Alon blankly stared at the dragon that had devoured the ruined world.

Apart from its glowing red eyes, it resembled Blackie, with its entire body flickering like a shadow.

Eventually, as Kylrus formed the seal, the dragon slowly dispersed and vanished.

“……Is that the Shadow Dragon?”

Alon muttered blankly.

“No. To be precise, what I showed you was a fully grown Spirit Dragon. One I used to handle.”

Kylrus’s voice carried a hint of tenderness.

He then shook his head slightly as if to snap out of his sentiment.

“Anyway, that’s only half the size.”

“……Half?”

“I mean, that’s half the size of a fully grown Shadow Dragon.”

“You’re saying twice the size of what we just saw? The size?”

It was unbelievable.

He couldn’t really grasp it.

Even Kylrus’s Spirit Dragon from moments ago was overwhelming in size.

‘It was already big enough to devour the entire world… and you’re saying double that?’

Unconsciously, Alon looked down.

For some reason, Blackie was looking up at him proudly.

‘This tiny thing is really that powerful?’

“By the way, brat. Where did you get the egg of the Shadow Dragon—or rather, the Spirit Dragon?”

Snapping out of his daze at Kylrus’s question, Alon explained what had happened so far.

After a brief moment,

“I see, so that’s what happened.”

Kylrus muttered as if something made sense, then looked at Alon.

“You’ve inherited the legacy I left behind.”

“……The legacy you left behind?”

Kylrus nodded at Alon’s question.

“That’s an item I left to the last remaining mage.”

“……The last remaining mage?”

“Yes, though it seems you’ve received the legacy instead.”

Suddenly, a thought popped into Alon’s mind.

“The last mage you mentioned… could it be Duke Komalon?”

“Duke Komalon? Sorry, I don’t know that name.”

The question itself had been misguided.

“……I did meet a half-baked mage once.”

“……A half-baked mage?”

“To be honest, I’m not even sure if that’s the right term. He just called himself that.”

“Tell me more, brat.”

After a moment of hesitation, Alon recounted everything from the time he first met the artificial god.

Listening quietly, Kylrus finally spoke a name.

“……It seems the one you met was ‘Diad.’”

“……Diad?”

Kylrus searched his memory.

“He had more pride as a mage than anyone else, but ironically, he never inherited a true mental image. Also, he was a disciple of a close friend of mine.”

“……”

“He couldn’t participate in the mages’ battles. He hadn’t even properly inherited any techniques, let alone a mental image. That’s probably why he managed to survive.”

His voice grew subdued, perhaps recalling distant memories.

He murmured softly.

“So, he’s been clinging to life all this time… just to follow the words his master uttered for mere consolation.”

“……Did that master tell him to ‘slaughter humans to keep the darkness from rising’?”

“I doubt he wanted to do that willingly. It was probably a choice he had no other option but to make.”

“……No other option?”

“Yes. In the end, that’s all a ‘half-baked’ mage, who didn’t fully inherit his power, could do to survive. Well, I’m no different.”

Kylrus clicked his tongue after saying that.

For a brief moment, a strange mix of discomfort and regret flashed in his eyes.

That look reminded Alon of a past scene.

The sight of Kylrus mercilessly slaughtering people.

After a stretch of silence,

“Hey, brat, didn’t you say you wanted to learn how to handle the Spirit Dragon?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, I’ll teach you.”

“Really?”

“But first, I need to ask about your goal.”

“……My goal?”

“Yes.”

Kylrus stared straight into Alon’s eyes.

“What do you plan to do after learning how to control that Shadow Dragon?”

“I—”

“By the way, don’t bother with idealistic nonsense. That’s not what I want to hear.”

Alon fell silent, deep in thought.

To be honest, even without spouting idealistic talk, saying something that would please Kylrus wasn’t that difficult.

Based on everything so far, he had a rough idea of Kylrus’s worldview.

However, Alon decided to reveal his true purpose, just as Kylrus had asked, rather than giving the answer Kylrus wanted.

“For a peaceful life.”

“……For a peaceful life?”

“Yeah, that’s all. I want to learn to eliminate the threats that lie ahead.”

A simple answer.

However.

“Not bad.”

Instead, Kylrus nodded with a satisfied smile.

“Alright, I’ll teach you the technique.”

“On top of that, I also made a contract with Lainisius.”

“……With Lainisius?”

Alon shared the details of his conversation with Lainisius.

“……So, like it or not, you had to be informed.”

Kylrus let out a chuckle, looking at Alon as if he were an intriguing creature.

“By the way, can I ask you something?”

Suddenly, a question popped into Alon’s mind.

“What is it?”

“You said you’ve lost everything except your name, right? Then how are you able to use techniques related to the Shadow Dragon?”

Kylrus looked around as if it were the most obvious thing.

“The answer’s simple—because this is the mental realm.”

“……Because it’s the mental realm?”

“Yes, here, it’s not difficult to manifest magic by relying on my memories.”

‘Well, even if it’s just an empty shell—’

Kylrus muttered bitterly.

“Anyway, it’s time to say goodbye.”

“……Goodbye? What do you mean?”

He stood up.

“Exactly that. My mana is running out, so it’s time for us to part ways.”

“There was a time limit?”

“Since we don’t have much time, I’ll briefly tell you what you need to do before we meet again.”

Kylrus explained the tasks Alon had to complete before their next meeting.

Shortly after—

“See you next time.”

Before Alon could say anything, a brilliant white light enveloped him.

And then—

When Alon opened his eyes again, the familiar scenery…

“…?”

—was nowhere to be seen.

After the white light faded from his vision, what appeared was—

“…”

A black abyss.

***

Alon was confused.

The last time he used the ‘Footsteps of the Past’, right after the white light appeared, he had returned to the real world.

In other words, after the white light, he should have seen the real world again.

But the scene before Alon’s eyes now was—

‘Huh? What is this……………??’

An abyss.

A place where nothing could be discerned.

A place unknown to him.

No—that wasn’t true.

He did know it.

Alon recognized this place.

He had definitely seen it before.

‘This abyss.’

The moment he realized that, Alon noticed something lingering at the edge of his vision—

A nebula.

And he realized that what was before him—

—was an ‘eye’.

The same abyssal eye he had seen in the mirror given by the Observer.

That overwhelming eye slowly began to open its eyelid.

Thump thump thump thump thump thump~!!!!

His heart pounded like it was going to burst.

He hadn’t even formed an impression or made a judgment yet.

But just perceiving it made his heart race as if it would explode.

His whole body trembled as if it were about to shatter.

Gasping for breath, unable to control the pounding of his heart, Alon—

—finally met the fully opened eye.

A gigantic pupil filled with radiant nebulae.

Sinister, yet beautiful.

Terrifying, yet awe-inspiring.

“The Eye of All Things.”

And then—

“#%&@:;~#% Now you can finally see me!”

It uttered incomprehensible words.

“Reach the root, O devourer.”

“Learn from there.”

“How to wield the arrow.”

With a distorted, noisy voice, it commanded.

“Close your eyes.”

Unable to resist its overwhelming power, Alon closed and reopened his eyes.

“Huff—!”

He exhaled the breath he had been holding.

Thump thump thump thump thump thump~!!!!

His blood pulsed like it was racing down a highway.

Gripping his throbbing heart, Alon managed to lift his head, and soon—

“Marquis?! Are you alright?!”

He realized he had returned to where he was supposed to be.

Evan had rushed in without him noticing.

With a face full of worry, Evan grabbed Alon’s shoulders and shook him.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine at all! Can’t you tell your condition right now…?”

Evan frantically held onto Alon’s shoulders.

“Your eyes… they’re bleeding!!”

Only then did Alon feel something warm trickling down his cheeks.

Slowly, he raised his hand to touch it, and bright red blood stained his fingers.

‘What… is this?’

Alon let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

Recalling the overwhelming presence of the eye he had witnessed.

***

The Next Day

After finishing his business, Alon decided to leave the colony immediately.

Though he had wanted to take a few days to rest, several things were weighing on his mind.

‘…Greynifra.’

Right after arriving at the Marquis’ residence, he planned to prepare for a trip to Greynifra.

When he first heard about it from Siyan, he intended to take his time.

There had been no urgency, and he needed to sort out his thoughts.

However, after his conversation with Kylrus, and realizing there was much to gain from heading to Greynifra, he decided to act sooner.

“Master, are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

By now, Alon instinctively pressed Seolrang’s ears down gently without being asked.

Seolrang purred contentedly, clearly pleased, and shouted,

“Got it! Then, see you in a month!”

“……In a month?”

“Yep!”

Surprised by the sudden promise, Alon mentally reviewed his schedule.

“I don’t have any plans to come back to the colony in a month, though?”

No matter how he thought about it, there was no plan to visit the colony…

“I know! That’s because I’ll be the one visiting then!”

“……Seolrang, you?”

“Yep! Master, it’s your birthday then!”

“Ah.”

Alon let out a low hum of realization.

That’s right.

In a month, it would be his birthday.

“Are you planning to give me a gift in person?”

“Yep! This gift has to be handed over directly, or I can’t give it! You have to accept it, Master!”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Seolrang’s tail wagged excitedly, thrilled just at the thought of giving a gift.

A soft, fatherly smile crept onto Alon’s face without him realizing it.

‘…Maybe I should stay until after my birthday?’

Considering the unexpected change in plans, Alon’s carriage departed the colony.

***

At That Moment

“It’s finally done!”

“……Is this the gift for Brother?”

“Yeah, isn’t it awesome?”

“……It is, but…”

Luna Blood Sail, the ruler of the second archipelago, barely swallowed the words, ‘Isn’t that a bit too much?’

Starting with the proud gift from Ladan, the birthday presents for Alon were being prepared, one by one.