Became the Patron of Villains Chapter 351 : Voting (6)

On the day when the vote occurred to select Marquis Palatio’s companion.

Alon remained seated in a daze within the vast auction venue, positioned right next to the Marquis's statue.

“Is this even worthy of being called an auction hall?”

He gazed vacantly at the unfolding scene ahead.

The initial sight that drew his attention was the outer walls of the venue, which had been entirely opened.

Following that, the vast assembly of domain residents filled his sight.

And in the middle, where auction items were supposed to be showcased, Deus was positioned instead.

[Now, before starting the voting, let’s listen to some words from the final candidates.]

As the people of the town applauded and shouted with great energy, Alon averted his gaze and glanced at Evan.

Evan responded only with a facial expression that conveyed, “Don’t look my way, I’m clueless too.”

When Alon shifted his view once more, the auction master, Alexion, began speaking as though he had anticipated this exact instant.

“The candidates themselves asked for it.”

“They asked for it?”

“Yes, they mentioned wanting to address the crowd one final time prior to the vote.”

“Isn’t that… wasting quite a bit of money on this kind of thing?”

Alon’s face twisted in displeasure.

Naturally, he possessed sufficient riches to spend without concern if he chose to.

Yet he felt no inclination to squander it on such a minor matter.

Despite his newfound affluence, Alon’s modest, ordinary-folk mentality stayed the same.

“No need to fret over the expenses. Nothing was taken from our resources.”

“…How so?”

“It happened that way. The candidates handled costs like building the walls, leaving us with zero outlay. Plus, it was an ideal moment for updates anyway.”

“I see.”

“Indeed. With our family’s trading operations growing steadily, increasing numbers of merchants have been passing through. You must have observed that.”

Alon gave a nod.

Alexion’s statement rang true.

“So, you’re indicating that the auction hall’s area has slowly grown inadequate, right?”

“Precisely. And by opening the walls in this manner, we see numerous benefits. For example, as you suggested, my lord, the Marquisate can control the timing and manner of merchant assemblies here.”

Alon murmured in contemplation, nodding once again.

Truly, employing this arrangement for public gatherings would allow summoning particular merchants as required.

“Understood.”

And right as Alon accepted the explanation, the initial candidate ascended the stage.

[Greetings to all.]

It was Duchess Altia.

She utilized her allocated two minutes to present a refined, graceful address, seemingly practiced repeatedly, then descended with poise.

The delivery was so expertly shaped that Alon inwardly praised it quietly.

However, the townspeople’s reaction remained somewhat tepid.

The subsequent candidates ascended sequentially to deliver their words, yet none captured the audience’s favor, nor exceeded Duchess Altia’s skill in oratory.

Then, as the fourth candidate advanced—

[Ahem, ahem~]

It was Seolrang.

She gently struck the magic-enhanced communicator, checked it with an “Ah, ah—,” and then proclaimed—

[If I become the Marquis’s companion, I’ll construct a Colosseum within the Marquisate!]

She abruptly issued a startling vow.

“…What?”

Alon directed his gaze toward the assembled gladiators.

Unsurprisingly, they also cocked their heads in bewilderment.

But Seolrang ignored them completely.

[And I’ll relocate… ah, wait, not relocate… um… shift! Yes, I’ll shift the gladiators over here!]

With her toothy grin shining vividly, she bellowed her commitment.

‘Babayaga? Does that imply we can view Colosseum fights here as well?’

‘That would be incredible!’

The venue burst into fervent uproar.

And in that manner, her address—spanning under a minute—drew more cheers and zeal than the sum of all previous ones.

“…Do you believe that vow can truly be fulfilled?”

“It can… be fulfilled.”

“Can be?”

“Well… it could ignite a conflict.”

“…Hmm.”

Gladiators served as the primary armed strength of a colony.

And now, one colony’s vital power was being targeted by the Marquisate?

Even if unintended by the Marquis, from the colony’s viewpoint, it resembled witnessing their key troops being snatched openly.

“So Seolrang simply—”

“She simply let it slip out.”

Alon gulped hard.

The subsequent candidate mounted the platform.

After Seolrang came Magrina.

And then—

[Everyone, I am the Queen of the Elves.]

For an instant, the entire group froze in astonishment at the unexpected disclosure.

[If I become Brother’s companion, I vow ongoing interactions between our realm and the Marquisate.]

Her statement left a fog of bewilderment over the assembly.

Their expressions read, “And so?”

But then—

[For instance, unions between elves and humans.]

The second she appended that, the confused expressions among the townsfolk morphed into astonished outbursts.

“!!?”

Even the elves were plunged into turmoil.

‘Did I actually hear that?’

They fixed their stares on Magrina, faces brimming with initial shock that soon turned to distress.

Alon pivoted to view Evan.

“Why are you glancing at me all of a sudden?”

“I was just curious if Magrina had mentioned anything about this to you earlier…”

“Absolutely not.”

“…So she simply…”

“She simply let it slip out.”

Alon quietly faced ahead again.

Magrina descended the stage with a confident demeanor after concluding her address.

It resembled observing politicians who issued endless unfulfillable assurances, hurling baseless commitments to secure support.

Alon experienced an odd feeling of familiarity.

Time elapsed.

Perhaps motivated by the bold declarations from Seolrang and Magrina, or conceivably it was premeditated, but—

[Choose me and I’ll safeguard all.]

[Select me, and I’ll grant each resident a gold coin.]

Historia and Rine proceeded similarly, flinging their extravagant assurances.

Only Ryanga held back from participating.

Instead—

[Um, I don’t possess anything particularly unique I can offer…]

With a shy countenance, she shifted restlessly.

[E-even then, I’ll give my utmost as Chief’s companion!]

She balled her hand into a fist and cried out, as if resolving her hesitation and conquering her shyness.

Among all speeches thus far, hers contained the minimal content.

Nevertheless—

—We support you! We’ll root for you!!

—Go, White Ghost!!!

—White Ghost is superior!!!

Oddly, the cheers for Ryanga resounded with tremendous volume.

No—upon nearer inspection, it wasn’t a massive throng, but rather a dedicated group responding to Ryanga with intense passion.

Alon sensed he had witnessed that spectacle previously.

Where exactly?

“Ah.”

“What’s the matter, my lord?”

After extended quiet, Alon pinpointed the origin of his familiarity.

“It resembles idol supporters.”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind.”

He dismissed it casually.

Ryanga waved awkwardly, and from one section of the assembly arose a peculiar bellow of “Uooooo~!!!”

The last candidate to approach the stage was Yutia.

[Hello to all. I am Cardinal Yutia.]

Yutia offered a courteous salutation.

Distinct from the rest, she exuded evident calm.

[I won’t issue promises like the others. I merely wish for you to remember one matter.]

Ahem.

[The lamb ignoring the call of truth and venturing into the prohibited will ultimately be ravaged by creatures and offered to retribution.]

Yutia’s grave tone echoed deeply through the venue.

As the abruptly silenced assembly observed, Yutia smiled softly.

[Choices hold great significance, don’t they?]

With those words, she left the platform.

“…That’s somewhat frightening.”

“I concur.”

It was undoubtedly a scriptural passage.

Still, after hearing it, the statement seemed partly admonitory and partly ambiguous.

[Now then, the voting will commence.]

The balloting started.

***

The “election” concluded only after five days.

With more meticulous preparations, it might have wrapped up earlier.

Merely the voting spanned over two complete days, and tallying required even more time.

There were peculiar efforts to meddle during the procedure as well.

For instance, an elf detected diverting votes intended for Magrina.

A local who attempted to cast two votes for Seolrang.

Fake ballots surfaced that the Marquisate hadn’t distributed.

In spite of the diverse disturbances, they luckily didn’t severely impact the tally.

And following the five-day ordeal, the chosen one as Alon’s companion was—

“Well—a predictable outcome.”

Yutia.

Yutia Bloodia displayed a completely at-ease grin.

“No way~!”

“They surely employed some scheme!”

“Yes!”

“Uuugh—we toiled so much.”

The remaining candidates yelled at the triumphant Yutia.

Nevertheless—

“Don’t feel so defeated. This is genuinely the logical result. I mentioned it right from the start, remember?”

“That’s precisely the odd part! I absolutely had the stronger audience response!”

Seolrang objected, as though it defied logic.

Regardless, Yutia responded without dimming her smile to Seolrang’s rudeness.

“It indicates the world recognized who best matches Lord.”

No matter the insult hurled, Yutia’s retort stayed, “So what can you truly achieve?”

Breathing heavily, Seolrang scowled at her—then abruptly appeared to recall an idea.

“Then I’ll serve as a bodyguard knight!”

“…A bodyguard knight?”

“We’re permitted two guards! So I’ll act as Master’s bodyguard knight!”

She thrust her hand upward and declared.

At that, the losers, who had been scowling at Yutia moments prior, swiftly redirected their focus.

“F-fine, I’ll accept that as a fallback~!”

“M-me as well, I desire it too!”

“I’d outperform you—”

“Everyone, please uphold propriety. This ought to be settled via an impartial vote—”

The moment “vote” escaped Magrina’s lips once more in the turmoil—

“No more voting.”

Alon decisively halted them.

Then—

Relieved sighs echoed near the trees and the office’s castle wall, from elves and gladiators alike.

Alon hastily concluded matters.

“Now, time is short—let’s proceed to the ballroom. We must also visit the Mage Tower.”

A trip to Teria.

It marked his initial venture outside in months.

Just as Alon readied for departure—

“Let’s return.”

“Yes.”

Duchess Altia also reached an understanding.

Among the powerful, enduring proves this challenging.

“The frail cannot endure.”

With drooping posture, Duchess Altia departed from a location scarcely unlike a infernal domain.

***

As Alon headed toward the Mage Tower—

“So you’re telling me he claimed he doesn’t require even triple the initial sum you proposed?”

“That’s right.”

“And should he refuse to yield readily?”

“In that case—”

King Palmaryan, ruler of Tolenis and Caliban, conversed with a serious demeanor.

“—we might need to resort to warfare.”

Something in this situation… feels amiss.