The Apostle of Purity could not understand the current situation.

From beginning to end, nothing made sense.

Just moments ago, the King of Curses had seemed perfectly calm.

Why then had his expression twisted like that of a demon?

Why was he exuding such a spine-chilling killing intent?

…Why did the King of Curses react so violently to the name "Alon Palatio"?

‘As far as I know, they have nothing to do with each other…!?’

The Apostle of Purity hardened his expression.

Naturally, he had done some preliminary research before coming here.

On Alon Palatio.

And on the King of Curses, the leader of the Executors.

But there had been no known connection between the two.

No, rather than that—

Did they even know of each other’s existence in the first place?

The Apostle of Purity tried to open his mouth, bewildered, but—

Crunch!

Unfortunately, his next words were silenced by the black hands that not only twisted his neck completely—

But tore it off.

Kwahhh—!

As soon as the apostle's head was ripped off, his body began pouring out thick, sticky blood.

Even then, Nangwon’s expression remained twisted.

"Nangwon, you were too hasty. Shouldn’t we have at least heard him out first?"

"Sis, even so, wasn’t it a bit much to just listen while that bastard was suggesting we kill Big Brother?"

"True, but he ran away, didn’t he?"

Resting her chin on her hand, the sister of Nangwon, 'Nangyeon', replied.

Nangwon turned to look forward again.

At the corpse still gushing bright red blood like it was real.

But as the black hands soon shredded the body—

Squelch.

Instead of organs that should’ve been there, only red blood splashed down onto the abyss-like floor.

Nangwon confirmed the sight.

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

“You already heard it though... well, I get it. It’s your reverse scale. He’s your irreplaceable hero, right?”

To Nangyeon’s teasing tone, her eyes half-lidded in mischief, Nangwon glanced away with a rare side turn of the head, grumbling.

"...That was hundreds of years ago. You still bring that up?"

"Looks like you haven’t changed at all since back then."

Laughing like teasing Nangwon was the most fun in the world, Nangyeon— looked down at the apostle who had now completely turned into red blood and vanished.

"Anyway, I think we need to go see him soon. Seems like something annoying is targeting that person."

"Just checking, but you haven’t gathered any info, right, sis?"

"If I had, I wouldn’t have even bothered meeting that guy. We called him in the first place to gather some info, didn’t we?"

She pressed her brother.

"Anyway, let’s go pay our respects. You’ve picked the gift, right?"

"Not yet…"

"How long are you gonna take? Like I said, we can give gifts regularly, so just bring something small this time."

"Still, it’s been so long…"

"Don’t worry. That person would be happy even if you just brought some cheap booze from the local market. Right?"

"...Yeah, that’s true."

Nangwon nodded.

The corners of his mouth twitched with expectation.

Seeing that reaction, Nangyeon smiled.

"Alright, let’s go then. Let’s go see him."

She started moving.

Nangwon also stood up, following his sister.

####

On the way back from the ruins to the colony.

Alon recalled what Yongrin had said earlier.

‘Maybe not... Was I mistaken?’

Maybe I’m wrong—ask that guy just to be sure. But if what you said is right, then— she muttered something and then disappeared, only saying, “See you next time.”

Alon stroked Seolrang’s head, pondering for a moment.

‘Well, if I ask the one inside, I should be able to figure out why she was so surprised.’

He gathered his thoughts while looking at the red jewel.

Just then, Evan suddenly spoke.

“Marquis.”

“?”

“I’ve got something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

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

“That’s right.”

“Then, like that elf before, did you also meet that Queen of the Hundred Ghosts or whoever he is back then?”

Alon nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then shouldn’t you go see her now?”

“…It’s not that I haven’t thought about it, but I’ve got too much to do at the moment.”

Indeed, Alon had planned to meet the Queen of the Hundred Ghosts again someday.

He just didn’t have the time right now.

Evan agreed.

“Yeah, you’ve got a lot going on.”

“Right, I’ll go see her when I have more free time.”

“Then, are you also planning to visit other people you were connected to in the past?”

“Other people?”

“Yes. From what I heard, there were quite a few. Weren’t there?”

Alon thought carefully.

‘Yeah, I do want to meet some of them again…’

Unfortunately, aside from the Queen of the Hundred Ghosts, he didn’t know where the others were.

‘The only one I vaguely know about is Historia. I have no idea about Arquilainisis… Oh, but I do know where Nangwon is—’

Nangwon.

As soon as Alon thought of him, his expression became odd.

‘I didn’t have time to think it through then, but he really looks nothing like before.’

The leader of the Executors, the King of Curses he saw in Psychedelia— had an extremely grotesque appearance.

But 700 years ago, he had been undeniably handsome.

If it weren’t for the eye of insight, he wouldn’t have believed it was the same person.

‘I wonder how that face became… that face.’

Alon now had one more personal mystery to solve.

‘I’ll have to meet Nangwon again when I get the chance.’

Having reached that conclusion, he chatted a little more with Evan.

Eventually, as the sun began to set— Alon arrived at the colony.

“Oh, you’re back!”

Lime welcomed Alon with a smile the moment she saw him.

But behind that smile, there was a trace of unease.

"Do you have something on your mind?"

“W-Worries? N-No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Really? You just seem uneasy, that’s all.”

“Th-That can’t be true, right?”

Lime laughed awkwardly.

Alon looked a bit puzzled but soon shrugged and called for Seolrang.

"Seolrang."

"Yes? What is it, Master?"

"Have you decided where you want to go for our trip?"

He had promised to travel with Seolrang before.

Honestly, with everything that had happened, he wanted to return to the Marquisate and rest.

But he couldn’t break the promise he had made with Seolrang.

At that, Seolrang thought for a moment and replied,

"I have, but we don’t have to go right now!"

"...Is that so?"

"Yup! You look tired, Master. We can go another time! I want you to enjoy it too!"

Her ears perked up as she smiled brightly.

Alon felt a gentle warmth rise in his chest and stroked Seolrang’s head.

Because of that, he didn’t notice.

That behind him, Lime was watching Seolrang with a rather strange expression.

The next day, after recovering from travel fatigue—

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

“Okay, got it, Master!”

With Seolrang waving eagerly, Alon left the colony.

###

Not long after—

[Fi-Finally, I can speak again!]

An unfamiliar voice came from inside Alon’s coat.

It was Sparrow’s voice.

Alon, who had been watching the long line of merchant wagons in the distance, looked down at his chest.

“So, you can finally talk again?”

[Alon! You bastard! How could you sell me off!?]

“...Sell you off?”

[You totally sold me off!]

At Sparrow’s outraged reaction, Alon recalled the past from several years ago.

‘...Did I sell him?’

Strictly speaking, it was more like he entrusted him to someone rather than selling.

Sparrow had definitely been dumbfounded at the time.

“Well, I didn’t sell you, just entrusted you. And look, I brought you back, didn’t I?”

[Kyaaahhhh!]

Sparrow let out a frustrated scream as if Alon were unbearable.

Just then, Basiliora, who had been resting lazily atop Blackie after Seolrang left, chimed in.

[Who are you talking to?]

“You can’t hear it?”

[Not at all.]

“I’m talking to this.”

Alon held up the gem where Sparrow resided.

Basiliora lost all interest in its eyes and replied,

[Ah, I see.]

Clearly not wanting to understand, it once again enjoyed its peace atop Blackie.

A short while later—

“Come to think of it, there’s something I wanted to ask.”

[What is it...?]

Sparrow responded a bit sulkily to Alon’s question.

But he didn’t reject it, so Alon calmly brought up the technique Yongrin had told him about yesterday.

While listening to Alon and offering simple replies—

[…Wait, what did you just say?]

"What do you mean?"

[The Reverse Heaven technique.]

When Alon began explaining the concept— Sparrow, like Yongrin, repeated the name in a surprised tone.

"It’s a technique that reverses the laws of magic. Or rather, it reverses the very concept. But is that really so shocking? Yongrin reacted similarly."

After hearing Alon’s explanation, Sparrow went silent for a moment.

[Yes. It is shocking.]

“Why?”

[Because the law behind the technique you described is the same as that of the ‘Closed-Eyed One’ who gave birth to the black beings.]

“...What?”

A shocking truth was revealed.

####

[Is everything going well with preparations?]

“Yes, it’s progressing smoothly.”

At the report from the tribe chief, the god of the Lizardmen, Rioche—or rather, Hazad—let out a heavy sigh.

[Make sure everything is prepared properly.]

“Yes, understood. But—"

[?]

“O Great One, may I ask you one question?”

[Go ahead.]

It was rare for the chief to ask questions.

When Hazad nodded, he cautiously opened his mouth.

“…May I ask your reasoning for wanting to bring that person to stand beside someone as great as yourself?”

Why—

Hazad paused to think.

In his mind, that person was more than worthy of being revered as a god.

Moreover—

It was with that man’s help that he had essentially become a god.

Of course, he did wonder whether it was necessary to divide divinity like this.

No—more than wondering, it almost made him want to cry.

Even so, the reason Hazad had proposed it to Alon was simple.

‘There’s no benefit in making an enemy of him.’

Hazad recalled that moment.

Back then, he had sensed a fragment of Alon’s power.

He noticed the eye from the world behind Alon that he hadn’t been aware of before.

And not just that.

‘…That girl.’

When Alon visited not long ago, Hazad had felt— a presence that still remained vivid in his memory.

She hadn’t shown hostility toward Hazad.

But just by entering his domain, her overwhelming strength had been undeniable.

A golden-eyed beastkin girl who was silently watching over Alon.

Hazad found himself recalling the same question again.

Just what kind of being was Marquis Alon Palatio?

But he erased that thought soon after.

As long as he didn’t become Alon’s enemy, there was no need to dwell on it.

Also—

He knew.

He knew well.

That becoming Alon’s enemy— was something that must never happen.

So the only answer he could give was—

[Because he is worthy of it.]

“I see.”

That was all.

Still, what was that beastkin girl? A bodyguard or something?

Well, either way— he would never become Alon’s enemy.

Hazad vowed firmly.