[{"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-198":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},759488,1006,"Chapter 198","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-198",198,"\u003Cp>Heinkel stared blankly ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scenery that filled her vision—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A temple drenched entirely in red, and…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A red… moon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A foreboding moon hung in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crimson moon that cast its glow upon the entire world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Spirit.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl had appeared before she knew it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke each syllable as if she were biting down on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You should stop while you can.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black sacred robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson-red eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her, Heinkel’s mind raced. Her thought process accelerated, constructing, discarding, and deriving multiple hypotheses in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to figure out who the girl in front of her was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to understand the reason she was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To define this abnormal space that had unfolded before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with her exceptionally brilliant mind, Heinkel grasped the situation in no time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, she awakened her magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was a mass of magic—perhaps magic itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, paradoxically—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that very reason, she should not be able to use magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how revered she was by all mages, she was ultimately nothing more than a Spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless she somehow laid her hands on black magic, manifesting magic in her spirit form should have been nearly impossible unless it was of the simplest kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwa-ga-ga-ga-k!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to defy that rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel deployed magic in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because she had realized that, within this space, she could materialize magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t even a realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already experienced this space before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three magic circles overlapped and unfolded around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the three magic circles emerged nine more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then from those nine, twenty-seven magic circles appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In less than ten seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic crafted by Heinkel—known as the Chalice of the Origin, who had stood at the pinnacle of all mages past and present—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was such a spectacle that merely witnessing it compelled all to bow in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world where only the red light existed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuuuuugggg~!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The colossal meteor shower she had conjured was plummeting down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tearing through the air, shredding even the red light as it descended—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel’s magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reaction of Yutia, who gazed at the meteors rushing toward her, was unbelievably lighthearted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if she were merely enjoying a spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just that level of response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she showed no intent to stop the falling meteors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no interference, the meteors crashed into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obliterating everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temple roof—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pillars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl standing before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even Heinkel herself, who had deployed the magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel returned to the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was exactly the same as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was staring blankly ahead, and everything still existed as it had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red marble floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if time had been rewound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl was still there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm— I only meant to give a warning, but your reaction is more intense than I expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Heinkel scowled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you here? You should be in the Abyss—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shh—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she couldn’t finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s—no, Yutia Bloodia’s—index finger had gently pressed against Heinkel’s lips, rendering her unable to move properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never once revealed my true form, yet you still figured it out? You’re quite sharp. But this is as far as it goes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled at Heinkel as if praising her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tremble, tremble—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contrary to her composed demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment she realized her true identity, Heinkel was consumed by terror, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her rationality vanished, leaving only fear in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia, who silently gazed into those fear-filled eyes, gently caressed Heinkel’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lightly tapped her cheek with her index finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen carefully, Spirit. I’ll only say this once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he wants help, give it to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he does something, accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he asks for your heart, offer it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is all you can do for him. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s voice poured down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the meteor shower Heinkel had just created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you understand, nod your head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel barely managed to nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because she knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That there was no other choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve always been obedient, and that’s good. And—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Heinkel’s submission, Yutia patted her head once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re smart enough to understand, aren’t you? About me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, placing her index finger on her lips, she smiled in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gasp!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel gasped for air, sweat dripping down her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you all right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon asked, his face expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel, trying to calm her pounding heart, looked at Alon with an utterly perplexed expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon tilted his head slightly, confused by the sudden gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel was about to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were so many questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more than when she first saw the black figures behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to ask right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did Alon know the girl who had just appeared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, what was their relationship?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was ‘the Abyss’ following him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who the hell was he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No, never mind.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Your request, it was to have that woman learn magic, wasn’t it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel couldn’t bring herself to say it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the moment she did—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew, with absolute certainty, that she would not survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, still looking slightly confused, nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Fine, I’ll accept.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? But just a moment ago—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…That was just a joke. I was slightly annoyed, that’s all.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be precise, she glanced at the red gemstone on Alon’s brooch,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then awkwardly curled her lips into a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kiiiyaaaah~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia, who had seemed on the verge of turning into ashes just moments ago, shrieked like a pterosaur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Come starting tomorrow.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for now, he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you so much~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no need. You paid a price, and I merely upheld my end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, thank you~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With sparkling eyes, she bowed several times before practically floating away with happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…It was almost like watching a chubby Shiba Inu waddling around in an old YouTube video.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he watched her figure recede, Alon recalled the events from earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What was that? Something definitely changed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything had seemed normal at first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at some point, something had drastically shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And those eyes…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon wasn’t particularly sharp at reading people’s emotions through their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even he could tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unmistakably—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A look of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan’s voice called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hands was a pile of something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, this? Gifts for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gifts were stacked so high that he had to turn sideways just to see ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gifts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, despite everything, I’m quite the handsome man, you know. The female mages seem to be quite interested in me. Haha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“..?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Marquis, that look of utter incomprehension is a bit hurtful. Especially coming from someone who barely shows emotion on their face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I make such a face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, technically, they were given to me, but in reality, they were meant for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…No need to explain, I understood the moment I saw it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, Basiliora had been nowhere to be seen when they went to meet Heinkel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, as if it had been waiting, it finally showed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, why don’t you give that snake-headed bastard to the librarian? Maybe she can correct him once and for all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Pfft! Don’t talk nonsense! That damn—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basiliora, who had been speaking boldly, suddenly lowered its voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stretched its body like a meerkat, scanning its surroundings before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You think I’d ever bow to that demon?!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It finally shouted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What a spectacle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’re more of a spectacle!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two bickered childishly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon and his group finally arrived at their temporary lodgings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, speaking of which, I have something to report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s about some rumors. Earlier, you asked if there was any useful information to gather, remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were there many?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, since I haven’t visited the information guild in a while, a lot has piled up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan then began relaying the accumulated rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… That seems to be everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the report, Alon sorted through the rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of all of them, three were particularly noteworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Eliban was erasing strange figures while following the Stalian Kingdom’s route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, something major had happened in the capital of the Varnos Duchy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And lastly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rumors about Luxibl Duchy—or more precisely, the mystical jungle of Lonovellia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rumors regarding the Varnos Duchy and Lonovellia—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were worth investigating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Monsters devoured the capital of Varnos, and black magic is spreading in Lonovellia.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the most concerning of them all— was Varnos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The fall of Varnos… That’s supposed to be the beginning of the Four Factions Episode…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the destruction of Varnos marked the start of the Four Factions Episode, which normally occurred in the mid-phase of Psychedelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Alon was aware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much of what he knew about Psychedelia’s narrative had already become irrelevant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even accounting for that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emergence of Agui, the Devourer, was happening far too soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Evan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soon, visit the information guild and get more details about the Varnos Duchy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon entrusted Evan with further investigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take care~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…See you next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving behind a beaming Penia, whose face practically glowed with happiness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon set off for Lonovellia to meet the Thunder Serpent Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that same moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the royal palace of Ashtalon—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I greet Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is Zukurak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He said he had a stop to make and headed elsewhere. He asked me to inform Your Majesty that he had to visit a place briefly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V furrowed his brows slightly at Duke Merkiliane’s report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It can’t be helped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon exhaled deeply and then asked Duke Merkiliane,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, did you investigate what I asked?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…To put it bluntly, the identity of Marquis Palatio—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duke Merkiliane hesitated for a moment, as if struggling to say it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, calmly, he reported,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He appears to be a deity of another race.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V’s voice trembled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>",1711,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","0ae5db874aeeda09517ef7d67b32f72fa16c3e7b476ad7e2676ce9230ebdae77","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-199","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-197",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]