Raising Villains the Right Way

In conclusion, flying through the combined efforts of Basiliora and Blackie was, in many ways, better than Alon had expected.

For ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍one thing, it reduced travel time dramatically.

Part ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of that was because he usually traveled at a leisurely pace, but even so, a journey that normally took an entire day had been completed in less than two hours.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍speed was incredible, and thanks to Blackie carefully supporting Alon’s body, both safety and comfort had been guaranteed.

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍first, he had secretly worried about falling.

There ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were a few other minor inconveniences as well, but the advantages were so overwhelming that they hardly felt like drawbacks.

There ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was, however, one issue that hit Alon particularly hard.

Namely—

[Hm hm, let’s descend now.]

“Just get down already...!”

—it was so cold that even Alon, who rarely cursed, felt like swearing.

As he slowly sensed the ground drawing closer, Alon let out a sigh of relief.

His entire body was trembling.

’At first, it was bearable.’

At the beginning, it really had been manageable.

The wind was cold, but wrapping himself in his coat had been enough.

However, after about thirty minutes, the coat was no longer sufficient, so he immediately activated a shield.

He had assumed the shield would be enough to block the wind.

And naturally, it did.

The problem was Alon’s Mana Hole.

These days, the duration of Reverse Heaven had increased significantly, so he rarely paid attention to it.

But Alon’s Mana Hole had been small since birth, and because of that, he couldn’t maintain a shield for more than an hour.

And using Reverse Heaven here wasn’t a good option either, since he had nowhere else to expend the excess mana.

So in the end, he had endured the rest of the trip like this.

Thud!

While Alon shivered, Basiliora’s body touched the ground.

At the same time, the black armor rapidly vanished from Basiliora’s body.

Basiliora also began shrinking while emitting white light, as though its time limit had been reached.

[Hm hm, well... my apologies. I got too excited. Next time I’ll drive safely.]

Having completely shrunk, Basiliora first looked extremely pleased before cautiously watching Alon’s reaction.

Its eyes practically said:

What if I don’t get to fly again?

[Meow-]

Blackie shook its head while looking at Basiliora as though it found the situation absurd.

’How am I supposed to get back now...?’

“Lord Alon?!”

Just as Alon began fearing the return trip already, Sili came running toward him.

“...!”

Seeing her, Alon suddenly experienced a tremendous revelation.

Quickly striding toward her, he called out her name.

“Sili.”

The sudden and serious tone caught Sili off guard.

“...Yes.”

She soon nodded with an equally serious expression.

However—

“You said you’re a mage, correct?”

“...Excuse me?”

“You’re a mage, right?”

“U-Um... yes, but right now I’m a Saintess—”

“What Circle are you?”

“If we’re talking Circles, I’m Third Circle, but—”

The continued questioning left her thoroughly confused.

Meanwhile, despite his usual expressionlessness, Alon’s atmosphere brightened considerably.

“Sili, don’t you want to fly?”

“...Huh?”

“No.”

“You must fly.”

He said it decisively.

“??”

For Sili, it was an utterly sudden and baffling declaration.

Several hours later.

“Hm... I feel like they should be arriving soon.”

“Yeah. Unless they crashed somewhere, they should’ve shown up by now.”

Just as Penia and Evan were scanning the sky—

Crackle! BOOM!

Red lightning erupted in the distance, followed by thunder.

Both of them immediately realized.

“Ah.”

“They’re back.”

That Alon had returned.

Not long afterward, Basiliora’s body emerged from beyond the mountains, gliding toward Palantio through dark clouds.

“I saw it when they departed too, but...”

“It’s a little... villain-like.”

“Right?”

For once, Evan and Penia completely agreed regarding Basiliora’s majesty(?).

A short while later, Basiliora descended to the ground.

And—

“You’re back. Hm, but Sili?”

“Huh?”

Sili’s usual smile had vanished, replaced by a rather complicated expression.

Meanwhile—

“Finally, we’ve arrived.”

Alon stepped onto the ground wearing an extremely satisfied expression.

“?”

“?”

Question marks appeared above Evan and Penia’s heads.

Immediately after arriving in Palantio with Sili.

The first thing Alon did was tell Lainisius about the test flight.

“Hm. So that was the problem.”

“At this rate, I’d freeze to death.”

“I see.”

Lainisius nodded as though he understood.

“I’ll make an item capable of maintaining a shield for extended periods. It won’t take long.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

This time, Lainisius looked at Sili beside him.

“And this is—”

“This is Sili.”

“Hello.”

Sili politely lowered her head after Alon’s introduction.

Seeing Lainisius’s confusion, Alon elaborated.

“Do you remember what I mentioned before?”

“Hm?”

“The matter related to automation.”

“Ah.”

Lainisius let out a sound of realization.

“You mentioned wanting to take a closer look at whatever power she possessed, didn’t you?”

This was another reason Alon had brought Sili.

He wanted Lainisius’s help in automating the distribution of blessings.

Of course, originally he had planned to bring Sili later.

“Interesting...”

In any case, Lainisius’s curiosity seemed piqued as he carefully observed her.

“Quite fascinating.”

“Can you tell anything?”

“Could you give me some time? Looking at both your divine power and hers, I think I see a few things worth considering.”

After finishing his discussion with Lainisius, Alon returned to his office.

[Kuhahahahaha! Everyone was looking up to me!]

[Meow-]

“I think they were afraid of you.”

[What nonsense!! They were absolutely admiring me! What would a human know about being admired? I may be like this now, but I used to be a god!]

The scene greeting him upon his return consisted of—

Basiliora proudly boasting.

Blackie staring at it with disappointment.

Evan mechanically responding without much interest.

And Penia filling out paperwork as if none of it concerned her.

The atmosphere was somewhat chaotic.

But only briefly.

“Lord Alon.”

“Sili.”

As Sili called him, Alon finally felt somewhat embarrassed.

“My apologies. You must have had things to do, yet I dragged you here so suddenly.”

“No! You don’t need to apologize! Honestly, I’m really glad I was able to help!”

Unlike earlier, Sili answered energetically.

“Thank you for saying that. For today, stay here, and I’ll take you back tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

After nodding vigorously, Sili spoke again.

“By the way, Lord Alon. May I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Will you continue riding that thing from now on?”

For some reason, her eyes sparkled strangely.

Though puzzled, Alon nodded.

“Probably. Why do you ask?”

Sili cleared her throat.

“I think the timing is perfect.”

“Timing?”

“Yes!”

“...For what?”

Alon had no idea what she meant.

“You’re going to Divine Land tomorrow, right?”

“That’s the plan, but—”

“Then I’ll show you tomorrow!”

Unlike Alon, Sili wore a confident smile.

The following day.

With Lainisius’s help, Alon received an artifact capable of lasting over three hours on a single charge.

This time, he departed for Divine Land with both Penia and Evan riding along.

“If it hadn’t blocked the wind, I think I really would’ve frozen to death.”

“Seriously.”

The two of them shared similar impressions.

Soon they arrived at Divine Land.

Receiving even stronger faith than before for reasons he couldn’t understand, Alon entered the central tent.

And then—

“?”

He discovered a staircase leading underground.

A staircase that hadn’t existed during his previous visit.

“This is...?”

Alon asked in confusion.

Sili smiled and answered.

“We kept doing our work above ground before, but now there are simply too many people.”

Wouldn’t a territory normally expand sideways when its population increased?

The thought crossed Alon’s mind.

Nevertheless, he followed Sili underground.

Soon, a gigantic cavern came into view.

“This was built in only half a year?”

“Wow...”

“...No, when exactly was a cavern like this created?”

Evan and Penia expressed their amazement.

Even Alon’s mouth fell open.

Seeing their reactions, Sili laughed.

“It was built using the blessing Lord Alon granted us. Though I wasn’t the one who used it.”

“My blessing?”

“Yes!”

If someone had successfully gained faith and awakened an ability, then such a thing was certainly possible.

Accepting that explanation, Alon curiously looked around.

Eventually, his gaze lowered.

Then he froze.

Because—

“Sili, what’s that?”

“It’s a statue of Lord Alon!”

At the center of the enormous underground cavern stood a statue.

Of course, statues themselves were nothing new anymore.

He had seen plenty of them by now.

Yet despite that—

“......”

“That’s... really huge, isn’t it?”

The reason Alon’s mouth shut tightly was because the statue before him was so massive that it could easily be called a giant colossus.

Silence settled throughout the cavern.

“...Sili.”

“Yes?”

“What does me riding Basiliora have to do with this statue?”

Recalling what Sili had said yesterday, Alon asked.

She immediately clapped her hands together.

“That’s exactly why I brought you here, Lord Alon!”

She shouted cheerfully.

“To explain?”

“Yes! I thought it would be much easier to show you rather than explain it!”

“The statue?”

“No. The ability I received from you this time.”

“Ah.”

Alon let out a sound of understanding.

Now that he thought about it, he had only heard that Sili’s ability had awakened.

He had never actually seen it.

As Alon organized his thoughts—

Sili had already descended and taken her place before the giant statue.

“Hoo—”

She exhaled deeply and began concentrating.

WOOOOOOOONG—!!!

Along with it, familiar divine power erupted from her body.

How much time passed as Alon, Evan, and Penia silently watched?

The tremendous amount of power pouring from Sili was suddenly absorbed into the giant statue.

And then—

They saw it.

RUMBLE—!!!

The enormous statue that had clearly been nothing more than stone—

Moved.

With a deafening roar, it spread both arms wide in an incomparably benevolent gesture.

And witnessing that overwhelming sight—

“What is that?!”

Alon felt a fear he couldn’t quite understand.

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