Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 347 : Voting (2)

A short time later.

“Has everyone arrived?”

Alon surveyed the five individuals inside the reception room plus the unexpected extra one.

Yutia, Rine, Seolrang, Ryanga, Magrina.

And Historia too, perched there with a pouty face.

As Alon shot a bewildered glance toward Evan.

“...Is there a problem?”

Evan, equally baffled, responded with a question.

“Historia wasn’t included on the list.”

“Huh? The list? …You mean the partner roster?”

“Exactly.”

“Hold on… The folks you assembled here are from the partner list?”

Evan appeared totally in the dark, his eyes growing wide.

And Alon’s doubts only grew stronger.

“You had no idea?”

“Naturally not.”

“...How could you not know?”

“Why would I?”

Alon attempted to remember Alexion’s statement from the day before and parted his lips.

“Alexion explicitly mentioned that you would—”

“Ahem, my Lord, isn’t that beside the point?”

Regrettably, the interruption came immediately.

“...Beside the point, is it?”

“The outcome is already set, right?”

“I believe so, brother.”

“Count me in, my Lord!”

“Ahem, I concur, Chief.”

“Indeed, godfather.”

Beginning with Yutia, the rest chimed in successively, like they had practiced beforehand.

Alon found himself speechless briefly.

...He was certain they hadn’t been this friendly before.

When he snuck a peek at Evan, the man’s expression revealed greater bewilderment, as if he grasped the circumstances even less than Alon.

“...Alright, let’s proceed.”

There was nothing to be done.

The mystery of how these women obtained letters and cleared interviews—he’d have to postpone questioning that for the moment.

It wasn’t that his interest vanished or his concern faded.

He just sensed intuitively that probing further wouldn’t yield useful responses.

Alon released a soft sigh and spoke to the assembled group.

“You’re probably aware, but I’ve summoned you for the partner selection process.”

He observed the affirming nods around the room and inquired cautiously.

“Does anybody wish to withdraw from being a partner candidate immediately?”

He pondered if pressure had forced anyone into the interview.

Yet the response was utter quiet, without even a hint of hesitation.

No—rather, their gazes blazed with an odd resolve.

Alon himself grew quiet without thinking.

Why did they crave the partner role so intensely?

It was puzzling, yet somewhat pleasing at the same time.

The idea that they yearned for the spot this badly.

Admittedly, few truly comprehended the implications of partnership during their interviews.

Nevertheless, appreciation was appreciation, so he cleared his throat pointlessly.

“Given that everyone applied, it’d be tough for me to select just one personally.”

That was the honest truth.

Regardless of the approach.

The unselected ones might hold grudges.

And Alon wished to avoid causing them such feelings.

Therefore—

“We’ll conduct a vote.”

Alon unveiled his concealed plan.

“A vote?”

“Correct. Starting now, you’ll have roughly an hour. In that period, vote for each other.”

It was, in essence, a straightforward vote.

Frankly, it altered little beyond relieving him of the duty to pick someone directly.

But he believed this method would gain everyone’s approval.

“A vote, eh—”

“That seems enjoyable.”

“I’m game!”

Luckily.

All five candidates agreed promptly without objection.

“Then, we begin now.”

The voting commenced.

Precisely one hour afterward.

The outcome stood as—

Yutia: 1 vote

Rine: 1 vote

Seolrang: 1 vote

Magrina: 1 vote

Ryanga: 1 vote

Historia: 1 vote

Despite the anonymity, the results clearly indicated who voted for whom.

But hold on—hadn’t Historia been absent from the initial roster?

Alon directed his attention her way.

Her typical neutral face.

Still, she fixed her gaze on her ballot with intense seriousness.

“With the tie, let’s revote.”

Noting Historia’s tail flicking, Alon chose not to bring up her exclusion from the candidates and proposed another round.

Yet another hour elapsed.

And subsequently—

The tally:

Yutia – 1 vote

Rine – 1 vote

Seolrang – 1 vote

Magrina – 1 vote

Ryanga – 1 vote

Historia – 1 vote

...

The identical result recurred.

Alon paused briefly before stating,

“This time, you get two hours. Why not talk it over among yourselves?”

With those instructions given,

“I’ll leave briefly to attend to some affairs.”

He exited the chamber.

***

A bit of time elapsed following Alon’s departure.

Per his directives, Evan silently monitored the scene.

“Hoo~ At this pace, it’ll drag on forever.”

The remark came from Magrina, who had remained quiet up to then.

“Mmm, indeed.”

“I concur.”

“Same here.”

The group nodded in sequence.

Magrina continued,

“So, we should select one person and combine our votes for her.”

“What exactly do you mean by combining votes, Magrina?”

“A contest. What about that?”

“...A contest?”

“Hehh, a contest—”

Yutia expressed approval with a nod.

“Very well, propose a contest.”

The conversation progressed swiftly.

The selected contest turned out to be rock-paper-scissors.

Indeed, merely rock-paper-scissors.

However—

“Magrina, come here a second.”

“What’s up?”

“Well, you know~”

“Seolrang?”

“What’s the matter, Yutia?”

“Mind moving aside briefly?”

“Huh?”

Evan observed it unfold.

Factions forming sporadically, murmuring secretly.

...Wasn’t rock-paper-scissors a direct game with obvious victors and defeated?

Why require secretive plotting for such an uncomplicated challenge?

No sooner had the idea struck than—

All of them displayed solemn countenances.

Next—

“Ugh—”

The immense surge of their mana and divine power pressed down, even overpowering Evan, whose power matched an ordinary knight’s.

The weight forced him to retreat.

The conclusion—

The votes tallied to:

Yutia – 1 vote

Rine – 1 vote

Seolrang – 1 vote

Magrina – 1 vote

Ryanga – 1 vote

Historia – 1 vote

Yet another stalemate.

“...Evan.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Didn’t you mention a victor had been chosen?”

Alon, upon reentering, appeared stunned.

Indeed, a victor had emerged.

It was Yutia.

Evan glanced ahead.

Even in simple rock-paper-scissors, Yutia had employed sly tactics and merciless schemes.

She grinned—only her mouth upturning.

“Hahaha... You all violated the agreement. Isn’t that somewhat unjust?”

She uttered it laughing.

But Magrina responded evenly,

“We didn’t violate anything. You resorted to trickery, right?”

“Trickery? In what way?”

“Right from the beginning, you employed holy power to scan everyone’s muscles, predicting their moves.”

“Everyone else did the same~”

“And you delayed your throw slightly too~”

“You didn’t object back then, did you?”

“Since we realized you’d deny it regardless.”

...

Evan suddenly comprehended—so the cause of their mana and holy power nearly demolishing the building... was for that purpose?

As he reflected on the ridiculousness, Alon examined the knotted ballots anew.

“Continuing like this, we’ll never conclude. Let’s switch approaches.”

He stated it composedly.

Every gaze fixed upon him.

With their complete focus, Alon proclaimed,

“In one month from now, we’ll conduct a ballot among the territory’s residents.”

He disclosed a public ballot.

***

Unsurprisingly, shock rippled through the group.

“We’ll abide by your choice, my Lord.”

“I will as well. It feels equitable.”

“...If that’s Chief’s decision.”

“That means I triumph!”

“There are factors to weigh, but fine.”

With Historia’s final nod, the assembly dispersed, each exuding subdued assurance, as if convinced of their edge.

Evan, lost in contemplation, murmured quietly.

“...This approach guarantees an outcome.”

“Precisely.”

“Yes, although the scope has expanded somewhat. Yet this mirrors certain traditional partner selections.”

“Is that so?”

Though Alon suggested it to evade personal selection, he inwardly fretted over excessiveness.

But learning of prior instances eased his mind.

At minimum, it wasn’t over the top.

As Alon affirmed to himself, Evan appended,

“Precedents exist.”

“Relieving to hear.”

“Typically, it’s royalty who’ve employed it.”

“...Pardon?”

“Rumors say royalty frequently select spouses this manner.”

“Royalty?”

“Affirmative. But does it matter? Royalty’s use doesn’t bar others.”

“Valid point.”

“They may view it as imitation, but that’s the mildest backlash.”

Evan shrugged, and Alon gained further comfort.

Several days afterward—

“Marquis.”

“Yes?”

“A pilgrimage delegation from Rosario approaches.”

“...?”

“Indeed. They plan to reach us for the new church’s dedication.”

“Got it.”

“There’s more.”

“What then?”

“Warriors from Colony head to the Marquisate of Palatio too.”

“From Colony? Out of nowhere?”

“Yes, evidently for training purposes. And recall that trade guild we partnered with? The one led by the Elf Queen? Their caravan arrives in a month. Plus—”

Alon sensed immediately.

Trouble brewed.

And soon—

“Is that everything?”

“No, my lord. This following item is crucial.”

“What’s that?”

“Recall instructing me to invite the kings?”

“...Did issues crop up?”

“Not issues. Rather... it proceeded overly well.”

“...How so?”

“Every king accepted the invitation. Their envoys arrive shortly.”

“Understood—wait, truly?”

“All accepted.”

“...Why though?”

“Uh? Asking me won’t...”

Evan faltered uncomfortably.

Alon stood stunned in confusion, yet simultaneously intuited the cause.

“Evan, if they accepted, when do they reach Divine Land?”

“Around two weeks.”

Something veered off course.

Grievously off course.