Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 318 : Something Feels Off (5)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
The Archmage Heinkel, famously known as the "Goblet of the Beginning" and the one responsible for deciphering the Light magic for Alon, was only mildly intrigued by the current demonstration.
Her lack of intense interest stemmed from two primary factors.
To start with, Heinkel was incapable of casting the magic Alon employed.
She was baffled as to why Alon was the sole individual capable of using it, despite her own immense power. However, she had a lingering suspicion.
Heinkel guessed that Alon’s unique ability was linked to the eye manifested behind him—or perhaps the mysterious woman who accompanied him.
The only fresh insight Heinkel had gained from this session was that Alon’s magic originated from a lost era, once practiced by those known as “True Mages.”
The second factor was the nature of the magic being analyzed: Light, a mere first-tier spell.
It was incredibly basic.
For anyone dedicated to the path of magic, it was a fundamental spell that no practitioner should ever fail to cast.
Consequently, Heinkel hadn't expected much from it.
While digging into buried truths often revealed fascinating details, she didn't think such a low-level spell could offer anything revolutionary.
That perspective changed the moment Alon actually performed the spell.
Heinkel stared blankly at the assembled mages, who were now paralyzed in a heavy silence.
Every person in the room was fixed on Alon with eyes wide in disbelief.
In any other situation, Heinkel would have been mocking these mages in her head. Usually, they were the type to get overly excited about mastering a simple spell that required nothing more than a snap of the fingers.
But this time, she couldn't find any humor in it.
Though she couldn't see herself, she suspected her own expression mirrored the shock on the faces of the mages below.
In fact, she might have been more shaken than any of them.
The instant she saw Alon’s magic, her instincts took over, and she began mentally preparing to dismantle other tiered spells for analysis.
Her intellectual hunger, which had grown dormant over centuries of boredom and teaching random pupils, was suddenly revitalized.
The display Alon provided had awakened a deep-seated greed she had been holding back while waiting for a significant "moment" to occur.
As these intense desires pulsed through her, she watched Alon with eyes that betrayed her inner turmoil—
Alon flinched, a sudden wave of nausea hitting him.
He hadn't noticed it initially, swept up in the shock of Light’s true potential, but as the adrenaline faded, the symptoms of mana depletion set in.
“Hmph—”
Using pure mental strength, Alon fought back the urge to retch.
If he had been alone, he would have collapsed and vomited immediately, but his human pride wouldn't allow it.
He was acutely aware of the heavy gazes boring into him.
The entire audience remained breathless, their attention locked onto his every move.
He refused to show such a pathetic sight in front of this crowd.
Instinctively, he turned and began walking toward Penia, who was still standing there, stunned.
But as he started to move—
“May I ask a question?”
A mage dressed in a green robe, who had remained quiet until now, slowly stood up.
Swallowing back his nausea, Alon looked back with an expression that signaled he couldn't easily refuse the inquiry.
The mage, visibly trembling, cleared his throat and spoke,
“The magic you just demonstrated—what on earth was it?”
It was the burning question shared by every mage in the room.
Yet, none had possessed the courage to voice it until this moment.
Every eye in the hall snapped back to Alon.
Feeling the immense pressure and struggling against his physical condition, he searched for a reply.
“Light.”
He answered honestly.
“Are you really saying... that was Light?”
The mage’s voice shook as he asked for confirmation.
Alon considered giving a more detailed explanation, but the sickness was becoming overwhelming.
He simply gave a sharp nod—
And walked off the stage.
The moment Alon disappeared—
“That was actually Light?”
“Impossible—”
“But it was unmistakable. You all saw that faint glow, didn't you?”
“Of course. No one here is foolish enough to miss such a thing.”
“Then—what exactly did the Marquis just show us?”
The heavy silence shattered instantly. Once Alon was out of sight, the mages began shouting over one another, and the hall descended into a chaotic buzz of conversation.
“Could what he showed us... possibly be the next evolution of Light...?”
Following that single remark—
“Is such a thing even possible?”
“That’s insane!”
“If it's not that, how do you explain it? That wasn't just Origin magic.”
“Exactly. What the Marquis performed was definitely Light.”
The hall, which had been a temple of silence, now erupted with more noise than a crowded market.
One hour later—
Mages who had arrived late to the demonstration stepped into the partially ruined hall—
“Well... the Marquis’ magic was certainly something...”
“But what about our own research...?”
They found the room almost deserted, with not a soul remaining.
They were left standing there, feeling nothing but a sense of emptiness.
***
A short time later, Alon healed himself using the divinity of the Primordial Elf.
He muttered to himself as a lingering trace of mana exhaustion still clung to his system.
“I finally feel like I’m alive again.”
He let out a deep sigh, though his peace was short-lived.
Evan, who had been in a daze, spoke up.
“Marquis.”
“Yes?”
“That really was Light, right?”
“How many more times are you going to ask?”
“I mean... no matter how I think about it, it just felt completely different.”
Evan scratched his head in confusion.
Privately, Alon found himself agreeing with that sentiment.
He had never suspected that such a massive spell could originate from something so elementary.
“I assumed there would be some difference, but I didn't expect it to be this extreme. Isn't that a natural reaction?”
Alon nodded in silence, and Penia, standing next to him, joined in.
“True... Light is supposed to be a utility spell. But there is something even more unsettling.”
“What is it?”
“You didn’t form a bond, did you?”
At Penia’s observation, Alon gave a slow nod.
She was correct.
All he had acquired with Heinkel’s assistance were five incantation phrases.
He hadn't established a contract yet.
This meant the magic he had just displayed wasn't even its final, complete form.
“Wait, are you telling me that wasn't even the finished version of the spell?”
“It’s just like the Ice Crystal Catastrophe from before. You were with the Marquis, so you must have seen it too, right?”
Penia answered Evan’s stunned question with a sharp tone.
Evan went quiet for a moment.
“Marquis, the next time you use that… please make sure I’m far away.”
“...Why so suddenly?”
“I’d prefer not to be roasted like a chicken, thanks.”
He spoke firmly, the memory of the Ice Crystal Catastrophe clearly on his mind.
Seeing this, Penia continued.
“The ability likely isn't fixed in that state. It will probably manifest in various forms.”
“I suspect so as well.”
“Honestly, the more we learn about ancient magic, the more captivating it becomes. I feel like dropping everything to focus on researching it right now.”
“I feel the same way.”
Alon agreed with a nod.
In truth, most of Alon’s magical study had followed that pattern until now.
Searching for tiny leads in a vast ocean, moving forward one inch at a time.
But now?
He finally possessed the guidepost he had been searching for.
And it wasn't just any guide—it was tiered magic, something both he and Penia understood well.
Because of this, Alon was filled with excitement. He knew that pulling information from magic itself was incredibly grueling, but the thrill of discovery was enough to drive him forward.
Just as he was filled with this new motivation—
[Are you feeling better?]
Heinkel appeared, phasing through the wall.
“I’m fine.”
The moment Alon replied, Heinkel got straight to business.
[Then I want to discuss the real matter at hand.]
“...What matter?”
[I want to study tiered magic seriously. Will you help me? Let’s be blunt—you’re having a hard time decoding tiered magic on your own, aren't you?]
Alon nodded in admission.
It was true that extracting data from tiered magic had been a struggle for him.
[I will assist with that part.]
“Then I’ll—”
[What you need to do is simple: just keep demonstrating your magic for me. That is all.]
Heinkel seemed briefly surprised by something, but she quickly masked her expression and looked away.
“I see no reason to turn that down.”
[Then we have an agreement.]
Both of them shared a satisfied smile.
***
One day later.
After receiving proper instruction from Heinkel on how to draw more information from tiered magic, Alon departed the academy.
He would have liked to stay longer, but he couldn't leave Ryanga alone for an extended period.
“Hm… I feel like a few more days of study would have been beneficial. It’s a bit of a pity.”
Penia murmured, her shoulders slumped slightly.
Alon countered,
“Well, I did learn what was necessary.”
“That’s true. And we left Sparrow with her, right? That should help Lady Heinkel’s tiered magic research move faster.”
Before leaving, Alon had gifted the jewel containing Sparrow to Heinkel, thinking it would be a useful tool.
“Since Heinkel is starting with the first tier, I assume we’ll be focusing on Magic Bolt next?”
“Before that, we need to find a pact spirit.”
“Of course, that goes without saying.”
As Penia and Alon discussed their next steps—
“Oh, Marquis. I have a report for you.”
“Information?”
Evan stepped forward with news.
“Yes. There’s a strange occurrence reported in Ashtalon. It looks like they are sending powerful individuals to handle it.”
“...Powerful individuals?”
“Yes, it seems three of them are being deployed.”
“Is Historia among them?”
“No? From what I’ve gathered, she isn't included… It’s someone from the North, the Dragon King, and the Hidden One. Those three, I believe.”
“I see.”
“Oh, and there’s also an update regarding our Divine Land.”
“What is it?”
Alon’s interest was piqued by Evan’s words.
Evan scratched his head, sounding a bit uncertain.
“Well… apparently, the number of people entering our Divine Land has actually increased.”
“More people...?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t we expect it to shrink?”
“I’m not sure why, but it’s a fact that people are still flocking to the Divine Land.”
“Why is that?”
“I don't have an answer. Maybe... more people are arriving than those who are leaving?”
“It feels like it’s been that way for quite some time now.”
“That’s true… Ah, why don't you check the divine power?”
Following Evan’s suggestion, Alon understood immediately and closed his eyes.
Then—
“...?”
He opened his eyes.
“Did you see something?”
Evan asked quickly.
Alon remained silent and closed his eyes once more.
“?”
Evan tilted his head in confusion.
Again, Alon opened his eyes.
“???”
With a look of total bewilderment, he felt as if his mind was filled with question marks—before closing his eyes one final time.
And what he witnessed—
—was a planetary Divine Land that had expanded to a staggeringly massive scale.
In the middle of his confusion, he realized one thing instinctively.
Something entirely beyond his influence was occurring inside his once-small Divine Land tycoon.