Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 327 : Dog (4)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
A bit of time had elapsed since then.
Once they exited the demonstration chamber, Alon could at last engage in a genuine discussion with Sharan, the one who had been howling wildly just before.
"So, you're telling me you wish to study primitive magic?"
"Exactly."
Sharan carefully observed Alon's response.
Her appearance seemed far too unkempt to qualify as the leader of the Green Magic Tower.
"Wow."
Upon hearing an authentic gasp from nearby, Alon glanced over and spotted Penia, who appeared truly astonished.
"Why?"
"N-No—"
Catching on a tad late to her unintended noise, Penia attempted to cover her mouth.
Yet, as though surrendering after being discovered, she let out a sigh and leaned close to murmur into Alon's ear.
"Recall what I mentioned before? About her being incredibly haughty."
"Yeah."
"You see my point now, don't you? That's what makes it so intriguing."
Penia whispered so faintly that the Tower Master couldn't catch it, then resumed her casual demeanor as if unaffected.
What kind of audacious conduct had she displayed to provoke such a reaction from Penia?
Suddenly intrigued, Alon fixed his gaze on Sharan.
This version of her didn't match the one from the game.
Nevertheless.
"...Shall I howl once more?"
"I don't believe that's required."
"This round, I could perform it even superiorly."
Alon struggled to suppress his astonishment and examined Sharan anew, at last grasping Penia's implication.
While Alon adjusted his assessment of Sharan, Celaime, who had observed silently, addressed Penia.
"Regarding temperament, aren't you more notorious than the Green Tower Master?"
Alon swiftly shifted his attention to Penia.
Penia clenched her teeth and shot Celaime a fierce stare.
"...Master. Kindly remain silent."
"Previously, you merely requested silence. You've grown bolder since then."
"You're the one shaping me that way, Master."
"I merely stated facts."
"Excuse me, Master, but is this the moment for swapping 'facts'? If yes, might I contribute a few 'facts' of my own?"
"...I concede defeat."
Although Celaime grinned, his gaze lacked warmth, and he averted his eyes from Penia's intense look.
Alon abruptly recalled Penia's "history" that he had nearly overlooked.
"Well—"
She had indeed been remarkable.
He mumbled unwittingly, only to see Penia eyeing him with exasperation.
With a cough to compose himself, he promptly redirected his focus to Sharan.
Sharan somehow projected an aura of "I'm prepared to howl whenever."
In truth, accepting Sharan as an apprentice offered Alon no tangible advantage.
The "primitive magic" she sought wasn't within his ability to instruct regardless.
Thus, he paused briefly over her plea.
"Hmm."
Concluding his deliberations, he addressed Sharan directly.
"To start, I doubt I can impart the magic you crave."
"Shall I howl louder?"
How had she reached such a deduction?
Sharan appeared even more unhinged than Alon had initially suspected.
"Instead, the magic I employed is exceptionally tough to describe."
"Ah—"
"Do you follow?"
"Shall I howl further?"
"Master—"
"What?"
"...Green Tower Master, she comes across as somewhat deficient in wits."
"This occurs frequently. She's typically rather sharp, but when obsessed with a single matter, she turns like this…"
At that point, Celaime circled his finger beside his temple, and Penia nodded in sudden comprehension.
Alon cleared his throat uncomfortably and pressed on with the dialogue.
"That's not the issue. I can't instruct it, yet if you merely aim to investigate the magic, I could assist there."
"Investigate…?"
"Indeed. However, we ought to discuss further first. If investigation suffices for you—"
"Please allow me to proceed."
Sharan answered instantly, without delay.
Alon inclined his head and promptly activated the floor transfer mechanism to reach Heinkel.
[You're here?]
"Yes."
[I witnessed the demonstration. I never anticipated beastmen affecting it in that manner. Do you grasp the underlying principle?]
"Not precisely~"
[Then how did you select the correct seal?]
"I had prepped numerous seals beforehand, so I tested them sequentially."
Hmm— Heinkel faltered, on the verge of deep contemplation, when Alon interjected hastily.
"Heinkel, I possess a proposal."
[...? A proposal?]
"Yes. Concerning the Green Tower Master."
He proceeded to outline the notion to Heinkel.
[You intend to include the Green Tower Master in the investigation?]
"Yes, I learned it involves many basic computations. In such a scenario, additional hands would accelerate things, wouldn't they?"
This explained Alon's desire to incorporate the Green Tower Master into the investigation.
The bulk of extracting data from hierarchy magic demanded endless routine calculations.
Greater numbers meant swifter data handling.
[Hmm—]
Following reflection, Heinkel agreed.
[Well— I have no objection to her aiding the investigation, so why not fetch her directly?]
"…Wasn't it due to your reluctance to appear before other mages?"
Alon recognized Heinkel's covert operations to evade detection by fellow mages.
But she merely shrugged nonchalantly.
[True enough, though she's no ordinary figure, so concerns are minimal.]
Above all, she nearly uttered "valuable slave" but amended it to "mage assisting the investigation," and Alon feigned ignorance while nodding.
***
Immediately following Heinkel's approval.
Eager not to lose the opportunity, Alon swiftly escorted Celaime, who had voiced interest in participating in the investigation.
"......"
"Is this truly the Primordial Chalice…?"
"I'd caught whispers of her presence in the tower, but encountering her personally~!"
Their gazes brimmed with unadulterated awe.
Forgetting their own statuses as tower leaders, they regarded Heinkel like eager kids facing a long-admired idol.
[Hohoho~]
Observing Heinkel assume a bold stance as if declaring, "Behold my essence," Alon cast a look at Penia.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the mages initiated talks with Heinkel.
"Heinkel, if it's not impolite, could I inquire about your history?"
[What's on your mind? Proceed—]
"Didn't you invent the mana condensation process?"
[Hmm, you're well-informed?]
"Naturally. Your contribution lets contemporary mages shorten incantation durations and truly summon spells."
[Oh— You even trace its connections that deep?]
"Haha— As tower masters of this era, we must."
Sharan added with some unease, while Celaime bobbed his head in agreement beside her.
Observing the scene, Alon summoned Penia.
"Penia."
"Yes, Marquis?"
"Were you aware of that?"
"Oh, the 'mana condensation process'?"
"Yeah."
The mana condensation process.
It constituted a profoundly intricate concept when detailed fully.
Simply put, it involved forming a mana array on parchment instead of mid-air, a technique Alon knew as well.
He couldn't have mastered magic adequately without it.
"I hadn't realized it tied to incantation speed before."
"Well~ It originated for easier summoning, but by adapting the array to the intended shape, incantation time quickens. You employ it too, Marquis, I'm certain."
"...Me?"
"Yes. That foundational pattern you apply for light magic? It didn't exist originally."
"...Really?"
"Indeed, so simplifying light magic omits that process."
"...Oh."
Alon viewed Heinkel afresh with heightened respect.
"She's far more extraordinary than I imagined."
"...More extraordinary than your prior conception?"
"Yeah."
"Precisely how did you envision Heinkel, Marquis…?"
After a short deliberation, Alon replied softly.
"A spectral figure skilled in magic, drifting about to seem loftier…?"
Penia's expression chilled rapidly.
Soon thereafter.
The trio of mages delved into intricate theories beyond Alon's full comprehension, persisting for nearly hours on end without pause.
As Alon observed, musing, 'Their involvement will surely hasten the magic breakdown,'
Heinkel unexpectedly drew near him.
[How extended is your visit?]
"Roughly a week, like previously."
[Hmm, perhaps this time I can reveal additional details. During the second hierarchy examination, I uncovered something rather captivating.]
"That's promising. Also, I'd like to confer regarding the magic from the earlier demonstration."
[The demonstration magic?]
Noting her curiosity, Alon detailed the uncertainties that arose during his execution of the novel magic.
[...You finalized it, yet sense an alternative application?]
"Yes."
Hmm, Heinkel pondered aloud, lost in profound reflection.
A brief hush ensued.
And then.
"!"
As though struck by sudden insight, she beamed and declared.
[This is merely a theory, but care to listen?]
Shortly after.
[...If so, your thoughts?]
Upon hearing it.
"I'll need to test it."
Alon nodded repeatedly.
***
Kalannon, the Lightning Receiver.
Or rather, currently serving as the emblematic figure(?) of the Church of the Lightning Receiver Kalannon, had been relishing rather joyful times lately.
Two primary factors contributed to this.
One stemmed from Alon's "clue," allowing her limited veneration by Divine Land's inhabitants.
The other involved her faith's swift resurgence as of late.
Certainly, relative to her era as the true Lightning Receiver, the faith volume remained pathetically scant, yet she felt gratified.
Even meager, it surpassed the grueling, incremental buildup within Alon.
...Naturally, she occasionally yearned to reclaim her peak faith levels.
Yet, reflecting on those fearful times when her very being teetered on oblivion, her present circumstances seemed opulent.
Residing in Divine Land, basking in acclaim from knights and mercenaries, Kalannon felt fulfilled.
"...You aim to extend the faith to ordinary villagers as well?"
"Yes, brother. We require common folk devoted to him too."
"…I understand, but the Marquis issued no explicit command for that."
She eavesdropped on Sili and Deus's exchange.
"Still, I believe the Marquis would approve."
"Hmm, without his directive, we shouldn't proceed independently."
Deus replied like a devoted follower.
However, Kalannon knew he already pursued unbidden initiatives, drumming up support vigorously.
She also comprehended Alon's rationale for founding Divine Land.
Until recently, she had functioned solely as a symbol, but accumulated faith now permitted her to relay words as the "emblematic figure(?)."
Aware of the Marquis's nature, Kalannon prepared to halt the siblings' unchecked momentum.
"But it's regrettable, right? Involving nearby villagers could elevate his faith further."
"...You mean it would immensely benefit the Marquis?"
"Yes, undoubtedly."
Freeze—
She halted the faith she intended to deploy.
"But the surrounding areas hold only modest villages, Sili. Such a populace likely yields little faith."
"If considering solely adjacent hamlets, yes."
"...What are you implying?"
"That's merely the base, brother."
Kalannon's ears twitched alertly.
"By extending minor aid alongside our doctrines, devotion to him will propagate organically."
"Merely from that?"
"Yes."
Deus eyed her skeptically.
But Sili beamed and responded innocently.
"It may seem trivial to us, but not 'trivial' to them."
In silent attention, Kalannon inevitably reminisced.
To her tenure as the Lightning Receiver proper.
Regaining her former might proved unattainable now.
But if faith amassed more rapidly here?
...If, per Sili's words, they genuinely initiated human faith collection?
Thump thump—
Kalannon's pulse quickened.
Unwittingly, she envisioned her 600-year-prior self, commanding universal allegiance.
Should she accumulate faith more steadily than currently.
Even as an "emblematic figure(?)," restoring her zenith strength might be feasible.
Hence.
"Yet brother holds merit. Acting sans his command may be improper~"
As Sili sighed disappointedly.
[No.]
She invoked her divine essence.
"!"
"!"
Sili and Deus turned to Kalannon in astonishment.
[Stay calm. I serve as his protector.]
Soothing them, Kalannon wavered briefly.
With knowledge of the Marquis's authentic aims, was it fitting for her to declare this?
That ethical qualm detained her momentarily.
But then.
Evoking her former glory—
[—He desires ever greater faith accumulation.]
Rather than derailing the locomotive, she chose to board it.
"Is that so?"
[Yes.]
"If that's his desire…!"
And so, the locomotive surged forward decisively.
['I—I can't halt this anymore…!!']
With controls and stops irreparably damaged, its velocity rendered descent impossible for any.