Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 209

Chapter 209

‘Bestowing extraordinary aid.’

Alon had two primary motivations for choosing Sili as the recipient of his granted strength.

The first point.

The foremost reason was her standing as the younger sister dearly cherished by Deus.

With the threat posed by the Apostle of Sloth now eliminated, the immediate danger had receded.

Nonetheless, should a similar peril emerge in the future, Sili would require the ability to defend herself independently.

If Sili were to perish, Deus would undoubtedly succumb to the darkness of corruption and descend into iniquity.

This was because his affection for her was boundless.

The second motivation was quite straightforward.

Sili appeared surprisingly suited to handle Alon’s bestowed power.

Following the recent crisis, Sili’s perception of Alon had undergone a complete transformation.

She no longer viewed him as the cause of her brother Deus’s peculiar change, but now regarded him with deep veneration and fervent commitment.

That profound emotion was patently obvious, even without actively seeking to detect it.

‘Furthermore, given her already advanced talent in the magical arts, she might eventually be capable of employing faith-based magic.’

Regardless of this.

Faith was merely a secondary consideration.

Ultimately, the most critical factor was alleviating the anxieties of Deus.

‘It’s not as if I have a multitude of others right now with whom to share my power.’

Had he still been residing in Luxibl, he would have bestowed this power upon Syrkal and Jenira.

However, since a return was not currently feasible, and considering he would surely accumulate sufficient faith to empower one or two more individuals by the time he returned from his journey north,

Alon readily extended the offer to Sili.

Momentarily.

“D-Does this imply I will become your devoted Follower, my Lord…!?”

Sili’s eyes shone brightly.

Her voice quivered with intense anticipation, as if she couldn’t distinguish between reality and a dream.

Alon, feeling secretly taken aback by her dramatic reaction, gave a nod.

“In a precise sense, yes.”

“Is someone like me truly capable of this?”

She bowed her head lower still,

Her hands starting to shake visibly.

Yet, despite her words of humility, her eyes blazed even more fiercely.

Alon cleared his throat, appearing somewhat ill at ease.

‘There’s no need to take it so profoundly…’

For Alon, this action was merely about furnishing Deus’s most vulnerable point with the means to safeguard herself.

“……There’s no necessity to disparage yourself in that manner.”

“B-But how could I possibly be an Apostle of my Lord—”

“If you are unwilling, you are free to decline—”

“Absolutely not!”

A sudden, powerful cry burst forth.

“Is that so?”

Alon found himself momentarily speechless.

Sili clenched both her hands into tight fists, as if having finalized an immense decision.

“I will dedicate myself to doing my utmost!”

She declared with such volume that her entire frame trembled.

Though her intensity caught him off guard,

Alon merely reflected, ‘Well, if it brings her happiness, then it is perfectly acceptable.’

Closing his eyes, he swiftly accessed the divine energies with which he had become so familiar.

This time, unlike the previous occasion, he opted for the significantly reduced divine essence of Kalannon.

In that very moment.

Crackling—!

A burst of illumination erupted, and delicate electrical sparks played around Alon.

Unlike the overwhelming display from the previous time, the electricity now moved in much finer, more subtle streams.

Nonetheless, even those faint glimmers caused the attending knights to stare in wonder.

Shhh—

Feeling inexplicably awkward, Alon quickly extended his hand and transferred the divine energy into Sili.

In short order, the blue-tinged essence flowed into her physical form and vanished.

‘Did the transmission succeed?’

Closing his eyes once more, Alon examined the subtle remnants of Kalannon’s divine power.

It was now even smaller than before, marked by a minuscule star and a slender blue inscription.

At that moment, Alon understood instinctively.

That diminutive star represented the individual who had taken possession of the power.

“D-Does this signify I can utilize my Lord’s capabilities now?”

“It does.”

As he opened his eyes, he heard Sili’s voice.

When Alon affirmed her question, she gasped in amazement before her gaze solidified with fresh resolve.

“As your Follower, I shall dedicate myself to proclaiming your greatness, my Lord…!”

“……I entrust this task to you.”

In truth, he had not intended for her zeal to reach such a degree.

But there was no valid reason to discourage someone who had fully committed herself.

Gazing at Sili, who had her fists tightly squeezed, Alon nodded again.

---

A short time later.

As Alon entered Deus’s dwelling, letting out a soft sigh, Evan approached him.

“My Lord.”

“What is it, Evan?”

“I feel somewhat overlooked.”

Evan unexpectedly voiced his grievance.

Alon looked at him with a questioning expression.

“Out of the blue…?”

“What do you mean, ‘out of the blue’? You shared your strength with Sili, didn’t you?”

“……Ah, you are referring to that?”

“Yes, precisely that. Naturally, the choice is yours, but still, I am here as well. As your personal guard… wait a moment.”

“……”

“Am I truly… a guard?”

Evan murmured, appearing to question his own role.

[Hmph.]

Just then, Basiliora, who had been silent, interjected.

[Were I in his position, I would never share my divine potency with someone like you.]

“You scaled head, are you starting trouble again? You’ve been particularly provocative lately.”

[Provocation? Do you even grasp the meaning of that term anymore? These are objective observations, not provocations.]

Listening to Basiliora, Alon suddenly realized a detail.

“……Now that I consider it, you are a deity.”

[Hah? Of course! I am the magnificent Basiliora!]

“Yes, right. More like a small, scaly serpent.”

Seizing the moment to retaliate, Evan smirked and ridiculed him.

Basiliora let out a peculiar shriek of frustration,

But Evan disregarded him and redirected his attention to Alon.

“Hmm… Reflecting on it, I suppose it wouldn’t have been simple for me to accept your power regardless.”

“It’s not due to a lack of strength on your part.”

“Is there then a separate reason?”

The reason Evan could not receive Alon’s power was straightforward.

“The power I convey is effective only for those who sincerely hold me as a true god in their belief. If faith is absent, the power cannot be utilized.”

“Ah.”

“Can you venerate me as a god?”

Evan paused for a moment, rubbing his head.

“That would pose a slight difficulty.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, my Lord, I trust you completely, but whether that trust equates to ‘worship of a divine being’ is a different matter entirely. If I were to articulate it… it feels more like you are a deeply cherished comrade.”

“That is why I did not offer you my power. You would be incapable of using it in any event.”

“I see now.”

“Did you genuinely believe I hadn’t considered you initially?”

Evan’s expression suddenly registered profound emotion.

“As expected, there is no one who compares to you, my Lord.”

“Naturally.”

A pleasant warmth permeated the atmosphere.

“Then, while the subject is raised, might you perhaps consider increasing my remuneration somewhat…?”

“……Did I not just increase it recently?”

“Ah—well, you see, current living expenditures have been a little…”

[Hmph, rather than ‘expenditures,’ it’s more that you’ve squandered all your funds on women and are now destitute.]

Basiliora, with characteristic timing, never missed an opportunity.

“What outrageous lie! This is all part of my financial planning for the future!”

[Future planning, you mean. That’s simply throwing wealth away! Hahahaha!]

Following another short argument, Evan unnecessarily cleared his throat and inquired,

“So, my Lord, to whom do you intend to grant your strength in the future?”

“Hmm?”

“That is to say, your power. You will continue to share it, won’t you?”

Alon pondered briefly.

“I intend to grant it only to those who hold genuine devotion for me.”

That was his definitive answer.

At that exact moment.

Far removed from Caliban, where he was positioned to avoid detection by Deus, Draim, who was maintaining his vigil, stood in absolute stillness.

But he was not the sole observer.

Every member of the Shadow Leaves witnessed it clearly.

The Ancient Elf, bestowing the power of Kalannon, the lightning controller, upon a mortal.

For the elves of Greynifra, recent times had brought numerous astonishing disclosures.

Discovering that the one they called the Ancient Elf was known elsewhere as Kalannon, the one who commands lightning.

Seeing that he possessed not only the abilities of elves but also adopted the forms of other divine entities.

All these realizations had unfolded within the last month.

Yet, none of the elves harbored any uncertainty or confusion.

Because they had beheld with their own eyes that Marquis Palatio was indeed the Ancient Elf.

Moreover, they already knew that the Ancient Elf was also referred to as Taezon.

Thus, while they were surprised, they merely accepted it as yet another sacred designation.

Instead, their reverence for him only intensified.

But today, the elves uncovered a fact even more staggering than his various names.

It was contained within the declaration made by Marquis Palatio—no, by the Ancient Elf himself.

‘I grant my power to those who are truly faithful.’

The elves present remembered vividly.

The immense power of the great Marquis Palatio, the Ancient Elf, who had once revived the withered tree roots entirely on his own.

And now, they too could potentially receive that power?

Provided they genuinely believed in him?

Draim subtly shifted his gaze to the side.

He met the eyes of his subordinates.

Every single one of them was alight with a fierce sense of rivalry and personal ambition.

Of course, the elves of the Shadow Leaves did not act merely for individual benefit.

Draim was fully aware of this.

The Shadow Leaves existed solely to execute the Queen’s directives, acting as her ultimate weapon.

However, despite that commitment,

“……Captain, my watch rotation is concluded, so I will proceed inward first.”

“I shall enter as well.”

Among the elves, a silent contest had just begun to ignite.

---

That evening.

Sili, who had received the essence of Kalannon from Alon, stared blankly at her hand.

Flicker—!

A minute spark of electricity pulsed beneath her open palm.

If she closed her hand now, it would vanish as if it had never been there.

Nevertheless, it was undeniably lightning.

In reality, Sili was already capable of channeling considerably stronger electrical magic.

She had not yet reached the zenith of her capability as a sorceress, but even so, she could conjure spells far more potent than this small display.

This meant that this tiny flash of lightning held no particular significance for her power level.

However, despite that fact, she remained utterly captivated, gazing at the faint spark just before it dissipated.

Because this was not her personal magic—

It was divine power.

Sss—

The lightning faded away.

Silence enveloped Sili’s chamber.

Only the cool, blue moonlight streamed through the window.

In the darkness, her eyes were the only things that gleamed brightly.

Yet, they held no trace of disappointment.

Instead, her expression conveyed an overwhelming rush of happiness.

She tightly clasped her hand.

During the daytime, when she first accepted this power, she had felt immense joy.

But deep within, she had also harbored concerns.

Could she truly handle such a monumental ability?

Yet, she had succeeded.

Even if it was just a diminutive spark.

Even if it paled in comparison to the magnificent lightning he had demonstrated.

She had indisputably generated lightning through the use of divine power.

And that brought her immeasurable delight.

The realization that she had been granted strength by the very individual who had preserved her life.

Unconsciously, Sili smiled warmly.

Then, she committed to a serious vow.

‘I must never cause him disappointment.’

Sili understood exactly what her duty was.

She was a Follower, and a Follower must execute the god’s will.

And there was only one action she needed to undertake for him.

‘To make his name known across the entire world.’

Beneath the steady moonlight, Sili smiled broadly.

Within her sharp intellect, a scheme began to formulate.

A strategy to ensure the world became aware of the great one.

Meanwhile, as Alon lay deeply buried in his bed, still not fully recuperated,

“Ugh—”

Completely unaware of the burgeoning development, a peculiar agenda was beginning to take root.

---

In that moment.

Within the opulent palace nestled beneath the World Tree in the elven territory of Greynifra.

“The elves guarding my dear friend should surely be relieved of their duty by now. They possess insufficient strength to adequately protect him anyway. Wouldn’t it be far more appropriate for us lizardmen to assume his protective detail?”

Hazard, the Lizardmen’s Sage God, had unexpectedly sought an audience with the Queen and challenged her authority.

“……Ha, what foolishness are you uttering?”

A tempest of chilling disapproval was swiftly gathering.

---

I can also look up a map of the region if you’d like to get a better sense of the locations mentioned, such as Caliban, Luxibl, or Greynifra.