I Became the Patron of Villains

Chapter 146

146. Towards the Colony (3)

“Ahem-“

Clearing his throat, Alon immediately got to the point for Perion, who was obviously uncomfortable with the situation.

“To be blunt, we need the ‘Oath of Lemiel.'”

“……The Oath of Lemiel, you say?”

Perion, who had been looking timid until a moment ago, now wore a slightly surprised expression.

Such a reaction was natural.

The ‘Oath of Lemiel’ was one of the 32 treasures of the elf race, and he had never shown it to anyone while disguised as a human.

In other words, from Perion’s perspective, Alon must have known his true identity.

“Let’s clear the room for a moment. Rine, could you step out for a bit?”

“Of course.”

Rine bowed her head and left the room.

Alon, confirming that all the mercenaries who had followed Perion had also left, spoke again.

“Now that the outsiders are gone, let’s talk properly.”

“……I’m not sure what you mean-“

“There’s no need to deny it so vehemently.”

“……”

When negotiating, it’s not a good idea to pressure the other party in any way.

Nevertheless, Alon was applying a bit of unnecessary pressure for two reasons.

One was that if he didn’t start this way, it would take a very long time to obtain the ‘Oath of Lemiel.’

If he approached it like a player in a game, he would have to stay in Lartania for at least a year.

And the other reason was that he was confident that Perion would undoubtedly accept his proposal despite such pressure.

Alon looked at Perion, whose expression had become serious since Line had left.

“Of course, I’m not asking for Lemiel’s Oath without offering anything in return.”

“…Who are you?”

A wary voice.

Alon answered silently.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to worry about who I am in this situation. As long as what we exchange is clear.”

“……”

“One thing I can assure you is that I won’t go around selling your identity.”

“…Let’s hear what you have to say.”

After some hesitation, Perion slowly nodded.

Alon boldly presented the terms of the negotiation.

“If you give me Lemiel’s Oath, I’ll tell you the location of the item you’re looking for.”

“…The item I’m looking for?”

“Lagierni’s Blessing.”

“!”

Perion’s eyes widened, and he involuntarily jerked his body.

“……”

Seeing Perion’s reaction, Alon was a bit puzzled inside.

Of course, just mentioning ‘Lagierni’s Blessing’ could be surprising.

The fact that Perion was looking for it was supposed to be known only to him and the queen.

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‘Even considering that, his reaction is a bit intense. Well, it is said to be extremely valuable in the game.’

Anyway.

In the original work, Perion eventually gave up and returned after searching for the ‘Lagierni’s Blessing’ he so desperately sought.

The reason Alon knew where the elusive ‘Lagierni’s Blessing’ was located was simple.

The secret room on the 42nd floor.

It was an item that could always be obtained from there during the game play for labyrinth grinding.

Of course, he had never given the blessing to Perion in the game.

No matter how quickly he reached the labyrinth and started the quest, Perion would always leave Lartania by the time the player conquered over 40 floors.

‘Yes, I know it’s valuable…’

Alon quietly watched Perion, who was trembling even to his hands, and then continued the conversation.

“……If you tell me the location of that place, it seems like a fair price. What do you think?”

“Are you saying that you know the location of the heirloom?”

“Yes. If you agree to negotiate, I will also tell you the location.”

“……You have no proof, and you expect me to believe that?”

“Just make sure of this. If I tell you the location of the blessing, will you agree to negotiate?”

A moment of silence.

Soon, Perion nodded.

“……If the information is true, I will do so.”

Negotiation success, as expected.

Alon smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

“The eastern end of the 42nd floor, there is only one path, so it will be easy to find. When you reach the dead end inside, look for the switch.”

“The switch at the dead end……you say?”

“Yes. There you will find the blessing of Lagierni you are looking for. I will take the oath of Lemiel after that.”

Perion’s face showed a look of incomprehension for a while.

“……Even if the information you gave is true, haven’t you considered that I might take the item and run away?”

It was a natural question, so Alon could answer easily.

“I don’t think you would break the faith, one of the laws of Pagade.”

“……! How do you know about Pagade……?”

“Who knows.”

Once again, Perion was greatly surprised.

Alon deliberately acted ambiguously.

How did he know? He just repeated what he had heard directly from him while playing the game.

Of course, he thought about using the expression ‘I believe’ instead of speaking in a roundabout way.

But since Perion had shown immense pride in Pagade several times in the game, he responded this way on purpose.

In other words, he was telling him not to do anything foolish.

‘Well, even if I hadn’t done that, looking at his character in the story, he’s not the type to break a promise.’

Perion had almost died keeping his promise to the protagonist.

Recalling an episode, Alon was once again puzzled.

‘……I don’t know why he’s so surprised.’

Knowing the hidden treasure, the blessing of Lagierni, it’s not strange that Pagade knows it too, right?

“……It seems it will take about a week to confirm.”

Alon stood up at Perion’s words.

“I will wait.”

With those words, he turned around.

A moment later.

“Did the conversation go well?”

“Yes. But, Line.”

“Why, godfather?”

“Just in case, I’m asking, but I heard that you’re the only senior member left……”

Alon trailed off, but Line answered easily.

“Yes.”

“By any chance, did you…… do it on purpose?”

“No? I didn’t do it.”

“……Really?”

“Yes. Why would I do such a thing?”

Line smiled faintly.

‘……Does she know what’s happening but claims she didn’t do it, or is she saying she doesn’t know from the beginning?’

Alon thought about asking more but closed his mouth.

He just thought it would be better to pay a little more attention to Line.

####

About five days after Alon met Perion.

“……Thank you.”

“You found it, I see.”

“Yes. I was able to find the blessing of Lagierni.”

Alon was able to meet Perion again earlier than expected.

Perion, bowing a little more politely than last time.

“Thank you very much.”

Perion, who seemed to want to convey his sincerity, deeply bowed and took out a ring from his bosom and handed it to Alon.

A ring that seemed to be made of plant stems, but never looked shabby.

As soon as Alon realized it was Lemiel’s Oath, he accepted the ring and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“…May I ask you one thing?”

Perion cautiously requested.

“What do you mean?”

Perion hesitated for a moment and stared blankly at Alon.

“…How did you know where Lagiern’s Blessing was?”

A voice mixed with doubt and curiosity.

Alon was silent for a moment, looking at Perion’s hand.

In his hand was the dagger ‘Lagiern’s Blessing.’

“That’s because-“

Because I’ve encountered it countless times in the game, he couldn’t say.

“Let’s leave it to the imagination.”

In the end, Alon had no choice but to give such an answer.

“Imagination, you say?”

“Yes, understood.”

After exchanging a light farewell with Perion, who bowed his head without further question, Alon stepped outside.

‘Hmm…? Come to think of it, I don’t think Perion has ever bowed to anyone.’

For a very brief moment, he thought, ‘Isn’t there a clause in the laws of Pagade that says no one should bow except to the queen?’

‘Lagiern’s Blessing must be that significant of a relic.’

He concluded without much thought.

Soon after, Alon packed the ring and began to prepare to leave with satisfaction.

Because he had finished all his tasks in Lartania.

[Hahahahahahaha, all the money in this world is mine!!!]

“Seriously, this is so annoying!!”

[I don’t care about that, just give me the money!!! 5,500 gold coins!!]

As soon as he returned to Merde, Alon told Basiliora and Evan, who had been engrossed in the psychedelic board game for over three days, laughing and crying over fake money, that he would be leaving soon.

“Godfather.”

He then turned to Rine, who was calling him.

“What’s the matter?”

“If you’re going to the colony, may I come with you?”

“…Is there a reason for you to go there?”

“Yes, I have something to check briefly.”

Alon pondered for a moment before nodding.

There were two reasons he was going to the colony.

One was to meet the Yongin tribe at the ruins, but there was another matter as well.

‘…There’s a monstrosity in the desert that needs preliminary work. It would be good to get Rine’s help if possible.’

It was the monstrosity disposal plan.

If Rine accompanied him, it would certainly be helpful.

“If you’re okay with it, let’s go together.”

“Then I’ll get ready.”

Two hours later.

Alon’s party left Lartania and headed for the colony.

####

At that moment.

The elf Perion, who had handed over the ‘Oath of Lemiel’ to Alon and was currently disguised as a mercenary, silently looked down at the ‘Blessing of Lagierni’ in his hand.

“….”

Normally, Perion should have been very happy at this moment.

This ‘Blessing of Lagierni’ was something he had sought even after coming to the human world.

Above all, to the elves.

Especially to Pagade, it was an incredibly precious item.

Yet, the reason his expression was stiff was none other than Marquis Palatio.

‘…Who exactly is that man?’

Perion recalled the marquis.

The man who had indifferently told him the location of the blessing.

The marquis had more than a few strange points.

Firstly, it was strange that Marquis Palatio knew about ‘Pagade’ at all.

Pagade was a secret organization born through the elves’ bloodline rituals, created solely to protect the World Tree.

The only ones who knew the name of that organization were the highest-ranking nobles above high elves and the members of Pagade.

And the queen.

There was no reason for that name to be spoken outside.

Most of them were the highest-ranking nobles who did not come out of the World Tree, and Pagade was also underground to protect the roots.

Moreover, even those few elves were all restricted from saying the name Pagade themselves.

In other words, that word could not originally come from anyone.

‘…Just one person.’

Only Altima, the first founder and the primordial elf who created this group, could mention the name Pagade without restriction.

The primordial elf and guardian of the World Tree, who used the blessing of Lagierni as a weapon.

Only he could.

That wasn’t the only strange thing.

‘…The space the Marquis told me about was created by elves.’

The reason Perion could recognize it was simple.

From the beginning, the space itself was created with the magic circle used by spirits and elves—

No, to be more precise, it was made exactly like the magic circle used in the Pagade hideout, and thanks to that, Perion could check who had been there when he arrived.

The magic circle stored the mana of the user who entered the space, recording it in the form of a guestbook until the moment the magic circle collapsed.

There, Perion confirmed.

In that room, only he had been there.

And.

[I hope it was well conveyed to my brother.]

As if sending a message to him, a sentence written in a language only Pagade could recognize was placed where the dagger was.

“……”

In other words, the Marquis of Palatio knew that Perion was an elf, a member of Pagade.

And without even entering that space, he knew that the blessing of Lagierni was inside.

…No matter how much he thought about it, it was an impossible story.

Unless the primordial elf who had lost his life in the battle with the black ones came back to life.

Absolutely impossible.

Perion, who was confused by the situation he couldn’t fathom.