Raising Villains the Right Way

In the eastern capital of the Empire.

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍place that was now also the territory of Serdea.

Within ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Imperial Palace there—

Three ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍individuals sat facing one another.

One ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was Serdea Polantisia, the ruler of the Eastern Empire.

Another ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was Irenne Polantisia, ruler of the Southern Empire.

And ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍lastly—

Contanias Polantisia, ruler of the Northern Empire, sat among them.

Ordinarily, a gathering like this would have been impossible.

Though they were siblings born of the same bloodline, they ultimately stood on opposing sides.

Even Serdea, when extending the invitations, had thought that while Irenne might come, Contanias certainly would not.

“......”

Yet contrary to expectations, Contanias was here.

Though he openly displayed some discomfort, he had come nonetheless.

’Don’t worry. I’ll prepare everything for you.’

Watching him, Serdea recalled a certain voice.

The words of the woman who had visited her several months ago, smiling as she explained a path by which the Empire could survive.

“Hm~ I didn’t think you’d come, but here you are.”

As Serdea was lost in thought, Irenne spoke.

The moment Serdea stopped thinking, Contanias, who had been frowning all along, clicked his tongue.

“I didn’t come because I wanted to see you. I came only because the request was so desperate.”

“I don’t think Serdea’s request was that desperate.”

“......”

“I think I know. She threatened you, didn’t she?”

“Shut up.”

Contanias’s reaction to Irenne’s words was so straightforward it was almost amusing.

Listening to them, Serdea easily pieced together what had happened.

“......She visited you as well?”

“Otherwise, why would I bother coming all the way into the deepest part of the East?”

“Tch.”

Irenne answered while Contanias merely snorted and turned his head away, clearly displeased with the entire situation.

But that alone was enough of an answer.

Serdea was about to ask something else when—

“Let me say this first. I didn’t hear any explanations from her. Contanias probably didn’t either.”

“Hmph. I did.”

“What did she tell you?”

“You think I’d tell you?”

“Then I guess she didn’t.”

“What?”

“You’ve always been terrible at lying. Whenever you’re afraid you’ll be exposed, your eyes drift to the right.”

“......”

At Irenne’s casual observation, Contanias’s brow twitched.

Yet she continued without paying him any mind.

“The only thing I was told was that I could save the Empire if I came to find you. And that if I didn’t, I’d die before long.”

At those words, Serdea looked toward Contanias.

He simply stared at Irenne without reacting.

Serdea took a deep breath.

“To begin with, let me state this clearly. The reason I gathered the two of you here is entirely because of her.”

With that introduction, Serdea began relaying everything Yutia had told her.

After some time passed—

“To be honest, it’s difficult to believe.”

“But it’s equally difficult not to believe it.”

“......”

The three fell silent.

In truth, nobody here could determine whether her words were true or false.

Naturally.

She had spoken of the future.

Unless they actually experienced that future, there was no way to verify her claims.

And yet—

They had no choice but to believe her.

Or more precisely, they had no choice but not to doubt her.

Because of one particular sentence she had left behind.

’If you still refuse after enough time passes, I’ll have no choice but to replace your heads.’

Such a casual statement.

’Because it has to be done anyway.’

And yet for those who had truly met her—

It felt infinitely heavy.

“Urgh...”

As if proving they had all heard the same words, Contanias’s face suddenly turned pale and he looked ready to vomit.

Yet neither Irenne nor Serdea mocked him.

Though they didn’t show it, they felt much the same.

“Hoo...”

Irenne sighed and recalled that moment.

The ordinary Seeker smiling gently as she looked at her.

Irenne had not used her ability to observe Yutia.

More accurately, she couldn’t.

Her ability simply did not work on Yutia.

Yet despite that, she understood.

It was instinct.

Not because she was an Emperor.

Simply instinct.

The instinct every living creature in this world possessed.

That instinct warned her.

The being before her was incomprehensible.

Thus, after sighing, Irenne turned toward Contanias.

“Come to think of it, did the Guardian Dragon say anything?”

“The Guardian Dragon entered slumber long ago.”

Silence followed briefly.

Then Irenne thought not of Yutia, but of someone else.

More specifically—

The man Yutia followed while calling him My Lord.

The man who possessed four flames when even divine-bloods only carried one.

’This was probably his doing.’

She knew.

The woman who had visited her followed that man.

“Hoo...”

Irenne’s body trembled slightly.

She had no idea what exactly that man was planning.

But there was one thing she knew for certain.

She only had one choice.

And so—

Irenne looked into the eyes of the siblings seated before her.

Perhaps they had reached similar conclusions.

Both returned her gaze with solemn expressions.

Then—

“Let’s begin by discussing who will do what.”

“According to that man’s intentions.”

And so, alongside the formation of an alliance—

The real meeting began.

A meeting that started with Yutia.

Yet somehow became mixed with a very strange misunderstanding.

While that meeting continued within the Empire, accompanied by another misunderstanding Alon knew nothing about—

***

Alon stood before Sili and the colossal giant statue.

“Yes!”

“So... that’s your ability?”

“The ability to move that giant statue?”

“Well... more precisely, I gained the ability to move statues.”

At Sili’s explanation, Alon instinctively pressed a hand against his forehead.

“Moving statues, huh...”

“That actually sounds kind of cool...?”

Muttered Penia and Evan beside him.

[Oh—]

[Meow-]

Basiliora and Blackie also admired the statue of Alon standing with crossed arms.

Only Alon stood speechless as he looked at Sili.

Her smile was entirely too bright.

“So you gained a control-type ability?”

“Yes! And on top of that, it enhances various things too.”

“It does?”

“Yes!”

“Enhances?”

For a moment, Alon became curious.

But ultimately he chose not to ask.

From the moment Sili began controlling it, her eyes had started glowing blue.

That alone gave him the feeling something troublesome would happen.

Instead, he recalled what Sili had asked him yesterday.

“By the way, Sili.”

“Yes? Go ahead!”

“I understand your ability now, but... what does this have to do with Basiliora?”

Sili answered immediately.

“If Lord Alon plans to keep riding Basiliora, I thought about adding it to the giant statue.”

“Adding it?”

“Yes! Though I’d have to make it a bit smaller due to size constraints.”

“......Is there really any reason to add a statue of Basiliora?”

“Of course! If you continue riding Basiliora, then I can move that too!”

Alon felt something strange about her explanation.

“Wouldn’t that just mean you can move a Basiliora statue?”

“Mm, no. That’s not it.”

“I can only move statues of Lord Alon.”

“Only my statues?”

“Yes!”

“And if it’s related to Lord Alon, I can move that too!”

“...Really?”

“Yes, really!”

Only then did Alon understand why Sili had asked about Basiliora.

Yet at the same time, the whole thing felt odd.

It wasn’t even a Law, yet it came with such bizarre restrictions.

“Have you tried moving other statues?”

So he asked another question.

Sili nodded.

“Yes. I tried.”

“But I couldn’t move any statues except ones depicting Lord Alon.”

“I see.”

Alon raised his eyes.

The giant statue completely filled his vision.

If strength were determined purely by size, it looked capable of knocking down three first-stage divine-bloods at once.

After some more time passed—

Alon ultimately gave permission for a Basiliora statue to be created.

However, he still couldn’t discover why Sili could only move statues of him and things connected to him.

For now, he returned upstairs.

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“Where did you say Star Root was?”

“They’ve gathered around Ashtalon. Are you planning to leave immediately?”

“Yes.”

“Since I’m already out here anyway. Travel time isn’t long, so I can visit and return.”

The sun had not yet reached its highest point.

Just as Alon checked the time and began preparing—

Tap.

A white cat, Kalannon, hopped onto the desk.

“Kalannon?”

When Alon called out, Kalannon nodded before tapping the desk repeatedly.

As though telling him to sit down.

Though confused, Alon vaguely understood that Kalannon wanted to talk and sat down.

At that moment—

Smack smack smack!

[Gyuk!?]

Blackie suddenly leapt out and smacked Kalannon across the head just as she approached Alon.

Startled, Kalannon fell backward with an aggrieved expression.

“Blackie. You shouldn’t do that.”

Alon lifted Blackie and gently scolded it.

Blackie tilted its head, then crawled back into his pocket.

Still looking wronged, Kalannon cautiously approached and placed a paw on the back of Alon’s hand.

At the same time—

“That’s so mean! At least stop it beforehand!”

A familiar voice rang out as a dawn-like galaxy spread around them.

“My apologies. I couldn’t react in time.”

A girl stood there with both hands atop her head, looking ready to cry.

Alon awkwardly scratched his cheek.

Kalannon puffed out her cheeks before eventually sighing.

“Whatever. This is just my life now...”

“Didn’t you say things were going well lately?”

“No fair responding with facts instead of sympathy!”

“So, what is it?”

After exchanging greetings, Alon casually shrugged.

Kalannon immediately brightened.

“A good thing happened, but it seems you don’t know about it, so I came to tell you.”

“A good thing that I don’t know about?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“I think you’re already capable of Manifestation now.”

Kalannon’s words instantly left Alon bewildered.

“Suddenly?”

“Last time, didn’t you say I would only be able to do it after accumulating enough image?”

“I did.”

“But now you’ve already reached the point where Manifestation should be possible. You’ve even gained reverence from beings beyond ordinary humans.”

“Beings beyond humans?”

“Yes. Hmm... are those the divine-bloods?”

“Each one is honestly incredible.”

Kalannon nodded, impressed all over again.

“Anyway, it seemed like you hadn’t realized yet, so I came to tell you.”

“That’s certainly good news.”

“Of course it is.”

Kalannon answered enthusiastically.

Watching her, Alon suddenly asked:

“Then what form would I take if I manifested this time?”

“This time?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t really imagine it. You said before that people manifest according to the image their believers hold of them, didn’t you?”

“You probably will look like that when you manifest.”

Then Kalannon suddenly seemed to remember something.

“Oh, if you’re curious, I can show you.”

“Hm?”

“Since we’re connected, showing you the form you’ll take after Manifestation isn’t difficult.”

“In that case, could I ask you to?”

“Of course!”

Kalannon immediately closed her eyes.

Watching her, Alon unconsciously rubbed his chin.

’What will I look like?’

Until now, he had never thought much about it.

But now that Manifestation was finally possible, he found himself excited.

’If it’s based on the image I showed the divine-bloods, then maybe it’ll resemble when I used Sniping of Oblivion.’

’Or maybe after that, when I couldn’t properly control it and the stars appeared.’

’Either way isn’t bad.’

Just as Alon wandered through those pleasant imaginings—

“It should appear now.”

The moment Kalannon finished speaking, a massive distortion materialized before them.

And the first thing that entered Alon’s eager eyes was—

“...?”

A gigantic eye.

An eye so enormous it sent chills down his spine.

And next—

Connected to that eye was a vast cluster of colossal stars, hanging like parasites.

Around them churned an abyss that seemed capable of devouring everything.

That wasn’t all.

Around the abyss, bizarre symbols repeatedly shattered and reformed, drifting around the eye like dust.

As though someone had been given the prompt:

’Create something that would instantly convince everyone the world is ending the moment it appears.’

And this had been the result.

A pseudo-Cthulhu-like monstrosity.

“......What is that?”

Alon barely managed to ask.

“Umm... I think that’s your Manifestation form.”

Kalannon answered matter-of-factly.

Alon rubbed his eyes and looked again.

’My image... looks like THAT??’

A shock so great he couldn’t even close his mouth washed over him.

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