[{"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-245":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},759735,1006,"Chapter 245","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-245",245,"\u003Cp>From the next day on, the capital of the alliance began to get busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers, who had stood around like old trees without any motivation, were now moving busily, preparing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people also helped the soldiers without exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of all that, Alon—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re so mean~!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had come to visit the children he had rescued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon looked down at Arquilainisis—no, Ar—who had wrapped her tail around his waist and was crying like a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you come to see me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……It’s only been a few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, you’re too mean! You could’ve come yesterday or the day before!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while sobbing, Ar said everything she wanted to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come down already, you silly dragon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Nangwon, who was watching them with an exasperated expression, said something— Ar shouted back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Ar clinging to him like a cicada, Alon asked Nangwon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you been doing well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, thanks to your care, I was able to stay very comfortably. Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon bowed politely just like before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m glad I had a place arranged for them inside the palace.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Ryanga, Ar, and Lia might have been fine—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Nangwon could’ve caused trouble if left outside, so Alon had deliberately arranged lodging within the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Ryanga—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could even ask, Ryanga came running from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, a bright smile was clearly on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you been well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I was practicing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Practicing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Yeah, I’m still not used to it, so I’ve been practicing how to handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ryanga answered with an awkward smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon looked at her, hiding both hands behind her back, he glanced down slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood was seeping out between the bandages on her feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take care of yourself while you practice. If your body gives out when it really matters, you won’t be able to do anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for worrying about me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Ryanga, the fox beast Lia showed up late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Alon had checked on all the children’s conditions, he headed to his next destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Penia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, you’re here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was where Penia was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any new developments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he came to see her— was to hear her opinion on the hint he had recently received from Dowon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—It’s not perfect, but I’ve managed to interpret it to some extent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia recited Dowon’s words that had been passed on to her via Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[First, do not cling to the technique called Reversal of Heaven, and instead, reflect on what you truly need.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Second, do not seek out the laws.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Third, engrave it at the moment of birth.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Fourth, the divinity of green, is regeneration.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if someone unknown had foreseen that Alon would come to the past—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a spell entrusted to Dowon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had already repeated those words to himself several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my opinion, this hint basically means: ‘Create a new law and become a True Mage.’ That’s the only interpretation I can get from it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you think so too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you think that as well, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wasn’t certain. But I remembered something you said before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That all True Mages have the potential to become gods…………right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I also interpreted it with that phrase in mind. Well, it’s not like it could be interpreted any other way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you gain any other knowledge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There were a bunch of books, so I did learn quite a lot~ But when it comes to the essence of a True Mage, the fundamental part—there wasn’t really anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……The essence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia hesitated for a moment, then began to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Based on what I’ve learned, all True Mages—except for the first one who created the law—passed down mental images and developed magic that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon nodded for her to continue, Penia went on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the process of how someone becomes a True Mage… it’s mostly vaguely written. Although there are other sections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, things like the law of words or the law of beastkin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—As she murmured, she suddenly went “Ah,” and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this part might be helpful to you, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true.”Read full story at novel•fire.net\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right? It’s really helpful, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes sparkled brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……What artifact do you want to research?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, sensing her true intention, asked, and she giggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll tell you next time. Anyway, what’s certain is that ‘you become a True Mage through the process of becoming a god.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the process is the mysterious part, huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held her head and groaned as if it were giving her a headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, unless I actually experiment with it, it’s hard to draw a solid conclusion. Anyway, that’s my interpretation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it’s definitely a bit strange, isn’t it? Last time, didn’t you get a hint to reach the fifth level?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you’ve already reached the fifth level, haven’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can use mana burn, which only fifth-level mages can use, so I guess I’m at the beginning stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before coming to the past, Alon had already reached the fifth level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you feel any sense of what path you need to take next? You don’t, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Are the hints not connected to each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation between Penia and Alon grew longer, and so did their concerns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly one week later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had spent the time with the children, or reflecting on spells with Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At night, he also listened to Magrina or had brief conversations with Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to being so occupied, the week passed by in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, move out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time had come to head toward the final battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The army and civilians began moving, essentially abandoning the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because of the World Tree, located beyond the alliance’s capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fearing massacre, most civilians remaining in the capital decided to move along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the seemingly endless procession in silence—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go, godfather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon soon joined the procession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘About two weeks left now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Alon recalled the information he had heard earlier—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to think of it, Marquis,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never really thought about it until now, but where did he go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… Basiliora, I mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Penia’s casual question, Alon let out a quiet exclamation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia quickly turned her head left and right, scanning her surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, you said Blackie’s been asleep since before, so I didn’t think much of it, but Basiliora hasn’t even shown his nose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Penia said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackie had appeared a few times after coming to the past— but had mostly been asleep and rarely showed himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basiliora, however, was even more absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t appeared at all since they arrived in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon immediately checked the ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ring looked the same as always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He poured mana into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still, there was no noticeable change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stared at the ring for a while, his eyes filled with doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allied forces steadily advanced toward the World Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly two weeks after the march began, they arrived at the land of the elves, Greynifra, where the World Tree stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything went as expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to Yongrin’s sacrifice, they arrived at the World Tree in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the World Tree had suffered great damage, it still maintained its form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was one thing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That they had not predicted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-How did Baarma’s followers…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Baarma’s cultists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They should not have been able to enter Greynifra in the first place— yet they had set up camp as if they were waiting for the allied army’s arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as if that wasn’t enough—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Baarma…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baarma himself appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The god who fed on the lives and fears of other races to grow in strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated on a grotesque throne adorned with flesh and bones, exuding vicious madness— he looked down at the allied army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uwaaah—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-Baarma is here…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-He shouldn’t be able to enter right now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How in the world…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allied army instantly fell into chaos from his mere appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baarma, sitting on the grotesque throne, twisted his lips into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His appearance was monstrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His massive body, nearly the same size as Dowon’s, was covered in mouths screaming to be fed, ready to devour anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His abyss-like red reverse eyes— instilled hopeless fear in all who looked into them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as all eyes turned toward Baarma—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his foot slowly descended, one cultist, who had been lying prostrate to worship him, was crushed flat beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A death so sudden and meaningless, it felt even more horrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one dared protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultists only bowed lower in reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eerie fanaticism made the air feel even heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Welcome, my feast.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baarma’s voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allied forces clearly heard the word he used to describe them, spoken from his twisted mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not “enemies,” but “feast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baarma rested his chin on his hand and continued—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Such fine faces. Perfectly mouthwatering expressions for my final banquet.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said arrogantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……How is this possible~?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surang muttered blankly, and Baarma mocked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So curious, are you? Wondering how I got in here even after Yongrin’s sacrifice? Or is it that you’re shocked I was waiting, knowing you’d come here?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sneered wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The answer is simple. His sacrifice, as a living offering, has long lost its power.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A living offering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes. It took quite a few offerings to dull that power. Thanks to that, I couldn’t even eat them—I had to use them all up on that place.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>T-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>|-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along Baarma’s lips, the mouths scattered across his body bared sharp teeth and burst into mocking laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surang clenched his fists tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why haven’t you attacked—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his mouth soon fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, too, stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he knew the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already gone through something similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew why Baarma didn’t just kill them immediately, why he left them with hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been told.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By Baarma’s apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Heh—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps realizing the reason for Surang’s silence,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baarma rose from his throne and began walking toward the World Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every step he took,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prostrated cultists beneath him were crushed brutally to death,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet none who had their foreheads pressed to the ground rose up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unmoving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chillingly devout fanaticism\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressed down harder and harder on the air around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally— Baarma reached the front of the World Tree and brushed it with his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it had once burned, the tree still held onto life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive tree, far larger than himself, was caressed again and again by Baarma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[This is your hope, isn’t it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the allied army and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thrust his giant hand into the World Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRUNCH—CRACKLEEEE~!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, the tree, which had retained at least half its life, began to swell rapidly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KA-KA-KA-KA-KABOOM—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it exploded into pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could even exhale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allied army’s gaze simply drifted aimlessly into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shards of the once-mighty World Tree scattered in every direction, falling with thunderous noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree was completely and utterly destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next to it, Baarma smiled in near ecstasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet sigh escaped someone’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sigh of helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that moment, within the despair where everything had gone exactly as Baarma intended— as he stared at the shattered fragments of the World Tree— only Alon came to a realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instinctively reached into his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he fidgeted with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That object which had long been resting inside his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>",1941,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","42bd992e983e4310f5d3ee3f4dfdc79bb1d4780406426959f4bdec3faa0464ac","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-246","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-244",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]