Chapter 402 Tension. 2
Alvine's question seemed to awaken Tifania in her ideas. At the same time, Alvine also noticed that her rage was becoming perceptible in her aura, although she controlled her facial expression very well.
"These bastards are not a species in their own right but a self-proclaimed organization of celestial vigilantes." Her voice was even colder than usual, making Alvine conclude she had a tooth against these people.
But he was not interested in her quarrels. "You mean that they are like...the members of the order?" He frowns.
"No, far from them! They are like a fanatical sect. They worship a certain God whom they call the supreme god, the beginning of the beginning, or the great duke of life and death." She explains in a sober tone.
"...Ho!? I would never have thought that such an organization could exist."
"It's normal since they have only appeared recently. But beware of them; they are not pie."
"...Strange as a qualification, are they so strong?" Alvine's curiosity ignites when he sees the seriousness and hatred in Tifania's eyes.
"Yes, they are strong! Imagine that they have at least ten supreme beings in their ranks, and they are all as strong as I am, with at least three supreme arcana in their arsenals!"
"...! Indeed, it's somewhat worrying." His expression became anchored as he pronounced these words.
'Even I had no more than fifty supreme Arcana when I was at the top of my power. Most supreme beings master only two, only the most powerful, as the monarchs had five or six.
If I remember correctly, only Elena mastered twelve supreme arcana, which made her the strongest of my subordinates after her evolution. Not to mention my subordinates, she was probably ranked second after me in the entire universe known to me. Could she be the one who...no, it's impossible for her to immerse herself in such boring things.' He immediately shakes his head after having this hypothesis.
But Tifania's following words were more shocking to him than anything he could imagine.
"They even have evolutionary seeds like yours." She said while paying attention to Alvine, who frowned.
"...I see." Answers Alvine after a brief moment of silence.
At the same time, his barrier slowly vanished, announcing the end of his conversation with Tifania.
But the latter was the most surprised to see Alvine indifferent to this news.
"I'm stunned by your carelessness." She seemed to think out loud when she whispered these words.
"I'm not carefree. Evolutionary seeds are only one technique among others; it's not surprising to see other creatures or entities master this technique." He still responds to Tifania's remarks despite his impression of her.
The latter looks at him with blurred eyes. "You say that as if it were easy. This technique is not an ordinary skill but an arcane!"
"I know."
"...You know, like me, that arcana are tied to our spiritual bodies... in other words, no one has the power to reproduce the arcana of another higher entity."
"I know."
"!? Stop pretending not to understand me. These people are related to you!" She growls with frustration when she sees Alvine's indifference to her words.
Frowning, Alvine looks into her eyes with a rugged look. "That's my business. I am aware of everything you have just said. But don't know one thing, young girl,
"Y-Young girl?"
"...Our wisdoms are limited. If there is a rank above supremacy, then everything is possible." He continues without paying attention to Tifania, who is red with rage seeing him call her a 'young girl.'
But hearing the rest of Alvine's words, she seemed to have forgotten this episode.
"Do you bring this story back to the carpet? But what would you have to answer if I told you that their supposed God is called Askald!?" She continues despite Alvine's gaze, who seems to want to hide information from her.
The latter's expression was anchored when he heard the name of one of his monarchs.
"...This is only a coincidence. It's not only my monarch who's called Askald. The universe is too big for that...-
She interrupts Alvine by slamming her tongue.
"So, in your opinion, the fact that this supposed god bears the name of one of your monarchs has evolutionary seeds...and annex this barbaric clan your two monarchs belong... are a simple coincidence!?"
"..." Alvine was deaf to her remarks. His nonchalance in the face of Tifania's hypotheses only made the latter mad with rage.
But Alvine suddenly began to laugh when he saw her hateful eyes.
"Hahaha, so, are you coming here to take refuge?"
"REPEAT A LITTLE TO SEE!?"
She almost lost control of herself when she heard Alvine's sentence, which was like a spear intended to hurt her disproportionate ego.
But Alvine didn't care.
"Sigh, dear Queen; It's not me who ransacked your nest, so you can keep your rage until you meet the real culprits; I have nothing to do with them!" He retorted without taking Tifania's threats seriously.
"...These bastards came to offer me a coalition to shoot you down. But when I refused, they began to attack my people!" Her murderous aura, which she had not shown until now, accompanied these words.
But despite this, Alvine continues to deny her indirect accusations.
"That's your problem. All I see is an irresponsible girl who prefers to hide her face instead of understanding that she is responsible for her own stupidity."
"...You are the worst of assholes!" She swore out loud.
Despite her rage and aura that testified that she could go wild at any time, Alvine approaches her with a provocative smile.
"Indulge yourself, and always tell yourself that you did this not to be my enemy or... may to save your people from a bloody war. But the reality is that you are weak!" He momentarily stopped as he looked into her evil eyes.
"It is because of this weakness that prevented you from allying with my enemies. You know that I never spare those who dare to attack me." He continues while petting her cheek without his sly smile getting wrinkled.
Tifania blasts off his hand on her cheek, having an idea of Alvine's motivations.
But seeing her silently, Alvine moves away with a disappointed sigh.
"I'm surprised that the famous goddess cannot protect her people from invaders. But what disappoints me in this story is that you cannot assume this responsibility.
-But let me tell you one thing,
His expression was fierce as he looked at her. He then continues...
"...My subordinates will NEVER betray me! If you think that Askald is behind all this, and you believe that coming here to threaten me would force me to care for him...
-Kuku, it's ironic; your pride and will is not commendable. But it doesn't matter, as long as you are under my subordination, and you accept me as your superior... I would take all your crimes, responsibilities, and enemies at my expense."
Tifania remains silent for a long time without pronouncing words. But her flat expression has progressively become disdainful.
"You have a lovely tongue for someone so weak. I know you've tried hiding it initially, but you cannot activate your arcane!"
Her words first made Alvine suspicious of her. But the next moment, the sudden whirlwind in his heart calmed down. "...I see, so you knew it from the beginning, huh?" He pronounces with a thoughtful mood.
"Tsk! You were an overlord, I agree, But it was a thing of the past. You don't know how much the universe has evolved during your absence. But your excessive confidence is only suicidal.
-Your first monarch, Askald, is the person who prevented me from saving my people while his henchmen invaded my territory; and this is related to you.
-You say you have nothing to do with it, but it's wrong. If you hadn't made this guy monstrous and powerful, my people wouldn't be reduced to more than 90 percent!"
After listening to her plains, Alvine better understood Tifania's situation and rage against him.
"So, what exactly do you expect from me? Suppose I'm responsible for everything you just said; what do you want me to face?" He asks this question as if he wants to end this conversation that has lasted too long.
"..."
"Haha, no, I would never do that." He retorted with a mocking smile.
Even if Tifania did not speak, he guessed what she expected of him.
"I know it well! But since you wait to see him at work instead of believing me, it's only a matter of time before they come here; and at that time, you'll see what I'm talking about." These were these last words before she returned to her fellow beings.
"... Heh, what could have crossed this little boy's head for him to rebel?" Looking at Tifania's back, Alvine couldn't help but whisper these words thinking of Askald.
"Finally, I'd ask him when the time has come. For now, let's not forget our priorities." He concludes before invoking Heepha.
She looks at Alvine’s back with confused and indecisive eyes, knowing what Alvine expected of her; explanations.
"My liege, I'm not... aware of this. As far as I can remember, Sir Askald has never...
"I know, I know. I don't doubt their loyalty. But it is possible that he turned against me for some reason."
"..."
"Sigh, I understand that he is angry with my decision to sleep...-
"My lord! Regardless of these choices, it is unforgivable that he dares to judge your decision!"
Heepha's eyes were abyssal black, and she had difficulty controlling her rage when she saw Alvine's expression.
Alvine was not frustrated to see her in this state and to cut him in mid-sentence.
"Don't worry." He pets Heepha's head as if he were a child and continues. "I know very well what puts you in this state. I also know that he is not the type to do so."
"So, is that what he is...
"Probably. With a little hindsight, I realize there is no absolute in the world. It is possible that some people are interested in my monarchs and try to turn them against me despite their will." He affirms with a sadistic smile.
After several inspirations and exhalations, his eyes became immutable.
"My dear Heepha, let's return to our feet; I can't remain indifferent knowing that someone dares to attack my subordinates while I'm weakened. It's time to move and clean up." After saying his last sentence, he turns into a black mist and vanishes before Heepha.
Dizzy by Alvine's words, Heepha had slightly red cheeks and fierce contradictory eyes when he heard Alvine's last sentence.
She took a look at Tifania and her subordinates before smiling cruelly.
Then, Without losing one more second, she followed her lord as a black mist flame.