[{"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-183":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},759473,1006,"Chapter 183","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-183",183,"\u003Cp>The office was nothing short of peaceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackie was rolling around on the books before dozing off into a nap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was midsummer, the magic stones inside the office cooled the air enough that it wasn’t too hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, it was the perfect time and atmosphere for lying back in a chair and enjoying a post-lunch nap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It definitely should have been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So, what did you just say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said that the head of the Lord of Lartania is going to explode, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it weren’t for Rine’s words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s pupils trembled slightly, though his expression remained blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deus and Radan were the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if they had just witnessed madness far beyond their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two quietly took half a step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon glanced at the three of them, then cautiously placed the button down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So, um—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How in the world is this supposed to be a gift?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—He swallowed the words before saying them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I forgot to mention that part, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As soon as you press the button and move to safety, you can become the new Lord right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine flashed a refreshing smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the gift I prepared for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small button that fit snugly in one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, if I press this whenever I want, the Lord’s head will explode, and they’ll install me as the new Lord…? Is that what she’s saying?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Cancel that. This is not a normal gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was actually just going to take care of it cleanly and then inform you afterward, but I thought some annoying pests might start buzzing around. So, I prepared it this way. Besides, this method allows you to act whenever you see fit, Godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words were full of consideration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, in fact, they truly were considerate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s just that they were a bit beyond the bounds of common sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine chuckled softly as she gazed at the button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, feeling a bit of unease, discreetly pulled the button back toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No way, right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that after encountering the Apostle last time, Rine had awakened in some way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint anxiety crept in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon covered the button with both hands and pondered seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he express his gratitude first? Or—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even if it’s uncomfortable, after what happened last time, I should check if anything has changed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be needless worry, but Alon thought it was best to at least confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His ultimate goal was to help those who were once destined to become the Five Great Sins grow into ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much she called it a gift, planting an explosive in someone’s head—even if it was just an assumption—was something that should never be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, since Rine had gone to great effort to prepare this gift for him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would it be right to scold her in front of the others?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially if the aftermath of their encounter with the Apostle still lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine rarely showed her struggles, no matter how difficult things were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Alon closed his eyes gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you like it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, he decided to let it slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But in the future, you don’t need to prepare such extravagant gifts. Just keep it to something appropriate and not too burdensome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a word of advice instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The same goes for you two, Deus, Radan. There’s no need to go to such extremes just to give gifts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood, Brother. But I didn’t really overdo it this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel the same, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Radan and Deus object, Alon felt an involuntary twitch at the corner of his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They said they didn’t overdo it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the fact that they had built an absurdly massive statue and even captured a sea god?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine, whatever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with six eyes insisting on their innocence, he swallowed down what he really wanted to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the afternoon sun blazed down on the land—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, now that I think about it, it’s been a while since we’ve met face-to-face like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true. I saw Rine, but it feels like it’s been a while since I met you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Radan, Deus, and Rine exchanged greetings—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stopped by his secondary office to conduct some magic research with Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll stop here for today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, good work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well— To be honest, I think it’s still a little lacking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were currently researching something that Kylrus had mentioned to Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To use the Shadow Dragon technique, precise control over mana was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, it’s fascinating how Blackie reacts to the formation of seals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Essentially, the seals you use—hand seals, that is—alter the structure of mana particles. And Blackie is changing along with them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That is quite interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… Ah, now that I think about it, maybe we could utilize it in a different way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia enthusiastically laid out her idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If your theory is correct, we might be able to use it like this as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon crossed his arms and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Kylrus, Penia’s interpretation of the seals and their connection to Blackie was intriguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s research that aspect a little further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. Ah, also—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia pulled something out from her robe and handed it to Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I heard it’s your birthday today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a small gift I prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gift Penia handed over was a vial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the purpose of this potion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a stimulant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A stimulant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It’s not something to use carelessly, but if you inhale the powder, it temporarily enhances your mana. Of course, it has side effects, but it’s better than falling into mana addiction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a low exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s quite a substantial gift. I’ll make good use of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad you like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia put on a practiced social smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though, to be honest, I didn’t originally intend for it to be a gift.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She kept that truth hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called gift, the stimulant, was actually something that had been created by accident during an experiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most mages wouldn’t even consider using stimulants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Side effects aside, they rarely overused magic to the point of mana addiction in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this stimulant—though effective—was essentially useless to her, neither sellable at full price nor something she needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Alon’s birthday approaching—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And given how he was often drained of mana—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the perfect opportunity to turn this useless item into a valuable gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Honestly, I probably would’ve given it to him even if it weren’t his birthday.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, there was no harm in currying favor with Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm-hmm, I put quite a bit of effort into making this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I used a lot of expensive ingredients, you know—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes, row while the tide is in your favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Penia was about to add more exaggerations that weren’t quite exaggerations—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This contains as many as eight different ingredients, so— Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She suddenly gulped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Alon could ask what was wrong—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There you are, My Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar voice rang out from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yutia, you’ve arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, My Lord. I just got here a moment ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must have taken quite some time to get here. Thank you for coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t mention it. It’s your birthday, of course, I had to come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia smiled, her eyes curving like a crescent moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then glanced at the potion in Alon’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That gift, it must be from Penia Crysinne?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze soon turned to Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, no, I didn’t give that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panicked, Penia was about to press her emergency escape button—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. Penia gave it to me. She picked out something I really needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heeh— is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In that case, I must properly thank you, Miss Penia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She missed her chance due to Alon’s calm but direct compliment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, rather than standing around here, let’s head to the office. The others are all gathered there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, My Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Penia, sorry, but I’ll be heading there first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, y-yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Alon led Yutia away first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia let out a silent sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking she had just barely escaped, she lifted her head—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then she saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Gasp.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon walked away—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, when he wasn’t looking—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia’s face turned ice-cold, her expression utterly devoid of warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creeeaaak— Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if haunted by a ghost, the door slowly creaked shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia, staring at it, felt a wave of regret crash down on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe I shouldn’t have lied…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face crumpled in despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Should she start packing her bags and flee to the Blue Magic Tower right now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her short-lived musings swirled through the air like a restless spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, how have things been lately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm— nothing major. Just a few minor incidents?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked back to the office where the three others were gathered, Alon exchanged casual greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he thought to himself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Soon, incidents will start erupting in Rosario too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them, of course, would be related to the strange occurrences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truly significant events were still a little ways off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, feeling concerned, he spoke to Yutia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anything comes up that you need help with, let me know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm— I’d rather not cause you unnecessary worry, though?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t think like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, soon after—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel the same way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her smile widened even more than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. If you ever need anything from me, don’t hesitate to ask. Don’t worry about burdening me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that smile, the corner of Alon’s lips twitched slightly upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they continued their warm conversation, they arrived at the office before they knew it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they opened the door and stepped inside, another massive box came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, is this Yutia’s gift?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A box that hadn’t been there earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia tilted her head, looking completely clueless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then who sent this gift…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that arrived earlier, so I brought it inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan, who had been chatting with the others, explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They said it was sent by Seolrang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Evan seemed to notice Yutia and was about to raise his hand in greeting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ta-dah~! I made it just before Yutia arrived!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lid of the large gift box suddenly burst open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from within—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seolrang…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrapped head to toe in red ribbon, Seolrang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately ran up to Alon and declared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am the birthday present, Master! You can have me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then presented the marriage registration form that Alon had previously refused to sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang saw her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia, standing behind Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-Yutia?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while, Seolrang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Yutia responded with a composed tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until the moment Seolrang burst out of the box, Deus and Radan had been watching in amusement—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, they flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To others, Yutia’s voice might have sounded normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That subtly lowered tone—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It only emerged when Yutia was dealing with something—or someone—that greatly displeased her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, the best option was to avoid getting involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They carefully averted their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Seolrang, recalling the mistake she had made by teasing Yutia in a previous meeting, began sweating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, heh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a guilty thief, her eyes darted around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swiftly crawled back inside the very box she had just torn open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only her hands peeked out as she tried to close the lid over herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the shredded box lid wouldn’t fit properly anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sudden, freezing tension that filled the room, Alon could do nothing but stand there in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>",1980,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","5bdd83be3e85182f9c7aa71dcb639bb5e994c63e97e3910930d79afaa289c272","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-184","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-182",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]