Mastermind
Copyright© 2026 by FantasyTranslater
Chapter 32
A little over two weeks had passed. Although progress was slower than expected due to the wounded soldiers, they finally arrived at Kirdam, the capital of Caliban, to be met with the citizens’ enthusiastic cheers. Wherever he looked, Alon saw people with bright expressions, proudly cheering. Led by Deus, the knights and soldiers were welcomed into the royal palace, where they reported the subjugation of the Outer God, marking the end of the expedition.
Alon, without hesitation, prepared to leave once again. For him, there was no longer any reason to stay in Caliban after the Outer God had been eradicated.
“I’ve received plenty of gifts,” he thought with a satisfied expression as he glanced at the carriage. The carriage was loaded with numerous gifts, courtesy of the quick-witted king of Caliban, who sought to strengthen their friendship. Alon, gazing contentedly at the slightly excessive gifts, soon spoke to Deus.
“Well, see you next time.”
As he turned to leave, offering a typical Korean farewell akin to “Let’s have a meal sometime,” Deus, for the first time, suddenly asked a question.
“May I ask you something?”
Alon, who was about to turn away, paused. “What is it?”
Having spent about a month with Deus, from the northern expedition to their return to the capital, Alon had never heard such a direct question from him before. Usually, Deus only expressed his deepening respect without much inquiry. Alon patiently waited for him to speak.
After a moment of silence, Deus finally asked, “Can I become stronger too?”
Alon was briefly taken aback by the unexpected question, especially since Deus was already quite strong. Alon pondered what could have prompted such a question, then reached a conclusion.
‘Perhaps it’s because the magic I used in battle against the Outer God left a strong impression, increasing his respect for me.’
After concluding his thoughts, Alon spoke. “Of course, you can become stronger.”
“Really?”
“Yes, as long as you put in the effort, you can achieve anything you desire.”
“! Is that true?”
“ ... Yes, it’s true,” Alon replied, puzzled by Deus’s sudden eagerness. He wasn’t lying. In fact, Deus, like the rest of the Five Sins, already had extraordinary innate abilities even before the descent of the gods. In Deus’s case, even without using his unique abilities, he could become a swordmaster with sheer skill. Given that he’d reached this level in just one year, it was only a matter of time before he became even stronger.
Reflecting on these facts made Alon feel a tinge of envy for the sheer talent standing before him.
‘Ah, it would’ve been nice if I could’ve been reborn with a more talented body,’ Alon thought briefly before continuing.
“So don’t worry,” he added.
“Understood,” Deus replied.
“Then, I’ll be on my way.”
“ ... Wait, may I ask you one more thing?”
“ ... What is it now?” Alon asked, hesitating mid-turn.
“Why do you always ask instead of command?”
“...?”
Alon, momentarily confused by the question, tried to piece together what Deus might be getting at. “Does he think there’s some hidden motive behind my support?”
Though there was indeed a reason—preventing the descent of the Five Sins—Alon’s financial and material support for them had been primarily out of goodwill, aside from the larger threat of the Five Sins.
While there was some tension related to the Five Sins, his actions were still rooted in genuine goodwill. However, Deus’s suspicion seemed to undermine the sincerity of his intentions, which made Alon feel slightly wronged.
“Who would issue orders to family?” Alon replied, hoping to convey his sincerity with his parting words.
With that, he said his final farewell to Deus and departed for Asteria in his carriage.
That night...
Deus sat in the office of the mansion, staring blankly at the moon hanging in the sky, maintaining a silent vigil.
“Hah—”
A quiet sigh escaped him. But the reason for his sigh was not the various tasks on his desk or the work he had to handle in the future. Instead, it was because he had come face-to-face with his own ignorance during the recent expedition.
Deus had always believed he was strong enough. His innate ability, passed down through his lineage, was so powerful that even Yutia had praised it. Moreover, his talent with the sword, a gift bestowed upon him by the Great Moon, surpassed even Caliban’s greatest swordmaster, Reinhardt. Deus was fully aware of this. In fact, he couldn’t not know. The countless praises and reverence he received as he swiftly rose to become a Master Knight made it impossible for him to be unaware of his own strength.
Thus, he had vaguely assumed that the strength he possessed was enough to exact revenge on the “Black Ones.” Even if that strength was slightly lacking, he believed his talent with the sword would eventually be sufficient to elevate him to that level.
At least, until he encountered the Outer God.
“...”
To Deus, the very presence of the Outer God—and its overwhelming strength—was a profound shock. Merely standing before it, he felt his throat tighten, as if gripped by fear. It made him realize, in the most painful way, that he was just a frog in a well, ignorant of the vast world beyond.
This realization hit him even harder when he witnessed the power of the Great Moon.
He couldn’t help but recall that moment. The image of the Great Moon using magic against the Outer God, with the sunset as a backdrop. And the two eyes that appeared behind him.
Of course, Deus had no idea what those eyes were. All he could discern was that each eye represented a different entity, and the Great Moon was utilizing their power. However, Deus instinctively understood one crucial thing just from looking at those eyes: “That” was something that shouldn’t be perceived, and even the mere attempt to understand it was forbidden.
Though it was the first time he’d seen it, this understanding was imprinted in his mind as naturally as if it had always been there. Just like the fact that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, or that all life born eventually dies, the notion that this knowledge should not be pursued became an undeniable truth in his mind.
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