[{"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-181":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},759471,1006,"Chapter 181","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-181",181,"\u003Cp>“Marquis, you must be pleased this time, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, the kids all said they’d celebrate your birthday!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Birthday, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon cleared his throat unnecessarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s certainly appreciated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, acting all nonchalant now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not an act. This is exactly how I feel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For someone claiming that, your lips are subtly curling up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon gently covered his mouth with his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, he did feel a bit excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never received a birthday gift from the kids he had supported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was natural since he had never told them his exact birth date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, he never supported them with the intention of getting birthday presents, so he wasn’t disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘… Really.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, remember when Rine said she’d send you a gift but didn’t? You were sulking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t recall any change in my expression.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I can tell right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… Was it that obvious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not that you made it obvious, but after serving you for nearly ten years, I’ve picked up on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon awkwardly fiddled with the corner of his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmph, after ten years, and that’s all you’ve noticed? How laughable.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basiliora, who had been quiet just a moment ago, slithered out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There he goes again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan clicked his tongue the moment Basiliora appeared, as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not backing down, Basiliora snapped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hah, how rude for a mere human. I’m only speaking the truth. Why react like that?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The fact that after ten years, you’re only now starting to notice such things means you haven’t been fulfilling your duties as a servant, right?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re begging for a flick on the forehead. So you’re saying you can tell the Marquis’s emotions right away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basiliora straightened his small, insignificant body confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I can’t.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What’s with that face?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were just ranting about reading expressions!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s your problem. Whether I can read expressions or not doesn’t matter to me. Am I Alon’s servant? No. I am—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[A god!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cackling like a villain, Basiliora burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan turned away, as if it wasn’t even worth responding to, and looked at Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you say you’re going to the Magic Tower conference soon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan gestured toward Basiliora with his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not leave him with that guy, Heinkel, or whatever his name is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[!? What nonsense! I was just stating facts! Why is this happening—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe I should.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyaaaahhh!!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if haunted by traumatic memories, Basiliora started writhing all over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Nooo—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackie shook his head pitifully at the sight of Basiliora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, don’t you think this guy’s become unnecessary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan wasn’t stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Basiliora, you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. You haven’t really used him much since last time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, only used him once, I guess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why not just hand him over to Heinkel completely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[?! What are you saying?! Speak something sensible, you brat!!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foaming at the mouth in protest, Basiliora looked at Alon, clearly distressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s not like I didn’t want to fight! You’re just not summoning me!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basiliora’s voice grew louder, clearly desperate not to be sent to Heinkel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Basiliora was one of Alon’s strongest assets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that didn’t mean he was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he currently looked like a 30cm stubby snake, his essence was that of a god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And on top of that—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon glanced down at Blackie and Basiliora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something Kylrus had mentioned before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Practicing to properly handle the shadow dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along with that, exploring what the spirit dragon could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that worked out—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I could make Basiliora even stronger.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made his decision, Alon looked at the bracelet on his wrist, ‘Salvation of the wanderer.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s about time to recharge this. Maybe I should do that before visiting the elf village.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mentally organized his necessary plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You beast of a human! Are you plotting to send me to hell with that scheme of yours!?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How does it feel to have your life threatened by a beast? And how about the crushing realization that your win rate against that beast isn’t even 50%?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Don’t spout nonsense! I’ve won more than half, and you’ve won less!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the two bicker pointlessly, Alon stretched out comfortably in the scorching desert heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon arrived at the Palatio territory approximately two weeks later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That… is the auction house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive building stood proudly in the center of the Marquis’s territory—something that certainly hadn’t been there when he left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apparently, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s huge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buildings were springing up like mushrooms around the enormous auction house, forming a new district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride swelling in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>… Even though he hadn’t done anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a slight sense of excitement, he passed by the massive auction house and arrived at the Marquis’s estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What greeted him there, however, was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Documents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This many?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the floor to the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A towering stack of paperwork, almost like a paper fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a deep sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pride that had momentarily filled his heart was now replaced by gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So heading straight to the elf village was impossible from the start, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t like handling this immediately was an urgent necessity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had put off paperwork several times before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one fact was painfully clear—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, he would have to process all of these.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy sigh echoed through the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was he supposed to handle all this alone…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Put up a hiring notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A hiring notice for what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For someone to handle administrative work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Putting up a notice is fine, but shouldn’t the Marquis handle this himself? Most of these documents must be important.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s true, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. If you leave things like this to someone else, they’ll quietly skim off the top.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world wasn’t so simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there anyone reliable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… Well, maybe one person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bullshit.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basiliora interjected briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan continued speaking as if he hadn’t heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But paperwork isn’t exactly my strong suit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A face suddenly came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Should I ask Yutia?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon considered it for a moment but soon dismissed the thought and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiring someone would take time anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Might as well get started.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up a document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had felt good about returning home after two months, but now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he flipped through the papers, he thought staying outside might have been better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden idea struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon finished processing the towering stack of documents in just a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was that possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah… Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All thanks to the talented Penia Crysinne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after fulfilling her role as Alon’s magical research assistant, Penia had not returned to the Magic Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she had set up a research lab in the second office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To conduct experiments using the catalyst Alon had given her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The talent was right under my nose.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon recruited her to assist with paperwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she hadn’t been happy about it at first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said she’d do it, but her eyes screamed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s finally over?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. You did well. Thanks to you, we finished much faster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… a relief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite working overtime for several days in a row, Penia genuinely looked happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the reason for that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had made her an offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had merely promised to arrange regular magic lessons with Heinkel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, she had worked so passionately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon recalled the past few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had juggled eight pens at once, processing documents at an incredible speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sight so reassuring that he had nearly dropped his own pen just to applaud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What even is magic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she must have been exhausted, Penia never lost her smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was magic to her, exactly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did she throw herself into something most people would avoid?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling his previous image of a rigid and meticulous mage—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Maybe mages are actually the simplest of all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided to revise that thought today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, take a break today. Tomorrow, we’ll focus on magical research.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understo—huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia responded reflexively, then blinked, eyes widening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon patted her shoulder knowingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to Heinkel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gasp! Understood—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took less than a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gloomy expression instantly brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her energy seemed to return as she sprinted out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her go, Alon thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Yeah. Mages really are simple creatures.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon quietly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning of Alon’s birthday arrived before he knew it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waking up early, Alon glanced beside his pillow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, curled up as always, was Blackie, sleeping peacefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gently stroking the soft black fur, Alon got out of bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it today?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In both his previous life and since inhabiting this one, he’d never considered his birthday particularly special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, knowing that the kids had prepared gifts made today feel oddly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I wonder what kind of presents they’ve got.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought crossed his mind naturally as he changed clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he expected anything expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This feeling of anticipation had nothing to do with the value of the gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what they had prepared, the simple fact that they had put in the effort tickled Alon’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This unfamiliar emotion made even him feel like a stranger to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, good things are just… good.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a faint smile, he pulled back the curtains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And immediately noticed something strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just towering over the Marquis’s mansion but even dwarfing the walls of the Palatio territory itself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“???”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The statue depicted Alon himself, clad in a flowing black coat, one hand casually raised, with giant diamonds embedded in both eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stood proudly in the center of the territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon froze, staring blankly for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a strange sense of familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The odd feeling came from the pose of the statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed incredibly familiar somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where had he seen it before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he dug through his memories—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That pose—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost identical to the statue of the North Korean leader he’d seen in his previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus began the eventful day of his birthday.\u003C\u002Fp>",1703,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","1791a7446990f62a6d892aadafc029500e442784d4bb9120cf95fb80fc334b3f","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-182","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-180",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]