I Became the Patron of Villains - Chapter 188



188. Grainif (4)

“….”

Alon remained silent.

“….”

As he remained silent, Queen Adrina also stayed silent.

However, unlike Alon, an unmistakable smile was on her face.

‘What on earth does she mean by that kind of feeling?’

He couldn’t understand the queen’s words and expression at all.

It could mean she was just going to let it slide.

But to Alon, the queen’s ‘intention’ sounded like this:

‘Ah, so you want me to go along with it? I’ll pretend I don’t know, then.’

“…What does that kind of feeling mean?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like.”

“So-“

Alon mumbled several times.

He had no idea where to start correcting it.

What on earth should he do about this…?

“I’ll say it again, I’m not the first elf.”

“You’re not.”

Queen Adrina nodded her head.

Her face showed no particular doubt or concern.

Seeing this, Alon was even more at a loss for words.

“…It seems like you don’t believe me at all.”

“Of course not. I believe you.”

“It’s funny for me to say this, but if I’m not the first elf, shouldn’t you be hostile towards me by now?”

“If you want, I can do that for you.”

“…”

“No, it’s just… even if not hostile, isn’t there no reason to be so hospitable?”

How did it come to this, where he was fervently explaining that he wasn’t the first elf?

It was utterly bewildering, but the queen calmly stared at Alon’s face.

“Well, let’s just say I wanted to see the face of Marquis Palatio once.”

“…?”

“I heard you’re quite famous, Marquis. Isn’t that right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Then let’s go with that.”

Only then did Alon realize.

No matter how many times he said it, their misunderstanding wouldn’t be cleared.

No, they had no intention of clearing it.

‘What on earth is this?’

Alon didn’t know much about Greynif.

He had never even made contact with them.

But then.

What could have caused such a huge misunderstanding among the elves?

‘…They wouldn’t blindly believe just because of a single glove.’

After pondering for a moment, Alon decided to take advantage of this goodwill for now.

“…Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

The queen smiled brightly, as if she was delighted.

Watching her, Alon organized his questions in his mind.

‘What Siyan told me was essentially just to go to Greynif, so there’s nothing much to ask about that. Then, the remaining questions are about the primordial elf who used magic similar to mine and about the root.’

He pondered which of the two to ask first,

“Do you happen to know anything about the root?”

He asked about the root.

He wanted to ask about the primordial elf first.

But given the situation, it was awkward to bring it up first.

The queen nodded immediately.

“Yes, but it might be difficult to explain.”

“…Why?”

“Because you have to see the root yourself.”

“You have to see it yourself?”

“Yes. No one can describe it as anything more than a ‘root’.”

You have to see it yourself, huh.

“Can I go to that root?”

“If you wish, I will open the way for you.”

“Thank you.”

“But-”

The queen, who had readily agreed, glanced behind Alon.

“It’s very dangerous, so it’s better not to take the knight behind you.”

Evan, who was accompanying Alon.

“He could die just by going there.”

“…”

Evan’s body trembled slightly.

Alon also started to feel that he didn’t really want to go.

“…Is it that bad?”

“Yes.”

A firm answer.

His worries deepened.

Listening to the queen’s words, it seemed like the roots were truly a dangerous place.

But.

“Then, please.”

Alon decided to descend to the roots.

Because he judged that it was worth taking that level of risk.

‘…Learn how to use the Gyeok, was it?’

Alon recalled the ‘Eye’.

At first, just looking at it made blood pour out from every hole in his body.

Even recently, just a few seconds of looking at it made him shed bloody tears.

It certainly said that to Alon.

To go down to the roots and learn how to use the ‘Gyeok’.

Alon had no idea what the Gyeok the Eye mentioned was.

It was a type of power that had never properly appeared even when playing Psychedelia.

But.

‘It will surely be helpful.’

He had to confront it.

“Please.”

“Understood. Then let’s go in tomorrow.”

####

Right after a brief meeting with Alon.

An elf walked out from behind Queen Magrina, who was lightly smiling without saying a word.

“Your Majesty.”

“Rim.”

An elf with a slightly sulky expression.

She, a member of Pagade who was in charge of the roots, furrowed her brows as if she couldn’t understand at all.

The queen burst into a light laugh at that sight.

“You seem to have a lot to say, Rim.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know if I can share my thoughts.”

“Go ahead.”

The queen allowed her to speak with a benevolent smile.

Rim cautiously parted her lips.

“Is he really the primordial elf?”

“Doesn’t he look that way to your eyes, Rim?”

“…I’m sorry, but yes. Even he himself says he’s not the primordial elf. Besides, according to Filde, he shouldn’t be here at the World Tree, should he?”

“Hmm- that’s right?”

“But hasn’t he come to Greynip now…? With something on his back that gives anyone the chills.”

Rim shivered involuntarily as she spoke.

Of course, to her eyes, a swordsman and not a wizard.

What was behind Marquis Palatio’s back, in the hidden world, was only a very faint shape.

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No, it wasn’t even a shape.

Just a very faint fragment. That’s all.

But even with that, Rim could tell.

What was behind his back.

It was an incomprehensible existence that she could never understand.

Perhaps, like those under the roots-

“Rim.”

Her thoughts were interrupted by the queen’s words.

“Yes.”

“When you go to the roots tomorrow, please escort him.”

“…Escort him?”

“Yes.”

“Do you really intend to bring him inside the roots?”

“Because he wishes it.”

“I-“

Rim tried to respond.

But she soon had to close her mouth.

“Understood?”

The queen was already smiling at Rim.

An infinitely benevolent smile.

But a firm smile that would accept no further objections.

“`

“……Understood.”

Rim had no choice but to agree.

The queen’s command was absolute.

“Don’t worry too much. Everyone else will be going too. Right, Draim?”

At Magrina’s muttering, a man appeared from the shadows where there had been nothing just a moment ago.

“……I will obey.”

“Yes, then please take care of it.”

The queen nodded.

After a moment of hesitation, Rim asked,

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“……If, by any chance, that person tries to go beyond the roots, to below the roots, what should we do?”

He asked another question.

Even if he conceded a hundred times and allowed them to the roots, if they went below the roots-

Because ‘it’ was there.

However.

“Of course, just guide them.”

The queen still smiled.

Even though she knew that below there,

There was something that would be very troublesome if awakened.

“Understood.”

In the end, Rim bowed his head.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

“……Marquis.”

“Why?”

“I know you won’t give me a proper answer anyway, but.”

“?”

“What exactly are you, Marquis?”

Evan’s voice was tinged with incredulity.

Alon stared into the void for a moment.

“`

“`

“……I see.”

“?”

“Now I’m a bit curious too.”

It was a night deepening with unexpected contemplation of identity.

####

The next day, bewildered, Alon was dragged to Greynif.

It was about a day’s time, but Alon could roughly grasp how he was being treated in Greynif.

‘Some of the higher-ranking elves are mistaken and show me kindness, while most of the other elves are hostile…’

Of course, Alon wasn’t particularly regretful.

After all, it was the queen’s reaction that was strange; it was natural for elves to be hostile towards a human like him.

Moreover, even among those who were ‘mistaken,’ there were some who subtly showed hostility, which he could fully understand.

Anyway, after roughly grasping the atmosphere for a day, Alon…

“Then, have a good trip. ‘Rim’ will guide you.”

He moved to the root, escorted by the queen.

With an elf named Rim, who clearly didn’t like him.

“I’m Rim. I’ll be your guide from now on.”

“……Please do.”

A little while later…

“Here we are.”

They arrived at the entrance in about 30 minutes, faster than expected.

Alon asked with a bewildered expression.

“Here?”

“Would I dare to defy the queen’s orders and bring you here falsely?”

A somewhat sharp response.

But Alon didn’t mind much and looked around.

‘Indeed, the root refers to the root of the World Tree?’

A tree of such immense size that it looked like a door was attached to a giant wall.

Standing in front of it, the tree was so overwhelming in size that he couldn’t even see the branches without tilting his head vertically.

“Let’s go in.”

At Alon’s words, Rim turned his head slightly and stepped towards the root first.

“`

Alon followed behind.

‘It’s dark.’

The stairs leading into the root.

That was Alon’s first impression.

There were certainly orbs placed between the stairs, seemingly activated by magic to ensure visibility.

Yet, it was still pitch black.

As if something was arbitrarily devouring the light.

How long had it been since he stepped inside the root, feeling a strange sensation?

The darkness thickened, and finally, except for the back of Lim’s head, almost nothing around could be seen.

Thud-!

“We’ve arrived.”

Alon stepped on the last stair.

Lim’s voice announcing their arrival echoed.

‘Is this, the root…?’

Nothing could be seen.

It felt like being trapped in a black hole.

At that moment.

[You’ve arrived, star eater.]

“!”

A voice echoed in Alon’s ear.