Through his conversation with the giant, Alon learned three additional facts.
First: on the Allied Kingdoms' side, besides this giant, about two other Divine blood belonging to the One Who Stares into the Abyss had fallen for the same purpose as this one.
Second: the one who had stopped the Divine blood that invaded Raksas was also Divine blood affiliated with the One Who Stares into the Abyss.
And the third was—
[Still, you truly are incredible. To lay down all the power you once possessed, don the guise of a lowly creature, and yet still be able to kill Divine blood....... Even if you say you have the ability to absorb the power of the Divine blood you kill, you're truly astounding.]
—about a hidden ability he hadn't even known he had.
'......So even if Divine blood kill each other, they can't absorb abilities?'
No—strictly speaking, Alon was aware that he absorbed Divine blood's power. After he'd won the battle against the poison-eater and the devourer, divine power had formed inside the emptiness of his inner world.
But if what the giant said was true, then even if Divine blood killed each other, they didn't absorb power.
Meaning, being able to absorb power like this was Alon's ability alone.
That felt strange to Alon.
Judging from what the blue eyes had said, a peculiar ability like this should have been something created through Scripture.
But he still hadn't gathered enough divine power to reach Scripture.
The contradiction that created.
'......Then does that mean I have three abilities I can use?'
He only pondered it for a moment before remembering he still hadn't answered the giant.
'How should I respond?'
In truth, the response here was already decided.
If he was going to act as the One Who Stares into the Abyss's friend, there was only one thing he could say.
Alon lightly cleared his throat.
You don't need to praise me like that.
[Did I make you uncomfortable? I'm sorry.]
That's not what I meant.
[As expected! Such vast generosity, like the sea itself! Thank you so much!]
Watching the giant—who looked like it was ready to clap and shout, Wow! You noticed that, incredible!! even if Alon so much as stared at empty air—Alon added,
Still, don't go around talking about my identity outside.
[Understood.]
The giant nodded as if no questions were necessary.
Alon let out a quiet sigh to himself. If it had asked, Why do I have to? he would've had to make up a reasonable explanation again, and that would've been annoying.
So, what are you planning to do from here?
[First, since that person told me to follow you, I intend to obey.]
I see.......
Alon nodded, even as his curiosity about the One Who Stares into the Abyss kept growing. Who was it, exactly, to be helping this much?
But he couldn't ask outright.
For now, I'd like you to keep protecting Caliban.
[Of course.]
Alon tried to wrap up the conversation with the giant—no, with the one who introduced itself as the "One Who Soars High."
But—
[Ah, but if you don't mind.......]
What is it?
[If you're willing, could you show me your divine power once?]
......My divine power?
[Yes.]
At the One Who Soars High's words, its face full of curiosity, Alon hesitated a little.
'It probably already knows my divine power is small. It should be fine.'
It didn't seem like a big problem, so he drew out the newly formed divine power in a tiny amount.
[Wow.......]
After blurting out that admiration at the sight of such a small divine power, the One Who Soars High came to its senses.
[Thank you for showing me!]
......Is that all you wanted?
[Yes!]
The giant's attitude was oddly upbeat. Alon didn't understand why, but he soon turned away.
After extracting as much information as he could from the other side, he returned and met up with the people waiting in the distance.
Marquis, did you finish your talk safely?
Penia came close the moment she saw Alon.
Alon nodded.
Yes.
How was it?
......I got a lot out of it, in a lot of ways.
Really? I was even thinking the cave might collapse.
At Evan's words, Alon tilted his head.
Why?
It's Divine blood, isn't it? I figured you might end up fighting.
I don't think you need to worry about that.
Then that's good. Anyway, let's head back up.
After that, Alon walked over to Deus and Palmarian, who looked as if they were waiting their turn.
He found Palmarian making a blank expression.
As if deep in thought, Palmarian was clearly staring forward, yet his eyes were unfocused.
......Your Majesty?
!? Ah—um...... ahem.
Snapping back to himself at Alon's call, Palmarian said, as if fumbling,
This is my fau—no, I mean, sorry. I had something to think about for a moment.
Then he turned and moved, as if brushing it off.
Alon tilted his head at the reaction, but quickly followed and left the underground vault.
It had been a day since Alon spoke with the One Who Soars High underground.
Only one day, but Alon decided to head straight to the marquis's estate.
I'll be going, then.
Understood, Marquis. If there's anything you need, please call for me immediately.
I will.
After finishing a brief greeting with Deus, Alon climbed into the carriage right away.
Caliban slowly turned into scenery far behind them. Only then did Alon let out a sigh.
Ugh—another month of being stuck living in a carriage.
No helping it.
Mm—still, I think it's better than Colony. Back then, I was scared I might just die.
Is that so?
Yes.
Evan nodded, then suddenly spoke as if remembering something.
Ah. And how about you start considering proclaiming a kingdom soon? You might as well do it now.
......Do it now?
Yes. It's not like you can avoid it forever. And given your current situation, wouldn't proclaiming a kingdom be better in a lot of ways?
......Hmm.
Evan wasn't wrong.
Alon had to gather faith.
'Though for something like that, it doesn't seem to be accumulating.'
Alon briefly contemplated his inner world.
The divine power inside was still as small as a bead.
Unlike before, when his divine power would jump up every time he checked.
'Still, it's true that I need faith.'
And since he knew Divine blood were also gathering faith from humans, after thinking for a while, Alon nodded.
Let's handle it while we're on the way back to the marquis's estate.
Understood. Then I'll start preparing ahead of time, so that once we arrive, you'll be able to do it properly in about two weeks.
Nodding, Alon absentmindedly rubbed his chin.
'But do I even have land to proclaim a kingdom with.......'
As he thought of Divine Land, he recalled that Luxible, too, was very small in terms of territory.
'Wait. Now that I think about it, I need to stop by Luxible too.'
Without meaning to, he scratched his head.
It felt like the list of things he had to do kept growing.
After sorting out his plans, he stared blankly at the carriage ceiling.
Then Penia—who had been playing with Blackie just a moment ago—suddenly called him.
By the way, Marquis.
What is it?
It's nothing big, but...... Caliban's king....... Didn't he seem kind of strange?
Caliban's king?
Yes. Ever since you came back after meeting Divine blood.
Hmm.
Alon tilted his head at Penia's words, then gave a small nod.
'He did seem a little like that......?'
Alon pictured Palmarian.
At first, he'd only looked at Alon with warm eyes, but from the moment Alon came back after meeting Divine blood, he'd gotten strangely blank.
Of course, the goodwill underneath was still there, so Alon hadn't paid it much mind.
'Come to think of it, it felt like he started changing his words little by little, too.......'
Continuing the thought, Alon answered,
I guess he did.
Why do you think that is?
Maybe he was just thinking about how to win you over, Marquis.
Evan snickered as he made the joke, and Alon just shrugged.
Meanwhile, right after Alon's group left—
Whew......
Palmarian sat down and let out a deep sigh.
A breath heavy with big worries.
And the cause was Palatio Alon.
......In truth, it wasn't that Alon had directly thrown a worry onto Palmarian.
If anything, the one who'd created this situation was Palmarian himself.
He thought back to yesterday.
To when Marquis Palatio met Divine blood.
......And when Palmarian had secretly eavesdropped on their conversation through an artifact.
Eavesdropping on their conversation hadn't been difficult.
The underground space where Divine blood stayed was a ritual site passed down through Caliban's kings for generations in the first place.
From the beginning, artifacts that could pick up sound from all throughout the vault had been embedded here and there.
So, in secret—thinking it might help, just in case—Palmarian listened in to the Divine blood and the marquis's conversation.
And he couldn't help but be shocked.
Because what Palmarian overheard was—
'No way... Marquis Palatio really—'
—about Divine blood.
'Still, you truly are incredible. To lay down all the power you once possessed, don the guise of a lowly creature, and yet still be able to kill Divine blood....... Even if you say you have the ability to absorb the power of the Divine blood you kill, you're truly astounding.'
'You don't need to praise me like that.'
'Did I make you uncomfortable? I'm sorry.'
'That's not what I meant.'
'As expected! Such vast generosity, like the sea itself! Thank you so much!'
Thinking back to that, Palmarian shuddered without meaning to.
The Divine blood that had been approaching Caliban's capital—Divine blood that could stop knights' hearts just by being seen—had been killed without incident by that giant.
But what about Marquis Palatio?
He treated that monstrous existence like it was nothing.
And the One Who Soars High showed the marquis deep courtesy.
As if it could never disobey him.
......Of course, all of that was a scene staged with Alon's acting mixed in.
But the king, who had no way of knowing that, thought:
'If the marquis weren't higher than the One Who Soars High, that kind of conversation would be impossible.'
He had already concluded that Alon was Divine blood who had come down wearing a human shell.
......You called for me, Your Majesty.
You're here.
At that moment, Palmarian spoke to Tolenis, Caliban's First Prince, who entered the audience chamber with perfect timing.
......Listen carefully from here on.
Yes.
Marquis Palatio— ......no. That person is 'Divine blood.'
......Pardon?
Pressing each word down hard,
What do you mean...?
Tolenis was bewildered by the sudden information.
But Palmarian, his stern expression unchanged, drove the point home.
Surprising as it may be, it's true.
......Is that really true?
Yes. I finished confirming it yesterday.
How...?
The giant beneath the ground knelt before that person.
Tolenis's eyes went wide.
He knew how overwhelming the giant in the royal family's underground was.
No—if he didn't, that would be stranger.
He'd seen with his own eyes that great giant tear that monster apart without mercy— that thing that could kill people just by being seen.
And yet—
'That great one... knelt before Marquis Palatio...?'
Tolenis thought of Marquis Palatio, and then decided,
'......Yeah. It isn't strange......!'
Marquis Palatio was clearly different from an ordinary human.
That face of his that never seemed to show any emotion.
The fact that, despite being human, he was called a god.
And that absurd power as well.
......Of course, the reason Alon didn't seem to show emotion was something even Alon didn't understand, and the reason he was called a god was only because Sili and others had mistakenly assumed it and it snowballed.......
But anyway, Tolenis—who didn't know the details—opened his mouth without meaning to at the conclusion he'd reached.
Starting from these two people's misunderstandings—
Engrave this into your heart....... In the coming phase, what matters for our survival isn't anyone else. It's that person.
Y-Yes, Your Majesty.
Lies and truth mixed in the right proportions.
......No, in fact, maybe most of it was a story built from misunderstandings—
began to spread in secret.

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