Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 325 : Dog (2)

"Naturally, I showed up, thanks to someone's outrageous fabrications."

Sharan's overtly aggressive stare left Alon momentarily stunned.

"Fabrications? Has somebody deceived you?"

With Celaime inquiring as though he were completely unaware, Sharan's brow furrowed a bit.

"Indeed. The fabrication claiming you could craft a Light spell reaching the sixth tier's complexity—or beyond."

"And what makes that a fabrication?"

"Hah, are you claiming it's not?"

"Sharan, you're aware of the number of mages who witnessed the Marquis showcase his magic, correct?"

As Celaime countered, Sharan vigorously shook her head and proclaimed.

"It has to be some kind of illusion."

"An illusion?"

"Must I spell it out myself?"

She regarded Celaime with a frustrated look, seeming utterly incredulous.

"Hmm~"

"Surely you, out of everyone, grasp how unfounded and ridiculous that sounds, don't you?"

"Hmm—well, I believe if it's Marquis Palatio, it could be feasible."

"......You're even more devoted without question than your chief apprentice."

"No, it's simply about the odds."

"......Hah."

Sharan continued shaking her head and then directed her gaze toward Alon.

"Should you have truly attained the subsequent phase of Light magic—namely, reconstruction—I'll yip like a pup and plead to be your student."

With that statement, she spun away as though finished and departed from sight.

Alon observed Sharan fade into the horizon without pausing for a reply.

"You must comprehend. Regarding magic, she possesses a particular sense of arrogance."

"......Oh, right."

He acknowledged Celaime's clarification with a nod, yet inwardly reflected.

Certainly, he understood she was evidently attempting to demean him.

However, from Alon's viewpoint, her statements seemed utterly disjointed.

Penia, positioned close by, let out a sigh.

"Arrogance?"

"Yes, the Green Tower Master is renowned for her abundant self-importance. After all, she ascended to Tower Master at the youngest age recorded."

"Really?"

Alon attempted to summon recollections from his mind.

The remaining Tower Masters appeared to exceed fifty years, yet despite her delayed entry in the narrative, she was merely in her upper twenties.

As Alon worked to connect the details, Penia whispered to herself with a confused demeanor.

"Yet even with her abrasive demeanor, the Green Tower Master typically avoids such direct confrontations... What's prompting this behavior?"

"Is her conduct deviating from the norm?"

"Oh, actually, she's somewhat like this ordinarily... but today she seems exceptionally intense... Marquis, is there any history between you and the Green Tower Master?"

"That's out of the question. As a mage, my connections are quite limited."

"Hmm~ You're right. Her response isn't entirely unexpected... yet, what might be the cause~"

Penia sank into contemplation.

Though just briefly.

"Regardless, the demonstration tomorrow will resolve it all."

"Indeed."

Following Celaime's remark and Penia's concurrence, the discussion ended.

"I've longed for a genuine conversation. Would that suit you, Marquis Palatio?"

"I'd welcome it."

Alon proceeded to converse with Celaime.

***

The following day.

Despite the abrupt scheduling of Marquis Palatio's demonstration, the location brimmed with more attendees than usual.

The vibe divided sharply into two factions.

"Will it involve Light magic once more?"

"At last~! Previously, my magic crystal orb scorched entirely, preventing a clear view."

"I've acquired one specifically to witness it firsthand this time."

"What—an item of such value?"

"Naturally, it belongs to the Tower."

One group consisted of those who had observed the Marquis's prior showcase.

The opposing group—

"So, what's your opinion on Marquis Palatio's magic?"

"Frankly, I find it unbelievable."

"Yet I doubt the Marquis would fabricate it—witnesses exist, after all."

"Even so, it's tough to accept without seeing it myself."

These were individuals unfamiliar with the earlier demonstration.

All regarded the platform below with doubtful faces.

And then.

"Here you are."

Sharan Foranu shared the same sentiment.

"You arrived, Celaime."

She addressed him curtly upon greeting, and Celaime inclined his head.

"Obviously. This is a pivotal occasion."

"......Do you genuinely accept it?"

"What reason is there to doubt?"

His nonchalant reply prompted Sharan to exhale deeply.

"I get that fellow mages trust Marquis Palatio's abilities. But you, especially, ought to recognize the truth."

"Hmm. We haven't observed it yet."

"Precisely why it's concerning."

"I truly sense potential."

"As I mentioned yesterday, your loyalty is unwavering..."

"Then why do you react so vehemently to the Marquis?"

"......"

Sharan Foranu, the Green Tower Master, sighed anew.

She had long harbored animosity toward Marquis Palatio.

Not due to any direct offense from the Marquis.

In reality, they had scarcely interacted.

The tales circulating were largely positive, bolstering his standing.

Nevertheless, her hostile view of the Marquis stemmed entirely from Celaime Mikardo.

Celaime, Blue Tower Master, her peer in status.

Of course, Celaime had never disparaged Alon to Sharan.

Quite the opposite—he invariably commended him.

He avoided labeling the Marquis a True Mage, yet endlessly lauded his exceptional mage prowess.

Paradoxically, Celaime's commendations provoked Sharan's profound annoyance.

Indeed, they grated on her intensely.

Why?

Because the source was Celaime Mikardo.

Sharan scowled and fixed a stare on the composed Celaime next to her.

By this point, it was common knowledge that Sharan neared the ninth tier more closely than Celaime.

However, prior to her Tower Master role—and still—she revered Celaime as a mage.

Her swift rise to Tower Master wasn't solely talent-driven.

It stemmed from her desire for Celaime's approval.

Yet Celaime never complimented her feats or recognized her successes.

Regardless of her accomplishments, he refrained.

In essence, Sharan's grudge against Marquis Palatio—

Kindly termed, it was "pride"; bluntly—

It arose from her "inferiority complex."

"It's not emotion; isn't this a logical response for me?"

Naturally, this wasn't her sole motive for opposition now.

At its core, hierarchical magic permitted somewhat flexible formations.

Thus, towers occasionally devised spells with distinctive patterns or configurations.

Still, such innovations stayed confined to alterations in layout and framework.

"You're aware, aren't you? Despite the ease of structuring hierarchical magic, a subsequent stage is impossible. Our ancestors verified this across centuries, so how can you credit it?"

Fundamentally, hierarchical magic—exclusive lore for mages—was deemed finalized.

It had been meticulously organized over hundreds of years—

More accurately, these magics were thoroughly "researched" and concluded.

But he asserts a discovery of the next stage in such magic?

That equated to deeming all tower mages, guardians of centuries-old legacy, idiots.

Myriad mages and Tower Masters had probed hierarchical magic through the ages, yet none uncovered anything similar.

Hence, those yet to behold Marquis Palatio's magic displayed hesitant demeanors.

"Hmm~"

Celaime, pondering briefly as if about to respond—

"Ah, he's arriving."

He halted, spotting Marquis Palatio's entrance.

"Anyway—let's observe."

With that, he shifted his attention.

And.

Sharan, irritably tracing Celaime's line of sight to Marquis Palatio, swiftly concentrated on the magic upon noticing the Light forming in his grasp at the arena's heart.

What Marquis Palatio produced was unequivocally Light.

A pristine Light devoid of unique traits or setups.

Simultaneously.

The mages, moments earlier in lively discussion, all fixated on Marquis Palatio instantly.

As she sensed a faint uncertainty while observing the Marquis steadily perform his magic.

Snap—!

The Light magic extended before Alon vanished.

No—not vanished precisely.

It was.

A botched spell enactment.

The mana framework crumbling in front of Alon flickered briefly before the mages' eyes.

"......What occurred there?"

"Did he intentionally abort it?"

"No, it's failing. The framework is disintegrating."

"...It truly is?"

Consequently, the mages started to buzz.

"What, a failure? With Light magic?"

"Did nerves get to him?"

"Hold on, can you even botch a spell like that?"

The skeptical mages' voices amplified.

"I swear I witnessed it before!"

"......Did we misperceive?"

"Impossible. It was clearly Light. The professor confirmed it! That time, it was—"

"What's happening?"

Even among Alon's firm believers, whispers emerged.

The mood flipped abruptly.

"Ha—"

As Sharan issued a empty scoff and glanced toward Celaime.

At that instant, Marquis Palatio, his face revealing no inner workings, abruptly lifted both hands.

The mages' gazes converged on him once more.

Alon's hands—

"That's—"

Shaped into seals.

Then.

As Alon whispered something, all present beheld it.

The Light ahead of Alon—

And an entity consuming that light.

And then.

"Illumination (光明)"

The words emerged from Alon’s mouth.