Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 323 : Ryanga (5)

Having just verified the idea that pleasing Ryanga's body (?) brings calm to her spirit.

Alon chose to depart from the White Ghost's lair.

"Hundreds of years have passed since our last encounter, so parting after only a single day feels somewhat heartbreaking..."

"If you'd like, maybe I should linger a bit more?"

Alon inquired of Ryanga, whose eyes seemed on the verge of tears.

Yet she simply shook her head in response.

"No need, I'll seek you out on my own if the longing strikes again."

She replied, offering a gentle smile.

"Until we meet again, Chief!"

"Yes, until next time."

"Farewell for now, Ryanga!"

Right as their farewells were wrapping up.

"Ah. Chief, one quick question?"

As though the thought had suddenly struck her, Ryanga halted Alon's departure.

"Sure, what’s on your mind?"

"Blue Ghost headed off to locate you, didn't he? I never instructed him to, yet he vanished without a trace."

"...Ah."

A soft sigh escaped Alon's lips unwittingly.

The matter had slipped by so smoothly that it hadn't crossed his mind at all, and truly, he hadn't mentioned Blue Ghost.

Thus, he halted briefly to share the details with her.

Do I reveal this to her?

Alon wavered inwardly.

Naturally, he needed to inform her about Blue Ghost's visit, but explaining his current whereabouts proved tricky.

Would it be best to simply state the facts—that Blue Ghost took a liking to Divine Land and chose to remain?

Such an approach didn't sit well.

It struck him as something that might fulfill a tragic tale where all suffered, so with brief reflection, Alon responded.

"He did seek me out."

"For real? So, where's he at these days?"

"He's assisting with certain tasks in Divine Land temporarily."

"Divine Land?"

"Indeed."

With a nod from Alon and a basic rundown of Divine Land.

Ryanga appeared captivated, as if she'd encountered a captivating tale.

"In any case, he's tied up aiding there at the moment, so I'll relay the message upon his return."

"Hmm~ No, it's okay to let him stay."

"...Are you certain?"

"Yes, I'll handle informing him personally during my next visit."

She uttered it casually, like it was trivial.

"Alright then~"

Putting that exchange aside, they ventured out of the woods.

Thus, once Alon's companions departed the White Ghost's domain.

"Boss—"

"Yes, what's up?"

The crimson-hued Red Ghost, who held the third position among the White Ghosts after Blue Ghost, addressed her while observing Ryanga's vibrant look swiftly shift to one of ennui.

"You seem let down, Boss."

"Do I? Why do you say that?"

"After such a prolonged wait, he departed after merely a day."

In response, Ryanga let out a soft laugh and answered.

"It's alright."

"Alright?"

"Yes, simply reuniting and verifying things satisfied me. Besides— Chief has his duties keeping him occupied, so detaining him merely due to our reunion after ages would only inconvenience him."

Red Ghost, upon hearing Ryanga express this with such ease, experienced a fresh wave of respect.

He adjusted his view of the leader subtly, shifting from 'a girl who's simply powerful and compassionate' to 'one who appears youthful yet possesses profound emotional maturity.'

Next, he mentioned something as if it had just occurred to him.

"Is it alright to let Blue Ghost remain there? He handled the underlings most effectively, didn't he?"

"Hmm~"

Ryanga rested her hand on her chin, emitting a thoughtful hum.

As Red Ghost pointed out, Blue Ghost excelled at overseeing the followers.

"You're right."

"So, shouldn't we retrieve him promptly?"

"No concerns. I intended to fetch him regardless."

"Eh? For true?"

"Absolutely."

"In that case, we could ask that individual to relay the word, no?"

"No point in troubling Chief with such a minor task. It's preferable for me to handle it in person."

'Troubling?' The notion puzzled Red Ghost briefly, though it passed quickly.

"So, Red Ghost, Chief should reach his domain in roughly a month's time, correct?"

"Likely, yes?"

"Then I'll head over and retrieve Blue Ghost around that period."

"Wouldn't heading there immediately be swifter?"

"Since he's supporting Chief, snatching him away abruptly wouldn't sit well, would it?"

Aware of Ryanga's knack for achieving her desires, no matter the odds, Red Ghost voiced his uncertainty.

"Understood? I'll set out in about a month."

"Eh? ...Affirmative."

"And I'll offer Chief a fitting welcome as well."

Her motives were easy to discern.

She's clearly scheming another encounter...

At that realization, Red Ghost spotted the subtle grin playing on Ryanga's lips.

Within his thoughts, his assessment of Ryanga shifted yet again.

From a composed and formidable figure feigning detachment...

***

Roughly one day following their exit from the White Ghost's lair.

Alon intentionally routed through the ruins zone, avoiding the mutant-infested area, to spare Ryanga any hassle.

During that additional day of travel.

"Success...!"

"Exactly!"

Alon and Penia exchanged triumphant elation.

They'd accomplished the initial phase of drawing out data from Tiered magic: diminishing its intensity.

"Next, we merely assemble the details, and we're set! Naturally, this marks only the start, of course."

"Even so, the pace exceeded my expectations."

As he noted.

During their initial attempt to pull information from the magic bolt.

They were utterly clueless on where to begin.

Hence, a brief celebration ensued.

"However... is this truly manifesting correctly?"

To Penia's subsequent query, Alon uttered an odd noise while gazing forward.

Before them lay the magic bolt crafted jointly by Alon and Penia across recent weeks.

"At minimum, the structure qualifies as a magic bolt, so one could argue it does."

"The appearance varies somewhat."

Penia's skepticism held merit.

Fundamentally, the first-rank magic bolt known to mages consists of compressed mana, typically forming a spherical shape.

Yet the one produced by Alon and Penia.

"It's linear—"

It manifested as a straight line.

Observing the dimly luminous magic bolt, slender and rectangular like a simple arrow, Alon pressed on.

"Heinkel mentioned previously that the form could alter based on extracted elements, so this falls within anticipated bounds."

"True enough."

"Let's proceed this way for the moment. This seems accurate."

Alon reflected on Heinkel's words.

'As I mentioned, if it's extraction of information rather than modification of the magic, the spell won't trigger unless fully drawn out. Tiered magic readily adjusts to changes, yet it's built to prevent total extraction since it serves information delivery.'

"Heinkel noted too that activation occurs solely upon complete information retrieval."

As Penia nodded while methodically sorting his ideas.

"Indeed."

While they observed the arrow-like magic gradually dissipate.

"Marquis, we've reached our destination."

The carriage pulled into the encampment.

Soon after, Alon received unsettling tidings there.

"Is this accurate? Three mighty fighters have perished?"

That the team dispatched to resolve the issue in the Kingdom of Ashtalon had met their end.

***

Lately, Palmarian IV, ruler of Caliban, suffered persistent migraines.

Naturally, numerous factors contributed.

The once-dormant northern barbarians had resumed their stirrings.

A abrupt exodus of many knights from Caliban.

Moreover, his three heirs, already gearing up to vie for the crown.

Countless intricate matters existed, yet his offspring intensified Palmarian IV's tensions above all.

Indeed, this held true until several months prior.

"Marquis Palatio has established Divine Land!"

Upon first learning this, Palmarian IV dismissed it lightly.

Even news of Marquis Palatio enlisting numerous troops and knights failed to alarm him.

The undertaking's scope was impressive, yet he viewed it as harmless.

In truth, the report reached him due to whispers that Caliban's premier blade was directly instructing the recruits.

Yes, matters stood thus until then.

Three months back.

"Update: Knights and mercenaries are swarming toward Divine Land presently."

"...Knights and troops?"

"Correct. The surge is staggering."

"The count...?"

"Should this persist... sufficient for launching a conflict."

This persisted until the aide's briefing.

Thereupon, Palmarian IV pondered, 'Is Marquis Palatio scheming...?', only to discard the notion shortly.

He recognized the marquis's competence, yet believed no such reckless act would follow.

Certainly, he respected the marquis's abilities.

Still, surpassing the united realms seemed implausible.

Conflicts relied not on solitary prowess but on sheer forces.

Hence, Palmarian IV easily quelled his suspicions.

Further confidence bloomed upon learning of midway dropouts among knights and mercenaries.

Two months past.

"The Saint of Kalannon has led her devotees and knights to Divine Land."

"What?"

"Furthermore, troops and mercenaries now remain steadfast."

Then, true wariness sprouted in Palmarian IV's thoughts.

For a group that erected a shrine close to Caliban to forsake it for Divine Land—regardless of contemplation, no rationale fit.

Nevertheless, Palmarian IV doubted Marquis Palatio's intent to ignite war.

He clung firmly to 'Impossible.'

Marquis Palatio? Impossible?

Yet.

"Thus, those circulating tales... all masterminded by Marquis Palatio?"

"Affirmative, per the spy network's findings."

"The marquis concerns himself with swaying opinions he could ignore?"

"Yes. One additional item to disclose."

"And that is...?"

The spy network's update proceeded.

At last.

"Among the Seven Strongest, the Sword God, has joined Divine Land."

Upon that revelation.

...!!

Palmarian IV's eyes quivered without restraint.