Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 227

Chapter 227

Alon, maintaining his quiet composure after Kylrus’ remarks, finally spoke.

“The individual who initially disseminated magical knowledge.”

“As you infer, he was the pioneer who first wielded and established magic.”

“…And the method he employed was the Reversal of Heaven technique?”

After Kylrus gave a silent affirmation, Alon pressed on with his questions.

“I recognize this question is redundant since you’ve already informed me, but has anyone besides the inaugural practitioner of magic ever utilized the Reversal of Heaven technique?”

Seeking absolute confirmation, Alon reiterated the query, and Kylrus gave a definite nod.

“The Reversal of Heaven technique itself is merely a legendary tale among magic users. The first mage existed in an era long preceding my human life.”

“So, it has persisted solely as a narrative.”

“Precisely. Oh, one further point. The inaugural mage deviated somewhat from typical practitioners of magic.”

“In what manner?”

In response to Alon’s inquiry, Kylrus elaborated.

“Upon introducing magic, the majority of mages inevitably appointed successors.”

While intellectual understanding was essential for casting spells, the most vital element for mages was their “image” or internal representation.

Kylrus continued his explanation.

“However, the first mage did not designate an heir. No, rather than merely neglecting to do so, he vanished shortly after distributing the knowledge of magic to others.”

“…He vanished?”

“It was as though the proliferation of magic was his singular objective. After instructing three disciples, he disappeared entirely.”

“That explains why you described his conduct as unusual.”

Kylrus agreed.

“That is the reason there is virtually no recorded information regarding the Reversal of Heaven technique. The three apprentices who witnessed it are long since gone, and they left behind no documentation about their initial instructor.”

Mentioning a solitary fragment of surviving information, Kylrus directed his gaze toward Alon.

“Should someone in possession of the Reversal of Heaven technique reach that specific boundary, they might uncover a vital clue.”

“That implies—”

“It appears you genuinely have the potential to master the Reversal of Heaven technique. Despite never having inherited any aspect of it—neither the image nor anything else.”

Alon remained silent following Kylrus’ conclusion.

He was still entirely unaware of the process required to learn the method.

“Therefore, I must utilize every piece of knowledge I have accumulated thus far, is that it?”

With that realization, he posed one more question as a precaution.

“Is there absolutely no alternative method to procure information about the original mage?”

“If we proceed logically, the answer is no, but taking an optimistic view, perhaps the deities possess some knowledge.”

“…The deities?”

“Indeed. Although, I am uncertain how many of the gods who witnessed the first mage’s era are still in existence.”

Alon fell into deep reflection at the mention of divine beings.

“Very well, since our discussion has reached its end, let us commence again.”

However, those words jolted Alon back, and he began to formulate a spell with a slightly strained expression.

Precisely five seconds later—

“…Ah.”

Alon’s eyes snapped open in Penia’s study, his face conveying a sense of depletion.

---

For the ensuing two weeks, Alon pursued a dual agenda.

One involved collaborating with Penia on magical research.

The other entailed borrowing Penia’s mana daily to access the domain of the past and engage Kylrus in combat.

“Oh, you’re conscious?”

“What was the duration this time?”

“Hmm, it lasted 19 seconds.”

Upon hearing Penia’s report, Alon released a profound sigh and rose from his seat.

“…I did manage to hold out longer.”

“Yes, initially, you couldn’t even endure four seconds.”

Alon rubbed his head as he observed the Footsteps of the Past artifact, which had turned black from expended mana.

‘This is proving difficult.’

From two weeks prior until the present, he had attempted various tactical approaches daily, yet the disparity in power between himself and Kylrus persisted as immense.

Regardless of the strategy he devised—

Kylrus invariably deployed a novel type of assault, guaranteeing Alon’s unavoidable loss.

‘Thanks to this, I’ve learned extensively about utilizing Blackie, and I’ve acquired beneficial insights for the synchronization investigation…’

But he was still no closer to securing a victory in the encounter.

“…I will return again tomorrow.”

“Sounds good!”

He returned to Penia’s study every day.

For more than two weeks, she had been immersed in research on the artifact he had presented to her.

After observing her vibrant expression for a brief moment, Alon proceeded to his own office.

[Now, repeat this phrase. I am Basiliora’s subordinate.]

[I… am? Subordinate?]

The moment he entered the room, he encountered an unusual spectacle.

Basiliora was present, and before him, the Sea King God was twisting its massive form with curiosity.

[Do it again.]

[Subordinate?]

Following Basiliora’s instruction, the Sea King God tilted its head but dutifully echoed the utterance.

Alon recalled observing the Sea King God swimming in the reservoir outside his manor just a short time ago.

He turned to Basiliora and inquired, “…What exactly are you engaged in?”

[I’m conducting hierarchy conditioning.]

“Is that genuinely necessary…?”

[Hierarchy conditioning is absolutely paramount.]

Basiliora observed the Sea King God with evident satisfaction.

Just then—

“My Lord, I was searching for you… What in the world are you doing?”

Evan entered the office and immediately spotted Basiliora alongside the Sea King God.

[Hehehe~]

Basiliora, now radiating self-assurance, issued a command:

[Now, King Serpent, go instruct that fellow a lesson!]

[Instruct… a lesson?]

[Precisely! You are my subordinate, so you must obey my orders! Expand your body slightly and attack him!!]

As if he had anticipated this moment, Basiliora stretched his form proudly and delivered the instruction.

The Sea King God tilted its head several times before finally nodding in comprehension.

Ssssss—

It then enlarged its body to the dimensions of a massive serpent.

Observing this—

“…So that’s what you’ve been occupied with in the garden pond these recent days.”

[It’s too late for regrets! Now you shall personally experience my might!!]

Evan cast an unimpressed glance at Basiliora.

However, instead of retreating, Basiliora let out a triumphant laugh.

Then—

Evan let out a small chuckle and said, “Hello, King Serpent, come over here.”

He withdrew some dried meat strips from his pocket and waved them gently in the air.

The Sea King God, which had been slowly advancing toward Evan, suddenly—

[······!]

It darted directly up to Evan’s face, fixating on him with shining eyes.

[Huh? What is this—]

Basiliora was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

But—

“You desire this?”

Nod, nod, nod, nod!

“Then, go teach him a lesson first.”

Nod, nod!!

The Sea King God instantly shifted its objective and lunged toward Basiliora.

[!? W-What?! Hold on a minute!! King Serpent! You are my subordinate! Why are you attacking me—Kraaaah!! You scoundrel, attack that simpleton over there, not me—Kraaaaaaaaah!!!]

Basiliora, ensnared by his own scheme, was constricted by the Sea King God and emitted a sequence of agonizing screams—”Agyagyaaaaagh~!!!”

Alon, observing the unfolding chaos silently, questioned, “What is the origin of ‘King Serpent’?”

“The staff members have already been feeding it and decided to refer to it as ‘King Serpent.’”

“…King Serpent?”

“Yes. Apparently, it follows people quite willingly. It enjoys being patted and also relishes dried meat, so I had some with me to offer it at some point… but I hadn’t anticipated using it in this manner.”

So, that was how the Sea King God acquired a new moniker.

[Kraaaah!! Show mercy!!!! Rescue me~!!]

…With Basiliora’s cries serving as a constant background noise.

Soon after, Basiliora went completely limp.

Having successfully completed its task, King Serpent was happily consuming dried meat in Evan’s embrace.

‘At this point, it’s not even the Sea King God, just a massive canine.’

As Alon entertained this thought, Evan, still stroking King Serpent’s head, spoke.

“By the way, Lord Marquis, you mentioned traveling to Colony earlier. Shouldn’t you be departing shortly?”

“That is correct.”

“Shall we commence the preparations then?”

“…Let’s plan to set off in about three days.”

Alon responded while recalling the precious stone he kept in his possession.

‘Now that I consider it, the Dragonkin also appeared to be an ancient divine entity. Perhaps I should inquire with them?’

Recollecting the information provided by Kylrus, Alon stroked his chin and reached a firm conclusion.

The subsequent day.

“Greetings, Godfather.”

“…?”

Rine had arrived at House Palatio.

“Yes, Godfather. I merely stopped by on my journey toward Colony.”

“Incidentally, what are you scrutinizing?”

“Oh, I simply had the sensation that there was something I hadn’t observed before.”

Curiously, instead of focusing on Alon’s face, her gaze was fixed on the red brooch adorning his chest—a present from Yutia.

She offered a quiet smile.

---

Only a few months prior, the city-state of Varnos had been a flourishing kingdom.

But now, it was nothing more than utter devastation.

The once verdant, lush woodlands—

Had devolved into barren, sterile ground where no living thing could endure.

The once bustling metropolis—

Now retained only fragments, faint traces of human habitation.

And upon that fissured and withered terrain—

Step, step—

A man proceeded forward.

Clad in dark sacred vestments, with black decorative chains jingling from his waist and hands.

He walked solitary through the desolate waste.

Eventually, he reached what was formerly the capital of Varnos, now barely recognizable as the ruins of a fortress.

And there—

“Well, look who has come to call.”

A new figure emerged.

With ash-gray pupils—

The very man who had single-handedly annihilated the Duchy of Varnos and claimed dominion over this location.

A fiend (鬼).

“It has been some time.”

At the greeting from the man in dark holy robes, the smirking member of the Four Great Powers—Agu—replied from the crumbling castle steps.

“Yes, indeed it has been a while.”

“Judging by the current condition, it seems you have become quite established.”

At the observation from the man in black, Agu chuckled and gave a nod.

“Yeah, thanks to your assistance. Although it was a bit challenging initially—”

Then, Agu materialized a black droplet on his fingertip and allowed it to drop to the ground.

As it propagated outward—

The dark waves swiftly expanded across the desolate land, engulfing it in a somber gray hue.

And with that—

|-!!!!

What had been a moment before an empty, ruined capital—

Now disclosed its genuine inhabitants.

Grotesque shapes, neither entirely human nor stable in their form, materialized from the shadows.

They roamed the city, emitting chilling shrieks.

“Well, as you can see, I now have a firm grasp over them.”

Then—

Saaa—

The black ripples dissipated, concealing the hidden realm once more.

Observing the entire process, the man in dark holy robes murmured softly.

“…So, you have even instilled particular characteristics into your subordinates.”

“Precisely. Anyway—”

Agu grinned again.

“The fact that you traveled all this way indicates you have a message to convey, doesn’t it?”

“You understand me well.”

“You bestowed this authority upon me, so I am prepared to listen. Honestly, I never anticipated being able to consume ‘Greed’ either.”

Agu chuckled, clearly pleased, as if recalling an unexpected triumph.

The man in black watched him briefly before speaking again.

“This is a solicitation—but it is also for your own benefit.”

“For my own benefit?”

“You may have succeeded in absorbing it, but you have not yet fully mastered its capabilities. Am I mistaken?”

“You are correct.”

“Therefore, I will instruct you on how to govern it effectively.”

At those words, Agu narrowed his eyes, examining the man before him critically.

“You know, I have been pondering something.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you offering me assistance? We had no previous association.”

It had consistently perplexed him.

Why was this man extending him so much aid?

In response to Agu’s inquiry, the man in dark holy robes paused for a moment.

“Offering you assistance… Well, I suppose that is one perspective.”

He mumbled softly before giving a slight chuckle.

“It is straightforward. Providing you with aid holds significant importance to me.”

Then, the man turned to leave.

“A strange gateway will materialize in the desert. Proceed there.”

“…What will I find there?”

“Rather than finding something… something will arrive.”

His final quiet utterance—

‘The residual essence of Greed’—did not reach Agu’s ears.

With a subdued smile, the man in dark holy robes walked away once more.