[{"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-194":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},759484,1006,"Chapter 194","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-194",194,"\u003Cp>The eastern district of Greynifra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, where massive ancient trees stood, barely touching the domain of the World Tree, a lone hut was nestled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hut, partially fused with the ancient trees as if assimilated, housed a pair of individuals facing each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Philde, smiling leisurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was Perion, who had accompanied her to the Marquisate of Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion glanced around the interior and, recalling the lavish office Philde had previously occupied, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you always stay here during your vacations, Philde?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well—pretty much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You even used up your vacation days. Is there a particular reason you’re staying here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It might not look like it, but I find it quite comfortable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde replied with a smile, resting her chin on her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what brings you to me, interrupting my extended leave after a tiring business trip?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……You weren’t actually that exhausted, were you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way to the Marquisate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion recalled how she had spent the entire day drinking and reveling in a state of intoxication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Philde shamelessly shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. Are you really saying that despite knowing how much blood I coughed up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s true, but… anyway—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearing his throat, Perion continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reason I came is simply because I was curious about something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Curious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. You might not be aware since you’re on vacation here, but Marquis Palatio is currently in our land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis Palatio?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mere mention of that name, Philde’s interest was piqued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me explain the situation first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he had been waiting for this moment, Perion began detailing everything that had happened since Marquis Palatio arrived in Greynifra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is the current situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I get the general idea. So, what exactly are you curious about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde posed the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion hesitated for a moment before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You told the Queen last time, didn’t you? That the reason the Marquis—or rather, the Primordial Elf—couldn’t come to the World Tree was because of the ‘black presence.'”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did, yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the Marquis has come to the World Tree. And according to rumors—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He eliminated the Ash Seeder beneath the ground and breathed new life into the decaying World Tree. Is that right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Just like the Primordial Elf himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, then, isn’t that enough? If the Marquis being the Primordial Elf turned out to be true as expected?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looking at the conclusion alone, that’s correct. But there’s still something that doesn’t make sense to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion’s expression grew serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the end, wasn’t your hypothesis incorrect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What hypothesis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The assumption that the Marquis couldn’t come to the World Tree because there was something behind him that must not be brought here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, well, that’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that assumption was proven false—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice trailed off momentarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then there’s no reason for him to have deliberately stayed away all this time, nor to continue denying that he is the Primordial Elf, is there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flood of questions poured out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the Queen’s attitude is also strange. If she truly didn’t want the Primordial Elf to reveal his identity, she would have made sure that only a minimal number of people knew the truth about the Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But instead, the Queen subtly hinted to those around her that the Marquis is the Primordial Elf?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, despite knowing your hypothesis, she didn’t express any doubt when the Primordial Elf finally arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion scratched his head after saying all that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know my questions may not be that important. No matter why the Marquis denies being the Primordial Elf, he has already proven himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I was just curious, so I came to ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde grasped Perion’s lingering doubt immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, to sum it up, you’re wondering why the Queen could believe so unwaveringly that the Marquis is the Primordial Elf, even though his actions contradicted what I had said?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde smiled lightly and then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said, I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was her response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, seriously?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Why would I know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, you’re the wisest person I know? I thought you might have an idea why the Queen is acting this way…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An idea, huh—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde let out a thoughtful hum before adding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I wouldn’t say I have no idea at all. After the Queen met with Marquis Palatio, I did come up with one possible explanation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Then could you share it with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—should I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Philde shot Perion a playful smile before saying—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like you, but telling you everything outright seems boring. So, I’ll give you a hint instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A hint?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Ring. Take a good look at the ring the Queen always carries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……The ring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, the ring. If you do, you might start to understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the hint Philde provided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Wait, isn’t that barely a hint at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s a crucial hint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she handed Perion a bottle of liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A fee for the hint. I was getting bored drinking alone, so why not keep me company today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perion let out a small sigh, staring at the bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he remembered a critical fact—Philde had an absurdly high alcohol tolerance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, by tomorrow, he would likely be so drunk he wouldn’t even be able to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My stomach is already churning…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already dreading the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Few Days Later\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon prepared to return to the Marquisate immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His business in Greynifra was now complete, so there was no reason to stay any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he would have preferred to take some time to rest and reflect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will escort you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That… won’t be necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I insist! I really want to!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………Resting was not an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he had returned from the roots, word had spread across the entire land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter where he went, he was met with overwhelming reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the weight of such treatment, Alon turned to look at Rim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes sparkled so brightly that they could have been mistaken for pieces of the Milky Way embedded in her irises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In that case, just escort me to the outskirts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I shall follow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rim bowed with a radiant smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still couldn’t get used to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wasn’t this the same cold elf from just a few days ago?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Alon got into the carriage, Evan spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How does it feel to ride in a carriage with your humble human body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Seems like you really liked that line, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that I liked it. I’ve just heard it so often from others that it’s practically engraved in my ears now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a deep sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why does everyone look at me with such pity?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, there was another reaction the elves had toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mighty and revered elf, reborn as a mere human with barely a hundred years to live—suffering and unrecognized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, whenever he moved through the kingdom, he was met with overwhelming respect and awe—burdensome reactions in themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, he was also the subject of sorrow and sympathy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That kind of racial bias(?) was precisely why…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had decided to make a quick escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hearing people whisper about it constantly is… unsettling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I’m starting to get confused myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Confused about what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are not the Primordial Elf, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, he might have hesitated, but now there was no need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nod!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he denied it, no one believed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, Rim, as if determined to play along, nodded even more vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I also think you’re not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But since everyone keeps reacting like that, even I’m starting to doubt myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence, Evan spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really aren’t… the Primordial Elf, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked again, carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he accepted the answer, there was a flicker of doubt in Evan’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a small sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the afternoon arrived, the carriage had reached the border.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, we’ll take our leave here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I look forward to seeing you again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the deeply bowing Rim behind, Alon finally left the land of the elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon headed straight for the Marquisate of Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to stop by Teria to report to Siyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, since he had departed for Greynifra immediately after his birthday, there were still some tasks he had left unfinished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘On top of that, I want to study the divine authorities and ‘Arrow’ properly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t research the divine authority while traveling, as it required confronting Kylrus directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as for ‘Arrow,’ he had been able to use it a few times on his way back to the Marquisate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had learned four things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the divine power of the Primordial Elf that he had wielded was…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A force that—though not entirely clear—seemed to promote growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, apart from the green energy he had initially used, he still couldn’t access any of the other ‘Arrows.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, using ‘Arrow’ consumed far more stamina than he had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And lastly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy of ‘Arrow’ could regenerate—or even grow stronger—depending on the level of faith and its concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At first, the green energy was significantly smaller than the others,’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, in his familiar state of contemplation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon observed the green energy, which had grown large enough to rival the blue energy, before withdrawing from his trance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe I should discuss ‘Arrow’ with Penia? Oh, right—I still have to go to the Magic Society with her.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Penia remained unaware, Alon mentally organized their schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he knew it, he had arrived at the Marquisate of Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And soon after returning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could even take a break, he received word that Duke Merkiliane was waiting for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At their meeting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha! So, it was true!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Zukurak, the Scarred! I greet the dear friend of the Great One—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was suddenly greeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud impact as the man slammed his head to the ground in a dramatic bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Duke Merkiliane, as startled as Alon, looked visibly confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zukurak remained unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I pay my respects to the Great One’s dear friend!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bellowed with unrestrained enthusiasm.\u003C\u002Fp>",1739,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","6facaf1f9e0ce64aee46d1a427e9755cc1176f36ef0006029cd520ec0ac46d68","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-195","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-193",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]