I Became the Patron of Villains

12. Job Hunting (2)

A year is indeed a long time.

It was enough time for Alon to officially succeed the title of Count of Palatio from being the heir, and it was also enough time for him to become familiar with the duties a count must handle.

However, a year is absolutely not enough time for an ordinary person who knows nothing about swords to reach the level of a ‘master knight.’

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“Master Knight… you mean Swordmaster?”

“That’s… right.”

Swordmaster.

From Alon’s perspective, who had read countless fantasy novels, that name held very little value.

However, unlike other mass-produced fantasies where one is treated as a Swordmaster just by drawing an Aura Blade, he knew that the Swordmasters of this world were different.

Information about the Swordmasters of Psychedelia flashed through Alon’s mind.

In this world, a Swordmaster was someone who could draw an ‘Aura Blade’ as a basic skill, unlock a unique ability called ‘Derivation,’ and leap over castle walls with a single step.

In other words, the Swordmasters of this world were not just swordsmen who wielded swords with aura, but rather superhumans.

“So, you’re saying Deus has become that Swordmaster?”

“…Well, strictly speaking, he’s just on the verge of becoming one. It’s true that he became a Master Knight, but according to the information from the guild, he hasn’t created a Derivation yet.”

“…? Then he’s not a Master Knight?”

“Probably because of the northern barbarians.”

“Ah.”

With Evan’s words, Alon instantly understood why Deus had become a Master Knight.

“War?”

“Yes.”

Caliban had been at war with the northern barbarians for almost over ten years, and last year, they lost one of the five Master Knights in the northern war. Remembering this, Alon nodded.

“It’s to quell anxiety and also to declare that they are still strong.”

“There might be a few more intentions, but that’s probably the main one.”

“So, Deus isn’t quite a Master Knight yet?”

“No, he just hasn’t created a Derivation yet. According to the guild, he’s already at the level of a Master Knight. I heard that Fiola, the fourth sword and a Master Knight, lost to Deus in a duel.”

Hearing Evan’s words, Alon chuckled and muttered.

“…How old is the youngest Master Knight?”

“As far as I know, 32 years old. The current top sword of Caliban, Reinhardt, was the youngest. Originally, that is.”

“He’s the youngest?”

“Yes. Isn’t he famous?”

Alon nodded at Evan’s words.

In fact, Alon wasn’t very aware of Reinhardt’s fame due to his lack of interest, but he knew that Reinhardt was an incredibly strong individual.

In the game, he always appeared in the third main episode to help the protagonist as a temporary ally.

‘He certainly had immense talent and started wielding a sword at the age of five.’

Alon chuckled as he recalled the typical narration that would come out to praise Reinhardt when he joined as a companion.

It was said that even with Reinhardt’s incredible strength, it took him over 20 years to reach the level of a Master Knight.

“……To become a Master Knight in just one year……. Does that even make sense?”

“It’s an absurd level. Even the most talented people take 5 years to awaken their magic, 10 years to envelop themselves in it, and decades to master it. Deus cleared the first two stages in just one year.”

Evan, who said this, smacked his lips as if a bit envious, and Alon unconsciously touched his chin.

‘I knew he was talented, but I never imagined it would be to this extent……. Well, it’s a good thing, though.’

From Alon’s perspective, Deus’s success was not something to be sad about but rather something to be happy about.

The better he did, the more Alon could benefit from it later.

‘Benefit…… I can benefit, right?’

Alon glanced down at the letter on one side of the office.

The letter was from Utia, who was in the Holy Kingdom of Rosario.

‘……Can I not benefit……?’

The reason he was thinking this with a strange expression was that for the past year, letters had only been coming from Utia.

‘It seems like they are still talking to each other.’

The letter from Utia, who had become a nun in the Holy Kingdom, contained her own stories but also stories of the five great sins who grew up together in the orphanage, leading to a reasonable inference.

‘……Well, I haven’t seen their faces even once, so it can’t be helped, but still, isn’t it too much to not even say thank you for the personal gifts I prepared……?’

Alon made a disgruntled expression that didn’t show on his face but soon shook his head slightly.

Considering the original purpose, he should be grateful that the five great sins hadn’t destroyed the kingdom.

Therefore.

‘As long as they live well, that’s all that matters.’

Alon thought with a slightly bitter expression…….

The central district of Kirdam, the capital of Caliban.

In the southern part of the area where only the high-ranking nobles of the country could reside, there was a mansion.

It was the residence of Deus Macalian, the youngest person in the country to receive the title of Master Knight and the leader of the very famous knight order ‘Eclipse’.

“Phew-”

In the antique office.

Deus, who was using the office as it was originally decorated rather than to his taste, let out a low sigh and leisurely looked out the window towards the mansion’s garden.

“Brother!”

Soon, he discovered a girl waving at him with a bright smile from inside the garden, and he couldn’t help but smile back.

The girl, with deep purple eyes like Deus, waved at him for a while before resuming her stroll through the garden. Watching her, Deus couldn’t help but recall a year ago.

When he met the family he thought was dead.

…The memory of receiving the great gift of the moon a year ago.

“……”

In truth, a year ago, Deus Macalian was active within the Blue Moon, but he did not show blind faith to the Great Moon like Utia did.

Of course, Deus knew that the Great Moon had saved his life, but even so, that wasn’t enough reason for him to pledge loyalty to another.

Thus, there were two reasons why Deus Macalian belonged to the Great Moon.

One was to train his abilities under Utia.

The other was the promise that the Great Moon would allow him to take revenge on the ‘Black Sheep.’

From the moment he lost his family, which was as precious as his own life, all that remained in him was a rage that kept him from sleeping and a clinging hatred.

Therefore, when he first received this mission, he was not pleased at all.

While he understood that his previous activities within the Blue Moon were to deal with the black entities, this mission seemed too sudden.

However, upon arriving in Caliban and reaching the small inn in the south where the ‘gift’ mentioned in the Great Moon’s letter was, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

For there, his younger sister, who should have been killed by the Black Sheep, was alive and well, working at the inn.

“……Ahem.”

Deus cleared his throat unnecessarily, even though no one was around.

Thinking back, it was very embarrassing how he had hugged his sister and burst into tears the moment he saw her at the inn.

After that tearful reunion, Deus listened to his sister Silly’s story.

How she had been dragged into a dark space by the Black Sheep for a long time, waiting for her turn to be killed, only to be pulled back out by a bright light.

How she was almost sold to a slave trader but was saved by a man named Evan.

And how Count Palatio had given her precious medicine to heal her and had been supporting her until Deus arrived.

Hearing this, Deus wondered how the Great Moon knew all these things.

He had never once mentioned his family after joining the Blue Moon, and Utia only knew that he had been attacked by the Black Sheep, not what had happened to him.

But soon, he stopped pondering this mystery.

Instead, he recalled Utia’s words.

The words she always said when they were together.

‘He knows everything.’

‘You will understand why I follow him.’

At first, he ignored those words, but now, he thought he understood and felt grateful to the Great Moon.

For him, who had been chewing on nothing but hatred to avenge the black sheep, the survival of his younger sister was…

…along with the fact that he had secretly protected her by putting his own name on the line, it was an unparalleled gift and the most precious grace of all.

‘No matter what happens.’

Deus decided to repay that grace.

After that, he became a knight in Caliburn by the command of the Great Moon.

Ironically, becoming a knight was easy.

Surprisingly, aside from the abilities he possessed, he had an astonishing talent for the sword that even he was amazed by.

‘He knows everything.’

At that time, Deus realized that what Utia had said was not just blind faith wrapped in fanaticism, and by the time he became a knight, Deus understood why the Great Moon had sent him here to make him a knight.

‘My mission is to create the royal guard.’

Perhaps because of the battles with the barbarians, in Caliburn, anyone could form a knightly order if they received the king’s recognition.

Moreover, if one became a master knight, they could exceed the limited number of members and form a knightly order.

Not by gathering ruffians from the back alleys, but by forming a knightly order with talented swordsmen who came to Caliburn to become knights.

“Commander, it’s time.”

“Yes.”

Deus stood up and walked at the words of the knight who bowed his head with eyes full of respect.

He headed to the training ground.

The knights, dressed in black iron armor, the symbol of the Eclipse Knights, were lined up, ready to set out on an expedition to fight the barbarians.

Deus stood on the reviewing stand and looked at the knights.

He knew that not everyone would return here with a smile.

But for Deus, that was not a big problem.

The knightly order, the royal guard to assist the Great Moon, had to be stronger than ever.

He knew all too well that what the Great Moon wanted was not a knightly order that would fall to the northern barbarians.

Therefore, unlike other knight commanders who encouraged and inspired courage, Deus drew his sword.

“Under the moon, prove yourselves.”

With the quiet recitation of the Eclipse’s motto, he set out on the expedition to fight the barbarians.

To create the best knightly order worthy of the Great Moon.