I Became the Patron of Villains

53. Labyrinth City Lartania (2)

She, the owner of Merd, which boasts the most outstanding magic appraiser in the labyrinth city, and has been working as Line’s secretary for over a year and a half.

Serenea always felt tired.

Objectively speaking, her job was just to receive guests and take reservations, so there was no reason to be so exhausted, but in reality, the psychological fatigue was considerable.

To be more precise, it was because there were many troublesome guests.

Of course, since Merd’s class was very high, there weren’t many guests who went to extremes, but that didn’t mean there were no guests who gnawed at her sanity.

Sometimes, she even thought that in some ways, the worst troublemakers might be better.

As a result, today was quite a peaceful day for Serenea, and she was in a fairly good mood.

Until a man who looked like a noble arrived with a knight.

In fact, that man wasn’t particularly troublesome.

Like many other troublemakers, he did say, “I know Line,” but.

Having heard such statements hundreds of times, it didn’t even count as troublesome for her.

The reason her mood plummeted was because of the pig- no, the noble who came next.

Even the solid capitalist smile of Serenea couldn’t help but waver when she saw him.

‘Here he comes again.’

Ravald Greystone.

The son of Lucimore Greystone, the current lord of Labyrinth City Lartania, and a piece of human trash known to everyone in Lartania.

Despite all his power coming from his father, he wielded it as if it were his own, believing that no one was above him except his father, a scoundrel ignorant of the ways of the world.

She almost frowned at his arrogant act of throwing money while insulting the noble who had arrived before him, but barely held back.

In the first place, she had no right to frown.

No matter how troublesome he was, he was the only son of the lord of the labyrinth city.

Even Line, the owner of Merd whom she served, knew to bow down to Ravald, so Serenea quietly opened the door.

What happened next left Serenea dumbfounded.

Despite the trashy lord’s son pestering her with his swagger, Line, who had maintained a smiling face until now, suddenly said,

“Get lost.”

It wasn’t just because she tapped his shoulder as if all her previous dealings with Ravald had been a lie, but the reason she was even more shocked was…

“I’ve been waiting for you, Godfather.”

Rine bowed her head politely in front of the man she had thought was just another ordinary guest until a moment ago.

‘What… what is this?’

Serenea, with a confused expression, wondered if what she saw was a dream.

At least Serenea, who had been watching her for nearly two years, knew.

Even if the lord of the labyrinth city came.

Even if a high-ranking noble from another country came.

Even if the prince of the Ashtalon Kingdom came.

Rine’s head had never bowed to anyone until now.

That’s why, without realizing it, Serenea dropped her smile and gaped, and soon saw the mouths of the mercenaries, including Lavald, drop open as well.

“What did you just say to me?”

Lavald, who had been frozen as if his brain had stopped, now clearly showed his displeasure, unlike his initial blank expression, as if he had just understood Rine’s words.

However.

“I told you to get lost, didn’t I?”

Rine repeated, looking at Lavald as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Serenea’s expression now turned aghast at Rine’s words.

Because anyone could see that statement was clearly intended to antagonize Lavald.

Lavald let out a laugh of disbelief, then wore a demonic expression.

“I don’t know what makes that worthless noble so important, but I’ll make you regret turning your back on me.”

With those words, he turned and left Merd.

####

Right after Lavald Greystone, the son of the lord of the labyrinth city, left with a demonic face, not knowing what he might do.

Alon was finally able to have a proper conversation with Rine.

“I received your letter. Thank you for coming, Godfather. And you too, sir.”

Rine spoke in a calm voice, unlike Deus, who said nothing as if silence was golden, or Surlang, who talked too much.

Alon, who was looking at her, nodded lightly and asked.

“…By the way, is it okay?”

“Which part…?”

“I mean Lavald.”

Alon mentioned the name of the son of the lord of the labyrinth city, which he had barely remembered earlier.

It was because Alon knew that the lord’s power in this labyrinth city of Lartania was very strong.

There was a concern that the lord of the labyrinth city, who was protecting his son, might have actually harmed Line, who had settled in Lartania.

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that part.”

“…Is that so? But since he’s the lord’s son, it seems like it might cause you trouble.”

“He probably won’t stand out anymore. More than that, I didn’t know you were acquainted with that scoundrel, godfather.”

At Line’s words, Alon paused for a moment but then spoke naturally.

“…The scoundrel of Lartania is famous, after all. Both in appearance and personality.”

“Is that so. Anyway, as I said earlier, you don’t need to worry.”

Unlike the people he had met so far, her blunt tone didn’t reveal any particular emotion, but it still felt quite confident.

“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief.”

Alon nodded briefly and had a simple chat with Line.

Of course, there was nothing special in the conversation.

When did the work she started in Lartania begin to go well, did she talk with the kids she used to stay with at the orphanage, plain and light greetings.

However, while having such light conversations, Alon felt quite good, which was very rare.

It might have been a bit funny, but Alon felt that Line had grown up well in a normal way.

Of course, that didn’t mean Deus and Seolang hadn’t grown up well, but Line felt like a daughter who had grown up very diligently, even though he hadn’t paid much attention to her.

As a result, Alon felt a sense of pride in her and continued the conversation pleasantly.

After a little time passed and they finished their small talk, Alon brought up the main topic.

“The reason I came to see you today is that I have a favor to ask.”

“Feel free to ask.”

“Has the subjugation squad for the foreign god been formed?”

At Alon’s question, Line seemed to think for a moment and then opened her mouth.

“Um- yes, I think the subjugation squad has been formed by now.”

“Then could you help me join that subjugation squad?”

The reason he had come to her, who had quite a bit of power in the city, as soon as he arrived in the labyrinth city was to join the subjugation squad for the foreign god.

It was difficult to join the subjugation squad unless one was somewhat famous in Lartania.

Of course, with his external fame, he might have been able to join even if he went alone, but he wanted to ensure his place in the squad, so he sought her out.

‘Since that incident happened earlier, it might be a bit difficult.’

“Of course, it might be a bit difficult….”

However, recalling Lavald’s appearance, he judged that it might be a bit difficult to borrow Line’s power and opened his mouth.

But.

“I think that’s possible.”

“…Huh? Really?”

“Yes.”

“…But didn’t you just have a bit of a falling out with the lord’s son?”

It seemed a bit more severe than just a falling out, but without saying that, he looked at her, and she spoke.

“Don’t worry. It’s not difficult to resolve that much. But are you concerned about him, godfather?”

“Are you talking about Laval?”

“Yes.”

“He’s the lord’s cherished son, so I thought you might get annoyed.”

Linne nodded slightly at Alon’s answer and spoke.

“Anyway, don’t worry too much about that part.”

“Hmm… Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”

Though blunt, Alon felt a peculiar sense of pride from her characteristic reliability, and he nodded again. How long had they been chatting like that?

“But, why godfather?”

“Yes?”

“No, Deus and Seolang call me benefactor or mentor, but why do you call me godfather?”

Suddenly curious, Alon asked, and she seemed to ponder for a moment.

“…Because godfather is the most fitting word?”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

She said those words.

A moment later.

“For now, please rest. You must be tired from the long journey.”

Linne disappeared somewhere after giving Alon and Evan a room inside the Merde.

“Wow, she’s really matured.”

Evan spoke as if he had been waiting for her to leave.

“Really?”

“Yes, she’s still blunt, but she was always like that. If you think about it, excluding all that… She feels the most mature among the ones we’ve met so far, doesn’t she?”

Alon nodded at Evan’s question.

“Indeed, she seems to have grown up in the most textbook manner.”

From noble mtl dot com

‘……Rine had said she would tell me, and not much time had passed since we went to the North, so for now, should I rest and review the plan a bit?’

With that thought, he turned his body towards the room Rine had provided.

When he entered the room, it was already late evening.

####

The next day.

Having ridden the carriage to Lartania almost without rest, Alon, who had been asleep for quite a while, woke up to find the sun rising.

After staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment, he got dressed and left the room. Soon, guided by Rine’s secretary, Serenea, he was able to meet Rine, who was having lunch.

And then.

“I’ve taken care of the matter you mentioned yesterday.”

“……So quickly?”

“Yes, there’s a regular meeting today, so we should be able to go.”

Alon looked at Rine with an expression of admiration for a moment.

“Oh, and I also took care of Laval Greystone as you mentioned yesterday, so you don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

Rine said this casually, taking a bite of sausage, as if saying, ‘Haha, the sunshine is really bright today.’

“Hmm- I see.”

Alon tried to respond nonchalantly.

“Wha……??”

Soon, he could only stare at Rine with countless question marks in his mind.