Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 305 : Raksas (1)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
A full day had passed.
"Is this the location?"
"Indeed, I am certain of it."
Following Evan’s confirmation, Alon halted his ascent and surveyed the territory Siyan had bestowed upon him.
"Quite impressive."
The estate she had granted him was remarkably well-situated.
With a mountain range guarding the rear and a wide plain stretching forward, it was the quintessential example of perfect topography—mountains behind and water flowing in front.
However, Alon’s expression briefly clouded with confusion.
Evan quickly stepped in to clarify the situation.
"The catch is that the surrounding area is crawling with monster nests. Numerous goblin camps, orc tribes, and even ogre dens are scattered nearby. For some reason, monsters seem to emerge here endlessly from unknown origins."
"So, it is a haven for monsters?"
"Precisely. I suppose you could call it a tainted asset?"
Alon sighed softly, though he was not entirely surprised.
He had anticipated something of the sort.
There was always a catch; if a piece of land with such magnificent geography remained untouched, there had to be a underlying problem. It was like finding a cheap apartment near a subway station in Korea—people naturally assumed the place was haunted.
Accepting the reality, Alon proceeded forward.
Upon reaching the heart of the region, he inhaled deeply and shut his eyes.
“Whew...”
With a gentle breath, Alon entered his inner world—a process he was now quite adept at—and observed the six divine essences manifesting before him.
The essences shimmered in distinct hues: blue, green, red, and white, just as they had during his first introspection. Beside them was the gray essence that had appeared later, and finally, a black divine essence. Though nearly swallowed by the surrounding darkness, its presence was undeniable.
To date, Alon had utilized two of these powers.
The divine essence of Kalannon, the lightning receiver, and the divine essence of the Primordial Elf.
As he contemplated the glowing orbs, Alon steadied his breathing and recalled the instructions provided by Rine.
A slender thread of light extended from Alon’s hand, weaving through his fingers to pierce Kalannon’s divine essence. It then moved to thread through the essence of the Primordial Elf.
One by one, the red, white, and gray essences were linked.
Finally, he reached for the black essence. However, as he had feared, the thread failed to penetrate it. The black divine essence remained stubbornly isolated, vibrating with a volatile power that refused to be integrated.
Seeing this, Alon drew the end of the thread—now connecting five unified essences—back toward his fingertip.
As a small, radiant orb began to manifest in front of him, he remembered Rine’s final directive: “Declare it.”
He spoke the words in a low murmur.
In that instant—
Fwoooosh—!
A blinding explosion of white light erupted from Alon, accompanied by waves of crimson and azure radiance surging outward.
"Incredible..."
[This sensation is...]
In the distance, Evan’s voice trailed off in awe, while Basiliora whispered as if witnessing a miracle.
When the ritual concluded and Alon opened his eyes, he immediately realized something was wrong.
"?"
The world had come to a complete standstill.
Evan was frozen mid-exclamation; Basiliora stood motionless with a fascinated gaze; even Deus and the curious Filian were locked in place like statues.
It wasn't that time had stopped entirely, but rather that a single second had been stretched into an eternity. Everything had slowed to a near-imperceptible crawl.
Alon recognized this phenomenon from a previous encounter.
[A fragment that carries the great will—]
As that thought surfaced, he looked toward the heavens.
He saw it clearly now—something that had been obscured during his initial restriction.
[-No,]
A colossal eye, spanning the entirety of the firmament, was fixed upon him.
[Star Eater.]
The eye, shaped like a twisted, smiling crescent, seemed to overflow with dark amusement. It curved into a grin, uttering words that defied normal understanding.
[I truly welcome your return.]
The entity stared directly into Alon’s soul. Just as he parted his lips to demand an answer—
Bzzzzzt—!
The vision fractured with a burst of static before snapping back into focus.
Reality surged back. The monochrome world regained its vibrant colors. The voices of Evan and Basiliora accelerated back to their natural tempo.
In the wake of the restoration—
“...What... was that?”
Alon whispered, his gaze still fixed dazed at the sky.
Shaking off the shock, Alon turned to complete his task. He noticed the knights and soldiers watching from the sidelines, their faces filled with wonder.
“Ooh—”
Faint particles of light danced in the air, unlike any other land they had known. The men looked at Alon with profound reverence.
Alon thought back to his discussion with Rine.
‘Once the territory is declared, you must appoint your chosen knights.’
‘I previously transferred power to Sili... should I repeat that process?’
‘No, that isn't necessary. Simply scatter the power like one plants seeds; they will find a way to make it grow.’
Acting on her counsel, he distributed his power to those gathered there. The divine essence within him began to drain. The sphere, which had expanded to the size of his torso after absorbing the other essences, shrank until it was no larger than his palm.
“What is happening—?”
Gasps of shock erupted as divine energy began to saturate the bodies of the soldiers and knights.
Alon intended to finish the process quietly, but as every eye turned toward him in expectation, he felt a wave of awkwardness. He wasn't much of an orator, but the gravity of the moment demanded a speech.
“...Let everyone fulfill their duties.”
In the end, he settled for a brief command.
“Yes, sir!!!”
The response from the knights and soldiers was a thunderous roar.
Immediately after the empowerment—
“That was truly magnificent, Marquis.”
“What do you mean?”
“This territory, sir.”
“...The land?”
“Yes. Even a cursory glance suggests that the mana saturation here has spiked significantly.”
It was only after Evan pointed it out that Alon noticed the transformation. By declaring this place a Divine Land, the very atmosphere had changed.
“This is more than just a superficial alteration.”
He could feel the mana thickening around them. Alon’s intrigued expression caused Evan to look at him with surprise.
“...You weren't aware?”
“I knew there would be benefits, but I didn't expect such an immediate impact.”
Rine had mentioned that a Divine Land would grant blessings based on its tier, but Alon had assumed such effects would only manifest after he had earned significant prestige.
As he studied the environment—
“...?”
He spotted Seamus. The man, who had seemed fine the previous day, now carried an expression of intense, unshakable resolve. Recalling what Evan had said earlier, Alon approached him.
“Did you have a private conversation with Deus?” Alon inquired.
“Yes! I did, sir!”
Gone was the arrogant youth from Psychedelia; Seamus now stood at rigid attention, answering with military precision. This piqued Alon's interest further.
“What was the subject of your talk?”
“He enlightened me regarding the duties I am bound to perform!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes! I shall give my life to ensure the name of Palatio reaches the highest heavens!”
“...Well, carry on then.”
Seamus’s voice was strained with effort as he shouted. Alon watched him, slightly bewildered.
“What is your next move?” Evan asked, breaking the silence.
After a brief pause, Alon replied, “The next phase is to attract citizens.”
“Will there be any entry requirements?”
“Requirements?”
“Indeed. For instance, Sironia has specific criteria for those wishing to reside there.”
“...Sironia had such restrictions?”
“You weren't aware?”
“I assumed it was open to anyone.”
Evan shook his head in disagreement.
“Hardly. Most citizens of Sironia are individuals who have successfully completed the goddess’s pilgrimage.”
“The goddess’s pilgrimage?”
“Yes. Essentially, it’s a ritualistic journey where one must travel on foot to a specific destination over several months.”
Alon surveyed his new Divine Land. Beyond the dense mana, the place was empty. While the geography was strategically sound, the mountains were infested with monsters rather than filled with gold. There was nothing here yet to justify a strict screening process.
“Even so, wouldn't setting standards be good for our image?” Evan suggested.
Alon considered this.
“Perhaps... only those who have no criminal record and have performed some act of justice?”
“...That sounds a bit vague, doesn't it?”
“It’s just a preliminary thought.”
“Well... we can refine the details later. Since you're heading to Raksas soon, should I begin drafting a recruitment letter for citizens?”
“But we haven't prepared any infrastructure.”
“Early marketing is always beneficial.”
Thinking back to how they had recruited the Holy Knights, Alon nodded in approval.
Soon, Deus approached them. His face, too, was set with a new level of determination.
“Marquis.”
“Yes?”
“I believe this environment is superior for training. I would like to remain here with the men for a time.”
“...Here? There are no facilities. Are you sure?”
“It is perfectly fine.”
“I appreciate your dedication, Deus.”
“It is merely my duty.”
Grateful for Deus's commitment to the knights' progress, Alon thanked him before departing the Divine Land.
***
“What?”
The mercenary Beran was confused. Though he had a decent reputation, he had been forced back into the Lartania mercenary circles after failing the entrance exam for the House of Palatio.
Checking his coat, he found a letter he hadn't noticed before.
It was sent by his rival, Karam, who had managed to pass the exam as a soldier and join the Palatio order.
“Tch.”
Beran clicked his tongue. They weren't exactly friends, so a letter usually meant one thing: bragging.
Nevertheless, he couldn't resist opening it. As he read, his annoyance grew. The letter was stained with dirt, but the message was clear—Karam was boasting about his training.
“Training on land sanctified by Marquis Palatio and receiving divine power... seriously...”
The letter went on at length about how practicing on that Divine Land granted one access to the Marquis's own divine essence.
Beran scowled and folded the paper with a grimace.
“Something bothering you?”
His companion, a mercenary named Cop, asked while they sat at their usual tavern.
“Nothing important. Just Karam bragging again.”
“The one who got into the Palatio household?”
“That’s the one.”
“Ha! He’s really full of himself now. What did he say?”
“He claims he’s training on some blessed land owned by the Marquis. Says that by just being there, you can use Palatio’s divine power.”
“...Wait, are you serious?”
Cop’s expression changed, making Beran blink in confusion.
“That’s what he wrote. Why the face?”
“I’ve actually heard rumors about that place.”
“What rumors?”
“The Divine Land of Marquis Palatio.”
“And?”
“Supposedly, if you have a clean record and have done some good deeds, you’re allowed to live there.”
“For real?”
“Yeah, it’s an official notice from the Palatio house. And if what you’re saying is true—that training there gives you the Marquis’s strength—”
Both men immediately envisioned Marquis Palatio.
Specifically, they recalled the knights who had wielded the power of Kalannon, the lightning receiver, during the Lartania dungeon incident. They remembered the arcs of electricity and how monsters were butchered like tofu. In the Allied Kingdoms, many believed the Marquis was the Apostle—or even the physical avatar—of Kalannon.
“But come on—that can’t be true, right?”
“Yeah, it sounds like a stretch.”
“Right? You usually have to be a hardcore priest of Kalannon to even touch divine power. Gaining that just by training on a piece of land is insane.”
“Agreed. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.”
They laughed and clinked their mugs. Just then, a cat-girl mercenary named Mai sat down beside them.
“Cop? Beran? What’s the gossip?”
“Oh, just some tall tales about Marquis Palatio.”
Beran, a bit tipsy, repeated the story to Mai. She listened with rapt attention.
“Huh, so that’s the deal?”
“Karam is probably just making it up—”
Before he could finish—
“Oh! My team is here. See ya!”
Mai bolted toward her party members.
“Mai, where were you?”
“Talking to Beran. I heard some wild news.”
“Like what?”
“Apparently, if you train in the Marquis Palatio’s Divine Land, you get the power of Kalannon.”
“The Divine Land... the place looking for residents?”
“That’s the one.”
“Is that legit?”
“Who knows? But Beran’s friend is in the Marquis’s army and he wrote a whole letter about it.”
And so, within that small tavern in eastern Lartania—
“Did you hear? Training in the Divine Land lets you use Kalannon’s lightning!”
“No way, really?”
The rumor began to snowball, growing more fantastic with every telling.
“How do you get in? Do you have to worship the Marquis?”
“That, and I heard you have to be a hero of some kind.”
“A hero?”
“Yeah, I heard that if you kill a bunch of bandits and bring their heads as proof, they’ll let you in as a citizen.”
The story became increasingly distorted as it spread.
“So... kill bandits, bring proof, become a citizen, get divine power?”
“That seems to be the word.”
It wasn't long before this sensational rumor reached the ears of every mercenary who had ever regretted missing out on the Marquis’s recruitment.