Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 339 : This Wasn’t in the Plan (2)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
A couple of weeks had elapsed since Alon departed for the Palatio Marquisate.
Factoring in the duration from his exit from Ashtalon, an entire month had now passed.
At this juncture, he ought to have reached the Marquisate by then.
Yet on this trip, Alon opted to visit Divine Land ahead of the Marquisate.
This choice stemmed from the fact that reaching Divine Land took less time than traveling straight to the Marquisate from Ashtalon.
Given that Divine Land sat right on the way to the Marquisate, he chose to drop in and evaluate the current state beforehand.
Alon reached a village roughly a day's journey from Divine Land, where he stumbled upon an odd sight.
"Evan."
"Yes, sir."
"What’s that over there?"
"......"
"Huh?"
"I’m clueless about it too."
A statue resembling himself stood prominently in the village's heart.
More precisely, it depicted "Kalannon."
Observing the villagers prostrating themselves before the statue and offering sincere reverence, Alon glanced at Evan.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"......Are you truly unaware of this?"
"Marquis, do you honestly believe I’m acting ignorant?"
"No, probably not."
"Exactly. Still, it stings a bit to hear it confirmed that way…"
Alon was already aware of Evan’s role.
Actually, Evan’s standing remained somewhat unclear.
Formally, Evan oversaw Divine Land in Alon’s stead.
That explained his initial satisfaction when Divine Land and its knight order came into being.
Recently, however, Alon learned of increasing activities bypassing reports to Evan.
As Alon nodded without objection, Evan released a heavy sigh.
"Be it Sili or Deus, they charge ahead without a second thought. It gets tiring dealing with it at times."
"Have you ended up fixing their messes?"
"Well...... not quite."
Alon pondered briefly, thinking, “Then what’s been wearing you down so much?”
"Wow, that’s a statue of Master! It’s crafted so finely!"
From inside the carriage, Seolrang, who had dozed off while hugging Blackie, abruptly leaped up and examined the statue closely.
Soon enough, Alon pieced together the situation.
"They claim Divine Land dispatches volunteer teams on a regular basis."
"......Volunteers?"
"Indeed. It seems they distribute food and spread teachings, among other activities."
"Did I issue any such command?"
"No, I don’t recall you doing so."
"I understand…"
Evan had inquired with a villager and received that response.
As Alon murmured in reply absentmindedly, a sudden curiosity struck him about the extent of the unchecked developments—and that sparked thoughts of Yuman.
In essence, Yuman stood to be the most impacted individual, yet everything had proceeded so seamlessly it bordered on eerie.
Right at that moment—
[Meowwww~!]
From afar, Alon noticed Seolrang zooming about like a soaring plane, with Blackie hoisted high over her head.
Blackie appeared to wail as if pleading “Save me~!!!”
His gaze brimmed with utter misery.
Yet the villagers posed a greater concern.
Despite Seolrang’s nearby spectacle, they continued their devoted prostrations to the statue.
And not merely a handful—numerous individuals participated.
Such a crowd directing prayers toward the statue?
"......Evan."
"Yes, Marquis?"
"Who did you mention passed through this area before?"
"Word is it was Sili."
"......Sili, is it."
Ah, that explained it.
"Perhaps it’s a form of hypnotic influence."
"Pardon?"
"Forget I said anything."
Alon mumbled to himself unwittingly.
The following day.
Rising somewhat earlier than his norm, Alon proceeded to Divine Land and reached a cliff with a view of the surroundings by midday.
And then—
"Evan.......It appears larger than during my previous visit."
"It’s grown considerably more than just a bit, sir."
"Whoa, so this is Divine Land!"
Alon witnessed the profound transformation in Divine Land.
The expansion went beyond mere scale—
"It’s turned into a complete settlement by now."
Divine Land had evolved into a proper settlement.
"......Shouldn’t we rename it a village at this stage?"
Evan remarked, eyeing the vast array of tents stretching out, prompting Alon to reflect.
Lips pressed firmly, Alon started heading toward Divine Land.
Upon nearing, as though anticipating his arrival, knights dashed over from the distance, much like on prior occasions.
"We’ve awaited your coming!"
The lead knight bowed deeply while proclaiming.
"Understood."
With a nod, Alon stepped into the now-enormous Divine Land.
Shortly, he beheld the knights and soldiers assembled in precise ranks.
That display no longer startled him.
He had become accustomed to such arrangements.
After all, knights and soldiers had existed from the outset.
However, the element that rendered Alon speechless before the display—
Were an outsider to behold it, they might conclude:
—This fellow is gearing up for battle!
"Marquis."
"Yes?"
"I wasn’t aware, but… are you covertly readying for conflict or the like?"
Of course, nothing of the sort.
He itched to deny it outright, yet with the knights and soldiers present, he restrained himself and attempted to proceed elsewhere.
That was when—
"......?"
A strikingly familiar figure caught his eye.
No, more than one.
"Ryanga? And—"
Ryanga, clad awkwardly in ill-fitting armor.
And—
"Historia?"
Historia lingered there, her face bearing its customary vacant stare.
"Ahaha… Hey, Chief."
"Greetings, Divine One."
Ryanga averted her eyes slightly, while Historia maintained her typical blank demeanor.
What in the world was unfolding here?
***
Ryanga’s initial purpose for venturing from Ronovelli Forest involved retrieving Blue Ghost.
Truthfully, that served merely as a pretext—her true aim was to encounter Alon.
In any case, Ryanga made her way to the Palatio Marquisate.
Soon, she entered Divine Land.
Yet an unforeseen development arose.
Alon had yet to arrive, and Historia preceded her there.
Certainly, that by itself posed no major issue.
Ryanga and Historia shared a solid rapport.
Thus, Ryanga intended to chat with Historia briefly before departing.
After all, the justification she’d employed—escorting back the reluctant Blue Ghost—had lost its basis, leaving no cause to linger.
As such, Ryanga prepared to exit Divine Land the subsequent day.
But moments before her departure, Blue Ghost oddly demanded a spar with Historia.
That marked the beginning of the chain.
Post-duel, Deus promptly approached Ryanga, proposing she enlist in the Order of Knights.
She naturally meant to decline—until Blue Ghost murmured an idea.
Why not sample it lightly, as a short trial?
It sounded absurd—yet oddly appealing.
Engaging in it would provide a legitimate excuse to cross paths with Alon once more.
Hence, Ryanga, joining solely for that interim purpose, ultimately rose to—
One among the Four Knights safeguarding Kalannon.
That circumstance led Ryanga to remain in Divine Land as the Order’s leader.
Of course, revealing the full truth to Alon was impossible.
"Uh, well? I just grew curious about it—"
In the secluded chamber meant for explanations, Ryanga offered that and chuckled uneasily.
"...You took an interest in something like this?"
"Yes—sort of."
"Ah, got it."
"Yeah."
Alon cocked his head at her fumbling reply but chose not to probe deeper.
Alon eyed Blue Ghost, who posed triumphantly afar for no apparent cause.
Then, shifting to Historia, he inquired,
"And you, Ria? What’s your story?"
"Mine?"
"Yes."
"I simply went to the place I belonged."
"I see."
"That makes sense."
Ria twitched her ears and flicked her tail, seeming pleased with her choice.
Alon accepted her explanation with a nod, no questions asked.
Next, another matter surfaced in his thoughts.
"Incidentally, what’s the deal with these ‘Four Knights’?"
He recognized the existence of a knight captain, but the Four Knights concept was new, prompting his query.
"They serve as the knights dedicated to protecting solely the Divine One."
Ria replied straightforwardly.
"Personal guard knights... So that’s the setup?"
"Correct."
"Who fills the other two positions?"
"The last two slots remain open."
"Then why label it Four Knights prematurely... no, who devised that title?"
"The Saint came up with it."
...What antics was that Saint up to beyond my awareness?
That passing notion flitted across Alon’s mind when—
"Marquis! Welcome!"
The Saint herself emerged, beaming radiantly.
***
Meanwhile, as Alon remained within Divine Land—
"Um, Lord Alexion?"
"What’s the matter?"
"A... visitor has arrived to meet you."
"A visitor? I believed my schedule clear for the rest of the day."
In the Palatio Marquisate, Alexion heard of an unexpected arrival from his aide.
"Recall the issue of selecting a partner for the Marquis from before?"
"...Someone has shown up already?"
"Yes, sir..."
The aide paused briefly, then sealed her lips and affirmed.
A wave of bewilderment swept Alexion’s thoughts.
Merely weeks had transpired.
He hadn’t anticipated such swift arrival.
After a moment’s deliberation—
"Very well, escort them in for the time being."
"Understood, sir."
‘No choice but to receive them.’
He issued the directive, then shrugged inwardly.
Invitations had gone out to more than a dozen noblewomen.
A flurry of potential names raced through his mind rapidly, but Alexion ceased speculating.
Regardless of the arrival, vigilance was key.
He must identify the ideal match for the Palatio Marquis.
No matter the candidate’s noble influence.
Alexion braced his mindset.
He drew a steadying breath to preserve composure and impartiality.
But that determination shattered swiftly.
Alexion’s determination collapsed in an instant.
For the entrant was—
"...?"
"Greetings."
—Cardinal Yutia.
Alexion stood rooted in shock.
No invitation had ever been dispatched to Cardinal Yutia.
"Wh-what occasions your visit—"
He stammered uncertainly.
"I learned you sought a partner for the Marquis, so I arrived for the assessment."
"How in the world did you—"
Yutia spoke in her calm, composed tone.
"Oh, indeed. Since you ‘accidentally’ omitted sending me a letter, how fortunate that I ‘just so happened’ to remain uninformed, right? Hm?"
...
Her words rang with clear inconsistencies.
No letter had been sent to her to begin with.
Likely, most candidates hadn’t received contact yet.
How could she ‘coincidentally’ learn of it, deduce the ‘oversight’ in excluding her, and appear so promptly?
Nevertheless—
Alexion found no grounds to challenge her.
"—Was it... not merely an oversight, after all?"
As Yutia, her crimson eyes alight, began to speak—
A single name surged in Alexion’s consciousness.
Yutia Bloodia.
The unyielding authority dominating Rosario.
And upon offending her—
Individuals disappeared entirely.
Thus, her moniker: “Pure White.”
Consequently—
"Uh—"
"Yes?"
"It... appears I erred."
"So it truly was an error?"
"Y-yes... absolutely......"
Alexion opted for self-preservation.