Became the Patron of Villains Novel MTL - Chapter 274

C274. Proclamation (2)

Alon barely had a moment to feel curious about Yutia.

‘Come to think of it, I also wanted to ask her about the necklace… but I couldn’t.’

Alon fiddled with the necklace hanging from his neck.

The necklace that helped him during the confrontation with Sin, and which was presumed to be the holy relic of the goddess Sironia.

‘Thinking about it, for being something like that, the cardinals didn’t react in any way upon seeing it. Only Cardinal Sergius had any reaction.’

With a slight frown, Alon started walking.

No matter how much he had to think about, he couldn’t stand there motionless forever.

Finally, he arrived in front of the Holy Spirit Hall.

And he went straight in.

Fwaaah—!

The gigantic statue of the goddess Sironia shone brightly, as if it had been waiting for him.

“I—”

[There is no need for you to do that.]

As he bowed to greet her, Alon paused upon hearing the goddess’s voice.

[I know perfectly well who is standing before me.]

“I see…”

He nodded and, although somewhat awkwardly, bowed his head to express gratitude.

“Even so, thank you. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat Sin.”

[Don’t be so humble. I only gave you a little push.]

“That can’t be. Were it not for you, the magic I deployed wouldn’t have been the finishing blow.”

He meant it seriously.

Alon’s magic was powerful.

But he knew well that, even so, it was insufficient to defeat Sin on his own.

When speaking sincerely, the goddess replied:

[No, on the contrary. I know very well that it was I who only helped a little, so you don’t have to praise me so much, Alon-nim.]

The response made Alon feel strange.

Not because of the content… but because the goddess was using honorific language towards him.

For a moment, Alon thought he had misheard.

[On the contrary, thank you for helping me, Alon-nim.]

The goddess remarked again with honorifics.

Alon realized it wasn’t his imagination.

“…May I ask why you are using formal language with me?”

Alon, hiding his confusion under a calm expression, asked.

To which Sironia replied:

[Before, I was discourteous because I didn’t know who you were. But now I know your true identity.]

She spoke as if she knew everything.

It was at that instant that Alon understood.

The goddess was under a huge misunderstanding.

“To clarify… I am just an ordinary human.”

[Yes, I know, Alon-nim.]

She answered without hesitation, but clearly she did not know.

“I mean it.”

[I know.]

“I really, truly mean it…”

[I really know.]

“…Then, may I know what exactly you saw to misunderstand all this?”

[You don’t need to know. I know that you are an ordinary human.]

This already felt very familiar to him.

Alon felt a strong déjà vu and decided not to insist further.

No matter how hard he tried, there was no room for negotiation.

Why did people never believe him when he himself said they were wrong?

While she reflected seriously on it—

[Excuse me, Alon-nim. Although it is a bit soon, would you mind if we end the conversation here?]

“…So suddenly?”

[To be honest, I would like to keep talking much longer, but I used too much power this time. I am a bit at my limit.]

“Wait. Just one more thing, can I ask something?”

The goddess announced the end of the conversation, and Alon spoke in a rush.

[One question is fine.]

He had too much to ask.

The necklace Yutia had given him.

The reason Yuman confused him with a Silver Saint.

He also wanted to know who the goddess herself was confusing him with.

And he wanted to talk about Sin’s last words.

But there wasn’t time for everything, so he chose one.

“After you disappeared… Sin left a message.”

It was about those words.

“Do you know anything about its meaning?”

The goddess remained silent for a while.

[I regret to say it, but I don’t know well matters related to Sin. However, if you go to the East… perhaps you can obtain the information you seek.]

“To the East?”

[Yes.]

With that final answer—

[Then, we shall meet again, Alon-nim.]

The white light vanished completely.

“…The East, huh.”

Alone in the silent Holy Spirit Hall, Alon murmured.

“Brother, did you have a good conversation?”

“Saint.”

Outside the hall, Yuman was waiting for him.

“Yes, we spoke as much as we could.”

“That is a relief. So, what do you plan to do now?”

After a moment of reflection, Alon responded:

“I am considering returning. In times like these, it might be uncomfortable for you all to have an outsider here.”

“Not at all. No one would think your presence is uncomfortable.”

“Even so, thank you for saying it.”

“I’m not just saying it.”

“Do you want to gather the cardinals to prove it to me?”

At Yuman’s serious proposal, Alon shook his head.

“There’s no need. Besides, I had to leave sooner or later.”

Alon had arrived at Sironia for three reasons:

1. Siyan’s words.

2. To talk to Yuman.

3. To obtain an item from the labyrinth near Rosario.

Two were already complete.

The last one he could get on the way back.

“I see…”

Yuman let slip a hint of sadness.

Alon noticed it and opened his mouth, remembering something.

“Come to think of it, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What would it be, Brother?”

“I heard that while I was missing, five cardinals died simultaneously in the meeting room…”

“Ah, that. Yes, it was a regrettable incident.”

Yuman nodded calmly.

Alon felt strange.

As far as he knew Yuman…

He should be suspecting Yutia.

He clearly did not sympathize with her.

But he was too calm.

So was it really not Yutia?

Alon started to feel a bit of guilt for having suspected her.

“Well, it is regrettable… but I think it was inevitable.”

“…Inevitable?”

“Yes. They were not very devout. Besides—”

Yuman reflected for a moment.

“They had no faith.”

He locked his eyes on Alon and said it abruptly.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

“I… see.”

Alon could only answer that.

After concluding the conversation—

“Then, we will meet another time.”

“Yes, Brother. See you soon.”

Yuman’s words made Alon tilt his head in doubt.

There was no plan that would make him return to Rosario soon.

But he didn’t ask further.

“Understood.”

And he left.

---

The next day.

He planned to say goodbye to Yutia before leaving, but she was busier than expected.

Alon ended up leaving Sironia without seeing her.

He spent several days touring the nearby villages looking for the entrance to the labyrinth.

Under other circumstances, he would have already found it.

But this one was too well hidden.

One week later—

“…I finally found it.”

“Yes… although we took a week.”

“…We didn’t take a week, we found it in a week.”

“Considering the Marquis’s normal speed for finding these kinds of things, this was somewhat slow.”

[Kyuu]

[Hooh… it is similar to the place in the north we saw before.]

“Anyway, let’s go in.”

Alon found the entrance.

“Can I stay outside?”

“Why?”

“It’s just that… I have a gut feeling that I won’t be of help here. Besides, it looks quite sinister…”

“There are no monsters.”

Alon and his group entered the labyrinth, anticipating obtaining what they sought.

Meanwhile, in the Holy Spirit Hall, still in ruins but beginning to prepare for its reconstruction—

Yutia was there.

With a soft smile, she observed the huge statue of Sironia.

Then, the statue began to emit an intense glow.

And—

“You did well.”

Yutia, with her unsettling red eyes shining, spoke serenely.

“Thanks to you acting correctly, everything turned out as it should.”

She was praising the goddess.

“Even if you are not satisfied with this situation… remember this. You made the right decision.”

Her voice was soft.

And for that very reason, unsettling.

“Truly.”

In Rosario, sanctuary of the goddess Sironia…

With the title of cardinal…

Dressed in the habits of the servant of the Goddess of the Moon…

Yutia, who was supposed to serve her, was evaluating and manipulating the goddess.

Her figure was contradictory.

Like a false illusion.

And then—

“Ah, and I hope you avoid trying any unnecessary tricks. In that case, I would have no choice but to consider a ‘disposal’.”

Pure blasphemy came from her lips.

Words that, if heard, would turn all the faithful into enemies.

Yutia spoke of crushing the goddess Sironia herself without changing her expression.

At that moment—

[I know. Do not worry, it will not happen.]

Sironia’s voice resonated.

“I am glad to hear that.”

Yutia smiled.

But only for an instant.

[On the contrary, I plan to support you even more.]

“That is good.”

[Yes. It would be strange for it to end here. After all… that person has returned.]

“…?”

[I cannot do much, but I will do everything possible to help him.]

“…?”

Yutia’s red eyes trembled slightly.

Even after having been intimidated by Yutia, the goddess showed enthusiasm.

And then—

[No, since we are at this point, I should tell you everything about those who have been hidden and—]

The discomfort and the sensation that something was not right hit Yutia.

It didn’t take long for Yutia to realize that something was strange.

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