"...Rioche?"

When Alon called his name with a bewildered expression, Rioche gave a deep smile.

[Though I'm now known by the name Hazad.]

Looking at Rioche’s confident expression, Alon looked even more confused.

Indeed, Alon had met Rioche in the past.

However, he never expected Rioche would become a god of the Lizardmen.

It was only natural.

Back then, Rioche was neither a god nor anything close to one, and above all, they weren’t close enough to be called ‘friends.’

[It’s awkward to talk while standing, so come with me.]

Rioche soon led Alon somewhere.

As Alon took just one step onto the stairs— they had already arrived at the top of the pyramid.

[Have a seat.]

Following Rioche’s lead, Alon and Evan sat on the chairs placed before them, and a brief silence followed.

“...What happened?”

Alon was the first to speak.

[Which part are you referring to?]

"Exactly as I said. From what I remember, in the past, you were—"

[Ah—starting from there, huh.]

Rioche nodded.

[It’s a bit of a long story, but I’ll try to summarize it.]

He calmly began to explain.

After some time had passed—

[...That’s how it happened.]

Alon quietly organized the contents of the story he had just heard.

“So, to summarize, after I disappeared, you began to gather faith, not as a king but as a god. Is that correct?”

[Yes. After you left, the great threat named Baarma disappeared and peace returned—but the problem didn’t end there.]

“Did something else happen?”

At Alon’s question, Rioche nodded.

[The elves and Eastern nations remained peaceful, but the Lizardmen were different.]

As Alon gave a look that asked him to go on, Rioche continued the story.

[As you know, I was more of a chieftain than a king—just a leader uniting various tribes. The tribes under my leadership followed me only temporarily, depending on the situation.]

[When the war ended, the tribes split again and began fighting amongst themselves. The weakened tribes from the Baarma war quickly became prey for others, leading to chaos.]

“So you became a god to stop the war?”

Rioche slowly shook his head.

[That was part of it, but it wasn’t the main reason. To be more precise, there was another reason.]

“Another reason?”

[Yes, but that’s not something I can reveal right now. It’s a personal matter. Still, aside from that, I began deifying myself and gathering faith—and eventually became a god.]

“......”

[Well, it was so difficult gathering faith that I even faked my death and resurrection for a hundred years just to pull it off,] Rioche said with a dry chuckle.

Alon felt he could guess how Rioche managed to become a god.

Just then—

[Hmph, talking however you please, aren’t you.]

A familiar voice was suddenly heard.

When Alon and Evan turned their heads—

"...Magrina?"

It was none other than Magrina’s face.

Upon seeing Alon, she immediately smiled brightly.

[Did you arrive safely, Brother? This is a magical projection.]

Only then did Alon realize her form was translucent and let out a soft gasp.

[...How? I never accepted anything like this.]

The crystal orb placed on one of the desks had suddenly activated, and a hint of panic appeared on Rioche’s face.

In response, Magrina narrowed her eyes and looked at him.

A look completely different from the gentle gaze she usually showed Alon.

[Who do you think gave you that magical orb in the first place?]

[......Isn’t this a clear breach of etiquette?]

[Etiquette aside, you seem to be hiding a lot from my brother. Isn’t that more of a breach?]

At that, Rioche averted his gaze with a guilty look.

As Alon and Evan stared at him simultaneously, Magrina revealed the truth.

[Brother, he used your divine authority to become a god.]

“...My divine authority?”

Magrina nodded and explained the whole situation.

Once again, after hearing everything, Alon responded—

“So in short, he forged a connection with me, the one who defeated Baarma, to gather faith. Is that it?”

[Exactly. Even though you two weren’t even that close, he shamelessly called you a Celestial Saint and all that... how cowardly.]

Magrina’s gaze turned even colder.

Rioche cleared his throat awkwardly and turned his eyes elsewhere.

[Well, you see... trying to gather faith on my own was really difficult. I’m not as talented or gifted as you are, you know... ahem.]

He began making excuses.

All signs of dignity were long gone.

"Uh..."

Evan, who was standing nearby, now wore the same expression as Magrina, as if he too understood the situation.

Rioche, embarrassed, cleared his throat again.

[...Anyway, I never intended to completely cover it up. If I did, I would’ve just pretended not to know you from the start.]

[Well, I guess it’s fortunate you had at least that much conscience left.]

Rioche groaned at Magrina’s sharp words but kept speaking resolutely.

[Anyway, it’s true that I became a god with your help. So now, I plan to return the favor by becoming your strength.]

“...My strength?”

[Yes. I acknowledge you as a god and plan to share divine power with you.]

“You mean—”

[You’ll possess the same power as me. What do you think? I may have shamelessly used our supposed bond, but doesn’t this outcome benefit you too?]

Alon nodded.

Rioche’s proposal, in fact, was not disadvantageous for him in any way.

As the conversation on the topic matured—

“Oh, and there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“They want to see you in the East as well.”

Rioche brought up a new topic.

“...The Eastern Kingdom?”

“Yes. It’s quite far, so it’s best to visit when you have time later. But I’d recommend going when your schedule allows it.”

“Who exactly wants to see me in the East?”

At Alon’s question, Rioche shrugged.

“Sorry, I don’t really know either.”

“Could it be that someone like you—someone who was once in the past and became a god—exists there too?”

“That’s not it. But the king of that land said he wishes to meet the Marquis Palatio, and asked me to make sure to pass that on.”

Alon fell into brief thought.

“The Eastern Kingdom, huh...?”

The Eastern Kingdom.

As far as Alon knew— like the lands of Greynifra and the Lizardmen, it was an island nation to the east that only became accessible after purchasing DLC.

“...Who could it be?”

However, no matter how much he combed through his past memories and existing knowledge— Alon couldn’t quite figure out who would want to see him.

Among the people he saved in the past, there were no Easterners he had built a relationship with.

Therefore—

“For now, understood.”

He tentatively concluded that he’d visit if the opportunity arose.

Thus ended Alon’s audience with Rioche.

Alon exited the great pyramid-shaped temple.

“So, Marquis. It looks like the urgent matters are taken care of. What are your plans now?”

“Of course, we’ll also need to drop by the Teriana Colony,” Evan added.

He was right.

“Let’s head to the colony one last time.”

Alon made his way toward the colony.

####

At the center of the continent— A wasteland between the Allied Kingdom and the Empire.

A barren desert where nothing lived and no creature could easily be found.

In an underground chamber located somewhere within that wasteland—

“Hmmm~”

A man quietly stroked his chin.

In front of him knelt a masked man, his entire body covered in black robes, maintaining silence.

Then—

“They say Marquis Palatio has returned from the dead... Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The masked man bowed his head deeply as he answered the man’s question.

“I see~”

The man’s soft murmur echoed in the chamber.

The masked man cautiously glanced up to observe him— and soon, a look of surprise appeared on the face hidden behind the mask.

And for good reason— at the corner of his master’s lips— was a clear smile.

Had he ever seen his master smile before?

The masked man tried to recall but quickly shook his head inwardly.

To his knowledge— not once.

He had never seen his master smile before.

Which is why he blankly stared at him for a moment.

“Why? Surprised?”

The master’s sudden words brought him back to his senses.

He realized he had committed disrespect.

He quickly lowered his head and said,

“I apologize. I was being rude—”

He hurriedly tried to explain, but—

“No, it’s fine. After spending so long with me, it’s only natural you’d find this surprising.”

The man shook his head instead.

Then he asked the masked man,

“Anyway, is there anything else to report?”

“Yes, there is one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“It concerns the mutants that had recently drifted toward the border from the United Kingdom.”

“Mutants—ah, the ones spilling out of the jungle, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“How many were there?”

“Approximately 130 units.”

“And the result?”

“All were taken care of. We also eliminated all remnants of the Maw, as previously reported.”

The masked man bowed again in respect.

In response, the man said,

“Good work. You may go.”

He gave a dismissal order.

The masked man vanished without another word.

Soon after, as silence filled the room—

“Congratulations.”

A woman appeared, leaning on the man’s chair.

Like the man, the woman also had heterochromatic eyes.

“Suddenly...?”

“What do you mean suddenly? You’ve been dying to meet him.”

“...That’s—”

“Am I wrong?”

As if she already knew his thoughts, she spoke with certainty.

The man remained silent for a moment—

“Sis, enough with the teasing.”

“But you’re going to meet him, aren’t you? That strange guy’s predicted time has already passed anyway.”

“Well, that’s true, but...”

—No. The King of Curses.

The man who led the Curse Weavers lowered his head and muttered.

“...I do want to meet him—”

“Then should we go say hello?”

“Sis, isn’t this a little too sudden?”

“You want to see him soon, don’t you?”

“Still, we should prepare some gifts or something—”

“Hearing he was still alive, you’ve been gathering all kinds of gifts for the past 300 years, haven’t you? And now you want to prepare even more?”

“Besides—”

“You’ve been secretly helping him through the information guild this whole time, haven’t you? Barely charging him any money. If you just mention that to him, I bet he’ll be thrilled.”

“...You think so?”

“Of course. That’s the kind of person he is.”

The King of Curses—

“Sis, since we’ve made up our minds, we should strike while the iron’s hot, right?”

“Let’s go right now. To meet the one who saved us.”

Nangwon looked up again.

And on the corners of his lips— there was an undeniable look of anticipation.