A few weeks passed after that.
We can see it now.
Just as Penia said, Rosario began to come into view far off in the distance.
Alon fell into thought as he looked at that scenery.
There was only one thing he had to do in Rosario.
Meet the Goddess Sironia, just as 'that' had said.
If there was anything else he needed to do—
'...Ask Yutia about Monster blood.'
Monster blood.
Alon didn't properly know anything about it.
The information he had was—
that Yutia Bloodia was Monster blood's daughter, and that Monster blood had brought down two empires.
That was all.
But there was a chance Yutia Bloodia knew something.
Because she was Monster blood's daughter.
'Of course, there's a chance she doesn't.'
The reason Alon had been able to realize that Yutia Bloodia was Monster blood's daughter was, naturally, because there had been an explanation inside Psychedelia.
But if, in the truly unlikely case,
Yutia Bloodia herself didn't know her own origin—
then she might not know her own identity either.
...Of course, the probability of that was clearly absurdly low.
Whew—
Having thought that far, Alon decided to acknowledge it cleanly.
Right now, he was feeling a resistance to asking Yutia about 'Monster blood.'
He didn't know why, but that fact was obvious.
Otherwise he wouldn't be agonizing over it like this.
Feeling an unnameable unease, Alon suddenly thought of Elivan.
Someone Alon couldn't understand—yet who had clearly been moving while pursuing some kind of purpose.
Penia.
Yes?
Do you happen to know what happened to Elivan?
Elivan?
Yes.
Penia, who had tilted her head for a moment, thought briefly and answered.
The last I heard, I think most of his injuries recovered. But—
He still hasn't woken up?
Yes. Like the Marquis said, they brought him to the Divine Land and have been taking care of him until now, but they said he still hasn't come to.
Alon let out a small sigh and shook his head.
All of a sudden, the worry I'd been wrestling with didn't feel particularly useful anymore.
'...I'll ask.'
That was the conclusion Alon reached.
Before he knew it, Rosario's gate was drawing close.
'Yuman and Yutia both told me to stop by here, and I'm only coming now.'
Alon stopped thinking about Yutia for the moment and recalled the reason he'd come here in the first place.
'The Goddess Sironia.'
To Alon, the Goddess Sironia was a being his thoughts about had changed in many ways.
At first, she had simply been a goddess in some fantasy world.
Then a god he didn't understand very well, for reasons he couldn't explain.
After that, he'd recognized her as a god who appeared in an era of forgotten outer gods.
But now, his thoughts had changed again.
More precisely—
it would be more accurate to say questions had been swelling up.
No matter what, he hadn't expected the name "Goddess Sironia" to come out of Blue Eyes' mouth.
'Either way, I'll know everything soon enough.'
In the meantime, as Alon's carriage drew close, the gate moved as if it had been waiting.
The firmly shut castle gate opened, and behind it—
Yuman was waiting.
When he spotted the carriage, Yuman smiled.
Seeing that, Alon climbed down from the carriage while unconsciously minding his reaction.
Welcome, Brother.
The moment Alon got down, Yuman greeted him right away.
In truth, Alon had no reason to be wary.
He hadn't done anything wrong to Yuman.
But whether it was like before or not, Alon was aware of how Yuman was 'mistaking' him.
That was why Alon felt a little uncomfortable around Yuman.
Maybe it was right after the Divine Land had been created—
but at this point, Yuman would also know that Alon intended to proclaim a separate kingdom.
...Anyway, because of that, after the Bearer's battle ended, when he'd spoken with Yuman because of the meeting, he'd felt uncomfortable too.
It's been a while, Saint.
Yes. I was just waiting. Come in.
But unlike him, Yuman simply smiled and guided the party, and Alon naturally followed as they headed into Rosario.
Oh—
It's recovered quite a bit.
[Hmph— I see.]
[Kyuu.]
The moment they entered Rosario's interior, Evan and Penia—and Basiliora and Blackie—let out exclamations.
Alon agreed as well.
Rosario, one side of which had become complete ruins because of the sins.
Rosario, which he was visiting again for the first time since then, had returned to the same pure white city as before.
He only paused briefly to look at the white city that seemed as though it would permit not even a single shred of darkness—
and then Alon's party was already arriving at the temple.
When Alon arrived at Yuman's office, he heard news about Yutia, who for some reason hadn't come out to greet them.
She stepped out for a bit?
Yes, but she'll probably return this evening or sometime tomorrow.
I see.
After that, Alon and Yuman exchanged various light bits of conversation.
Then, when Alon was about to bring up the main point of why he'd come to Rosario—
Today, I think it would be best for you to rest and recover from the travel, and then meet the Goddess tomorrow.
Yuman spoke first.
Behind his expressionless face, Alon flinched in surprise.
You knew?
Yes. Because the Goddess also said you would be coming, Brother.
...The Goddess Sironia said that?
Yes.
Without thinking, Alon rubbed his chin.
The Goddess Sironia had been waiting for him to come.
That was unexpected.
'So the Goddess Sironia really is connected to Blue Eyes?'
Alon, who had fallen into thought for a moment, remembered that Yuman was right in front of him.
Thank you for your consideration.
No, isn't this only natural? You're my Brother.
Yuman smiled and waved it off.
Alon, who had been subtly watching his reaction, opened his mouth.
I'm saying this just in case, but...
Hm? Yes, Brother?
Looking at that good-natured smile, Alon hesitated.
Whether he should say this or not.
...In truth, he did know.
That it had already come too far to undo the misunderstanding.
But he felt it would be better to say it once before moving on.
Do you... still not realize the misunderstanding hasn't been cleared up?
Alon asked carefully.
Yuman stared at Alon for a moment—then smiled faintly.
What misunderstanding are you referring to?
Th—
Alon's words caught in his throat.
Come to think of it, it wasn't just one or two things Yuman was mistaken about.
'Where do I even start?'
It was awkward.
However, Alon's agony didn't last long.
Whatever misunderstanding you mean, if you're worried because you think I'm treating you this way due to a misunderstanding, that's fine.
...Pardon?
Before Alon could say anything, Yuman took the initiative.
I mean exactly what I said. Even if you hold a different status from the one I believed you had, I don't think that's a problem.
Th- is that so?
Yes. Because I believe what I've seen until now.
With a kind smile and eyes full of trust, Yuman said,
So there's no need for you to worry too much, Brother.
He spoke gently once again.
Then, first, I'll guide you to where you'll be staying.
Yuman stood up first, and as Alon followed behind him, he recalled once again what kind of person Yuman was.
'...So this is what a Saint is.'
People, by nature, place importance on affiliation.
And for religion, that was even more true—Alon knew that.
That was why Yuman's reaction felt extremely fresh to Alon.
Let's go.
Yes.
And behind them, Penia and Evan, who had been listening to their conversation—
Uh, the Marquis is kind of impressed, right?
What— you're only noticing now?
We've still been together for years.
Well, yeah. He's probably thinking, 'How can someone be like this! As expected of a Saint!'
...Even if it wasn't a Saint, I feel like anyone would venerate him if you think about what the Marquis has done.
None of us don't know that. The only one who doesn't know is the Marquis, who has an almost abnormal lack of self-awareness.
They whispered quietly and followed after Alon.
The next day.
With Yuman guiding him, Alon headed straight to the Saint's room, where he could meet the Goddess Sironia.
Then I'll be outside.
The moment they arrived at the room, Yuman quietly turned away and left.
Soon, Alon looked at a statue so enormous it could fill the room without difficulty.
And at that moment—
Woooong—!
Even though Alon hadn't used any magic power, pure white light began to pour out from the statue.
Realizing this was the sign that preceded the Goddess Sironia speaking, Alon waited calmly as he thought.
'What will I be able to hear?'
On his way to Rosario, he'd developed a certain sense of anticipation, but even Alon couldn't guess what the content would be.
He still couldn't even properly imagine what kind of relationship Blue Eyes' thing and the Goddess Sironia were bound together by.
But he was sure he could gain something here, so he quietly looked at the statue—
and in the moment the light that had burst from the statue stopped wavering and shone as a complete, pure white light—
[Hello?]
What he heard was the Goddess Sironia's voice...?
...Huh?
Without meaning to, Alon stared at the statue in bewilderment.
The statue was definitely shining brightly.
On the surface, it didn't look like anything was wrong.
And yet the reason Alon froze for a moment
was because of the Goddess Sironia's voice.
'...It definitely felt extremely mature— like that, didn't it?'
The voice of the Goddess Sironia he remembered had been holy and grown-up.
If his memory wasn't wrong, it had definitely been like that.
But the goddess's voice he was hearing now was extremely young.
Closer to a girl's voice than an adult woman's.
That was why—
...Are you really the Goddess Sironia?
[Well, strictly speaking, no. Because—]
Alon asked.
Then the Goddess Sironia—no—
[-because I am the 'Divine blood' that is her original source.]
—answered like that.

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