[{"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-261":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},759551,1006,"Chapter 261","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-261",261,"\u003Cp>As far as Alon could remember, the face of Nangwon, the head of the Order he saw in Psychedelia, was utterly miserable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the point that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the community, Nangwon was even described as \"a face that invites malice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon agreed with that evaluation as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt almost like the developers were trying to show, “We can go this far.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The visuals were revolting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Alon wore an expression of complete incomprehension as he looked at the man in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Nangwon… this guy?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was very similar, so he was able to recognize him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at this moment of correctly guessing that this man was Nangwon, Alon found it hard to accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The face of Nangwon in Psychedelia and the face before him now were drastically different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it wouldn’t be right to keep zoning out in front of Nangwon, so Alon pulled himself together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir… Thanks to you, I’ve been able to keep living…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this here is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Nangyeon, Sir Alon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’ve grown a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I have. It’s been such a long time. I’m glad to see the Marquis is also doing well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon leaned his face in a bit too close, rather awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Nangyeon had clearly matured much more than in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After briefly exchanging greetings with the siblings, Alon asked a question that had come to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, your eyes… what happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon’s eyes were supposed to be reversed pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, his eyes looked just like those of a normal person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I’ve temporarily concealed my appearance. We’re a bit unusual now, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon smiled, then removed a ring from his finger, as did his sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Nangwon’s face began to change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Alon realize that Nangwon had been using an artifact to look like a young man, and he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s eyes widened even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The face that returned after removing the ring—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other than the eyes turning black, there was barely any difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, it wasn’t just that there wasn’t much difference—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…He looked more handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is he even the same person? It’s like his genes were modified.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference was so drastic, Alon wondered if the Nangwon he saw in Psychedelia was actually a different character altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon stared at him blankly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is just broken balance…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan, who had also been looking at Nangwon, muttered the very same thought that had crossed Alon’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Called back to reality, Alon cleared his throat and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just meant—you’ve grown up well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon scratched his head awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how he looked, it was too different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though flustered by the mismatch between memory and reality, Alon sent the two siblings ahead to the tearoom for further conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing a small task, Alon was about to follow Evan to the tearoom when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…My lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan stopped Alon with a very serious tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By any chance… are you close with the person who just visited?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked, uncharacteristically shy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, raising an eyebrow, still nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, one of the old connections I mentioned before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“T-then, could I ask you to check something for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um, whether that person… has a lover or… you know what I mean, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan flushed for no reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What on earth was he talking about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding Evan’s meaning, Alon placed a hand on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evan…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that your type?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nangwon is a man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan wore a blank expression for a moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then let out a laugh in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, you didn’t think I was talking about him, did you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! I was talking about the woman behind him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The woman? You mean Nangyeon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Evan’s (apparently) indignant expression, Alon nodded for a brief moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Alright, I’ll ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon gently comforted the unusually excited Evan as they headed for the tearoom together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation with Nangwon lasted quite a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They talked about how Nangwon had lived over the past 700 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon also learned about the races of the Order that weren’t shown in Psychedelia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, most of the Order members are surviving half-demons from back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right, sir. Not all of them, but the majority are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Psychedelia, most Order members were either fully covered or shown as black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t realized most of them were half-demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve done well all this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I couldn’t have done it alone. It’s all thanks to you, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Because of me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. You showed me the path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the admiration in Nangwon’s eyes, Alon recalled the last words he had said to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Live righteously,’was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had said it just in case, knowing that Nangwon would later become the king of the Order, one of the four major powers, and not exactly a nice one at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it weren’t for you… I don’t know how I’d be living now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon gave Alon all the credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only pointed the way. You’re the one who brought the half-demons together and found a way to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling slightly embarrassed, Alon replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it really is thanks to you, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think so too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon and Nangyeon answered firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You might not think it was that big of a deal, Sir Alon… but to us, who had nothing, those words meant everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangyeon said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon scratched his head, slightly bashful for no reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A warmth bloomed from a corner of his heart, and at the same time, he felt a strange sense of pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Nangwon had formed the group known as the Order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Alon had feared, he was neither in a pitiful state nor consumed by power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Looking at it this way, the Order is very different from the one I knew in the original work.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Alon was immersed in his positive thoughts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, and there’s something else I need to tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon brought up two new topics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was about someone selling abyssal creatures on the black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the other—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Blue eyes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was about a man with blue eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I’ve known that you were in this era for about 300 years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Three hundred years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, but even so, the reason I didn’t come to see you was precisely because of those blue eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon slightly frowned, as if recalling that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He warned me not to approach you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not to approach me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, he clearly said so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was the reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t tell me. He just said that our connection might disappear, then vanished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s why you didn’t come to find me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Nangwon nodded, Nangyeon, standing beside him, added, “The truth is, we both wanted to come see you, but what that man with blue eyes showed us… made us hesitate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What did he show you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon asked, Nangyeon looked at her brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon then shared his assumption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think it was… a memory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A memory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, a memory of the world’s destruction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s curiosity about the blue-eyed man surged to the top of his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just who is that guy?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon tried to piece together what he knew about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had taken the ring from Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Handed it to Magrina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a being who had lived for more than 700 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Putting it all together only made things more confusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wondering to himself, Alon asked, just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the answer Nangwon gave was the same as Magrina's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just who was he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you don’t know about the blue eyes either, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. But it is a little bothersome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ve been trying to gather as much information as I can since then, but I’ll look into it more thoroughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d appreciate that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon nodded, Nangyeon spoke up this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, and even though we couldn’t come see you, we’ve been helping you all along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Helping me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, with this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangyeon pulled a document from inside her cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black-colored document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon didn’t understand at first, but soon realized it was a document issued by the information guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Nangyeon with a speculative gaze, and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right, Sir Alon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gently smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m the leader of the information guild, no—of ‘Darkness at the End of Night.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She revealed the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve always done my best to find the things you’re curious about and provide help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I thought the speed was impressive, but—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right? And I also gathered and passed along rumors from around you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering “all for free,” Nangyeon smiled calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her serene expression, Alon was impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As far as he knew, the leader of ‘The Darkness at the End of Night’ had never been revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, in the original work, it must’ve been someone else. After all, the reason Nangwon became twisted in the original was because his sister had died.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly, one word made Alon tilt his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nangyeon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just to make sure, did you say ‘for free’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it’s free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangyeon confirmed it once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, a new suspicion was born in Alon’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until now, every time he used the information guild, he had been consistently giving money to Evan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wondering what was going on, Alon glanced sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>፡፡\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there stood Evan, awkwardly twisting his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Evan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is it true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t ask at length.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan, glancing around nervously, replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, my lord, it’s not like that—I’ve been saving it little by little. Surely you don’t think I pocketed it all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately began defending himself with everything he had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hoo~ So all that drinking and splurging near the estate last time… that money must’ve come from this.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You damn snake-headed bastard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Basiliora’s ‘testimony’ rang out,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan let out a scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Let’s talk about this later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan confessed cleanly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the embezzlement issue temporarily settled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, now that I think of it, I had a gift to give you, but I forgot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A gift?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Nangwon brought a few things to give to you, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus began Nangwon’s gift time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Ashtalon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after dealing with the strange gate that had opened near the estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As night fell, Eliban's party set up camp in the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was the mage Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eliban?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spotted Eliban tending a fire in one corner of the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, just dealing with something real quick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliban answered lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yan turned his gaze, he saw something like black cloth engulfed in flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something I used to use.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You used it, and now you’re burning it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To that question, Eliban gave an unreadable smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he stood up and looked at Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. I don’t need it anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He replied cheerfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright then, let’s go back to camp.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliban began walking back to the camp with Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, suddenly turning around, he looked at the blazing black cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…With eyes as deeply blue as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>",1880,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","f923ebf7265dfb17e64df614d80e3607f074c7706d642472e9af24def7f456dd","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-262","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-260",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]