In Psychedelia, the Count Palatio's family was portrayed as the textbook example of evil characters in a sub-quest—existing solely as fodder for the protagonist's experience points before disappearing.
In game terms, they were nothing more than extras.
However, the reason Alon had quite a bit of information about the Count Palatio's family was simple—he had repeatedly cleared sub-quests related to them while playing the game.
The rewards were worth it.The experience points from those sub-quests were always generous.
In short, in the game, these characters were merely NPCs meant to feed the player EXP.
But that was only through the lens of a game.
Now that Alon found himself in a reality where that very game world had become his world—his feelings were far from dismissive.
The game had only said:
"They sell drugs and run prostitution under the organization Avalon."
But now, Alon had seen it—glimpses of the real thing.
He was staring at it even now.
Alon subtly shifted his gaze forward.In front of him lay the corpse of Tonio, recently deceased, inside a coffin.
Cause of death: accidental fall… right.
For a man who was a major player in the kingdom's drug trade, it was an absurdly anticlimactic death.But naturally, Alon knew that Tonio had not died from an accident.
In fact, it would be strange if anyone here didn't know the truth.
Alon turned his gaze to the side.
Standing next to him, head bowed with a deep smile, was Leo, the eldest son of the Count Palatio's family—Tonio's rival for succession.
His smile might split his face apart.
Leo wasn't even trying to hide his grin anymore.
Anyone could predict that Tonio had not died by accident.
Yet—even though everyone knew—no one spoke against Leo.
Not the knights.Not the retainers.Not even Aldimore, the current head of the family, said a single word.
Well, Aldimore's too far gone from indulging in drugs and women to care whether his sons are tearing each other apart. Not like he's capable of speaking anymore.
Alon let out a small, sarcastic laugh as he observed the Count—surrounded by women and drugs even during his son's funeral.
As expected of dark fantasy—the state of this family is a complete mess.
Of course—Alon had no intention of interfering.
His plan was proceeding smoothly.The only real problem was finding the Five Great Sins.
I need to locate the rest quickly.
As that thought lingered, he watched the final stage of the funeral.
As Tonio's coffin was about to be sealed—
"Hmm…?"
A question crossed his mind.
Was Tonio's death supposed to happen like this?
In the game episode involving the Count Palatio's family, only Leo appeared.That was why predicting Tonio's death had been easy.
However—something didn't align with his memory now.
Didn't Leo say… that after suffering for years, he finally killed Tonio himself, and became the undisputed heir?
Alon had played the game multiple times.He vividly remembered Leo's pathetic final scene.
So his confusion was natural.
Still—he shrugged it off.
It wasn't something to worry about.
A few days after Tonio's funeral, the turmoil in the family vanished.
The succession battle had ended.
The Count did have a third son—Alon—but no one expected conflict to arise again.
Everyone knew that, unlike Tonio—who wielded underworld power—Alon had none.
Even Leo, who was highly sensitive to succession, showed no concern about Alon.His focus was solely on absorbing Tonio's former drug network.
With peace returning to the family, Alon was reading a letter from Yutia.
"Hm."
The letters they had been exchanging for almost a year were nothing special—simple updates about the orphanage.
Though short, Yutia always included small reports about Deus—whom Alon had sent there.
They seem to be growing well…
Alon smiled in satisfaction.
…Talking to her like this, she really feels like a kind, innocent countryside girl.
He briefly considered visiting—but dismissed it—and continued reading.
Near the end of the letter, Alon asked:
"Evan."
"Yes, Sir?"
"…Do orphanages usually receive a lot of donations?"
"Hmm, usually… maybe a few? Not too many, I'd think."
"That's what I thought."
The reason he asked was due to a new detail in Yutia's letter.
…Was it three or four months ago?
Strangely—starting a few months ago—others had begun donating to the orphanage aside from him.
This month alone, five different people donated.
Well… the more, the better.
With that, Alon wrote a reply and handed it to Evan.
"Are you going to deliver it personally again?"
"No. Didn't I go there just a few months ago?"
"Three months ago."
"And what did you report then?"
"That the orphanage was running well. Deus seemed much better, too."
"Really?"
Alon nodded with satisfaction.
As I thought… even though they will become the Five Great Sins… they weren't evil from the start.
It feels good to know they're growing well. It must've been environment that made them killers.
He was struck again by how important one's environment is in shaping a person.
"This time, no need to go in person. Just enlist someone from the mercenary guild."
"Understood."
Evan was about to leave—but then paused.
"And… do you remember that thing you mentioned last time?"
"Which thing?"
"The ancient book."
"…Did you find it?"
"I'm not certain—but I found a lead."
"Tell me."
Piece by piece, Evan relayed the information he had acquired from the intelligence guild.
And eventually—
"I found it."
The location of the third Sin.
Margot—the Viscount's estate in eastern Asteria Kingdom, known on the surface for glass crafts.
But the real wealth came from drugs.
More specifically—a group called Phalan, which used Margot as a distribution hub.Their power had now swelled to hundreds of members, led by expert-level mercenaries.
Rauton, the leader, believed Phalan would keep growing.
…Until yesterday.
Rauton trembled as he looked around.
Dozens of blood-soaked corpses lay on the ground.
"P-please, spare me! Spare me!!"
"Please, I beg you!!"
"Aaaahhhh!!!"
Only a few members remained—screaming desperately.
They should have been his shield—his strength in numbers—yet Rauton felt nothing but fear.
"U-ugh…"
"P-please…"
Every surviving member held their sword in reverse grip—the blade pressed against their own necks.
"No! NO!!"
"Aaaahhh!!"
"Stop! PLEASE!!"
Faces filled with terror—yet bodies moved on their own—
Schlack!
A dozen more died.
And then—
"…!"
Rauton's body began to move.
"No… no…!"
He too gripped his sword in reverse.
"Please—!!"
His will was no longer his own.
In his final moment—
"…!"
He saw them.
Violet eyes.
Staring at him from the darkness.
And the instant he saw them—
Shlunk!
He slit his own throat.
Thud.
From the darkness—Deus stepped forward silently.
"Well done."
A moment later, Yutia emerged beside him.
"Is there any point in killing these people?"Deus asked.
Unlike a year ago, light now burned in his eyes.
"Are you feeling sympathy?"
"No. I know these people were grinding up humans to make drugs."
"Then?"
"I'm just wondering if killing them helps us kill those bastards."
Yutia smiled.
"Of course."
Her answer was clear.
"This is just laying the groundwork for his return."
Thud.
A magic circle appeared at their feet—a colossal eye marked with a crescent moon.
"When he arrives… we wouldn't want his place to be filthy, would we?"
"…I understand."
Deus stared at the magic circle—grasped her intent—and fell silent.
"All is as he wills."
With those familiar words—the two vanished into the darkness.
Leaving no one alive in Phalan's hideout.