[{"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-51":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},571510,820,"Chapter 51: There’s a Mole. The Deal Is Off.","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-51",51,"\u003Cp>Devon was being toyed with midair by Vega, looking every bit like the most pitiful clown in a circus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly couldn't bear Vega's humiliation any longer and was constantly thinking about how to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega always liked to give him a sliver of hope, waiting until Devon had run some distance before throwing him right back to where he started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pitch-black giant eagle circled in the sky, and when it grew tired of playing, it perched on a tree branch, its single blue-glowing eye fixed on Devon like it was staring at prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the demon couldn't stand the humiliation anymore. Using Devon's body, it fell to its knees heavily before Vega, begging desperately, \"Lord God! Please let me go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keeping me here for amusement does you no good at all, it's just a waste of your precious time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega chattered and laughed, its voice shifting from sharp to low and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why should I let you go? What value do you have that makes me want to release you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you have none. So, your only worth... is for my amusement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Vega grabbed one of Devon's legs and tossed him into the air, letting him free-fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when he was about to slam into the ground, Vega dove down, caught him in its beak, and flung him skyward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a deadly version of bungee jumping, with no safety line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After playing for a while, Vega got bored, gently set Devon on the ground, stretched its neck, and said softly, \"Boring. You can go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon couldn't believe it. Its spirit had been tortured to the brink of collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that Vega would let it leave, it didn't think twice, it turned and ran for its life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could Vega possibly let it go that easily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After letting Devon run about a hundred meters, Vega flapped its wings once, caught up from behind, and raked its two sharp, massive talons across Devon's rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Run faster! Faster!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega kept urging from behind, and the helpless demon could only keep running with its aching body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when his body reached its limit, with the threat of the giant eagle at his back, he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After running who knows how far, the surroundings began to look familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That tree... I just passed it! And now it's here again!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This bastard never intended to let me go!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's a loop!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an illusion, he would never escape unless the caster lifted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon couldn't understand how such a twisted being could exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A god? He had never heard of any god this spiteful, this bored, like this damn crow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Vega seemed to read his thoughts. With a flap of its wings, a fierce gale sent Devon tumbling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too terrified to make a sound, Devon curled up while Vega laughed heartily at his trembling form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's there to be unhappy about? The strong should humiliate the weak!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't like it? Then go defeat my messenger!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon froze. A memory flashed across his mind, Viktor's figure, burned deep into his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was completely stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That human mage… was actually a messenger of the gods...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if everything finally made sense to him. With a loud thud, he knelt on the ground again, crying out in panic, \"Lord God! I now deeply understand my offense, please forgive me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will never appear before you again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon didn't even know what kind of god Vega was, but fear alone made him beg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the only explanation that made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why else would that terrifying man be so impossibly powerful, beyond human?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you begging? You can't even die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Vega spoke, black mist began to rise from its body, engulfing the giant eagle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the mist dispersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive eagle had become a small, sly crow, flapping its wings as it stood before the trembling demon. Its tone was laced with temptation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You see, I have greed. You have greed. All beings with wisdom have greed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, Yerm, you can't die. Why be afraid of me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yerm shook uncontrollably. A black toad crawled out from Devon's body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Yerm emerged, Devon fainted instantly and collapsed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yerm's trembling grew even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It knew, 'He really does know everything.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even knew its true name, Yerm, the original demon born from greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lift your head. Look at me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yerm hesitated but finally raised its head. Suddenly, Vega's eye glowed with blue light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stabbing pain shot through Yerm's skull, it felt like its soul was being bound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It trembled, panicked, and asked in a shaky voice, \"What... what did you do!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega opened its beak and patted Yerm's body lightly with a wing, soothingly, \"Don't get worked up. I just used your own demon trade mechanism to put a lock on you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now on, your consciousness will never perish. Even if you die, your memories and power will remain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yerm froze, staring at Vega in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why... why are you helping me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that thought only deepened its fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if He could do this so easily, He could just as easily take everything away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for demons, any deal required payment from both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So then...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From now until your life truly ends and your memories vanish completely…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your soul belongs to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Vega was just a crow, in Yerm's eyes, He was laughing, madly, sinisterly, terrifyingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yerm wanted to resist, to escape this mad being before it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as it tried, chains wrapped around its body, it felt steel spikes stabbing into its heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing its struggling form, Vega said calmly, \"Now then... go back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Return to the capital, to where Devon Lesser belongs. To the place where he'll face judgment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yerm's inky form seeped back into Devon's seven orifices, taking control of his body again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up, lifeless, and began walking slowly back the way he came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, his silhouette disappeared. Vega preened its feathers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A teleportation array formed in the air before it, and the crow flapped its wings, landing once more on the shoulder of the approaching man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can really preserve a demon's memories after death?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor didn't look at it, only asked quietly as he watched the trail of black marks Devon had left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a casual wave of his hand, the black traces faded, and the surrounding grass stood upright again, covering the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega gave him a surprised look and shook its feathers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I always thought you were smart, but it turns out you're as easy to fool as a demon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor got his answer and said no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega added lazily, \"To actually do that, I'd need at least thirty percent of my power back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's an original demon, after all. Once it dies, a new one takes its place, along with all its substitutes waiting to ascend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor gazed up at the uneven clouds above and asked, \"How much have you recovered now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Less than one percent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vega puffed up proudly, as if boasting how terrifyingly strong it had been in its full form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor ignored it and walked toward the forest in the opposite direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me where Erica is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? I thought the cold, stoic Lord Viktor didn't care about my poor little disciple anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viktor brushed aside some weeds as he walked and answered lightly, \"She's still my student.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wrong! I'm the one who taught her magic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Whatever you say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spring breeze rustled through the trees, tugging at the man's coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crow perched on his shoulder lifted its head proudly, as if proclaiming its hard-won Viktory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few knights in silver armor stood outside the city gate, searching for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a figure in the distance caught their attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon Lesser, vacant-eyed and unconscious, was slowly walking toward the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's Devon Lesser! Quick, inform His Highness the Second Prince!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need. I'm already here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Prince stepped out from the gate, smiling faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Devon, then gestured to the knights beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One knight drew his sword and aimed it at Devon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightning crackled along the blade, and in a flash, a bolt struck Devon's body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon's body convulsed violently, and his consciousness returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He awoke with a start, staring blankly at the ring of knights surrounding him, completely bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Prince stepped forward from among them. Devon's eyes lit up when he saw him, relief flooding his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness! Second Prince! Where is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prince looked at the filthy man before him and sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man, was his cousin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Disgusting.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn't show it. Instead, he crouched down, forcing himself to ignore the stench and grime, helping Devon up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cousin Devon, don't panic. I'm here to help you. Everyone in the capital believes you colluded with a demon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know you were framed. Cousin, tell me everything that happened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears welled in Devon's eyes. Finally, he'd found someone he could vent to. He poured everything out, the entire story to the Second Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even mentioned Viktor's assistant, Henny, the one possessed by the demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening, the Second Prince narrowed his eyes and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's how it is, cousin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, and by the way... the demon is still inside you, you know that, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon jumped in fright, frantically patting his body, but found nothing strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered nothing before seeing the prince, he'd fainted, then woken up here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panicking, he begged, desperate, \"Your Highness! Please, exorcise the demon from me! I'm still a professor of the Royal Academy, I can't be accused of consorting with demons!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prince nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, cousin. I'll remove it right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It may hurt a little, but bear with it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devon nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've already suffered enough these past days, I'm not afraid of pain! Do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second, his words stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened in disbelief. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sword had pierced straight through his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"W–why...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd survived Viktor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd survived Henny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the demon hadn't killed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Devon Lesser never imagined that in the end, he would die at the hands of his own blood relative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light faded from his eyes, turning dull gray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Prince withdrew his silver sword and flicked the blood away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He watched coldly as Devon collapsed lifelessly to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now the demon is exorcised.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Devon's corpse, a black, slimy toad crawled out, it looked terribly weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights tensed instantly, ready to strike on the prince's command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead, the Second Prince crouched down, picked up the disgusting toad, and held it in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights were stunned. One of them shouted in panic, \"Your Highness! That's a demon! You shouldn't...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless black spikes burst from the ground, impaling every knight except the one who'd spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they felt their lives slipping away, disbelief filled their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the prince's calm voice, \"David, you've followed me a long time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've told you before, some things are better left unsaid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surviving knight, David, trembled and bowed deeply, sweat dripping from his forehead into the dirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive me, my lord!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prince smiled in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted the black toad in his hand, studying it with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a sudden, foreign voice rang out, not the prince's own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Greed... you don't look so good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want me to lend you a hand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weak toad opened its single eye, a faint glint flashing within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked the prince up and down, his overflowing ambition, his seething desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Delicious.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FXenosX\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰\u003C\u002Fp>",1968,"2026-05-30T15:48:18.711Z","2026-06-01T04:31:37.164Z",1,"novelbin.me","db208be76afeab6f8692ee7f21954d5b912b056cdbe45bc8a327499137d4bb1e","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-52","am-i-the-villain-or-not-chapter-250",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fam-i-the-villain-or-not-cover.jpg"]