I Became the Patron of Villains

182. Birth, Day…? (3)

Alon stared blankly out the window.

The giant statue was in a posture that was all too familiar.

Before long, he went towards the statue.

He was able to meet the creator(?).

“Marquis.”

“…Deus.”

Deus bowed deeply under the giant statue.

Alon pointed at the statue with his finger.

“What is this?”

“It’s a gift from me to you, Marquis.”

A face full of confidence.

Alon silently looked up at the statue.

Up close, the statue in the posture of the northern leader was even larger.

Really, unbelievably large.

…To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing.

“That- um… so.”

“Ask me anything.”

Alon had many things he wanted to ask.

Not just a few, but quite a lot.

Yet, the reason he couldn’t easily open his mouth was because he had no idea where to start.

So, for a while, Alon just stared at the statue.

“How did you bring this here?”

He asked to resolve the biggest question first.

“I used a shrinking spell to reduce its size as much as possible and brought it here. I didn’t like the idea of shrinking the Marquis’s statue, but it was necessary for transportation.”

Deus answered without hesitation.

“I see.”

“Do you have any other questions?”

Silence returned.

Isn’t this a bit too much? Alon thought, but he held back.

No, he had to hold back.

Alon looked at Deus quietly.

His expression was the same as usual.

The atmosphere was calm, and there was no significant change in his small smile.

But crucially, his eyes were different.

“……”

Contrary to his bland expression, his eyes sparkled as if stars were embedded in them.

Like a child pleading, ‘Did I do well? Praise me quickly!’

“Hmm-“

Could Deus make such eyes?

Alon didn’t want to pour cold water on those pure eyes.

“I like it, Deus. Thank you.”

Alon approved the statue resembling the northern leader.

Deus’s lips curled up noticeably.

“I’m glad it pleases you, Marquis.”

“Yeah-“

“But, you’ll be even more surprised when you see this.”

“…?”

Is there something else?

Before Alon’s pupils could fully dilate.

Deus, exuding an air of confidence.

“Prepare.”

He nodded towards the knights he had brought along.

Upon receiving the order, they swiftly moved into formation and soon brought out a gigantic target.

And then.

Boom-!

From the diamond-adorned eyes, a magic circle unfolded in an instant.

A massive magic cannon shot out and shattered the target.

“How is it?”

Deus, even more triumphant.

Alon once again looked up at the statue in a daze.

‘An enormous size that allows you to see the entire territory at a glance, the same pose as the northern commander. And now, a magic cannon too…’

…For a moment, he thought he could hear a voice from somewhere saying, “You too, stand up!”

Alon cleared his throat and turned his gaze to Deus.

Deus, standing proudly with his shoulders squared.

Seeing that, Alon realized one thing.

Deus, you…

Have a childlike taste.

Though it was embarrassing, he couldn’t disappoint Deus, who had brought such an enormous gift.

“…Impressive.”

“Thank you.”

In the end, Alon became someone who liked statues.

####

[Beams shooting out of the eyes?]

“`

“……That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?”

[Kyuu?]

While Basiliora and Evan, gathered in front of the statue, were expressing their pure admiration.

“Brother!”

Ladan arrived.

“You came too.”

“Of course, it’s your birthday, brother.”

Ladan smiled broadly.

Though he thought, hasn’t he never really celebrated his birthday until now?

Not wanting to spoil the festive day, Alon nodded.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Ah, and the gift should be arriving soon… Ah, there it is.”

Following Ladan’s fingertip, Alon turned his gaze.

He discovered a gigantic something entering through the north gate.

“What is that?”

“It’s the Sea King, a creature from the deep sea. I brought it for you, brother.”

“Oh.”

Alon couldn’t help but exclaim.

The dragon’s head, full of majesty even at a glance.

There was also a slight feeling of familiarity.

The Sea King.

It’s a monster you inevitably encounter if you play as a wizard in Psychedelia.

Of course, it’s only called the Sea King, it’s not a real god.

Just a mysterious monster with a gigantic dragon’s head.

However, its scales could be refined into highly efficient magical armor.

‘I’ve never seen it alive before.’

In Psychedelia, no matter which route you took, you could never see the Sea King alive.

It was only treated as a material.

Seeing its original form was fascinating, and somehow it felt vivid.

As if it might come to life and move at any moment…

“`

Kwagugugung-!!

“!?”

As soon as its head crossed the north gate, the Sea King began to thrash wildly.

Is it… alive?

While Alon was inwardly horrified.

“Ah, it’s doing it again. Just a moment, brother.”

As if it were no big deal, Radan immediately rushed out and struck the Sea King’s head a few times.

The Sea King soon calmed down.

Radan then let out an awkward laugh, “Sorry, brother. I thought I had trained it well, but it’s causing trouble.”

“…Is that thing alive?”

Radan tilted his head as if the question was obvious.

“Of course, right? It’s a pet.”

“A pet?”

Alon looked at the Sea King again.

[■■■■-]

A very sorrowful cry.

But the head was not the end.

“It’s… bigger than mine?” (Moving)

It had already entered more than halfway through the largest avenue of the marquis’ house.

Its body was still continuing.

“No way…”

Deus, who was standing nearby, muttered in a voice filled with defeat for some reason.

Radan, with a look of ‘I won,’ glanced at the two of them.

Alon thought as he watched them.

Is that really the important thing right now?

“……”

He glanced at the statue of the chief… and then turned his gaze back to the Sea King.

The Sea King, with its horn bent in a rather strange direction, was being dragged in, wrapped in chains.

…Where should I even start to tackle this?

I can’t even grasp it.

“Is that a kind of monster… no, an animal that can be raised?”

“Of course. I’ve trained it well, so it should be good for ornamental purposes, brother.”

“Ornamental… you say.”

…Though I’m doubtful if it’s really for ornamental purposes.

“…Isn’t that a creature that lives in the sea?”

“It does live in the sea, but it can also breathe on land.”

“…Judging by its size, it seems impossible to raise it here.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, brother.”

Radan spoke confidently and then walked towards the sea god statue that had somehow arrived next to him.

Following Radan, Alon moved.

“Hey, shrink.”

At Radan’s command.

The sea god, who had been cautiously watching with eyes larger than an average adult’s body, began to shrink.

Sssss.

They witnessed the scene of it gradually becoming smaller.

And so.

“…Is this the sea god?”

“Yes. This guy can usually shrink its body. So, I thought about stuffing it, but I brought it as a pet instead. I’ve heard there are even bigger ones in the deep sea.”

Shiver shiver shiver-

The sea god trembled as if it understood Radan’s words.

…Is it really understanding the words, or is it just scared?

Deciding to stop thinking, Alon spoke.

“…So, we can raise it like this?”

“Yes, just in case, but don’t you like it?”

Although it was clearly directed at Alon.

Shiver shiver shiver shiver shiver-!

As if knowing its future was at a crossroads.

The sea god trembled even more violently and looked at Alon with a pleading expression.

…How did you really do it?

“……No, I like it.”

In the end, Alon nodded.

“As expected, I knew it, brother! I’m also feeling good!”

Radan burst into a satisfied smile, and the Sea God relaxed, his body going limp.

……Why is that?

Alon began to fear what the others might bring next.

####

“……Huh? Were you already raising a snake, brother?”

[I am not a snake! I am Basiliora, the one you serve!]

“Well- something like that.”

[I am Basiliora, I said!!!]

“Sss- the color, it’s black?”

[Do not ignore me!]

“It’s black.”

[Do not ignore me!!!!]

Basiliora, having a fit.

Radan, who was seriously contemplating something alone, without even paying attention to him.

“……Brother.”

“Why?”

“……Could you give me about a month more?”

“Why?”

He glanced at the Sea God’s direction.

“I will bring it in black.”

“……Is there a black one?”

“I’ll have to look for it.”

Is it necessary? he thought, but soon.

‘……Is it because of his obsession?’

He guessed the reason.

Radan’s personality, which had to match everything in pairs to feel satisfied.

Looking down briefly.

The targeted Sea King was now clinging tightly to Alon’s arm.

“…There’s no need to go that far.”

“Is that so-“

Radan clicked his tongue in disappointment.

Through Alon’s arm, the small Sea King’s trembling vibrations were vividly transmitted.

After the situation had settled.

Only then did Radan and Alon exchange greetings.

“Hello, Godfather.”

“Have you arrived?”

“Yes.”

Rine had arrived.

Since the last encounter with the Apostle.

Alon felt a sense of relief at Rine’s significantly improved complexion.

As if she had been waiting, Rine took out a small gift box from her bosom.

“A gift for you, Godfather.”

“Thank you.”

Receiving it, Alon felt a strange sense of relief and emotion.

Outside the window.

And his own arm.

With the unimaginable gifts that had started from early morning.

Now, worry began to outweigh expectation.

Fortunately, Rine’s gift seemed normal at a glance(?).

At least it wasn’t huge.

That alone made Alon satisfied.

‘Yes, this is the kind of gift I wanted.’

Something that conveyed the children’s hearts without being grandiose.

…Like a father receiving a gift from his children?

Of course, that didn’t mean he didn’t feel Radan and Deus’s hearts.

Just that if they were to prepare a gift for his birthday next year, it could be modest.

“Open it, Godfather.”

“Yes.”

At Rine’s suggestion, I opened the box.

Carefully, so as not to tear the luxurious wrapping paper.

Soon, the identity of the gift was revealed.

At the same time, Alon was bewildered.

Because there was a small button inside the box.

“…What is this?”

Behind Rine, Ladan and Deus secretly made a ‘we won’ expression.

But Rine, smiling, said,

“If you press that, the head of the Lord of Lartania will explode, Godfather.”

She said it nonchalantly.

“?”

“?”

Deus and Ladan, who had been making small fighting poses behind her, froze.

With expressions that said they had no idea what they had just heard.

“???”

Of course, Alon was the same…