I Became the Patron of Villains

178. Those Who Realized. (4)

Draim, the leader of the Dark Leaf, had parted ways with Marquis Palatio shortly after meeting a certain man last time.

However, parting ways did not mean he had stopped guarding him.

Even though he had questioned the mission of guarding Marquis Palatio from the beginning and had even been threatened by the suspicious man.

In the end, the Dark Leaf must absolutely obey the Queen’s orders.

In other words, until the order is withdrawn, he must guard Marquis Palatio whether he likes it or not.

Instead, Draim decided to keep his distance and watch over the Marquis.

Of course, close protection was the norm, but there was no other choice.

‘He’s not ordinary.’

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A man who had threatened him in an instant last time, someone whose strength even Draim couldn’t guarantee victory against.

He was a strong man whose power was immeasurable.

Moreover, that man was protecting Marquis Palatio with a fanatical zeal that was almost bizarre.

Even more so than the Queen’s personal guards.

Perhaps unnecessary disturbances could continue to arise, so Draim made a decision.

To watch over the Marquis from a distance that even the strongest couldn’t detect.

In conclusion, Draim thought his judgment was correct.

Because the madman could no longer detect him.

He was guarding Marquis Palatio from a triple distance, so it was natural.

Therefore, Draim couldn’t have imagined it.

That he would be discovered.

“Guh-“

Draim looked at the presence before him with trembling eyes.

Under the blue moon, emitting golden lightning in all directions.

A figure with a chillingly expressionless face that seemed to freeze the world, staring at him.

‘How on earth did he find me?’

He couldn’t understand the situation properly.

No, to be precise, he couldn’t accept why he was discovered.

However, Draim couldn’t continue his thoughts.

“Guh-“

The longer he remained silent, the stronger the grip around his neck became.

“Wa, wait-“

Just as Draim, who seemed about to faint, hurriedly opened his mouth.

“I heard it.”

“…What, did you say?”

“I heard it from Deus. You guys are the ones, right? The elves secretly following the benefactor.”

The beastman, Seolang, spoke.

There was still no emotion felt.

“I won’t talk for long. Don’t linger around the benefactor.”

“We have no intention of harming Marquis Palatio-“

“I don’t care about that. Just the fact that suspicious bugs are around the benefactor is unpleasant. Or else-“

Seolang’s characteristic golden eyes flashed like lightning.

“-Should I kill you and everything behind you?”

“……”

A murderous intent that made all the hair on one’s body stand on end.

But even facing such murderous intent, Draim barely managed to sneer.

“…Arrogant, aren’t you.”

Seolang did not answer.

Instead, she silently cast Thunder God Transformation.

Crackle-!!!!

In an instant, golden flashes flowed through her body, gathering as if condensing within her.

As if unable to withstand the vast energy any longer, the condensed flashes soon burst out in all directions, dyeing her body in golden light.

Unlike the previous battle with the apostle, Seolang used Thunder God Transformation very stably this time.

At her brilliant appearance, Draim’s eyes widened.

The magical wave emanating from her was absolutely extraordinary.

And then.

“Remember my words, elf. This is your last warning.”

“……”

“Stay away from the benefactor, and never appear before me again. If not, I will kill you and everything behind you.”

“…Do you think, you can?”

Draim questioned arrogantly.

“Yes. I will move too, but-“

The corners of Seolang’s lips, tinged with golden light,

“Yutia will move too.”

curl up brightly.

Soon.

Crunch-!

Draim’s neck was crushed.

“Ah- what a pity.”

As his head, separated from his body, fell to the ground, the whole world flipped in his vision.

In that desolate scene, he saw it.

“If you weren’t a shadow, I could just kill everyone to set an example.”

In the middle of the desert, under the blue moonlight, those eerie golden eyes chasing him.

And then-

“Ugh-!”

Draim woke up, coughing up blood.

“Captain!?”

“Are you alright!”

“The aftermath of the shadow art-!”

The members approached in a panic.

Supported by the members, Draim struggled to his feet and leaned against a rock, clutching his throbbing head.

“Everyone, do not act rashly.”

“Sorry.”

The members bowed their heads at Draim’s words.

But they all had expressions of incomprehension.

Because they also knew.

What it meant for the captain to rise after coughing up blood.

“Whew-“

Draim sensed the turmoil inside him and exhaled heavily.

‘Not only did they find me in that desert, but they also figured out that I was a shadow. How on earth?’

His mind was filled with questions.

Suddenly, his face twisted in agony.

At least until now, there had only been one person who had instantly seen through his shadow art.

So then, that Langin tribe member he met a moment ago—

“…Crazy.”

Draim involuntarily spat out a curse.

The members flinched in unison at the sight of their leader’s unfamiliar expression.

However, Draim’s nerves were entirely focused on Marquis Palatio.

‘…What on earth is that man?’

Such absurdly strong individuals, acting coy and playful just to receive praise.

‘Should I go back and report this first?’

Draim’s worries deepened.

####

Alon was momentarily taken aback by the sudden formality of Karmakses III.

“Ahem—Sorry. I’ve been reading books on etiquette lately.”

Karmakses III gauged Alon’s reaction and immediately lowered his speech.

Alon wondered, ‘Does a king need to read books on etiquette?’ but he accepted it for now.

However, the banquet continued to be a series of discomforts.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“It’s delicious.”

“If the taste is off, do let me know. I’ll have it remade immediately.”

“Ah, yes…”

He had never once asked about the food before.

“By the way, is the guild comfortable? If it’s difficult to stay, you can stay at the royal palace.”

“The royal palace, you say?”

“Yes, do you have any thoughts on that?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll just accept the sentiment.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame. But if you change your mind, do let me know. I’ll treat you as an honored guest.”

“Yes.”

Suddenly offering hospitality to stay at the royal palace.

In the end—

“Marquis.”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything uncomfortable or anything you need these days?”

“…Something I need, you say?”

“Yes, if there’s anything, do let me know. I’ll support you without hesitation.”

“I’ll let you know if anything comes to mind.”

It was because he seemed desperate to do something for me.

‘…Did I do something wrong? Or is there something he wants to ask?’

Naturally, questions and doubts arose.

However.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“Hahaha, alright. If you need my help next time, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

“Understood.”

In the end, the banquet concluded without any requests.

Alon barely managed to shake off Karmakses III, who clung to him until the end, and got into the carriage.

“Marquis.”

“Yes?”

“Did you perhaps catch some weakness? Like a secret of Karmakses III…”

Evan, who had accompanied him, also sensed something strange and asked, but Alon shook his head.

“There’s no way.”

“Right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, why is he acting like that?”

“I don’t know either.”

“You don’t know, Marquis?”

Evan’s face showed a hint of suspicion.

Alon shrugged as if to say he really didn’t know.

“Yes, I really don’t know.”

“…Hmm, that’s strange.”

In fact, Alon himself found it the strangest.

Because he had no idea why Karmakses III was acting that way.

The carriage carrying unresolved questions arrived at the guild building of Seollang before they knew it.

“Seollang.”

“Ah, Master! You’re here?!”

As soon as she spotted Alon, Seollang wrapped her arms around his neck and her thighs around his waist, clinging to him like a cicada.

No longer surprised by her hospitality, Alon asked.

“I went to the royal castle but you weren’t there. Where did you go?”

“Oh, I was on my way to the castle but I remembered something I had forgotten and took a detour-“

“Forgotten?”

“Yes! There was something I had to do, and I just remembered it then-“

Nod, nod-! Seollang’s head moved vigorously.

Like a father respecting the privacy of his growing daughter, Alon didn’t ask further.

The day after shaking off the fatigue from the banquet.

“Good morning!”

Early in the morning, Karsem visited Alon, accompanied by soldiers.

“……Karsem, it’s been a while.”

“Yes!”

Not only had he lost weight, but his muscles also seemed to have started asserting themselves through his clothes, as if he had been training his body.

Next to him, Evan’s small grumble of ‘Wow, the world is so unfair-‘ could be heard.

Just as Alon was unconsciously agreeing.

“I heard you were going to the ruins, so I will escort you!”

Karsem’s loud voice echoed.

“Escort…… you say?”

“Yes!”

Alon paused for a moment as he confirmed the soldiers lined up behind Karsem.

“……It seems a bit much for an escort.”

It wasn’t an empty remark; it really did seem that way.

The soldiers Karsem had brought along looked to be over a hundred at a glance.

However.

“No, it’s only natural for the Marquis to have this much!”

“?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Karsem answered vigorously once again.

Although it had always been noisy, today, for some reason, Alon felt a sense of alienation.

‘…Why do his eyes seem even brighter?’

It was because Karsem’s eyes seemed to be filled with an even deeper reverence than before.

It was different from the admiration he had felt previously.

A new question arose in Alon’s mind about what had happened on that side.

“…Then, I shall ask you to do it.”

“Yes!”

Feeling embarrassed to ask further, Alon set off for the ruins without another word, and soon arrived at his destination.

As the sun began to rise, Alon moved towards the central tower along the now very familiar inner path of the ruins.

Soon, he entered the central tower and ascended to the upper floor.

And after some time had passed, what caught his eye was not a dragonkin-

“…Huh?”

But a red pendant and a letter.

At the moment when Alon confirmed the red pendant at the ruins.

In the palace of the Ashtalon Kingdom, Kurak, who was with King Shtalian V, received a letter from a strange creature flying through the window.

“A letter from that side?”

“Yes.”

“…A spirit?”

“It’s from them.”

The letter, even its form was vague.

Kurak, who received it, immediately opened it on the spot.

And then.

“Heh heh.”

The thick, dark armor began to shake lightly.

“What’s so funny?”

As the sound of laughter, as if finding it amusing, leaked out, a look of curiosity appeared on King Shtalian V’s face.

“Sorry, but I need to act alone for a while.”

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“……Suddenly, you say?”

“Yes, it would be difficult to move together.”

“What is it that requires such action?”

“It seems we need to confirm something properly.”

“Something to confirm?”

“Yes.”

Stallion V shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the documents.

At this point, with the work not yet properly started, there was no big problem even without Kurak.

Therefore.

“Understood. It must be something important.”

Stallion V answered nonchalantly and picked up the documents-

“Yes, we need to confirm whether Marquis Palatio is indeed a friend of the one we serve.”

“I see, Marquis Palatio is a friend of the one you serve-“

“Yes.”

“Is that so…??”

-Unable to finish, he reflexively raised his head.

“What did you just say?”

Unconsciously, he had to ask such a question.