Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 128

Chapter 128
In the deep night, before the grounds of the Merkiliane estate.

Even though weeks had passed, the signs of a violent conflict remained visible across the property.

Beneath the indigo moonlight, ‘that being’, cloaked in black, materialized.

As it had previously, it gazed silently toward the unguarded outer walls, then shifted its attention and proceeded forward at a steady walk.

Step, step—a gait that was measured and consistent, not hurried nor delayed.

Its initial destination was the site of the struggle between the artificial Outer gods and Basiliora.

After that, it moved to the place formerly occupied by Marquis Palatio, and ultimately, it paused at the location where Duke Komalon had reclined and dissolved into ash with his eyes shut.

Observing that spot, its perpetually smiling countenance now displayed a complex blend of emotions.

Its face was void of expression, yet it emitted a soft chuckle.

Then, its features grew somber before contorting into an peculiar, crooked smile.

“So, the mediocre sorcerer could only reach this point,” it murmured in a voice that bordered on a sigh.

“Well, it is of little consequence. A new person of interest has emerged, so I shall simply continue to observe.”

It pivoted and melted away into the shadows.

“Is he truly the suitable material or not,” an alien tongue was carried off by the breeze, leaving no trace behind.

***

Later, on the road returning to the Palatio estate.

Alon gazed out the carriage window at the approaching winter, his features composed.

‘There is still restoration work to be done, but that is not my responsibility.’

“My lord.”

“What is it?”

“You have seemed very thoughtful recently,” remarked Evan, who had joined him in the carriage for the evening.

Alon gave a slight shrug.

“I have many matters on my mind.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Now that his health had returned and he had been occupied with promptly answering a summons from Tern, he at last had a moment to consider his next steps.

“Duke Komalon, the dark ones, the frontier, sorcery… Which should I look into first?”

More precisely, he needed to decipher what Duke Komalon had meant with his warning that ‘they are coming’.

Based on all the intelligence Alon had collected, it appeared that ‘they’ referred to the ‘Five Great Sins’.

“Hmm.”

This was a matter of great significance to Alon.

He had taken measures to stop the Five Great Sins from manifesting in this world.

‘To be honest, I didn’t fight to the death, but I did raise the children who were potential vessels for the Five Great Sins properly, so they would develop into ordinary adults.’

“Well, I brought them up correctly, didn’t I?”

A sudden unease gripped him as he remembered the sins he had confronted, but he quickly settled his thoughts and continued his reflection.

What was vital for Alon now was the possibility that the Five Great Sins could still emerge, despite his efforts in raising the children well.

‘Honestly, it seems questionable.’

Could such an event truly occur?

He felt a degree of doubt.

The Five Great Sins were meant to appear because the antagonists serving as their vessels had succumbed to wickedness.

According to the game knowledge Alon possessed, since individuals like Yutia had largely avoided corruption and matured soundly, it appeared there was almost no opportunity for the Five Great Sins to manifest.

Nevertheless, Alon could not simply dismiss Duke Komalon’s statement.

Having caught a glimpse of some concealed fragments of this world, Alon understood that events did not unfold strictly according to the game’s framework.

“…”

Alon recollected his discussion with Duke Komalon.

The expression in Duke Komalon’s eyes was not that of a lunatic believing in fantasies, but rather of someone confronting a harsh truth.

‘Was it the southern part of the border…’

He remembered the words Duke Komalon had uttered.

The southern border.

Literally the setting of Psychedelia, situated between the Union Kingdom and the Empire of Calypsophobia, Alon had always intended to journey there at least once.

‘…If the Five Great Sins were to descend, it would become an essential destination.’

As he recalled the barren lands the users referred to as Badland, he revisited Duke Komalon’s advice.

—Go to the southern border of the eastern frontier. With the crest you received, you might obtain some assistance. You might also witness the reality.

After reflecting with a sigh, he reached a decision.

‘I will set out as soon as my body is fully restored.’

The matter concerning the Five Great Sins was of the highest importance.

Furthermore, his curiosity about Duke Komalon had grown.

‘Well, first I will recuperate, and by the time I reach the border, it will have been nearly two years… Then I can visit the Colony and inquire about the rituals Duke Komalon mentioned.’

With that matter settled,

“Lord.”

“What?”

“Would you care for a sweet potato?”

“Yes.”

As he accepted the sweet potato from Evan, Alon watched the white snowflakes drifting down outside the carriage window.

“Oh, it’s snowing.”

“It is.”

He ate the sweet potato while the first snow fell.

Whether it was due to the snow or not, the sweet potato seemed to have a better flavor than usual.

And as time moved on,

Approximately two weeks later, Alon reached the Palatio estate.

The following day.

He received a brief update from Evan regarding the estate’s affairs, and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Is this the entire amount of treasure sent from the Merkiliane estate?”

“Yes.”

“All of it?”

“Yes, all of it.”

This was because, upon his arrival at the estate the previous day, he had not fully observed the more than five carriages loaded with treasures.

Alon, with a stunned look, stepped forward and opened one of the carriages.

Chrrrrrrr~

The moment he opened the carriage, treasures cascaded out.

Watching the coins rapidly transform the white snow into a golden carpet,

“Wow~”

Evan, standing nearby, could not suppress a gasp, and Alon mirrored his astonishment.

Although his face typically betrayed little emotion and appeared calm on the surface, Alon was profoundly shocked at that moment.

“This is… a considerable amount?”

Naturally, it was not the first time Alon had been given such gifts.

He had received comparable offerings from Carmaxes III in the Colony and also rewards from the Kingdom of Rosario.

But generally, while he acquired treasures, he had never been presented with such a vast quantity of coins.

‘Just how much is this? Why such an excessive amount?’

Alon, his mouth slightly open, was perplexed.

Of course, it was true that Alon was the hero who had rescued the Merkiliane estate.

Without his intervention, the estate would have undoubtedly been destroyed.

Yet this appeared somewhat too generous…

‘Filian, now that I think of it, you truly are a friend who repays his debts in full.’

He accepted the gold coins with gratitude.

Having more wealth is never a disadvantage, and it is a virtue to accept offered gifts without refusal.

‘Well, the Merkiliane estate is prosperous, after all.’

Understanding the circumstances, Alon resolved to receive the present without any sense of guilt.

“Lord.”

“What is it?”

“If it is not too much to ask, might I have one gold coin?”

“I will allow it as a special favor.”

After handing a gold coin to Evan, Alon hummed quietly to himself for a time while looking at the carriage brimming with gold coins.

He was hungry and his fingertips tingled from mana addiction, yet he now felt somewhat revitalized.

A smile instinctively formed on his lips.

This was Alon’s first day back at the estate.

Around the same time, in the office of the Merkiliane estate:

“I hope the gifts arrived without issue?”

“Yes, most likely they have.”

“Good.”

As Filian gave a nod, his secretary Kulan soon spoke up.

“But sir, Duke, are you certain it was appropriate?”

“Regarding what?”

“The presents. Given our current situation, where we need to rebuild the estate immediately, was it truly wise to send so much wealth…”

The secretary’s concerned mutterings.

His worry was reasonable, but Filian shook his head firmly.

“The Merkiliane estate would have been lost if Marquis Palatio had not intervened against Duke Komalon. In that case, Kulan and I would not be seated here as we are now.”

“……That is accurate.”

“Furthermore, a debt of gratitude must be repaid appropriately. Even if we dispense that sum immediately, we still possess sufficient funds to handle this circumstance, correct?”

“That is also true, yet unexpected situations could still arise.”

“Kulan.”

“Yes.”

“We should not be calculating when returning a favor. If we can repay it now, we simply do so. My father would have acted the same.”

Hearing these decisive words, Kulan, after a brief silence, said,

“I spoke out of turn.”

He lowered his head in apology and exited to continue with his tasks.

After Kulan’s departure, Filian leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

“This is difficult-”

His face, now relaxed, contrasted with the stern demeanor he had displayed moments earlier.

In truth, his behavior while addressing Kulan had been purely an act.

‘I truly wish I could stop this performance.’

Frankly, Filian desired to cease his acting at the earliest opportunity.

However, he persisted for the sake of his younger brother, Gilan Merkiliane.

Initially, Filian had planned to relinquish the dukedom to his brother.

Despite his terrible interpersonal abilities, he was reasonably self-aware and recognized that he was ill-suited to lead the estate.

Filian had intended to transfer the dukedom to his brother immediately,

‘But the estate requires a central figure until it is stabilized,’ he reconsidered after hearing his brother’s words.

Thus, he decided to perform the role of heir until the estate was secure.

Even he, who was not particularly insightful, knew that the estate’s condition was poor, both financially and otherwise, following the assault by the artificial Outer gods.

—Once the estate is fully settled and my brother wishes to pass the dukedom to me, I will then follow in his footsteps.

Filian recalled Gilan’s statement as he gazed out the window.

And then a sudden thought occurred to him, ‘Ah, I want to study magic.’

Until now, he had shown no interest in magic.

Why?

He had simply never been drawn to the field of sorcery, and he was so dedicated to swordsmanship that nothing else captured his attention.

But recently, Filian had become deeply fascinated by magic.

It was entirely due to Marquis Palatio.

“……”

Filian shut his eyes.

What appeared the moment he closed them—

The vision of Marquis Palatio summoning a deity after handling the artificial Outer gods.

And the Marquis intercepting a meteor shower in the heavens.

Finally, the brilliant, shining line produced from Marquis Palatio’s fingertips.

“Wow~”

Filian expressed admiration once more, remembering that instant.

It was his 23rd sigh of wonder for that day alone.

Lately, he had been spending his days in awe, repeatedly revisiting the magic employed by Marquis Palatio.

He contemplated it almost constantly, and far from growing weary of it, these days, recalling the Marquis’s image made Filian feel like a young child who had just grasped a sword, filled with youthful innocence.

To such an extent, Filian had developed a deep admiration for Marquis Palatio.

It was not merely admiration; lately, Filian had even begun perusing introductory books on magic.

Because he desired to learn sorcery.

Thus, Filian also aspired to become like Marquis Palatio.

Of course, being no actual child, Filian understood that as a Sword Master, he could achieve great strength like the Marquis due to his innate talent.

But what Filian sought was not merely ‘to become powerful.’

He simply wished to emulate the Marquis.

To be like the Marquis wielding magic in that desolate, ashen realm.

“……”

Naturally, Filian was well aware that it would not be straightforward.

The Marquis’s magical abilities were fundamentally distinct from any sorcerer he was familiar with, and above all, the two eyes behind the Marquis confirmed that the Marquis was an exceptionally potent wizard.

Yet, Filian still yearned to achieve mastery as a wizard.

Even though he knew the path might be arduous, or that he might never attain his goal.

That is why, despite having reached the level of Sword Master, he had commenced learning magic.

“……If only I also possessed talent in magic.”

At that moment, as he whispered this aspiration,

“Ah.”

Filian was suddenly struck by an idea.

‘……Should I commission a statue?’

It was a spontaneous notion that occurred to him because he had come to admire Marquis Palatio so profoundly.

However,

“……That might not be a poor idea.”

Considering that Marquis Palatio had indeed saved the Merkiliane estate, enabling its survival, Filian unconsciously hummed and nodded, and in a brief span, a conclusion that was not entirely logical or rational formed in Filian’s mind.

“Well, it should be acceptable to do this much before I transfer the position to my brother…?”

He appeared to have reached a decision as he stood from his seat.

And precisely one month later, in the central square of the Merkiliane estate, a statue of Marquis Palatio employing magic was installed, and it was not long before the news reached Alon, who was grappling with mana addiction.

“……A statue of me?”

“Yes.”

“……Why would they erect a statue of me in the Merkiliane estate…?”

“Well, I do not really understand either……………?”

Alon was rendered speechless, and the majority of the nobility who learned of the news were equally confused.

Even though the Marquis had saved the estate, erecting a statue seemed somewhat extreme.

However, that was merely the perspective of other nobles.

“……A statue?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm-”

Deus Maccalian, one of Caliban’s Swords, murmured,

“I feel envious.”

“I beg your pardon……?”

“Perhaps I should do the same…………….”

“Excuse me……???”

He muttered sincerely, as if he genuinely felt jealous.

The vice-captain, upon hearing Deus speak of the Marquis, once again found himself lost for words.