[What is it, humans? Why are you looking at with such eyes?]
Cthulatlap asked in a much more generous voice. He was in a good mood right now. If it had been usual, he could have generously overlooked such ominous gazes that he would have found annoying.
"Why is he so happy like that?"
Krua asked her younger sister Attila while forcibly setting her twisted and broken bones. Physical wounds ant nothing to Krua. Her body was not human, just like the corrupted fallen beings that had been eroded.
However, since her ntal structure was still human, she couldn't understand Cthulatlap’s joy. Since her younger sister had a bit more emotional exchange in this area than herself, it was right to seek answers from her.
"Well, it seems like it's because Red Eternity has disappeared. Since soone he didn't get along with was driven out from here. I suppose it's like being happy that the annoying neighbor next door went completely bankrupt."
"No, is that Outer God guy really feeling refreshed for such petty reasons?"
[Ahem. Watch your words.]
Whether he had been listening to their conversation, Cthulatlap spoke in a stern voice.
[I am rejoicing at that fellow's expulsion for truly high-dinsional and complex reasons, so do not presu to understand my emotions carelessly.]
"......Why is your way of speaking like that again?"
"That's probably also because he's so happy."
Unlike when he usually treated them friendly, it was a tone that carried a bit more influence from his main body. Of course, the reason Cthulatlap was happy was partly because Red Eternity had been severely dealt with by Osian and driven out, but there was also another big reason.
He had co here and devoured many of Red Eternity's corrupted beings. Among them were even bishop-level ones, and he had even devoured several red angels. It was truly a quality al.
The power he had devoured and digested was completely absorbed by him and Cthulatlap felt elated beyond asure as he stole the power of an Outer God, especially one he usually found detestable.
Not only had his enemy been ruined, but he had also robbed so of that fellow's wealth.
The sight of Cthulatlap floating around in the air as if to show his joy looked unsightly. It was absolutely not a sight that the avatar of an Outer God should show.
"......Sigh. You should leave quickly too. I'll pretend I didn't see anything just this once, so hurry up."
Pline quickly conveyed only the essential business without getting into pointless argunts.
She had let the Blood Brotherhood go, so she could turn a blind eye to these slithering sisters. To bother arguing about anything here was too much when she was already overwheld just organizing the things she had seen and experienced so far.
Krua quickly caught the floating Cthulatlap and handed him over to Attila. Cthulatlap complained that it was undignified, but it wasn't a situation where such complaints could be entertained.
The two sisters gazed for a mont at the location where Osian was. Though the radiance had diminished compared to the beginning, that place was still shining brilliantly.
They had tried to greet him before leaving, but it was impossible in the current state.
"Let's go, Attila."
"Yes, sister."
Attila hugged Cthulatlap tightly in her arms. Cthulatlap stayed still in her embrace, moving his eyeball to gaze at the light Osian had emitted. His excited mood cald down.
'This is surprising. No matter how much that red fellow was restricted, I thought that even that knight fellow couldn't stop him if the main body revealed its power.'
Cthulatlap knew that Osian was not yet at his pri strength. He had experience fighting Osian directly. The mory of that ti remained vivid in his mory even after long years had passed.
‘Starlight, was it. The power of stars that knights handle. The fellow who handled that shone more brilliantly than the stars in the sky.'
The starlight that burned rather than just shone in the sea fog that filled the fishing village was enough to make even Cthulatlap, who had considerable authority at the ti, feel chills.
Moreover, Osian was not just strong in power. Though Starlight was a power with extrely bad compatibility for him, what was most frightening about that fellow was his combat sense. As if possessed by so divine skill, he didn't get hit by a single one of his attacks, and even thinking about it now, it was like a nightmare.
'Compared to that ti, now, hmm......to be honest, the power output is indeed weaker.'
Though Osian was strong, he inevitably fell short compared to when he ended the age of myths.
Cthulatlap had been carefully watching Osian's movents even after being defeated by him.
Though there were limitations in finding out since all his followers had died, he still knew about major events at least.
He had killed ancient monsters, slain corrupted celestial dragons, and finally even brought down the god of laws that had restrained the world. It was an overwhelming achievent unbelievable for a human.
'Now that he has reappeared in the world, he has indeed weakened. But that doesn't an he's inferior to before.'
Osian had gained new powers that hadn't been seen before. Moon Scar and Sun Ring. They were among the other two of the three characteristics that knights handle, but to Cthulatlap who had only known Starlight, it was surprising.
'The output has weakened, but the variety of powers he handles has increased.'
Starlight was certainly strong, but it wasn't easy to respond in completely disadvantageous situations. It showed outstanding performance in one-on-one combat, but it wasn't easy when surrounded by multiple enemies. In particular, there were insufficient ways to deal with ranged attacks.
Moon Scar and Sun Ring filled those lacking parts.
'The chillingly cold blue energy and the excessively violent golden energy.'
And Osian harmoniously used those three energies, showing combat that was more developed than before. Could one say he had weakened after seeing that? At least Cthulatlap didn't think so.
'Though his imdiate power may have weakened, the mont he regains and recovers his lost power.'
The knight's power, which originally seed limitless, would beco incomparably more distant than before. Cthulatlap thought it was fortunate that the fellow didn't try to kill him rcilessly without courtesy.
Probably that red fellow was dealt with like this because he failed to anticipate Osian's changed power.
Though he didn't see the direct fight, there were things he could know just by feeling the energy wafting from afar. Even if that red fellow had sufficiently anticipated it, the result wouldn't have changed.
[But it won't be easy.]
When Cthulatlap’s muttering flowed out, the sisters who had been trying to leave the scene as quickly as possible reacted.
"Huh? Not easy. Don't tell we're surrounded now?"
"Ah, no, sister. There are no signs around. No one is chasing us either."
[I'm not talking about you. No, since this might be related to you too, I suppose I should tell you.]
Cthulatlap’s eyes gazed into the void. As Red Eternity disappeared, the surrounding red flesh was rapidly disappearing. The erosion was disappearing and what replaced it was the internal structure of what would have been the original Trinity Building.
[This incident will bring considerable aftermath to this world.]
"Well, of course it would. Such chaos happened in the middle of the city. This is why we should be even more careful. When we get to Zero Ground, we'll have to stay put for a while."
[Of course that's also correct, but the essential aning of what I want to say is not that.]
Krua didn't understand, but Attila, who was most deeply connected to Cthulatlap, could read so of his intentions.
"Don't tell , events related to Red Eternity will occur due to this failed descent?"
"What? Wait a minute. For what reason does it flow that way?"
To Krua who didn't understand, Cthulatlap decided to kindly explain. From the beginning, this wasn't sothing that could be understood just by listening.
[How much do you know about outer beings like ?]
"That's......"
Krua was at a loss for words. To be honest, she didn't know much. She only knew that outer beings were gods or just very powerful beings, and that they perford erosion when crossing over to this world.
And also that each had different tendencies, but they all felt considerable fascination with this world.
[To you, and to outer beings, and to those fellows who are of the sa kind as though I don't like them, this world is truly a beautiful place. An attractive, desirable, coveted jewel.]
"I know that. That's why they try so hard to cross over sohow, right?"
[Right. Everyone uses various thods. So like have succeeded, but most fail. That's because of the stellar veil that divides the world. Those who have ascended beco stars and form a boundary that protects the world, preventing external beings from coming.]
"What does that have to do with this situation......?"
[The red fellow made a hole in it. After corrupting the people of this world, he used trickery to open a passage connected to the outside. That passage didn't last long and disappeared, but its aftermath will remain in the world.]
"......Wait a minute. That ans, outer beings other than Red Eternity can flow into this world?"
[Right. It would have been impossible before. But now the stellar veil has weakened.]
"Why did the barrier weaken?"
[Because this world's civilization has developed too much. The stellar veil is specialized in blocking external beings, but it can't block light going from inside to outside. The sky has lost its light and the earth's light has grown strong, so even those who usually didn't pay attention have beco interested.]
As civilization developed excessively, the world's balance was broken.
[The veil that was hidden has been lifted. I am favorable to this world, but other fellows are not.]
"Does that an new chaos will co to this world?"
[It will be difficult to compare in a different sense from the age of myths and legends. Ironically, the transcendent monsters of that ti played the role of both restraining and protecting the world.]
Cthulatlap’s eyes gazed at the void outside the building's window. The sun was rising beyond the half-destroyed buildings of District 17. It was bright and brilliant, but not quite that hopeful.
[Soon chaos will co to this world. I don't know what result it will et at the end, but you will need to prepare. If you know it's going to rain, you should at least prepare to avoid the rain even if you can't bring an umbrella.]
Cthulatlap’s voice clearly showed that he was certain about the future. Krua opened her mouth and went
"Huh."
"......But where did you hear such analogies?"
[You're stupid. Read so books. How can you ignore nourishnt for the mind?]
"You read books and stuff too?!"
[If you don't study, your brain rots. Go back and read so books. It's frustrating for to watch.]
"What are you nagging to study or not! Are you my dad or sothing!"
Their bickering continued until they left the building.
Basilio quietly gazed at the sky's light rippling beyond the passage. It was a beautiful and warm light. It had the power to hotly kindle the dying embers in the viewer's heart.
Thanks to that light, he was able to survive.
"Julius."
And he was able to et this woman approaching him again. Basilio slowly turned to look at Pline.
She hesitated as she approached, then soon hardened her resolve and made a determined expression.
"I'm really sorry."
Pline bowed her head. Her hair flowed down with it.
"No matter what I say, I know this is an excuse. I didn't try to know what you went through, and I selfishly thought only of myself. I wasn't the only one in pain."
Without knowing that, she had hated Julius. While hating him, she tried to neutralize the sadness she had experienced in the past. Though she herself knew better than anyone that this was wrong, that this man couldn't be like that, she ignored it.
Being wounded is painful. And facing the scars left in that place is agonizing. Everyone turns their eyes away from painful truths and pasts. That was a natural reaction.
But because Pline knew it wasn't right, she willingly bowed her head. A high-ranking official of Tirna, to a re fixer.
"Rather, the one who should apologize is ."
Basilio spoke with a voice filled with regret even at Pline’s apology.
"If I had approached you that day, our relationship wouldn't have been ruined to this extent."
Basilio recalled the day Pline had visited Phillis' tombstone. Because he was so sorry and agonized, because he couldn't bear that sadness and anger, he too had turned his arrow toward the Eternal Church.
In truth, he should have comforted her.
"I didn't comfort you in your grief and acted according to my emotions. I gave myself over to anger. This is the result. All those words I heard from you, I think of them as deserved retribution."
Basilio smiled bitterly. He took off the mask on his face to look at Pline.
It was the appearance of a skull with blazing eye sockets.
"That I beca such a monster. That would be the reason. Yes, I'm being punished."
"Julius......"
"There's no more Julius. He died that day when he went to the battlefield. What's here is the fixer Basilio."
Basilio said while putting his mask back on. Pline realized that Basilio was pushing her away.
Just because the truth was known, just because the misunderstanding was cleared, didn't an they could return to how things were before.
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