Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 325 : Dog (2)
Previously on Became the Patron of Villains...
"Naturally, I showed up—thanks to some absurd falsehoods from a certain individual."
Sharan's outright aggressive stare left Alon momentarily stunned.
"Falsehoods? Has somebody deceived you?"
Celaime inquired as though he was completely clueless, prompting Sharan to furrow her brow a bit.
"Indeed. The falsehood claiming you could craft a Light spell reaching the sixth tier's intricacy—or perhaps beyond."
"And what makes that a falsehood?"
"Hah, you're claiming it's not?"
"Sharan, you're aware of the numerous mages who witnessed the Marquis showcase his magic, correct?"
As Celaime countered, Sharan vigorously shook her head and proclaimed.
"It has to be some kind of illusion."
"An illusion?"
"Must I spell it out myself?"
She regarded Celaime with a look of sheer frustration, as if his ignorance baffled her.
"Hmm~"
"Surely you grasp how groundless and ridiculous that sounds, don't you?"
"Perhaps—but I believe the Marquis Palatio could pull it off."
"......You're even more devoted than your leading apprentice."
"No, it's simply about the odds."
"......Hah."
Sharan continued denying it with head shakes, then shifted her gaze to Alon.
"Should you truly master the advanced phase of Light magic—meaning reconstruction—I'll howl like a hound and plead to be your student."
With that declaration, she spun on her heel as if done speaking and slipped away.
Alon observed Sharan fade into the horizon without pausing for a reply.
"Try to see her side. She's got this intense pride regarding magic."
"......Oh, right."
Though he acknowledged Celaime's words with a nod, Alon inwardly reflected.
Certainly, it was obvious she aimed to undermine him.
Yet from Alon's viewpoint, her statements seemed utterly disjointed.
Penia, positioned close by, let out a sigh.
"Pride?"
"Yes, the Green Tower Master is renowned for her boundless arrogance. After all, she claimed the title of youngest Tower Master in history."
"Really?"
Alon strained to dredge up recollections.
The remaining Tower Masters appeared well past fifty, yet despite her delayed entrance in the tale, she was merely in her upper twenties.
As Alon puzzled over the details, Penia whispered to herself, wearing a confused look.
"Even with her sharp temperament, the Green Tower Master doesn't typically clash so directly... What's driving this behavior?"
"She's behaving out of character?"
"Well, she does carry that edge normally... but today it's sharper... Marquis, is there any history between you and the Green Tower Master?"
"Impossible. My mage connections are quite limited."
"Hmm~ You're right. Her response isn't entirely unexpected... yet something feels off~"
Penia sank into contemplation.
Though just briefly.
"Regardless, tomorrow's demonstration will resolve it all."
"Indeed."
Celaime's remark, echoed by Penia's assent, wrapped up the discussion.
"I've longed for a real conversation. Care to indulge me, Marquis Palatio?"
"Gladly."
Alon stepped aside to converse with Celaime.
***
On the following day.
Despite the abrupt scheduling of Marquis Palatio's display, the hall brimmed with more attendees than usual.
The vibe divided sharply into two factions.
"Light magic once more, I presume?"
"At last~! Previously, my magic crystal sphere got scorched beyond use, so I missed the clear view."
"I've got one ready this time to witness it firsthand."
"Really—something so costly?"
"Obviously, it's Tower equipment."
One group consisted of those who'd observed the Marquis's prior showcase.
The opposing bunch—
"So, what's your take on Marquis Palatio's magic?"
"Frankly, I doubt it."
"Yet I doubt the Marquis would fabricate—plenty of eyewitnesses exist."
"Even so, I need to behold it myself to accept."
These were the novices to the demonstration.
Each stared at the platform with doubtful faces.
And then.
"Here you are."
Sharan Foranu shared the sentiment.
"You arrived, Celaime."
Her curt welcome drew a nod from Celaime.
"How could I miss it? This is a pivotal event."
"......You actually trust it?"
"What reason is there not to?"
His casual retort elicited a heavy sigh from Sharan.
"I get that fellow mages trust Marquis Palatio's abilities. But you, especially, ought to see through it."
"Hmm. We haven't witnessed it ourselves yet."
"Precisely the issue."
"I sense potential."
"As I mentioned before, your loyalty blinds you..."
"Then why does the Marquis stir you up so?"
"......"
Sharan Foranu, Green Tower Master, exhaled deeply again.
Her grudge against Marquis Palatio had long simmered.
Not due to any personal slight from him.
Truthfully, they'd scarcely crossed paths.
The tales circulating were largely positive, boosting his stature.
Still, her animosity stemmed entirely from Celaime Mikardo.
Celaime, Blue Tower Master, her peer in rank.
Naturally, Celaime had never badmouthed Alon to her.
Quite the opposite—he showered praise.
He avoided labeling the Marquis a True Mage, yet lauded his exceptional mage prowess endlessly.
Paradoxically, Celaime's endorsements grated on Sharan profoundly.
Yes, they truly chafed.
Why?
Because the source was Celaime Mikardo.
Sharan scowled, fixing a stare on the composed Celaime next to her.
By consensus, she edged nearer to ninth tier than he.
Nevertheless, prior to her Tower Master role—and still—she revered Celaime as a mage.
Her record-breaking ascent to Tower Master sprang not solely from skill.
It was her drive for Celaime's validation.
Yet Celaime never commended her feats or recognized her.
Not once, despite her triumphs.
In essence, Sharan's bitterness toward Marquis Palatio—
Kindly termed "pride"; bluntly—
Stemmed from her "inferiority complex."
"I'm not emotional; isn't this response logical for me?"
Admittedly, more fueled her opposition this round.
At its core, hierarchical magic permitted flexible builds.
Thus, towers occasionally innovated spells with distinct patterns or setups.
However, innovations stayed within rearrangements and frameworks.
"You realize this, yes? Hierarchical magic's arrangements may be straightforward, but no subsequent stage exists. Our forebears confirmed this across centuries—how can you buy into it?"
Fundamentally, hierarchical magic—reserved for mages, deemed flawless knowledge.
Perfected and cataloged over centuries—
Or rather, these spells were thoroughly "researched" and concluded.
But he alleges unearthing a further evolution?
That equated to branding every tower mage, guardians of centuries-old legacy, as idiots.
Myriad mages and Tower Masters probed hierarchical magic through the ages, yet none unearthed such progress.
Hence, those yet to view Marquis Palatio's magic bore hesitant looks.
"Hmm~"
Celaime pondered briefly, seeming poised to respond—
"Ah, there he is."
He halted upon spotting Marquis Palatio's entrance.
"Anyway—let's observe."
With that, he directed his attention.
And.
Sharan, irked as she trailed Celaime's eyes to Marquis Palatio, locked onto the emerging Light magic in his grasp at the arena's heart.
Marquis Palatio conjured pure Light.
Unadorned Light, free of traits or configurations.
Simultaneously.
The mages, moments earlier buzzing, all zeroed in on Marquis Palatio.
As she sensed faint uncertainty watching the Marquis steadily deploy his magic.
Snap—!
The Light magic arrayed before Alon vanished.
No—not vanished precisely.
Rather.
A botched spell activation.
The mana framework crumbling ahead of Alon flickered briefly before the mages' vision.
"......What occurred there?"
"Did he intentionally abort?"
"No, failure. The framework's disintegrating."
"...It truly is?"
This sparked unrest among the mages.
"What, a flop? With Light magic?"
"Nerves get to him?"
"Hold on, can you even botch a spell like that?"
The doubting mages' voices swelled.
"I swear I caught it last time!"
"......Did we misperceive?"
"Impossible. That was pure Light. The instructor confirmed! That instance, it was—"
"What's happening?"
Even the steadfast Alon supporters started whispering.
The mood flipped abruptly.
"Ha—"
Sharan's empty scoff turned her toward Celaime.
Then, Marquis Palatio, face revealing nothing, abruptly lifted both hands.
The mages' focus snapped back to him.
Alon's hands—
"That's—"
Shaped into seals.
Next.
As Alon whispered an incantation, all present beheld it.
The Light before Alon—
And an entity consuming that Light.
And then.
"Illumination (光明)"
The words escaped Alon's mouth.