Chapter 428 : The Seeker (7) Raising Villains the Right Way

Chapter 428 : The Seeker (7)

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8Darkness-Eating Sword.

No, ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍all of the divine-blood who had moved near the Divine Land as avatar bodies using a divine-blood’s ability stared blankly at the scene before them.

NovelFire reader preview #8bf400e0b5dc (issued 2026-07-17).

The gigantic greatsword floating in the sky.

Of course, the greatsword was magnificent, but the divine-blood were not astonished merely because of its size.

Its size was absurd, yes, but that alone was not the reason.

The reason none of them could tear their gaze away, struck speechless—

Was the aura emanating from that greatsword.

[What on earth is that?]

[It’s similar to us, yet different.]

Confusion rippled among them.

Amidst it—

[Indeed……!]

One divine-blood realized something.

[That is the humans’ divine power.]

[Humans’ divine power?]

[Yes. When tools gather faith among themselves, it can manifest like that. I’ve briefly seen it from above before, but to think I’d witness it after descending to the ground………]

At those words, the other divine-blood finally grasped its identity.

Just as curious gazes continued—

[…………Wait, isn’t something strange?]

Darkness-Eating Sword, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.

[What do you mean?]

[Wasn’t this territory said to be ruled by Star Eater?]

[It was.]

[Then how is it that within it, a human with a different faith appears?]

He could not understand.

As Darkness-Eating Sword’s suspicion deepened, the other divine-blood also sensed the oddity.

[If this is Star Eater’s domain, then a tool that handles another divine power shouldn’t be born.]

[That is not incorrect.]

[What in the world is going on?]

The murmuring lasted only briefly.

[Wait.]

One divine-blood, who had not uttered a single word since arriving at the Divine Land and had only been quietly observing the greatsword, finally spoke.

All gazes turned toward him.

Despite the attention, he remained calm.

He simply concentrated on something, using his grotesquely enlarged ears.

Then his eyes widened.

[……Truly?]

A disbelieving murmur slipped out.

The other divine-blood grew puzzled.

[What are you hearing?]

When Darkness-Eating Sword asked, the divine-blood, whose grotesquely large ears had already shrunk back down, said—

[It seems that the reason humans have come to handle faith is because of Star Eater.]

[What?]

[Is that true?]

The other divine-blood questioned in succession.

[Whether it is true or not, I cannot say. But one thing is certain: that human who awakened faith said he can use it after receiving power from Star Eater. And—]

The eavesdropping divine-blood paused briefly to steady his breath.

[—If we assume those words are true. That is, if Star Eater can enable humans to use faith they previously did not possess—then granting divine power would also be possible.]

He presented that inference.

An inference completely opposite to what the gathered divine-blood had expected.

Yet none refuted it.

No—more precisely, there was nothing to refute.

They had seen it themselves and heard it relayed.

The sight of a human wielding faith within the Divine Land ruled by Star Eater.

And the testimony that a mere human used as a tool had come to handle power thanks to Star Eater.

Thus—

[…………Let us return.]

The divine-blood who had come to verify Star Eater’s power decided to quietly withdraw.

It happened barely five minutes after they had arrived at the Divine Land.

***

A month passed thereafter.

Alon had crossed the border of the Allied Kingdom Alliance and was traversing the wasteland.

A dry and desolate land where nothing existed.

Staring blankly out through the carriage window, he—

“Hoo—”

Let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

During the past month, even after meeting Yutia and Karsem, Alon had not let go of his magical research.

Strictly speaking, the research could be considered complete.

What remained was essentially proof.

However, Alon had not yet accumulated the capability necessary for that proof.

As a result, he had made no further progress.

Alon glanced to the side.

Penia was immersed in her research.

Ever since she became able to use the True Mage’s magic a month ago, she had spent all day studying it unless she was helping Alon.

As someone called a genius even in Psychedelia, she was acquiring the incantations at an astonishing pace.

Even faster than Alon, who had begun his research a month earlier.

Because of that, Alon could somewhat understand why there were so many who envied her.

Penia glanced at him and brushed her hair back.

Alon sank into thought.

The foundational incantations were nearly perfect.

And yet, he still could not succeed in casting magic through pure intent alone.

As his thoughts deepened—

“There’s really nothing here.”

Evan’s voice was heard.

Alon pushed his thoughts aside.

“That’s true.”

“Wasn’t Nangwon somewhere around here?”

“I heard his base was in this area.”

“There’s nothing here, so I wonder how he even lives.”

While agreeing, Alon thought of another individual here.

The Golden Dragon Lainisius.

The one he had met to deal with Ragrakkamur.

And perhaps someone who could reveal why Blackie used divine-blood’s power.

“But seriously, how far are we going? At this rate, it feels like we’re crossing into the Empire’s side…… huh?”

Suddenly, Evan’s voice turned questioning.

Following his gaze, Alon looked ahead—

“A tower?”

There was a tower.

One he had never seen when he had come to the wasteland before.

A tower so enormous at a glance.

“Doesn’t it look bigger than the Central Mage Tower?”

Penia exclaimed in admiration.

At that moment—

Whoosh—

The fragment of the letter that had been glowing purple shot toward the tower and disappeared.

“It seems we’ve arrived at our destination.”

Shortly after.

The carriages of Colony and Rosario, including Alon, arrived at the tower.

Stepping down from the carriage, Alon looked up at it and was further astonished.

It was no exaggeration.

The tower guided by the violet light was truly gigantic.

Even the imposing Central Mage Tower felt small by comparison.

Could it actually be touching the sky?

The thought arose unbidden.

“You’ve arrived.”

A voice came from beside them.

The skull mask that had appeared when delivering the letter was already by their side.

“I have been waiting.”

It bowed politely toward Alon’s group.

“There are still a few days remaining until the schedule proclaimed by the Seeker, so I ask that you rest comfortably.”

Saying it would guide them to their rooms, it—

Swish—

Split into three in an instant before their eyes.

“!”

The group was startled by the unexpected act, but the three masks turned their bodies as if nothing had happened.

“From here, the King of Palantio Kingdom will follow me.”

“The honored guest of Rosario, this way.”

“The King of Colony, please come here.”

Without further explanation, the three masks began moving immediately.

“We’ll see each other shortly.”

“Understood, Brother!”

“Yes, My Lord.”

They exchanged brief farewells and dispersed.

Thus, entering the gigantic tower, Alon followed a labyrinthine path and arrived at a chamber.

“Then I shall provide a brief introduction as we move.”

“Move?”

At the mask’s continued words, Alon asked back.

“Yes. In truth, someone arrived earlier, so I intend to introduce you briefly.”

“I don’t mind, but why?”

“The Seeker wishes for the rulers to maintain as much camaraderie as possible.”

Adding that it was for the peace of the continent, the mask turned once more.

Alon calmly followed.

After some time—

“Here we are.”

In the place the mask led him to—

A man was seated.

A man with hair of dazzling, radiant gold.

“……Hmm?”

The man’s gaze, which had been directed out the window, shifted toward Alon.

“This is His Majesty Contanias of the Northern Empire.”

At the mask’s introduction, Alon gave a slight nod.

Though he had not personally played Calypsophobia and did not know in detail, he knew what kind of person he was from the rumors Evan had brought.

Contanias, the prince who wielded the Northern Empire’s guardian deity, the Crying Dragon.

As he recalled that information, the mask opened its mouth again—

“Sir Contanias, this person is—”

“That will do.”

It could not continue.

Because Contanias had cut it off.

In silence, Contanias looked at Alon with an unreadable expression.

Then—

“I am not magnanimous enough to hear and remember the name of an inferior.”

He spoke curtly.

Only then did Alon realize the emotion contained in his face.

“Be grateful that you are even allowed to share this place.”

It was ‘contempt’ and ‘mockery.’

***

The capital of the Northern Empire.

Though four-tenths of the Empire had been destroyed by divine-blood, in the very center of a capital still enjoying great prosperity stood an enormous palace.

A palace even larger than the one where Emperor Contanias resided.

And that palace—

“Where is Contanias?”

“Y-Your Majesty the Emperor is currently in attendance.”

Was under the control of a woman.

A woman who proved she was no ordinary human, bearing a massive jet-black dragon’s tail.

No—

“Tell him to come quickly. I have tasks for him.”

“Th-That may be difficult at the moment—”

“Is that so? Then shall I depart now?”

The Crying Dragon.

“N-No! Please! Please remain fixed, Lady Arculainisis!”

“Summon him as quickly as possible.”

With red eyes bearing dried tear marks and deep dark circles beneath them—

“I have something to ask.”

She murmured quietly.

Fingering a fragment of someone’s coat within her embrace.

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