Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 316 : Something Feels Off (3)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
The following morning.
Alon was engaged in conversation with Penia before his scheduled visit to Heinkel, much like the previous day.
“Marquis.”
“Where have you been, Evan?”
“I paid a brief visit to the information guild.”
“A guild exists even in this place?”
“Not a physical branch, per se, but an agent has been making frequent appearances to deliver intel. More importantly, there is a matter I must report.”
“Speak.”
“Reports indicate that highly unusual phenomena have been occurring within Ashtalon lately.”
“Ashtalon, you say?”
“Indeed.”
Evan proceeded to relay a specific piece of news.
“What sort of phenomena?”
“There are several occurrences, but the most striking is being referred to as ‘Berserk Transformation.’”
“Berserk Transformation?”
“Yes. It appears that monsters have begun slaughtering one another.”
Alon tilted his head, looking unconvinced.
“Is that not a common occurrence?”
Generally, monsters possess low intelligence and lack the capacity for reason, leading them to view anything outside their own species as a target.
Unless they belong to organized groups like goblins or ogres, it is quite standard for them to prey upon different species.
However, Evan shook his head in disagreement.
“The crucial detail is that they are not targeting other species. To put it clearly—”
“They are fighting among themselves?”
Penia interjected, and Evan did not dispute her assessment.
A look of intrigue crossed Penia’s face.
“This is the first I’ve heard of such behavior. Is the information truly credible?”
“It originates from the information guild, so its reliability should be high.”
“How peculiar. It is against a monster's nature to attack its own kind.”
As Penia pondered the strangeness of the situation, Evan added more detail.
“Furthermore, it is said that the forests surrounding Shtalian are now perpetually stained in crimson.”
“Is that a figure of speech?”
“No. It is literally red. That is why it is being treated as a phenomenon.”
The report concluded with the observation that these creatures seemed intent on killing every living soul in sight, leaving Alon in deep thought.
No.
Throughout all the events he had experienced in Psychedelia, nothing mirrored this situation.
At least, nothing within his memory.
He was lost in a daze, trying to recall any relevant details about Ashtalon, when—
“Marquis, perhaps you should save these thoughts for later. You have an appointment to keep.”
“You are right.”
Acknowledging Evan’s reminder, Alon set aside his complicated thoughts and rose to meet Heinkel.
[I am not going.]
The voice of Basiliora, who had remained as silent as a corpse within the ring yesterday, drifted from beneath the bedsheets where he had burrowed.
Alon ignored him and made his way to the library.
[You have arrived.]
“Did your work go smoothly?”
[To some extent.]
Heinkel nodded while observing Alon.
However, her eyes were not quite meeting his.
It was as if she were focusing on a point just above his head.
[In any case, I intended to pick up where we left off yesterday.]
“Regarding the idea that degraded magic contains embedded information?”
Alon replied, focusing his attention.
[Precisely. So—how much do you actually understand about it?]
“As I stated yesterday, only that Ice Spear is a simplified, degraded version of the original.”
[And you know nothing more?]
“Nothing.”
Heinkel fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
[First, I must ask—are you familiar with the concept of Tiered Magic?]
Tiered Magic.
Alon had never given it much thought, as his own spellcasting relied on incantations and familiars.
However, in the world of Psychedelia, every magic tier possessed its own unique spells, separate from the Origin spells found at the 8th Tier and above.
This structured system was known as Tiered Magic.
“Yes, I am aware of it.”
Following Alon’s nod, she made a blunt declaration.
[Well, every Tiered Magic spell you are familiar with is actually a degraded version.]
A brief silence filled the room as he struggled to digest her words.
“The entirety of Tiered Magic… is degraded?”
[That is a bit of a simplification. To be more accurate, it isn't exactly degraded… Tiered Magic itself functions as a system for information transmission.]
“...Information transmission?”
[Exactly.]
Alon pressed for more details.
“How did you come to this realization?”
[Hmm~]
She paused to consider her explanation before speaking slowly.
[I always had a suspicion that Tiered Magic was not merely standard magic. I simply couldn't grasp the underlying intention.]
“...Intention?”
[Hmm—how can I put this?]
Seeing Alon’s confusion, Heinkel uttered a soft “ah” and then—
Fwoosh—
She manifested an Ice Spear in the air before her.
[You are capable of creating an Ice Spear, correct?]
“Yes.”
[Then this explanation will be straightforward.]
Heinkel cleared her throat and began her lecture in earnest.
[As you are aware, a spell is composed of mana quantity, its internal structure, and its specific arrangement. If one were to slightly modify that arrangement—]
With a sharp crackle, the Ice Spear’s form twisted into a spiraling shape.
[It would transform into this.]
“This is…”
[It bears a resemblance to the Ice Spear favored by the Blue Tower, does it not? Now, if you alter the mana structure instead of the arrangement—]
The spear before them distorted into a grotesque, jagged orb of ice.
[—It becomes this. Do you recognize what this looks like?]
“It is similar to the magic employed by the mages of the Red Tower.”
When Penia provided the answer, Heinkel nodded, continuing to shift the Ice Spear into various configurations.
At times, it stretched far beyond its normal length.
At others, it took the form of a massive claymore rather than a projectile.
After displaying these variations, Heinkel questioned him.
[So, what conclusion do you draw from this demonstration?]
“...That each tower possesses its own distinct style?”
[Precisely. The five towers, categorized by color, each apply slight modifications to tiered magic to establish their own unique characteristics.]
Muttering that this was the fundamental reason for the towers' color-coding, Heinkel raised her voice for emphasis.
[But the point I truly wish to stress is the concept of 'freedom of control.']
“Freedom?”
[Yes. As you likely know, most magic developed by mages—Tiered Magic excluded—relies on a fixed quantity, structure, and arrangement of mana. This rule even applies to Origin spells.]
“Simply increasing the mana doesn't guarantee a more powerful spell.”
[And if you tamper with the arrangement of most spells, they fail to manifest or simply explode. However, Tiered Magic is different.]
As she spoke, Heinkel continued to warp and transform the Ice Spear with ease.
[Even with radical changes to the arrangement, the spell does not fail.
You can even modify the structure or the amount of mana as you see fit.]
“Is that not simply the result of exceptional spell design?”
[I believe there is more to it.]
“Why?”
Instead of a verbal answer, Heinkel released mana into the air.
In an instant, the mana coalesced into an Ice Spear, leaving both Alon and Penia wide-eyed.
It wasn't that the spear itself was special.
The cause of their shock was different—
[Do you see?]
“You mean... you produced it with that much ease?”
[Exactly.]
The sheer lack of complexity in the process was what stunned them.
To manifest an Ice Spear—or any Tiered Magic—one normally had to proceed through three specific phases, regardless of the arrangement.
Yet, Heinkel had just conjured it instantly, bypassing those requirements entirely.
Any practitioner of magic would have been floored by such a sight.
[For the record, this isn't a feat I can perform because of my genius. This is still Tiered Magic.]
“This is?”
[It seems impossible, doesn't it? But it is the truth. I simply stripped away all the redundant steps in the casting sequence.]
Heinkel elaborated further.
[In other words, whoever designed Tiered Magic knew that these spells could be cast without such convoluted procedures.]
“Are you suggesting they intentionally included these steps as information for those who followed?”
[Precisely.]
Heinkel confessed that she had only recently identified these casting steps as "information," thanks to Penia’s perspective.
[In any case, this is excellent news for you. While we cannot replicate your magic, by analyzing Tiered Magic—]
“...I can learn entirely new spells.”
[That is exactly right.]
She nodded, as if she had been leading him to that very conclusion.
[Are you interested in attempting an experiment?]
“An experiment?”
[Yes. We have already succeeded in deconstructing 1st Tier spells like Light. What do you think?]
“If you are willing to guide me, I will try.”
And so, a new trial began.
***
On the fringes of the desert city, Colony.
Hidden beneath a vast sea of sand, inside a secluded cave—
“Huff... huff...”
Seolrang panted heavily, her body slumping onto the cold, dark ground.
A gauntlet lay before her.
Staring at it with exhaustion, she looked utterly defeated.
“Why is this so difficult...?”
Muttering with a mix of annoyance and despair, she had spent months attempting to pass the next trial set by the Essence.
Yet, failure was all she had found.
A sense of desperation began to flicker in her eyes.
Memories of the past began to play in her mind like a recurring nightmare:
A vast forest swallowed by fire, and the silhouette of Sin walking through the inferno with calm indifference.
And herself—collapsing from a single strike, unable to offer even a hint of resistance.
“...No.”
The memory stung, causing Seolrang to shake her head frantically.
She would never be able to protect her master at this rate.
Her expression hardening with renewed urgency, she glared at the Essence of the Goldenmane Tribe.
[Do you crave power?]
A voice reached her.
It was a faint whisper, barely more than a breath against her ear.
“...!”
However, it was unmistakably clear.
Instinctively, Seolrang turned toward the sound.
Deep within the shadows of the cave—
[If power is what you seek, I shall provide it.]
A black dragon watched her from the darkness.
[Well? Do you desire it?]
The dark entity spoke with a seductive, luring tone.
Seolrang’s gaze wavered for a second.
Sensing her hesitation, the black presence—the very embodiment of shadow—spoke once more.
[Give yourself to me, and I will grant you strength. A power that does not require you to beg for tests like these—!]
Just as it offered exactly what Seolrang wanted—
“...Huh?”
While staring at the dark figure with trembling eyes, Seolrang suddenly let out a soft breath as if a memory had just surfaced—
and she smiled.
[?]
The black dragon appeared puzzled for a moment.
“Then lend me some of your power.”
[A wise choice! Accept me and I shall bestow upon you limitless—]
But Seolrang cut it off casually.
“No, not that. Just let me borrow a bit of power for a moment.”
[......?]
“I’ll return it as soon as I’m finished.”
[......??]
The dragon fell into a stunned silence, looking completely bewildered.
Meanwhile, Seolrang licked her lips, her eyes fixed hungrily on the Essence of the Goldenmane Tribe.