I Became the Patron of Villains

168. The Ball (3)

First, one certain fact.

Alon knew nothing in detail about the ‘Lightning Receiver, Kalanon.’

At most, he knew that the Lightning Receiver, Kalanon, was another god believed in by the Thunder Serpent tribe and the state religion of the Luxible Kingdom.

“We greet the Lightning Receiver, Kalanon.”

“We greet the Lightning Receiver, Kalanon.”

So, Alon couldn’t understand the words of Sirkal and Jenira in front of him.

To be honest, he was so bewildered that he almost blurted out, ‘The Lightning Receiver, Kalanon? Me…?’

“……That-“

Alon opened his mouth to deny it, but soon stopped.

Because he realized that this situation wasn’t so bad.

To be precise, he realized that he might be benefiting from their misunderstanding.

Alon looked at the two girls with their heads bowed and recalled a previous memory.

‘By the way, the Marquis’s magic is a bit peculiar.’

‘Which part are you talking about?’

‘……The, the powerful part. The method of establishing the magic and the molecular arrangement are exactly the same, but strangely, the power is gradually increasing.’

‘……Can you feel it clearly?’

‘Well, if you look at it day by day, it’s negligible, but if you compare it to two months ago, there is definitely a noticeable difference.’

‘……I see.’

A conversation he had with Fenia.

She said that although Alon’s magic was clearly the same, its power was gradually increasing, and she speculated that it was because his divine power was accumulating.

In other words, to summarize, the two girls in front of him – the Thunder Serpent tribe – might have mistaken him for Kalannon, the one who receives lightning, and thus his magic power might have increased.

Of course, from Alon’s perspective, he couldn’t even begin to guess how or when he became Kalannon, the one who receives lightning, through some process of misunderstanding.

If Alon’s hypothesis was somewhat correct and his magic power was indeed strengthened due to the Thunder Serpent tribe’s misunderstanding, there was no need to correct the misunderstanding.

‘……Of course, it’s just a guess.’

Naturally, he had to rely on speculation when it came to divine power.

Even if Alon had played Psychedelia, there wasn’t much information about divine power in the first place.

After pondering for a moment, Alon came to a conclusion.

“……Let’s not mention that name here.”

By not denying their misunderstanding.

In fact, he wanted to subtly ask why he was being revered as Kalannon, the one who receives lightning.

But there was no need to stir up trouble unnecessarily.

“I apologize.”

“I was just overwhelmed by the thought of seeing the great one again.”

In response, Alon spoke indifferently.

“So, what brings you here?”

“There is no particular reason. It’s just that it would be impolite not to greet the great one when he is nearby.”

Unlike before, when he seemed a bit fierce, Sirkal’s attitude had become extremely polite.

‘……So, you came to say hello.’

Alon suddenly had various thoughts and questions pop into his head.

Among them, the most curious part was how the Thunder Serpent tribe currently perceived Alon.

‘……Do they see me as the reincarnation of a god? Or perhaps the sage god himself?’

However, to resolve the question without breaking the illusion, a coherent way of speaking was essential.

“……I’ll visit you next time.”

This time, he suppressed his curiosity, decided to think about the questions gradually, and later visit the Principality of Luxible to ask directly.

“I will be happy to wait.”

“……Alright.”

Suddenly, the statue of Kalannon, the one who receives lightning, that Siyan had shown him this morning came to mind.

The one Siyan had said resembled him so much.

‘……Was that really me?’

With an incredulous expression behind his impassive face, Alon returned to his quarters.

Right after Sircal and Jenira had also left.

In the empty corridor, a person walked out.

Just a moment ago, he had been hiding behind a pillar, eavesdropping on the conversation between Marquis Palatio and the envoys of the Principality of Luxible.

It was Karmakses III.

‘Marquis Palatio…… is Kalannon, the one who receives lightning?’

With an expression of utter incomprehension, he recalled the scene from a moment ago.

The envoys of the Principality of Luxible greeting Kalannon, the one who receives lightning.

And Marquis Palatio accepting the greeting without any hesitation.

From that alone, it seemed certain that Marquis Palatio was indeed Kalannon, the one who had become the state religion of the Principality of Luxible.

However, he could not easily accept this fact.

It was a matter of common sense.

It was plainly visible and walking around alive.

Moreover, although he was certainly extraordinary, he was not even a king, just a nobleman, and yet he was a god—

It was beyond comprehension.

But even so, the reason Karmakses III did not dismiss this fact as merely ‘strange’ and kept thinking about it.

There were two points that bothered him.

One was the content he had seen in ancient books about the existence of sage gods among different races.

The other was Serlang.

‘…If the Marquis of Palatio is truly a god, then it makes sense why Seolang follows him so devotedly.’

Until now, Carmaxes III had been completely in the dark about why Seolang was so loyal to the Marquis of Palatio.

Although Seolang’s characteristic leisurely and lazy demeanor obscured it, Carmaxes III knew.

He knew that her common sense was thoroughly aligned with the law of the jungle.

According to that standard, the Marquis of Palatio should have been thoroughly beneath Seolang.

The Marquis was certainly strong, but he was no match for Seolang.

But in reality, it was different.

He always transcended Seolang’s common sense and stood on a sublime level.

Of course, he had heard stories of great favors received in the past, but Seolang’s actions towards the Marquis of Palatio couldn’t be explained by that alone.

But if the Marquis of Palatio is truly a god?

It makes some sense.

Why she, with her thorough law-of-the-jungle mindset, follows, likes, and worships the Marquis of Palatio so much.

In the quiet corridor where people had disappeared.

Carmaxes III, who had been staring at the place where the Marquis of Palatio had stood with a complicated expression for a while.

‘…It seems I need to properly investigate the Wise God.’

He turned his body, adding a new plan.

####

After enjoying a ball that lasted for about a week, Alon began to prepare to move.

The ball would continue for about two more days, but he had no desire to participate until the end.

…Honestly, from Alon’s perspective, the ball was just tiring.

“Are we going to Lartania?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will prepare immediately.”

Evan, who had been leisurely eating dessert in the lodging, left.

Alon calmly organized the few pieces of information he had obtained from this ball.

Of course, most of it was useless.

‘…The only thing that can be considered information is that the country has been very complicated recently due to the strange incident… I suppose.’

He also heard from one of Caliban’s nobles that Deus Macallian had been very busy in Caliban these days.

‘…It seems he is making something.’

He didn’t hear exactly what was being made, so he was curious for a moment, but soon his attention shifted to the peculiar event that happened yesterday.

‘……I greet the King of the Colony.’

‘It’s been a while, Marquis Palatio.’

‘……? Ah, yes. But why are you speaking so formally……?’

‘Ah, ahem- no. It’s nothing.’

‘……???’

The sudden change in tone of Carmaxes III.

‘……Why did he suddenly start using honorifics?’

As fine wrinkles formed around Alon’s eyes.

“Marquis, everything is ready.”

“Already?”

“I thought you might start moving soon, so I prepared in advance.”

Following the diligent Evan, he boarded the carriage to move to Lartania.

####

Deus Macalian’s younger sister, Silly Macalian, had been making strange expressions frequently lately.

The reason was the statue standing in the middle of the private training ground that Deus had personally prepared for her magic training.

A statue that was only made from the waist down.

Silly didn’t have much of a complaint about having ‘such a thing’ in her private training ground.

……Of course, the half-finished statue was so huge that it dwarfed the complete statue in the garden, but the private training ground assigned to Silly was also vast.

However, the problem was.

[Ahem, ahem.]

Her brother, Deus Macalian, who came to see the statue that was only half-finished at all times.

……No, to be precise, it wasn’t a problem that her brother Deus came to see it ‘itself.’

It was a bit embarrassing to say, but Silly quite liked her brother.

But-

[Silly, how do you find the Marquis’ statue?]

[Ahem, the statue is shining again today- don’t you think so, Silly?]

From noble mtl dot com

[Really, it’s being made perfectly. Don’t you think so, Silly?]

Every time her brother visited, he forced her to give her impressions of the half-finished statue.

……Of course, each time she awkwardly laughed and agreed with Deus.

But honestly, Silly had only one true impression.

“`

……No, there’s only pants……, a cold, bitter feeling.

But since she couldn’t tell the truth, Silly always brushed it off with a smile, and today, as usual, she came out to the training ground for magic practice.

“?”

She realized that the statue, which had only the lower half of its body, had grown a bit.

No, it wasn’t just a bit.

At first, the lower half alone was as tall as the height between the first and second floors of a regular building.

Before she knew it, the height of the lower half had easily surpassed the second floor.

“……???”

Silly, whose brow was furrowed.

“You’re here, Silly.”

“Brother……?”

“Yes.”

She alternated between looking at Deus, who had a solemn expression, and the statue, barely maintaining her smile as she asked.

“……Brother, the statue seems to have grown a bit?”

“Yes, that’s right. I made it a bit bigger.”

“……”

This isn’t just a bit……? She almost blurted out but barely held back and asked again.

“At this rate, when the statue is completed, it will easily surpass the height of the mansion?”

“Yes. But it couldn’t be helped.”

“……It couldn’t be helped?”

“Yes, because Radan said he would gift the Marquis with the Sea God.”

“The Sea God?”

“Yes, it’s supposed to be enormous.”

She really liked her brother, but for a moment, she wanted to point out what the size of the statue had to do with that.

“……Brother?”

“What is it?”

“……Isn’t the thought behind the gift more important than its size?”

Silly asked straightforwardly.

“No, Silly.”

“……No?”

“`

“Yes. A gift should be able to move someone. And the bigger it is, the more it moves. Don’t you feel it too?”

Deus, radiating pride from his entire body, turned his gaze silently to the statue.

…still only half of it.

“Krr-“

As if this was it, Deus murmured in admiration.

What on earth is this…

“Oh, and I’m thinking of visiting Lartania for a while.”

“…Lartania?”

“Yes, I’m going to personally procure the jewel to adorn the Marquis’ ‘eyes’. If I make eyes with it-“

Deus’ eyes sparkled as if he was tearing through the vast universe.

“It would suit the Marquis.”

Somehow, Silly felt a bit resentful towards Marquis Palatio, who always made her brother act a bit younger…