Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 389 : Awakening (4)

“The First Prince has murdered his father and pledged himself to the divine-blood.”

“...What?”

Alon was stunned by Karsem’s declaration.

Karaan, the First Prince of Colony— Alon was acquainted with him, and thus, his words were hard to ignore.

In the current reality of this world, Carmaxes III had not yet passed away, but within the game's narrative, his demise was set. It was the First Prince, Karaan, who would have ascended to the throne afterwards.

Alon’s memory of Karaan from the game, Psychedelia, surfaced.

His character in the game was neither wholly good nor entirely evil.

To be more accurate, he leaned towards being a tyrant rather than a benevolent king.

Even in the game, Karaan was known to crush any opposition ruthlessly when displeased.

This very trait had eventually led to conflict with the player in the mid-to-late stages of the game.

The reason Alon didn’t definitively label Karaan’s temperament was because—

Unless directly provoked or entangled in specific circumstances, he typically wasn't overtly aggressive.

A recollection that had begun to fade now.

As he tried to pinpoint the exact situation in the game where Karaan and the player had clashed, he sought confirmation. “Are you quite certain that’s true?”

“Yes. It is an irrefutable fact,” Karsem replied, his tone laced with sorrow.

Alon let out a low sound of disbelief.

“Would you be so kind as to elaborate on the circumstances?” Alon inquired politely.

Karsem released a protracted sigh.

He remained silent for a moment, as if weighing his words, before finally speaking—

“It transpired shortly after the Great Scattering.”

In a measured voice, he recounted the events leading up to the present.

After some time had passed, Karsem concluded, “And that, in essence, is what occurred.”

Having absorbed Karsem’s entire narrative, Alon hummed softly.

“This is quite…”

“This is far beyond mere scandalous patricide…” Penia and Evan’s expressions also grew somber.

Alon mentally replayed Karsem’s account. “So, immediately after the Great Scattering… Karaan assassinated the king who had just returned after completing his task?”

“Indeed. As if that were not monstrous enough, he desecrated Father’s corpse as a sacrifice.” Karsem clenched his jaw so tightly a faint grinding sound was audible.

Despite witnessing Karsem’s profound grief, Alon felt compelled to press on. “So the current figurehead ruling is merely Karaan’s puppet, dressed in the king’s guise.”

“Precisely.”

“...And the prince was imprisoned to serve as the second sacrifice, and then… you escaped.”

“That is correct.”

“The security must have been formidable. It’s a relief you are safe.”

“Had Karaan known I had attained the 4th Rank just before my capture, I doubt escape would have been possible.”

Alon nodded, absently stroking his own hair.

Carmaxes III had known Alon for a considerable period, yet their connection wasn't particularly close. Nonetheless, the news left a bitter taste in his mouth. After a prolonged silence, he spoke. “I believe I comprehend the situation fully. However, is there a particular reason you are remaining in hiding?”

“Indeed. If we were to simply seek aid from the Babaya, wouldn’t that resolve the issue?” Penia agreed, nodding at Alon’s question.

But Karsem shook his head.

“If I had been unaware of Karaan’s true intentions, I would have immediately sought the Babaya’s assistance upon my escape.”

“Intentions?” Penia queried sharply.

Karsem elaborated, “The moment I inform the Babaya of this situation, that wretch will open a rift into the kingdom and unleash the anomalous entities within.”

“Open a rift?”

“Yes. Although he possesses the capability to conjure a rift within the kingdom at this very moment, he is deliberately refraining from doing so.”

“So, if I understand correctly— even though he could summon anomalous entities into the kingdom and annihilate it instantly, bypassing this protracted conflict, he is intentionally prolonging this stalemate?”

“That is correct. However, the precise reason behind this strategy eludes even me.” Karsem lowered his head, a hint of apology in his demeanor.

Penia frowned, unable to grasp the rationale.

Yet, Alon, with a degree of clarity, began to surmise Karaan’s underlying motive.

Fear, too, could be wielded as a form of faith. Alon was privy to this principle.

He had encountered someone who had exploited this very fact before.

“If we ask for help, we are destroyed immediately; if we refrain from asking, we slowly wither away and are then destroyed… Either outcome leads to ruin,” Evan murmured softly beside him.

Affected by Evan’s somber words, Alon fell into deep contemplation once more.

At that precise moment, Karsem abruptly stood and—

Thud—

He dropped to his knees before Alon.

“Y-Young Master Prince?” Startled by his sudden action, Lime called out to him.

Karsem, however, kept his gaze fixed on Alon. “Marquis, I am aware this is an utterly shameless plea. But… could you possibly save Colony?”

Karsem bowed so profoundly his forehead nearly touched the floor.

Penia remained silent, while Lime’s eyes darted about in utter confusion.

As the oppressive silence thickened, pressing down on the room,

Alon—

“Very well.”

He answered with an almost startling simplicity.

“...Pardon?” Karsem, taken aback by the seemingly nonchalant reply, asked again, his expression one of bewilderment.

“?”

“?”

“?”

And it wasn’t just Karsem.

Everyone present, including Lime, stared at Alon with identical expressions of utter bafflement.

“Why are you acting like this?”

“……”

"No... I mean, I didn't think you'd accept so easily—"

Karsem appeared completely taken aback by Alon's attitude, but—

Alon had already concluded his thoughts in his own manner.

"Is there any other information I need to know besides that?"

He inquired casually.

"...Ah, yes. There are various things. But I believe it will take some time to organize the information."

"Do you have any idea when the next battle might occur?"

"...Probably in three days."

"Three days... Then let's discuss again this evening."

Leaving a note to reconvene later, Alon departed from his seat.

Instantly.

In the room where silence had returned,

Lime, who had been gazing blankly at the door through which Alon's group—and Seolrang—had exited,

"...Ah."

"Ah."

Let out a soft exclamation and then—

"I think I understand why Seolrang would sacrifice herself for him."

She murmured quietly.

***

Immediately after guiding Alon and the others to their room.

"Master! I'm going out for a moment!"

"Understood."

"See you soon!"

Seolrang quickly slipped out past the fortress walls and headed towards the western cave. Soon, without a word, she retrieved the essence of the Golden-Maned Tribe that lay deep within.

[....Are you planning to do it again?]

"Yeah."

The Black Dragon's voice echoed the moment she lifted the essence.

[I don't particularly recommend it, but.]

"Still, I'm going to."

[Is it to protect him?]

"Yeah."

The Black Dragon became silent for a moment at her unwavering answer.

[...............Is there a specific reason you must protect him?]

"What...?"

[Even if you cannot protect him directly, you can provide him with ample strength. No matter how I see it, I don't believe you need to be this anxious. Besides, haven't you already become strong enough?]

The Black Dragon was correct.

Seolrang had indeed become significantly stronger than before.

She had repeatedly overcome the essence's trials, and now, only the final trial remained.

But—

"Still not enough."

[......Not enough?]

"Yeah. As I am now, I can't defeat the 'divine-blood'— that's what you called them, didn't you?"

[From the outset, it is nearly impossible for a life born in this world to defeat the divine-blood.]

"Even so, I have to."

[Why?]

This time, Seolrang fell silent.

Then, she recalled.

Yutia. Rine. ...... ...Those even more powerful than her. The individuals by Alon's side.

Clench—

Seolrang offered no reply.

Instead, she tightened her grip on the Golden-Maned Tribe's essence.

Wooooong~!

As she infused mana into it, Seolrang felt her consciousness being drawn into the essence, and she steeled her resolve.

As she had stated, after undergoing numerous growth cycles, she had indeed become far stronger.

And to her knowledge, if she were to complete the essence's final stage—

She would become immensely more powerful than her current self.

This certainty stemmed from having glimpsed the abilities she could attain upon finishing the last stage during the trial.

Recalling this, Seolrang realized she had already entered the essence.

The scenery she had been observing had transformed without her noticing.

First, a vast blue night sky met her gaze. Next, a sliver of a crescent moon. And finally— the familiar grassland she had seen countless times.

"Hoo—"

Releasing a breath, Seolrang reaffirmed her resolve and dispersed her mana.

Dozens, Hundreds, Thousands of trials—

Seolrang, having endured them all, knew that something was imminent within this tranquil grassland.

At times, this very grassland had transformed into a suffocating battlefield. There were moments when the entire area had become the gaping maw of a colossal monster.

Thus, Seolrang tensed herself, and then—

"....?"

Suddenly, she sensed something was amiss.

By all accounts, something should have occurred by now.

Yet, there was no change whatsoever.

So, amidst her brief bewilderment—

Seolrang belatedly perceived that the grassland had, in fact, been subtly transforming.

"A temple?"

On the grassland, where moments before there had been nothing, a temple now stood. Maintaining her vigilance, Seolrang entered the structure, and there—

[You have arrived, child.]

"You are—"

She found herself face-to-face with a beastman.

***

Several hours later.

As Alon was on his way to meet Karsem again, Penia addressed him.

"Marquis."

"Yes?"

"It's just. Earlier, why did you react that way?"

"What do you mean?"

"Karsem's request. Why did you agree so readily?"

"......What?"

"I mean, couldn't you have negotiated for more in return for fulfilling the request? For instance, like this."

As Penia formed her fingers into a circular pinch, Alon regarded her silently for a moment before replying.

"Because it's something I must do regardless."

"Hm—"

With an expression that seemed to ponder whether he was kind or simply naive, Penia soon broke into a playful smile.

"Marquis."

"Yes?"

"I'm currently facing a financial hardship. Could you perhaps assist me?"

"Uh—That's a bit............."

A sound of disappointment escaped Penia’s lips.

Yet, Alon paid it no mind and descended the subterranean stairs.

Penia let out a breath, exhaling with a sigh.

Evan, who had been observing her silently, finally spoke.

“You don’t grasp the situation.”

“Pardon me?”

“If you intended to request something from the Marquis, a more pathetic demeanor would have been appropriate. Besides, you’ve watched him long enough to know he doesn’t operate based on profit.”

Evan added with a clicking of his tongue.

However, Penia responded with an incredulous expression, as if to say, ‘Hah?’

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”

“I’m simply offering you advice.”

“Do you genuinely believe I approached him with the sole intention of obtaining money?”

“Was that not the case?”

“Absolutely not!”

Penia reprimanded him, questioning his line of thought, and continued.

“Furthermore, we stand to gain more than enough by simply aiding Colony anyway.”

“Oh?”

“Once that shameless patricide meets his end, Karsem will ascend to the throne. Karsem is not the sort to overlook the debts the Marquis has accumulated.”

“......”

“Moreover, should conflict erupt within the kingdom, certain individuals will undoubtedly pledge their faith to the Marquis. Therefore, it’s unequivocally beneficial for him.”

Upon hearing her explanation, Evan’s countenance shifted to one of bewilderment.

“If you had already accounted for all of this, why did you even pose the question?”

“Are you seriously asking me that? The Marquis seemed to be in low spirits, so I merely decided to tease him a bit.”

Penia’s earnest reply left Evan momentarily stunned. Then, a hint of a mischievous smile touched his lips.

“Well, well, your affection for the Marquis is truly boundless, isn’t it? Though, it will still be quite challenging. He possesses formidable allies on both major factions.”

Even as he bantered, he braced himself for a hasty retreat.

His past experiences had taught him that Penia tended to become irate swiftly whenever he engaged in such teasing.

But—

“?”

He anticipated a barrage of insults like ‘idiot’ or ‘moron,’ yet only an unnerving silence permeated the air between them.

Evan tilted his head, puzzled.

Penia, who would normally erupt in fury, remained conspicuously silent.

However, this tranquility lasted only a fleeting instant.

“Be quiet.”

Penia soon shot Evan a glare, then moved past him—who stood a few steps away—and proceeded downwards into the underground.

Evan, taken aback by the unexpected vulgarity.

Still, he remained rooted to the spot.

This was because he had clearly discerned the expression on Penia’s face.

While her usual sulky demeanor persisted, her complexion bore a subtle, uncharacteristic hue.

With his mouth agape in sheer astonishment, Evan managed to utter a single line.

“No way?”