[{"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-186":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},759476,1006,"Chapter 186","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-186",186,"\u003Cp>The small duchy of Varnos, located in the southern part of the continent, consists of five territories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although its land area is larger than that of the Duchy of Luxibl, most of it is mountainous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, no industry has developed, and the region barely survives on various coal mines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventh king of Varnos, Varnos Kynore, stared blankly ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What lay before his eyes—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was a scene of massacre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soldiers and knights alike had been torn limb from limb and were strewn about in disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the shattered inner walls, the capital’s town was engulfed in flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse of an elderly man, burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body of a child, fallen and bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remains of a young man, half of his upper torso torn away as he resisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpses were shredded as if they had been slaughtered by monsters rather than humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, Kynore knew the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The perpetrator of this massacre was not a monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If only you had listened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an entity possessing intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kynore’s trembling head turned to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he knew it, a man had approached right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man with light gray hair and gray eyes, exuding an endlessly cheerful aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kynore involuntarily swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the man’s outward appearance that unsettled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes devoid of anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entirely dark gray without even pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed to proclaim that the being before him was not human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in truth, the one standing before him was not human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he took the form of a human—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing was not one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen to what you’re told?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. If you had obediently left, this wouldn’t have happened to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You said you’d kill them all…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kynore gritted his teeth and spat his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man standing before him was someone who could crush his life effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, Kynore did not bow his pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it was just a small duchy, he was still a king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—strictly speaking, it wasn’t pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was merely the desperate struggle of a man who had lost everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he had nothing left to lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he had already plummeted off the cliff, he could afford to struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes burned with a fierce determination beyond fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even in the face of that gaze—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man only chuckled playfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, I told you I’d let you live, didn’t I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you seriously saying that right now…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it obvious? One’s own life is more important than another’s. Ah, no—perhaps it’s different in your case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without your title as king, you’re nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blatant insult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kynore’s eyes widened in fury as he tried to retort—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never got the chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he parted his lips—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grotesque creature, emerging from the man’s chest, had already devoured him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch, crunch! Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sickening sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monster swiftly consumed the upper half of Kynore’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, watching the scene with utter tranquility,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perched himself on the rubble of the ruined kingdom and gazed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a magnificent view.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a twisted smile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, shall we begin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his index finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the tip of his finger, a black droplet slowly began to form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like blood welling up, the droplet grew larger, until—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a black aura began to spread in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the once-blazing and corpse-filled capital darkened, as if the very light had been stolen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things that had not been visible before came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monstrous creatures, their bodies pitch black as the abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devouring the corpses, feasting in grotesque revelry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some danced as if reveling in joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some focused solely on consuming the bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some fought over corpses that others were eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grotesque feast was unfolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the Four Great Powers of Psychedelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lord of Ghouls (鬼) himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now then, how shall I move next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered, twisting his lips into a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon left the Lartania Marquisate three weeks ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll take about a week to reach Nail, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—yes, that’s about right. And after that, it’ll be another three days of travel to enter Greynifra, according to the information the Marquis provided.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon gave a brief nod—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Meow-]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Meow……]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gently stopped Blackie, who had been sitting on his thigh and was now trying to burrow into his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackie, ears drooping as if deeply disappointed, eventually flattened them altogether, seemingly making itself disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stroked the head of the now-strangely misshapen creature and pulled out an object from inside his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know, Blackie really seems to like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Blackie was trying to dig into Alon’s coat—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because of something Alon had obtained a week ago while passing through a labyrinth in the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jewel of Forgetting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It emitted a crimson glow, much like Yutia’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it appeared to have no practical value, to Alon, it was of utmost importance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had the power to reset the “Salvation of the Wanderer”, the artifact that could summon Basiliora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Of course, even if he gave a proper offering to “that one” who had yet to make an appearance, he could still use the Salvation of the Wanderer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Jewel of Forgetting, while single-use, allowed him to activate the Salvation of the Wanderer without any additional cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, Alon had deliberately gone out of his way to visit the labyrinth—just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Marquis, last time you mentioned that with that thing, you could—uh, what was it again—oh right, you could use an artifact to bring Basiliora back, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But how does that jewel work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan asked, curiosity suddenly piqued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon explained it briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s probably based on accelerating time for the object it’s used on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Time acceleration?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded, sifting through his memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It was definitely time acceleration. Ten years… plus three months, I think.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even remembered the precise numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I recall correctly, collecting 100 of them would reset the restriction.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first ring Alon had obtained to set up the restriction—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had an absurd cooldown time of one thousand years before it could be reused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was such a ridiculous setting that he had once wondered why it even existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But naturally, in Psychedelia, no matter how much the game dragged on, in-game time never exceeded ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, a one-thousand-year cooldown was essentially meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, once word spread in the community that collecting the Jewels of Forgetting could reset the restriction—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People finally understood why such a bizarre mechanic had existed and started searching for the jewels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, their enthusiasm quickly died down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disadvantage of having to scour the entire continent for them far outweighed the benefit of resetting restrictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, their sheer quantity was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, the jewels became more of a gimmick—used by streamers or YouTubers as clickbait content rather than a practical game strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Alon had barely farmed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only now, thanks to Basiliora, that he had a real reason to use them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, he wouldn’t have even used the Jewel of Forgetting more than five times throughout his entire playthrough of Psychedelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you gave that to Blackie, wouldn’t it, like, grow massively?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan’s voice interrupted his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Well, I don’t even know if it works on living creatures, but if it does, I guess that could happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Meow-!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s affirmation, Blackie let out a determined cry—its expression practically shouting, “I can do it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No way! You think I’d let my chance at returning be wasted as a mere snack?! ABSURD—!!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sudden, shrieking outburst of Basiliora, who had seemingly materialized out of nowhere—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[W-Wait! Stop! STOP I SAID!!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackie immediately launched itself at him, relentlessly swiping with its paws in a flurry of cat punches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! That’s it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan cheered with delight as Blackie disciplined Basiliora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to find great joy in Basiliora’s suffering, even lifting both hands into the air in celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching their chaotic antics unfold, Alon silently tucked the Jewel of Forgetting back into his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At the very least, I should collect a few more… before “that one” appears on the continent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time a little more than a week had passed, Alon had made his final preparations in Nail a few days prior and then traveled three more days by carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From here on, we’ll have to go on foot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That does seem to be the case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had arrived in a densely forested area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is this the Elven Territory now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it seems so. Just look—the color of the grass is completely different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is quite strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference in the color of the grass between where Alon stood and the land inside Greynifra was striking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This side is dark, but that side is bright.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though they were in a forest where shadows naturally formed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plants inside Greynifra shone with a vibrant blue-green hue, radiating vitality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Observing this unusual sight, Alon wore a curious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, let’s head inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he and Evan began walking forward, Alon recalled Recon’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So far, the information he provided seems accurate… It doesn’t look like he was lying. That means from here on, we need to be careful not to get caught by the elves.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully replayed Recon’s warning in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The elves are extremely hostile toward humans. If encountered, make it clear that you have no intention to fight and leave Greynifra immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recon had repeatedly emphasized how much elves despised humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keeping this in mind, Alon moved into the forest with a slightly tense expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Hours Later\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It looks like we’re almost out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seemingly endless forest finally revealed its exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon confirming this, Alon and Evan walked forward without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they stepped out of the forest, Evan let out a startled exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon also instinctively widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What filled their vision—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was an army of elves, easily numbering over a hundred, standing before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if they had been expecting them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is bad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shiver ran down Alon’s spine as countless thoughts flooded his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wasn’t this supposed to be a hidden path?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Recon betrayed him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this just a coincidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or had they simply taken a wrong turn?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before his thoughts could spiral further, Alon forced himself to push them aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The priority now—was to show they weren’t hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—! We didn’t come to Greynifra to fight—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon raised his hands in surrender—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grab—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An elf, who had been far away just moments ago, suddenly appeared at his side and grabbed his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elf lowered his head respectfully,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face filled with subtle joy, as if greeting a long-awaited guest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Alon could do nothing but gape in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>",1842,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","c913967efd286fd43f9951a7e97fbf530194f885db35175bd3282cd051fdd365","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-187","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-185",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]