[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-am-i-the-villain-or-not":3,"chapter-am-i-the-villain-or-not-am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-142":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Am I the Villain or Not?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},571794,820,"Chapter 142: Dad!","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-142",142,"\u003Cp>Elves are a kind of magical creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are born within nature, nature's beloved children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment they're born, they are blessed by nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Natural disasters will not take their lives, and their extremely long lifespans allow them to live peaceful and stable lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This makes them hold a pleasure-seeking attitude toward the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And under nature's blessing, even if elves do nothing, just relying on their extremely long lifespans and nature's gifts, they can reach heights ordinary humans could never hope to touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Cocotte.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an elf who pushed laziness to the extreme, any magic Cocotte learned was studied solely to create a good sleeping environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nature's blessing, she didn't even need to practice much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she still reached the fourth-tier level that most mages spend their whole lives unable to reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, as a former councilor, she was one of the very top among fourth-tier mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for magical practice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What practice? Does magic that's already understood still need frequent training?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even elves, who are normally this free, still have one thing they fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that is nature itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Viktor appeared before Lacy, it was as if he made her face nature itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sent Lacy into a long dazed stupor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant she saw Viktor, she felt an impulse to almost kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To want to believe in him, to worship him with utmost reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Viktor's body, she seemed to see…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Nature.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lacy knew clearly that the man before her was obviously human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what exactly was this feeling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You… I…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being stared at by the terrifying existence in front of her made Lacy so uncomfortable that she became tongue-tied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A certain feeling seemed to keep reminding her, telling her, a spark flashed through her mind, and a single word suddenly appeared in her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a word she had never spoken before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that feeling kept urging her, making her unable to stop herself from wanting to say it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Lacy shot to her feet and gave Viktor a deep bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liya, \"?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon, \"??\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega, \"???\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor, \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lacy kept her head low. On her face, two bright red patches had already formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt utterly ashamed, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What on earth was wrong with her brain, to say something like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew very well how important that word was to humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man before her clearly looked much younger than she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet she shouted \"Dad\" at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was really… Too rude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, everyone's expressions had already returned to normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if they didn't care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor was already sitting in the main seat of the sofa, while Liya stood by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling with squinted eyes, she introduced Lacy, \"Let me introduce, this is the head of our Clavenna family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Empire's current chief professor of the Royal Academy of Magic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One of the twelve councilors of the Mage Council.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The youngest fourth-tier mage in history, Count Viktor Clavenna.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This string of titles made Lacy fall into even deeper silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't dare raise her head, nor even sneak a look at Viktor from the corner of her eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega stood on Viktor's shoulder, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, \"I thought for a moment you had a kid behind my back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She doesn't seem very smart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor didn't respond to Vega, as if he agreed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned forward on the sofa, hands folded on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want to find Cocotte Yard, right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Cocotte's name, Lacy suddenly lifted her head, staring at Viktor with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surname Yard was one only the elven royal family could possess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elves' names were not given by parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every elf is born without a name or surname.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because elves have no parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Yard.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is the place where every elf is born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is a gigantic divine tree, and all elves are nurtured and born from that divine tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the elf race, there are two sacred treasures protected for countless generations, tied to their survival and reproduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One is the divine tree \"Yard,\" and the other is the \"Holy Spring of the Moon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every generation of elves must be nurtured by watering the Elf Tree with the holy spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spring water flows into the divine tree, nourishing the natural energy within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the blessing of the spring, the divine tree constructs an elf's body and consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of nature bestows names and surnames upon elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the surname \"Yard\" will, over hundreds of years, be bestowed upon one elf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She will receive the surname Yard and become the queen who leads the elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cocotte Yard was the elf who, within the past hundred years, had been granted the royal surname by nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people could never know her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the man before her not only said the elven queen's name, he even said the surname \"Yard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Lacy's perspective, this was unimaginably shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn't know that during the years Cocotte served as a councilor, her name had spread all throughout the Mage Council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elves lived deep within the ancient elf forest, their ability to receive information was indeed very poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chances were, even now, they still didn't know Cocotte had once served on the council.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But hearing Viktor speak Cocotte's name only made Lacy even more certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Viktor must know something.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lacy nodded hard, but Viktor still looked at her quietly, his tone calm, \"Then what's the price.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lacy froze for a moment, as if she didn't understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Liya explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm… you know, some favors aren't free.\" Liya placed both hands on the back of the sofa, leaning forward, her chin resting on her arm as she lay sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smiling sweetly, right next to Viktor's head, \"Since you want our help, you'll have to give something in return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lacy looked at the two of them, her eyes beginning to mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she held it back. She understood she must not cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, asking others for help required paying a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those humans who captured her said the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would help her find the queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Lacy was already prepared. She knew very clearly the purpose of leaving the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering her head, as if expecting humiliation, she lightly bit her lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I… I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm willing to do anything, as long as you can help me find Her Majesty the Queen…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liya suddenly laughed. She had been waiting for this answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"R-really.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she finished speaking, a white sheet of paper covered in black writing appeared before Lacy, along with a pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lacy looked at the paper, confused, \"What is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ahead and sign.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liya smiled lightly, \"Once you sign, we're family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Family helping family, doesn't that sound reasonable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of bad premonition crawled up Lacy's spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elves' sixth sense was always sharp, she felt like she had stepped into some sort of trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in order to find the queen, she gritted her teeth, picked up the pen, and wrote her name on the contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the pen lifted, the contract slowly glowed blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper slipped out of Lacy's hand and returned to Liya's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the contract, Liya smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm. From today on, you're an official employee of the Clavenna family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry, our family head will let you properly meet our other employee.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lacy was stunned, unable to understand what had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did she suddenly become an employee?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what did meeting the other employee mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She came out here to find the queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Viktor's eyes flashed with a blue light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, violent winds rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The large curtains shook wildly, and the windows trembled under the pressure, clattering loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That terrifying magical aura gathered around Viktor, and a blue magic array appeared beneath his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dense magical energy spread throughout the entire room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is… is there an earthquake!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She panicked and quickly stood, only to discover that she was already surrounded by an expanding magic array beneath her feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A… a teleportation array?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How can it be this big!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teleportation array completed instantly, and a pillar of blue magic shot upward through the skylight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive energy surged outward through all the open windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor's voice sounded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lacy was afraid, but Viktor continued, \"You will meet the person you want to meet there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps his words ignited her resolve. Lacy took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and closed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped into the column of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In barely half a second, her entire form turned into blue mist and vanished from sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After she was gone, the array still did not dissipate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liya looked at Viktor, who still hadn't moved, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm? We're not going back together?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor stood up. Under the roaring winds, his coat flapped chaotically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bring Cindy, and call Halnarsen too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liya froze for a moment. She could understand bringing Cindy, but calling Halnarsen…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor placed his hands in his pockets, his icy gaze seemingly directed toward the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are some debts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's time to settle them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1552,"2026-05-30T15:48:18.711Z","2026-06-01T04:31:37.164Z",1,"novelbin.me","178820e9a895dc981687f3819f25f409f3a7f31fe64b06d1449df323b44ea8af","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-143","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-141",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fam-i-the-villain-or-not-cover.jpg"]