Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 342 : ???? Years Old (1)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
Due to the cramped office space, they relocated initially to the tea room, allowing everyone to find seats comfortably.
Following this.
Alon poured tea for all, then rubbed the back of his neck uneasily amid the lingering hush.
At that moment—
“Marquis.”
“Yes, Evan?”
“Regarding the auction house issue you approved previously............”
“Has there been a problem?”
“It appears that way. The proposal has resurfaced, and I believe you ought to review it immediately.”
“In that case~”
Evan fetched the document.
Alon rose promptly and announced,
“Apologies, but I need to handle this swiftly. Since we've all met, please continue chatting without me.”
The group nodded together.
Alon pivoted and exited the space.
Silence once more enveloped the tea room.
Although no overt hostility lingered, an unusual strain hung in the atmosphere.
Even Seolrang, who typically would chuckle and tease Rine after such a long absence—
Clink—
Remained rigid, clutching her teacup with both hands, her expression locked.
And the one who broke the quiet first was—
“Was it Deus Macallian?”
—Nangwon.
“Indeed.”
Deus affirmed with composure.
Shortly after.
“Fufufu, I'm surprised you spotted it. You clearly have a keen sense for details.”
“Really? Yet it was crafted so finely that I found myself in awe.”
Contrasting the prior stiffness, Deus and Nangwon exchanged words with subtle grins.
The cause was—
“I never imagined you'd etch something like that onto a statue.”
“If you're curious, I could demonstrate the carving process on a statue sometime soon.”
“That sounds intriguing.”
—Alon’s statue.
The mood brightened rapidly, sparked by the unexpected rapport between Deus and Nangwon.
With their voices resonating alone—
“Ahem, permit me to introduce myself properly. I'm Yutia Bloodia.”
“Me too. I'm Magrina, Queen of Fildagreen.”
“I'm Ryanga.”
“I'm Seolrang!”
“I'm Rine.”
“Historia.”
Those who had stayed mute before now shared their names sequentially, and talk naturally started to unfold.
The ambiance had eased a great deal from the start.
Nevertheless, a faint divide persisted among those there, aside from Nangwon and Deus.
For instance—
“Being the elven queen, you must be quite occupied. But rest assured, we're already aiding Lord sufficiently, so no need for extra involvement from you.”
“I can't overlook it. Ms. Seolrang and Sister Rine hail from distant places, so I feel compelled to provide additional assistance.”
“It's truly unnecessary. We've handled all potential issues for our Lord.”
“Yet, Brother frequently requires intel. We see value in bolstering him where he needs it most.”
Despite their cheerful tones,
They were evidently addressing separate factions.
This was inevitable.
Yutia, Seolrang, Rine, and Deus were individuals Alon had rescued about a decade prior.
In contrast, Magrina, Nangwon, Historia, and Ryanga were those he had saved upon journeying back in time.
“Our Lord receives ample backing from us.”
“The same applies to us.”
‘We can manage his support independently, so stay in your lane.’
‘No, I intend to contribute more.’
This was the unspoken message Yutia and Magrina conveyed through their grins.
As the fleeting unity started to fray and unease crept back in—
“How fortunate. Who knew all those linked to the Marquis would converge here today for such a crucial affair.”
The gathering—
“But that issue was resolved already, wasn't it?”
Snap.
Yutia's single remark instantly chilled the room.
“My, what exactly do you imply?”
Lifting her teacup with a grin, Magrina halted, then gently placed it down and inquired once more.
Yet Yutia responded without faltering her smile.
“Exactly as it sounded? The key choice is finalized, so you might find it disappointing.”
“You appear aware of the details?”
Yutia ignored Magrina’s query.
She merely smirked with her sharp, fox-like gaze and savored her tea.
“S-Seriously? It's concluded? Hold on, it only started recently???”
Ryanga, who had been fidgeting uncomfortably up to that point, exclaimed in disbelief, visibly rattled.
Turning from her stare at Yutia, Magrina commented.
“From what I understand, it's not concluded.”
“Oh? Is that the case?”
“Indeed. The discussion was set for today.”
“That talk holds little weight.”
“And why is that?”
“Since the decision stands.”
“But I thought this individual merely selects prospects. Isn't the true decider Brother?”
Magrina's resolute comeback.
Yutia maintained her serene demeanor and drank her tea once more.
Sllrp—
Her poise was utterly unflappable.
After gracefully lowering her cup, she stated—
“Exactly. That's precisely why I'm informing you.”
Her smile turned endearing.
All eyes swiftly turned to Yutia.
Faced with her unshakeable assurance, the others were rendered mute.
“That's merely Yutia's view, correct?”
Rine interjected abruptly.
“Y-Yeah! Yutia! That's only your assumption! We can't predict Master's choice!”
Seolrang added hastily.
The subtle coalition from earlier shattered immediately.
Recent comrades turned foes in a flash.
“It would seem so.”
“Ahem, Chief will ultimately decide, so it's not finalized.”
Magrina chimed in with a grin.
Ryanga gripped her fists discreetly, steeling her determination.
Through it all, Yutia stayed unruffled.
“Really?”
As though victory was assured from the outset.
She displayed the grin of triumph.
This prompted the rest to seal their lips.
Even Magrina, who had sustained her smile, showed a slight strain.
If Yutia felt so convinced—
Something must be afoot.
Under the mounting strain, Seolrang gritted her teeth, wavering.
Should she deploy that tactic?
But dreading the fallout, she wrestled inwardly—
Then resolved.
“Yet, Yutia isn't truly fit as a partner, right?”
She voiced it.
Yutia regarded her steadily amid the quiet.
Sensing vulnerability, Seolrang looked away and muttered.
“Yutia's, um, way older than Master by hundreds of years…… right……?”
She let it slip.
Steering clear of glances—
Yutia stiffened momentarily.
Seolrang’s bold strike landed squarely on Yutia.
And—
“Oh my, indeed.”
In no time—
Magrina forged a fresh pact with Seolrang.
“Hmmm~”
“Certainly.”
Ryanga and Rine joined promptly.
Historia’s blank stare shifted to Yutia.
A flawless riposte.
Still.
After a brief pause, Yutia chuckled lightly.
“Fufu~”
She surveyed the group.
A subtle snap echoed faintly.
“Apologies, Seolrang, but that's inaccurate, isn't it?”
“What? How so—”
“This year, I'm twenty-two.”
“?”
“?”
“?”
“Eh? That doesn't add up. You obviously—”
“I stated I'm twenty-two.”
“......Aren't you just claiming that?”
“What recourse do I have if it's factual, Rine? Spreading lies isn't kind, is it?”
Tilting her head, Yutia feigned ignorance of her history.
As the others wore frustrated looks, she pressed on.
“Moreover, if age is the topic, I suspect many of you aren't teenagers. Correct?”
“!!”
“!”
Silence gripped them anew from Yutia’s retort.
In truth, she had a point.
Magrina, Ryanga, and Historia each had endured 600 years.
Furthermore, Rine had been confined for 600 years, trapping her too.
“Ahem, did you realize? High Elves endure vast lifespans? Thus, by elven measure, I'm about twenty.”
Regaining poise, Magrina invoked a dubious reckoning (?).
“M-Me too! Our kind lasts ages, alright!? I could span millennia if I chose… Uh, wait, what's my human-equivalent age +.....?”
Attempting to echo Magrina’s reasoning, Ryanga faltered, eyes swirling.
“I share that.”
Historia concurred steadily.
But Rine rebutted.
“I'm still twenty, Yutia.”
“Explain?”
“From the sealing. I halted aging.”
“Yet you were conscious those 600 years.”
“Regardless, my body stayed young. If you claim I matured then, your argument unravels too, Yutia.”
Yutia went quiet at her statement.
And Rine observed her with a neutral yet oddly victorious expression.
“Ahem. Thus, I'm the ideal match for Master!”
Seolrang plunged in confidently right after.
At that instant—
“What.”
Even amid the statue chat, Nangwon caught the exchange and remarked offhandedly.
“Be it 600 years or beyond… In essence, it's accumulation of years, no?”
“I concur.”
“Exactly? Ultimately, by human reckoning, you're all somewhat Aun—”
He halted before the final syllable.
As Nangwon neared that term, he and Deus were booted—
By Magrina and Yutia in turn.
And then—
BOOOOOOM—!!!!
[—?!]
“—!?”
Alon, scrutinizing the returned proposal, abruptly detected a burst of fierce magic and an explosion—
And witnessed the estate wall demolished, with Deus and Nangwon embedded in a bookshelf.
Stunned, he moved to trigger Reverse Heaven.
“Forgive me, my Lord.”
“Apologies for the disturbance.”
“Yutia… Magrina?”
Alon stilled upon seeing Yutia and Magrina step from the dusty debris.
Trailing them were Ryanga, Historia, and Rine.
The trio wordlessly seized Nangwon and Deus by the legs and hauled them back to the origin room.
Alon merely—
Gaped vacantly at the unfolding.
“No concern, my Lord. We merely dove into a lively discussion that escalated slightly.”
“We're departing now.”
“Press on with your duties, Chief!”
“Best of luck, Divine One!”
“Catch you soon, Godfather.”
The women waved brightly while towing the two men off.
Alon collapsed into a seat, thoughts utterly void.
[Meow~]
Then, softly petting Blackie who leaped into his lap startled,
“Deus and Nangwon… will they be alright…?”
He gazed emptily at the wall breach.
***
That evening, post the major uproar at the Palatio Marquis’ residence.
Alexion—
Commenced the interviews.
“Hello.”
“......Good evening.”
“I’m Rine Groff.”
……
“Ah, yes, but um… the letter, where did you obtain it?”
“It arrived for me.”
“Oh… You got a letter?”
“Yes.”
“……Uh, sorry, but we didn’t dispatch a letter to Ms. Rine Groff.”
“Huh?”
“Well, I don’t remember composing one for Ms. Rine Groff—”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t send—”
“Huh?”
“..............Upon reflection, I suppose I did dispatch it.”
“Exactly?”
“Yes.”
—Questioning the intruder.
“Oh, incidentally, I learned the interviews use a scoring method?”
“Correct.”
“I hope for a high mark.”
“The scores depend on various factors—”
“I see?”
“Yes, precisely.”
Rine consented all too readily.
As Alexion nearly adjusted his view to ‘Someone perhaps shameless yet possessing some propriety’—
CRACK!
Alexion witnessed it.
The golden crown rising behind Rine.
Seamlessly piercing a neat hole through the desk separating them.
“Oh, my apologies. This form is still unfamiliar, so I slipped up. I lack complete command of my power… Sorry.”
Rine intoned flatly.
At that display—
“L-Let’s commence.................”
Alexion squeezed his eyes shut.