[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-became-the-patron-of-villains":3,"chapter-became-the-patron-of-villains-became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-144":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Became the Patron of Villains",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},759634,1006,"Chapter 144","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-144",144,"\u003Cp>Luxible is a small duchy bordering the mystical jungle of Ronovelli, comprising only a handful of estates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although called a duchy, its power was vastly inferior compared to other member states of the Allied Kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the funds required to run the Luxible Duchy came from a single place—Castlelot, located on the border of the mystical jungle Ronovelli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the taxes from that region were substantial, they weren’t enough to fulfill the grand ambitions of Luxible’s seventh king, Pamillono.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pamillono harbored even greater aspirations than his father, the sixth king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dreamed of transforming his duchy into a magnificent, independent nation comparable to other kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In theory, it wasn’t impossible. As part of the Allied Kingdoms, wars between territories or nations were prohibited, meaning expanding land through war wasn’t an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, purchasing land with money was allowed. If more land was truly necessary, they could move south. The southern regions were home to the territories of non-human races that didn’t belong to the Allied Kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regrettably, in reality, such dreams were almost unattainable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acquiring land required an astronomical amount of money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The funds needed were so immense that the duchy’s treasury would likely be emptied, leading to its dissolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another option was waging war against the non-human races to seize territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, those races were far from easy prey for the modest forces of a small duchy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the United Kingdom tolerated the existence of non-human territories, unlike the barbarian invaders who encroached on the inland regions, for that very reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above all, the primary reason why the seventh king’s ambitions could only remain aspirations was corruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, corruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regrettably, even the few estates under Luxible’s control were deeply corrupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How corrupt, you ask?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One telling example was that the forces of the grand dukes far outnumbered the royal army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, from the moment he ascended as a puppet king, he agonized over how to overcome this hopeless situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much deliberation, an opportunity came to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deal with the devil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, calling it a deal with the devil wasn’t entirely accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proposal came from humans, not demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, he referred to it as a pact with the devil because their offer was so irresistibly sweet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more enticing was the fact that it came at no apparent cost to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things remained as they were, he was certain to follow in his father’s footsteps—forced into marriage, producing heirs, and ultimately facing the threat of assassination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quintessential life of a puppet king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deciding he had nothing to lose, he accepted their offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t have high expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was practically his last act of desperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pamillono received the results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared blankly downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, there were heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not of old men, but, in Pamillono’s eyes, of pigs deserving nothing less than to be torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heads of Grand Duke Lichferton and Grand Duke Bofur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pamillono raised his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood a girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clad in white leather, holding a bloodied spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is it real?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can confirm it for yourself. It’s right before your eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quick-witted Syrkal swung her spear, lightly nudging the two heads, prompting Pamillono to gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…There’s no need to go that far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I could never forget the faces of those bastards, even in my dreams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good to hear. Oh, and just so you know, I’ve also dealt with their soldiers. So, no need to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no need for me to lie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s voice was emotionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pamillono let out a deep sigh and stared intently at the rolling heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well. Since I’ve obtained what I desired, I shall pay the price. Wasn’t it two requests? State them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his expression tensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the girl had first made her proposal, Pamillono hadn’t given much thought to the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t believed she could actually kill the two grand dukes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it was reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he steeled himself to pay whatever price she demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I would like land for my people to live on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re asking for territory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t have to be much. Half of the land where I dealt with those pigs would suffice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first request wasn’t as exorbitant as he had feared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pamillono felt a little bewildered, but only briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The second request is the most important.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her next words, he tensed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make our god your state religion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A god, you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Declare our god as the state religion and erect statues of it throughout the territory. Those are the two conditions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventh king responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is not difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good to hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the presence of the Holy Kingdom of Rosario made him cautious, but Luxible was a place the Holy Kingdom had abandoned long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant there would be no issue even if he didn’t uphold Sironia as the state religion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pamillono nodded, and the girl—or rather, Swift Syrkal—gestured lightly toward somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, another girl, Jenira Ganatana, emerged from the shadows and handed a statue to Pamillono.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the statue of the god we worship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statue depicted the figure of a man with his face obscured by shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clad in a dark coat billowing in the wind, he held lightning in one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is the name of this god?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Pamillono gazed at the statue, he posed his question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the only god of our Thunder Serpent clan, our savior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenira, as if she had been waiting for this moment, smiled with her eyes and declared,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lightning Bearer, Kalanon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze carried a faint trace of fanaticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia Crysinne had been unusually cheerful lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although there were moments when she wasn’t, most of the time, she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because she had unexpectedly received an excellent proposal from the Marquis’ house when she went there, fearing her life might be in danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In exchange for assisting Marquis Palatio’s magical research, she would be allowed to learn magic from Heinkel without having to hide their relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For her, this was an ideal situation with nothing to lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she would have to assist with the Marquis’ potentially endless magical research, but that wasn’t a significant issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crucial point was that she could now learn magic from Heinkel without any complications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was incredibly, incredibly important to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she found the Marquis’ presence slightly intimidating, his magical research was quite fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His magic was unlike anything she had ever encountered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Alon’s magic didn’t adhere to conventional hierarchies, it naturally piqued the curiosity of Penia, a magic enthusiast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, she found herself genuinely enjoying the magical research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, she even became able to make eye contact with the gaze lingering behind the Marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the research period wasn’t very long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subject of research the Marquis requested Penia to assist with was unfortunately usable only by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his superior magical aptitude, Penia wondered why Marquis Palatio sought her help with his research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She briefly felt puzzled but soon brushed off the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had decided not to question the Marquis more than necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered to her was learning magic from Heinkel and satisfying her curiosity through assisting the Marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, her life had been quite satisfying recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…That is, until the Marquis left a few days ago, saying he had some business to attend to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yikes—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia let out a scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chilling wail startled Felin, who was timidly flipping through a journal nearby, causing him to hold his breath unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Penia, as if oblivious to her surroundings, stared at the journal with bloodshot eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It detailed Alon’s latest findings in this research—how cause, mana distribution structures, and molecular arrangements transformed based on their interactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How in the world…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia’s hands trembled as she held the thick stack of papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I supposed to do all this?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out another piercing scream and recalled the conversation she had with Alon a few days earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Deputy, I’m leaving this to you.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Uh… exactly what am I supposed to do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘From the research so far, we’ve learned that when mana’s molecular structure combines, it changes into a new form, right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yes, yes, that’s… true.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘While I’m gone, please organize it briefly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…All of this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yes, it’s not that much, is it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, but—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You don’t want to?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a devil in the guise of a kind professor… mercilessly overworking a poor student—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia closed her eyes tightly and let out a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, she realized why he had asked for her help with his research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Was it because of this?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the molecular structure principles already partly understood, all that remained was finding possible combinations—a task that involved brute force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this wasn’t research anymore but sheer labor, and exhausting labor at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis Palatio, you miserable—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swallowed the rest of her curse silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ughhhhhhhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a strange groan and slammed her head onto the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia lay sprawled, motionless for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief, erratic tremor of her shoulders, as if she had lost her sanity, she murmured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do it. I’ll get it done, no matter what.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her bloodshot eyes gleamed as she continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll finish this, no matter what… and learn magic from Heinkel, no matter what…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gritted her teeth, spreading her mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do it, do it, I can do it!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armed with over five pens like weapons, she began furiously scribbling on the papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Witnessing this frenzy, Pellin cautiously curled up, trying to stay out of her way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I wonder if she’s doing well?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, munching on a sweet potato, briefly thought of Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, organizing it shouldn’t be that difficult.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had entrusted her with organizing the molecular structures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Once the first-level arrangements are sorted, it’ll be quicker to implement and connect them directly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware that Penia was already working on second and even third-level arrangements, Alon casually took another bite of his sweet potato.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard some rather curious news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Curious news?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan brought up a new topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Apparently, Lady Rine is now the only senior council member left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know why, but apparently, there’s been a string of unfortunate incidents where all senior council members die upon taking office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Lady Rine is the only one currently continuing in the position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s really strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right? I think so too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It couldn’t be, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s murmuring broke the quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan pondered for a moment about what he meant, then quickly laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, come on—there’s no way. That’d be too obvious, wouldn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such an exchange, they endured the week until they arrived in Lartania.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon reaching the city, Alon met Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here, Godfather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please come inside first. It’s starting to get warm outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two entered the office together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Godfather, your birthday is on September 20th, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the door closed, Rine, with a calm expression, asked the question out of the blue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s right. Why do you ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I’ve been preparing a ‘gift.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A gift?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile appeared on her lips as she said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I hope you’ll like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then turned her gaze toward the lord’s castle of Lartania.\u003C\u002Fp>",1928,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","7ea92ef2582bbc2cf4dbd6b101862482ab283cb4e191a0cf1a92e34633dbaeb2","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-145","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-143",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]