I Became the Patron of Villains

195. Usage (1)

Alon doesn’t know much about ‘Kurak the Engraved.’

After all, Kurak is a character with scam-level power born for DLC promotion.

Alon, who took pride in not buying the DLC due to Psychedelia’s difficulty, had no need to know about him.

Naturally, the information about him was very thin.

‘The only things I know are that the one inside that black armor is a lizardman and that he’s strong.’

Just those two things.

Knowing no more than that, Alon was even more puzzled.

Why Kurak was bowing his head to him in such a manner.

He couldn’t even begin to guess the reason.

So, he looked at the Duke of Merkilian to get a clue.

“???”

…The Duke was wide-eyed, looking back and forth between Alon and Kurak, utterly bewildered.

In the end.

“…What does that mean?”

“Just as I said. The great one’s friend has truly been reincarnated!”

“Re-reincarnated?”

Despite asking, Kurak kept repeating the same words to his liking.

And the Duke of Merkilian began to have a strange misunderstanding.

Seeing the two, Alon hurriedly spoke up.

“…Sorry, but I think there’s some misunderstanding. I don’t know anything about the great one you’re talking about, let alone about you.”

Alon spoke the truth.

“…?”

At that, Kurak tilted his head, looking at Alon with a puzzled expression.

As if thinking, ‘Did I really make a mistake?’

However, it was only for a moment.

“Ha ha-”

Kurak burst into hearty laughter once again.

“You don’t have to test me, friend of that great one! Even though I am merely a mortal, I have received power from that great one to discern your rank.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did Alon realize.

What Kurak was seeing.

Indeed, he had a ‘rank’.

But Alon didn’t think his rank was related to the Lizardmen.

After all, the land of the Lizardmen was beyond the territory of the Elves, in Granif.

Yes, that was certainly the case…

‘I thought it had nothing to do with the primordial Elves, but considering it was connected – could it also be related to the Lizardmen?’

A fleeting thought.

However.

“Anyway, since the confirmation is over, I shall take my leave! The great one will be pleased!”

“…”

Before he could organize his thoughts.

Kurak bid farewell.

Alon thought about asking something but remained silent.

Because by now, he had slowly realized.

No matter what he said, Kurak, who was laughing heartily, would not believe him easily.

Moreover.

There was no need to explain everything, from his visit to Granif to the process of obtaining his rank, right here.

Although Siyan had requested it, and Alon had visited comfortably.

Strictly speaking, the United Kingdom and the Allied Races were not in a very good relationship.

Even if it was just Kurak, let alone the Duke of Merkiland.

There was no reason to bring up detailed stories.

Therefore.

“Then I shall visit again with the letter from that great one-!”

“Ah- well, I shall take my leave now, Marquis.”

Alon did not stop Kurak and Duke Merkilran from leaving.

Soon after they left the territory.

“Marquis.”

“Why.”

“I don’t know who it is, but how does it feel to be friends with someone truly great?”

“…It’s complicated.”

Alon pretended to ask himself,

“I think it would be complicated too. What if it’s someone like Basiliora?”

[? Why is he suddenly picking a fight with me?]

“I’m not picking a fight, just stating a fact.”

[This guy- I should have swallowed him whole when I had the chance-!!]

Watching Evan naturally pick a fight with Basiliora.

He shook his head.

####

A day later.

Alon, who was about to handle the piled-up work at the Marquis’ house, was quite surprised.

Because the amount to be handled was much less than he thought.

He was momentarily bewildered, but soon found out the reason.

“Radan took on the work?”

“Yes, sir.”

Unlike the last time he saw him, Alexion was clearly haggard.

Seeing him, Alon let out a low exclamation.

‘Come to think of it, he did mention something like that on his birthday.’

Radan had confidently assured, ‘There are people who can do it well!’

As if to prove his words.

Alexion had neatly handled various documents.

As a result, Alon only had to give the final approval.

‘Indeed, he seems to be good at his job… though he looks extremely tired.’

Contrary to his indifferent face, Alon felt a bit of pity inside.

His appearance was quite a mess.

‘Hmm, where have I seen that complexion before? Ah- Penia was like that too.’

Well, anyway.

I didn’t want to return to that dreadful work hell.

“Then, please take care of it.”

“I will do my best.”

I couldn’t let go of the talent that rolled in on its own(?).

Alexion nodded with a bizarre expression that was hard to tell if it was a smile or a cry.

Still, I had to properly compensate him.

“Since you’re taking on such a tough job, I’ll give you a fair reward. Hmm- how about this?”

Alon slyly handed over a paper.

Alexion, still with a gloomy expression, checked the paper.

“I will do my best-!!”

He even gave a salute as if he was about to jump up.

Although it was the same sentence as before, the nuance was filled with genuine enthusiasm.

‘Indeed, money is good.’

Alon felt the power of money.

After parting ways with the delighted Alexion,

Since the work was finished quickly, Alon thought of going to see Penia right away.

He suddenly turned his gaze and looked out the window.

There it was.

Still there.

Occupying the center of the territory since his birthday.

…To be honest, it was still a bit, no, very embarrassing-

A giant statue.

At that moment.

“Marquis, what are you doing?”

“Hmm? Well, just- admiring the statue.”

“Ah, Marquis, do you know? I heard a rumor when I returned to the Marquisate this time.”

Evan, who had approached unnoticed, whispered eerily.

“That statue’s eyes sometimes move, you know.”

“…The eyes move?”

“Yes.”

“Is it a ghost story?”

“It spread like a ghost story, but it seems like more people have seen it recently.”

Alon stared at the statue’s eyes.

‘…If that thing moves, it would be truly terrifying.’

The diamond eyes were somewhat unsettling no matter how many times he looked at them.

“Well, since it appeared suddenly, a ghost story or two might stick to it.”

“Probably.”

“…Oh, by the way, what happened to that thing? The one Radan brought.”

“Oh, that one? I released it into the pond in the garden.”

“…In the pond?”

“Yes, you should be able to see it if you go over there.”

Following Evan, Alon moved towards the window facing the garden.

“Kya- so cute.”

“Why does it look like a snake but isn’t creepy and is actually cute?”

“Look at those bright eyes.”

There, they could see the sea god being adored by the maids.

It didn’t seem to dislike it either.

As it ate the snacks the maids gave it, it played around in the pond as if enjoying the situation.

“…”

Alon and Evan were at a loss for words.

“But isn’t that pond freshwater?”

“…Can something that lived in seawater survive in freshwater?”

“Well, since it’s living well, I guess there’s no problem?”

“…I suppose so. Ah-“

“Is something the matter?”

“Come to think of it, I think it’s about time to open the gift.”

“…Gift? Oh, the one Yutia gave?”

Alon nodded and returned to his desk, taking out the box he had received from Utia.

Utia’s request to open it after a month.

Alon, who had not opened the box until now, looked down at it quietly.

Soon, he carefully opened the gift box.

“…Hmm?”

Inside was a brooch.

A brooch with a very brilliant red gemstone.

“A brooch?”

“Indeed.”

Alon nodded as he took out the gift.

“Hmm-“

Evan, who was next to him, looked at it quietly and spoke.

“Well- a gift is essentially about the thought behind it- but considering you waited a month to open it, it might be a bit disappointing for you, Marquis?”

In fact, the brooch given by Utia did not seem particularly special in size or power compared to the other gifts.

However.

“Not disappointing at all.”

Alon was not disappointed in the slightest.

“Really?”

“Yes. As you said, the thought behind the gift is what matters.”

Alon carefully stroked the brooch.

Then he adorned the brooch given by Utia on the chest pocket of his coat.

“This is more than enough.”

Before he knew it, his face.

“Huh…?”

Had a gentle smile on it.

A clear smile that anyone could recognize.

Seeing that.

‘He always changes his expression when it comes to the kids these days.’

Evan left that impression without realizing it.

The Duke of Merkilan, who had already been traveling for about an hour since leaving the Marquis of Palatio’s residence.

He looked at Kurak beside him.

“Hmm-“

Kurak, who was humming a tune, seemingly in a good mood.

The Duke of Merkilan had no idea what was going on.

They hadn’t had a proper conversation.

He was dragged along because Kurak said he would return after confirming something.

…Not that he could have asked anything even if he wanted to.

Anyway, he couldn’t grasp anything properly.

“May I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

The Duke of Merkilan asked Kurak.

“You said last time that you came to confirm something about the Marquis of Palatio, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…So, is the confirmation done?”

“Of course.”

“You mean you finished judging just by looking?”

“Yes.”

The Duke of Merkilan’s frown deepened.

“As far as I know, you saw the Marquis of Palatio last time too, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“…If you could tell just by looking, why couldn’t you confirm it then?”

A reasonable question.

Kurak smirked.

“Because I was overwhelmed by something else at that time.”

“Something else?”

“…No, come to think of it, he might have deliberately hidden his power. Now I can feel it so clearly, but back then, I only felt ‘that’.”

Kurak, who suddenly fell into his own thoughts while answering.

But of course.

The Duke of Merkilan couldn’t find any clues from this conversation.

No matter how he looked at it,

To his eyes, the Marquis of Palatio was just a noble.

‘…Of course, not just any noble-’

Anyway, he was certainly special.

But if he were a ‘god’, that would be a different story.

“It’s indeed a hard story to believe easily.”

The Duke had no choice but to come to that conclusion.

Kurak, who heard those words, chuckled again.

“There’s no need to try so hard to believe it.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Anyway, those who will make you believe will soon follow.”

He said something incomprehensible again.

“??”

Merkilan’s face was once again filled with doubt.

“Hmm- they’ve arrived just in time.”

With Kurak’s muttering, he witnessed it.

In the shadows of the forest where the sunset was setting, one by one, they began to appear-

“…Elves?!”

-A group of elves.

And then.

“Hahaha- these pointy-eared b*stards. I’ve been waiting for them to show up ever since they were circling around Taezon.”

Following Kurak’s hearty laughter, Merkilan heard it.

Flying into his ears-

“Do not approach the First Elf, lizard.”

The eerie voice of the elf.