Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 303 : Knight Order...? (3)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
Blue Ghost, a man with skin the color of the sky and the trusted lieutenant of Ryanga, had spent the last several days sighing incessantly.
“Sigh—”
Was he burdened by some deep internal conflict?
Hardly. Blue Ghost was never one to dwell on worries. He was the type of man who preferred to resolve issues through direct action rather than contemplation.
Perhaps, then, he was facing an insurmountable obstacle?
That was closer to the truth. A particularly irritating situation had landed on his plate, though ironically, he wasn't the source of the trouble.
“Hey Boss, is it safe to go inside yet?”
“How should I know? Why don't you give it a shot?”
“I was the sacrificial lamb last time! It’s your turn!”
“Forget it! I’m not looking to get my bones turned into powder!”
Blue Ghost shifted his attention toward the source of the bickering. A group of subordinates stood nearby, their faces grim as they whispered urgently to one another. In fact, the entire population of the hideout seemed to have migrated outdoors. Seeing the crowd only made his sigh grow heavier.
The reason the Hyakki members were loitering outside was simple: Historia’s visit to Ryanga the previous day. To be more specific, ever since Historia delivered a certain message, Hyakki had been in a terrifyingly foul mood. It had reached the point where a single slip of the tongue would result in one's head being driven into the floorboards. Consequently, everyone had fled the building to avoid her wrath.
Can’t she just go see him?
From Blue Ghost’s perspective, Hyakki’s behavior was baffling. While he didn't fully grasp the history between the woman his leader called “Chief”—Marquis Palatio—and Hyakki herself, the solution seemed obvious. If you miss someone, you go to them. He couldn't fathom why such a straightforward act was being treated as an impossibility.
The voices of the subordinates drifted over to him again.
“But seriously, if the Boss misses him that much, shouldn't she just pay him a visit?”
“You moron, didn't you hear her yesterday? She said it only counts if he comes to her!”
“What’s the difference? Going there or him coming here, it’s all the same.”
“Maybe it’s like some fairy tale princess logic?”
“Ew—our Boss?”
A subordinate with horns snorted in derision. The image of their violent leader playing the part of a delicate princess was so ridiculous he had to shake his head with a laugh. Then, a memory surfaced.
“Oh wait, I think I caught the Boss talking to herself on the cliff the other day... What was it? ‘I’m a prin—’”
He never got to finish that sentence.
BOOOOOM—!!!
A massive explosion cut him off. The two subordinates who had been gossiping froze, staring blankly. There, embedded in the cliffside, was their companion, his body twitching rhythmically.
“...Well, now that I think about it, wanting that makes total sense. Definitely.”
“Yeah, yeah, it’s perfectly natural when it’s someone that important.”
Ryanga shot a sharp look at the subordinates who had instantly pivoted their stance. With a huff and a pout, she vanished from sight as quickly as she had appeared.
Once she was gone, the two men let out massive sighs of relief before frantically covering their mouths and checking their surroundings. Watching them tip-toe around in terror, Blue Ghost shook his head.
Just who is this Chief?
Ever since the news broke that the Chief had returned from the dead, Hyakki had been acting unstable. Since Historia’s visit, that hysteria had reached a breaking point.
“Man, we’re finished. I can feel it in my bones... it's coming today.”
“Another beatdown session?”
“Ughhhhh—”
The sounds of despair filled the air. A “beatdown session” was the group's term for when the Boss decided to “train” the entire Hundred Ghosts unit simultaneously. In reality, it was just a legalized way for her to use them as stress-relief punching bags.
“Maybe we should just go grab him ourselves?”
“If this lasts much longer, none of us will survive.”
“Let’s just kidnap the guy~”
“Are you insane? That’s a one-way ticket to a grave.”
Hearing their desperate grumbling, Blue Ghost finally stood up, his mind made up.
“Sigh~”
Every eye turned toward him instantly.
“Huh?”
“Where are you headed, Vice Boss?”
“Wait... you aren't deserting us, are you?”
As panic began to rise, Blue Ghost spoke firmly.
“I’m going to go get him.”
“Whoa, seriously...!?”
“Just don't mention a word of this to the Boss. There’s no telling how she’ll react if she finds out I interfered.”
With a casual wave, he looked toward the horizon, gauging the direction of the Marquis’ estate.
“Please, you have to bring him back!”
“Please...!”
“We’re counting on you, Vice Boss...!”
Bolstered by the cheers of his subordinates—who were busy striking silent victory poses now that the Boss wasn't looking—Blue Ghost slipped away from the territory. He let out one last secret sigh, offering a silent prayer for the men who would have to endure the beatdown in his absence, and began his journey toward Marquis Palatio’s home.
***
Following the conclusion of the initial interviews, Alon had stepped back from the recruitment process. While there were still practical tests to determine the final roster of knights, Alon found himself with an unexpected amount of leisure time.
This was entirely due to Deus, who had unexpectedly stepped forward to manage the selection exams. For the last few days, Alon had been able to simply relax and do nothing.
“The testing is complete.”
“I’ll admit I was concerned, so I appreciate you stepping in,” Alon remarked to Deus, who had just returned from the training grounds.
“It was no trouble at all. It is an honor to assist in your designs, Lord Marquis.”
“Will you be heading back to Caliban now?”
“Not quite yet. I still have some unfinished business here.”
“...Business?” Alon inquired.
Deus nodded with a look of duty. “These men will be the core of your territory’s defense. Naturally, they require rigorous training. I intend to oversee their development until they reach a certain standard.”
“The territory?” Alon asked, slightly confused, though he quickly realized Deus was referring to the knights slated for the Divine Land. It made sense, in a way.
“Yes. I will ensure they are polished—strong enough to easily overwhelm a standard Caliban knight squadron.”
“Overwhelm them, you say?”
While having a powerful military was a positive, Alon wondered if the forces guarding an empty Divine Land really needed to be that elite. Still, since Deus was volunteering his expertise, there was no reason to decline.
“I’ll leave them in your hands, then,” Alon agreed.
“Understood. I shall remain ready at a moment's notice,” Deus replied with a sharp nod. Before Alon could continue the conversation, Deus turned and exited the office with practiced efficiency.
Alon watched him go, feeling a bit bewildered. Just as Deus departed, Evan entered the room.
“I’ve arrived, my lord.”
“Ah, Evan.”
“You seem to be in high spirits,” Alon observed.
“Me? Well, I suppose so,” Evan shrugged. “To be honest, I’ve been a bit idle lately, regardless of where we were. But having a real task again has me feeling quite motivated. I was a mercenary captain once, after all. I’m actually rather skilled at this type of management.”
Alon nodded, realizing Evan might have felt sidelined recently. “I’m glad to hear it. Have you been brought up to speed?”
“I know Deus wants to handle the training.”
“Then let me provide the final numbers,” Evan said, beginning his formal report. Alon listened intently as Evan continued, “After three rounds of rigorous testing, we have successfully recruited 50 knights and approximately 600 soldiers.”
Alon’s eyes widened. “Wait... what?”
Evan tilted his head at Alon’s shock. “Is there a problem?”
“...How many did you just say?”
“Fifty knights and six hundred soldiers, sir.”
The number seemed excessive. “Isn’t that far too many?”
“Too many? If anything, I’d say it’s on the low side,” Evan countered. “Think about it, my lord. To properly secure the Divine Land, this is the bare minimum you would need.”
“Hmm...” Alon considered the point. Logically, Evan was right. However, there was a disconnect between their perspectives.
I wasn't planning on a full-scale occupation yet.
Since the Divine Land was currently little more than a vacant plot of land, Alon had intended to start a small pilot program with maybe ten knights to see if Rine’s suggestions were viable. He had wanted a modest start, but now that the men were hired, he couldn't exactly fire them immediately.
“I suppose that's true,” Alon conceded.
“Exactly. Besides, to execute the plans you’ve been formulating, you’ll need at least this much manpower.”
“Plans...?” Alon echoed. In reality, his "plans" were non-existent beyond the pilot project. But admitting he had no grand strategy would be embarrassing.
“Well, yes, you’re right,” he answered, playing along.
Still, hiring a small army to guard an empty field felt like overkill. He decided to push the logistics of the knight order to the back of his mind for the moment.
“Oh, one more thing, my lord. Yutia arrived a short while ago.”
“Yutia is here?”
Upon hearing Evan’s news, Alon immediately went to find her.
“Yutia?”
“Greetings, my Lord. I hope you have been well,” she said, her usual gentle smile gracing her lips.
“I have, but what brings you here so suddenly?” Alon asked, genuinely curious despite being pleased to see her.
Yutia stepped closer. “I was passing through the area and realized there was something I wished to discuss with you.” Her eyes drifted to the green badge pinned to Alon’s chest, and she reached out toward it. “Oh, my Lord. Allow me to fix this for you.”
“Fix it?”
“Yes, the clasp seems to have come loose.”
Without waiting for a response, Yutia deftly unpinned the badge and handed it to him. Alon looked at the object, confused. He was certain it had been perfectly secure that morning. Seeing the missing clasp, he simply tilted his head.
“Ah, thank you.”
“It was no trouble at all.”
He slipped the badge into his pocket, dismissing the oddity. He failed to notice that Yutia’s eyes remained fixed on his hand for a moment longer than necessary.
“Where were you going, my Lord?”
“I was heading to the garden.”
“Then shall we continue our conversation there?”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
As they walked, Alon couldn't help but notice Yutia seemed exceptionally cheerful today. He could almost swear he heard her humming under her breath.