Became the Patron of Villains

Alon’s suspicion toward Yutia was brief.

‘Come to think of it, I meant to ask her about the necklace too… but I didn’t get the chance.’

Alon fiddled with the necklace hanging around his neck.

The necklace was presumed to be a holy relic of the goddess Sironia, which had helped him deal with the Sin.

‘Now that I think about it, didn’t the cardinals have little to no reaction to it? Only Cardinal Sergius seemed to respond.’

Alon, furrowing his brow, soon began walking.

He couldn’t just stand still forever because he had things to think about.

Eventually, he arrived at the Chamber of the Holy Spirit.

Alon entered the room right away.

Fwoooosh—!

Then, as if it had been waiting, the large statue of the goddess Sironia lit up brilliantly.

“I—”

[There’s no need for that.]

As Alon bent his waist in greeting, he stopped at the sound of the goddess’s voice.

[I know well who stands before me.]

“Is that so…”

Hearing her words, Alon nodded in agreement and bowed his head again to show his gratitude.

“Even so, thank you. If it hadn’t been for you, Goddess Sironia, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Sin.”

[You don’t need to be so humble. I merely assisted you.]

“That can’t be. Without you, my spell might not have been the finishing blow.”

He meant it sincerely.

Alon’s magic was undoubtedly powerful.

But even so, he was well aware that it wasn’t enough to defeat something like the Sin on its own.

So, as Alon spoke with heartfelt sincerity—

[No, really. I know I was the one who only assisted, so you don’t have to say that, Alon.]

Sironia replied.

…?”

Alon immediately felt something odd.

Not because of what she said, but because the goddess had used honorific speech.

Alon briefly wondered if he’d misheard.

[Rather, I should thank you for helping me, Alon.]

The goddess repeated herself, again using polite speech, confirming that it wasn’t Alon’s imagination.

“…Um, why the sudden formal language?”

Alon asked, hiding his confusion behind a calm expression.

To that, Sironia said—

[I acted rudely when I didn’t know, but now I know your identity.]

As if she knew everything, she spoke.

And in that moment, Alon realized—

The goddess before him was gravely mistaken about something.

“Just to clarify, I’m just an ordinary human.”

[Yes, I know, Alon.]

She responded affirmatively, yet her words made it clear she didn’t understand at all.

“I’m serious.”

[I know.]

“I really mean it…”

[I really do know.]

“…May I ask what exactly gave you that mistaken impression?”

[You don’t need to ask. I know full well that you’re an ordinary human, Alon.]

This felt eerily familiar.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Alon decided not to ask further.

There clearly seemed to be no room for negotiation.

Why is it that even when the person involved insists it’s a misunderstanding, they still won’t believe it?

While he was seriously pondering that—

[Apologies, Alon, but though it’s a bit early—may we end our conversation here for now?]

“…So suddenly?”

[Honestly, I would love to talk longer, but I’ve expended too much energy this time. I’m at my limit.]

“Wait, could I ask just one last question?”

As Sironia signaled the end of their meeting, Alon quickly spoke.

[One question should be fine.]

What should he ask first?

There were too many things he wanted to ask right away.

He needed to ask about the necklace Yutia had given him.

He also needed to ask why Yuman believed he was the Hidden Saint.

And he was curious about who Sironia had mistaken him for.

He had also planned to ask about the final words left by the Sin.

But knowing he didn’t have time for all that, Alon chose one.

“After the goddess vanished, the Sin left behind some words.”

He chose to ask about what the Sin had said.

“Do you have any idea what they meant?”

After a moment of silence, the goddess Sironia replied—

[Unfortunately, I don’t know much about the Sin either.

However, if you travel to the East, you might find the information you seek.]

“…The East?”

[…..]

With that statement—

[Then, until we meet again, Alon.]

She faded away with the white light.

“…The East, huh.”

In the now silent Chamber of the Holy Spirit, Alon quietly muttered.

“Brother, did you have a good conversation?”

“Saint.”

As he stepped out of the chamber, Yuman was waiting for him.

“Yes, I think I said everything I could.”

“That’s good to hear. So, what are your plans now?”

At Yuman’s question, Alon paused to think before answering.

“I’m thinking of heading back. Given the current situation, I imagine having an outsider around might be uncomfortable.”

“Nonsense. How could your presence be uncomfortable? I’m sure no one thinks that way.”

“Thank you, even just for saying that.”

“This is absolutely not just talk. If you doubt it, shall I gather the cardinals and ask them?”

At Yuman’s sincere suggestion, Alon shook his head.

“That won’t be necessary. Besides, I was planning to leave anyway.”

Alon originally had three reasons for coming to Sironia.

First, because of Siyan’s words.

Second, because there was something he needed to hear from Yuman.

And finally, to obtain an item from the labyrinth near Rosario.

In other words, he had already accomplished two of his objectives.

As for the final goal, retrieving the item from the labyrinth—

He could simply stop by on his way back, so there was no reason to remain here.

“I see………….”

Yuman responded with a hint of regret.

Alon, watching him, suddenly remembered something and opened his mouth.

“Now that I think of it, I had something I wanted to ask.”

“What is it, brother?”

“I heard that when I disappeared, five cardinals all returned to the embrace of the Goddess Sironia at once in the conference room…”

“Ah, you mean that incident. That was truly a regrettable event.”

Seeing Yuman nod calmly without much change in his expression, Alon felt puzzled.

The Yuman he had known until now—

Would surely have suspected Yutia of orchestrating the whole thing.

Because Yuman didn’t particularly like Yutia.

Yet he was so composed now.

Could it really not have been Yutia?

Just as he started feeling guilty for having doubted her—

“Well, it’s unfortunate, but I think it was a natural consequence.”

“…A natural consequence?”

Yuman continued without warning.

“Yes, they weren’t exactly devout…And—”

He thought for a moment and added, “They had no faith.”

He looked directly at Alon as he spoke.

And with the strange mood that suddenly formed—

“I see.”

Alon could only respond like that.

After the conversation ended—

“Anyway, until next time.”

“Yes, brother. Let’s meet again soon.”

As they exchanged farewells, Alon tilted his head slightly at Yuman’s words.

Because there was no set schedule for when he would return to Rosario.

He was momentarily curious, but—

“Understood.”

Alon simply shrugged and left.

The next day.

He planned to meet Yutia before leaving, but since she was busier than expected, Alon ended up departing Sironia directly.

He began searching the nearby villages for the entrance to the labyrinth.

Normally, he would have found it quickly.

But this particular labyrinth was located in a hidden place, making it difficult to pinpoint.

After a week spent searching—

“…Finally found it.”

“Indeed. It did take a whole week.”

Or did it?

Was it not that it took a whole week, but rather that they found it in just one?

“Considering how quickly you usually find places like this, isn’t this kind of slow, Marquis?”

[Meow]

[Hooh, this place feels similar to the one we saw in the north.]

“Well, let’s head in.”

Alon had discovered the entrance.

“Can I just wait outside?”

“Why?”

“Well, it just feels a little creepy, and I instinctively sense I won’t be of any help…”

“There are no monsters.”

“…Right.”

As Alon’s party entered the labyrinth, hoping to find the item—

***

Meanwhile, in the Chamber of the Holy Spirit, still in ruins but slowly being prepared for restoration—

Yutia stood in the center.

With a faint smile, she gazed up at the enormous statue of the Goddess Sironia.

Just moments ago, the statue had been silent, but now it began to glow brilliantly.

And then—

“Well done.”

Yutia, who had remained silent until then, let her ominous red eyes gleam.

“Thanks to what you did well, everything went perfectly.”

She praised the statue.

“Of course, I’m sure you’re quite displeased with how things turned out. But keep this in mind. Your choice was the right one.”

Her voice was calm.

But precisely because it was calm, it felt eerie.

“Truly.”

Wearing the robes of the servant of the Moon Goddess Sironia—

Holding the title of cardinal in Rosario, which worshiped that very goddess—

And yet evaluating and commanding the Moon Goddess Sironia herself—

Yutia’s presence seemed contradictory and alien, like a false illusion.

Moreover—

“Oh, and I hope you refrain from trying anything funny. If you do, I’ll have no choice but to consider… a ‘disposal.’”

The profanity that flowed so casually from her mouth—

Words that could turn every believer in Rosario into her enemy.

Despite crushing the authority of the Goddess Sironia with her words, Yutia’s expression remained serene.

At that moment—

[I understand. That won’t happen.]

Sironia’s voice rang out.

“That’s a relief.”

Yutia smiled and nodded.

But only briefly—

[No, rather, I’m planning to support you even more.]

“That’s… good to hear.”

[Yes. It would be strange to end things like this. After all, that one has returned.]

“?”

[There’s not much more I can do, but I intend to help

 with all my strength.]

“??”

As the goddess continued, Yutia’s crimson eyes trembled slightly.

Even though she had just been threatened, the goddess now showed determination to support her.

[No, in fact, I should reveal even the hidden ones and rally all strength to aid you.]

“…???”

It didn’t take long for Yutia to realize that something was… very wrong.