[{"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-147":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},759637,1006,"Chapter 147","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-147",147,"\u003Cp>The territory of the Luxibl Principality, Caslot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha—still the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt, one of Caliban’s Five Swords, murmured as he observed the ever-bustling scenery of Caslot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain, we must move quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman who stood about two heads shorter than Reinhardt, Elise, who also served as the vice-captain of Reinhardt’s knights, the Sioran Order, spoke sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, don’t run away again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you I wouldn’t run.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said the same last time and still ran off, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was due to circumstances—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regardless, this time, it’s absolutely unacceptable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite her small stature, she exuded an intimidating aura, firing off words rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt scratched his head and replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. No matter how reckless I may seem, I wouldn’t disgrace myself as an envoy of Caliban.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least you still have some sense left, thankfully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you think I am?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you run off again, I’ll have to ask the Solar Knights’ captain for help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Solar Knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Reinhardt involuntarily frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a bit much, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by your expression, that seems accurate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep sigh escaped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about that man made Reinhardt’s head spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know how insane it gets being around him, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you even mention magic, it’s Marquis Palatio this, magic items, Marquis Palatio that, or anything remotely magical—he’ll invoke his name and spend an hour extolling his virtues!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please stop talking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t help but get more annoyed! That guy has gotten even stronger, and now sparring with him is nearly impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he were about to burst, Reinhardt pounded his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him, Elise nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True, even when we were just talking about statues, he suddenly started praising Marquis Palatio—it was shocking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! I nearly lost my mind, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, that’s why it’s better to send you. If I put it like this, you definitely won’t run away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re really too much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elise turned on her small heels and walked briskly ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her retreating figure, Reinhardt shook his head in resignation and followed her toward the royal castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s surprising, though. I didn’t expect the king to eliminate those corrupt factions and restore royal authority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel the same. I thought he was just an idealistic figurehead. But I heard he struck a deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, thanks to that, Luxibl no longer venerates the Holy Kingdom of Rosario as its state religion. Instead, they worship another deity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another deity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt was puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I don’t pray to gods myself, but is that even allowed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rosario hardly cared about Luxibl anyway, so they probably won’t do much. Though they might feel offended.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, which deity are they worshiping now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence, Elise replied to Reinhardt’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um, I think it’s someone called ‘Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver.'”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Oh, look over there. That’s their statue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they passed through the square, Elise pointed to the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following her gaze, Reinhardt saw a towering statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statue looked oddly familiar to Reinhardt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say they now worship that deity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, apparently so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped in his tracks and stared blankly at the statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statue depicted a man in a dark coat, grasping lightning. Though the face was featureless,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinhardt instinctively associated it with someone he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, it wasn’t just a resemblance—the face was erased, but the figure unmistakably resembled that person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Marquis Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there was only one person who could orchestrate something like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Elise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was the one who made the deal with Luxibl… Deus Macalian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only be that man—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No? Why would you think that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, no?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did you bring it up all of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Elise’s puzzled expression behind, Reinhardt could only stare at the statue with a perplexed look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What in the world is this…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luxibl changed its state religion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, to Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver, apparently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Can a state religion be changed so easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not entirely sure, but that’s what I heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the first night of their desert crossing with the caravan,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon heard the news from Evan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…But I’ve never heard of a god named Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver. What kind of deity is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never heard of it either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm, I think I might have heard of it before.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon asked, the small snake nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Though it was a long time ago, so I don’t remember well. Still, the name isn’t entirely unfamiliar.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you don’t really know either. Typical snake brain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan seized the chance to mock Basiliora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You insolent human!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, you’re just a snake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I am a god!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why can’t you beat me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Th-that’s because yesterday, luck wasn’t on my side!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As their conversation shifted to the peculiar board game they’d played the previous night, their voices naturally grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Life sure has gotten noisier these days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon mused, feeling oddly nostalgic for the silence of the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he shrugged—it was better to have some liveliness than to dwell in solitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver, seems to be a native deity of the Thunder Serpent Tribe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of the Thunder Serpent Tribe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While riding in the carriage, Rine shared new information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, does that mean the Luxibl Principality now worships the Thunder Serpent Tribe’s native god?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, based on the story, that seems to be the case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What a strange turn of events.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon wore a curious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would you like me to look into it further, Godfather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of contemplation, Alon shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, there’s no need for that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of why Luxibl Principality started believing in Kalanon, it wasn’t particularly important to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine immediately accepted his response and handed him something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, have this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A sweet potato?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I prepared it in advance for you, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a perfectly cooked sweet potato, peeled just enough at the top for easy eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re welcome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine smiled sweetly, clearly pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon accepted the sweet potato, he couldn’t help but feel slightly burdened despite his neutral expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, during their week-long journey, Rine had been taking care of him with remarkable diligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Perhaps excessively so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘From preparing water for me to wash with as soon as I wake up, to personally making breakfast, lunch, and dinner… and even answering any questions I have immediately.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, if Alon mentioned feeling hot, she would bring out a cooling magic tool. She even managed to cook sweet potatoes over the fire without burning a single spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s delicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Godfather. I’m happy you like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine smiled again, her demeanor warm and cheerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite her calling him ‘Godfather,’ Alon felt as if he were being doted on by an older sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please don’t hesitate to ask me for anything, Godfather. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing. You’re my one and only Godfather, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Rine’s voice, melodic like a song, flowed, Alon chewed on the sweet potato.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still as sweet as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later, as Alon continued his desert crossing, he halted the carriage in response to the blaring of an alarm and stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a lot of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, there are many.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had encountered a group of desert bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like a substantial number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like a new bandit gang has formed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bandit gangs naturally form over time, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Still, they seem more numerous than the Crimson Sand Bandits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon scanned the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cloud of sand forming in the distance didn’t bode well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…There must be at least several hundred of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they eliminated the Crimson Sand Bandits, the idea of completely eradicating banditry in such a place was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought lingered for only a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why don’t you show them, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shouldn’t you, as the escort, handle this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, how could I take on all of them by myself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re really doubting yourself now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I’m more of the ‘support type,’ you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon pondered what that even meant, he reluctantly prepared to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Godfather, I’ll handle this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Please wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine, blocking his way with her usual smile, stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the bandits came into clearer view—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiiiiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine’s voice resonated faintly, and above her head, a massive golden eye resembling a hologram appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A haloed, radiant eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short, piercing sound accompanied a golden cylindrical beam shooting out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beam split into dozens of strands, piercing through the approaching bandits in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all took less than a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-expanding cloud of dust on the horizon was now gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bandits, pierced by the golden beams, were left tangled in a massive jungle-gym-like formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previously tense merchants and mercenaries fell silent in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the stunned silence, Rine calmly retrieved the golden beam and turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve taken care of it, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled her usual serene smile, her eyes twinkling playfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see. But—what.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How did you do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who had witnessed the entire process alongside Evan, couldn’t help but ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he knew from their past battles with Kylas that Rine had combat abilities,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…he hadn’t imagined anything like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all thanks to the artifact you gave me, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Something I gave you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Traveler’s Eye?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Though I’m still not fully accustomed to it, I’m starting to get the hang of it, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon slowly raised his head to look at the massive eye hovering behind Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… the Traveler’s Eye?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked completely different from what he had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What… is that…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange sense of fear crept over Alon’s entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A week later, Alon and his party finally arrived at the colony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they arrived, they were greeted by Seolrang, who ran straight to Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Indeed, it has.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang clung to him like a snake, wrapping her legs around his waist as she greeted him enthusiastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, will you give me an answer!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a radiant smile, she asked—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been two years! Are we getting married now?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with her pure and direct question, Alon could only let out a groan of exasperation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1741,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","464cee198a3f645f1ec8065f4dd700ec474fdc202ac812316274a0bf82ca8ee5","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-148","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-146",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]