Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 177

Chapter 177

“Well then, I’ll see you at the celebration.”

“Understood.”

After Alon offered his last respectful farewell and departed—

“Phew—”

Carmaxes III exhaled deeply and patted his chest in relief.

A monarch feeling anxious while speaking with a mere noble? If this were known, people would mock the absurdity of the situation. However, the suspicion that Marquis Palatio could actually be a Sage God held him paralyzed.

……Naturally, whether Marquis Palatio was genuinely a Sage God remained unsettled.

With that thought, Carmaxes directed his gaze.

“Alright, what is your assessment?”

It was finally time to hear the definitive truth from Teyra, the one who had claimed to recognize a Sage God.

And then—

“……Are you quite well?”

Carmaxes III felt compelled to inquire.

Teyra, who had displayed minimal concern before Marquis Palatio’s entrance,

Now appeared profoundly pale, as if all vitality had been drained from his frame.

Observing Carmaxes III’s perplexed countenance, Teyra released a breath before gradually speaking.

“I am fine. It is only that I witnessed something… extraordinary.”

“Something extraordinary?”

“Indeed. Even I cannot fully grasp it.”

Something impossible to understand?

As Carmaxes III’s brow furrowed, Teyra inhaled several times deeply before ultimately disclosing his thoughts.

“……To be brief, Marquis Palatio truly seems to be a Sage God.”

A brief period of stillness ensued.

Carmaxes’ voice was strained when he responded.

“Are… you absolutely sure?”

“Yes, I perceived it with my own sight. The energy the Sage God possessed when I traveled to the Lizardmen’s territory—he also holds it. Yet, what is unusual is—”

“……Unusual?”

“The spheres. There were four of them.”

“……What precisely does that imply?”

Teyra became silent, absorbed in reflection, before commencing his explanation.

And after a brief interlude—

“……So, based on your account, the Sage God you encountered in the Lizardmen’s land possessed only one bound sphere, while Marquis Palatio holds four of them?”

“That is correct.”

“What is the significance of the number of spheres?”

In response to Carmaxes III’s query, Teyra shook his head.

“My apologies, but I cannot give a precise answer. After all, I have only encountered a Sage God that single time…”

“……Then what is your hypothesis?”

“What I can venture to guess is—”

Teyra paused momentarily before meeting Carmaxes’ eyes.

“The more spheres one has, the greater their might.”

“The more spheres he possesses?”

“When I was in the Lizardmen’s land, I once observed their strongest combatant. He held two spheres.”

Of course, Teyra swiftly added that these were typical spheres seen in common individuals, not the bound ones. Then, he inclined his head.

“Naturally, my idea could be flawed, but if we consider this, the quantity of spheres might denote power or aptitude.”

“……Power or aptitude, you say? Then, if your supposition is accurate, and the Sage God you saw had only one sphere, while Marquis Palatio commands four…”

As Carmaxes’ quiet thought trailed off, the tension within the chamber intensified.

“……If my conjecture holds true, he might be even mightier than the Sage God I witnessed in the Lizardmen’s land.”

At this astounding disclosure, Carmaxes III’s mouth slowly dropped open.

---

Shortly after the meeting with Carmaxes III concluded—

‘Why did he call me in the moment I arrived?’

Alon found it strange that Carmaxes III had summoned him just to set the date for the celebration.

Typically, such details would be managed by an emissary rather than a direct audience.

To be precise, it wasn’t even an invitation—it was more of a straightforward notification that the celebration would take place at a specific time.

Regardless, Alon only briefly considered the unexpected summons.

Thump!

“Master!”

Seolrang suddenly appeared atop the carriage roof with a loud sound.

The moment Alon’s carriage approached the guild structure, Seolrang had leaped from the roof onto the moving vehicle.

“If you had waited inside the building, I would have joined you there.”

“We can go in together!”

Seolrang leaned in close to Alon, her eyes shining brightly.

Then, twitching her ears as if anticipating something, she looked up at him.

Recognizing the familiar gesture, Alon gently pressed her ears.

Seolrang merely smiled contentedly.

Seeing this, Alon subconsciously allowed a small smile himself and patted her head twice.

As he ascended the building, Alon felt a sense of relief.

‘I was concerned initially, but…’

Around the time they reached the desert, Alon had recalled something he had overlooked due to his mental state.

That, upon reaching the colony, he would finally have to give Seolrang a reply regarding her long-deferred proposition.

For a period, he struggled with how to proceed. But upon reaching the colony, his worries subsided.

Because even though Seolrang was more affable than ever, she hadn’t brought up the subject at all.

Initially, he found it perplexing, but then he wondered if she had finally learned to distinguish between ‘fondness’ and ‘deep affection.’

Her transformation was evident—she was progressing, both intellectually and emotionally, like a child maturing into an adult.

Upon entering the guild, the two exchanged pleasantries.

Then, abruptly, Seolrang turned toward the window and paused.

“Hmm?”

She glanced back at Alon and offered a radiant smile.

“Oh, Master! I will be right back!”

“Where are you headed?”

“I have some business at the royal fortress!”

“Very well, go ahead.”

“Okay! I’ll return quickly, Master!”

With a dazzling flash of electric current, Seolrang darted away.

Watching her vanish, Alon’s expression was that of a father observing his daughter leave to play.

“Marquis.”

Soon after, Evan addressed him.

“What is it?”

“Ah, you recall that investigation you requested? I have the results here.”

“The research is already complete?”

“Well, it’s been over a month since you asked, so they had ample time.”

Without hesitation, Alon unfolded the document Evan presented to him.

“Hm…”

“But, Marquis.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you looking into this? It doesn’t truly concern our affairs, does it?”

It was a logical question.

The list Alon had requested contained details about various clandestine organizations and covert groups operating within the Allied Kingdom.

Before the original tale commenced, these factions had remained concealed, their whereabouts unknown. But when the Five Great Sins began to appear, these groups surfaced as well, throwing the Allied Kingdom into disorder.

In short, at this point in time, they hadn’t fully emerged yet, making Evan’s curiosity understandable.

In moments like this—

“It’s simply… that matter.”

“That matter, you say.”

“Yes, that thing.”

As always, Alon provided the same vague reply.

“Yes… I expected something along those lines.”

Evan shrugged, acting as if he hadn’t anticipated a more detailed response.

“Is that so?”

“Well, Marquis, you do tend to engage in actions I don’t fully grasp sometimes.”

“Aren’t you intrigued?”

“I am, but it’s likely something you’re unable to discuss, correct?”

“Hmm—”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t discuss it—it was merely that he wasn’t confident in articulating it clearly. Just as Alon was pondering this, Evan added—

“Well, if it’s too challenging to explain, you don’t have to. It’s not like knowing one or two of these things will change anything for me.”

“Is that right?”

“Of course. Even if you undertake things I don’t understand, I know you aren’t doing anything harmful.”

Alon experienced a peculiar feeling of satisfaction from Evan’s words of trust.

Then, Evan abruptly flashed a playful smirk and whispered—

“Marquis.”

“What is it?”

“If my compensation should happen to increase again, I would gladly welcome it.”

“You just ruined my moment of deep feeling.”

“Oh—perhaps I should have waited a bit longer to bring it up, then?”

Evan’s face was marked by an easygoing smile.

Shortly thereafter, he bid farewell and exited the room.

Now, silence permeated the area.

[Meow-]

Alon absentmindedly stroked Blackie, who was worn out from being overwhelmed by Seolrang’s earlier displays of affection.

He organized his thoughts.

‘Right now, what I must concentrate on are the adversaries that will disrupt the Allied Kingdom and the Apostles.’

The enemies posing a threat to the Allied Kingdom—they could be handled.

Even if they hadn’t disclosed themselves yet, they were still operating in secret. Purchasing information from the intelligence guild would make dealing with them straightforward enough.

But the genuine problem was the Apostles.

‘Initially, I had hoped it was mere overthinking, but…’

The moment he confirmed that even Rine was involved with the Apostles, Alon was certain.

Every child he had rescued thus far—without exception—had already had dealings with the Apostles before his intervention.

That implied the Apostles could appear before any other child at any given moment.

This was what troubled him.

‘…If only I knew the Apostles’ location.’

Regrettably, that was an unattainable desire.

Alon had no means of identifying who the Apostles were, and from his previous conflicts and intelligence gathering, he had ascertained that they only revealed themselves when attempting to awaken a “Vessel.”

That meant no one, not even the intelligence guild, could trace their whereabouts.

‘So, ultimately, all I can do is react every time they surface… Is there truly no alternative?’

Only Alon’s profound sigh resonated in the silent room.

---

That Evening.

After failing to reach any firm conclusions, Alon eventually proceeded to the royal residence to enjoy the celebration as per Carmaxes III’s arrangement.

‘…Tonight, I will attend the banquet, meet Kylrus, and then retrieve what I was supposed to receive from the Dragonkin.’

Having become quite familiar with the royal residence, Alon soon arrived at the banquet hall Carmaxes III had prepared.

But the moment he entered, a question crossed his mind.

Seolrang, who had departed earlier that day claiming to have duties in the royal residence, was nowhere to be found.

‘Where did Seolrang go?’

Her vacant seat was conspicuous.

Alon tilted his head in confusion but swiftly turned his focus to Carmaxes III, offering a respectful bow.

“I salute the Sovereign of the Colony.”

The customary greeting.

However—

“Ah, you have arrived, Marquis Palatio.”

Carmaxes III’s courteous tone—something Alon had heard only once before—reached his ears.

Straightening up from his bow, Alon’s face displayed a barely noticeable hint of surprise.

“Please, take your place.”

“……???”

It was a night that commenced in utter bewilderment.

---

Meanwhile, Beneath the Azure Moon

Gazing blankly at the dark lanes, where no illumination was visible, Rine instinctively spoke Alon’s words from earlier that day.

“The past is merely the past—”

She had recited those words countless times already, yet she found herself uttering them once more.

And as she did, a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

To be honest, hearing those words had not brought any major transformation to Rine’s spirit.

She was still afraid of her history. It still pursued her, tormented her, and filled her with fear.

No matter how much Alon reassured her, to her, the past remained something she desperately wished to erase.

His words hadn’t completely reached the depths of her being.

Her history still clung to her.

But even so, the reason she had been able to smile in that moment was straightforward—

It was because of Alon’s expression.

A face that even he himself might not have been fully conscious of.

But it was unmistakable.

His usual impassive countenance had been replaced by one filled with—

‘Worry.’

An expression that, regardless of interpretation, was steeped in concern.

And it was directed solely at her.

That, for Rine, was an immensely joyful realization.

…So much so that she never wanted to forfeit it.

She didn’t want the chains of her past to contaminate their current relationship.

That is why—

—No, I don’t even need to tell you. You just need to make a choice. You are intelligent enough to know, aren’t you? That your repository holds far more concealed spaces than you realize.

She recalled the voice of the Apostle of Greed.

A voice she didn’t even want to contemplate.

And yet, it spoke of a potential path forward—

A method to break free from the constraints of the past and proceed.

For an extended time, she stared at the blue moon.

Her eyes, reflecting its shade, shone with an even deeper, more vibrant blue tint.

---

In the Distant Wilderness, Far From the Colony

In a locale where locating anything seemed impossible—

A desolate expanse of unending sand—

“I’ve located you.”

“!?”

The elf, Draim, who had been discreetly shadowing Alon for his protection,

Now found himself helplessly immobilized—his neck firmly grasped by Seolrang’s electricity-charged hand.

“You were observing Master secretly, weren’t you?”

“Guh—!”

With an expression of utter shock, he gazed at her.