Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Penia Crysinne basked in her own sense of significance. While she often behaved like a ruffian and indulged her temper freely, this did not indicate a lack of intelligence or perception.

In short, she understood herself perfectly.

Penia was fully aware of her circumstances, so the reformative letter did not pose a significant problem for her.

Such a letter was only a source of dread for nobles embroiled in political machinations, but there was no cause for alarm if one was not caught up in ideological conflicts.

Unless one were to commit outrageous acts, such as the human experimentation linked to heretics.

Furthermore, the Kingdom of Saints also took care not to make unnecessary enemies of those from the Mage Tower.

A conflict would offer little advantage to either side.

Therefore, even when Penia learned that Cardinal Yutia had come to see her regarding the reformative letter, she remained unruffled. In fact, upon first hearing of the Cardinal’s arrival, she had even hoped for a minor verbal misstep to alleviate some of the stress accumulated from the workload foisted upon her by Marquis Palatio.

So she gazed at Yutia with a venomous look, at least until Yutia stepped into the room.

But.

The instant Yutia entered and regarded Penia with a relaxed expression and a profound smile, Penia instinctively straightened her posture.

For a fleeting moment, she glimpsed something behind Yutia.

She could not see it distinctly.

But one thing was certain. It was the same kind as ‘that’.

The thing that Marquis Palatio carried on his back.

Something that people should never become aware of.

To recognize it meant one could potentially gain the entire world, but it would also demand the sacrifice of one’s life—it was a poisoned chalice.

Before she knew it, Penia began to break out in a cold sweat.

The presence of ‘that’ meant the individual before her was not merely a Cardinal, but something completely other.

And so,

‘What? How? Why does the Cardinal of the Kingdom of Saints have such a thing behind her? Why?’

Feeling both terror and bewilderment, Penia said,

“My apologies.”

“Pardon?”

At the sudden apology, Yutia stared at Penia blankly.

“As the Vice-tower master of the Blue Tower, I thought it might be challenging to have a conversation without briefly revealing this… I didn’t anticipate it would frighten you to this extent.”

“Hic-“

She let out a sob.

“There’s no need to react in such a way. I am not here to cause you harm, Vice-tower master. Merely-“

Despite Penia’s state, Yutia maintained her serene smile.

Then she slowly raised her index finger to her lips and murmured,

“You understand, this is a delicate affair.”

“Yes, absolutely. I am very discreet. Yes, extremely…!”

Penia nodded her head fervently,

“That is most excellent.”

“Yes, yes-“

A servile grin now fixed on her face, a stark contrast to when she had been grilling Felin, Penia cautiously spoke up,

“But… may I inquire as to the purpose of your visit…?”

“Ah, I simply heard some intriguing gossip.”

“Intriguing… gossip, you say?”

At Penia’s question, Yutia gave a light laugh,

“Indeed. Some fascinating rumors concerning you, our Vice-tower master, and Marquis Palatio.”

“Ru, rumors-?”

At that, Penia immediately understood what Yutia was alluding to, and simultaneously, her survival instincts, which had begun sounding an alarm, miraculously dredged up a crumpled memory tucked away in a corner of her mind.

Specifically, the rumor that Marquis Palatio and Cardinal Yutia were intimately connected.

Realizing this, Penia scrutinized Yutia’s expression.

She was smiling, to be sure, but not genuinely.

While her mouth was curved into a smile, her eyes were icy.

Penia desperately fought for her survival,

“That, that is absolutely false!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, yes, completely! That is nothing but a baseless rumor, absolutely! Without a doubt…!”

“And yet, you had not denied these circulating rumors previously-“

“No, no! I have denied them all now! Recently! There will be no more such rumors in the future, I assure you!”

Penia explained with utmost earnestness.

Whether her explanation was effective or not, the shadow lurking within Yutia’s tranquil smile appeared to slowly recede.

Seeing this, Penia, recognizing a lifeline was gradually opening, became even more resolute and continued her defense.

However,

“I, I don’t really have a… taste for the Marquis. Right? He always wears that expressionless face, you know? I’m not particularly fond of people like that.”

“What?”

Perhaps, she had gone too far.

“…What?”

“What did you just say?”

Yutia’s face, which had been pleasantly smiling, suddenly turned cold.

Penia, belatedly, rolled her eyes and stammered,

“Ah, that, um-“

Penia began sweating profusely,

Why must she endure such torment because of Marquis Palatio?

Abruptly, she felt a wave of self-pity, tears nearly springing to her eyes.

But the next moment,

“Vice-tower master.”

“…!?”

Penia could not help but flinch.

Just a moment ago, Yutia had been seated across from her, but now she was unexpectedly beside her, gently resting her hand on Penia’s shoulder.

Penia froze momentarily and wanted to scream, but managed to stifle it with another hiccup.

“It is good to demonstrate your innocence, but that remark was somewhat excessive, was it not?”

“Hic-“

“Answer me.”

“Yes… yes…! I’m, I’m sorry…!”

“I will overlook it this time. But if there is a next time… you understand?”

Thud-

“My patience is rather limited.”

Then, Yutia whispered into her ear with a voice that sent a chill down her spine,

“Alright, Vice-tower master. Let us get along well from now on.”

“….Yes, understood. Well, Marquis Palatio does have his… his admirable qualities, ha ha.”

Penia replied with a strained laugh as Yutia stood up,

“But, does that mean you desired a… a particular kind of relationship with Marquis Palatio?”

Yutia’s face began to harden once more, and Penia was forced to hastily amend her statement,

“Ah, no, it’s not like that, the Marquis is handsome, but he’s not really to my preference…”

“So, the Marquis is not to your liking?”

–

“No, it’s not that, he is undoubtedly a handsome man!”

“He’s not your type, but you are interested because he is handsome?”

“No, that isn’t it,”

Penia felt as if she was stuck in an inescapable loop, a sense of indescribable fury and unfairness washing over her,

‘This insane woman, what in the world does she want me to say?!’

But because Penia was intensely self-aware, and acutely felt that she could not oppose the being in front of her,

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I apologize for existing…”

She could only lower her head in submission.

It was a peaceful afternoon.

***

Three days later.

[Ha ha ha- I am victorious!]

“You madman-“

[Meow-?]

As Alon traversed the desert, he observed Evan, Basiliora, and Blackie gambling with great excitement from his seat at the front.

‘What exactly are they playing?’

He soon searched through his belongings and retrieved the Scorpion gauntlet he had captured.

Like the artifact he had given to Yutia, it was inert and glowing with a pale white light,

‘…Apostle.’

Apostle.

It was the first time Alon had encountered an Apostle.

They did not even appear in the games.

But one thing was certain: they were formidable.

‘If Seolrang had not awakened, it would have been us who came to harm.’

Alon felt a more pressing need to immerse himself in magical research.

It wasn’t just because of the grotesque cleanup; he soon had to prepare for the Apostles that would begin to appear.

Judging coldly, if all Apostles possessed that level of power, it would be nearly impossible for Alon to stop them.

If he couldn’t stop them, the Apostles would inevitably create Sin.

Fortunately, Alon had allies to assist him with his research, and he had already contemplated ways to enhance his magical capabilities.

The only concern was the ‘information’ regarding the Apostle.

‘…There is nothing known about them.’

Unfortunately, no one had any knowledge of the Apostle.

Inquiries made to Rine, and even the Dragonkin he had visited during his stay in the Colony, yielded no different information.

The most he had learned was that someone who survived the war might know something.

Therefore,

‘…Kylrus’

Alon recalled that name once again.

To the Golden Dragon, he was a mage,

But now, he had appeared as a goblin Outer God.

‘Once I acquire that item following Eliban, I should go to meet him immediately.’

Apart from knowing how to wield the Dragon of Darkness, there was another reason to seek out Kylrus.

As he was organizing his thoughts,

“Marquis.”

Alon turned his head at the sound of Evan’s voice.

“What is it?”

“I realized I had not yet given this to you.”

Evan pulled a glass bottle from within his robes and handed it over.

“What is this?”

He accepted the bottle filled with a black, powdery substance.

“From what I was told, it is the powdered remains of the Apostle’s corpse?”

“What?”

“Was it Seolrang’s secretary…? That individual provided it.”

Following the explanation,

“Why would I want this?”

Alon looked down, bewildered, at the finely ground (?) powder of the Apostle.

***

In the southernmost part of the continent, in a dense forest cultivated by the hands of elves rather than humans, lay the sacred land.

Deep within the place the elves called Greynifra, rested the elven kingdom of Fildagreen.

The dreamlike nation of elves, constructed around the World Tree.

And in the immense palace situated directly beneath the World Tree, at the very heart of that kingdom,

“You found Raguerine’s blessing?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A man, or rather, Perion, who had discarded his human disguise, bowed his head and reported to the queen.

“I had not thought it possible, but you have accomplished a truly remarkable feat, Perion.”

The elf queen Magrina, her voice tinged with both surprise and pride, her radiant platinum blonde hair cascading down to her waist, praised him.

Perion bowed even deeper and continued,

“Thank you, Your Majesty. However, there is something I must confess.”

“What is it?”

“It was not I who found Raguerine’s blessing.”

“It was not you, Perion?”

“Yes. The truth is—”

Cautiously nodding, Perion began to narrate the events that had transpired in Lartania. As Magrina listened to Perion’s account for a while,

“So, you are saying that this Marquis Palatio not only instantly recognized your true identity but also informed you of the location of Raguerine’s blessing… is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“And the chamber containing Raguerine’s blessing was fashioned to resemble Fagade’s hideout—”

“No one else had entered there besides me. And as I mentioned, there was a message inscribed inside.”

“‘I hope it reaches my sibling well,’ was it not?”

“Yes.”

Magrina gazed at the blessing Perion had brought with an expression of disbelief and fell into a momentary silence.

Her voice began to quiver slightly,

“So, Perion, are you suggesting that this Marquis Palatio might be the ancient elf—my elder brother?”

“I cannot be certain, of course. But considering he easily discerned that I was a member of Fagade and guided me to Raguerine’s blessing, it must have been him.”

Magrina was once again lost for words.

Because Perion’s reasoning was sound.

However, she could not pass judgment on the Marquis based on this fact alone.

As Magrina knew it, the ancient elf, her brother, had died hundreds of years ago.

She knew all too well that the dead do not return.

Amid the continuing silence,

“I will quietly investigate and return.”

Turning towards the voice, there stood an elf enveloped in a mage’s robe—Philde, Magrina’s personal mage.

“Is it possible to confirm that?”

“There is no shortage of methods. As you are aware, my eyes are somewhat special.”

“Ah.”

Magrina let out an inadvertent gasp.

Philde possessed the Spirit Eyes, capable of perceiving souls.

If that were the case, then confirming the identity of Marquis Palatio would be a simple task.

“Then, please proceed.”

“I understand. I will accompany Perion.”

As soon as their mission was decided, Philde and Perion promptly took their leave and departed.

Watching the retreating figures of the two elves,

“If my brother truly is alive…”

She clenched her fist.

She knew it was logically absurd.

Yet, in her eyes, there flickered an unmistakable light of fragile hope.