I Became the Patron of Villains

66. Sign it! (1)

It had been three days since Alon had gone to confirm the mishap with Al-Kamae.

Alon, who had started moving with the merchants heading to the desert city regularly as before, let out a deep sigh in the scorching heat.

“Count, could you please write that just once?”

“If you write it wrong, it might freeze.”

“I’d rather freeze than become a roast…”

“Still, no.”

Alon, who was listening to Evan’s grumbling about not wanting to become a roast, looked at the scorching sun and recalled the events of a few days ago.

‘Why was Al-Kamae like that?’

Of course, since he hadn’t seen the corpse, he couldn’t know exactly what had happened to Al-Kamae.

Nevertheless, the reason he guessed something had happened was because of the artifact he had brought out.

“……”

He looked at the epaulet in his hand.

An epaulet that, far from shining golden, had a dull gray hue.

In the game, it was an artifact that could be looted after dealing with Al-Kamae in the mid-stage of Psychedelia.

‘The symbol of the innocent, I didn’t know I could get this now.’

The epaulet, with a finger covering the center of its pupil, had no function for now, but if appraised, it boasted quite good performance for an item obtainable in the mid-stage of the game.

Just like the ring he had received from Heinkel but hadn’t been able to use yet.

‘I should stop by the labyrinth city to get it appraised on my way to free the ring in Raxas.’

Anyway, Al-Kamae had cast a binding spell on this symbol of the innocent, something he cherished greatly, to prevent anyone from stealing it.

To put it simply, if Al-Kamae wasn’t dead, no one else could take this insignia.

However, since the insignia was in Alon’s hands without any magical interference, he was certain that something had happened to him.

So that night, Alon ransacked Al-Kamae’s mansion.

“……”

He glanced at the treasures piled up behind the carriage and smiled deeply behind his expressionless face.

Was that all?

His waist was filled with top-grade magic potions, all used up in the last battle with Kailas.

All of this was stolen from Al-Kamae’s mansion.

‘There weren’t as many treasures as I expected-‘

Since this world wasn’t one where money grew on trees, Alon could still smile broadly at the amount of treasure piled up in the carriage.

In his mind, money was always right.

How long had he been moving like that?

“Everyone, stop!”

Ding-ding-!

At the shout from the front, the carriages crossing the desert all stopped at once, and the bell rang.

It was the signal from the caravan to camp, so Alon, confirming that the sun was setting, stepped out of the carriage.

Not long after he started preparing for the camp.

“Ah, Count, was there any inconvenience today?”

Unlike the previous head of the Golden Hair Caravan, this time a rather slim head of the caravan bowed his head to Alon.

“Thanks to you.”

“Oh, no, not at all-“

The caravan head, who kept bowing his head despite not having done much, handed Alon the items he had brought with a characteristic capitalist smile.

“……What is this?”

“Ah, these are items handled by our caravan. That over there is wine made in the Komur territory, and these are foods we sell, supplied from the Kalmian territory.”

“I see.”

“We brought them hoping you would try them.”

Alon lightly nodded at the excessive courtesy, bowing so low that his face almost touched the ground.

“I’ll enjoy it.”

“Yes-! Then please rest comfortably.”

Alon shrugged lightly as he watched the merchant leader bow repeatedly and disappear.

In the past, he wasn’t even treated properly as a noble, but these days, he was receiving quite a grand reception wherever he went.

This was because not only were there rumors about him, but also the fact that he was essentially the head of the most influential faction in the Asteria Kingdom.

Therefore, anyone who was even slightly aware of the kingdom’s political situation would try to get on Alon’s good side, becoming sycophants the moment they saw him.

‘Well, it’s only people moving around near the Asteria Kingdom, though.’

While shrugging his shoulders, he looked at the gift the merchant leader had given him in hopes of securing a new business route.

“Oh my- really?”

“Of course.”

At some point, Evan’s voice, who had finished preparing the camp and was talking with a woman on one side, reached his ears.

“Wow, that’s really amazing.”

“Haha- it’s not that difficult.”

As he watched the woman enthusiastically responding to Evan’s flattery, Alon soon realized her identity.

‘Is she the merchant leader’s daughter?’

He made a peculiar expression as he watched the affectionate pair.

‘There are a lot of women around these days.’

He had a rough idea why so many women were suddenly around Evan.

It was because of his own fame.

Being the only knight of the famous Count Palatio, most women were showing interest in Evan and approaching him.

Alon felt a strange emotion in this situation where it seemed like the bear did the tricks, but the trainer made the money, but he soon shrugged.

‘Well, he did go through a lot, so this much is fine.’

Alon thought anew as he watched Evan, who was laughing heartily with a ridiculous acting tone.

‘I wonder if Evan knows. That the merchant leader’s daughter’s eyes are like a hawk’s.’

There was no need to spoil the mood, so he sat by the campfire to avoid the now completely set sun and the gradually chilly weather.

“Delicious.”

The sweet potatoes Evan had prepared were very well cooked.

A week and a day later, in the early morning.

After almost a year, he could see the colony again.

‘Hmm-‘

The colony’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but since its appearance was unique from the beginning, the scenery still felt new to Alon.

As soon as he finished a brief greeting with the merchant leader and turned around.

“Master!”

He could feel the sensation of Seolang rushing towards him and hugging him tightly.

“Hello!”

Seolang greeted him brightly, clinging to him like a piece of gum.

“It’s been a while.”

“It’s been a while!”

Alon watched Seolang wagging his tail and bouncing around.

“Look at that. Isn’t that the Golden Flash?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Who is that person?”

“I think it’s Count Palatio.”

“Wow, no way. Is the Mad Dog really being that friendly?”

He noticed the small murmurs around him that were barely audible.

From noble mtl dot com

“Seolang.”

“Yes!”

“First, step back a bit.”

“Got it!”

At Alon’s words, Seolang immediately released his legs that were wrapped around his waist and stepped on the ground.

“Did I do well?”

“You did well.”

As he watched Seolang wagging his tail happily at the praise, the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Realizing this, Alon turned his gaze.

“……”

Everyone at the southern gate of the colony was staring at him with astonished expressions.

Even the merchant leader and his daughter, whom he had just greeted, had their mouths wide open.

‘……Is it really that surprising?’

In the overly quiet atmosphere, Alon looked around with a slightly confused expression.

Everyone had a look on their face as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing, as if they were trying to distinguish whether this was a dream or reality.

Alon was equally bewildered by their reactions.

Surely, a year ago, Seolang had not made such a fuss.

But now, the difference in their gazes was so stark that Alon could only look bewildered for a moment.

“Ahem-“

Clearing his throat out of awkwardness, Alon opened his mouth.

“Seolang, I want to go to the ruins immediately, is that possible?”

“Of course, it is!”

With Seolang’s words, Alon immediately climbed into the carriage.

Even as he climbed into the carriage and headed for the ruins, the expressions of the people remained in shock.

####

On the way to the forgotten ruins using the carriage Seolang had prepared.

Just like last time, they were moving under the protection of the Golden Mane Tribe, but Alon could sense a subtle difference.

‘Something feels different.’

Alon looked at Seolang.

Seolang was no different from a year ago.

The only difference was that her brilliantly shining golden hair had grown even longer, now reaching near her tailbone, but otherwise, she was much the same as before.

However, unlike Seolang, the Golden Mane Tribe escorting the carriage had a distinctly different atmosphere from a year ago.

‘They seemed a bit more friendly back then…’

Of course, that friendliness was directed towards Seolang, not Alon, but now, there was no trace of that light and welcoming demeanor.

As he watched them move, thoroughly monitoring their surroundings without a single idle word, Alon nodded, recalling what had happened to Seolang a year ago.

‘…I guess the betrayal back then hit them pretty hard?’

As Alon was thinking this and resolving to treat Seolang better so she wouldn’t go astray.

“Ah, Master!”

Suddenly, as if she had remembered something, Seolang called out to Alon, and he responded.

“What is it?”

“Can I ask you a favor!?”

Although slightly bewildered by the sudden question, Alon soon nodded.

“If it’s something I can do, by all means.”

Since going to the ruins comfortably was largely thanks to Seolang’s help, and he had just resolved to treat her better, he nodded.

Seolang smiled brightly and soon took out a piece of paper from her bosom and handed it to Alon.

And then.

“Give it to me-“

As Seolang extended her hand out of the carriage window, the artifact pen was promptly placed in her hand as if it had been waiting for her.

Seolang handed it over to Alon.

“Here, sign it.”

“Sign…?”

“Yes!”

She nodded eagerly, her expression full of anticipation.

She nodded so vigorously that her hair, which reached down to her tailbone, swung wildly.

At that, Alon thought, ‘Is she asking me to be a guarantor?’

As Alon looked down at the document nervously, he saw traces of content already filled in various parts of the complex document.

“…?”

With a puzzled expression, Alon looked at the top of the document.

“…Marriage registration form?”

“Sign it!”

“…”

He was at a loss for words.