I Became the Patron of Villains

207. Apostle (2)

Alon felt dizzy in a situation completely reversed from common sense.

He, a noble of another country, was sitting on the throne.

And the owner of this throne, King Pamilono, was bowing deeply below.

If someone asked if this was a normal situation.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he would have to shake his head left and right.

####

Naturally, Alon did not want to sit on the throne either.

There was nothing to gain, and he had something to ask for, but to dethrone the king?

If anything, he wanted to stop it if he could.

Yet, the reason he was sitting here.

It was because of the persistent King of Pamilono.

‘…It’s fine.’

‘I am fine too. Please, I beg of you.’

‘No, it’s just that- I don’t see why I have to sit-‘

‘No, Marquis, you must sit.’

…To be precise, it was because of Jenira and Sirkal standing behind him.

Anyone could see it as a threat.

“Hoo-“

Alon looked down.

Evan, standing next to the king, laughing as if it was no big deal.

Ignoring that expression, Alon asked the king.

“…I have a favor to ask first.”

“Please, ask anything.”

The king bowed his head politely.

Alon felt uncomfortable once again.

A noble sitting on the throne.

The king bowing below.

No matter how you looked at it, it was abnormal.

But he roughly understood the situation.

Alon decided to finish his request as quickly as possible.

“Hmm-“

“Yes-“

“The statue…”

“The statue, you mean the statue of Kalanon the Thunderstruck…?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, yes, the statue of Marquis- I mean, Kalanon the Thunderstruck, is there a problem with it?”

“No, it’s not a problem. It’s just-“

Alon stopped speaking there, unconsciously closing his mouth.

Of course, he knew.

The moment he asked for anything, the king would grant it.

In other words, the burden of asking was at least alleviated.

But even so, the reason Alon stopped speaking was.

‘It’s harder to say than I thought.’

Because it was embarrassing.

To ask for horns to be added to the statue of Kalanon…

If the Thunder Receiver Kalanon had nothing to do with Alon, it wouldn’t matter, but-

“Please, say anything.”

There was no need to go far.

Just by looking at their eyes, he could tell.

To them, Alon was now.

The Thunder Receiver Kalanon himself.

In other words, even if it wasn’t intentional.

The request to add horns to the statue.

Was like a child’s tantrum asking to make his statue look cooler.

‘…It’s embarrassing.’

He couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

“If it’s about not properly creating the figure of Kalanon, we will remake it.”

“…Please do. That-“

“Yes, we will remake it and include the majestic horns…!”

Thanks to the quick-witted Sircal, the addition of the horns was naturally agreed upon.

Alon nodded calmly, feeling grateful to her.

He was finally able to leave the throne…

Two days later.

Alon headed to Caliburn to go to the snowy mountains.

In fact, he wanted to rest for a few more days.

But he had to leave the Duchy of Luxible as quickly as possible.

Ever since Alon defeated the Apostle of Sloth.

Everyone would prostrate themselves the moment they saw his face…

It was too overwhelming to stay there.

He quickly escaped from the principality.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t completely escape the discomfort.

It was because of the knights of Caliburn.

The moment Alon stepped out of the carriage, they would all bow their heads deeply.

A new burden was slowly creeping in.

No, he just stepped out of the carriage to have dinner.

If those who were eating suddenly stood up and bowed their heads with the most solemn expressions?

…It was incredibly uncomfortable, more than he had imagined.

In fact, more than anything.

“Marquis, would you like to try this?”

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. If you need anything else, please let me know anytime.”

The highlight was the Macallian siblings visiting the carriage every hour to care for Alon.

Deus had always done so whenever they met, so he had gotten somewhat used to it.

The problem was his sister, Silly.

Since Alon saved her, she hadn’t missed a single day visiting him, asking if he was uncomfortable and bringing him three meals a day.

As if they had coordinated, they came separately.

Alon was receiving greetings from the Macallian siblings almost every 30 minutes.

“…Aren’t you working too hard?”

“Working hard? Thanks to you, Marquis, I’m alive.”

Silly smiled brightly.

Seeing her, Alon said.

“Even so, it seems like you’re still working hard… If you have any requests, let me know. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“Really?”

Surprised by his light suggestion, she widened her eyes and asked again.

“Yes.”

When he nodded, she started to fidget, looking shy.

Alon was momentarily confused.

‘No, what kind of request…?’

Contrary to his worries, Silly’s request was simpler than he thought.

“Could you… just give me an autograph?”

“…An autograph?”

“Yes,”

“…You mean a signature?”

“Yes…!”

…Why a signature? Alon wondered briefly.

He received the paper from Evan and signed it.

“Is this enough…?”

“…! Yes, yes, it’s more than enough, Marquis!”

“But, why did you ask for a signature?”

Of course,

There was no particular culture of autographs in this world.

Even in modern times, it was rare to exchange autographs unless you were a celebrity.

To Alon’s question, Silly answered with a beaming smile.

“I want to keep it as a family heirloom…!”

“Heirloom…?”

“Yes! Thank you so much!”

Bowing deeply, Silly clutched the autograph to her chest as if it were a treasure and ran out.

Soon after,

“Brother, look at this! It’s the Marquis’s autograph!”

“Gasp-“

“…”

Hearing the commotion outside the carriage, Alon felt embarrassed once again.

“Marquis, you must be pleased. You even have a fanatic now.”

“…Not particularly.”

“Is that so?”

Evan asked subtly.

“Rather, it’s embarrassing.”

“Hmm- I think it would be really good-“

[Hmph, only a guy like you who twists his body to get a girl would like it.]

“……This b*stard, didn’t come out in the principality, but as soon as he left the principality, he popped out?”

Basiliora, who didn’t miss the opportunity and popped out.

[Hmph- I just don’t want to see their faces.]

“It wasn’t that you didn’t want to see them, but you didn’t want to be ignored because you shrank.”

[Kuk-]

Basiliora, making a face as if he had been hit in the mark.

[Kyuu-]

As if interested in Basiliora, who came out after a long time.

Then Kamang also popped out from Alon’s chest.

For a moment, feeling pleased inside as he looked at them.

‘Hmm-‘

Alon looked at the well-decorated horn on one side of the carriage.

The horn that Kalanon had asked him to take care of.

‘……I have a lot of questions, but when will I be able to talk to her again?’

He had quite a few questions for her.

He was curious if Kalanon and Baekgui were related.

He was also curious why she told him he needed faith but not to gather faith recklessly.

Above all, he was most curious about the detailed usage of divine power.

‘……Can I talk to her after the divine power has recovered to some extent?’

Now very accustomed to contemplating his inner self, Alon.

Confirming the very faintly beginning to regenerate divine power of Kalanon, he thought of her for a while.

####

Dark night.

Under the quiet night sky where everyone was asleep.

Deus, who was in the carriage, silently looked at Silly, who was asleep beside him.

Smiling at the sight of his younger sister, who was sleeping while holding the paper with Alon’s signature as if it were precious, he soon turned his gaze to the carriage behind.

The carriage where Alon was staying.

“…….”

Deus suddenly recalled a few days ago.

The time when he could have lost everything.

But, conversely, the time when he saved everything.

‘……If the Marquis hadn’t come then.’

Deus would have lost the world.

The knights.

His sister.

His honor.

Everything.

But he.

He protected everything that was almost lost because of that damned b*stard.

Even.

He deliberately didn’t deal with that guy, giving Deus time and advice so he could take revenge himself.

But even so.

Deus ultimately couldn’t take revenge.

Because he was lacking.

Squeeze-!

Deus unknowingly clenched his fist tightly.

He thought he had become somewhat stronger.

But still, it wasn’t enough.

He was too weak.

He couldn’t properly take revenge on the one he needed to.

And he was protected by him again.

‘I must become stronger.’

Deus gritted his teeth.

To become stronger and stronger, to the point where he could become his sword.

And further, to the point where he could protect him.

He must become stronger.

The one who called him family.

And to repay the one who has bestowed endless grace upon me until now.

“……”

A dark night.

Under the quiet night sky where everyone is asleep.

Deus silently made a vow.

The blue moon shone upon him.

####

A colossal altar that has existed since ancient times, like a pyramid.

Inside the altar guarded by the great Lizardman tribe, Karambal.

“I greet the Great One.”

Kurak, who bowed his head.

[Ah, it’s been a while-]

Hazard, who leisurely received Kurak’s polite greeting.

A being that Kurak could barely recognize by form and expression.

Hazard skipped the formalities and got straight to the point.

[So, did you find out?]

“Yes.”

[How was it?]

“As you expected, it was indeed him.”

[Really?]

Hazard smiled as if very pleased with Kurak’s assertion.

However.

“But- there is an additional matter I must report.”

[What is it?]

With a puzzled expression at the following words.

He soon heard in detail from Kurak about what happened when he visited Marquis Palatio.

[So, the divine power felt the same, but he himself denied it- is that what you’re saying?]

“Yes.”

After pondering for a moment.

[Indeed-]

He nodded as if he understood.

[I’m not sure why you denied it, but well- it doesn’t matter. After all, I know someone who would know.]

“Are you talking about the elves?”

[Yes.]

Elves.

At Hazard’s answer, Kurak bowed his head again and stepped forward.

“Then, I will go and check it out.”

[No. There’s no need for that.]

“…Then?”

[I will go myself.]

“…Yourself, you say?”

[Yes. To hear exactly what the situation is from my friend-]

Hazard thought of the Elf Queen,

[After all, if I am to assign a guard to my friend, I must discuss it with the elves in advance.]

He leisurely rose to his feet.

On his face-

[We can exclude the shabby elves who are unfit to guard my friend.]

There was a smile that seemed very pleased.