I Became the Patron of Villains

121. Half (3)

“……A foreign god in the Kingdom of Ashtalon?”

“Yes. Not only in the Kingdom of Ashtalon. They say foreign gods have also appeared in Raxas and Caliban.”

Alon frowned.

“……Multiple foreign gods appeared at once?”

“Yes.”

“……And they fully manifested, not in human form?”

“That’s what they say.”

‘That can’t be right?’

Something felt off.

He had never seen multiple foreign gods descend at once in Psychedelia.

Of course, just because he hadn’t experienced it didn’t mean it wasn’t possible, but still, this phenomenon was clearly strange.

‘The descent of a foreign god’ occurs through the life forms of this world, including humans.

A descended foreign god must adhere to the body it descended into until it fully manifests.

But for multiple foreign gods to appear at once like this…

There were only two possibilities.

Either a multitude of foreign gods had been hiding and suddenly revealed themselves.

Or-

‘……Artificial foreign gods.’

The artificial foreign gods he had seen in the Holy Kingdom, which had never been seen in Psychedelia.

As Alon considered these two possibilities, he leaned towards one as soon as he heard additional information from Evan.

“……The foreign gods that appeared, they all mentioned the name of Duke Komalon of the Kingdom of Ashtalon?”

“Yes. They all called Duke Komalon a seeker (求道者) and showed fanaticism.”

He was finally convinced.

They were not the foreign gods he originally knew, but artificial foreign gods.

Duke Komalon had created artificial foreign gods,

and furthermore, had created abyssal beings.

“……We depart immediately.”

“To the Kingdom of Ashtalon……?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, they say it’s extremely dangerous there right now- Are you going?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll prepare right away.”

Watching Evan run off with a bit of a grumble, Alon thought.

‘I have never heard the name Duke Komalon in Psychedelia.’

But it didn’t matter now.

What was important was that Duke Komalon was the main culprit behind the creation of the Abyssal Beings, a fact that was not revealed even in the original Psychedelia.

And that he might be the ‘Forgotten One,’ an outsider who had hidden his identity and lived in silence until now.

“Hu-“

Alon let out a deep sigh and stood up.

There was no time to waste.

“Everything is ready, Marquis.”

“Let’s depart.”

They immediately began to move towards the Kingdom of Ashtalon.

####

Over the next five days, Alon was able to gather three more pieces of information.

The first was that the outsiders had suddenly erupted from all directions, and Duke Komalon had killed most of the nobles at the ball.

The second was that not only the nobles who attended the ball, but also the residents, soldiers, and knights in his territory were all annihilated.

The third was that Duke Komalon had already destroyed four nearby territories, leaving them in ruins.

A question arose in Alon’s mind.

‘…Why did he annihilate all the surrounding territories?’

The annihilation itself was not surprising.

Outsiders inherently perceive humanity as their enemy from the moment they descend into a living being’s body.

However, for the outsiders, mass slaughter was merely a byproduct of achieving their goals. The slaughter itself was never the main objective.

It was the same this time.

At first glance, Duke Komalon’s actions, presumed to be an outsider, were no different from what they had shown so far.

But the reason for the question was the massacre itself by Duke Komalon.

“…Hmm.”

Alon lowered his gaze and looked at the map.

On the map of Ashtalon that Evan had obtained, the four territories that Duke Komalon had passed through were marked.

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“The territory that was massacred, wasn’t it on good terms with Duke Komalon?”

“Yes. In fact, they were on good terms. I heard that Duke Komalon himself wasn’t particularly problematic in social circles.”

“Hmm…”

The four territories attacked by Duke Komalon appear close on the map, but they are clearly separate.

In other words, Duke Komalon didn’t just sweep through the territories on his way somewhere; his purpose was to destroy those specific territories from the beginning.

That was the mystery.

The foreign entities considered humanity their enemy, but they didn’t move with the primary goal of massacring humans.

This was only a secondary issue because they had a fundamental goal.

However, Duke Komalon seemed to be wiping out the surrounding territories as if the annihilation of humanity itself was his goal.

Moreover,

“…There is quite a bit of damage outside of Ashtalon as well?”

“Yes. Ashtalon is the most severe, but in other countries, one or two territories were easily swept away.”

The artificial foreign entities he created also didn’t seem to have any particular purpose, just killing humans.

“Hmm-“

Alon looked down at the map with a peculiar expression.

He briefly recalled old memories but soon shook his head.

‘…Duke Komalon never actually appeared in the game.’

What appeared instead were the abyssal creatures he created.

They also lacked detail, so players complained that they were suddenly added for level balance.

There was no further setting beyond that.

“…It seems like he will soon cross the border of the Kingdom of Ashtalon.”

“Really?”

“If the information is correct, the next place Duke Komalon will reach is the Lumiere territory. Shall we go there?”

“We should.”

“But, Marquis.”

“What is it?”

“Is it okay to go like this? I know you’re going to stop Duke Komalon, but we haven’t even assessed the enemy’s strength.”

…Well, you did the same last time, Evan added.

Alon quietly pondered.

Unlike before, when they could gather information about their enemies thanks to the game, the Duke of Komalon was an unknown enemy, one they knew nothing about.

But Alon soon nodded.

“You may go.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Everything is already prepared. Besides, there is a way to gauge their strength.”

Alon fiddled with the ‘Necklace of the Eye Eater’ hanging around his neck, recalling another setting of this artifact.

“…Alright.”

Evan nodded as if he understood, and Alon looked up at the sky.

Contrary to the ominous rumors he had heard, the sky was perfectly clear.

As if to say that what was happening on this land was nothing at all…

####

Exactly a day and a half later.

When Alon arrived at Lumila, the territory governed by Count Lumiere.

“■■■■■■■■■■■■-!!!!”

“Damn-”

With Evan’s low curse, they could see the grotesque screams coming from the top of the territory’s walls, where an otherworldly being was wreaking havoc-

-No, it was an artificial otherworldly being.

A massive creature with hundreds of giant arms intertwined to form the shape of a spider.

Looking down, they saw the burning territory.

From within the thick flames, countless screams could be heard.

But that was not all.

From the mouth of the spider-shaped otherworldly being, the corpses of what had once been people were falling, and below, countless soldiers and knights were fighting a desperate battle.

Alon’s vision was filled with the sight of those fighting desperately.

Even as they were crushed by the giant arms, the knights struggled to cut off the creature’s limbs.

They gave their bodies to the grotesquely extended arms, losing their lives.

Thus, opening the way for their comrades, one knight finally reached the otherworldly being.

Slash-!

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He cut off one of its legs.

■■■■■■■■-!

And then.

The monster’s leg, spewing red blood in all directions and letting out a monstrous scream, fell with a heavy sound, crushing several houses.

The knight’s eyes filled with joy.

However.

“!”

The joy began to turn into despair.

Because from the giant leg the knight had cut off, a hand was growing.

A hand grows.

From that hand, another hand.

Another hand.

Another hand.

Another hand.

Another- countless hands grow, as if-

Regenerating like living muscles.

Thus, the foreign god regenerated its leg.

The attack that more than fifteen knights sacrificed their bodies and lives to create was rendered utterly futile.

The surviving soldiers stared blankly at the foreign god.

The foreign god’s gaze looked down at the knight.

“U- Uaaah-!”

The knight, now engulfed in fear, screamed.

Alon, seeing the spider-shaped artificial foreign god twist its huge mouth as if enjoying the scream, naturally formed a seal.

‘…Foreign god- no, the name artificial foreign god is too good for it.’

To Alon, the foreign god was an ‘enemy,’ but it was clearly in the category of a god.

Whether it had manifested or not, it was the same.

But the thing in front of him now was not even worthy of being called an artificial foreign god.

It was nothing more than a hideous monster merely imitating divinity.

“Hoo.”

Alon naturally calmed his mind and extended his arm.

In truth, magic is not a very good option right now.

It would be great to subdue it with a single blow, but with that level of regenerative power, unless he found and attacked its weak point with the ‘Necklace of the Eye Eater,’ he wouldn’t be able to deal with it in one go.

But he didn’t want to just stand by and watch the brutal massacre unfold.

In the midst of the dozens of thoughts swirling in his mind, Alon was about to recite the incantation he had planned—

“Master!”

“?”

At the sound of a voice so familiar, he instinctively turned his gaze.

“…Surlang?”

“Wow! It really is Master!”

There stood Surlang.

She seemed incredibly excited to see Alon, wagging her tail as she approached him directly.

“Master! Why are you here?”

A bright smile spread across her face.

And at that moment.

Crunch-!

Alon realized.

Behind Surlang, the monster that had just lifted its leg to crush a knight was now staring in this direction with its enormous eyes.

Was Surlang’s voice too loud? Alon thought in dismay for a brief moment.

“■■…?”

The monster let out an incomprehensible, grotesque sound as it turned its massive body.

However.

“Master! Why are you here? Oh, Evan is here too?”

Even though the monster behind her was slowly approaching over the fortress wall, Surlang wagged her tail and looked only at Alon, as if she had no interest in it.

“I’m curious too, but it seems we need to deal with that first.”

“Huh? That?”

Only then did Surlang turn her gaze.

There, she saw the monster, which seemed to have turned its body in response to her voice, destroying the territory.

“Hmm- ugly.”

Soon, with a look of displeasure, Surlang stared at the monster.

“Master, wait a moment? It seems you’re uncomfortable, so I’ll take care of that.”

Leaving those words behind, she started walking.

“Wait- Surlang.”

Alon tried to stop her.

Of course, they knew she was strong.

But no matter how strong she was, the opponent was an outer god.

Even though it was artificially created and significantly weaker than a true outer god, it was undoubtedly a deity wrapped in divinity.

However, Seolang, who had already taken three steps ahead of Alon, had already fixed her gaze on the outer god.

She began to emit golden lightning from her entire body.

Crackle-!

The golden current devoured the darkness and spread in all directions.

A crater formed on the ground, and Seolang’s hair, which had reached down to her waist, suddenly spiked up in response to the golden lightning.

And then.

“Langchanglangchang (Wolf Spear Wolf Spear)-”

A small whisper escaped from Seolang’s lips, so faint that even Alon couldn’t hear it properly.

Tch-!

In an instant, Seolang, who had been in front of Alon and Evan, disappeared.

Before Alon could even question where Seolang had moved to.

They saw it.

-Raikaku (Thunder Kick).

Boom-!!!

The absurdly massive body of the artificial outer god, which had been wreaking havoc on the territory, was helplessly lifted into the air.

At the same time.

From beneath that massive body, a brilliant thunderbolt shot up.

The moment the eyes of the knights and soldiers, who had been in despair until just a moment ago, reached the brilliant lightning.

Crackle-!

“■■■■■■■■■■■■-!!!!”

“…….”

The brilliant lightning pierced through the outer god’s torso and soared into the night sky.

Everyone stood with their mouths agape.

Alon and Evan were no exception.

Eventually.

“……Is that even possible?”

Evan, who seemed to be in a daze, asked.

“……”

Instead of answering, Alon.

Just.

Blankly stared at Seolang, who was vigorously waving both hands towards him, with his hands raised high in the sky.

‘……Why is he so strong?’

Countless hooks floated above Alon’s head.