Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 242

Chapter 242

Dowon, the goddess possessing azure eyes.

She watched Alon without saying a word.

Although Alon’s facial expression remained largely the same, he was visibly discomposed.

[Hmmm—]

Dowon appeared to be deep in thought, wearing an unreadable look.

[I found it mysterious when I initially detected your presence, but beholding you in person is even more intriguing.]

She scrutinized Alon closely, as though he were a subject of great interest.

“……Might I inquire as to what, precisely, you find so intriguing?”

Alon, having withstood her silent observation for some time, finally spoke up.

She replied instantly.

[Everything about you is intriguing.]

“……Everything, you say?”

[Indeed. It is fascinating that a ‘Mage,’ a being who should not exist, stands before me now. I am curious how a ‘god’ I have never encountered before managed to establish a ‘pact’ with our Kalgunias. Furthermore, I wonder why that specific entity is attached to you.]

Alon became increasingly bewildered by the goddess’s remarks.

The only part he could truly grasp was the mention of the ring’s pact.

Beyond that, her words were too abstract for him to interpret.

“Why do you claim that a Mage should not exist?”

He decided to address the most critical question first.

Dowon offered a smile.

[Is it not self-evident? That is merely the rule inscribed by the black beings from the very beginning.]

“……A rule?”

At Alon’s subsequent query, the goddess fixed her gaze upon him intensely.

It seemed as though she was attempting to deduce something.

Just as Alon started to worry, thinking, ‘Did I ask an inappropriate question?’—

[Ah, I see—]

As if a realization had struck her, the goddess uttered a quiet exclamation.

A soft smile graced her lips once more.

[So that is the situation.]

“……?”

Alon prepared to ask why she was nodding repeatedly in understanding—

[You appear to harbor many questions. Well, naturally you would. Isn’t that so?]

As Dowon spoke, Alon nodded in agreement.

“To be honest, yes.”

[I suspected as much. You must be brimming with inquiries. However, regrettably, it is impossible for you to learn the truth here.]

“Is that the case?”

[Explaining it verbally is not particularly difficult. In truth, I could reveal it to you right now if I so desired.]

“……Then why do you refrain?”

[Because I was asked not to.]

“A request, you mean?”

[Correct, a request. One that I am absolutely unable to decline.]

Alon felt a momentary wave of confusion.

It sounded as though she had already foreseen his arrival here.

“……Then, was the reason you wished to see me—”

[That, as well, was due to a request.]

Upon hearing her answer, Alon instinctively knitted his brows.

He had never once encountered this deity in his life.

In truth, he hadn’t even been aware that a god named Dowon existed.

More significantly, this era was the past.

A period before the Kingdom of Asteria existed.

Before the House of Marquis Palatio was established.

Before Alon Palatio was born.

Therefore—

“Are you implying you knew I would come here?”

Alon barely managed to voice the question.

Dowon replied casually.

[I anticipated it.]

“How?”

[As I stated previously, I cannot disclose that. Because I was asked not to.]

The longer their conversation dragged on, the more perplexed Alon became.

He could not comprehend the situation.

Taking a steady breath, he attempted to organize his thoughts.

“Are you saying that regardless of what I ask, you will provide no answers?”

[ regarding most things you are curious about, likely not. Unless it is something already known to the world.]

Hearing her declaration, Alon reached a conclusion.

He did not know what secrets the goddess was withholding.

However—

‘Questioning her further will yield no answers.’

There was no utility in asking.

“I understand.”

[Do not be overly disheartened. While there are matters I cannot speak of, there are also things I must convey to you.]

“……Is that also part of the request?”

[Yes.]

As the enigmatic dialogue proceeded, Alon’s curiosity only intensified.

Who was the individual who had made such a request to the goddess, Dowon?

Exactly what manner of being were they?

Alon waited for Dowon to continue.

After a moment of silence—

[The request I received was to provide you with a hint concerning your spell technique.]

“A hint……?”

[Yes, so listen attentively.]

Dowon began to deliver her message.

[First, do not remain fixated on the technique known as Reversal of Heaven; instead, reflect upon what is truly essential to you.]

[Second, do not go in search of the laws.]

[Third, engrave it at the precise moment of birth.]

[Fourth, the divinity of green is regeneration.]

[That is all.]

Her tranquil voice flowed into Alon’s ears.

However, the information was rather difficult to process.

“……Might I request a more detailed explanation regarding what you just said—”

Alon was about to ask for clarification, but abruptly remembered Kylrus’s words.

“No, never mind.”

He retracted his question mid-sentence.

Dowon nodded, looking pleased.

[You understand well.]

“If I may ask—who was the person that made this request?”

[That, unfortunately, is something I cannot tell you.]

“……I apologize for the improper question.”

Observing how readily Alon accepted her refusal, Dowon offered him a smile tinged with mystery.

[Nevertheless, I suppose I can provide you with just a single small clue—]

“Yes.”

She presented a tiny fragment of information.

“Red eyes, you say?”

[Yes, a truly beautiful individual possessing red eyes.]

Alon was able to glean just a meager detail about the one who had initiated the request.

“Is it finished?”

“Yes.”

Following the conclusion of the meeting with Dowon, Alon followed Ashur and boarded the carriage.

Staring out the window for a moment, he spoke up.

“May I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“The goddess Dowon, whom I just met—will she not be participating in the coming war?”

The moment he asked, Ashur’s expression became somewhat complicated.

“I heard you were ignorant of things, but you truly know nothing. So, you really are an Outer God?”

“……Outer God?”

“Yes. Ever since Kalgunias, the gathering place of the gods, collapsed because of the black ones, numerous minor gods possessing small divinities have emerged here and there. Much like yourself.”

“Although, judging by the Eastern prince’s remarks, you do not seem to be some nameless nobody.”

Alon remained silent in response to Ashur’s murmuring, which seemed to exalt the great gods of Kalgunias while contrasting them with the Outer Gods.

He felt no necessity to reply.

An awkward silence descended, prompting Ashur to clear his throat before continuing.

“If you are a god, surely you can perceive Lady Dowon’s condition? She exhausted the majority of her power battling the black ones. She has no strength remaining. She will likely pass away soon…”

Ashur’s voice grew increasingly sorrowful.

Only then did Alon recall how the goddess’s form had wavered like a mirage.

With a slight sigh, he replayed Dowon’s message in his mind.

[First, do not remain fixated on the technique known as Reversal of Heaven; instead, reflect upon what is truly essential to you.]

[Second, do not go in search of the laws.]

[Third, engrave it at the precise moment of birth.]

[Fourth, the divinity of Noksaeng is regeneration.]

Truthfully, ever since realizing that this place was the past, Alon had entertained the thought that he might discover some clue regarding his spell.

No, it was more than just a thought—

He had intended to actively search for a hint before returning, if possible.

But he had never imagined acquiring it so abruptly like this.

It was as if someone had already predicted that Alon would travel to the past and had made preparations accordingly.

And so—

‘A beautiful individual possessing red eyes…’

As he idly recalled that piece of information, Alon suddenly glanced down at the brooch pinned to his chest.

“…?”

He touched it, wearing a strange expression.

He had never paid it much heed before, nor had he given it any thought.

But now, he observed that the red gem embedded in the center of the brooch had lost its luster.

‘……What is this?’

Alon inspected the brooch once more.

Yet, like a light that had been extinguished, it remained dim and lifeless.

As he tilted his head in puzzlement—

A disturbance arose from outside.

Alon shifted his gaze to the window.

The scenery beyond the carriage, which he had ignored earlier, appeared no different from the previous day.

Countless houses and a sprawling plaza.

And beyond them, the palace Alon was traveling toward came into view.

—–

Indeed, from this perspective, the capital was not significantly different from the capitals of other territories he had witnessed.

However, what Alon observed now was slightly different.

“……”

Through the carriage window, he saw starving children fighting over what appeared to be a stale crust of bread.

One child, with hands that were thin and emaciated, desperately stuffed the bread into their mouth while another reached out to snatch it away.

Other children scrambled to gather the fallen crumbs amidst the struggle.

And further beyond—homeless people lay slumped on the roadside in utter destitution.

Beastkin women walked about with wary eyes, constantly scanning their surroundings.

And beasts watched them with predatory gazes.

It was the raw, harsh reality of the united capital that was not visible on the surface.

As Alon absorbed the scene, his heart grew heavy beneath his stoic face.

“….?”

He witnessed something very peculiar.

At the far end of an alleyway, barely within Alon’s field of vision,

Two figures stood.

One was an elven girl.

The other—a human girl.

And Alon—

He recognized the human girl from a distance.

‘……Magrina?’

The girl with plain brown hair was none other than Magrina Fildagreen, who had revealed her true identity to him only yesterday.

He was momentarily confused as to why she, who ought to have been within the royal palace, was here disguised as a human—

“!”

He watched it happen.

Magrina, who had just been conversing with the elf girl, was suddenly surrounded by elves dressed in rags who appeared out of nowhere, and she was being dragged away.

—You are right. That is certainly the truth. But unfortunately, the world does not always care about the truth.

—Even knowing the suspicion is irrational and that it could not possibly be true, they need someone to blame. A place to pour out their anxiety and rage.

Kalanda’s voice echoed through Alon’s mind.

There was no time to think.

“……Stop the carriage, please.”

Without hesitation, Alon rose from his seat.