[{"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-254":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},759544,1006,"Chapter 254","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-254",254,"\u003Cp>After exchanging brief greetings with Magrina, Alon asked her to postpone their long-awaited reunion and let him visit the roots of the World Tree first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina puffed out her cheeks in protest, but soon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to her consideration, Alon was able to descend underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing left beneath the roots. So no guards were necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, accompanied only by Evan, looked once more at the lush greenery forming beneath the roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marquis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This feels... a bit odd.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…All of a sudden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan shrugged his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I did hear last time that you visited the past or something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had already told Evan what he experienced inside the strange portal that sucked him and the maw in, when he traveled to Ashtalon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You heard it, but?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It just feels a little like that. Like I’m left out or something… What exactly happened in there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought I already explained that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You didn’t say anything about the Elf Queen’s eyes dripping with honey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You looked all nostalgic, even though you didn’t seem all that different… and that Elf Queen—she was just overflowing with affection from her eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering to himself about how it was totally different from last time, Evan trailed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon retraced his memories and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Didn’t I explain it properly before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You said you went to the past, stopped someone named Baarma, and that Rine sacrificed herself because of some mishap. That was about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I suppose that was a bit lacking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since it’ll take a while to reach the bottom, why don’t you tell me more now? We don’t have anything else to talk about anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of hesitation, Alon began to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time they fully reached the depths of the roots,  the long tale had finally reached its conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, to summarize, you helped people while dealing with Baarma, and one of those people you helped was the Elf Queen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan nodded as if he got the gist, but he still looked disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I should’ve gone with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Suddenly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I’d stood there looking cool too, maybe they would’ve thought I was some kind of god or something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Pfft]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you laughing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Well—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly popping out from the ring, Basiliora stared blankly at Evan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Never mind. I suppose that’s one way to think.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an open sneer, \"This damn snake—do I need to beat the crap out of you to set your head straight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmph, as if you could even lay a hand on me.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon enough, their usual bickering resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, Blackie was perched with its feet hooked on the pocket over Alon’s chest, watching the two with a look of pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did Alon feel like he’d returned to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the warmth blooming quietly in his heart, Alon continued walking in silence until he reached the end of the roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this the place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing particularly special in sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after Alon had dealt with the Mother of Greed who once dwelled here, he had used his divine power to fill the underground with greenery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now, only fresh sprouts remained where he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Alon didn’t stop and continued walking along the root’s end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble~!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green foliage parted to reveal a spiral staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same stairs that led to the place where he had once received a seed from the tree beneath the World Tree, after looking into a mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he descended the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, upon reaching what could truly be called the \"end of the roots,” Alon was greeted by a vibrant inner garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lush garden and, at its center, a massive old tree— and behind that tree, he found a tunnel leading further underground that he hadn’t noticed last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something that had been weighing on Alon ever since he came to Greynifra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was what Magrina had told him when they first met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I had to guess the number of years…It was probably around 600 to 700 years ago.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘600 to 700 years?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yes, that’s when I heard the story.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was in response to Alon’s question, when he first discovered the Mother of Greed—or rather, the Ash Seeder—underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Magrina hadn’t heard of the Sin of Greed appearing, but said the Ash Spreaders had started showing up around that time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…That’s when the worst-case assumption started.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was this that made Alon uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the Mother of Greed only manifested once the Sin of Greed had awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If that estimate is correct, Then the sealed Rine… Could essentially be the Sin of Greed now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if it wasn’t Rine sealed away, but the Sin of Greed itself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stopped himself there and let out a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a possibility he wanted to consider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead, choosing to withhold judgment for now, Alon entered the underground tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s strange. It should be dark in here, but everything is clearly visible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…This place is definitely… peculiar.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing both Evan and Basiliora, who were ready to kill each other just moments ago, now in unison expressing their wonder, Alon walked further inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, when they were completely underground—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive sealing circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same one Rine had used in her final moments to save Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic circle was drawn across what looked like a doorway, split into two sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Hah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without realizing it, Alon’s entire body tensed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front sealing circle had clearly aged over the years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calmly stepping forward, Alon began to prepare his magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking the seal wasn’t particularly difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he simply scratched the seal with a bit of magic,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it would shatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing this, he prepared to use his magic without hesitation— Until suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The writing beneath the seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if someone expected Alon to see it, the writing was exactly at his eye level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped casting and stepped closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon read it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Please. If you, Godfather, are reading this message, then exactly ten months from now… please wake me up.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message left by Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did your visit go well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina greeted Alon warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he had left the underground of the World Tree without releasing Rine from her seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was the message that seemed to be left by Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Ten months from now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t fully understand why Rine would leave such a message, but the moment he read it, he realized there was a possibility that Rine might be conscious even now, and he had wanted to wake her immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But would it be right to ignore her wishes, just to ease his own heart?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Alon had no choice but to suppress that impulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m really happy to see you again, brother, but it doesn’t seem like you’re quite as happy as I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he was lost in thought, Magrina’s voice reached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon snapped back to his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, I was just lost in thought for a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What were you thinking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s just a hunch, but… did you already know what was happening at the roots?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I honestly don’t know much about that part.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her answer, Alon briefly explained what had happened underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing everything, Magrina’s eyes trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…So that means Lady Rine is currently in the underground of the World Tree?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. But she doesn’t seem to want to be released just yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon spoke, recalling the message he had seen earlier,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina also seemed to be thinking about something and made a puzzled face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…That’s strange to me as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. But—if that’s what Lady Rine wanted, waiting ten months to release the seal won’t be too hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, there are still many unanswered questions…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Alon’s mind was still in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If the sealed Rine is okay, then how is the Mother of Greed down there?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his doubts were short-lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering it was rude to think only of Rine while Magrina was right in front of him, he cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you been well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, brother. But… isn’t it a little too late to ask that now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina pouted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon quickly apologized, she smiled brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you don’t need to think that way. I know you had a lot on your mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for understanding. By the way, I’ve been curious—can I ask something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you know from the start?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Know what…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That I had traveled to the past and returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not. I didn’t even know you were still alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. So when I first heard your name, I wasn’t sure whether to believe it. I only believed it after I saw you with my own eyes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed deeply, as if recalling how upsetting that time was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know how disappointed I was? I was so happy to see you, but you kept saying you weren’t the Primordial Elf, that you didn’t know anything— I thought, ‘This isn’t the brother I know. What kind of act is this?’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina shook her head as if just thinking about it made her dizzy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a soft sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it now, it was only natural that Magrina felt hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But you don’t have to worry too much. I figured it out halfway through.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You figured it out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, when you showed me the World Tree’s seed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s when I realized it. That the brother standing in front of me wasn’t the same one I remembered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only then that Alon truly grasped the flow of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two continued talking about this and that afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Magrina smiled playfully and said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, brother, aren’t you going to praise me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Praise you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You told me to lead the elves well, remember? So I worked really hard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She puffed out her chest proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, suddenly recalling what he’d said to her right before he disappeared, replied, \"That’s right. Thank you for doing such a great job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Praising her, he also felt proud of her from the bottom of his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flushed with happiness, Magrina stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that we’ve shared our reunion, it’s time to move on to what’s next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What’s next?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that you’ve returned, you need to take your rightful place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My rightful place…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Alon’s puzzled expression, she nodded matter-of-factly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, we’re going to officially declare you the god of the elves. Everywhere!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spread her arms wide as she made her declaration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"???\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Alon’s head was once again filled with question marks.\u003C\u002Fp>",1803,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","0f8f66c502f84ea1721360b976fea6728f27e0628aed2ec656ba6c1346b84803","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-255","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-253",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]