[{"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-155":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},759445,1006,"Chapter 155","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-155",155,"\u003Cp>Penia Crysinne lived in the flavor of her own importance. Although she acted like a hooligan, displaying her temper as she pleased, this didn’t mean she was stupid or dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a word, she was well self-aware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia had a good grasp of her own situation, so the reformative letter wasn’t much of an issue for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter was a source of fear only for nobles involved in political life, but there was no reason to fear if one wasn’t entangled in political ideologies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless one were to commit absurdities like human experimentation associated with heretics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Kingdom of Saints also made an effort not to easily antagonize the people from the Mage Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighting each other would benefit neither side much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, even when Penia heard that Cardinal Yutia had come looking for her because of the reformative letter, she was nonchalant, and had even hoped for a small slip of the tongue when she first heard of the Cardinal’s visit, perhaps to relieve some stress from the workload piled up by Marquis Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she looked at Yutia with eyes full of venom, at least until Yutia stepped into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Yutia entered and looked at Penia with a casual expression and a deep smile, Penia couldn’t help but adjust her posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a fleeting moment, she saw something behind Yutia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t see it clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing was clear. It was the same type as ‘that’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thing that Marquis Palatio wore on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something that people must never recognize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recognizing it meant one could gain everything in the world, but it would also mean having to sacrifice one’s life—it was a poisoned chalice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unknowingly, Penia began to sweat coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’ being there meant, the person before her was not just some Cardinal, but something entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What? How? Why is there such a thing behind the Cardinal of the Kingdom of Saints? Why?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling fear and confusion, Penia said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly apologizing, Yutia had Penia staring blankly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As the Vice-tower master of the Blue Tower, I thought it might be difficult to converse without revealing this briefly… I didn’t realize it would scare you this much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sob-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hiccupped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t have to react like that. I’m not here to harm the Vice-tower master. Just-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite Penia’s state, Yutia still wore a calm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she slowly raised her index finger to her lips and whispered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, this is a sensitive matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, of course. I am tight-lipped. Yes, very much so…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia nodded her head as if mad,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s very good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike when she was grilling Felin, Penia, with a servile smile plastered on her face, cautiously opened her mouth,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, may I know the reason for your visit…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, just heard some interesting rumors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting, rumors, you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Penia’s question, Yutia laughed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Some interesting rumors about our Vice-tower master and Marquis Palatio.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ru, rumors-?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Penia immediately realized what Yutia was referring to, and simultaneously, her survival instincts, which had started to sound an alarm, miraculously summoned a crumpled memory tucked away in a corner of her brain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically, the rumor that Marquis Palatio and Cardinal Yutia were closely linked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, Penia closely observed Yutia’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely, she was smiling, but not really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mouth might have been curved into a smile, but her eyes were cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia frantically struggled for survival,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That, that’s absolutely not true!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, absolutely! That’s just a rumor, absolutely! Definitely…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet, you hadn’t denied those circulating rumors before-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no! I’ve denied them all now! Recently! There won’t be any such rumors in the future, really!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia earnestly explained,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether her explanation was effective or not, the shadow in Yutia’s serene smile seemed to gradually lift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Penia, realizing her lifeline was slowly opening, became even more determined and continued her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, I don’t really have such a taste for the Marquis. Right? He always has that expressionless face, you know? I don’t really like such people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe, that was too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia’s face, which had been smiling pleasantly, suddenly grew cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia belatedly rolled her eyes and opened her mouth,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that, um-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia began sweating profusely,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why must she suffer so much because of Marquis Palatio?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, she felt a surge of sadness, almost bringing tears to her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vice-tower master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia couldn’t help but be startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, Yutia had been sitting across from her, but now she was unexpectedly beside her, gently placing her hand on Penia’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia momentarily froze and wanted to scream, but she managed to keep her mouth shut with hiccups instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s good to show your innocence, but that statement was a bit over the line, wasn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sob-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… yes…! I’m, I’m sorry…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll let it pass this time. But next time… you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m a bit short on patience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Yutia whispered in her ear with a chilling voice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Vice-tower master. Let’s get along well from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….Yes, understood. Well, Marquis Palatio does have his… his admirable aspects, ha ha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia replied with an awkward laugh as Yutia stood up,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, does that mean you wanted a… a certain kind of relationship with Marquis Palatio?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia’s face started to harden again, and Penia had to quickly add more to her statement,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, no, it’s not like that, the Marquis is handsome, but that’s not really my type…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, the Marquis is not your type?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s not that, he definitely is a handsome man!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not your type, but you’re interested because he’s handsome?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that’s not it,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia felt as if she was trapped in an endless cycle, feeling indescribable anger and injustice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This crazy woman, what on earth does she want me to say?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Penia was very self-aware, and felt painfully that she could not oppose the being in front of her,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry for being alive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could only bow her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a peaceful afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ha ha ha- It’s my victory!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You crazy-“\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Meow-?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon was crossing the desert, he observed Evan, Basiliora, and Blackie gambling excitedly from the driver’s seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What on earth are they playing?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon rummaged through his belongings and pulled out the Scorpion gauntlet he had captured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the artifact he had given to Yutia, it was powerless and glowing a pale white,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Apostle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first time Alon had seen an Apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t even appear in games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing was certain, they were powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If Seolrang had not awakened, it would have been us who suffered.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon felt a deeper need to delve into magic research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just because of the grotesque clean-up, but soon he had to prepare for the Apostles that would start appearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging coldly, if all Apostles possessed that level of power, it would be virtually impossible for Alon to stop them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he couldn’t stop them, the Apostles would eventually create Sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Alon had people to help him with his research, and he had already thought of ways to enhance his magical abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only concern was the ‘information’ about the Apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…There’s nothing known about them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, no one knew about the Apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither asking Rine nor the Dragonkin he had visited during his stay in the Colony yielded any different information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most he had learned was that someone who had survived the war might know something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Kylrus’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon recalled that name once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the Golden Dragon, he was a mage,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he had appeared as a goblin Outer God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Once I get that item following Eliban, I should go meet him right away.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from knowing how to use the Dragon of Darkness, there was another reason to meet Kylrus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he was organizing his thoughts,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon turned his head at the sound of Evan’s voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I realized I hadn’t given this to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan pulled a glass bottle from his bosom and handed it over,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked as he received the bottle filled with black powder,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From what I hear, it’s the powder of the Apostle’s corpse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was it Seolrang’s secretary…? That person had given it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the explanation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I want this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon looked bewilderedly at the finely divided (?) powder of the Apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the southernmost part of the continent, in a dense forest touched by the hands of elves instead of humans, lay the sacred land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within what the elves called Greynifra, lay the elven kingdom of Fildagreen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dreamy country of elves built around the World Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the massive palace right below the World Tree, in the center of that kingdom,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You found Raguerine’s blessing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man, or rather, Perion who had dropped his human disguise, bowed his head and reported to the queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hadn’t thought it would be possible, but you’ve done something truly great, Perion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elf queen Magrina, her voice mixed with surprise and pride, her bright platinum blonde hair flowing down to her waist, praised him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion bowed even deeper and continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Your Majesty. However, there’s something I must tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raguerine’s blessing, it wasn’t me who found it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t you, Perion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It’s that—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carefully nodding, Perion began to recount the events that had occurred in Lartania, and as Magrina listened to Perion’s words for a while,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, this Marquis Palatio not only instantly recognized your identity but also informed you of the location of Raguerine’s blessing… is that what you’re saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The room with Raguerine’s blessing was made like Fagade’s hideout—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one else had entered there besides me. And as I mentioned, there was a message written inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘I hope it reaches my sibling well,’ wasn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina looked at the blessing brought by Perion with a disbelieving expression and fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice began to tremble slightly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, Perion, are you suggesting that this Marquis Palatio might be the ancient elf—my older brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t be certain, of course. But considering he easily discerned that I was part of Fagade and led me to Raguerine’s blessing, it must have been him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina lost her words again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Perion’s reasoning made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, she couldn’t judge the Marquis based solely on this fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, as Magrina knew, the ancient elf and her brother had died hundreds of years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew well that the dead do not return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the continuing silence,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will quietly check and come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning towards the voice, there stood an elf wrapped in a mage’s robe—Philde, Magrina’s personal mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it possible to confirm that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There isn’t a lack of methods. As you know, my eyes are a bit special.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina inadvertently let out a gasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde possessed the Spirit Eyes, capable of seeing souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, confirming the identity of Marquis Palatio would be an easy task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, please proceed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. I will go with Perion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as their task was decided, Philde and Perion promptly bid farewell and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the backs of the two elves,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If my brother really is alive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clenched her fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew it was logically absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, in her eyes, there flickered an unmistakable light of subtle hope.\u003C\u002Fp>",1925,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","a5f49c49e5fd4b69eb4a45214f8157935952b2102815b34a8efe4709c9687b76","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-156","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-154",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]