[{"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-300":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},759590,1006,"Chapter 300 : Divine Land (3)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-300",300,"\u003Cp>It had been about two weeks since Alon left Greynif.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you planning to take a longer break this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back to the marquis' estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who had been blankly enjoying the sunshine, paused at Evan’s question and cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I’m not sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, having gone all the way to the East, he did feel the need to rest a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the reason he couldn’t answer easily was because of the Sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had heard about the emergence of the Sin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had actually confronted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he still had to face three more Sins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, he couldn’t afford to relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How did things end up like this...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon looked out into the distant mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, all he had ever wanted was to live a quiet noble’s life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you sighing all of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No reason, I was just thinking about how I wanted to live my life baking toast, but somehow things turned out like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan tilted his head with a question mark practically floating above it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likewise, Penia, Blackie, and Basiliora—who had been lounging on top of Blackie—all looked at Alon with puzzled expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you all giving me that look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was rather confused by their reactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s just...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s just so absurd...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think so too...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An awkward silence briefly passed between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon cleared his throat and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In any case, I do think I’m getting closer to the dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re fighting monsters that can wipe out half a territory in one blow—how is that anywhere near a peaceful noble’s life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was about to say that once he dealt with the Sins, he’d be able to live in peace without any more threats, but he swallowed those words back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he said it out loud, it would only lead to more explanations than necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead, “No, forget it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that? You were about to say something and stopped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than responding to Evan’s complaint, Alon recalled something Rine had told him before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half-finished, huh...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how Rine had put it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said divine powers and incantations were like puzzle pieces—each could function independently, but together they created something complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘To be honest, I still don’t quite get it...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until now, Alon had been using both magic and divine power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had never once thought of them as similar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the two were fundamentally distinct forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic drew from mana, while divine power drew from divinity—they were different from the very beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, if you go as far as rituals, the concept of pulling from established rules might make the structure look a bit similar.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, because the core energies were different, he couldn’t quite grasp what Rine meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, she had only told him what to do first—she hadn’t explained how divine power and magic might complement each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Or rather, I haven’t “opened” it yet...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a way, it was a subtle and ambiguous situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Alon had two major reasons for choosing to follow Rine’s advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he knew that the library in Rine’s mind was a place that held only truth—no lies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And second, Alon himself believed that integrating divine power could be of great help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I can somehow combine the two divine powers that I currently can’t use simultaneously, it’ll definitely be a huge boost.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon calmly organized his next steps while recalling the divine-magic puzzle that neither Kylrus nor Sparrow had known about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first task was to create the Divine Land, just as Rine had mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were other things to be done too, like saving his followers or founding a knight order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But creating the Divine Land had to come first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second task was to seek out the Observer, just as he had heard in the East.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Anyway, let’s get this Divine Land thing sorted out first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Declaring Divine Land wasn’t particularly difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could even do it now, technically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issue was finding a location for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll need to talk this one out.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Alon held the marquis title under the Kingdom of Asteria, declaring Divine Land on nearby lands would require the Queen’s permission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, even if he went ahead without permission, it probably wouldn’t cause much trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still, it was better to get formal approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I suppose I’ll have to visit the Kingdom of Asteria.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon finished mapping out his plan in his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that I think about it—what’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Evan’s gaze, Alon looked down at his own chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a badge adorned with a green gem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that. It’s something Rine gave me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She said it was a gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine had asked him to wear it no matter what before he left Fildagreen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon thought back to that moment and stared at the green badge,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan stared at the gem for a while, fascinated, then shrugged his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few weeks of travel, Alon finally returned to the Palatio estate for the first time in a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“M-Marquis~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alexion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he stepped into the estate, he was met by a breathless Alexion, whose face had gone pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her Majesty the Queen is waiting for you...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still panting, Alexion delivered the shocking news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hard to even catch a glimpse of you these days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no excuse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Alon entered the office and greeted Siyan, he bowed his head deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truthfully, Alon should have shown his face in Teria right after stopping by Rosario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you busy with something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing before the Queen who had come in person, Alon nervously cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yes, a bit—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmmm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Siyan stared at him intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, fine. It feels a bit much to keep asking a busy man like you to always come to where I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for understanding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Siyan leaned back into her chair like it was no big deal, Alon bowed again and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, Your Majesty, what brings you all the way out to this remote region...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the outside, he seemed composed, but in truth, Alon was very curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ruler is someone who summons others— doesn't go to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless there’s a truly important meeting, she never moved in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon stared curiously, Siyan shrugged casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a mix of reasons. As you know, the Allied Kingdom has been pretty noisy lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean the Abyssal Beings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Siyan nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, we held a meeting because of them. I don’t know how seriously you’re taking this, but the situation is quite grave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon realized just how much damage the Abyssal Beings had caused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even the kings of multiple countries had gathered for a meeting, it meant things were really bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So even if I handle the Sins, the future still gets worse little by little, huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon was lost in such thoughts—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, when were you planning to tell me the story?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Siyan brought up the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came all the way here to hear what happened in Rosario. Were you planning to leave me hanging?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a teasing smile, Siyan spoke lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll begin now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearing his throat, Alon started recounting what had happened in Rosario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening quietly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, I already heard about what happened in Rosario.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said it suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, yes...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Alon had suspected Siyan might have already heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he just nodded awkwardly without much reaction—at which point Siyan’s smiling expression turned a little sour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re surprisingly oblivious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When someone says they already know, you should be asking why they still wanted to hear it again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden grumble dropped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I had asked that, what would your answer have been?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was late, Alon tried to play along and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d have said—it was just an excuse to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Siyan twirled her finger and replied with a playful grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s mind went blank for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, it would’ve been something he brushed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But having heard similar things from Rine lately, Alon found himself naturally thinking more about the meaning behind those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Alon frozen in place, Siyan chuckled with amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the matter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This conversation, I mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Siyan’s follow-up, Alon hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t sure how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—just speak freely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Alon gave his honest thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon me, but... it felt like you were hoping I’d take the hint more seriously, or... something along those lines.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still smiling, Siyan responded, “Did it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, let me remind you—those were your words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned forward and added, “Pardon? Mine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s mouth fell open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something I said in your memory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. And you said it with a very sly grin, I might add.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon felt his face heating up for some reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...He briefly wondered just what kind of nonsense the version of himself in Siyan’s memories had gotten up to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when he noticed Siyan, who had been smiling just moments ago, lost in serious thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if something had come to mind, she was deep in contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, “Your Majesty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon gently called out to her, and she quickly snapped out of it and cleared her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem. Anyway, the reason I came to see you was, like I said, for several reasons. To attend the meeting, and to share some newly resurfaced memories with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, she stood from her seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Truthfully, I would’ve liked to chat more or see what kind of amusing things are happening in your domain, but if I stay longer, I’ll be late for the meeting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alon stopped her briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, if it’s not too much to ask... may I borrow just a bit more of your time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then began to speak about the Divine Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Alon successfully received a grant of empty land from Siyan to be used for Divine Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was about a day’s travel away from the Palatio Marquisate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in his office, Alon let out a heavy sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unexpected visit, and the unplanned royal audience, had drained him more mentally than he expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slumped into a chair and let himself rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Penia already left for the academic society?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a small sigh and took a bite of toast Evan had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now this is more like it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long-awaited moment of peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, this might be considered a luxury, but he had been running around too busily until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he resolved to take it slow—at least for today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he sensed a bit more commotion than usual and looked outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw a strange sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive crowd that filled not only the inner walls of the Palatio estate but even stretched far beyond to the outer walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be precise, it wasn’t just a crowd of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elves... and lizardmen...??”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a huge gathering of various races, all swarming the Marquisate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What... is all that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Alon’s finger, Evan looked down and was equally shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly recalled something he had discussed with Alexion the previous day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah... I think they’re all here for the Holy Knight Order entrance exam. That’s today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knight Order...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, don’t you remember, Marquis? You told us to put out an announcement ahead of time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, yes, but—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon looked again at the overwhelming crowd that seemed on the verge of bursting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This... wasn’t what I had in mind.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t bring himself to say the rest aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>",1985,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","46a0b0c76ce3fffc0fe96e3c51bb2dbc2732f6b13bf2d9bd70811c89587cb268","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-101","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-299",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]