Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 350 : Voting (5)

“It’s really fine.”

Ultimately, the bizarre argument wrapped up with Alon frantically shielding himself from the sponsorship offers by the princes.

However, Alon's emotions after repelling their backing left him utterly baffled.

Alon had exerted all his efforts to halt the funding from the princes and princesses.

And finally, he succeeded in stopping it.

Naturally, from Alon's viewpoint, getting sponsored wasn't precisely harmful.

Yet it also wasn't something he'd eagerly grasp at.

Moreover—what if he took their support and later got pressured to offer various favors in return?

That alone would spell trouble.

With that logic, he turned down their aid.

But in simpler terms—Alon stood to gain from accepting it.

And on the flip side, they would have benefited by withholding it.

After all, offering sponsorship in an area devoid of any business potential?

Such backing could scarcely carry significance.

Indeed, that had to be it.

“…”

Alon remembered the looks on the nobles' faces who had observed him before.

All those expressions brimmed with animosity.

Just then, Evan's voice drifted into his ears.

“So the marquis was the one trying to draw in sponsorship, and they were the ones refusing, right?”

Alon replied without pause.

“The opposite, Evan. I was the one trying to block it, and they were the ones insisting on sponsoring.”

“Ah, so I wasn’t mistaken after all.”

“That’s right.”

“But why on earth would they want to sponsor you?”

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be so troubled.”

Alon mused.

Why had the princes and princesses gazed at him with faces full of betrayal?

“Well, roughly speaking, maybe they thought by pouring in money they could use this place like a mercenary company or something?”

“Is that… possible?”

“Hmm, I only said it in passing. This place isn’t a mercenary band, so it doesn’t really fit. Which means there’s only one other explanation left.”

“And what would that be?”

“That the knight who introduced this place talked it up so well, he managed to charm them.”

Alon rubbed his chin thoughtfully with a hum.

“Evan.”

“Yes?”

“What do we have here in Divine Land?”

“Hmm… let’s see. A barracks, maybe?”

“And?”

“Another barracks, perhaps?”

“And?”

“A rather large barracks?”

“Besides barracks.”

“Right, just being persuasive doesn’t explain much after all.”

Evan nodded as though he got it.

Alon gave a light shrug.

No matter what those looks signified—

The key point remained that he had reached his objective.

Even if events were progressing far from his plans—

Oblivious to that, Alon sensed contentment and told Evan,

“Evan, later, see that Seamus gets some personal reward.”

“Seamus—?”

“The knight who introduced Divine Land this time.”

“Ah, understood. I’ll make sure it’s taken care of before we leave. By the way, once we head back, the day isn’t far off, is it?”

“The day?”

“Yes. After we return, there’ll only be about a week left, won’t there?”

Only then did Alon nod, seemingly just catching on.

“Now that you mention it… how is the voting going?”

“The voting, you mean?”

“Yes. Didn’t you say there were all sorts of things happening?”

At that, Evan sank into contemplation.

“What are you thinking so hard about? Choosing your words?”

“No, not choosing—just that there’s so much to explain, I don’t know where to start. That’s how it feels.”

“I’ve been here a little over two weeks… but really, just two weeks.”

“Exactly.”

“And you’re saying in just two weeks, that much has piled up?”

“More than you’d expect.”

“Now you’ve got me even more curious. Just give me the short version, whatever comes to mind first.”

Evan gathered his ideas briefly before responding.

“First, Yutia and Rine formed a union.”

“…What?”

“Then Seolrang and Magrina united. After that, Ryanga joined Yutia, only to declare independence and pull out.”

“Wait.”

“Then Historia teamed up with Magrina, who had stabbed Seolrang in the back, and with Rine, who had betrayed Yutia. But that union dissolved too. And then—”

“Wait.”

Quietly following along, Alon felt dizziness overtake his mind.

He pressed his palm over his eyes and emitted a soft groan.

“…Am I hearing about a partner vote right now?”

“Yes.”

“Then why does it sound like political alliances instead?”

“Well, my lord, I only pass along the information I hear. How should I know?”

“…Fair enough.”

It made sense that Evan lacked the specifics.

But why were phrases like “unification” surfacing in a supposed partner vote—terms Alon linked to his original world?

As Alon wrestled with the mystery, Evan, quiet for some time, spoke up once more.

“But there’s one thing I know for certain.”

“And what’s that?”

“My lord has no intention of returning right away.”

“You know me well.”

“Shall we slow down a little?”

Alon nodded right away.

It was autumn.

***

Duchess Altia consistently funneled a hefty sum to the Information Guild and obtained reports at regular intervals.

Admittedly, occasions arose when the intel's caliber fell short of her investment.

Nevertheless, Altia never deemed the cost wasteful.

For her, information resembled—

‘Concealed treasure that, based on its application, could yield tremendous worth.’

And currently—

She possessed a vast reservoir of usable data.

The issue lay in—

Despite clearly amassing it, she couldn't deploy it herself.

No, more precisely—

The data was getting utilized prior to her own chance to exploit it.

“Duchess, here.”

Altia gazed vacantly at the stack of documents her secretary offered.

Evidently, it comprised scores of sheets at least.

She wordlessly scanned the headline at the top.

[Yutia Bloodia at least 2,800 years old, territory residents ‘shocked’]

Not merely the text, but the phrasing stood out in bold red for emphasis.

This was a pamphlet obviously circulated to dismantle Yutia Bloodia's reputation.

Altia naturally flipped to the following sheet.

[Yutia issues statement calling it “utter nonsense,” territory residents ‘relieved’]

[Babayaga Seolrang once endangered Marquis Palatio, residents ‘aghast’]

[Leader of the Four Great Powers’ Hundred Ghosts declares, “Marquis Palatio is our Chief,” residents ‘scandalized’]

[Magrina, when asked about being over 600 years old, counters, “In human years, I’d be about twenty,” residents ‘puzzled’]

[Residents vanish—is this the petty work of a jealous elf? Public ‘horrified’]

With each turn of the page, another staggering claim emerged.

This marked the extent of pamphlets disseminated across the domain in merely four days.

Furthermore, each wasn't solitary but hundreds flooding the area.

The domain was utterly inundated with them.

“Why do all these end with words like ‘relieved’ or ‘aghast’…?”

“I’m sorry, Duchess. That part I don’t know.”

“No need to apologize. I didn’t ask expecting an answer.”

Altia sighed deeply.

“…This is only three days’ worth, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

In just three days, scores of varied pamphlets circulated.

Simultaneously, the partner hopefuls forged pacts, double-crossed one another, and looped through the turmoil nonstop.

Contemplating this total disarray, Altia instinctively sensed something.

Surely, it wasn't that Altia lacked commitment.

From the instant she got the missive and resolved to visit the marquisate, she had geared up fully for the contest.

Yet one aspect had escaped her notice.

The contenders were intensely more devoted than she had foreseen.

No, beyond devoted—they were fiercely resolute.

Altia silently peered through the window of her lodging.

The time had already dipped into night.

Ordinarily, the view outdoors ought to be purely shadowy.

Yes, obscurity is what she ought to behold.

Nevertheless—

Altia’s gaze captured vivid blue-golden streaks racing afar, golden rings dispersing everywhere.

Moreover—

Holy glow distinctly emanated from the Rosario Martyrs, dominating her sight.

From every corner of the domain echoed booms, big and small.

Especially—

“Historia? Didn’t I tell you? In human years, I’m only twenty.”

“Yeah, except you’re still over six hundred.”

“And older than me, too.”

“So what you’re saying is… let’s settle this?”

Magrina breathed out scarlet magic so intense it prickled Altia’s flesh.

“If you can.”

Historia answered nonchalantly, effortlessly pulling a sword larger than her frame.

Before Altia could process it, both erupted with a massive blast and vanished.

This was commonplace.

Night after night, the marquis’ domain sank into frenzy like this.

Altia stared dazedly at the frenzy outside the window and pondered.

But merely briefly.

She gripped her waning determination tightly.

She had anticipated the ordeal.

Certainly, not this intensely—but she wouldn't yield without an attempt.

Thus—

As Altia sought to rally her spirit once more—

BOOOOM!!

The pane in her chamber exploded as an individual slammed into the barrier.

“!?”

Altia gaped in astonishment at the trespasser embedded in the debris.

Through the settling haze, she spotted Seolrang gritting her teeth while hauling herself to her feet.

“Rine, you’re old too!!”

She yelled furiously, then morphed into brilliant golden radiance and vanished anew.

Altia merely watched her departing form in a daze before assessing the devastated chamber.

For some time—

She remained seated quietly, absorbing the clamor of numerous clashes erupting domain-wide, her space in ruins.

Ultimately, her determination shattered.

***

And after a while—

“Marquis, isn’t arriving the night before the vote a bit too late?”

“There were… matters to attend to.”

“…Matters, you say?”

“Magical research is a matter of great importance.”

The voting to select Alon’s partner had begun.