I Became the Patron of Villains

149. Secret (2)

“An existence higher than the five high gods of the forgotten era?”

[Indeed. If they can interfere with the Donggyeong, they must be a higher existence than them. And that is something even I cannot grasp. What kind of existence could it be?]

An existence so high that even the Yongin tribe could not fathom it.

“Then could Ultultus know this existence? After all, he would have been the first to mention it.”

[No, he wouldn’t know. Ultultus must have made a similar misunderstanding as I did.]

“Then about the black thing-“

[At this point, we do not know.]

At the Yongin tribe’s assertion, Alon was silent for a moment before shrugging his shoulders.

“It seems the more I try to solve the questions, the more questions I have.”

[Well, from your perspective, that might be the case.]

Alon sighed and pushed the topic aside, deciding to ask another question.

There were still many things left to ask.

“First, let’s talk about the rest.”

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Alon then began to recount the stories in his mind one by one.

A moment later.

[…It seems there were more events than I thought.]

“As you heard.”

It took about 30 minutes to convey everything to the Yongin tribe.

The first was meeting Duke Komalon and the magic of the sorcerer he mentioned.

The second was the information that the ‘black things’ would come up soon.

Lastly, it was the story of the golden dragon, Lainisius.

Silently, it swayed its long tail, characteristic of the dragonkin, several times before finally organizing its thoughts and beginning.

[First of all, I did not know about them, as the sealed dragon had said.]

“Is that so?”

[Yes, because what I understood was a bit different. Well, even if they go through such a process, it would be meaningless for the gods to remain silent.]

“Can you reveal it now?”

[I will only tell you the beginning of the story you know, but if necessary, I will.]

When Alon nodded, it remained silent for a while before slowly continuing.

[It’s not a very interesting story. From your perspective, it’s just an old tale.]

A voice that seemed to be groping through distant memories.

[In the past – the era you call the forgotten age of the gods, it was literally a world where gods and humans coexisted. Humans worshipped the gods, and the gods received faith from humans and bestowed it upon them.]

“……”

[Many things were different from now. Instead of the word ‘nation,’ territories were divided under the names of gods, wizards were called magicians, and there was only one human nation. Let’s see – yes, I don’t remember the name, but it was a country founded by someone named Palaon.]

It stared intently at Alon.

[Anyway, that was the world. Gods existed, and various races, including humans, offered faith to those gods – it was a world where magicians like you could engrave their own laws into this world.]

The dragonkin, reminiscing as if recalling old memories, continued.

[To be honest, that world couldn’t be called peaceful, even as a figure of speech. Something happened every day. However, it was not an era of war. Not until they came.]

“……The black ones.”

[Yes, them.]

The dragonkin’s blue eyes frowned.

[They appeared out of nowhere and began massacring every living being in sight. Whether gods, humans, other races, or magicians. All of them. Every single one.]

“……Did they have a purpose?”

[No, they had no purpose. Or maybe they did, but there was no way to know. They never intended to communicate with us in the first place.]

For a moment, the air around him changed.

[Many gods stepped forward. Some alone, some forming alliances. They took up arms to kill those unknown beings. And the result is what you see now.]

“……Did they lose?”

[Not only did they lose. Most of the gods who stepped forward to deal with the black ones were annihilated.]

“……”

A powerless voice added to the air.

[Originally, gods do not simply disappear. Even if they do, there are differences, but as long as there is faith, they can be resurrected in a few days to several decades. However, most of the gods who were defeated then were annihilated.]

“……Is there a reason?”

[It’s simple, because my name was taken away.]

The loss of a name.

[For a god, a name is important. No, not just the name, but all the elements that make up a god are important. However, if even one of those elements is taken away, the god cannot maintain its form.]

“……”

[Someone had their name taken away. Another had their body, another their mind, and another their honor taken away. They all perished that way. I am no different.]

A self-deprecating smile appears on his face.

[At the last moment, after my name was taken away, I was able to avoid perishing by sealing myself in my own temple.]

It must have been a final desperate act.

To continue living, even if imperfectly.

“……So did other gods survive in the same way?”

[That, I do not know. I sealed myself around the time the great war began. However, most of the gods who have survived to this point were incredibly powerful beings from the old era.]

“Why is that?”

[Because they survived even after their names were taken away, of course.]

Anyway-

[In conclusion, the gods were defeated by them. They even usurped the position of ‘god’.]

“……Usurpation.”

This is,

[Yes, usurpation. We, who were once the gods of this continent, are now called foreign gods, and they are revered and feared as the ‘Five Great Sins’.]

This was the ‘birth story’ of the Five Great Sins.

####

“I have a question.”

[What is it?]

Alon, who had been listening to the story of the dragon people for a while.

A question arose in his mind.

“Why did the Five Great Sins take away your names and usurp the position of gods?”

[Well, I only learned of that after I was unsealed. If I had to guess, it would be to make us forgotten.]

“……To make you forgotten?”

[It’s just a guess.]

“Still, I’d like to hear it.”

[When I woke up again, the original gods had disappeared, and the will of the sorcerers had been severed. Also, the dragons you mentioned, if what you said is true, were completely killed and became beings of fantasy.]

The voice of the dragonkin continued calmly.

[…I understand that the era ended with the death of gods, sorcerers, and dragons. However, there are many points that are unclear to just pass over.]

“…Are you talking about the gods being dethroned?”

[Not only that. The sorcery of the sorcerers as well. Even if they all died, their lineage should have continued to some extent. But look. Is there any sorcerer in this world besides you?]

“…No.”

[Yes, that’s it. Something is strange. No matter how much the gods have perished, there should be information about them, and even if the sorcerers died, there is no reason for the laws and research they left behind to disappear.]

Even if the sorcerers couldn’t leave their impressions, it would be the same.

A firm voice echoed as if declaring.

[In this world, all information has disappeared. About dragons, about gods – and about sorcerers. As if-]

The dragonkin let out a heavy breath.

[As if it had been manipulated.]

####

On the way back from the ruins.

[Kyuu-]

Alon, watching Kkamangi being held by Seolang and flying in real-time, calmly organized the conversation he had with the dragonkin afterward.

No, in fact, there wasn’t much to organize.

Most of it was just speculation.

‘…Well, it’s inevitable since they sealed themselves in the middle of the war.’

In the end, there were two truths that were clearly obtained from this conversation.

One was that the Five Great Sins, aiming for something, dethroned the gods and tried to thoroughly erase the traces of the old era.

And why Duke Komalon called himself a half-sorcerer.

‘The technique is to engrave the impression.’

Alon recalled the dragonkin’s explanation about sorcerers.

[Sorcerers each have their own self-realization. As I said before, that self-realization is only possible with an impression.]

[The technique is the next stage of that self-realization. Engraving the laws and impressions into the magic hole, unifying with the law itself. Only then do sorcerers not hesitate to call themselves sorcerers-]

[Well, ask about that in three months. When the item you entrusted is ready.]

“…So that’s why he called himself a half-sorcerer.”

Understanding Duke Komalon’s meaning, Alon unknowingly let out a deep breath.

There were things he found out, but there were also unresolved questions left.

‘…Why did the dark ones try to erase the past? According to the golden dragon’s story, Kylas is clearly a sorcerer, so why did he appear as an outsider?’

Countless questions that complicated his mind.

However, Alon put those questions aside and recalled his original purpose.

‘The most important thing right now is to stop the five great sins.’

In the end, there was only one thing that mattered to him.

To stop the five great sins and lead a peaceful life as a noble.

If Alon had any additional goals, it would be to delve deeper into magic.

Magic, which he initially learned just to protect himself, had become an indispensable element for him.

Because it was the only thing in this world that aroused his curiosity and desire for improvement.

Therefore.

‘…First, I need to do some preliminary work to deal with the monstrosity. And when the original story begins, I should join the protagonist briefly to get that item. With that, I can meet Kylas.’

He reorganized his plan and looked at the slowly rising sun.

…In the middle of the scorching desert.

####

“Greetings, Marquis. The king wishes to see you.”

“Me, you say?”

“Yes. He also asked if Sir Seolang could come with you.”

Upon returning to Colony, Alon was unexpectedly invited by the king.

“Master, what will you do?”

Although Alon wondered why Carmaxes III was calling him.

“When should I go?”

“You can leave immediately if you wish.”

“…Then let’s go right now.”

He accepted the king’s invitation.

Of course, he wanted to take a break to organize his thoughts, but it was common sense that refusing the king’s invitation was rude.

He headed to the royal palace of Colony in the prepared carriage and soon began walking the splendid paths inside the palace as before.

Shortly after.

When he was close to the banquet hall where Carmaxes was waiting, he encountered a man.

A man who was staring intently at him.

“…?”

Alon, feeling the gaze, naturally looked at the man and soon realized who he was.

‘Karan?’

The current first prince of Colony, and in the story, the sixth king of Colony, succeeding Karmakses V, Karan.

He was staring intently at Alon.

With an expression that seemed extremely displeased.

“……?”

As the question arose in Alon’s mind.

Likewise.

“……”

Seolang, who was watching Karan, also narrowed his eyes.

But shortly after.

In the end, Alon was able to get through the encounter with Karan without any trouble.

As if he had been waiting for it, Karan soon turned his gaze away and went on his way.

“Marquis, do you know that person?”

“I don’t.”

“Then why does he look at you with such a… no, such beautiful eyes?”

Evan, glancing around to see if anyone was listening, quickly changed his words when he spotted a guard.

“I don’t know either.”

Of course, Alon didn’t know.

He knew Karan through his experience in Psychedelia Play, but this was the first time they had met face to face.

Of course, Karan might have known Alon through various rumors or news, but even considering that, the clear hostility he showed was a bit strange.

Alon tilted his head in confusion for a moment.

Soon, Alon attended the banquet.

“Hello, Marquis!”

“?

As soon as he entered the banquet hall, he was momentarily bewildered by the man who bowed 90 degrees to greet him.

He soon let out a sigh of admiration inwardly.

“……It’s been a while, Prince.”

“Yes!”

The handsome man who bowed his head in front of him.

About half a year ago, he realized that the man with a face smeared with soot and fat, who was practically called a walking pig, was none other than the second prince, Karsem.

“???”

A hook floated infinitely above Alon’s head.