[{"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-275":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},759565,1006,"Chapter 275 : Declaration (3)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-275",275,"\u003Cp>The name of the labyrinth Alon found near Rosario this time was \"The Labyrinth of Whispers,\" and it wasn't particularly well-regarded among Psychedelia users.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because the gimmick of the labyrinth was so vicious that players called it “truly filthy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, as Alon told Evan, there were no monsters in the Labyrinth of Whispers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is that all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There weren’t even traps that killed the player instantly if stepped on by mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The path wasn't even complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the reason nearly all players gave it the same “filthy” rating was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of a special effect called “Delusion” that afflicted the entire labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment you enter the Labyrinth of Whispers, all characters fall into a state of delusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter if the character was Eliban or another powerful character following him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they set foot in the Labyrinth of Whispers, all characters were guaranteed to fall into delusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Characters affected by the delusion status begin to wander around on their own, seeing various hallucinations and ignoring player commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a completely uncontrollable situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why most players unanimously described the Labyrinth of Whispers as “filthy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the layout of the Labyrinth of Whispers was almost linear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once inside, all the player could do was press the turn button while watching their character move freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Horrifying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had now reached the end of the Labyrinth of Whispers, having personally experienced its full horrors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Meow-]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Aaaargh—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far off, Blackie was enthusiastically licking Basiliora, who was screaming bizarrely after being caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm-hm, I’m grateful in spirit, but I cannot accept your love...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next to the two of them, Evan was leaning against the labyrinth wall, gazing into space with sentimental eyes and mumbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Who in the world is he talking to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That pointless question quickly passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon turned his gaze to the stone gate at the end of the labyrinth and the circular hole at its center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second reason players found the Labyrinth of Whispers so detestable—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike other labyrinths, this one required a key to obtain the item.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, if you made it here after enduring the dull process of passing turns but didn’t have a key, it was all for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the player’s perspective, just hearing “Labyrinth of Whispers” would make them shudder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering that unlocking the door would dispel the delusion, Alon quickly pulled out a ring from his inner pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one of the artifacts presented to him in a flurry of gifts by Nangwon—“The Nameless Swordsman's Ring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Alon inserted it into the circular hole in the center of the stone gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wooooong~!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange magical hum rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a loud rumble, the thick stone gate began to split open from the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Meow?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Huh...?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ah?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With various gasps of surprise—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon could finally see what lay beyond the heavy stone door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was closer to a statue than a doll, yet calling it a statue made it seem more like a doll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Found it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon lifted the beast-like humanoid figure, something straight out of fantasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded in satisfaction while examining the relatively compact statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the exact item he had been searching for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Beast of Possibility... was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Beast of Possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The item obtainable in the Labyrinth of Whispers had a simple effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It summoned the “user” in their strongest state for a limited time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though there was a time limit, just being able to summon the user’s strongest form made it incredibly powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, like the lotus he had obtained before the fight with Ulthultus—one of the monstrous beings—it was a one-time-use item, so he couldn’t afford to waste it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was reassuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the game, the Beast of Possibility transformed any character into their ultimate form, raised their level to 99, and unlocked all skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though since this isn’t a game, who knows how it’ll work here...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, since it was an artifact that could save him from danger, Alon carefully tucked it into his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyaaah~! Get off me!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Meow~!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snapping out of it, Alon turned to see Basiliora having a seizure while Blackie swatted him with cat punches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please return her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Return what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Return my Aneta!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan, who had been standing absentmindedly after rising from his seated position against the wall, suddenly knelt and burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What on earth did he see...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon had no choice but to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having secured the artifact he wanted, Alon headed toward the Palatio Marquis’ estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truthfully, he wanted to go to the Eastern Kingdom as Hazad had suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But first, he wanted to organize his magical knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, Alon had used magic haphazardly, adapting it to each situation on the fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Especially, I need to properly define divinity and magic, match incantations and hand signs, and I still need to hear from Sparrow about spell formulas, and spar with Kylrus.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized that rushing around everywhere had made him neglect what truly mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he planned to take some time to solidify his magic foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I should plan a relaxed schedule first, then go to Raksas to borrow a ship from Radan. Or maybe it’d be better to go straight to Hazad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Alon sorted out his upcoming plans and returned to the Marquis’ house—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the capital of the Kingdom of Ashtalon—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. I didn’t expect to see you like this. Your son has done quite a splendid job rampaging, I must say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V and Zukurak—the Scarred clad in a black, dusky armor—were conversing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That part, I must admit, I feel keenly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Well, it’s your son who should be feeling that the most, not you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, he’s definitely feeling it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V affirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zukurak stared at him for a moment, then chuckled and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, of course he is. I heard his life was threatened every other day. That’s a hard-earned, valuable experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ahem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V made a slightly uncomfortable expression at the sarcasm leaking from Zukurak’s helmet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he didn’t bother to refute Zukurak’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, King Stalian V was someone who had directly witnessed how a single sentence could escalate things to the worst-case scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s better to think of it as a blessing, then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he swallowed his frustration,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a strange remark was made, prompting King Stalian V to ask, “What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just as I said. It was actually a good thing that it happened back then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m asking what that means exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zukurak tilted his head and said, “Hm? Oh—now that I think about it, that rumor probably hasn’t reached here yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered to himself, then looked at King Stalian V.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that guy had said such nonsense now, the pointy-eared folks would’ve come running to turn your son into a pincushion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pointy-eared...? You mean the elves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V raised a question at Zukurak’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had heard bits and pieces from Zukurak that Alon had some kind of relationship with the elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for them to come after his son just for saying something foolish?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t make sense, and just as he was about to ask further—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because that person is about to become royalty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t hear? He’s about to become an elf royal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Zukurak’s following words, King Stalian V instinctively opened his mouth in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s becoming... an elf royal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. That’s what I heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zukurak shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V held his head, dizzy from the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marquis Palatio is becoming elf royalty...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by the shocking revelation, he tried to recall the marquis’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to check if the marquis had long ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sure his ears weren’t long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s ears didn’t look anything like an elf’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were clearly human ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I ask just one thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the Marquis Palatio... an elf?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V couldn’t help but wonder if the marquis had been hiding the fact he was an elf all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah? There’s no way he’s an elf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. That man isn’t an elf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zukurak’s sharp reaction only deepened his curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zukurak stood up from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In any case, I have some work piled up, so I’ll be dealing with that now. I’ll probably see you again in a few months, once the strange gates have increased.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... yes. Let’s do that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V sat there, still full of doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly, realization struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered that even if the Marquis Palatio wasn’t an elf, there was still one possible way he could become royalty among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m pretty sure I heard the elf ruler is a queen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Stalian V, thinking intensely, opened his mouth again, which had only just closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had understood nothing earlier, but with this thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All his questions started fitting together and being resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So King Stalian V reached a conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marquis Palatio... is becoming the elf queen’s consort...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he arrived at that ridiculous conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was purely a misunderstanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was a misunderstanding ridiculous enough to shake the entire Allied Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as that odd misunderstanding was taking root—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This toast is quite good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Better than sweet potatoes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sweet potatoes might be slightly better than toast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does it matter? You’re eating sweet potatoes between slices of bread, so it’s practically the same thing as eating sweet potatoes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s different in its own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, “Mmm. Delicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was enjoying a new—or rather, familiar—culinary delight.\u003C\u002Fp>",1615,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","30d08381087bc7ff343456979d01f2883ad5a297f4bb5936fd16c3e94675741b","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-276","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-274",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]