Raising Villains the Right Way

The divine-bloods began dropping to their knees one after another.

Seeing ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍that sight, Alon realized something.

Another ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍misunderstanding had been born.

Meanwhile, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the moment Seolrang was brought into the carriage, Blackie quietly slipped outside.

Arriving ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍at the battlefield where the fierce battle had taken place—

[Meow-]

—it ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍absorbed the corpses of the divine-bloods that the Descender had failed to absorb.

Because of the restriction that prevented it from absorbing a divine-blood’s ability without first witnessing it, quite a few divine-blood corpses had been left behind on the battlefield.

Blackie leisurely continued absorbing the corpses.

At that moment, it suddenly heard the sound of something stirring.

[Khaaaak.]

Turning its gaze, it discovered the Descender, whose body had been split in half.

Its condition was far from normal.

Red blood flowed from the place where the Fragment had been embedded.

All that remained of its body was a single right arm, one shoulder, and the upper torso connected to its right side.

Having lost over eighty percent of its body, its appearance was utterly miserable.

Yet—

[Uugh!]

The Descender dragged itself across the ground, letting out agonized groans that sounded painful just to hear.

As though it absolutely had to reach somewhere.

Naturally, Blackie followed the direction in which the Descender was heading.

There—

[Meow?]

—lay a divine-blood corpse.

A corpse the Descender had witnessed the ability of but had failed to absorb.

And the moment Blackie saw it—

Tap tap tap tap—

[!]

Without the slightest hesitation, Blackie trotted over and stopped directly in front of the Descender as if showing it something.

[W-What!?]

Then it began absorbing the corpse.

[What are you doing!? What do you think you’re doing!?]

The Descender shouted.

But Blackie paid it no mind.

After absorbing the entire corpse, it merely turned its head and calmly looked at the Descender.

Tilt—

A pure tilt of the head, carrying no intention whatsoever.

Yet perhaps the Descender sensed something in Blackie’s eyes, because it hurriedly opened its mouth.

[Stop! Stop that!]

Ignoring the Descender’s desperate cries, Blackie tilted its head several more times as though it could hear nothing at all before slowly approaching it.

A light, cheerful trot.

[Stop! I said stop!]

[If you spare me, I’ll tell you what is going to happen next!]

However, as the distance between them continued to shrink, the Descender grew increasingly frantic.

[Do you know!? This world is already broken! The balance has already been shaken because of the Fragment, and divine-bloods will begin descending recklessly!]

[I know what the future holds! I’ll tell you everything!]

It shouted as though utterly convinced that the creature before it could understand.

Blackie calmly walked right up to the Descender.

And the moment the Descender stared blankly at Blackie—it noticed it.

Within those clear, round eyes that seemed incapable of harboring hostility, a faint trace of killing intent.

[Ah.]

A dying gasp escaped it.

[My avatars still remain. If you kill me, they’ll torment your maste—]

Only then did the Descender resort to threats.

But its voice would never be heard again.

Crack—!

In the next instant, the Descender’s remaining body was completely crushed by a gigantic hand that materialized directly above it.

Soon afterward, Blackie casually absorbed the Descender.

Tap tap tap—

Once the absorption was complete, it headed toward the carriage where Alon was without a trace of lingering attachment.

After the small and adorable Blackie departed, the battlefield was truly left empty.

With no one remaining.

***

Alon’s surprise at the divine-bloods’ sudden proposal(?) lasted only briefly.

For now, he concluded that it would be best to leave the battlefield first and discuss matters afterward.

The sky was gradually clearing.

As he left the battlefield, Alon finally understood why the divine-bloods had developed such feelings instead of hostility.

[Meow-]

No one knew where it had gone, but the moment he was about to move the carriage, Blackie came bouncing back and settled onto his lap.

As Alon stroked it while repeatedly checking the barriers,

Penia, who had been examining Seolrang, cautiously spoke.

“Lord Alon.”

“What is it?”

“......How did things end up like this?”

“I’d like to know how things ended up like this myself......”

Even Alon felt numb.

Because the truth he had pieced together from the divine-bloods’ explanations was so absurd that even he found it ridiculous.

“At what point did the rumor spread that I can grant abilities to divine-bloods?”

Alon genuinely could not understand it.

Naturally, he had never once granted an ability to a divine-blood.

Nor had he ever claimed he could.

After all, while he possessed the ability to absorb divine-blood abilities, he had no idea how to give them to others.

No—rather than not knowing how, he did not even know whether such a thing was possible in the first place.

“Logically speaking, I thought maybe it was a distorted version of the rumors Sili spread in Divine Land, but when I think about it, there are only three rumors she actively spread, aren’t there?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

Penia’s face was filled with confusion.

Soon, however, she forced an awkward smile.

“......Well~ at least there are some benefits to the situation, aren’t there?”

“Well, that’s...... true.”

Alon agreed.

Looking only at the situation itself, there was nothing particularly bad for him.

Because the divine-bloods were mistaken.

They believed Alon had bestowed power upon Seolrang and enabled her to defeat the Descender.

’Strictly speaking, that isn’t entirely wrong.’

Of course, it was not completely false.

The important distinction was that what Alon had given Seolrang was merely the power produced by the restriction of his law.

Not the power of a divine-blood.

“The problem is...... while there are benefits, the future consequences have become even more frightening......?”

At Penia’s observation, Alon fell silent.

Because that truly was the problem.

’I said we’d talk after leaving this place, but...... what should I do?’

Alon thought carefully.

Given his personality, he wanted to clear up this misunderstanding immediately.

To begin with, he disliked taking advantage of others using something he could not actually do.

Furthermore, even if he revealed the truth, his group could still escape for the time being.

They only needed to buy time until his abilities returned.

And that was not particularly difficult.

However, the reason Alon could not make such a simple choice—was because the ones enthusiastically worshipping this misunderstanding were divine-bloods.

Even if they somehow overcame the immediate crisis, if the divine-bloods later learned the truth and vented their unreasonable anger by storming the Allied Kingdom Alliance—

Just imagining it made him desperately hope it would never happen.

After wrestling with the matter from every angle,

“......I don’t have a choice.”

Alon finally reached a decision.

By now, they had already left the battlefield behind.

Alon immediately stepped out of the carriage.

The gathered divine-bloods entered his view.

Watching them hold their breath and wait for his words, Alon secretly sighed and shifted his gaze.

His eyes settled upon the Darkness-Devouring Sword and Burned Vegetation.

Unlike when he had first met them, both bore numerous wounds.

Yet Alon found their condition impressive.

Despite fighting on the front lines against the Descender, neither had been killed.

The moment Alon’s gaze fell upon them, the two divine-bloods approached him as though by prior agreement.

After silently looking at them for a moment, Alon spoke.

“Those who wish to join anew shall be entrusted to the two of you. Judge them well.”

That was his order.

[Understood!]

[We shall carry out your command.]

The two divine-bloods lowered their heads without the slightest question.

Though the sight was somewhat burdensome, Alon spoke the words he had already prepared.

“I know why you have gathered here.”

At his calm voice, the attention of all the divine-bloods focused upon him.

Keeping his face expressionless, Alon continued.

“However, regrettably, you are still lacking. If you wish to receive power, become stronger first. Not by relying on ’tools,’ but by strengthening your ’essence.’”

And then—

“Now, disperse.”

He ordered the divine-bloods to leave.

Silence descended over the area.

Feeling that silence settle around him, Alon found himself thinking unconsciously.

’Ah, was that a little cringeworthy?’

To be honest, he had worried while speaking that he might sound awkward.

A short while later, murmurs began spreading among the previously silent divine-bloods.

Just as Alon seriously debated whether he should change his words and borrow a different persona—

[Understood!]

[We shall obey your command!]

The Darkness-Devouring Sword and Burned Vegetation called out first.

The other divine-bloods soon lowered their heads and followed suit.

’What?’

The atmosphere had suddenly organized itself.

Alon was bewildered, but he accepted their greetings with a calm expression.

’Well... did it somehow work out?’

Thinking that inwardly, he turned around.

And once Alon disappeared back into the carriage, the divine-bloods dispersed according to his order.

Truthfully, when the subjugation force first gathered, Star Root’s situation had not been particularly good.

The reason was obvious.

Most of Star Root’s members had not joined of their own free will but had been recruited entirely against their wishes(?).

The later someone joined, the more skeptical they tended to be about belonging to Star Root.

And there were quite a lot of them.

Naturally, many divine-bloods had only been brought in afterward.

However, that was only true before they participated in the subjugation force.

The divine-bloods who survived the battle against the Descender—

[Did you see that? A mere beastman became strong enough to crush a second-stage divine-blood the moment she received power from the Star Eater.]

[Hooo— no matter how I think about it, it’s shocking.]

[Even now, just remembering it makes my hands and feet tremble.]

—now felt boundless gratitude that they belonged to Star Root.

Partly because rumors that the Star Eater’s power was real had spread.

But above all—

[To think that if we work hard enough, the Star Eater will bestow such power upon us as well...............! It feels like a dream.]

[I feel the same.]

[To think we have a chance to become stronger too............!]

—the words Alon had spoken had been remarkably effective.

To Alon, they had merely been a method of buying time.

Words he himself had worried sounded somewhat embarrassing.

Yet to the divine-bloods, they sounded completely reasonable.

No, more than that—

[Indeed. Even that beastman’s body was slightly breaking apart merely from using that power. ·!]

[Hm— but objectively speaking, that happened only because she’s a beastman. If that power were granted to us—]

[Don’t talk nonsense. That tool—no, that beastman—is no ordinary individual. Considering she used enough power to defeat the Descender while only suffering minor physical distortion, it means she was already prepared to receive that power. If it were you, your body wouldn’t have endured it.]

[............You’re right.]

[I see. So that’s why he told us not to rely on ’tools.’ It seems the ’body’ is even more important.]

[!! Then is that why the Star Eater deliberately doesn’t use humans!?]

—another bizarre misunderstanding was being born.

[Training. It all comes down to training............!]

***

At that time, while Alon was feeling relieved that the divine-bloods had somehow accepted things, he sat beside a campfire preparing to spend the night outdoors.

Only the crackling of the fire could be heard.

Then—

“......Master.”

“Seolrang......?”

Seolrang, who had awakened at some point, approached Alon.