I Became the Patron of Villains

Chapter 72

72. 格 (1)

“This is the place.”

As expected of one of the king’s guards, Maxim’s prayer was unusual, and Alon looked at the opening door.

“Go inside and take only one item you desire. However, if you are caught trying to sneak out more than one item-“

Maxim’s gaze turned to Alon.

“-unfortunate things may happen, so please be careful.”

It was a somewhat unpleasant warning, but Alon nodded lightly.

Because he understood Maxim.

‘There are always a few jokers among the warriors.’

Of course, there weren’t many bold enough to play tricks in the royal treasury, but he knew such warriors existed.

“You may enter.”

Without any particular emotion, Alon stepped inside the treasury.

“Oh-“

And involuntarily let out an exclamation.

Inside the treasury, as he had expected, there were countless items.

From swords, axes, and spears to jewelry and accessories, they were scattered all over the desks and the floor.

A place that truly deserved to be called a treasury.

However, Alon, without paying attention to those weapons or jewelry, moved to one corner without hesitation and began searching for an item.

Because he had already decided what he would take from here.

About 30 minutes later.

After rummaging through various places, Alon finally found the item he wanted.

“Hmm-“

What he found among the piles of jewelry and accessories was a small dagger.

No, to be precise, it was more like a longsword made for a dwarf, rather than a dagger.

It could certainly be used as a dagger, but the part that could be gripped was absurdly thin.

In other words, it couldn’t be used as a weapon and seemed to be only for decorative purposes, but he didn’t care and took the item.

‘The token of the blindfolded one’s contract.’

And he recalled the name of the item in his hand.

It was something he didn’t need to use right away.

After all, it could only be properly utilized after being liberated from Laxas along with the ring he received from Heinkel.

‘…Now that I’ve obtained everything I need, I just have to meet the Yongin tribe, listen to their explanation, and then leave for Laxas.’

With that, he left the treasure vault and returned to the king with Maxim, who had been waiting for him outside.

In his heart, he wanted to leave the uncomfortable royal castle as soon as possible since he had already obtained everything he needed, but he had to express his gratitude to the king as a formality.

Therefore.

‘How should I politely refuse the talk about his daughter?’

With such thoughts, he arrived at the place where the king was.

“…?”

He could sense a rather strange atmosphere.

Although it wasn’t as hearty as before he went to get the treasure, there was still a peculiar awkwardness in Karmakses, who was still smiling.

“Ah, Master!”

In contrast, Seolang, who was standing in front and seemed to have been talking with the king until a moment ago, was beaming as usual.

“Hmm, hmm- Have you chosen all the items?”

At Karmakses’ strangely awkward question, Alon bowed.

“Yes, thank you for your grace.”

“Good, then let’s proceed- Ah, ah- And let’s forget what I mentioned earlier. It was just a joke.”

“…? Ah, yes.”

Karmakses forced out a hearty laugh.

“Then I look forward to seeing you again next time.”

With those words, he sent Alon away.

“…?”

Without even a simple formality of showing the items he brought from the treasure vault and expressing his gratitude, the audience ended, leaving him bewildered.

“Seolang.”

“Hmm? Why, Master?”

And suddenly, another curiosity arose, so he asked the beaming Seolang.

“When you met the king, you didn’t seem to show any particular courtesy. Is that okay?”

“Huh? It’s fine?”

“……The king must have given permission.”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

Alon felt a strange sensation again as he watched Seolang nodding as if it was nothing.

‘……No matter how much of a Baba Yaga she is, shouldn’t she show respect to the king?’

Of course, since such details were not described in detail in Psychedelia, Alon, who could not know the truth, decided to lightly pass over the topic.

“Did you have any conversation with the king?”

“Um- just an ordinary conversation?”

“Ordinary……?”

“Just, you know- things like food, things to be mindful of…… stuff like that?”

“I see.”

“Yeah!”

With Seolang’s lively answer, Alon shrugged his shoulders as he got into the carriage.

‘Well…… if it was the same before, it doesn’t seem to be because of Seolang…… I guess the strange atmosphere was just my imagination.’

####

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The carriage Alon was riding in headed not to Seolang’s guild, but directly to the ruins outside the colony.

Having obtained everything he needed, it was now time to meet the dragonkin and hear the stories he hadn’t heard before.

Thus, without stopping by the guild, Alon headed to the destination with Seolang. It was only in the afternoon that they could arrive there.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

“Got it! I’ll be waiting, master!”

Seolang raised her hand and waved it side to side at Alon’s words.

With her farewell and the still whining voice of Sparrow, who was still begging to be made the successor, he reached the central tower.

[You have come? I have been waiting for you.]

As soon as he went upstairs this time too, he encountered it, which appeared with shelves full of books.

“Is there a time limit for the incarnation this time too?”

[You don’t have to worry about that part. There will be enough time to talk.]

“I see. But why didn’t you keep your promise?”

[……Promise?]

“You don’t intend to pretend you don’t know, do you?”

When Alon asked again with a tone as if he didn’t know, it made a sound like a caught animal and spoke softly.

[……Master, is it done now!?]

“That should suffice.”

[Why on earth did I make such a strange promise-!]

With a sigh, Alon responded, looking at Sparrow’s staff.

[Still, your execution is better than I thought. I didn’t expect you to have the staff already. Have you used magic?]

“Yes.”

[And the self-manifestation?]

“I succeeded, but it was more dangerous than necessary.”

Alon spoke calmly.

The dragonkin seemed momentarily stunned.

[To think you actually succeeded… It’s unbelievable.]

It let out a hollow laugh.

Then.

[Mage, you tell me. Did the wizard really succeed in self-manifestation?]

The dragonkin’s question was directed not at Alon, but at the staff, as if to confirm.

[Y-Yes, it’s true.]

“…?”

Alon looked puzzled.

The one who had been chattering noisily before entering the tower now answered in a very tense tone.

For a moment, Alon was confused by the behavior, which was completely different from the past few days, reminiscent of a mouse before a cat.

[Good, very good.]

It smiled as if it were very pleased, nodding several times.

[There are things I want to tell you and things you need to know right now, but everything has its order. Since there are already pending matters, let’s address those first.]

It looked at Alon.

[What are you curious about? I’ll tell you everything I can at this point.]

Alon pondered over its question.

There were so many things he wanted to ask, but now that the opportunity had come, he was unsure where to start.

After a while, Alon finally spoke.

“…You said before that to hear this story, one needs ‘rank.'”

[Indeed.]

“What do you mean by ‘rank’?”

He first brought up the topic of ‘rank’ with a question.

[Huh? Of course, it’s-]

The Yongsin tribe, looking puzzled but with a smile on their lips as if it was obvious.

[-Divine Rank, isn’t it?]

They uttered such words.

####

While Alon was listening to the story.

In the office of the royal palace of Colony, Carmaxes III let out a sigh, reflecting on the earlier events.

‘…It’s the first time I’ve seen such a diverse reaction.’

Carmaxes thought of Seolang.

Until now, he had never seen ‘that’ Seolang smiling brightly.

The face he had seen so far was basically expressionless.

Whether it was when they met at the Colosseum or at the royal palace.

Therefore, Seolang’s change of expression was quite fascinating to Carmaxes, though he didn’t show it.

But that wasn’t all.

‘Take it easy.’

Carmaxes recalled Seolang’s voice from earlier.

As soon as Count Palatio left, Seolang’s light-hearted expression disappeared, and she pronounced her sentence with a blank face.

“……”

Carmaxes recalled the moment, feeling as if he was suffocating, and let out a hollow laugh.

Such actions by Seolang were clearly acts of rebellion to anyone who saw them.

No matter how much she was the first Baba Yaga and accepted speaking informally, showing hostility to the king.

…Even emitting a chilling killing intent was an act that could be defined as rebellion by anyone.

However, despite Seolang’s actions, Carmaxes dared not say anything to her.

There were two reasons for this: one was that Carmaxes knew Seolang’s strength.

Not the strength known to the world as the first Baba Yaga and the Golden Flash. Her real power.

In the current situation where two Baba Yagas’ positions were still vacant in Colony, Seolang’s overwhelming power was absolutely necessary.

…And the other reason was that Carmaxes also knew that Count Palatio was Seolang’s mentor, yet he tried to exploit him using the king’s authority.

Marriage, in essence, is used as a political tool among the upper class.

In other words, presenting his daughter as a ‘gift’ to Count Palatio upon their first meeting was a proposal that would benefit Karmakses in some way.

If he refused the gift, Karmakses could use it as a pretext to hold a non-debt debt over him.

If he accepted, it would be good as he could leverage the fame of Count Palatio, who had recently become famous and was promising in the eyes of anyone.

His fame had been spreading quite widely even in the colonies recently.

Moreover, the main reason Karmakses wanted to bring him in was that Count Palatio was the mentor of the Baba Yaga, Seolang.

In other words, if he could bring him in as an ally, he would be able to handle the first Baba Yaga, who was difficult to control.

…Furthermore, knowing that he had a connection with Yutia Bloodia, who had been exerting great influence in the Holy Kingdom of Rosario recently, he had made such a proposal even if it was a bit of a stretch.

‘…I didn’t expect such strong resistance, even though he was his mentor.’

Karmakses thought of Seolang once again.

Of course, he knew that Seolang’s attitude towards him was not ordinary.

However, no matter how much he used informal speech, Seolang had never crossed the line more than necessary.

Therefore.

‘…Who exactly is he?’

Just as Karmakses was pondering about Alon with a puzzled look.

“Your Highness, the Cardinal requests an audience.”

“Let her in.”

At the voice coming from outside, Karmakses stopped his thoughts.

In fact, under normal circumstances, he would have continued his contemplation, but now that he needed the support of the Holy Kingdom, he was not in a position to refuse the Cardinal’s request.

That’s why he had to break the kingdom’s tradition last time and give one of the treasures from the treasury to her instead of a warrior.

“Your Majesty.”

Soon, the Cardinal of the Holy Kingdom, Yutia, entered and greeted him with a slight nod.

And as Karmakses naturally tried to return the greeting.

“…?”

He felt something strange.

It was because, during all the times they had met and talked about ‘support,’ she had never lost her smile, but now her lips were flat, and all expressions seemed to have disappeared.

‘Did something happen?’

Karmakses was momentarily bewildered.

Yutia, who had walked into the office expressionlessly, soon approached him.

“Your Majesty, I have heard something and would like to ask you about it, if that’s alright?”

“What is your question?”

“……It’s just that, I heard His Majesty was trying to give Count Palatio- no, the teacher, a troublesome gift, and I was wondering if that’s true-“

He opened his mouth.

Soon he could see.

Her red eyes.

Karmakses couldn’t read the emotions contained in those eyes.

Her eyes showed no emotion whatsoever.

In some ways, they seemed peaceful, and in other ways, they seemed indifferent.