I Became the Patron of Villains

73. Rank (2)

“……Divinity, you say?”

[Yes, divinity. What else could it be?]

Alon showed a puzzled expression at the words of the dragonkin.

He too had once thought of divinity when he heard the words of the ancient supernatural being, but he had denied the thought himself.

The reason was obvious, there was no reason for divinity to arise within him.

Therefore, Alon, who was pondering, soon opened his mouth and asked a question.

“Then, why did you tell me to deal with the foreign god?”

[I don’t understand the point of your question?]

“Didn’t you say that I had to deal with the foreign god to hear the story? But as far as I know, divinity is not something you can obtain by killing a god, right?”

In the setting he knew, in Psychedelia, killing a god did not allow one to obtain or absorb that rank.

In other words, killing the foreign god in Lartania would not raise one’s ‘rank’.

[Well, you’re not wrong. An ordinary human cannot absorb divinity even if they kill a god.]

It nodded coolly in response.

“Then why on earth-“

[However-]

Alon, who seemed to not understand, tried to speak,

[-That is only when the one who killed the god was an ordinary ‘human’.]

“What…?”

When Alon asked again, it turned its tail into a question mark and seemed to ponder something before speaking.

[Let me ask you the opposite. Why do you think humans do not gain stature even if they kill a god?]

“…That’s-“

[That’s because humans do not possess stature. To put it more simply, it means they do not have a ‘vessel’.]

It continued.

[In other words, if there is a ‘vessel’, humans can also contain stature.]

“…A vessel, you say-“

[When I say vessel, it’s not something grand, it’s just- faith.]

“Faith…?”

It thought for a moment, then opened its mouth as if it had found the right word.

[For mortals, it would be more relatable to call it faith.]

“…So, if there is faith, even an ordinary human can gain divine stature.”

[That’s right. And you possess ‘faith’. That’s why I told you to deal with that one. Because you can contain a little bit of stature.]

How about it, does that answer your question? It propped its chin, and Alon was still bewildered.

“I understand the words, but why do I have faith?”

[Don’t you think it’s strange to ask me that part?]

“…That’s true, but could you be mistaken?”

[No way, you definitely have stature. If you had neither a vessel nor stature, you wouldn’t be able to face me properly even now.]

“…That’s true.”

Alon nodded at its words.

However, his head was still tilted to one side.

‘…Is it because of my fame?’

Even by his own judgment, he could now say that he had become quite famous in the United Kingdom.

Not to the extent that people could recognize him just by looking at his face, but enough to know his name when mentioned.

But, that was merely fame, not faith.

‘…That can’t be. Why do I have faith?’

Alon, who was frowning, soon stopped his thoughts.

He realized that this was not the kind of problem he could solve right now.

‘Is there something else I need to find out?’

Alon focused on the part where he had gained rank and asked a question.

“Then, do I also gain supernatural abilities?”

As far as he knew, the gods of this world would gain ‘supernatural abilities’ if they were recognized as gods.

The supernatural abilities obtained through divinity were mostly considered to be fraudulent abilities by anyone.

So, he wondered if he could also gain such abilities, and looked at it with hopeful circuits running in his mind.

[Unfortunately, your divinity is not that high.]

“…Is there a rank even among divinities?”

[Isn’t that obvious? To put it bluntly, your divinity is- to explain it, it would be like a local deity in a remote area with a population of less than five hundred.]

“I must have annihilated at least two foreign gods…”

[Just because you annihilated two gods doesn’t mean you can absorb all their rank. Besides- strictly speaking, it wasn’t annihilation, but a temporary removal.]

“I see…”

He sighed briefly at the continuing explanation.

The dragonkin continued with a slightly peculiar feeling.

[By the way, it’s a bit strange. The reason you were able to capture the god of monstrous strength just before its manifestation was because you had rank, but you didn’t know you had rank?]

“Ah.”

Alon realized anew why he was able to capture the god of monstrous strength just before its manifestation and answered with a low exclamation.

“…That’s right.”

[It’s curious. No, in the first place-]

-There must be more than a few things that can’t be established without ‘rank’- how could you not know that?

It muttered softly, so softly that Alon couldn’t hear it.

“I can’t hear you well.”

[Ah, it’s nothing.]

Realizing something, the dragonkin passed it off, saying they would talk about it next time.

[Well, actually, that’s not important. What’s important here is that you have gained at least the minimum rank to see the truth.]

It shrugged its shoulders.

[Let’s continue the Q&A for now. What else are you curious about?]

And with that question, Alon asked his next question.

####

Starting with the rank, he asked it one by one about the questions he had organized regarding faith.

He had a lot of questions right now.

However, unfortunately, out of all those numerous questions, there was only one that Alon received a proper answer to.

The term referring to the forgotten great god’s hand and the mystic ‘sorcerer’.

That was it. In fact, he didn’t get any other information.

“……If you can’t answer this much, does it mean that obtaining the rank was meaningless?”

Alon said in a tone of disbelief behind his expressionless face, but it just shrugged its shoulders and replied.

[Don’t think too much about it, it’s not that I don’t want to answer.]

“……Then why don’t you tell me? About the true name, about the one who inherits the will, and even the reason why the monstrous spirits sent me here.”

As Alon brought out the things he had organized to ask, it replied.

[There are two reasons.]

“Let’s hear them.”

From noble mtl dot com

[First, your questions are essentially one encompassing story. In other words, once you ‘see’ it, your doubts will be resolved even if I don’t explain.]

“……Once I see?”

[Since you have obtained the rank, you will now be able to see it. If you go to the ‘abyss’, that is.]

“……Not answering here but going to the abyss?”

[Yes, go there and look into the truth. Then you will know everything about what you asked, so your actions are not meaningless.]

In the first place, if you don’t obtain the rank, you won’t have the right to see the truth. Looking at it, Alon replied.

“Is that the reason for not answering? Because I’ll know everything once I see it anyway?”

[No, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you just because it’s bothersome.]

“Then?”

At Alon’s question, it was silent for a moment and then sighed softly.

[Because they are watching.]

“They, are?”

[Yes, in the darkness without a single point of light, gnawing at the roots of history, pushing the past into the abyss, those who destroyed the age of gods-]

The humanoid clicked its tongue briefly and said.

[-will rise again.]

“…….”

[That is why I cannot speak of the past myself.]

Alon stared at it intently.

Its face was merely distinguished by eyes, nose, and mouth in black and white, but even that was enough to know it was not lying.

“……How do I get to that place called the deep sea?”

At that question, it handed Alon a necklace with a black wooden pattern, as if it had been waiting.

“What is this?”

[Take it to the last remaining mermaid on the shore at the eastern end, and it will naturally guide you there.]

At its continued words, Alon quietly looked at the necklace and nodded.

If it was the shore at the eastern end, it was where he had to visit Raxas after this meeting anyway.

“Let’s go.”

[You have made a wise decision.]

As he was about to turn away, Alon remembered something and looked back at it.

[Why do you hesitate?]

“Come to think of it, there is one more question I haven’t asked yet.”

[Ask, and if I can answer, I will.]

“……According to the words of the strange powers, I have been recognized by the black and the blue. Can you tell me what that means?”

Alon’s question.

At that, it looked at Alon with a hum?

As time passed.

[Ah- Ah, indeed-]

It smiled as if realizing something and nodded.

[Just think of it as being recognized by a great god.]

“……?”

With that, the conversation ended.

[Oh, by the way, if you are willing, leave Sparrow’s staff behind, and I will make it useful. But you can only get it back in about two years.]

“……Two years? Why?”

[It will take that long for that guy to make it useful and for me to gather enough strength to have a proper conversation again.]

“……Is that so?”

[Yes.]

Shortly after.

[Ah, well, I really like being by Alon’s side, but I think I could assist a bit more-]

Alon, who was looking at Sparrow’s staff with a very earnest murmur, though his eyes were not visible.

“Do so.”

[Eh? Wait, hold on? Alon? No, Count? Hello????]

As he was about to turn his body after letting go of Sparrow’s staff.

[Ah, wait. One more thing- I have something to tell you.]

“Something to tell me?”

[Yes, it’s about your magic. Just listen to this before you go. It won’t take long.]

It began to speak again.

####

Right after hearing the story of the dragon people.

Alon, who had joined Seolang, who had been waiting for quite a long time, and returned to the colony, began preparing to go to Raksas the next day.

…Actually, there wasn’t much to prepare.

Since he was going to move with the caravan departing today, all he needed to pack was food and a few items to prepare for any emergency situations.

Therefore, it didn’t take long to finish the preparations, and around that time, Yutia, who heard that Alon was leaving the colony, came to visit.

However, what could be considered unexpected was.

“…?? What brings the king here…?”

“I wanted to see you off.”

King Karmakses III of the colony also personally came to the north gate with soldiers to see Alon off.

Moreover-

“…What is this?”

“I heard it’s a gift for you, teacher.”

“…A gift for me?”

“Yes. Right, Your Majesty?”

-Two carriages filled to the brim with gold and silver treasures.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a gift from me.”

Alon looked at Karmakses, who answered Yutia’s words.

Feeling strange for a moment as his laughter seemed much more hearty than before, Alon replied.

“…This seems a bit excessive, though.”

Alon was not fundamentally averse to money.

As someone who believed that the more money, the better, the sight of the carriage piled high with gold and silver treasures made his jaw drop.

However, even so, that carriage was clearly too much for Alon to accept.

It was too much to be considered just a gift given out of favor.

Especially considering that the one bestowing the gift was royalty, it was clear that there was some political intention that he hadn’t even thought of, so he subtly declined the king’s gift.

“Haha, don’t be so reserved and just accept it comfortably.”

“No, but this is-”

“Don’t worry, it’s purely because I like you, without any ulterior motives. I really want you to accept it. Really, ‘must’ accept it. ‘Must’…”

“…?”

Seeing Karmakxes speaking with a smile, somehow looking really earnest, Alon could only nod awkwardly.

And so, that day, Alon participated in the crossing with two carriages loaded with gold and silver treasures.

A small smile appeared on Yutia’s lips as she watched Alon leave.

And.

“I feel good because it seems like the negotiations will go well in a good direction.”

“Yes, indeed.”

Facing Yutia’s red eyes, Karmakxes reviewed once again the fact he realized yesterday.

…That Count Palatio must never be touched, no matter what.

‘Tiring…’

…The magic herb he quit 13 years ago flickered before Karmakxes’ eyes.