Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 364 : On Sin (2)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
Approximately two weeks had passed.
As per Alon’s recommendation, troops started assembling at the Magic Tower.
Soldiers and knights gathered like fighters steeling themselves for a decisive clash, their faces set with unyielding determination.
The grounds encircling the Tower were already brimming with their presence.
The scene was staggeringly grand.
Without end, forces kept pouring in daily around the Magic Tower.
“Yutia.”
“Rine, it’s been a while.”
Rine and Yutia had arrived there too.
“Your true body must still be in Fildagreen, huh?”
Rine nodded toward Yutia, who posed the question with her characteristic serene smile.
“Yes. As I mentioned last time, it’s still not in any condition to move.”
“That’s unfortunate. It would’ve been a great help to the Lord.”
Yutia expressed real disappointment, while Rine watched her quietly, eyes reflecting deep contemplation.
“What is it?”
Yutia noticed Rine’s look and inquired.
Rine shook her head several times.
“I just had something on my mind. And you don’t have to worry about that part.”
“What part?”
“The help. I think I might be able to provide some, at least for now.”
Yutia nodded softly.
“So, why did you come to see me?”
“Can’t I just come by to visit?”
Rine replied gently.
Yet Yutia kept her smile intact.
“I don’t think that’s the reason.”
“...That’s a little harsh, you know.”
“Is it? When you wanted to see me as a child, you’d always make up excuses—like pretending not to know a word just to come and ask.”
“W-wait! Why are you bringing up something like that all of a sudden?!”
A faint blush colored Rine’s cheeks as she quickly tried to halt her.
Yutia laughed lightly at the response and smoothly settled into her designated office chair.
“That’s how well I know you. After all, we spent quite some time together.”
“...Haah.”
“So then, what’s your business this time?”
Letting out a soft sigh of acceptance, Rine paused briefly before answering.
“Yua... did she know about Pluto?”
Her voice was hushed as she asked.
“Of course—didn’t you show it to her yourself?”
Yutia answered, though Rine denied it with a shake of her head.
“No, I mean before that.”
“Before?”
“Yes. I’m asking if she already knew about it even before I ever used Pluto.”
Silence fell over Yutia then.
She merely stared directly at Rine, face impassive.
Moments dragged on in that manner.
“Why are you asking me this?”
Yutia’s steady voice echoed through the space.
Rine held her gaze without flinching.
“I know you’re hiding something, Yutia. But I’m not going to ask about it. You wouldn’t answer anyway.”
“You know me well.”
“More importantly, I also know things about you.”
“Oh?”
A hint of playfulness lifted Yutia’s tone.
But then—
“So?”
“Yes. You wouldn’t do anything that would put us at a loss.”
That firm assurance caused the slightest flicker in Yutia.
Her smile lingered on.
Her features stayed unchanged.
Still smiling.
Still poised.
Yet in that fleeting second—
She stiffened.
It was faint, yet discernible.
“So, I won’t ask about your secrets.”
Rine pressed on steadily.
“There’s only one thing I want to know.”
Ultimately, her goal wasn’t Yutia’s response—
It was the truth.
“Tell me.”
“Who destroyed the Illanef Empire?”
Straight into Yutia’s eyes, Rine stared.
“Does it matter?”
Yutia responded calmly, face unaltered.
“I always thought the world had been destroyed by Sin.”
Rine laid out her gathered knowledge.
That Pluto and Sin both originated from the Illanef Empire.
That “Sin” served as the Empire’s protector armament.
And Sin had remained unused throughout the Empire’s collapse.
“You’ve done quite a bit of research.”
“My library holds every piece of information there is… except about you.”
No reply came from Yutia.
She just lightly drummed her finger—
Tap. Tap.
Against the desk, lost in reflection.
Rine held back from interrupting.
She understood Yutia rarely yielded details freely.
Eventually, Yutia broke the quiet.
“I can’t answer your question directly.”
“...I see.”
“But I can give you a few hints.”
“...Hints?”
“Yes. Hints.”
Resuming her smile, Yutia cocked her head a bit, pondering her disclosures.
“First of all—yes, as your research shows, Sin was indeed created in the Illanef Empire. And yes, it was designed as a ‘guardian weapon.’ In other words, just as you read in your library—”
“It wasn’t Sin that destroyed the Illanef Empire.”
“The second one is—”
Gently, Yutia regarded Rine as she spoke.
“Gwehyeol.”
“...Gwehyeol?”
“Look it up in your library. You might find yourself closer to the answer you’re searching for.”
Her words complete, Yutia smiled.
Rine parted her lips, questions lingering—
Knock, knock.
The knock compelled her to seal them.
“Cardinal Yutia, it’s time for the meeting.”
At the voice, Yutia stood.
“It seems that’s all we can talk about for now. I’ll be going. I hope you find your answer.”
With that, she departed the room.
And then—
Alone in the office, Rine whispered softly.
“...Gwehyeol?”
Under her breath, she echoed the name Yutia had dropped.
***
Roughly a week afterward.
Nearly the full army had assembled near the Magic Tower.
They set off toward the devastated city of Ashtalon.
The unified advance of vast numbers—sufficient to encircle the tower entirely—stirred even Alon, who rarely glorified such displays.
A chill raced through him from its immensity.
Such was the army’s colossal size.
“Phew—”
Amid the wonder, Alon exhaled a breath blending relief and irritation.
“What’s wrong, Marquis?”
Penia, focused on her calculations nearby, glanced over.
“There’s just… a lot on my mind.”
“Is it about the strategy?”
“That too.”
Penia gave a considering nod.
“Well—sure, it’s natural to worry. Strategy can collapse in an instant if things don’t go as expected. But from what you’ve told me, I don’t think there’s any other way.”
“I suppose you’re right. Still, if something goes wrong, sacrifices are inevitable.”
Penia tipped her head faintly.
“You know, Marquis… you’re a strange one.”
“How so?”
“In that way.”
“In what way?”
“The way you try to avoid sacrifice.”
“Is that strange?”
“Of course it is. It’s impossible to have a war or a subjugation without casualties. Even a small conflict brings sacrifice. Thinking otherwise is… idealistic.”
Alon rubbed his head.
She spoke truth.
“Still, there’s no harm in wanting it, right?”
“Sure, but whenever you think like that, you stop acting like yourself.”
“...Do I?”
“Yes. You always look a little down when that happens. Not like someone who’s accepted reality, but like someone who actually wants to change it.”
“...Really?”
Perplexed, Alon felt his face.
No idealist was he.
Sacrifices were inevitable, he knew.
No heavy burden or grief weighed on him.
Thus he pondered her words momentarily.
“Oh, right—how’s the magic preparation going?”
“It’s done. Fully under control.”
“Then the plan’s on track.”
“Yeah. As long as the power doesn’t spiral out of control, there shouldn’t be any issues. But—what are you doing?”
His eyes fell on Penia’s ceaselessly busy hands during their exchange.
Penia uttered a quiet surprise.
“Oh, this?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a scripture I got from Sili.”
“A scripture?”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you reading that all of a sudden?”
“Well—it’s not about the content. I’m looking for something suitable to use as a spell incantation.”
“An incantation?”
“Yes. I stopped studying magic formulas a while ago, but remember how I used ritual formulas for activation before?”
“Ah.”
Alon nodded in recognition.
Prior to mastering magic interpretation, he had tested divine chants via reverse flow studies.
“So that’s what you were studying again?”
“Sort of. Strictly speaking, I’m just looking for a good incantation here—and this part seems useful.”
To the scripture’s edges, Penia indicated.
Activation runes filled those margins.
As their discussion flowed—
Precisely one week into the synchronized march with the army,
Ashtalon came into Alon’s view.
Or what remained of it.
“Ugh—”
The nearby knight winced visibly.
Matching that, a thick blood reek assaulted Alon first.
Next, heaps of bodies piled high.
And at last—
Far off.
In the ruined capital’s heart, a lone red knight loomed motionless.
That knight appeared in dire shape.
Its helmet seemed archaic and dented, armor swollen like pulsing veins, hideous to witness.
Nevertheless, no mockery arose from the onlookers.
Tension and terror gripped soldiers and knights alike.
The crimson knight stirred not.
It merely stood.
Still, all felt that raw, universal dread toward peril.
Within the oppressive hush, Alon fixed his stare on the Sin of Wrath—what Eliban had become.
Ignorance lingered.
He grasped not Eliban’s zeal to broadcast feats.
Nor his unease over anomalies.
Not even his vacant gaze at a loathed night sky.
Nothing he knew.
But now—
His path was clear.
Thus—
“...Blackie.”
His murmur was tender.
And as blood-like crimson bathed the heavens, a star ascended overhead.
***
[You’ve come—]
From a distant realm, unheard by any.
In the fractured capital’s core—
[Closed-Eyed One.]
Sin murmured softly.