Became the Patron of Villains

In truth, Penia was grateful for her current situation.

Someone might ask how she could be grateful while being punished—

but to Penia, the punishment she had received over the past few days, while painful, was still something she could endure.

Because the other punishments, aside from ‘hands raised,’ were so terrifying she didn’t even dare to speak of them.

Even the ‘hands raised’ punishment she was receiving now had only been decided after a series of dangerous verbal clashes—

and only because it had been taken into account that she was currently very helpful to Alon.

From Penia’s perspective, there was no choice but to be grateful for the situation.

Up until just a moment ago, at least.

“......”

Penia looked forward.

There were several faces there, each different.

No— actually, that might not be the right way to put it.

Because Yutia, Magrina, Rine, and Seollang were all smiling in similar ways.

Except for their eyes.

Of course, the others present wore a variety of expressions.

Deus and Radan looked at Penia with pity, as if thinking, ‘Oh dear... she’s about to die...’

Nangwon had a weary, almost sorrowful look, as if thinking, ‘I wish this would just end already.’

Meanwhile, Historia sat comfortably, lazily swishing her tail as if thinking, ‘Whatever happens is fine.’

Ryang-a, like Nangwon, had a faint trace of sympathy on her face.

In that strange atmosphere, mixed with pity and cold smiles—

Penia cautiously tried to voice a small opinion.

“Um—”

“Have you decided?”

“No... could I just keep holding my hands up?”

A small request.

But—

“No.”

“Pick one.”

“It’s easy.”

“Just choose one person.”

As if they were all connected as a single organism, the women spoke in unison.

Penia squeezed her eyes shut.

Because she knew.

There was no correct answer here.

No—

more than that—

no matter who she chose, it would be a choice that led only to her death.

That was right.

No matter who she picked, the only path awaiting Penia was death.

If there was anything she could choose, it was only how she would die.

“...Haa.”

Of course, if she thought about it coldly, realistically, there was no way she would actually die.

Naturally.

No matter how reckless the people in front of her were, they would at least keep a minimum line—

“......”

...They would, right?

There was at least a minimum line, right?

Even if not that, there had to be something like common sense—

...If there had been common sense—

would things have turned out like this just because she said that one thing?

“...Penia?”

At the voice calling her, Penia let out a low sigh.

No matter what, she had no choice but to pick someone.

“...Just choose comfortably.”

“Mmhm— no one’s going to complain?”

“Of course.”

“And this will end your punishment too.”

The four spoke as if to reassure her.

But to Penia, it sounded like this:

...Choose comfortably? The answer is already decided, isn’t it?

Mmhm— no one’s going to complain? Because you won’t be in a state where anyone can complain.

Of course. Because you won’t even be in this world anymore.

And this will end your punishment. Because you won’t be able to receive any more.

...Like that.

Of course, that was just Penia’s imagination—

but only for a moment.

“Haa—”

Penia let out a deep sigh.

Because she realized something.

This situation would never end unless she made a choice.

And so—

She raised her gaze calmly.

“...So I just have to pick one person, right?”

Confirming it once more—

“That’s right.”

“Choose. The one most suited for the eighth floor.”

“We won’t object.”

“Of course.”

Penia bit her lip tightly, as if steeling herself.

“I—”

Her numb fingers slowly extended—

and then turned toward one side.

There—

“...Huh? Me??”

—was Radan.

Startled, Radan pointed at himself.

Penia nodded firmly.

“Well— you said I could choose anyone among those who were voting—”

she explained carefully, watching their reactions.

For a moment, Radan stood there dazed, having suddenly become the owner of the coveted eighth floor.

Then—

“!!”

He realized something.

Penia had just thrown him a bomb—

something he had to do, but couldn’t do.

“You—!”

As he shouted in disbelief, Penia, still kneeling, subtly avoided his gaze.

And at the same time—

“Hm.”

“She used her head a bit.”

“Didn’t expect that.”

“Right?”

The women murmured, sounding intrigued.

Their gazes shifted to Radan.

And—

“No, I don’t care about it, you guys just—”

Radan hurriedly tried to speak—

“Then choose, Radan.”

“Ah.”

At Seollang’s words, he let out a quiet groan.

####

A day later.

“I’m back!”

“Penia, did you take care of your urgent business?”

“Um— somehow.”

Penia appeared, looking noticeably worn down.

“Lord Alon, it seems the floors have been decided.”

“...Didn’t that take almost a week?”

“Right?”

“So, who ended up with the eighth floor?”

“I heard Yutia will be using it.”

“Hm?”

“In the end, voting didn’t work, so they decided it with rock-paper-scissors.”

“Rock-paper-scissors?”

“Yes.”

Evan continued his report, and at that moment, Penia’s body flinched slightly.

Alon didn’t miss it.

“...? Penia, what is it?”

“Huh? Ah, it’s nothing. Just— hearing ‘rock-paper-scissors’ reminded me of something.”

“What did it remind you of?”

“Um, well... that scissors beat rock...?”

Penia answered very carefully with a strange response.

It didn’t make much sense, but Alon simply nodded.

“Anyway, it’s good that it’s finally decided.”

“Also, the timing seems good. Reinysius said the adjustments are finished. He also said there’s something to talk about regarding Blackie.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Ah, and the letters you sent have all safely arrived in the Empire.”

“That’s good as well.”

Following Evan’s report, Alon headed toward Reinysius.

“Take it.”

“Is it finished?”

“I made a few modifications as well.”

“Modifications?”

“It’s closer to disabling some functions and replacing them with others. From now on, if you charge it with magic power in ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) advance, it will summon immediately. If fully charged, it should last for about two hours.”

“So it needs to be charged based on a two-hour duration?”

“Yes. That is the current limit.”

“No. That alone is more than enough.”

Originally, without Reinysius’s modification, he would have had to descend every ten minutes to recharge it.

Alon accepted the ring with satisfaction.

[Qyu—!]

The moment Alon arrived, Blackie rushed over as if it had been waiting, then slipped into the inner pocket of his coat.

“I heard you also had something to say about Blackie.”

At Alon’s question, Reinysius nodded.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“...It is not certain yet. It is only a possibility.”

“I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Reinysius began to explain.

“...It appears that your Shadow Dragon may be able to transfer the abilities of Divine blood at will.”

“What?”

“Of course, this is only a hypothesis. I have only seen it ‘extract’ abilities in a form that could be absorbed. I have not seen it actually absorb them.”

“Why not?”

“Honestly, I wanted to try. But it does not seem to be a type of power that I can absorb.”

“A power you can’t absorb?”

“Yes. The type itself is different. As if it does not belong to this world.”

Reinysius shrugged.

“In any case, since I could not test it and it remains only a possibility, it would be best to simply keep it in mind.”

“...Understood.”

As Alon fell into thought, Reinysius added,

“How about trying a test run right now?”

“A test run?”

“With the Shadow Dragon and that one.”

[Hm— if you ask, I’ll help.]

After being called ‘that one’ so many times, Basiliora no longer seemed affected, though its tail flicked slightly with anticipation.

“Hmm... I suppose we could try going to Divine Land.”

“You mean the territory over there. That would not be bad. If flying, you would arrive very quickly.”

Alon nodded.

A moment later—

after stepping outside—

[I’m ready—!]

Basiliora declared loudly, no longer hiding its excitement.

Alon nodded once, then used the ring Reinysius had pre-charged.

■■—!

At the same time, Basiliora manifested.

And—

“Blackie.”

[Qyu—!]

At Alon’s call, Blackie responded immediately and flew toward Basiliora as if it had been waiting.

Saaaaa—!

In an instant, it spread across Basiliora’s body.

At the same time—

dozens of eyes appeared.

Then those eyes vanished, replaced by a solid, jet-black armor.

And right after—

[O— ooooooh—!!!!]

Basiliora’s massive body, now clad in dark armor, slowly began to rise.

It seemed thrilled, showing its excitement freely as its body lifted into the air.

And along with that—

Shuk—!

Blackie extended a black rope downward.

“I’ll go alone for now.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll be waiting!”

As soon as the farewells ended, Alon’s body rose naturally into the air without him doing anything and settled atop Basiliora’s head.

Then—

Basiliora’s body shot upward into the sky.

“Waa—”

Evan and Penia let out quiet exclamations without realizing it.

It wasn’t the first time they had seen Basiliora clad in dark armor.

And yet, the reason they were once again amazed—

was because the sight of a serpent even larger than the Sea Gods drifting through the clouds was profoundly mystical.

And there was another reason.

“Hmm, but still...”

“Yes?”

“Visually, this does feel a bit...”

It was the black mist pouring out of Basiliora—

or more precisely, from Blackie.

“...Yes, it does.”

Reinysius, along with Evan and Penia, looked up at the sky.

There, the black mist emitted from Basiliora drifted through the clouds, eroding them.

And as if that weren’t enough—

Crackle—! Crackle—!!

Red lightning flickered within it.

“I see. So it wasn’t merely flight, but an ability related to lightning as well.”

Reinysius nodded with satisfaction at his realization.

However—

“Uh... no matter how you look at it—”

“Yeah... it really looks like something a Demon King would ride...”

Evan and Penia exchanged those words.

Watching the red lightning spread further—

“...Divine Land is going to be in chaos, isn’t it?”

“...I was thinking the same thing.”

For once, they were in complete agreement as they stared blankly at the receding figure of the pseudo–Demon King in the distance.