Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 354 : The Ball (3)

“Think carefully, Alon. This world continues to be eradicated time and again, leaving nothing behind in its wake. It is a tragedy, despite the existence of such profound, omnipotent magic in the distant past.”

Heinkel’s remark left Alon in a momentary state of contemplation.

He absorbed her words slowly before answering.

“So, to synthesize what you are conveying, Lady Heinkel, you believe that even those who lived during the era of the forgotten gods were unable to overcome the influence of sin, even with such vast, all-encompassing magic… is that the case?”

“That is precisely correct.”

Their dialogue continued in a hushed, contemplative tone.

“I have one inquiry. Is the sorcery that identified their true form truly as omnipotent as it seems? Could it have perhaps obliterated sin in a single strike?”

Heinkel reflected for a moment, mirroring Alon’s stillness, before offering her insight.

“Let me clarify from the start—I have never witnessed sin firsthand. I am ignorant of their authentic qualities. My knowledge pertains only to the trail of devastation they left behind upon entering this realm.”

“......”

“Regardless, I find it hard to believe this magic would prove ineffective. If it failed, that would imply our adversary is not even a living entity in any traditional sense.”

Alon remained silent, lost in his own internal musings.

In the mechanics of Psychedelia, the sins were programmed to emerge in a specific sequence if the player followed the established narrative.

This also meant the arrival order could fluctuate based on a player’s decisions.

Because this was a game, the stats of the sins scaled according to the timing of their emergence.

For instance, the Sloth encountered early on was nowhere near the level of the final Sloth.

This held true for Wrath as well.

Nevertheless, sin was always designed to be systematically eliminated by the player.

Not merely contained or banished—but eradicated.

Regardless of which sin appeared last with the most fearsome power.

Ultimately, Eliban was the one who defeated sin.

In effect, however formidable Wrath has become, it has certainly not reached the threshold of true omnipotence.

This revelation triggered a sudden reaction in Alon, who had been deep in thought—

“Ah.”

A realization struck him.

“Time.”

Time itself.

Fundamentally, every sin, much like an outer god, required duration to manifest completely.

Consequently, the entities players engaged in battle were merely incomplete iterations.

With this insight, Alon reached a logical deduction.

“Then… could it be that a sin arriving fifth, if allowed to fully incarnate, reaches a level beyond our reach?”

Consider Sloth.

It threatened total continental collapse simply because it appeared later than its intended arrival window.

Recalling that incident, he shared his theory with Heinkel.

“Hm.”

Heinkel inclined her head in agreement.

“Are you suggesting that once a sin manifests, allowing enough duration to pass renders it unstoppable?”

“Exactly. If the civilization of the forgotten gods was wiped out by sin despite wielding such powerful arts, what other conclusion is there? Unless…”

“Unless what?”

Alon offered a nod.

The thought reminded him of something Rine had mentioned previously.

“They say the manifestation also changes based on the strength of the host.”

“The host’s strength?”

“Precisely.”

He elaborated on the information he had newly acquired during Rine’s visit to the Marquis’ manor.

“So you are suggesting there are an enormous number of variables at play.”

“Correct. Which implies we are not without a glimmer of hope.”

Heinkel nodded, though she seemed hesitant.

A trace of peculiar bitterness lingered on her visage.

However, before Alon could probe further, she deftly concealed it.

“Very well, if those are the conditions, I understand.”

As he spoke on, Alon remained unable to shake his suspicion regarding the expression she had briefly worn.

“Actually, I had no idea you possessed such deep curiosity on this matter.”

“Curiosity? In what capacity?”

“Regarding sin. I had no inkling that you were actually preoccupied with them.”

Heinkel responded with a light chuckle.

“Is it not obvious? If sin manages to destroy this world, I shall perish along with it. Though, to be candid, it is less about constant anxiety and more a recurring question: could they truly have faced defeat even while possessing such potent magic?”

“Hmm~”

“Oh, that brings to mind—you inquired about why wizards are so obsessed with this, did you not? Since I have stated what was necessary, I shall explain now.”

Thus, she began to recount for Alon the elusive fragments of insight she uncovered while deciphering the ancient mana patterns.

***

Time elapsed, and upon vacating the inner sanctum—

“I shall depart now.”

“Understood. Oh, and if it is within your power, try to organize the wizards a bit better.”

“Are you implying I should recruit additional personnel?”

“That is your decision. Truthfully, the current number is sufficient, but if you desire to expand, the choice remains yours.”

“Acknowledged.”

Alon strode away from the library—

Step.

Behind him.

From a obscured vantage point, Heinkel observed the hidden eyes maneuvering in the shadows.

And once Alon had finally exited the vicinity—

“Phew.”

Heinkel exhaled a long, heavy breath.

“Preoccupied, indeed.”

Naturally, Heinkel harbored her own internal concerns.

Should the world meet its end, she too, anchored within the confines of this Magic Tower, would dissipate before ever achieving her own ambition.

However, the genuine concern she had intended to voice was not about the sins themselves.

“Variables…”

She murmured the very term that Alon had uttered.

If his estimation was accurate—that a multitude of variables dictated the potency of a sin—

Then her initial hypothesis might have been flawed.

Furthermore, the arcane script she had scrutinized remained largely undeciphered.

She had only grasped the mechanisms of its activation, leaving the rest in shadow.

Perhaps Alon possessed the correct perspective.

A sin birthed from an endless convergence of variables could indeed possess strength great enough to defy even such near-omnipotent sorcery.

This might account for why the ancient world fell to ruin.

Heinkel forcefully suppressed another burgeoning theory.

The conclusion she reached left a strange, bitter aftertaste in her mouth.

***

The Apostle of Envy had deduced the identity of Wrath for a single reason.

It stemmed from that chaotic final moment.

When he failed to fully incarnate the Great One and retreated, hoping to secure a foothold for a future resurgence—

The Apostle of Wrath had appeared before Envy and ended him.

Brutally, by shattering him into remnants.

Not even that satisfied her.

Wrath obliterated every cell Envy had stashed away as a safeguard.

Everything was done to ensure an absolute and permanent annihilation.

But Envy did not succumb.

Because there existed remnants she had no knowledge of.

No—remnants she could never have perceived.

Bodies transformed into pure white husks, abandoned on the cliffside when the sin of Envy first took form.

As the sin perished, those cellular containers naturally dissolved into void.

By sheer providence, before he could fully dissipate, Envy experienced physical death and utilized the remaining cells to anchor his soul, surviving.

With those cells, reconstructing a physical form was not an impossible feat.

Thus, Envy survived, albeit stripped of his former dominance—

And in that instant, he discerned the true identity of the Apostle of Wrath.

He simply had to.

Because the fragments of his own form, as he ruptured and disintegrated in that very moment—

Adhered most potently to the form of Yutia Bloodia.

From that singular moment, the Apostle of Envy began tracking Yutia Bloodia.

And he uncovered several disconcerting truths.

She, who should have been imprisoned within the Severed Space, had been operating in the mortal world for a decade.

She maintained an incredibly intimate bond with Alon Palatio, the very man who continued to stymie the manifestation of sin.

And that Yutia Bloodia—

Was actively “calibrating” the manifestation of the sins themselves.

From Envy’s perspective, each fact was utterly nonsensical.

All apostles, without exception, were supposed to remain locked within the Severed Space.

How had Yutia managed to traverse the outer world for ten whole years?

And for what reason was she manipulating the heralds of sin?

He could not wrap his intellect around it.

Ultimately, he managed to grasp one absolute truth and one disturbing speculation.

That the Apostle of Wrath valued Alon Palatio above all creatures.

And that the original Apostle of Wrath had, over time, been subverted.

Even if the latter remained a guess, the former truth was sufficient for Envy.

Sufficient, he believed, to manipulate the very Apostle of Wrath who had slaughtered him without hesitation—

Like a mindless marionette.

“How were you made aware?”

“The instant my vessel began to reform, the being soaked in my dying fragments was you.”

“Oh my, you can perceive that from such a small fraction? That was an oversight on my part.”

Yutia responded with calm equanimity.

Just as Envy began to feel his suspicions were validated—

“Therefore, I would like to suggest we proceed. Precisely how does revealing my identity equate to a vulnerability?”

Yutia inquired, a curious smile gracing her lips.

Envy retorted.

“Do not feign indifference, Wrath. If this revelation reaches your beloved Marquis Palatio, will you not face catastrophe?”

“It appears you are neglecting the possibility that I might simply reduce you to blood right now.”

“Oh, I have weighed that possibility extensively. However—”

Smirk.

“Do you truly believe I would approach you without adequate countermeasures?”

“And what level of preparation are you referring to?”

“The instant I expire, every detail I have uncovered shall be disseminated throughout the entire Allied Kingdom.”

“Have you subverted the Information Guild?”

“No, my methods are more reliable than that. Are you aware? My copies can maintain autonomous operation for roughly a month after my own demise. That provides ample time to broadcast your truth to this entire world.”

A jagged, malicious grin twisted Envy’s features.

Merely exposing this truth would deal a decisive blow to Yutia.

But more importantly—

It would deeply wound Marquis Palatio, given how inextricably their fates were bound.

And that was an outcome Yutia Bloodia would never permit.

Consequently, Envy’s arrogance swelled.

Yet, Yutia’s composure remained unshaken.

“I see.”

Suddenly, she gripped an object in her palm.

A pocket watch.

It was compact enough of a device to disappear in her hand.

As Envy frowned, confused by her sudden gesture—

Click.

She opened the watch and observed it, her smile radiating perfect serenity.

“Allow me to clarify a few points.”

Her voice was measured and cool.

“First, as your investigation suggested, I am currently not the original Apostle of Wrath. There was a transition. At some point.”

“…?”

Envy’s thoughts stalled for a heartbeat.

There was a dissonant feeling.

What was it?

As he faltered, Yutia proceeded with cold efficiency.

“Second, I was never the one orchestrating the timing of the apostles’ arrivals.”

In that moment, Envy finally grasped what felt wrong.

He had indeed uncovered multiple secrets regarding Yutia.

But he had never explicitly stated what those secrets were.

“Third, you claimed I shared a close intimacy with Alon, did you not?”

As she continued, Envy felt his mind descending into a trap.

What was this sorcery?

Had his investigation been transparent from the moment he dispatched the invitation to meet? Was she reading his thoughts?

No, that was impossible.

No ability so convenient existed.

“It is rather a pity to frame it in such cold terms. Alon and I share a bond far deeper, one that cannot be severed.”

“…”

Fixating his gaze upon Yutia, who had yet to drop her smile, Envy finally perceived the threat.

She had utilized no raw force.

She had released no mana.

She had posed no threats.

She merely spoke.

Yet, the Apostle of Envy felt an instinctual sense of dread.

Everything felt terribly wrong.

Then.

“Oh, perhaps I should mention the fourth point as well?”

At her prompt, he queried reflexively, entirely under her influence.

“…The fourth?”

“Precisely, the fourth. Though perhaps it is a misnomer. I speak of the truth you intended to trigger if you were ever cornered.”

“…!”

His eyes widened in shock.

She was correct.

Beyond the three facts he intended to leverage, Envy had retained a final card.

No—a final, parasitic curse.

A revelation intended to plunge the Apostle of Wrath—no, Yutia Bloodia—into the abyss of despair at his final moment.

“‘Alon Palatio is not the one Yutia Bloodia seeks.’ That was the hidden dagger, correct?”

“!”

And hearing those words, he at last understood.

This was no mind-reading.

Nor was it mere investigation.

This was—

Crunch!

“Wha—?”

His racing thoughts were violently arrested.

Only then did he comprehend—

His limbs were severed.

As if they had simply ceased to be.

“Aaaaghhh!”

A dull impact.

Following it, a pathetic wail reverberated.

Blood seeped into the fissures of the fragmented stone floor.

Writhing in agony, Envy succumbed to total panic.

But not because of the pain.

“Why?! Why?!”

Because his cellular structure—refused to regenerate.

The growth simply stopped dead.

As he contorted in his confusion, Yutia’s calm voice grazed his ears.

“Oh, there is no need to articulate further. I am thoroughly aware of what proof you possessed, the foundation upon which you relied. But what is to be done about it?”

Her demeanor stayed entirely unruffled.

“Everything you know, I knew already.”

“…What?”

“Every scrap of it. That Alon is not the ‘master.’ That his messages held nothing more than simple pleasantries. And—”

Her voice remained at an even, flat pitch.

“—That is all they ever were.”

“…Then for what reason?”

Envy muttered in shattered disbelief.

Yutia merely raised a finger, her smile never wavering.

“Because that was never what mattered to me.”

“Wait! Do you possess the awareness of what you are triggering?!”

Finally comprehending her murderous intent, Envy screamed in desperation.

“Yes, I am fully aware. Should you die, the Allied Kingdom will sustain catastrophic damage. You had made many preparations, after all. Some you never even confessed to me.”

Yutia remained stone-cold.

“In the major capitals, the hidden, pure ones will rise and butcher the populace once more. Yes, there will be massive casualties.”

“The monsters and mindless ones will rampage with greater fervor, fueled by the abyss-touched entities you and your replicants would have spawned as a final gambit.”

“The rumors your puppets spread will disrupt every plan Alon had built, which until now had been proceeding with such grace… But it is of no consequence. Because—”

Because it will never come to pass.

Yutia whispered the finality.

Envy attempted to open his mouth, to speak.

But not a single sound escaped.

Instead, his field of vision dipped lower.

Lower.

Lower.

Lower.

Down and down it drifted.

Until finally—

His sight rested only upon the blood-soaked floor.

“And even if it does occur, it remains irrelevant.”

The concluding words he managed to hear were—

“Whether Rosario’s devotees are scythed down, or the citizens of the Allied Kingdom are slaughtered, or even if every human in existence is wiped from the map—”

A chilling whisper,

“As long as Alon remains unharmed, nothing else holds any value.”

It was an absolute decree.

“No matter what happens to anybody else.”