I Became the Patron of Villains (Novel) - Chapter 75 - The Pirate King of Laxas (2)

Chapter 75 – The Pirate King of Laxas (2)

===================

Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Tirian looked at Deus in disbelief.

A man who had smashed the office door of the detached palace and strode straight inside without hesitation was, in anyone’s eyes, insane.

So Tirian immediately tried to speak.

“!”

But soon realized it was meaningless.

He could clearly see knights, who should always have been on standby for him, collapsed before the broken door.

Struck dumb, Tirian looked at Deus Macalian with an expression that said he could not understand this.

“What in the world are you doing?”

“I came only to ask.”

“Ask what?”

“I heard you intend to frame Count Palladio. Is it true?”

At Deus’s question, asked while his chilling violet eyes gleamed, Tirian shut his mouth for an instant.

What killing intent is this…!

No matter how much of a wastrel he was, he was still fundamentally a knight.

He realized the killing intent he felt from Deus was not deliberately scattered pressure but natural force leaking out by default, and he looked shocked, then quickly frowned.

“Suppose it is.”

“Then I ask that you withdraw that decision.”

At Deus’s words, Tirian stared straight into his eyes.

“Ha-”

Soon he let out a hollow laugh.

“And why should I?”

“…”

Deus stared directly at Tirian.

The killing intent bore down on him faintly, but Tirian quickly assessed the present situation and twisted his lips upward.

“More importantly, do you even understand what you are doing right now?”

“I came only to ask whether it is true.”

“Ha. You do what only traitors would do, and then say you merely came to ask?”

At Tirian’s frown, Deus answered.

“Let me say this in advance. There will absolutely be no such thing.”

“…You made the situation this severe, and there will be no such thing?”

“Yes. Of course, this detached palace may suddenly collapse from structural defects, and Your Highness may die in an unfortunate accident.”

“?”

“But I will not raise rebellion.”

At that utterly serious expression, Tirian continued with the thought, What the hell is this bastard saying?

“Are you threatening me right now?”

“I mean exactly what I said. I have no intention of rebellion, nor the slightest intention of threat. I only stated that, due to structural issues in this detached palace, Your Highness might die.”

“…”

That is a threat, you bastard, rose to Tirian’s throat, but he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

Because Deus’s eyes clearly belonged to someone speaking the truth.

This bastard is serious…!

While cold sweat flowed, Deus opened his mouth once more.

“So, can you withdraw your decision?”

“And if I do not?”

He asked, thinking surely Deus would not go that far.

But Deus, after hearing that reply.

“I see.”

Muttered as though something were regrettable.

Then lightly moved his hand.

Crack-!

“!?”

Violet threads began to spread through the entire detached palace.

Soon, as those lines tangled like a spider web and filled the palace.

Rumble-crack-!!

From the great building came a sound that should never be heard.

“So the crack in pillar number eight, which has existed for eighteen years, collapses after receiving sudden impact-”

“!?”

Along with it, a voice rang out as though reading from a textbook.

Deus looked at Tirian as if it were terribly unfortunate, then moved to clench his fist without hesitation, as though no further negotiation existed.

“W-wait-!!!”

“What is it?”

“I will withdraw it. I will withdraw it!”

At Tirian’s urgent shout, the detached palace, which had been shaking like a lie just moments earlier, became instantly quiet.

“…It seems there are not major problems after all.”

“…”

At those words, Tirian, wearing an expression of What kind of lunatic is this, let out a deep sigh.

For now, if I endure this and get out somehow…!

He was secretly thinking that.

But Deus had already returned to his usual emotionless face and spoke.

“Then you will need to match the story a little.”

“What?”

“Let us say that I entered this detached palace so aggressively because Your Highness harassed my younger sister.”

“…”

At those words Tirian opened his mouth in disbelief.

“So be it.”

Soon he nodded silently.

Because from the beginning Tirian had no intention of fulfilling Deus’s demand.

Once I get out of this situation, I will use what happened today to drag this bastard down somehow…!

On the contrary, he drew up that plan with a hidden nasty smile, waiting only for Deus to leave.

“Ah, and in case it needs saying, if you are thinking of anything else, it would be better to stop.”

Unfortunately, Tirian’s desperate plan was cut short by Deus’s next line.

“Unless you want it spread that an heir is deeply tied to another nation’s underworld organizations.”

“…How…!”

It could only collapse.

That fact was something that, for Tirian, who still coveted the throne, absolutely must not reach the royal castle, much less the king’s ears.

So with that.

“I trust you will make the right choice.”

Leaving his final words, Deus turned around and left the detached palace as though he had already said all there was to say.

Tirian, left alone and staring blankly at the entrance.

“Aaaaaaagh-!!!!”

Let out a furious scream, grabbed the chair in his office, and smashed it apart.

About a day later.

…A rumor spread through the palace that the wastrel second prince had harassed Deus Macalian’s younger sister.

####

While that happened in Caliburn.

Alon met Rine in Merd without suffering the same difficulties as last time and received appraisal of the epaulette, his original goal.

“Here, Godfather.”

“Thank you.”

“If anything, I am the one who should thank you, Godfather.”

“Seeing you this pleased, I am glad too.”

After receiving the epaulette from Rine, Alon soon saw her lightly smiling while touching the fountain pen and nodded in satisfaction.

If I had known she would like it this much, I would have bought one long ago.

Looking at Rine, whose smile was slight but present, he thought that anew.

Her expressions seem a little richer than last time. Is that just my imagination?

Maybe because she seemed to be in very good spirits right now, but unlike before, her emotions were clearly expressed.

He thought that only for a moment.

Then Alon suddenly recalled what he had heard earlier.

But soon he shrugged.

Rine would not do that.

At least by his judgment, Rine did not seem like someone who would casually kill people merely for insulting her.

…That is true, right?

Alon suddenly remembered the lord’s son of Lartania.

After some time passed.

“Then I should stand up a little early today.”

“You are leaving already, Godfather?”

“Yes. I have something I need to move on quickly.”

Seeing that the sun was still high overhead, Alon rose and decided to part with Rine a little earlier.

Now that appraisal of the epaulette was finished, there was no further reason to remain in Lartania.

So while preparing to leave.

“Ah.”

He let out a low exclamation, as though remembering something.

“What is it, Godfather?”

“Can you acquire an artifact with this kind of function?”

When he explained what he needed, Rine thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes. An artifact of that level, I think I can give you immediately even now… would you like it?”

“Then I would appreciate that.”

She moved at once, and not long afterward brought a box containing the artifact he had described.

“Here it is, Godfather.”

“Thank you. How much is the payment?”

“There is no need to pay. It is not expensive in the first place. You may accept it as a gift.”

At Rine’s words, Alon paused briefly, then nodded as though he understood.

“Then I will accept it gratefully.”

“Yes, Godfather. If there is anything else you need from me, please tell me anytime.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

With that farewell to Rine, he wrapped up his short schedule in Lartania and set out once more.

And.

Rine, who quietly watched Alon’s carriage recede into the distance, soon looked toward the lord’s castle of Lartania beyond.

“…Not much longer now.”

She muttered quietly.

####

On the fifth day after leaving Lartania.

When only about one more day remained before reaching the port city Laxas.

“…The sea.”

“The sea….”

They could see the sea beyond the window.

While they stared blankly at that view gradually appearing beyond the forest.

“Stop-!”

A man cut in before the carriage.

Wearing a pointed hat, the symbol of a mage, and carrying an endlessly arrogant expression, a blue-haired boy spoke to Evan.

“You there. Bring out some food.”

“?”

Evan looked puzzled at the boy who had suddenly appeared in the middle of the forest and began speaking rudely out of nowhere.

Perhaps he disliked that look.

“Did you not hear me?”

The boy frowned with shameless indignation.

At the voice from outside, Alon leaned his head slightly out the window and looked at the boy blocking the carriage.

“Oh, so you are the master? Good timing. I was troubled because I could not communicate with the servant. Could you share some food?”

The boy, as if pleased, demanded food as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Alon looked momentarily bewildered.

“…Who are you?”

At Alon’s question, the boy made a triumphant expression.

“I am Pellin, a third-circle mage of the Blue Tower.”

He introduced himself in an intensely excited voice.

At that attitude, as though intoxicated with himself, Alon opened his mouth, and Pellin grew even bolder.

“As you all know, chances to receive a mage’s favor do not come often. And now, you have encountered that rare chance.”

“…Is that so?”

“It is. It is a bit awkward to say myself, but even if I am not equal to my older sister, I am still a genius.”

So buy my favor with food.

While Alon was thinking how to handle this fellow.

“Hey, Pellin. I told you not to run off on your own.”

A very familiar voice came from the nearby brush.

Though he had not heard it for quite a while, it was still a voice whose owner he could identify instantly.

Alon turned toward the brush.

And Penia appeared.

“Are you really going to keep acting on your own? Do you need to get beaten senseless before you wake up?”

Soon she was venting her irritation at Pellin.

“…Eh?”

Then she spotted Alon leaning out the carriage window, and her whole body froze.

“Sister, do not worry, we can get food now, so-”

As Pellin opened his mouth, clearly unaware of the situation.

Crack-!

“Gahk!?”

Penia’s eyes widened, and at the speed of light she smashed Pellin’s head with the staff she was holding.

Pellin went straight down into the ground.

And.

“I-I-I am so sorry-!!!”

Seeing Penia immediately drop to the ground and bow flat.

“…”

“…?”

Alon and Evan had no choice but to stare blankly.

####