Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 304 : Knights’ Order……? (4)

Alon, strolling toward the garden alongside Yutia—who appeared to be in a remarkably cheerful mood—soon learned the purpose of her visit to the Marquis’ estate.

“A meeting?”

“Yes. As you are aware, there has been a recent spike in the activity of bandits and rioters.”

Alon nodded, his mind flashing back to the report Siyan had shared a few days prior.

“…… It seems the situation has escalated more than I anticipated.”

“Were you unaware, My Lord?”

“No. I had some knowledge of it.”

These recent developments were not something Alon could easily ignore.

While other territories were falling into turmoil due to the bandit plague, the Palatio territory had remained strangely untouched by the chaos, leading to a noticeable influx of traveling merchants.

“So, you are stopping by while traveling to that meeting?”

“That is correct. However, I have also received word that something is stirring within the Empire.”

“The Empire?”

“Yes. I have heard that internal warfare has broken out there.”

……

The Empire.

A nation that had maintained a long-standing hostility toward the Allied Kingdom. It was also the primary setting for Calypsophobia, another title developed by the same studio that created Psychedelia.

Alon searched his memory. Was there supposed to be a civil war within the Empire at this point in the timeline?

After a moment of contemplation, he simply shrugged it off.

In truth, the conflicts within Calypsophobia weren't his immediate concern.

From what he remembered, the Empire would never initiate a war against the Allied Kingdom unless the latter was already on the verge of total collapse.

Furthermore, Calypsophobia featured its own protagonist.

If memory served... was the name Ner?

Ner.

Just like the hero of Psychedelia, the protagonist of Calypsophobia—who could be chosen as either male or female—was destined to save the crumbling Empire from ruin.

Ultimately, Alon decided he didn't need to fret over Imperial matters for the time being.

The hero of that story would surely handle it.

As that thought passed through his mind—

“Aside from that, I have another matter to discuss with you, My Lord.”

Yutia’s voice pulled Alon back from his internal monologue.

“Something to tell me?”

“Yes. I was wondering—how would you feel about constructing a church here on the Marquis’ estate?”

“A church?”

“Yes, but only if it meets with your approval.”

“Hmm—”

Alon paused to consider. Since he was planning to establish a new Divine Land shortly, having a church on the Palatio grounds might lead to some complicated dynamics.

However, he saw no strong reason to decline. After a brief silence, he gave a nod of consent.

“If that is your wish, you may proceed.”

“I am grateful for your permission, My Lord.”

“But why the sudden desire to build a church on these grounds?”

“The reason?”

Yutia touched a finger to her cheek in a pensive gesture, then offered a playful smile as she countered with a question:

“Well, would you care to take a guess, My Lord?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Yutia beamed at him.

After thinking it over for a few seconds, Alon offered a guess.

“Expansion?”

“Nope.”

“Then……?”

He was at a loss.

When Alon prompted her again, Yutia held up two fingers and provided her answer.

“There are two reasons. First, there are more cats in the vicinity than we anticipated.”

“Cats?”

Alon’s gaze instinctively shifted toward Blackie.

Just moments ago, the small black cat had been dozing peacefully on the Sea King’s back, but now its eyes were wide and trembling.

It looked as if it were asking, “Me…? Are you talking about me?”

“And as for the second reason—”

Ignoring Blackie’s reaction, Yutia stepped cautiously closer to Alon’s side.

“I felt it was time for me to become a bit more proactive.”

She leaned in and whispered softly into his ear.

“Proactive?”

“Of course. I am referring to missionary work.”

Yutia smiled again.

To that—

……

“I see.”

Though Alon didn't fully grasp her meaning, he gave a quiet nod for the sake of the conversation.

After requesting that Alon visit Rosario when his schedule allowed, Yutia departed from the estate.

***

A few days passed.

Feeling a lingering sense of urgency, Alon called out to Evan, who was walking just ahead of him.

“Is everything prepared for our journey to the Divine Land?”

“Yes, all arrangements are finalized. We are ready to leave immediately.”

“How long is the travel time?”

“Hmm—based on my previous assessment, it should take roughly one day.”

The two continued their casual exchange as they walked.

Before long, Alon stepped beyond the outer walls of the estate.

“What is your assessment?”

……

“…… This is more than I expected.”

Alon couldn't help but voice his surprise at the sight of the soldiers and knights gathered in dense ranks before the castle gates.

A force consisting of fifty knights and six hundred soldiers was prepared to march toward the Divine Land.

Seeing them assembled in person made the numbers feel far more imposing than they had on paper.

And… despite only having a few days, their discipline seems remarkably sharp……?

The infantry and knights were positioned in flawless formation.

Deus stood nearby, observing the troops with a look of quiet satisfaction.

Alon scanned the faces of the knights.

While there were too many to identify individually, he recognized several familiar faces from the recruitment interviews, Seamus among them.

However, as he continued his inspection, Alon began to feel a sense of curiosity.

The expressions on the knights' faces were unusually grim and resolute.

Seamus appeared more content than before, which was understandable given the presence of his commander—Alon.

But the intensity of the others left him wondering about the cause.

Just then—

“Marquis, shall we begin the march?”

“Yes.”

Responding to Evan’s prompt, Alon made his way toward the carriage.

“What do you think of them?”

“They seem very determined.”

Evan asked the question as they walked, and Alon provided his honest impression.

“Is that not a positive sign? It appears Deus is performing his duties well.”

Evan nodded, clearly pleased.

“It simply feels more like an army preparing for a campaign than a mere security force for the Divine Land.”

“Well, there is no harm in them being over-prepared, right?”

“That is true, but…”

The atmosphere reminded him of a knightly order on the brink of an actual war.

It left him feeling slightly unsettled.

At that point, Evan spoke up as if a memory had just resurfaced.

“Now that I mention it, during the training sessions, Deus has been conducting private interviews with the knights. Following those conversations, their demeanor becomes significantly more serious.”

“Interviews?”

“Yes.”

What exactly is he saying to them?

The thought crossed Alon’s mind, but he dismissed it quickly. As Evan noted, strong discipline was hardly a disadvantage.

Once settled inside the carriage, Alon began to systematically organize his upcoming tasks.

Reflecting on Rine’s advice, he finalized his strategy regarding the Divine Land.

Then, his mind drifted back to the recent disturbances in the East.

He absentmindedly fingered the magatama hidden within his robes, thinking of the entity he had encountered.

A being so powerful that his eyes had bled simply from trying to endure its gaze.

An enigmatic existence that seemed to hold the answers to all the mysteries he currently faced.

With these heavy thoughts occupying his mind, Alon gazed out the window.

The afternoon was as ordinary as any other.

***

When Seamus first arrived at the estate of Marquis Palatio, he had been burdened by a crushing lack of self-worth.

Recently, however, he had begun to reclaim his lost confidence.

Despite what his former master had claimed, the Marquis’ estate was actually home to numerous Master Knights.

All five squad leaders within the order had attained the rank of Master Knight, and Seamus had been appointed as the vice-captain of the Fifth Order.

The reason Seamus was finding his footing once more?

It was because these squad leaders and fellow Master Knights had given him their professional recognition.

He realized that his past struggles weren't due to a lack of talent on his part—it was simply that the Marquis’ forces were unnaturally powerful.

Furthermore, Deus, who oversaw their rigorous training, had also praised Seamus’ potential.

As a result, his shattered ego was slowly being mended.

Yet, the arrogance that once defined Seamus had vanished almost completely.

Though only a week had passed, the countless sparring rounds—particularly his bouts with Deus—had instilled a deep sense of humility in him.

Or, more accurately, humility had been beaten into him.

Regardless of Seamus’ innate talent, it was clear to everyone that Deus operated on an entirely different level of power.

The gap was so immense that it was impossible to even feel jealous; one could only look on in awe.

In any case, this environment allowed Seamus to learn modesty while his skills continued to flourish.

He felt certain that he was moving closer to his original goal—to become a celebrated knight and return home in a blaze of glory.

That had been his outlook until just a few moments ago.

Now, Seamus stared at Deus with a look of pure bewilderment.

Deus, however, remained perfectly still, his expression deadly serious.

“Wha—?”

The word escaped Seamus’ lips in a confused drawl as he tried to figure out how he had ended up in this conversation.

They had set out for the Divine Land with the Marquis that morning.

After stopping early to make camp, they had immediately transitioned into training drills.

Then—

Instructor Deus had announced he would be holding his private interviews.

Intrigued by the sudden change in the other knights who had already spoken with the instructor, Seamus sought him out after the session ended.

And that was when he heard it.

The words of Deus.

“You are to become the King’s Sword. A blade capable of shattering any foe.”

“Does that mean—?”

“You have already grasped the meaning without me needing to elaborate, haven't you?”

At those words, Seamus looked directly into Deus’ eyes.

There was no trace of a lie in that gaze—only absolute, chilling sincerity.

Seamus knew that Deus meant every word.

Involuntarily, Seamus thought of his old dream.

The dream of being a knight loved by the masses, returning to his hometown as a hero.

It had been a simple, noble aspiration.

A dream.

So why…?

Before he realized what was happening—

He had stepped onto a ship where failure resulted in a charge of treason and success meant a total revolution.

A ship that offered no way to disembark.

“I will forge you into a warrior who will never suffer defeat.”

Seamus felt himself becoming trapped on that very ship.

His wandering thoughts slowly faded into the evening air.