Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 183

Chapter 183: An Explosive Proposition 💥

 

The small office was a picture of tranquility. Blackie, the pet, was idly tumbling among the piled-up books before drifting off to sleep. Despite the peak of summer outside, the magical stones embedded within the room kept the temperature comfortably cool. In short, it was the perfect environment for leaning back in a chair and enjoying a post-lunch slumber.

It should have been.

“…Say that again?”

“I stated that the Lord of Lartania‘s head is set to detonate, Godfather.”

If it weren’t for Rine’s audacious statement—

Alon’s eyes flickered, though his face remained unreadable. Deus and Radan mirrored his shock, appearing as if they had just witnessed an act of madness far exceeding their own. They silently retreated half a step.

Alon glanced at the trio, then deliberately set down the small button he was holding.

“…So, uh—”

How could this possibly qualify as a thoughtful present?

—He bit back the question.

“Oh, I neglected to mention that part, Godfather.”

“Which part?”

“The moment you push the button and secure your own safety, you can immediately assume the mantle of the new Lord.”

Rine offered a bright, clear smile.

“This is the gift I specially prepared for you.”

A small detonator, perfectly sized to be concealed in a single hand.

‘So, by pressing this whenever I feel like it, the Lord’s head will explode, and I’ll be installed as the successor…? Is that truly what she means?’

—No, wait. This is no ordinary gift.

“I had initially intended to simply handle it discreetly and inform you afterward, but I realized some bothersome individuals might start interfering. Thus, I devised this method. Furthermore, this approach grants you the freedom to act precisely when you deem it appropriate, Godfather.”

“I understand.”

“Indeed.”

Her words were full of careful consideration.

In fact, they were genuinely considerate.

It’s just that they utterly defied established common sense.

Rine gave a gentle laugh as she looked at the button.

Alon, feeling a tremor of apprehension, covertly slid the button closer to himself.

‘Surely not, right?’

Could it be that her encounter with the Apostle previously had somehow fundamentally changed Rine?

A subtle worry began to take root.

Alon covered the button with both hands, contemplating the situation seriously. Should he thank her first? Or—

‘Even if it feels awkward, after the recent events, I need to check if she’s been affected.’

While it might be needless anxiety, Alon felt it was best to confirm his suspicion.

His ultimate ambition was to guide those who were once prophesied to become the Five Great Sins toward becoming normal people.

No matter how she labeled it a present, rigging someone’s head with an explosive—even if it was a mere speculation—was an act that should be strictly forbidden.

And yet, since Rine had gone to such lengths to procure this offering for him…

Would it be right to publicly rebuke her in front of Deus and Radan?

He hesitated.

Especially if the residual effect of their confrontation with the Apostle still lingered.

Rine rarely displayed her inner struggles, no matter the difficulty.

In the end, Alon gently shut his eyes.

“…I will accept it.”

“You like it?”

“I do.”

He decided to overlook it for the time being.

“I’m pleased.”

“But in the future, you don’t need to put together such extravagant presents. Please stick to something more suitable and less taxing.”

He offered a piece of counsel instead.

“The same goes for both of you, Deus, Radan. There’s no need to go to such extremes just for giving gifts.”

However—

“Understood, Brother. But I genuinely didn’t exaggerate this time.”

“I agree, Marquis.”

Hearing Radan and Deus’s protestations, Alon felt the corner of his mouth involuntarily twitch.

They claimed they hadn’t exaggerated?

Despite having constructed an outrageously huge statue and even having captured a sea god on a previous occasion?

But—

“…Fine, never mind.”

Confronted by six pairs of eyes insisting on their innocence, he suppressed his true thoughts.

---

As the afternoon sun beat down upon the land—

“Hmm, thinking about it, it’s been a while since we’ve all been together like this.”

“That’s true. I’ve seen Rine, but it feels like ages since I last saw you.”

“You’re right.”

While Radan, Deus, and Rine exchanged their pleasantries—

Alon had gone to his secondary office to conduct some magic research with Penia.

“We shall conclude here for the day.”

“Yes, thank you for your efforts.”

“So, what are your thoughts?”

“Well— Honestly, I believe it’s still slightly insufficient.”

They were currently investigating a concept that Kylrus had mentioned to Alon. To effectively use the Shadow Dragon technique, exceptional command over mana was vital.

“By the way, it’s remarkable how Blackie responds to the forming of seals.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Fundamentally, the seals you employ—hand seals, specifically—modify the configuration of mana particles. And Blackie is undergoing changes right alongside them.”

“…That is indeed quite fascinating.”

“Hmm… Ah, now that I consider it, perhaps we could apply this in an entirely different way?”

“How?”

Penia enthusiastically presented her brainstorm.

“If your hypothesis holds true, we might be able to leverage it in this manner too.”

Alon folded his arms and nodded slowly.

In contrast to Kylrus, Penia’s interpretation of the seals and their connection to Blackie was undeniably captivating.

“Then let us concentrate on that particular aspect a little further.”

“Understood. Oh, and also—”

Penia retrieved something from her robe and offered it to Alon.

“…What is this?”

“Well, I heard it’s your birthday today. It’s a modest gift I put together.”

“Thank you.”

The item Penia passed over was a small vial.

“What is the function of this potion?”

“It’s a stimulant.”

“A stimulant?”

“Yes. It’s not meant for casual use, but if you inhale the powder, it temporarily boosts your mana capacity. Naturally, it entails certain drawbacks, but it’s a better alternative than risking mana addiction.”

Alon let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

“…That is a truly substantial gift. I will ensure it is put to good use.”

“I’m delighted you appreciate it.”

Penia displayed a practiced, sociable smile.

‘Though, to be truthful, I never initially intended it to be a gift.’

She kept that truth carefully concealed.

The so-called present, the stimulant, was actually a byproduct of a laboratory accident.

Most mages wouldn’t even consider relying on stimulants. Side effects aside, they seldom overuse magic to the extent of developing mana addiction in the first place.

In essence, this stimulant—while potent—was essentially useless to her, neither commanding a good market price nor something she personally required.

But with Alon’s birthday drawing near—

And given his frequent depletion of mana—

It presented the perfect chance to transform this dispensable item into a valuable offering.

‘Honestly, I probably would have given it to him even if it weren’t his birthday.’

Regardless, there was no harm in cultivating favor with Alon.

Therefore…

“Ahem, I invested a fair amount of effort into formulating this.”

“Did you?”

“Yes, I utilized a number of expensive components, you see—”

As the proverb goes, seize the moment while circumstances are favorable.

Just as Penia was about to pile on further exaggerations that weren’t entirely fabrications—

“This contains as many as eight separate components, so— Huh.”

She suddenly swallowed hard.

“?”

Before Alon could inquire about the matter—

“There you are, My Lord.”

A familiar voice resonated from behind.

“Yutia, you’ve arrived.”

“Yes, My Lord. I just reached the estate a moment ago.”

“It must have been quite a journey to get here. Thank you for coming.”

“Don’t mention it. It is your birthday, of course I had to be here.”

Yutia smiled, her eyes arching into crescents.

She then glanced at the potion in Alon’s hands.

“That gift, was it perhaps from Penia Crysinne?”

Her gaze swiftly shifted to Penia.

“Ah, no, I didn’t give that!”

In a panic, Penia was on the verge of activating her emergency retreat plan—

“That’s correct. Penia presented it to me. She selected something I truly needed.”

“Heeh— is that so?”

“Yes.”

“In that case, I must properly convey my gratitude to you, Miss Penia.”

She missed her opportunity due to Alon’s calm yet direct praise.

“Well, instead of remaining here, let’s proceed to the main office. The others have all gathered there.”

“Certainly, My Lord.”

“Penia, apologies, but I will head over first.”

“Ah, y-yes…”

Fortunately, Alon guided Yutia away immediately.

“Whew—”

Penia let out a silent sigh of relief.

Believing she had just narrowly escaped, she lifted her head—

And then she saw it.

“……Gasp.”

As Alon walked away—

For a fleeting second, when his back was turned—

Yutia’s face had turned icy cold, her expression completely devoid of any warmth.

And—

Creeeaaak— Thud!

As if pursued by a phantom, the door slowly creaked shut.

Penia, staring at it, felt a torrent of regret wash over her.

‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have fabricated that lie…?’

Her face crumpled in despair.

…Should she start packing her possessions and flee straight to the Blue Magic Tower this very moment?

Her brief, tormented thoughts swirled restlessly in the air.

---

“So, how have your responsibilities been lately?”

“Mm— nothing too major. Just a few small-scale incidents?”

“I see.”

As they walked back to the office where the other three waited, Alon exchanged pleasantries.

Simultaneously, he reflected—

‘Soon, various incidents will begin to erupt in Rosario as well.’

Most of these, naturally, would be linked to the strange phenomena occurring. The truly significant events were still some time away.

Still feeling a sense of concern, he spoke to Yutia.

“If anything arises that requires assistance, please let me know.”

“Hmm— I would prefer not to cause you unnecessary worry, though?”

“Do not think like that.”

Yutia remained silent for a moment.

Then, shortly after—

“I feel the exact same way.”

Her smile widened even more than usual.

“You too?”

“Yes. If you ever require anything from me, do not hesitate to ask. Do not concern yourself with burdening me.”

Witnessing that bright smile, the corner of Alon’s mouth curved slightly upward.

Continuing their amicable discussion, they arrived at the office before they realized it.

The moment they opened the door and entered, another incredibly large box came into view.

“Oh, is this Yutia’s gift?”

A box that hadn’t been there previously.

However—

“?”

Yutia tilted her head, looking utterly perplexed.

Then who had delivered this gift…?

“Ah, that arrived earlier, so I brought it inside.”

Evan, who had been chatting with the others, clarified.

“They informed me it was sent by Seolrang.”

“I see.”

Just as Evan seemed to notice Yutia and was about to raise his hand in greeting—

“Ta-dah~! I finished making myself just before Yutia arrived!!”

The lid of the enormous gift box suddenly flew open.

And from within—

“Seolrang…?”

Seolrang, wrapped entirely in red ribbon.

She immediately rushed up to Alon and proclaimed—

“I am the birthday present, Master! You may claim me!”

She then thrust forward the marriage registration form that Alon had previously declined to sign.

And at that precise moment—

“Eh?”

Seolrang spotted her.

Yutia, standing just behind Alon.

“Y-Yutia?”

Her voice trembled with fear.

“It has been a while, Seolrang.”

In contrast, Yutia responded with an unruffled tone.

Up until the moment Seolrang dramatically burst from the box, Deus and Radan had been watching in amusement—

But now, they involuntarily flinched.

To anyone else, Yutia’s voice might have seemed perfectly normal.

But they knew.

That subtly subdued tone—

It only manifested when Yutia was confronted with something—or someone—that greatly displeased her.

In this scenario, the wisest course of action was to remain completely uninvolved.

They carefully turned their eyes away.

Meanwhile, Seolrang, recalling the blunder she made by teasing Yutia during a past meeting, began to perspire profusely.

“Heh, heh…”

Like a guilty criminal, her eyes darted frantically around the room.

Then—

Thud, thud—

She swiftly crawled back inside the very box she had just dramatically exited.

Only her hands peeked out as she attempted to close the lid back over herself.

But the now shredded box lid refused to fit properly.

In the sudden, freezing tension that permeated the room, Alon could only stand there, utterly bewildered.