Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 340 : This Wasn't in the Plan (3)

"Forgive me! I needed to leave briefly."

"Sorry, Marquis."

"No problem."

While Ryanga chatted with Historia, Sili and Deus smoothly entered the discussion.

Alon gave a quick wave, indicating all was well.

"Oh, before we keep going, how about we shift to a different spot?"

"Huh? Any particular cause?"

"Yeah, I've got something to reveal to you!"

Sili proposed.

Alon appeared confused yet ultimately agreed.

He concluded his talk with Ryanga and Historia and trailed after the siblings.

Shortly after they began their stroll—

"Here we are."

"This is—"

"Your home, Marquis! Though you're rarely around, you visit a couple of times!"

A huge tent rose imposingly in Divine Land's heart, confronting Alon.

"Doesn't this resemble a palace? Like, what do you label this...?"

"A palace in tent form...?" Evan mumbled in bewilderment.

As he noted, the edifice ahead seemed more a fabric palace than a basic tent, stunning them both.

"Please enter!"

Trailing the unusually thrilled Sili, they stepped inside swiftly.

Soon, the office came into view.

And at last, they could engage in a real dialogue.

Sili gazed at Alon with shining eyes.

Alon pondered briefly.

Numerous queries swirled in his mind.

Yet now confronting her directly, he hesitated on starting points.

Following a short hush, Alon gradually spoke.

"Ryanga and Historia informed me you formed something known as the Four Knights."

"Ah, that's merely the name for your private protectors, Marquis!"

"Private protectors?"

"Exactly! Gods always have guardians, don't they? Thus, we established that role for you! We're picking only those capable of genuinely shielding you!"

She mentioned two positions remained open.

"Oh, and we revamped the troops into fresh ranks too!"

"The troops as well?"

"Indeed! Into five primary categories—"

She proceeded to detail the military structure shifts, detail by detail.

For roughly half an hour.

In that period, Alon grasped two facts.

The former simple knight-and-soldier ranking now expanded to fifteen tiers.

And the humble 'Divine Land' under his former watch had vanished into memory.

"Naturally, my brother contributed greatly!"

Sili noted, while Deus puffed up proudly despite his neutral face.

Alon mused on it, yet pressed on with the chat.

"Still, what's the main motive for such extensive rank divisions?"

"Oh, sure! Chiefly due to the surging population!"

"The troop numbers did seem increased."

Alon remembered his observations.

Troops had amassed so vastly it hardly matched his old Divine Land, prompting his head tilt.

"Ah, many early-arriving mercenaries have taken root!"

"...Eh?"

Sensing his bewilderment, Sili clarified, leaving Alon more baffled.

"Weren't they meant to depart?"

"Well—some departed, but most grew to trust you, Marquis!"

With a smug shoulder shrug boasting her success, Sili grinned widely.

Observing the girl's clear pride, Alon grew even more baffled.

After all, those mercenaries arrived in Divine Land from warped tales.

Thus, upon learning the reality, they ought to have departed naturally.

So what kept them?

"Any specific cause for their staying?"

"I preached to them!"

"...What?"

"Preached?"

Despite her daring response, Alon's skepticism lingered.

For starters, Psychedelia's mercenaries prized gain over belief.

"Did they truly embrace faith in me so readily?"

Doubting still, Alon probed further, and Sili beamed.

"Not initially."

"Then what?"

"I compelled their belief in you. That's a saint's duty, like mine."

Sili cleared her throat proudly and shone brightly.

"Might I inquire... just how you preached to them?"

"Naturally!"

As Alon's interest intensified, Sili nodded as expected—

"To start, I empowered a frail knight."

She unfolded her tale gradually.

About half an hour passed—

"And thus, I instilled faith in feeble and mighty mercenaries alike!"

"Scriptures are scarce now, you see? Folks eagerly await additional ones!"

With a closing merry remark, Sili wrapped up.

Alon remained stunned, jaw dropped, and gradually looked aside.

Evan mirrored him with an open mouth.

It was understandable.

Should Sili's words hold truth—

That sweet-faced girl with the radiant smile couldn't have devised and carried out all this alone.

Frankly, it felt rather devious.

"...But wouldn't that convincing tactic bring drawbacks?"

"Eh? How so?"

"Since you bestowed strength, won't that might wane over time?"

Evan raised the issue.

Yet Sili, beaming steadily, replied promptly.

"No need for concern. They only require hope."

"...Hope?"

"Those empowered via me hold hope—that devoted loyalty grants power anew. The rest aspire to stronger faith for even vaster might."

"...So that's essentially deception?"

Evan ventured carefully.

Sili responded with a lively chuckle.

"Deception? Hardly! Ultimately, they harness the power, so no falsehood."

"Well—perhaps I stretched it slightly~"

She appended, and Evan, a tad flushed, mumbled awkwardly, "Oh, got it," while eyeing Alon and Deus sidelong.

Fortunately, the trio sans Sili aligned in sentiment, easing Evan briefly.

"...Eh? Why the shared glances?"

Sili queried, urging Alon to cough lightly and redirect.

"Anyway, where'd you vanish to earlier?"

"Oh, I went preaching!"

"...Really?"

"Yes! The guardian deity urged more followers!"

"...Did I?"

Alon inwardly questioned his own words.

Of course, his face stayed composed.

"Yes, the guardian deity commanded it."

Guided by Sili's faint gesture, Alon glanced her way.

There appeared—

Flinch!

Kalannon, feline-shaped, peeking furtively.

Alon reflected momentarily.

Then, as Kalannon eyed Alon warily, she leaped to his lap with a soft purr—

[Meow~ meow~]

Nuzzling against him like pleading, "Spare me, I had no option~. "

Precisely what lacked options?

Alon's query hung unresolved, but instinctively, he stroked Kalannon's plush fur—

Pop—!

Blackie, moments prior nestled in Alon's pocket, emerged suddenly.

Tap tap tap—

Spotting Kalannon upon Alon, Blackie dashed down nimbly.

Then—

Smack! Smack!

[Meow!?]

He pawed Kalannon's head firmly.

A resounding nyan-nyan strike echoing loudly.

As Kalannon fled startled, Blackie—

[Meowww—]

Stared daggers, then haughtily seized the vacated lap spot.

An abrupt, perplexing sequence.

Alon's hand dangled uncertainly, at a loss.

***

Shortly thereafter.

Sili exited temporarily, claiming errands after her account.

"Master!"

"Divine One!"

"Chief!"

As though anticipating it, Seolrang, Historia, and Ryanga rushed in.

Their gazes fixed on Alon, yet strangely, they clashed among themselves (head-on?).

What on earth transpired?

"Step aside."

"You step aside."

"You dense fools~"

Smiles adorned their lips, but their stares brimmed with mana-fueled tension.

Observing the group, Alon sighed softly.

...Indeed, upon reflection, Seolrang and Historia rarely meshed.

He could fathom that from history, but Ryanga's involvement surprised him.

As Alon silently mulled, he eyed Deus.

Deus, emotionless, viewed them like poultry.

He displayed utter disinterest in their squabble.

Noting his blatant "none of my affair" vibe, Alon nodded subconsciously.

"Ah, Marquis."

"Yes?"

"I overlooked one detail before. Alexion messaged this morning."

"Alexion? Regarding what?"

"You know, your 'partner.'"

At Evan's words, Alon uttered an "ah" of understanding.

"But why's Alexion handling it?"

"Since I instructed him."

"Again?"

"Relax, no pesky mishaps like before this time."

—Relief.

"Yes, the candidates ought to arrive shortly."

"Candidates?"

"Alexion dispatched invites solely to noblewomen potentially keen on you, Marquis. Bearing the invite, they'll face interviews and selection."

"...Is this essential?"

"For one like you, Marquis, it should've happened ages ago. Though finalizing the partner might linger. Not all invites reached yet."

Alon stayed dubious but assented to Evan's uncommon resolve.

"? "

Abruptly, unease stirred.

The trio previously snarling had fallen utterly quiet.

Turning to look—

Historia, Seolrang, and Ryanga stood with bulging eyes.

"Chief? What's this 'partner' business?"

Ryanga inquired.

Alon casually detailed the ball.

Upon his recount, the three declared—

"Er... Chief! I suddenly recall an urgent task!"

"Master! I must dash out momentarily!"

"Me as well, just briefly—"

Like waves receding, they fled abruptly.

And not solely them.

"Marquis, I'll excuse myself too."

Even Deus.

"...?"

"...?"

Alon turned to Evan puzzled.

The pair swapped looks and merely shrugged.

Precisely two days on—

"Um, Lord Alexion."

"Yes?"

"Those dispatched letters...?"

"What of them?"

"Reports indicate some got pilfered."

"...Pardon?"

Alexion reeled from the news.

Who would snatch mere partner invites, not political missives?

"Who took them?"

"Unclear. Some claim blackout and loss. Others note emptied pockets mysteriously."

"Hmm~"

Perhaps mere misplacements?

With that notion, Alexion cocked his head, then shivered abruptly.

He recalled the visitor from exactly two days prior.

‘Oh my, a scoring mechanism?’

‘Ah, this is...’

‘Hmm—so surpassing a threshold qualifies as candidate?’

‘Precisely.’

‘Clever indeed. Filters unfit for my Lord.’

‘Appreciated.’

‘Hoping my score suffices.’

‘...What?’

‘Truly wish for a fine mark.’

‘...Oh, certainly.’

Lips curved in smile, eyes cold—Cardinal Yutia Bloodia of Rosario.

Considering her, Alexion fleetingly thought she might've taken them.

Yet he dismissed it promptly.

She resided at the Marquis’s residence now.

Snatching invites circulating countrywide instantly proved unfeasible.

And to oust rivals—

She'd need to obliterate every invite.

But reports differed.

Thus—

The pilferer wasn't Yutia.

As Alexion pondered deductions, his aide timidly raised another point.

"And another matter."

"What?"

"The Marquis's partner quest rumor appears to circulate."

Alexion exhaled.

No ire.

Discreet invites inevitably leaked.

The gossip raced quicker than foreseen, yet not shocking.

Hence—

"It's alright."

"How to proceed?"

"What but resend? Tch—Crystal orb chats would simplify, but nobles cling to letters for protocol. Such hassle."

Alexion waved it off casually.

Yet the rumor surged beyond imagination.

"...So Brother seeks a partner?"

"Correct."

"His Grace’s partner?"

"Yes—the Primordial Elf's partner."

The tale even hit elven realms.

As Magrina and Rine sipped tea, secretary Mew relayed it—and winced.

Justifiably.

"Sis, urgent business arose. May I leave first?"

"Of course. Truth be told, something cropped up for me too."

Their gazes harbored nothing mundane.

And witnessing that—

Mew sensed innately.

Trouble loomed large.