Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 170

Chapter 170
Shadow Leaves.

Their only reason for being is to safeguard the present Elf Queen—

the last surviving High Elf from the time of the Forgotten God.

From the moment the group was formed, they have never protected another.

No, they had not.

That changed today.

“……”

Two carriages stood halted on the dirt path, enveloped in deep night.

Draim, the head of Shadow Leaves, who had been observing closely, released a soft breath.

‘For what reason am I protecting a human…?’

Truthfully, Draim could not grasp the circumstances at all.

Shadow Leaves was created for the exclusive duty of guarding Queen Magrina of the Elves.

Certainly, Draim was aware.

His individual sentiments should not interfere with necessary duties.

Shadow Leaves was a dedicated unit that acted upon the Queen’s command. He had never once considered disobeying their exalted queen.

Still, a persistent uncertainty remained.

Half of Shadow Leaves’s strength had been dispatched simply to protect a single human noble.

‘Wait… He is no common human noble.’

Draim cast his eyes downward into the carriage where Marquis Palatio was seated.

He knew little about the man.

Yet every Shadow Leaves member who had first laid eyes on the Marquis had come to the same understanding.

There was always something accompanying him, a presence that stayed within the darkened world behind him.

That sensation alone was enough to reveal—

The Marquis was not a simple man.

‘The mere fact that Her Majesty commanded his protection proves he is exceptional…’

Even if questions remained, the Queen’s directive was final.

Sigh.

How long had it been?

Just as the campfire beside the carriage was fading to embers,

A man emerged from the carriage ahead of Marquis Palatio’s.

Despite the late hour, his eyes were alert and focused.

Deus Maccalian—who had accompanied Marquis Palatio since the last town.

A voice came from his lips.

“Show yourselves.”

A low utterance abruptly broke the quiet.

A short pause hung in the air.

“If you will not reveal yourselves, I will draw you out.”

As he spoke once more, Draim witnessed it.

“Urgh!?”

One of his subordinates was silently pulled from hiding—bound by a violet thread that appeared from nothing.

‘He detected our concealment!?’

Draim froze in involuntary surprise.

Every agent of Shadow Leaves possessed considerable skill.

The hidden arts they practiced granted them stealth that would go unnoticed by most.

Normally, only the Five Lords, the most powerful figures of other races, could sense them.

And yet—

This knight had instantly identified Shadow Leaves’s hiding.

‘Unthinkable.’

Draim’s forehead creased.

But Deus was tranquil as he held the captured Shadow Leaves member.

“Five others, besides this one. I will offer you one more opportunity.”

“If you do not retreat, present yourselves now. Should any try to escape, this one will be the first to die.”

He had already located the rest.

After a moment’s pause, Draim released a subdued sigh and dropped his concealment, moving forward.

Concealment was now pointless.

Under these conditions, fighting would be useless.

“……You are the leader, then.”

“Correct.”

Even after recognizing Draim as an elf—an uncommon sight—Deus Maccalian’s expression did not shift.

“Who are you?”

“……First, understand this. We are not your foes.”

“I will determine if you are a danger to the Marquis.”

Faced with such a definitive reply, Draim paused briefly before answering.

“I have spoken the truth.”

“Then why do you track the Marquis?”

“……We are only obeying a command to ensure his safety.”

“From whom?”

“I cannot reveal that.”

“Then withdraw.”

A direct command, without any room for debate.

“Unfortunately, that is not an option. We, too, are bound by orders.”

“Do you seek death?”

“Not in the least. But are you not the one pushing this toward conflict?”

“What?”

As Deus frowned in puzzlement, he suddenly registered a cold feeling.

A blade of darkness was now resting against his neck.

Numerous weapons, shaped from the shadows below Deus, were ready to strike—all controlled by Draim.

“I repeat. There is no cause for us to be adversaries.”

“We are here to protect the Marquis, not to threaten him.”

“That does not matter. Withdraw.”

“……Do you believe you are in command here at this moment?”

Draim frowned as if baffled.

Deus simply raised a hand and pointed toward his own neck.

And then—

Draim understood.

A violet thread was already looped around his own throat.

Not only him.

Every other concealed Shadow Leaves member also had an identical violet thread coiled around their necks.

“It makes no difference to me. So long as I remove any potential danger to the Marquis.”

“. . . . . .!”

For an instant, Draim gulped at the wild intensity in Deus’s gaze.

Creeeak.

Then, at the faint noise of a carriage door opening,

The violet threads formed by Deus vanished at once.

Deus’s sudden choice to free all the Shadow Leaves members left Draim stunned.

But—

A nod—

At Deus’s silent cue, Draim and his followers instantly returned to hiding.

A second later—

Alon, his eyes heavy with sleep, left the carriage while covering a yawn.

“Deus.”

“My lord.”

“What were you doing just now?”

“I was meditating.”

“……Meditating?”

“Yes.”

“……I thought I heard talking.”

“It was likely the sound of my low chanting.”

Was meditation not usually performed in silence?

Alon rubbed his head and mumbled,

“……I see.”

“Yes.”

“You should turn in soon. Staying up late will only make you more weary.”

“Yes, my lord. Please sleep comfortably.”

“Alright.”

Still mostly asleep, Alon went back into the carriage.

Once more, quiet enveloped the area around his carriage.

If he had stirred at all, it was only briefly—Alon had already fallen back into deep sleep.

Deus, gazing into the darkness, spoke.

“Come out.”

“……”

Draim appeared again.

But his expression was one of bewilderment.

For a group tasked with guarding Marquis Palatio unseen, this result was acceptable.

Yet it was puzzling.

Deus had no motive to offer Shadow Leaves any mercy.

“……Why did you conceal our presence?”

Draim asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

The reply—

“Because the Marquis should not be disturbed.”

……………It was not anything he had imagined.

“What?”

“If he became aware of individuals like you hiding nearby, the Marquis could be robbed of his rest.”

“……”

“Even were I to dispose of you in his presence, once a threat is known, he might never rest easily again.”

Meaning—

Had he truly freed captured opponents just so Marquis Palatio could sleep without worry?

Draim was left without words.

“This is your final warning. Leave. If you disregard my words again, I will end every one of you.”

“……You believe you are capable?”

Draim shook off his stupor at Deus’s bold statement.

But—

“You believe I am not?”

Once again, Draim’s thoughts spun.

‘Those eyes again…!’

Those unsettling, zealous eyes, so menacing that a mere glance induced a shudder.

Eyes blazing with a fierce fixation, willing to pay any price to fulfill their purpose.

Draim instinctively retreated a step.

“Remember what I said.”

Before Draim could even process the shame of his retreat—

Deus turned his back without another word.

The night was deep.

And when morning arrived—

Deus could no longer feel any sign of Shadow Leaves.

***

Roughly a week later, Alon reached Lartania.

“It has been some time.”

“Greetings, godfather. And Deus, it has been a while for you as well, correct?”

“It has.”

Finally, in the familiar city of Merd, he met with Rine.

“Incidentally, what brings Deus here?”

“He mentioned he had matters to attend to.”

“Hmm, surely a matter of great importance.”

Deus gave a nod and faced Alon.

“Then, Marquis, I will be entering the labyrinth for a time.”

“You have affairs in the labyrinth?”

“Yes. There is an item inside I must acquire.”

“…Hmm.”

Alon, while appearing calm inwardly, found it peculiar.

Was an item from the labyrinth truly necessary for a gift preparation?

Still, labyrinths were known to contain many things.

“Do not push yourself. Take care.”

Alon quickly dismissed the thought.

“……! Understood! I will take the utmost care!”

“……? Very well.”

……?

Alon nearly blinked in surprise at Deus’s unexpectedly fervent reply.

But after Deus departed for the labyrinth—

“Have you been well?”

“Naturally. And you, godfather?”

“Well enough. Nothing unusual.”

“That is good to know.”

Seated in the office, Alon shared light talk with Rine.

Then, he remembered a request he had sent to Rine before coming to Lartania.

“Rine, were you able to locate the place I mentioned?”

“If you mean the site you described in your letter, yes, I found it.”

“……I see. That is good. I appreciate your effort.”

“No thanks are needed. It is you and I, godfather.”

Rine gave a gentle smile, then inquired,

“Might I ask why you are searching for that place?”

“There is something I can only accomplish there.”

The reason Alon had specifically asked Rine to find a location hidden below Lartania—

Was that ‘Footsteps of the Past’ could only be used in that specific spot.

“I understand.”

Rine nodded in acceptance.

“For now, it is late. Rest tonight, and we will meet again tomorrow.”

“Yes, we shall.”

The two arranged to meet the following day.

***

Next to the elven territory of Greynifra lay the domain of the Lizardmen.

Within the great hall of the ruling chieftain, Kalmak—

[Is this certain?]

“……………I have delivered Zakuraks’ message exactly as written.”

The one honored by all Lizardmen,

The sage-god who grants them power through sacred symbols—

[……Can he truly remain alive?]

A subtle but clear thrill curved the hidden edges of his mouth.