[{"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-153":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},759443,1006,"Chapter 153","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-153",153,"\u003Cp>Alon knew nothing about the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game ‘Psychedelia’, the Essence of the Golden Mane Tribe wasn’t an item used in such a way—it was merely an artifact that boosted a player’s critical hit rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he was able to give Seolrang advice because…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana pattern of the essence Seolrang possessed began to twist abnormally, soon forming a nonlinear array that surged through her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, it would’ve been impossible for Alon to perceive that pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same went for other mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a Tower Master who had reached the 8th Circle couldn’t have seen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While it might be possible to sense someone’s mana, discerning how it flowed was another matter entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Alon could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must’ve started after his battle with Duke Komalon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had gained the faint ability to see the mana patterns of others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, he hadn’t fully recognized this fact until recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, he hadn’t thought much of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he could faintly perceive the patterns, they weren’t detailed enough to be of significant use in magic research or combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this very moment, Seolrang’s mana pattern was crystal clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know why, but it was as if she had awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Alon was able to advise her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Seolrang…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had ascended to the 6th Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stared at her in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang, now bathed in golden light, looked down upon the Apostle of Pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her presence was so overwhelming that even Alon couldn’t help but let out a breath of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was about to strike again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolgak moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack-crack-crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black lightning surged around him as he recoiled, his face contorted with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t been able to react when Seolrang awakened, and as a result, his right arm had been completely obliterated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolgak barely managed to clutch at the bleeding stump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of crying out in pain, his face twisted with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine, I’ll admit it. You got me, little sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But nothing’s going to change.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shrouded in black lightning like a cloak, he charged at Seolrang once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the black thunder roared down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolgak, surging toward Seolrang with black thunder crashing around him, struck her with such speed that even she couldn’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer velocity, far beyond human limits, caught Seolrang off guard, allowing his attack to land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, contrary to expectations, it was Seolgak’s expression that hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that fleeting moment, he realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang had raised her hand, dispersing the force of the blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolgak clenched his teeth, panic flickering in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My only chance is now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew what the Thunder Deification meant for the Golden Mane Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after receiving power from ‘Him’, Seolgak had never been able to reach that realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made his insides churn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surged within him was not just inferiority—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had craved that realm more than anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had sacrificed his entire family without hesitation, even intending to offer his own sister as ‘His’ vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, he already knew—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Seolrang had reached that realm, he could never win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to kill her before she fully adapts to the Thunder Deification…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolgak’s eyes turned bloodshot as he unleashed his mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming power granted by ‘Him’ devoured his body, granting him strength he could never have achieved on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But power without purpose comes at a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The excessive strength, beyond his limits, began to not only consume but collapse his very flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, he wielded it without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power bestowed by the Great Sin of Pride had allowed him to overwhelm most of the world’s strongest beings—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was nowhere near enough to reach that golden god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All it did was buy him a little more time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No matter what, I’ll kill her before she adapts!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consumed by prideful mana, Seolgak became black mana incarnate, shooting forward toward Seolrang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black thunder and golden lightning rained down across the entire colony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obsidian lightning shattered the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden lightning etched itself into the heavens and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the chaos—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s ready.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon muttered quietly, gazing up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Alon shouldn’t have been able to participate in this battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolgak was recklessly overclocking his power, even at the cost of his body, to kill Seolrang, while Seolrang was fending off his onslaught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way Alon could keep up with their speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, this battle was nothing more than a natural disaster, filled with deafening thunder, golden lightning, and black storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply lacked the ability to step into their world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Alon could still calmly observe the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the lingering traces of mana left behind by their clash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana residue from their battle provided him with valuable insights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His recent focus on magical research, especially on mana patterns based on ‘seals’, had been a great help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he couldn’t fully grasp the entire situation from the lingering mana alone, he could still gather key information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two most crucial facts were:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Apostle of Pride is overexerting himself to deal with Seolrang, and Seolrang hasn’t fully adapted to her awakening yet.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stared into the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still couldn’t see clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only mana fluctuations appearing and dissipating, allowing him to infer patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After taking a steady breath—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon formed a seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As mentioned, Alon couldn’t participate in this battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, it would’ve been for the Alon of the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked up at the sky again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the scattered mana residues of the two Golden Mane Tribe members, his own mana had quietly spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not yet fully manifested, his mana drifted invisibly through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana typically required ‘manifestation’ to take form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alon had broken that convention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drawing out almost all of his mana from his mana hall, leaving only the bare minimum, was thanks to his recent research with Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through exploring mana pattern transformations based on seal structures, he had discovered new forms of mana molecules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This allowed him to control his mana in its molecular state without manifesting it, anchoring it in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with ample preparation time, Alon had managed to scatter his mana across the entire battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, due to the lack of abundant mana, its density was inevitably low.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was enough for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Alon’s goal wasn’t to deal with Seolgak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Expansion (膨脹).”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—but simply to create a brief opening for Seolrang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon muttered, the mana molecules he had scattered began to expand all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that fleeting moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“1.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon could see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang, dragged out of the battle by the suddenly expanding mana in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Seolgak, striking at her in that very instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a moment to spare, Alon spoke the next incantation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Point (點).”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expanding mana instantly converged onto Seolgak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic Alon had prepared for minutes, holding his breath, was completely shattered with nothing more than an irritated kick from Seolgak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single blast of black thunder erased all the mana Alon had expanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crushingly futile situation for Alon, unfolding in less than two seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, a crooked smile crept behind his expressionless face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him, two seconds wasn’t even enough time to properly cast a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Seolrang—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“1.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two seconds was more than enough to deal with Seolgak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon didn’t take his eyes off the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, with an expression of horror, Seolgak looked upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rangchangrangchang (槍狼槍)—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And descending from above—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunder Dragon’s Descent (龍降臨).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A golden dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roooooaaaaar!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world turned white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crater, impossibly wide and deep, had formed there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at its center stood Seolrang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her Thunder Deification had faded, and she gazed silently downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her feet lay the Apostle of Pride, Seolgak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a massive hole in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stupid… really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite having his heart pierced, leaving no chance of survival, Seolgak glared at Seolrang with wide, furious eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll regret this, little sister. You’ll definitely regret the day you discarded the powers I arranged for you… You’ll regret it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolgak’s desperate screams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Seolrang remained expressionless as she lifted her leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need any of that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She crushed his head as if she no longer needed to hear another word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already gotten what I wanted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching as Seolgak’s body crumbled to dust, as if he had never existed, Seolrang turned her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spotted Alon and tried to run toward him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But collapsed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon rushed over to check her condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? My body won’t move at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang’s carefree remark, despite having just fallen, made Alon let out a small sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s probably because you overexerted yourself a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that it, Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang nodded briefly as if that made sense, then softly whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…All of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. You taught me how to use Thunder Deification. Thanks to you, I was able to kill him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was silent for a moment before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seolrang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? About what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You care deeply about your family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang smiled at his question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bitter smile Alon had never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes, Master. I do cherish my family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you know what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, a bright smile appeared on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll never do something that makes me lose something even more precious. I’m not a fool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her resolute words, Alon realized something without even meaning to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been perceiving her just like Seolgak had—through his own assumptions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Seolgak still saw Seolrang as the naive, weak child from ten years ago,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had been viewing her as one of the Five Great Sins from ‘Psychedelia’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though they’d shared memories and experiences, he had still clung to that bias.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not as Seolrang, who now showed him a bright smile and had become the first Baba Yaga of the colony—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a character who could always become one of the Five Great Sins in the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang was no longer a mere in-game villain or someone Alon needed to cautiously watch over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was someone who valued her family with her life but could still make necessary choices without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In some ways, she had grown stronger and wiser than Alon himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon chuckled softly without realizing it, feeling lighter inside as he looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master… you can smile?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang looked up at him with a face more surprised than ever before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was faint, but it was a smile that touched the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some time later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing that Rine had dealt with the Scorpion, Seolrang rested against a ruined wall to recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do that thing again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ear thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It felt nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang giggled, and Alon gently pressed her ear without question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing her eyes slowly, Seolrang spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for worrying about me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Of course I’d worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his answer—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small smile crept onto Seolrang’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an afternoon where the setting sun could be seen beyond the broken walls of the colony, fading over the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>",1909,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","c9988752c2103c4834f47a083236fff5234e891d54d6580e664b942526de0623","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-154","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-152",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]