Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 321 : Ryanga (3)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
Alon, Penia, and Evan pressed on after the incident.
The path ahead proved rather straightforward.
Back at the start, they had braced for trouble with mutants charging their way.
But since Ryanga—or the white-masked girl—appeared, no more mutants crossed their path.
To be exact—
Boom—!
—explosions still echoed from spots beyond Alon's view.
“...Looks like she's handling them away from our eyes now.”
“Got it.”
“If she'd started that way, it would've matched her goal of staying hidden much better.”
“...You're right.”
“But why go to such lengths to conceal who she is? And—”
As Alon pondered, “How should I know?”, Evan gestured toward something.
“...If she's hiding her identity, shouldn't she clear away the mutant bodies too?”
“Eh, does it really call for that?”
Through the trees, a massive house-sized mutant sprawled lifeless.
Seeing it, Alon murmured softly.
Truth be told, hiding the corpses wouldn't change a thing—he already recognized the girl as Ryanga.
Still, her intense efforts to mask her identity puzzled him.
How much time passed as he mulled over these matters?
Alon spotted the cliff path, exactly as Ryanga—or the girl—had described.
“This has to be the one.”
“Time to climb.”
The trio headed for the cliff, and soon enough—
“Halt! Don't move another step!”
Out of nowhere, masked figures like Ryanga's leaped from the woods, barring their advance.
“...Who might you be?”
“No need for names! You can't proceed up there!”
“Oh?”
“If you're set on going, just the guy can pass!”
With painfully stiff delivery, they jabbed a finger at Alon.
A heavy quiet fell over the group for a beat.
Perhaps they sensed the cringe themselves.
They pivoted slightly and muttered among one another.
“Damn, I said I hated this idea!”
“You lost the wager, fool!”
“How do we fix this awkward air??”
“Uh—are we toast?”
The woods stayed hushed save for mutant cries.
Thus, their hushed talk rang clear to Alon and Penia.
Penia and Alon exchanged baffled glances.
“Ah—screw it, send the guy up and keep the others back. That's the script, yeah?”
In the end, they settled on a plan.
“Guy goes up! Everyone else stays put!”
They spun back and bellowed once more.
Alon toyed with questioning the farce.
Yet he opted to roll with their charade.
Even with the bungled performance—
Behind the masks, their eyes gleamed with urgent resolve.
Those gazes begged, “Botch this and we're done for. Play along, please~.”
That plea swayed him—
“...No helping it. Please, proceed.”
“I'll wait down here as well.”
“Fine.”
“You, tag along.”
[Hmph, why should I?]
“Quiet and follow~”
[?! How are you even picking me up?]
“I trained just to haul you for a beating. Shocked?”
With Evan lugging Basiliora left below.
Alon earned quiet gratitude from the masks and ascended the cliff solo.
Upon cresting the summit—
The sunset's glow was dimming, revealing a girl poised against the stunning midway mountain vista.
“Ryanga.”
Alon uttered.
Her sunset-gazing form swiveled smoothly to lock eyes with him.
Then came her feigned startled look, stiff as could be.
“Uh—um, Chief? What brings you here?”
(I'm putting on an act right now.)
Her tone practically announced it.
Alon eyed the painfully clumsy Ryanga, pondering his next move briefly.
“A girl who rescued me directed me here.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes.”
He replied with gentle poise, yet then—
Ryanga fixed her stare on Alon wordlessly.
“...Chief.”
“Yes?”
“When did you figure it out?”
Alas, she'd pierced his pretense.
Perhaps his own facade faltered too…
Now free from the farce, Alon paused before responding.
“Right from the beginning?”
He said.
“Haah—”
Ryanga emitted an odd noise, clutched her head, and slumped down.
“I figured I nailed it…”
“What do you mean…?”
“Was… was it that off?”
“...Somewhat?”
A lot… nearly slipped out, but Alon held back.
After some agonized moans, Ryanga rose, cheeks burning with shame.
He observed her fidgeting awhile.
She fumbled with her hair repeatedly, lips fumbling for words.
Witnessing this, Alon chose to offer an apology upfront.
“Sorry for the delay.”
“Huh? N-No, Chief, no need to say sorry. I was merely waiting, nothing more.”
“Even so, I kept you waiting.”
Ryanga gazed at Alon's words, then pursed her lips a tad.
“...I waited ages, Chief.”
“I know.”
“A whole lot, really.”
“I'm deeply sorry.”
“Pretending you didn't know me back then hurt a ton.”
“That was—”
Since Alon hadn't revisited the past, he'd genuinely lacked knowledge of Ryanga then.
As he faltered, Ryanga eyed him knowingly.
“I get it, you hadn't returned yet, huh?”
“Yes. Sorry for that bit.”
“No, Chief, don't apologize. It's only natural, isn't it? I just felt a bit uneasy. Feared you might never recall… But it's okay now.”
She flashed a grin and went on.
“You remember everything now, right?”
“Yes, all of it.”
With that, Ryanga stepped close and rested her head softly on his chest.
“Chief.”
“Yes.”
“I put in tremendous effort.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
“I honored our vow too—guiding folks properly and following my true convictions.”
“Thanks for upholding that vow as well.”
For Alon, that vow dated back under two years.
Yet for Ryanga, it stretched across almost centuries.
Thus, Alon phrased it accordingly.
Those words prompted—
“Tsk. I aimed for a far grander, flawless reunion.”
Ryanga grumbled, a touch let down.
“Really?”
“Yep, I set up tons for it.”
Alon wondered, “What…?”
“Check that out.”
Following Ryanga's point, Alon scanned the cliffside panorama.
The vista Ryanga unveiled from the cliff—
Even to Alon, no aesthete, it struck as utterly breathtaking.
“Recall our village?”
“I do.”
“Remember me mentioning it? A spot of sheer beauty back home.”
Alon nodded.
Back when they adventured together, Ryanga often shared village tales.
Those included vivid scenic details.
“I longed to share that with you.”
“This… is your village's famous view?”
“Yep, I shaped it myself.”
“You carved it?”
Alon's steady face cracked into genuine astonishment for once.
Ryanga tilted her head curiously, then beamed with joy.
“Yeah, it's near flawless. That scene haunted my thoughts, so it's etched clear.”
She added a faint whine, urging him to value her toil.
“It was grueling, honestly? The cliff was manageable, but forests shift without upkeep, straying from memory. I tended it nonstop.”
Her explanation drew Alon's gaze back to the scene.
A landscape too stunning for simple words.
Alon gawked at the haven she'd preserved centuries for his sake.
“…Words fail for my thanks.”
The sentiment escaped unbidden.
“Truly, thank you.”
He echoed it, compelled.
What felt brief to him—
Meant centuries of waiting for Ryanga.
Seeing Alon's response—
Ryanga, pout fading, gradually grinned anew.
“That's reward enough.”
She declared.
“Welcome back, Chief.”
“Yes.”
Thus, their true reunion at last unfolded.
***
The black dragon pondered.
How did it spiral to this?
Reflecting, the mess began early on.
When Marquis Palatio, dear to the host, vanished—
As Seolrang's resolve shook and the dragon sought to emerge.
That chaos suited perfectly.
Had the marquis stayed gone, or news delayed a day—
The dragon might've claimed Seolrang's form.
Trouble struck when return tidings hit just before manifestation.
The dragon, certain of possession, had exposed itself.
Hence, bound to Seolrang, it couldn't seek another host, landing in limbo.
Still, another shot arose for reversal.
Courtesy of Greed's sin, an unmanifested ally.
Seolrang wavered anew, doubting her guard over the marquis.
Plus, failing the Golden Mane Clan's essence trial, her power root—
Deepened her doubt.
The dragon pounced on that gap for another emergence bid.
It believed success near.
‘Lend me your strength briefly.’
‘No need to hand it over—just loan it a sec.’
‘I'll give it straight back.’
Till Seolrang's face lit with greedy hunger, like eyeing a feast.
Instinctively, the dragon shared power.
Unavoidable, and optimal then.
Better to lure with allure than idle.
The dragon brimmed with assurance.
One taste, and she'd hunger for more, surely.
Thus, power was loaned.
It never foresaw the blunder.
“Black dragon! Borrowed your power great today too—here, reclaim it—”
Seolrang, essence in hand, eyed the dragon's shadowy nook with that same ravenous glee.
The dragon replied warily.
[You want me… to reclaim the power?]
“Yep. You promised to take it back, didn't you?”
[...Why not hold onto it?]
“Nah.”
[This back-and-forth tires me too…]
Truthfully, exchanging power was simple.
But the dragon's ploy stemmed elsewhere.
Seolrang's demeanor irked it.
She showed zero attachment to its might.
More aptly, she wielded the dragon's force merely as a tool.
Seolrang repeatedly borrowed to conquer essence trials, then returned it…!
This left the dragon exploited despite loans, shrinking manifestation odds.
Aware, the dragon pushed back—
“Oh? Fine, no more borrowing from here on.”
[What…?]
“Won't borrow anymore.”
[But the trials demand it…]
“Think I can solo it now. Appreciate the aid so far?”
Facing Seolrang's casual dismissal—
[W-Wait—!]
“Yes?”
[I-I'll loan it once more…]
“For real?”
The dragon clung desperately.
Withhold power, and manifestation hopes vanished.
Thus—
[Y-Yeah.]
“Thanks?”
The dragon squeezed its eyes shut, beholding Seolrang's radiant, eager shine.