Chapter 159 - Why So Strong? (3)

A Monster Gate was the stage beyond a Time Gate: a state in which the distortion of dimensions had grown greater.

Monster Gates came in two forms, internal and external, classified according to how long they had existed. A recently formed gate was an “internal Monster Gate,” while one that had existed longer was an “external Monster Gate.” The degree of “overload” also varied with the time elapsed.

While a recently formed gate remained internal, its monsters would not emerge. In other words, simply entering and clearing it would allow the gate to be closed without any harm.

But if a Monster Gate was left unattended for a certain period, an “overload” would occur, sending monsters pouring out. The races or monsters associated with that type of gate would regard every living creature on the continent as an enemy and slaughter them until someone closed it.

'...Come to think of it, I think this destroyed a duchy, and depending on your choices, Ashtalon fell too...' Alon sighed inwardly as he recalled the various details.

'... Looking at it this way, Psychedelia's world becomes a complete shitshow by the time the original story begins. The Five Great Sins, Outer Gods, and even the Four Great Factions all get tangled up in it.'

Of course, the Five Great Sins remained the most important concern regardless.

'It said the Time Gates and Monster Gates were caused by the Five Great Sins too... How does that work?'

Alon briefly pondered the game's lore, then shook his head. He could not even guess at the connection between the Monster Gates and the Five Great Sins.

'Well, Elivan will take care of the Monster Gates, anyway.'

Alon looked at the young man before him. Chatting with his companions with a smile that never left his face, Elivan looked remarkably amiable. In other words, he really did look like a protagonist.

“My lord? Was there something you wanted to say...?”

“Ah.”

At some point, Elivan had turned toward Alon, and their eyes met.

Hmm. He had been staring rather openly. After a moment's consideration, Alon decided to take the opportunity to ask something he had been wondering about.

“There is something I'm curious about. May I ask?”

“Of course, my lord.”

Elivan even straightened in his seat. His excessive response left Alon a little taken aback.

“You needn't go that far.”

“Not at all! Please, ask me anything.”

“Hmm.”

He really is polite, Alon briefly reflected before getting to his question.

“I heard that you've become a Chosen One. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that's right.”

“This might sound like an odd question, but what is it that you're working toward?”

Alon was asking out of genuine curiosity. In Psychedelia, players were essentially free to act and choose their own story once they became a Chosen One.

There was, of course, the special mission assigned to every Chosen One—“Deal with the Monster Gates”—along with some minimal guidance, but most players did not follow it. The guidance was sparse to begin with, and as time passed, Monster Gates appeared in multiple places simultaneously. Ultimately, players had to choose which ones to handle.

That was why Alon was curious: what drove Elivan, and what criteria did he use to make his choices?

“Hmm.”

After a moment's thought, Elivan's lips curved into a smile.

“I must act for ‘the one who blessed me.’”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I believe I should act for the one who blessed me. After all, I've received that blessing.”

Alon nodded before he realized it.

'Looks like he's following the Chosen One's intended purpose... His devotion is a little surprising, but no—perhaps it isn't, really?'

Even without Shironia's blessing, Elivan's talent was already absurd. Still, receiving her blessing did make him stronger yet, so Alon readily nodded.

'Perhaps I should take this opportunity to get to know his other companions too.'

He shifted his attention to those beside Elivan. All three companions currently following him were talented enough to eventually make names for themselves in this world. It could hardly hurt to become acquainted with these future celebrities now.

There was just one problem—

'... Why is she looking at me so warily?'

—one of them, Yan, was watching him with a strangely sharp gaze.

It was not blatantly obvious, but Alon had received enough such looks at every ball he attended to recognize it. He was baffled. He had never even had a proper conversation with her, had he?

... It was an early summer day, gradually growing hotter.

####

The Holy Kingdom of Rosario, which worshipped the goddess Shironia, had been enjoying a peaceful stretch without any major trouble since the last incident involving an Outer God.

But that was only how things appeared from the outside. Within Rosario, two deeply troubling developments were unfolding.

The first was the pope's seclusion. The Holy Kingdom's pope had not appeared at all since the artificial Outer God emerged. He had, in short, remained in his prayer room for over a year.

No pope in history had ever remained in the prayer room for over a year, so the cardinals had gone in person repeatedly to bring him out. Unfortunately, every attempt had failed. It was physically impossible. A golden barrier had surrounded his prayer room ever since the artificial Outer God's appearance. No one had seen the pope since he entered it.

But the second issue was actually far more troubling than the pope's absence: since the artificial Outer God incident, the goddess Shironia's voice had fallen completely silent.

“Whew.”

In the chamber of the saints, Yuman let out a heavy sigh and gazed at Shironia's statue. It had always shone with pure white light whenever he prayed. Now it remained utterly still—and had for over a year.

'Why on earth...?'

Anxiety and bewilderment settled over Yuman's face. No matter how he thought about it, he could not imagine why he was unable to reach the goddess Shironia.

'... Have I committed some sacrilege against the goddess? No, I can still wield my divine power properly.'

Yuman looked at the golden divine power flowing along his fingertips. His power had certainly not disappeared. Indeed, it had grown even more intense than it was a year earlier.

Yet despite that, Shironia remained silent in response to his words. And it was not just him. The goddess answered no one. Furthermore, since she had fallen silent, no new wielders of divine power had emerged—as though she had withdrawn the blessings she bestowed upon her faithful.

There had been times before when contact with the goddess ceased for over half a year, but never had the number of priests stopped growing like this.

'... Has something happened to the goddess?'

Repeating the concern that had crossed his mind so many times, he left the chamber of the saints.

“Oh, Your Holiness. How are you?”

“... Cardinal Yutia.”

“Yes.”

He soon encountered Yutia.

Looking at her still-inscrutable smile, Yuman asked,

“... So. Did your meeting with the Chosen One go well?”

“Yes.”

“Had he truly received the goddess Shironia's blessing?”

“Of course. Why else would I have recognized him?”

Yuman spoke slowly.

“... That is a lie.”

“Why do you think so?”

“It has not spread beyond us because it is treated as a matter of the utmost secrecy even among the cardinals, but you know, do you not? At present, no one can hear her words. And no one receives her blessing anymore.”

Even at Yuman's logical objection, the smile on Yutia's lips remained unchanged. She merely opened her crescent-curved eyes a little.

“Well, Your Holiness, Shironia might be granting the Chosen One special care. Just as she did you.”

“... You know perfectly well that is impossible when the connection to the chamber of the saints—the place closest to the goddess—has been severed.”

Yuman's argument was sound. Yutia did not answer. She simply continued watching him through narrowed eyes before saying,

“Let's continue this conversation another time. Shouldn't we be heading into the meeting?”

“Are you avoiding the question?”

“Of course not. It is simply time, so I am going.”

“...”

She walked past him.

“...”

Yuman watched Yutia warily for a while, then quietly followed her.

'... Elivan, was it?'

He thought of the Chosen One Yutia had selected, whose authenticity remained uncertain.

####

A little over a week later, Alon arrived at the Monster Gate near House Altia in northern Asteria.

'The Duchess of Altia asked me to visit, so I should stop by as soon as we've dealt with the gate. And... try this out too.'

Alon glanced at Rumiel's Oath, which he had obtained in his trade with Perion in Lartania, then turned his gaze to the Monster Gate's entrance as it shifted to violet.

'It's huge.'

He had seen it in the game, but the Monster Gate's entrance was larger than he had expected.

'... Was it always this big?'

He was slightly puzzled, but—

“Let's head inside, then.”

“Very well.”

Alon began walking into the Monster Gate behind Elivan.

“Are we sure it's safe to go in there?”

Evan looked uneasy. Alon continued forward without hesitation. After wavering, Evan squeezed his eyes shut and stepped into the Monster Gate too. Then he let out a heartfelt exclamation.

“Wow!”

The scenery inside the Monster Gate was impressively magnificent.

'... It really is spectacular.'

Alon, too, admired the view behind his expressionless face. The atmosphere was even more alien and dreamlike than he had imagined.

Beneath the violet sky characteristic of Monster Gates stood a violet citadel amid range upon range of mountains.

'So this is the Ironblood Citadel.'

Just as he recalled the gate's name—

THUNK!

Alon noticed that something had embedded itself in the ground nearby and looked toward it.

“W-what are those?”

“... Living armors.”

With the citadel at their backs, living armors were charging forward to annihilate the intruders. There were hundreds of them at the very least.

'In the game, you're only around level ten at this point, so you have to avoid fighting and flee straight down a side path into the citadel—but...'

Alon smiled faintly to himself. Knowing the Ironblood Fortress as well as he did, he had no need to run.

'If we wipe out the ones here, there won't be many living armors left inside the fortress. Besides, Elivan's party needs to fight them to grow.'

For Alon, this was an opportunity to cast magic at his enemies without worrying about mana consumption. Considering the situation rather favorable, he formed a seal to test the fruits of his research over the past two months.

CREEEAK!

He saw living armors begin drawing their bows in response to him, but he was not anxious. He already knew that living armors prioritized whoever they intended to attack, and that they moved slowly.

Just as Alon was about to leisurely recite his phrase—

SWISH!

Elivan suddenly shot forward at tremendous speed. Then—

“Hup!”

Reaching the living armors with their bows drawn, he unsheathed the sword at his waist without hesitation and slashed.

CRAAASH!!!

Dozens of living armors before him became heaps of scrap metal in an instant, utterly helpless.

“Are you all right, my lord!?”

Elivan immediately turned back and urgently called out to him.

“... Huh?”

A multitude of question marks appeared over Alon's head.

Among them, one thought stood out in his mind.