?”

Just as Alon let out a puzzled murmur, lost in thought, Penia, who had been playing outside with Blackie, called out to him.

Alon shook his head naturally and fell back into quiet contemplation.

‘...By now, there should be signs of the Outer Gods too, right?’

Of course, even in the game, the Outer Gods didn’t always appear, but based on the lore he knew, they were at least supposed to be mentioned around this time.

“Evan.”

“Yes?”

“Has there been any news about the Outer Gods lately?”

“Outer Gods? Hmm... I don’t think there’s been anything for at least a year.”

“Really...?”

“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

“No reason, really.”

Alon brushed off Evan’s question and tilted his head.

Honestly, it might be silly to worry about it now that things had diverged so far from the original.

In the game, the Outer Gods sometimes weren’t actual encounters but were only mentioned as “Such-and-such area was destroyed because of an Outer God.”

That’s probably why Alon had forgotten.

Still, something about it kept bothering him.

‘I’m sure the sins and the Outer Gods were connected. Well, if they’re not appearing and not even being mentioned, then maybe I shouldn’t worry about it... but hmm…’

His thoughts naturally extended to the Strange Gates that showed up more frequently in the later parts of the story.

Or rather, a long-set-aside curiosity started to rise up again.

‘Come to think of it... what even are the Strange Gates?’

Back when he played Psychedelia, he had thought of them as just a forced piece of world-building added to support the game’s dungeon system.

But now, he was noticing odd inconsistencies.

“Strange Gates aren’t related to either the sins or the Outer Gods.”

The sins and the Outer Gods were clearly connected.

The Outer Gods were beings from the forgotten age of gods, after all.

But the Strange Gates had nothing to do with the core theme of Psychedelia, which was “sin.”

At most, one could argue that the appearance of the Strange Gates was similar to that of the sins.

‘But even that doesn’t feel all that accurate here.’

Alon sank into thought, but soon shook it off.

Even in the game, there was no mention of what happened to the Strange Gates after all the sins were dealt with.

And for a dark fantasy, Psychedelia actually had happy endings no matter the route.

“Marquis, we’re almost there.”

As always, Evan’s voice cut into his train of thought, and Alon naturally turned to look outside the carriage.

What entered his view immediately was the towering Mage Tower, still awe-inspiring no matter how often he saw it.

The carriage came to a stop as he admired the structure that reached endlessly into the sky.

“Marquis, let’s go!”

Penia’s voice called out next, and Alon got out of the carriage, heading toward the library where Heinkel awaited.

Not long after—

[It’s been a while.]

“It really has been.”

Alon finally met Heinkel again after a long time.

***

After exchanging brief greetings—

“Um, Heinkel? Would you mind if I asked you something?”

[What is it?]

“Do you remember what you said last time? About the magic formula?”

Heinkel paused to think for a moment, then nodded.

[Hmm~ yeah, I remember.]

“The Marquis and I have been thinking about that part for a bit now~”

Penia quickly launched into their findings from the past month of research with Alon.

Heinkel listened silently, then summarized.

“So basically, after using a spell array, the computational ability lags behind. You want to automate it like a switch—transmitting commands at once to linked mana spheres. But under current conditions, it’s not possible.”

“Well, if it’s something really basic, it might work. But as soon as the calculations get even a little complex—or if it involves the phrases the Marquis uses—it becomes impossible.”

[Hmm~]

Heinkel let out a few thoughtful hums before speaking again.

[I think I get why it doesn’t work.]

“Really?”

[How long are you planning to stay?]

“Uh—”

Penia looked toward Alon, trailing off.

“About a week should be fine.”

Alon answered under her gaze, and Heinkel nodded.

[Then try relaxing for a bit and wait. I’ve got something in mind.]

“Thank you for your help.”

[Don’t mention it. But—could you show me your magic now?]

At Heinkel’s request, Alon remembered what Penia had said a month ago and nodded.

“That’s not difficult, but what would you like to see?”

[Hmm... if possible, something from your past? A spell with personal significance?]

“Something from my past?”

[Yes.]

After a moment of consideration, Alon formed hand signs and began reciting a chant.

After a short time passed—

An Ice Crystal Thorn appeared and vanished before him.

Though it was small for demonstration purposes, the library instantly froze over.

But rather than the frozen surroundings, Heinkel intently focused on the Ice Crystal Thorn Alon had conjured.

[If you don’t mind, could you cast it once more?]

Without hesitation, Alon cast the Ice Crystal Thorn again.

Even though it targeted a very small area, the mana drain was substantial.

Still, two casts weren’t enough to completely drain him anymore—though one more spell would definitely push him over the edge.

Alon looked at Heinkel.

She seemed deep in thought, letting out a low groan.

After a long silence—

[...As I thought.]

Heinkel suddenly muttered to herself.

[This might be a strange question, but—how much do you actually know about the magic you use?]

Then she directed the question at Alon.

“You mean the magic I use?”

[Yes. I’m not asking how to use it. I mean the history of it, specifically.]

At Heinkel’s question, Alon paused to think deeply.

Truthfully, while he did know a lot about the incantation-based magic he used, there was also a lot he didn't know.

‘If we’re talking about what I do know…’

That the hand signs and incantations originated during the age of Babiloyia.

Beyond that, only that modern magic is essentially a degraded form of the incantation-based kind.

He answered based on what the dragonkin had told him during his first visit to the Colony ruins, and Heinkel, listening quietly, nodded.

[I see, so you did know.]

“Which part exactly are you referring to?”

[The degradation of magic. I assume what you just showed me was Ice Spear, wasn’t it?]

Alon was slightly surprised beneath his neutral expression.

Even though the Ice Crystal Thorn was technically the original form of Ice Spear, visually the difference was quite large.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Truthfully, Alon would never have known if the dragonkin hadn’t told him.

So he nodded honestly, and Heinkel, as if she expected that, nodded back.

[Then, did you also know this?]

“…This?”

[That the knowledge about the original form of that magic you showed me earlier is secretly embedded in the degraded version we use today.]

She dropped a bombshell with unnerving ease.

***

At the border between the Empire and the Allied Kingdom—a desolate wasteland with nothing in sight.

In a hidden shelter nestled within a pupil-shaped depression between the two lands—

“We still haven’t found the ‘Jewel of the Closed-Eyed One.’”

“Is that so.”

Nangwon was receiving the report.

“We’re sorry.”

“...Is there some particular difficulty in locating it?”

“Not exactly. It’s just that the ‘Jewel of the Closed-Eyed One’ hasn’t appeared in any of the data we’ve collected so far. We’re starting the search from scratch.”

As the informant bowed his head, Nangwon nodded.

“Understood. But do try to find it as quickly as possible.”

“We’ll do our best. And there’s an additional report I’d like to make.”

“Go ahead.”

“Yes. It’s about the matter of Divine Land you mentioned last time.”

The informant began speaking calmly.

“According to our investigation, it seems that Marquis Palatio intends to rise to the heavens anew.”

“To rise to the heavens anew?”

“Yes. On the surface, the talk is just that he received additional territory. But that’s only what the public believes. Among those who’ve been selected as the Marquis’s knights, there’s already talk going around.”

“I see—”

Nangwon unintentionally muttered his agreement, and his sister Nangyeon, who had been lounging in a chair, suddenly straightened up.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“If that truly reflects Brother’s intentions, then of course I’ll do everything I can to help.”

Without even a moment’s hesitation, Nangwon gave his answer and then looked to the informant.

“You mentioned rumors about Divine Land spreading, didn’t you?”

“Yes, until recently, there were rumors going around that just entering Divine Land would let you use the power of Kalannon… but the situation has become a bit unclear now.”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Lately, people who’ve come back from Divine Land have been saying those rumors were baseless nonsense.”

“Then start new rumors.”

“You mean…?”

“Start spreading a rumor that the power can be used in Divine Land—that it’s true.”

“Understood.”

“And spread rumors about Brother as well.”

“…What kind of rumors?”

The informant asked hesitantly, and Nangwon lightly tapped his chair before replying.

“They’ve been saying Brother was wiping out bandits to clear the path to Divine Land, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then start a rumor that it was all part of his plan.”

“Understood.”

“And after that spreads—”

Nangwon began giving the informant detailed instructions, one by one.

After the informant finally left—

“You’re putting in quite the effort, huh?”

“Of course, sis. This is about our brother. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do. Honestly, this is something we should’ve done a long time ago.”

“In what sense?”

“The people here have no idea how great our brother really is.”

That’s why—

“We have to make sure they know. Everyone needs to understand how incredible he is.”

Nangwon murmured in an endlessly serious tone.

At that moment—

“Achoo.”

“Do you have a cold?”

Because Heinkel suddenly claimed she had urgent business and left before finishing the conversation, Alon was now outside the library, eating sweet potatoes like usual.

“No, I don’t think it’s a cold… just felt a weird chill...”

He shivered without realizing it at the sudden, mysterious sense of cold creeping over him.