Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 472: Astarotte (3)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
Evan's peculiar glance lingered for only a brief moment before Alon emerged from the carriage. He surveyed the considerable number of Divine Blood gathered, seemingly awaiting his arrival. Dozens upon dozens of them stood there, a remarkable sight in itself. Alon's gaze drifted, a quick check to see if any familiar faces were present among the Divine Blood. He scanned them once, then twice, even a fourth time, just to be absolutely sure. Alas, no one he recognized appeared in the crowd. Alon closed his eyes, centering his thoughts. Before him stood Star Root, a collective of Divine Blood who professed allegiance to the Star Eater. Yet, he, the very Star Eater they claimed to serve, had never encountered them. How had such a peculiar circumstance arisen? Alon had no way of knowing. He could state with absolute certainty that he had never been involved with Star Root. That was precisely why he wished to inquire. What, in the world, had transpired here? However, Alon hesitated to voice this question. Was the overwhelming loyalty shining from the Divine Blood's eyes the reason? No. While that was certainly true, it was something he could dismiss if he chose. The true reason he could not casually ask was that he fully comprehended a single misplaced question could drastically worsen the entire situation. Yes, for instance, what if the Divine Blood assembled before him hadn't actually been recruited by him during a somnambulistic state, but rather had inexplicably formed on their own due to some profound misunderstanding? Though, frankly, he couldn't fathom any misunderstanding that could escalate to this degree. '--Now I grasp the Sculptor's prior agitation.' Alon's mind briefly recalled the Sculptor he had previously met. The thought vanished as quickly as it came, his focus returning to the Divine Blood. Regardless, if this group had indeed formed through some bizarre misunderstanding, just as the Sculptor had implied-- then the instant that misunderstanding dissolved, their reaction would be unpredictable. Contemplating this, Alon observed the two Divine Blood who remained steadfastly before him. On one side stood a Divine Blood whose entire form was enveloped in scorching flames. On the other, a Divine Blood adorned with a chilling array of grotesque skulls, fixing its gaze upon him. After a single glance at each, Alon forcefully concealed his inner turmoil and issued an order to the Divine Blood. "...For the time being, everyone disperse— we shall reconvene tomorrow." For a fleeting instant, the thought 'Was that the correct thing to say?' caused him to falter. Yet, as if such a slip meant nothing at all-- [Understood—!] The two Divine Blood responded with resounding cheers, and the assembly began to disband instantaneously. ...Even their dispersal was a spectacle. Soon after, exhaling a weary sigh, Alon re-entered the carriage. "...Lord Alon, what precisely is occurring?" He was met with the undivided attention of everyone within, including Evan and Basiliora. The moment for explanations had arrived. After a period of time had elapsed-- "Uh— so, to summarize, you're asserting that those Divine Blood have never encountered you, nor even laid eyes upon you, yet they still follow you, Lord Alon?" "That is correct." At this, Evan's gaze shifted silently between the Divine Blood dispersing into the distance and Alon. "Hm— I see. So that's how it is." "......! Did you ascertain something?" "No?" "?" "?" "...Did you not just nod as if you had discovered something?" "No, I merely indicated that I understood." "...Understood?" "Yes." "What is it that you understood?" "That the Divine Blood are following you, Lord Alon." "How did you come to understand that...?" "Ah—" It was only then that Evan realized the conversation had strayed from its intended course, and he emitted a soft sound. "I mean that quite literally. I simply accepted it." "...Accepted it...?" "Yes. Are there not numerous aspects of this world that defy comprehension from a conventional human standpoint? When confronted with such things, one simply accepts them. There's no need to understand. It becomes easier if you just accept it." "Ah, I believe I grasp that sentiment." "Right?" "Precisely......" Penia, who had unexpectedly joined the dialogue, and Evan exchanged glances and nodded in profound agreement. "...I'm uncertain about my feelings regarding that." "We've consistently felt that way whenever something peculiar occurs involving you, Lord Alon." "...Has such an event transpired frequently?" "Consider it carefully." "...Hm." Alon fell silent for a moment before shifting the topic. "In any case, this is the current predicament. What course of action do you propose?" "Hm— truthfully, I lack a clear direction on what we should do, given my incomplete understanding of the situation... However, for the present, perhaps we should maintain the status quo?" "We cannot sustain that indefinitely."
Penia voiced her thoughts this time.
“...I believe it’s best we first understand the current situation.”
“Understand the situation?”
“Yes. Knowing how Lord Alon is perceived by them will allow us to determine our course of action.”
It was a sound proposal.
As Alon nodded, Evan, who had been contemplating something, glanced towards the distant Divine Blood before speaking.
“Then let’s engage in a bit of reconnaissance.”
“...Reconnaissance?”
“Indeed. There are still a considerable number of Divine Blood individuals lingering nearby.”
“I will accompany you!”
In response to Evan’s suggestion, Seollang, who had remained silent until now, eagerly raised her hand.
However, Evan quickly declined.
“Penia and I will go. Seollang, you stand out far too much in every conceivable way.”
With that, he opened the carriage door.
“We shall return shortly.”
Shortly after, Penia gave a polite bow to Alon and departed with Evan.
Precisely how they planned to gather information remained a mystery...
Alon entertained this brief thought before turning his attention to Seollang.
“Hm? What is it, Master?”
She offered her usual smile.
Alon, seeing her expression, spoke casually.
“No, it’s nothing of consequence.”
“Hm— is that so?”
Seollang tilted her head, then simply shrugged, casually moving to sit beside Alon. She began humming to herself, her tail swishing contentedly.
Even after the events involving Mu, her demeanor remained unchanged.
It was so consistent that, for a fleeting moment, it felt as though their earlier conversation had merely been a dream.
Yet, Alon knew.
He was certain that their conversation that day had been far from a mere dream.
And Seollang, undoubtedly, was fully aware of this as well.
“......”
Even so, why did Seollang continue to maintain her facade, even in their private company?
“-♪”
Without a word, Alon gently stroked Seollang’s head.
She responded with a smile, as if finding his touch pleasing.
Seollang’s hair was incredibly soft.
...Just as it had been before.
####
Meanwhile, Evan and Penia had disembarked from the carriage and were conversing as they made their way towards the Divine Blood.
“But what exactly do we know before we go in?” Penia inquired.
“What do you mean, what do we know?” Evan countered.
“You mentioned spying. Shouldn’t we have some prior knowledge?”
Evan offered a slight shrug in response.
“I don’t have concrete details, but I do know who we should focus our attention on.”
“And who would that be?”
“Them.”
Evan gestured with his chin towards the flaming Divine Blood and the one adorned with skulls.
“Them?” Penia questioned.
“Yes. Judging by their demeanor, they appear to be the leaders, wouldn’t you agree? Consider this: when Lord Alon entered earlier, those two positioned themselves on either side, flanking him.”
“...I see—” Penia finally nodded, realization dawning.
“You possess a keener eye than I had anticipated.”
“How do you typically perceive me...?” Evan looked at Penia, finding her admiration for such a minor observation somewhat amusing.
As the two Divine Blood individuals drew nearer, he continued the conversation.
“Still— what do you make of this entire situation?”
Evan responded to Penia’s question with a low hum.
“Honestly, even I can’t quite grasp what’s happening this time.”
“Have there been prior instances where you could?”
“Not precisely, no. However, in the past, there was usually some semblance of understanding, like, ‘Well, perhaps that could happen.’ But this situation feels somewhat different.”
“...That is true.”
Penia found herself agreeing with Evan’s assessment.
While many events had transpired that they couldn’t comprehend, they had been able to overlook them.
This was primarily because Alon had been at the center of it all.
However, this time, a significant gathering had formed without Alon’s prior knowledge.
Frankly, even with Alon’s involvement, it seemed improbable that such a development would occur so readily.
“Perhaps a multitude of misunderstandings and mistaken assumptions have accumulated.”
Muttering this, Evan found himself close enough to overhear the conversation of the two Divine Blood individuals without even trying.
Soon, their words became audible.
[What a pity. I shall be the first to receive grace from the Star Eater.]
[What nonsense are you spouting? Ah— I suppose you couldn’t see properly because you have ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) no eyes. The Star Eater looked at me first.]
[You’re the one spewing drivel. The instant the Star Eater turned his gaze, it fell upon me. He must have also directly witnessed me dispose of that maggot earlier.]
[Tch— do you truly believe the Star Eater would favor you merely for dispatching one pathetic creature? The first to receive his grace will undoubtedly be me!]
[No, me—!]
[Me, I said!]
Their conversation was certainly peculiar—
no, far stranger than initially expected.
Evan, who had been privy to this exchange from a considerable distance without needing to conceal himself—
“...Now that I think about it.”
“Continue,” Penia urged.
“Isn’t it possible that Lord Alon is genuinely sleepwalking?”
The words escaped him before he could stop them.
“...Honestly, I, too, have begun to entertain that very possibility.”
Penia readily concurred, her expression vacant.
####
The following morning arrived.
Evan and Penia, who had supposedly been dispatched for reconnaissance the previous day, reported with clear signs of exhaustion, “He remains completely unresponsive……”
Alon displayed bewilderment for a fleeting moment upon hearing this.
Subsequently, observing the Divine blood once more congregating around the carriage as if they had been anticipating this very moment, a wave of dizziness washed over him.
To this day, the reason behind the Divine blood's inexplicable attachment to Alon remained a mystery.
However, this did not grant Alon the opportunity to demand answers from the Divine blood even at this juncture.
“...Initiate movement.”
He issued the command.
And precisely at that instant—
[All personnel on our side have been accounted for.]
[Confirmed. Everyone is present.]
With these confirmations, the three assembled factions, gathered with the intent to subdue Astarotte, commenced their advance.
From that moment forward,
the formal subjugation of Astarotte commenced.
As numerous Divine blood members converged upon the desolate terrain—
“……”
Her gaze, fixated upon the Divine blood advancing to quell Astarotte, reflected an unusual pentagram.
Or rather, to be precise, her attention was not directed at the Divine blood themselves.
More accurately, her focus was on the carriage situated amongst them.
And even more specifically, her silent observation was fixed upon a solitary man within that carriage.
The man, seated there with an impassive expression.
“...What have you done……?”
While gazing at him—
“Yutia.”
She uttered his name in a soft murmur.