I Became the Patron of Villains

183. Life, Work…? (4)

The office was as peaceful as could be.

Kkamangi was rolling around on the book and fell asleep.

Although it was midsummer, the magic stone inside the office kept it cool enough that it wasn’t too hot.

In other words, it was the perfect time and atmosphere to lie back in a chair and enjoy a nap after lunch.

It certainly was.

“…So, what did you say?”

“I said the head of the Lord of Lartania will explode, Godfather.”

If it weren’t for Rine’s words.

Alon’s pupils trembled slightly, unlike his expressionless facial muscles.

Deus and Ladan were the same.

As if they had seen madness greater than their own.

The two took half a step back without making it obvious.

Alon, who was looking around at the three people, carefully put down the button.

“…So, um-“

How on earth is this supposed to be a gift?

– he swallowed those words.

“Ah. I didn’t mention that part, Godfather.”

“What is it?”

“If you press the button and just move your body, you can become the lord immediately.”

Rine smiled brightly.

“This is the gift I prepared.”

A small button that fits in one hand.

‘So, does this mean that if I blow up the lord’s head with this, they’ll make me the lord…?’

…Cancel the statement about it being a normal gift.

“Actually, I was going to handle it cleanly and then tell you, but I thought some strange flies might get attracted, so I prepared it this way. Besides, you can move whenever you want, Godfather.”

“Right.”

“Yes.”

It sounded like a considerate remark.

No, it was actually full of consideration.

It’s just that it was a bit beyond common sense.

Rine smiled slightly while looking at the button.

Alon, worried about the possibility, subtly brought the button back.

‘It can’t be, right?’

Maybe Rine awakened after meeting the apostle last time.

His heart became a little uneasy.

Alon covered the button with both hands and seriously pondered.

Should he express his gratitude first? Or…

‘Even if it’s uncomfortable, should I check if there has been any change since the last incident?’

It might be an unfounded worry, but Alon thought it was right to address it to some extent.

His top priority was to help those destined to become the five great sins grow into ordinary people.

No matter how much of a gift it is, even if it’s just a guess, planting a bomb inside someone’s head is clearly something that shouldn’t be done.

Nevertheless, it was a gift that Rine had painstakingly prepared for him.

Was it right to scold him in front of the others?

He hesitated.

Especially if the aftermath of the clash with the Apostle still lingered.

Rine, who never showed his struggles on the surface.

In the end, Alon closed his eyes gently.

“……I will accept it.”

“Do you like it?”

“I do.”

He decided to let it go for now.

“That’s a relief.”

“But next time, you don’t have to give such a big gift. Just prepare something modest that won’t be burdensome.”

He advised instead.

“The same goes for you, Deus, Radan. There’s no need to go to such lengths for a gift.”

However.

“Understood, brother, but I didn’t go overboard.”

“Same here, Marquis.”

At the rebuttal from Radan and Deus, Alon couldn’t help but feel a tickle at the corner of his mouth.

Seriously, creating such an enormous statue and even capturing the Sea God, and they say it wasn’t overboard?

But.

“……Alright, I get it.”

Faced with six eyes claiming innocence, he swallowed the words he wanted to say.

####

The afternoon sun blazed down on the land.

“Hmm- come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since we’ve faced each other like this.”

“Indeed. I’ve seen Rine, but it’s been a while since I’ve faced you.”

“That’s right.”

While Radan, Deus, and Rine exchanged greetings.

Alon briefly stopped by the second office to study magic with Fenia.

“Let’s call it a day for now.”

“Yes. You’ve worked hard.”

“So, what do you think?”

“Well- to be honest, it still seems a bit lacking.”

What they were currently researching was the part that Kylus had mentioned to Alon.

To use the Shadow Dragon, precise control of magic power was crucial.

“By the way, it’s fascinating. The fact that Kkamangi reacts to forming seals.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Essentially, the seals you use, Marquis – that is, the water seal, ultimately change the structure of the magic molecules, and Kkamangi changes along with it.”

“……Indeed, that’s true.”

“Well- ah, come to think of it, wouldn’t it be possible to utilize it in this way?”

“How?”

Penia passionately explained.

“……Indeed, if it’s as you say, Penia, it could be used that way.”

Alon nodded with his arms crossed.

Unlike Kylus, the relationship between the seals and Kkamangi that Penia had established was intriguing.

“……Then let’s research that part a bit more.”

“Yes, understood. Ah, and-“

Penia slyly took something out from her robe and handed it to Alon.

“……What’s this?”

“Well, I heard it’s your birthday today. It’s a small gift I prepared.”

“Thank you.”

The gift Penia handed over was a potion.

“What is this potion for?”

“It’s a stimulant.”

“A stimulant?”

“Yes. Well- it’s not something to be used recklessly. If you inhale the powder, it temporarily enhances your magic power. Of course, it has side effects, but it’s better than getting magic addiction.”

Alon let out a low exclamation.

“……It’s quite a big gift, I’ll use it well.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Penia put on a social smile.

“It wasn’t originally intended as a gift, you know.”

Hiding the truth.

The stimulant disguised as a gift was actually created by accident during an experiment.

Most wizards don’t even think about touching stimulants.

Setting aside the side effects, it’s because they rarely overuse magic to the point of magic addiction.

So, that stimulant created by accident.

Even if its effects are clear, there’s no place to sell it for a proper price, and Penia has no use for it, making it a useless item.

Just in time for Alon’s birthday.

Alon is struggling with a lack of magic.

A chance for the useless item to be elevated to a precious gift.

“I probably would have given it to him even if it wasn’t his birthday.”

Anyway, there was nothing bad about getting on Alon’s good side.

Therefore.

“Ahem- I put quite a bit of effort into making this, you know.”

“Really?”

“Yes, just the ingredients alone were quite expensive-“

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Penia boasted, though it wasn’t entirely a lie.

“There are no less than eight ingredients in this- gasp.”

She suddenly caught her breath.

“…?”

Before Alon could ask why.

“There you are, teacher.”

A familiar voice came from behind.

“Yutia. You’ve come.”

“Yes, teacher. I arrived a little while ago.”

“It must have taken quite a while to get here. Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Don’t mention it, it’s your birthday, of course I had to come.”

Yutia smiled, her eyes curving like a crescent moon.

She looked at the vial in Alon’s hand.

“This gift, it must be from Penia Crysinne?”

Eventually, the gaze turned to Fenia.

“Ah, no, I didn’t give it-“

At that, Fenia hurriedly tried to press the emergency escape button, but-

“That’s right. Fenia gave it. She gave something that was really needed right now.”

“Heh- really?”

“Yes.”

“Then, I should thank Fenia.”

She missed the opportunity as Alon calmly praised her.

“Ah, first, let’s go to the office instead of staying here. Everyone else will be in the office.”

“Yes, teacher.”

“Fenia. I’m sorry, but you should go first.”

“Ah, yes……”

Fortunately, Alon led Yutia and left first.

“Whew-“

Fenia secretly sighed in relief.

As if she had survived, she lifted her head and saw it.

“……Huh.”

The moment she stepped out with Alon.

In Alon’s blind spot, she saw Yutia’s face, which had turned cold as if it would cut through flesh.

And then.

Creak- thud!

As if possessed by a ghost, Fenia watched the door slowly close.

‘I shouldn’t have lied……’

With a face on the verge of tears, she regretted it bitterly.

……Should I pack my things and run away to the Blue Tower now?

Fenia’s brief thoughts wandered around the room like a vengeful spirit.

####

“So, how have things been lately?”

“Um- nothing major. Just a few minor incidents?”

“Really?”

On the way back to the office where the three guys were.

Exchanging simple greetings, Alon thought.

‘Maybe various incidents will start happening in Rosario soon.’

Of course, most of them would be related to the strange patterns.

The really big events would happen a bit later.

Still, with a worried heart, he said to Utia.

“If there’s anything you need help with, let me know.”

“Hmm- I don’t really want to cause any worry?”

“Don’t think that way.”

Utia was silent for a moment.

Then soon after.

“I feel the same way.”

A smile even brighter than usual spread across her face.

“You too?”

“Yes. If you need anything from me, please don’t hesitate to ask. Don’t think you’re causing any worry.”

At that smile, the corners of Alon’s mouth also moved slightly.

As they had a warm conversation, they soon arrived at the office.

The moment they opened the door and stepped inside, they were faced with another huge box.

“Oh, is this a gift for Utia?”

A box that definitely wasn’t there before.

However.

“……?”

Utia tilted her head as if she had no idea.

Then who on earth sent the gift…?

“Ah, they said it was delivered, so I brought it inside.”

Evan, who was talking with the other guys, explained.

“They said Seolang sent it.”

“I see.”

Just then, Evan noticed Utia and was about to raise his hand in greeting.

“Ta-da-! Appearing before Utia arrives!!”

The lid of the large gift box burst open with a pop.

From within emerged.

“Sul…rang?”

Sulrang, wrapped head to toe in red ribbons.

She scurried straight to Alon and said.

“The birthday present is me, Master! You can have me!”

She then handed over the marriage registration form that Alon hadn’t signed last time-

At that moment.

“-Huh?”

Sulrang noticed.

Yutia standing behind Alon.

“Yu, Yutia?”

Sulrang’s voice trembled finely.

“Long time no see, Sulrang?”

In contrast, Yutia responded leisurely.

Deus and Radan, who had been watching with interest as Sulrang tore out of the box, flinched.

To others, it sounded like her usual voice.

But they knew instantly.

That subtly lower tone was reserved for those who had greatly displeased Yutia.

In this situation, it was best not to get involved.

They cautiously averted their gazes.

Recalling the mistake of teasing Yutia at the last meeting, Sulrang.

“Heh, heh…”

Like a thief caught red-handed, she rolled her eyes and backed away.

Thud- thud-

She then climbed back into the box she had just torn out of, leaving only her hand sticking out to close the lid.

“……”

The lid, now tattered, didn’t close properly.

In the suddenly frozen atmosphere, Alon could only stand there in a daze.