I Became the Patron of Villains

206. Apostle (1)

The Hundred Ghosts, one of the four major forces in Psychedelia.

Alon knew quite a lot about them.

Unlike the Apostles.

The four major forces are groups that inevitably appear in the mid-game of Psychedelia.

They bring new tension to players whose levels have risen, aside from sin.

In fact, Alon knew quite a lot about the Hundred Ghosts among the four major forces.

No, in fact, any Psychedelia player would have to know the most about the Hundred Ghosts.

Basically, the four major forces are determined to be allies or enemies depending on the route the player takes and the choices they make.

Even if they are classified as enemies,

If you choose the right dialogue options or clear a few essential quests, you can avoid fighting them.

But the Hundred Ghosts were different.

No matter what choices or routes you take, they always appear as enemies.

Unlike the other four major forces, you can’t avoid combat through quests or dialogue.

In other words, when you encounter the Hundred Ghosts, you have to fight.

And as one of the four major forces, even their subordinates are incredibly strong, making them quite a challenge.

Moreover, the King of the Hundred Ghosts…

In the final stages, if the player and their companions are not near max level, it’s better to just hit save and load rather than face them.

Even setting aside this overwhelming power.

The reason why Hyakki remains the most vivid in every player’s mind is-

“Wow, this is really pathetic, is this all you can do? Boring.”

“I’ll kill you all. From here to there, from there to here, every single one- without exception!”

“You faced sin? So what? What does your facing sin have to do with my boredom?”

“It’s a festival, a festival-! Kill them all!”

It was because of their destructive personality.

Hyakki, and moreover, the King of Hyakki.

They were perceived by players as the very embodiment of ‘a complete lunatic’ with a mix of supreme arrogance and utter disregard for others.

They attacked players at any time without warning.

Not only did they destroy villages, but depending on the route, they could also annihilate Ashtalon or Caliburn.

Even the reason for destroying the kingdom was simply-

“Because it seemed fun.”

– based on such absurd amusement.

As a force that wreaked havoc without rest, Alon was extremely tense when Hyakki first appeared.

At least, if the ones who appeared before him were the Hyakki he knew, there was no way he would survive here.

However.

“Long time no see-!”

Seeing her greet him with a bright smile.

Alon couldn’t help but have countless question marks pop up in his mind.

It was a completely unexpected situation.

‘What?’

Feeling confused inside, Alon looked at the King of Hyakki.

With a face full of smiles, waving energetically as if genuinely happy to see him.

Anyone would think it was the reaction of someone excited to meet an old friend.

Alon glanced around.

Everyone’s eyes were on him.

Even those who had been indifferently following the King of Hyakki until just a moment ago.

Seeing their eyes widen as if witnessing a very strange sight, Alon confirmed.

“What is that-”

Out of habit, he almost blurted out those words but stopped.

Because he realized that this situation might be an opportunity.

‘The King of the Hundred Ghosts is mistaken.’

Alon judged that the King of the Hundred Ghosts was clearly mistaken.

Whether it was a misunderstanding about the Thunder Receiver Kalanon, or some other misunderstanding.

She was now mistaking him for someone else.

Alon had never once faced the King of the Hundred Ghosts.

In the first place, it was not a situation where he could meet her.

‘Now, I have to use that.’

Alon swallowed the words he was about to say.

In fact, he wanted to respond to the greeting with a question.

But if the King of the Hundred Ghosts realized that she was mistaken, he might face death immediately.

No, he would surely be killed instantly.

He swallowed once and then said,

“It’s been a while……”

“!”

He looked at the Hundred Ghosts, matching her tone.

The King of the Hundred Ghosts, her face brightening with joy, as anyone could see.

In the game, the King of the Hundred Ghosts always expressed only negative emotions, such as being bored with everything or frowning.

But now, she smiled like a child, as if she had no worries in the world.

Alon was momentarily dazed and then suddenly realized one thing.

‘Her hair, black?’

It was that the King of the Hundred Ghosts’ hair was black.

Originally, Alon knew it to be white, so he was puzzled-

‘A different person?’

He soon shook his head.

Except for the hair color.

Her face was the same as the King of the Hundred Ghosts he had seen in Psychedelia.

What is this, why has the hair color changed…?

“Wow- what’s with the boss smiling? If someone saw, they’d think it’s a lover they haven’t met in hundreds of years-“

BoooM-!!!

…That’s right.

It is indeed the King of the Hundred Ghosts.

The blue-skinned man was being cheeky, but then he was sent flying by the punch from the King of the Hundred Ghosts, crashing into the forest and destroying it.

Alon quietly nodded.

Seeing that brutal hand, he knew it was the being he was familiar with.

At that moment, when all his small doubts were washed away.

“Hmm-“

“!”

The King of the Hundred Ghosts had already reached right in front of Alon’s eyes.

She approached so quickly that he couldn’t even notice.

With a face full of interest, as if observing something, she stared intently at Alon.

“Black one.”

She spat out those words.

Alon couldn’t understand, but he knew it was a question with some meaning.

Instinctively, Alon realized that it was a question the King of the Hundred Ghosts asked to confirm something, but he couldn’t easily open his mouth.

Because he knew all too well that his life depended on this one answer.

However, knowing that his head would fly off if he didn’t answer quickly, Alon tried to open his mouth somehow.

“Hmm-“

He soon hesitated again at her changed expression.

As if she had realized something.

The bright smile from a moment ago disappeared, replaced by a strange expression on the King of the Hundred Ghosts’ face.

Seeing that, Alon felt an instinctive sense of crisis.

“Indeed- not yet.”

“…?”

The King of the Hundred Ghosts muttered so quietly that even Alon, who was right in front of her, couldn’t hear, and then turned her body.

And then.

“Let’s go-“

Unlike before, he began to lead his subordinates into the forest, his voice leisurely drawn out.

“No, what kind of person comes to meet and just leaves-“

The blue-skinned man, who had been stuck in the forest earlier, joined the ranks, his body covered in dust.

Despite the tremendous attack, he scratched his head as if it was nothing.

Everyone here thought he was an unusual character due to his shameless demeanor.

Boom-!

As soon as he joined the ranks, the man was once again sent flying through the air by the girl’s punch.

He crashed back into the forest, destroying the surroundings.

“See you next time-“

Baek-gwi shrugged nonchalantly and returned to the forest as if nothing had happened.

And Alon and his party…

“…???”

For a while, they could only stare blankly at the spot where Baek-gwi had disappeared, amidst the corpses of the mutants.

Right after Baek-gwi disappeared.

Alon began to prepare to return to the Principality of Luxible, taking with him the black shimmering object that Kraksha had and the horn that Kalanon had requested.

“…So this is why it was okay to enter Baek-gwi’s territory.”

“…”

Reinhardt’s question was met with silence.

The reason Alon had said it was okay to enter Baek-gwi’s territory was not what Reinhardt had guessed, but because of the characteristics of the Baek-gwi.

Basically, they didn’t move much unless it was night.

Even if they did, they only moved when someone actually entered their territory.

They wouldn’t come to catch someone just for briefly stepping on the border.

But to appear like this and then retreat without any action…

Alon hadn’t foreseen this situation either.

‘…What on earth?’

Alon thought once again of the king of the Baek-gwi.

There were more than a few strange things.

‘It seemed like she had realized it was a misunderstanding.’

Her final appearance.

Even if she didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding it was, it was clear she had realized something.

Yet despite that.

Baekgwi left Alon without saying a word.

Leaving behind the words, ‘See you next time.’

‘…What on earth?’

Thus, Alon had been pondering ever since he got on the carriage.

But he couldn’t come up with any plausible guesses.

There wasn’t enough information to properly grasp the situation.

While his thoughts continued.

Soon, as he finished preparing to return and got on the carriage, Alon was.

“Marquis.”

“Why do you ask…”

“You look unwell.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

“But you’re a god, aren’t you? Shouldn’t you not be in pain?”

Evan asked subtly, puzzled.

“…A god?”

“Yes, there’s a rumor spreading widely outside. Even the knights of Caliban are calling you Kalanon.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Otherwise, how would I know without following you?”

“That’s true.”

“So, is it true this time?”

Evan asked as if it were a formality.

Alon shrugged after a moment of thought.

“…About half?”

“…If it’s true, it’s true, if it’s not, it’s not. What do you mean by about half?”

“There are some circumstances.”

“Even if I ask, you won’t tell me, will you?”

“I’ll tell you once the work is done.”

“Wow…”

Evan’s face suddenly filled with emotion.

“…What’s with that expression all of a sudden?”

“No, I really thought you wouldn’t say a word until you died. I’m just a bit moved that you’ll tell me later.”

Alon felt a change of heart at Evan’s overwhelming reaction.

“Let’s forget about telling you.”

“Hey, why are you like this? I even brought a gift.”

“A gift?”

Evan then took out a deer’s antler from his coat and handed it to Alon.

“It’s the antler you mentioned earlier, Marquis.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing, I didn’t dig it up myself, just brought it along.”

The moment Alon received Evan’s antler.

“Ah.”

[Oh, thank goodness.]

Alon could once again meet Kalannon, the one who receives lightning.

However.

[First, don’t ask questions and just listen, okay? I don’t have much time now.]

“…What? Suddenly?”

[It’s not sudden, I’ve used up all my divine power, so I won’t be able to contact you for a while.]

She urgently spread her small fingers and counted something alone before explaining.

[First of all, I used all the divine power I had gathered in this battle.]

“All of it?”

[Yes, all of it. You probably won’t be able to use divine power for a while.]

“Isn’t divine power gathered through faith?”

[That’s right. It’s probably gathering again even now. But the absolute number is small, right? It takes some time to gather again. Ahem- And it had to be a bit flashy too.]

“…It had to be flashy?”

[Right? I needed a bit of impact to survive too. Well, I didn’t use that much, just made the antler. Of course, there was some lightning too- but that’s about it.]

“…Don’t tell me that antler was just for decoration?”

[It’s more like my lifeline than a decoration… Yes… It’s like a desperate struggle not to be forgotten…]

For some reason, Alon asked in a voice that seemed to be tinged with moisture.

“Is that enough?”

[As long as the symbolism of the horn continues, I won’t disappear either. I’ve made the impact strong. Ahem- Anyway, that’s not the problem-]

Kalanon continued, looking at Alon.

[Please gather faith again as soon as possible. Only then can I properly teach you how to handle divinity.]

“…I’ll try,”

[Ah, but don’t go overboard and start something just to gather faith again!]

“Why not?”

[There are various reasons, but- First of all, there’s no time, so I’ll explain that later. Just one more favor.]

“What is it?”

[You know the statues? The things you’re gathering faith with right now.]

“Mm-hmm-“

As if to say, “Go on,” Alon nodded, and Kalanon cautiously opened his mouth.

[If it’s not too much trouble… Could you add some horns to them?]

“Add horns?”

[I have to make a living too…]

Rumble-

The moment Kalanon sighed, the world began to collapse.

[Oh, time’s already up-! Anyway, please, I’m begging you. It’s surprisingly really important! Please!]

Kalanon, who had been pleading like a machine gun, disappeared.

“Marquis.”

“…Huh?”

“Why do you suddenly look so dazed?”

Soon, Alon realized he had returned to reality, seeing Evan looking at him with a puzzled expression.

‘…Add horns?’

He quietly sighed, thinking as he stared at the horn in his hand.

‘That might be… a bit difficult.’

####

The next day.

Without being able to properly ask Kalanon anything.

Alon woke up in the morning with a sick body.

As soon as he got up, he headed to the audience chamber to meet King Pamilono.

Because of the request Kalanon had made the day before.

Even if it wasn’t an easy task, it couldn’t just be ignored.

‘…Still, it doesn’t seem like it will be easy.’

Asking to attach horns to an already made statue.

It was a difficult request for Alon to make.

And it was likely to be an awkward and difficult task for the recipient as well.

Because it was practically the same as asking to remake the statue.

Therefore, Alon, who arrived at the audience chamber with a slightly worried heart.

“Great one, I greet you, Kalanon.”

“…”

He could see.

Coming down from the throne-

“Ah, please sit.”

Politely inviting him to sit on the throne while bowing deeply.

King Pamilono.

Alon,

“…”

His head again.

Started to feel slightly dizzy.