[{"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-199":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},759489,1006,"Chapter 199","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-199",199,"\u003Cp>Stalian stared blankly at Duke Merkiliane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The god of other race…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stalian V asked, looking utterly baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duke Merkiliane calmly recounted the events so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting with Zukurak’s actions at the Marquisate of Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the elves who had appeared on their way back to Ashtalon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, the conversation between Zukurak and the elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening in silence for a long while, Stalian V finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, Duke, you’re saying that Marquis Palatio is actually the god of other race?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Based on what I’ve seen so far, that seems to be the case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Zukurak… he knelt before him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s hard to believe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they first brought him in through a secret contract, there had been an opportunity to gauge his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had strength beyond common sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So overwhelming that it was almost absurd—enough to make one suspect he might be a god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And yet, that man knelt?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That could only mean—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Marquis Palatio is an even greater being than him, but why would someone like that…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer presented itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much he thought about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even begin to guess why Marquis Palatio was pretending to be a mere noble and hiding his true identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stalian V decided to stop thinking about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why he was hiding his identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the one acting as Marquis Palatio was really Marquis Palatio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Duke Merkiliane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe you have some level of acquaintance with Marquis Palatio.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, yes, to some extent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Can you find out what he likes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What he likes, you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. More precisely, what he needs at this moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To draw him into the Kingdom of Ashtalon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A week had passed since Marquis Palatio left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…You’re quite good.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, please, it’s nothing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after the magic conference had ended, Penia and Heinkel continued their training at the Mage Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite being relentlessly drilled all day long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia’s eyes sparkled with excitement, her face radiating ‘This is so fun! It’s always thrilling!’ rather than exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel clicked her tongue but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Alright, now for the 72-ring array. Layer connections within the circles. The key is the straight line. The array must be deployed with a direct line passing through all 72 rings.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! I’ll try it right away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she assigned the next task, Penia answered energetically and immediately started practicing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without realizing it, Heinkel felt a sense of pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t particularly noticed before, but lately, Penia Crysinne had been reminding her of her younger self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when, no matter what magic she learned, instead of thinking ‘This is hard,’ she always thought, ‘I’m curious!’ first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, her fondness for Penia had grown significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, aside from the first lie she told.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She embodied the ideal mage Heinkel envisioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that, Penia was a genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A genius so extraordinary that even Heinkel unconsciously found herself nodding in approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teaching her was becoming increasingly enjoyable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tell her one thing, and she understood ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teach her ten things, and she grasped a hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Her personality is a bit eccentric, but well, any true mage should have at least one odd quirk.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mmm, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was nodding in agreement with herself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Penia begin to construct the magic circle, Heinkel suddenly recalled something from a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment when she saw the brooch on Alon’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face involuntarily stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in her spiritual form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just recalling that moment made his entire body feel cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her heart pounded violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sensation she hadn’t felt in so long—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, one she had thought she’d never feel again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That magic… No, that place.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel ran through the verification process again, for what must have been the hundredth time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, deep down, she already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Abyss—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That girl had cast that magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had even been slightly impressed when she realized Heinkel had figured it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason she kept going over that moment again and again was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She simply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t understand it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not something the girl should have been able to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an impossible ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That was definitely… back then.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it could be replicated someday, ‘right now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an ability that should not exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Heinkel kept wondering—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly is she doing? Why hasn’t she lost her power, and how is she still here? Why—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long while, she pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why is that being following Marquis Palatio?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As unanswered questions swirled in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had arrived at the Lonovellia Jungle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s about Varnos, which you previously mentioned. Strangely, there’s no information on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No information?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Even the information guild says they know nothing about that place. Apparently, all intelligence networks in the surrounding area have been completely severed. However, it’s certain that something has happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we look into it further?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with just the information Evan had gathered, Alon could already tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The events in Varnos were related to the emergence of the Four Great Powers he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It was just like this when Agwid first appeared in the game.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Four Great Powers, which only emerged in the mid-game, had already shown themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, Alon quickly fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If this happens, what comes next? Will the other Great Powers reveal themselves too?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As far as Alon knew, once the Four Great Powers appeared, the Allied Kingdom entered an era of great chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of the Four Great Powers possessed strength that far exceeded that of the entire kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they started rampaging in earnest, the kingdom would fall in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In the game, strong individuals eventually sided with the Allied Kingdom around the mid-game, so unless the kingdom was destroyed by a Sin, things could somehow be resolved.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, this was still the early stages of Psychedelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The powerful figures who could balance the power scale against the Four Great Powers had yet to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, if the Four Great Powers started rampaging now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for Ashtalon, where Zukurak was present, it was impossible to predict what would happen elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The only silver lining is that the other Great Powers haven’t surfaced yet.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his thoughts were soon interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, there’s something else I need to report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Evan’s words, Alon turned his attention back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This came up while I was gathering information on Varnos. Do you remember the rumor that spread in Lonovellia last time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A rumor…? Ah, you mean the one about black magic spreading?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you find additional information?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did, but… it’s not good news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan hesitated for a moment before speaking with a troubled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A massacre occurred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A massacre?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. But the strange thing is, it wasn’t caused by a single entity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s questioning, Evan detailed the rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In other words, people killed each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. From what I’ve heard, it was extremely eerie. Their minds were supposedly intact, but they picked up weapons, fought, and killed each other. As a result, most of the mercenaries and explorers in the jungle died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon frowned internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he listened, a particular thought involuntarily surfaced in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So their minds were fine, but their bodies moved as if possessed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. One of the few surviving mercenaries described it as feeling like… ‘being turned into a puppet.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A puppet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Do you have any suspicions about this, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon didn’t answer, but Evan was right—he had a suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, he had to have one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because what Evan had just described was something Alon had encountered multiple times when he played Psychedelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sin of Sloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was precisely the type of rumor that spread when the Sin of Sloth manifested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Alon, it was the worst possible rumor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Alon managed to maintain his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…There’s no way a Sin has manifested already. If it had, the world wouldn’t be this peaceful. It would’ve been an absolute disaster.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew exactly how quickly the world fell into chaos once a Sin was born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what about now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horrific massacre had taken place, yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there were no reports that the Sin had awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor had similar events spread elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the work of a fully awakened Sin roaming the world to slaughter humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, the only possibility left was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘An Apostle…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Apostle of Sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And specifically, it seemed the Apostle of Sloth was in Lonovellia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Evan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re heading to the Duchy immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly one day later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon arrived at the capital of the Luxibl Duchy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the first thing he saw was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s huge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s really huge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I agree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Isn’t that basically a monument gifted by Deus himself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right in the middle of the Luxibl Duchy stood a massive statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Kalannon, the lightning receiver.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…A statue that, in essence, depicted Alon’s own back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not as grand as the one at the Marquisate of Palatio, it was still large enough to be unbearably embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stared at it for a moment before pretending not to care and heading toward the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve been expecting you, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Syrkal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he entered the palace, Syrkal greeted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bowed politely before saying, “I’ll guide you inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She led Alon further in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m a little scared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan clutched the hem of Alon’s coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon didn’t brush his hand away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, to some extent, he felt the same way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, this is a bit much…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everywhere Alon walked, members of the Thunder Serpent Tribe working in the palace prostrated themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They pressed themselves so flat against the floor that it felt excessive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, as a noble, he had never been treated disrespectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such extreme reverence was a first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming display of devotion left him momentarily bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Wait, I thought they were working alongside Luxibl’s forces? Why do I see only the tribe members and not a single Luxibl soldier?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden question surfaced in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could fully process it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another mysterious sight caught his attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, this is our tribe’s Sacred Stone Tablet. We brought it here when we allied with Luxibl.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large, weathered stone tablet stood in the palace, looking slightly rough for its setting but emanating an unmistakable aura of mystique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon examined it, his eyes were drawn to the inscriptions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The day I first came into existence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He read the words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world around him shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could even perceive the sensation of entering another space,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His surroundings changed entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One moment, Alon had been inside the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he stood in an entirely different realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had to describe it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A space wrapped in a dreamlike night sky, where dark blue galaxies shimmered like flowing rivers of stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the very center—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl with blue hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With blue eyes the same shade as her hair, she gazed at Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked utterly displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon felt a strange sense of déjà vu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had never seen this girl before, it felt as if he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he tried to recall why she seemed familiar—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where he had seen her before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Thunder Serpent NPC…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was an NPC who only appeared when players attempted to complete the Thunder Serpent quest by dealing with Basiliora,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then vanished once the quest was finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he recognized her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me back my divinity—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s voice, filled with grievance, rang out in Alon’s ears.\u003C\u002Fp>",2008,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","2b7b0e0bdf63d5c045965f8498d6c49abb58c55ab225f24bdc91539618161191","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-200","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-198",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]