[{"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-280":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},759570,1006,"Chapter 280 : The East (2)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-280",280,"\u003Cp>Recently, on the cliffside of Rosario, where a city destroyed completely was being rebuilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure stood silently overlooking Rosario from the cave where the Pope had once stayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man dressed in black sacred vestments, adorned with various chains and accessories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked away from the half-destroyed Rosario and silently gazed at the cave—no, more precisely, the place where the battle had taken place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much time had passed like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smirk appeared on the lips of the man whose lower face was visible beneath his hood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gluttony fed by greed has been dealt with, and even the half-formed sin has been taken care of... huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered to himself, amused by something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s not completely done yet, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying so, he looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the sun had not yet set, the softly glowing Milky Way—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This should be worth watching. Because it will appear soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Magrina had said, the ritual didn’t take very long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It started in the morning and ended around early afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even after the ritual ended, Alon couldn’t rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir Alon, I look forward to working with you. From now on, I’ll be your escort here—my name is Lutvia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, I’ll be counting on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because of the elves’ introduction session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was meeting the elves one by one and exchanging greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not even in a group—truly one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered if it was necessary, especially since he didn’t plan on staying in Greynifra for long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately, Alon had no veto power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Magrina, this was a traditional custom among the elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When in Rome, do as the Romans do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Alon decided to respectfully go along with the tradition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…At least, that was his resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until about the tenth elf had been introduced to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Are you all right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina looked at him with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon reassured her and turned his gaze to the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he knew it, the moon had risen in the middle of the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he had spent the entire second half of the day on introductions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I didn’t think they’d really introduce every single one of them...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although, to be precise, they were only introducing those working within the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the sheer number was overwhelming, and he couldn’t help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon asked, just in case—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, is this not the end for today? Do we have more tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—there’s a little left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much is ‘a little’...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“About...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An hour?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon cautiously voiced his hopeful guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Uh, about half a day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half a—day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That hope was immediately crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was briefly speechless but finally managed to open his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a tradition, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. But if it’s really too much, should we stop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina asked with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that won’t be necessary. Besides, since I’ve already started, it’s better to see it through.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he known from the beginning, he might have quietly refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But given how far it had come, there was no need to quit now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the next day as well, Alon followed the tradition and went through all the introductions until late afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it finally over...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did great, brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s neck was starting to feel stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I finally rest now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, your part is essentially done now. But before that, may I ask one thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you find anyone difficult to talk to among the elves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone... difficult?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Like someone who was unpleasant to speak with, or behaved rudely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon thought for a moment but shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were a few he could recall, but none worth remembering specifically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, there had been far too many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm~ No one in particular comes to mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. Why do you ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well—since you’re royalty now, if someone acts like that toward you, they need to be warned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t really intend to criticize the elves for being a little standoffish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how extraordinary he was, in their eyes, he was still just a human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood that perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, he didn’t deny her words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the way the elves treated him could end up affecting Magrina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Alon was royalty, every time he was disrespected, it could damage her honor as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t something he could simply ignore just because he didn’t care personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he decided to leave it to Magrina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In any case, you’ve done a great job, brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another tiring day came to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragging along a desperate Penia who was pleading, “Please, just one more day...!!!”, Alon decided to leave Greynifra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, I’ll be waiting for you, brother. Safe travels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right. I’ll see you next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Alon becoming royalty didn’t change much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elves who had always been kind continued to be so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had always been indifferent still didn’t change their attitudes, but Alon didn’t mind and headed toward where Hazad was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aah—if only I had one more day...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia stretched her hand longingly toward Greynifra, dark circles under her eyes, looking utterly forlorn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked like a tragic heroine forced to part with her beloved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Alon spoke firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia sulked, her lips drooping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment didn’t last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long will it take to get to the Lizardmen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we’re heading to where that god Hazad is, it’ll take around three weeks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon and Evan talked about the schedule ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after a few more weeks—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Heh, I’ve been waiting for you.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hazad greeted them with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were waiting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Didn’t I say it last time? Since I borrowed your name, I promised to grant you power in return.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, right. You did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You didn’t forget, did you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truthfully, he had forgotten, but he didn’t show it and asked instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are the preparations complete?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, unfortunately, it’s not so easy to set the stage. It’ll take a bit more time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then what do you mean by ‘waiting’?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard it from Magrina. You’re heading to the East, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. Is it something you prepared in advance, then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hazad scratched his head awkwardly and opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… to be precise, not exactly. There’s a bit of a problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it seems that traveling to the East is a bit difficult right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Alon’s question, Hazad let out a groan and began to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon listened quietly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So in short, the path leading to the East is overrun with strange creatures, making it difficult to travel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He summarized Hazad’s explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Because of that, actual trade has been cut off lately as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a while, Alon asked a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even with your power, you can’t handle it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not that. But as a divine sage, I can only use my power in my designated territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are restrictions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are. But if I explain it all, it’ll take a while, so I’ll tell you next time. Anyway, it’s difficult for me to handle it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So if I want to go to the East, I’ll have to deal with those creatures myself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could also wait a little longer. Such monsters have appeared before, and they usually disappear after about half a year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which would be the better choice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To wait half a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or to cross the sea now, risking a little danger, and go to the Eastern Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long to decide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having thought of a way, Alon made his decision without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, back in Greynifra—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, here is the observer list.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did this come from Ramu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give it here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mew, who also served as Magrina’s secretary, handed her a sheet of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Magrina calmly scanned the paper with her eyes, Mew spoke up, seemingly curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um, Your Majesty… if it’s not too forward, may I ask something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, go ahead, Mew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina gave her a gentle smile without taking her eyes off the document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mew took the chance and asked the question she had been holding back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just… I heard that during the recent ritual, you introduced everyone working in the palace to Lord Alon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you weren’t there at the time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally looking up from the paper, Magrina turned her eyes to Mew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mew nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I was out briefly due to work—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, so it overlapped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina stared at her for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well—it’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head as if it were nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, it’s nothing. So what was it you wanted to ask?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though puzzled by the reaction, Mew brushed it off and asked her original question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just that I was wondering why you upheld the tradition so thoroughly. Lady Magrina, you usually don’t care much for those customs… and you’re not the type to compile a list of everyone Lord Alon met either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, as far as Mew knew, Ramu wasn’t an ordinary elf but a member of the Black Leaf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, not the kind of person who would compile observer lists, which only added to the mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Mew said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina wasn’t one to like or even respect the elves’ traditions all that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She put down the paper she was reviewing and stared directly into Mew’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mew, do you know something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That us elves show everything on our faces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Our faces?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Elves are pure. Because of that, we can’t hide our expressions easily. Unless we avoid contact entirely, if we like someone, it shows—and if we don’t, that shows too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mew nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same time, the doubt on her face only deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer didn’t really match the question she had asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning back slowly in her chair, Magrina—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why I like elves. They’re pure…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And easy to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She murmured so softly that even Mew standing nearby couldn’t hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she looked back at the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the name tags of observers that revealed hidden markings when viewed with a specific magical pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Mew, who still seemed clueless and simply nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magrina smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>",1734,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","cb9b5128e6120dfdf258ec307bd022640558e1b4f8ce330ddabec91623aded7f","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-281","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-279",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]