[{"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-170":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},759460,1006,"Chapter 170","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-170",170,"\u003Cp>Shadow Leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their sole purpose is to protect the current Elf Queen—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the only remaining High Elf since the Age of the Forgotten God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the organization’s founding, they have never guarded anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, they had not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not until today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two carriages stood side by side on the unpaved road, shrouded in pitch-black darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim, the leader of Shadow Leaves, who had been watching intently, let out a small sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why in the world am I protecting a human…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Draim couldn’t comprehend the situation at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadow Leaves existed solely to protect Queen Magrina of the Elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Draim knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His personal feelings should have no influence on what must be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadow Leaves was a direct unit that moved according to the Queen’s will. He had never once thought of defying the orders of their great queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half of Shadow Leaves’s forces had been assigned just to guard a mere human noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No… He’s not an ordinary human noble.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim lowered his gaze and looked inside the carriage, where Marquis Palatio sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know much about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But every member of Shadow Leaves who had seen the Marquis for the first time had realized the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something always lingered behind him, something that never emerged from the shadowed realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That presence alone told them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquis was no ordinary man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The very fact that Her Majesty ordered his protection means he’s far from ordinary…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if all doubts had not vanished, the Queen’s command was absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much time had passed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the campfire near the carriage had nearly died out,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man stepped out from the carriage in front of Marquis Palatio’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the late hour, his sharp gaze was unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus Maccalian—who had joined Marquis Palatio in the previous town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his lips came a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet voice suddenly pierced the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief moment of stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you won’t come out, I’ll force you out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he spoke again, Draim saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urgh!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of his subordinates was silently dragged out—tied in a violet thread from seemingly nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He saw through our concealment!?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim involuntarily stiffened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every member of Shadow Leaves possessed above-average talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secret techniques they mastered provided concealment abilities that no ordinary person could detect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Five Lords, the strongest beings of other races, could normally perceive them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This knight had seen through Shadow Leaves’s concealment in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Impossible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim’s brow furrowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Deus remained calm as he captured one of Shadow Leaves’s members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five more, aside from this one. I’ll give you another chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t run, step forward now. If any of you flee, this one dies first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already found the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief hesitation, Draim let out a quiet sigh and released his concealment, stepping forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in hiding anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the circumstances, resistance would only be futile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……So, you’re the leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after confirming that Draim was an elf—a race rarely seen—Deus Maccalian showed no change in expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……First, let me clarify. We are not your enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll decide whether or not you pose a threat to the Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such a firm response, Draim remained silent for a moment before speaking again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have not lied.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why are you following the Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……We are merely carrying out an order to protect him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From whom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I cannot say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blunt order of dismissal, without a trace of hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regrettably, that is impossible. We, too, are following orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you want to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all. But aren’t you the one hastening this confrontation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Deus frowned in confusion, he suddenly became aware of a chilling sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black blade was now pressed against his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of blades, formed from the shadows beneath Deus, were poised to cut him down at any moment—Draim’s doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll say it again. There’s no need for us to be enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are here to guard the Marquis, not to harm him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That changes nothing. Leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Do you really think you’re in a position to say that right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim frowned as if unable to comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus merely lifted a hand and gestured toward his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violet thread was already coiled around his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining concealed members of Shadow Leaves also had the same violet thread wrapped around their necks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care. As long as I can eliminate anyone who might harm the Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“. . . . . .!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Draim swallowed unconsciously at the madness flickering in Deus’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, at the faint sound of a carriage door opening,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The violet threads created by Deus suddenly disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus’s abrupt decision to release all of Shadow Leaves’s members caught Draim off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nod—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Deus’s silent signal, Draim and his subordinates immediately concealed themselves once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, his eyes drowsy from sleep, stepped out of the carriage while stifling a yawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deus.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What were you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was meditating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Meditating?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I thought I heard voices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You probably heard me murmuring softly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t meditation supposed to be silent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon scratched his head and muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go to sleep soon. The later you sleep, the more tired you’ll be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, my lord. Please rest well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still half-asleep, Alon returned to the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, silence settled around his carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had woken up at all, it had been brief—Alon was already sound asleep again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus, staring into empty space, spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim emerged once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his face was filled with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone tasked with guarding Marquis Palatio without being noticed, this outcome wasn’t bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus had no reason to show leniency toward Shadow Leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Why did you go out of your way to hide us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim asked, unable to suppress his curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because the Marquis must not be disturbed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……………It was beyond anything he had expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he knew people like you were lurking around, the Marquis might lose sleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if I were to eliminate you in front of him, once a threat has been perceived, he might never sleep soundly again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he really let captured enemies go just to ensure Marquis Palatio could sleep peacefully?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim found himself speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is your last chance. Leave. If you ignore my words again, I will kill you all this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……You think you can?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim snapped out of his daze at Deus’s arrogant declaration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think I can’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim’s mind reeled once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Those eyes again…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those eerie, fanatical eyes, so dangerous that just meeting them sent chills down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes burning with a relentless obsession, ready to sacrifice anything to achieve their goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draim instinctively took a step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember my words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Draim could even recover from the humiliation of his reaction—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus turned away without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was late at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the next morning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus could no longer sense any trace of Shadow Leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about a week, Alon arrived in Lartania.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, godfather. And Deus, it’s been a while for you too, hasn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, in the now-familiar city of Merd, he met Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, why did Deus come here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He said he had something to take care of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, a very important matter, no doubt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus nodded and turned to Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, Marquis, I will be heading to the labyrinth for a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have business in the labyrinth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. There’s something I need to obtain inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, though outwardly composed, found it odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he really need something from the labyrinth just to prepare a gift?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, various items could be found in labyrinths, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t overdo it. Be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon quickly let the thought pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……! Understood! I will be extremely careful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……? Alright then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nearly blinked in confusion at Deus’s unexpectedly intense reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after Deus left for the labyrinth—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you been well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. What about you, godfather?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good to hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting in the office, Alon exchanged casual conversation with Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he recalled something he had asked Rine to look into before arriving in Lartania.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rine, were you able to find the place I mentioned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you mean the location you wrote about in your letter, yes, I found it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I see. That’s a relief. Thank you for your hard work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no need to thank me. It’s you and me, godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine smiled warmly, then asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, why are you looking for that place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s something I can only use there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Alon had specifically asked Rine in advance to search for a location hidden beneath Lartania—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was because ‘Footsteps of the Past’ could only be activated in that particular place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine nodded in understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, it’s late. Rest tonight, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, let’s do that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two agreed to meet the next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the elven land of Greynifra lay the territory of the Lizardmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the grand hall of the ruling chieftain, Kalmak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Is this true?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……………I have delivered Zakuraks’ letter exactly as it was written.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one revered by all Lizardmen,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage-god who bestowed his power upon them through sacred markings—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[……Could he truly still be alive?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint but unmistakable excitement twisted the hidden corners of his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>",1623,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","6f80bce268b8f8cbb728d7c164c5eea8f5dfb9feb26f7d4eb75ce1a4008727bc","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-171","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-169",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]