[{"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-316":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},759756,1006,"Chapter 316 : Something Feels Off (3)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-316",316,"\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before going to see Heinkel as he had the day before, Alon was talking with Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evan, where have you been?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just to the information guild for a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s an information guild here too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not exactly, but someone from there has been showing up frequently and delivering information. More importantly, I have something to report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are reportedly a lot of strange phenomena occurring in Ashtalon recently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In Ashtalon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan delivered one particular piece of information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of phenomena?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are several, but the most notable is something called ‘Berserk Transformation.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Berserk Transformation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it seems monsters are killing each other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that something that could happen anyway?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monsters are generally low in intelligence and lack reason, so they often see anything not of their species as enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, unless it’s a large enough monster like a goblin or ogre, it’s not uncommon for them to hunt and eat each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Evan shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The point is, their targets aren’t other species. In other words—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Infighting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan didn’t deny Penia’s remark, which cut into the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia wore a curious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the first I’ve heard of something like this. Are the rumors really true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s from the information guild, so it should be reliable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s strange. Monsters usually don’t attack their own kind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Penia tilted her head in confusion, Evan continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, because of this, the forest near Shtalian is said to be stained red all the time now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A metaphor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Apparently, it’s literally red. That’s why they’re calling it a phenomenon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the report concluded with “It seems they’re killing every living thing in sight,” Alon pondered deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Have I ever heard of anything like this before?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the phenomena he had witnessed in Psychedelia, there was nothing similar to this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, not that he knew of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not divine possession or an anomaly event…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was retracing what had been happening in Ashtalon in a daze when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, perhaps it’s best to think about this later. You have an appointment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding at Evan’s words, Alon stopped his tangled thoughts for now and stood up to go meet Heinkel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I’m not going.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice of Basiliora, who had stayed completely silent as if dead inside the ring yesterday, burrowed under the blankets on the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring him, Alon headed to the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’re here.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did everything go well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[More or less.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel nodded while looking at Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, her gaze was slightly off from directly meeting his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost as if she were looking slightly upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Anyway, I was thinking of continuing our conversation from yesterday.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean the part about degraded magic containing information?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon answered, pulling his thoughts together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s right. So—how much do you know about it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I mentioned yesterday, just that Ice Spear is a degraded form of Ice Spear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And nothing beyond that?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Heinkel fell silent for a moment, then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[First, let me ask—you're familiar with Tiered Magic, right?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tiered Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon hadn’t paid much attention to it, since he used incantations and familiars to cast spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, in the world of Psychedelia, aside from the Origin spells available at the 8th Tier and above, each magic tier had its own distinct spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This system was called Tiered Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’m aware of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon nodded, she said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Well, every Tiered Magic spell you know is a degraded version.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a brief silence as he tried to process the meaning of her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of Tiered Magic… is degraded?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Well, that’s an oversimplification. To be precise, rather than being degraded… Tiered Magic itself is more like a method of information transmission.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Information transmission?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Exactly.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon quickly asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you find that out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm~]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to consider how to answer before slowly opening her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I always suspected Tiered Magic wasn’t just ordinary magic. I just failed to grasp its intention.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Intention?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm—how should I explain it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon didn’t seem to follow, Heinkel let out a small “ah” and then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She summoned an Ice Spear in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You know how to make an Ice Spear, right?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then this will be easy to explain.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel cleared her throat and began the real explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[As you know, a magic spell is built from the quantity of mana, its structure, and its arrangement. If you just alter that arrangement a bit—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a crackling sound, the shape of the Ice Spear twisted into a spiral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It would look like this.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Looks similar to the Ice Spear used by the Blue Tower, doesn’t it? Now, if instead of the mana arrangement, you change the mana structure—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ice Spear before him distorted grotesquely and quickly turned into a spiky, sharp orb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[—It would look like this. Can you tell what it resembles?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It looks similar to the kind of magic used by the Red Tower’s mages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Penia answered this time, Heinkel nodded and continued morphing the Ice Spear into various shapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes it elongated beyond a typical Ice Spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other times, it took the shape of a massive sword rather than a spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After showing these forms, Heinkel asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So, what did you learn from what I showed you?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Each tower has its own characteristics?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Exactly. The five towers that are divided by color each add a slight variation to tiered magic to create their own unique traits.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering to herself that this was one of the reasons why the towers were divided by color in the first place, Heinkel then raised her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[But what I really want to emphasize here is the concept of 'freedom of control.']\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Freedom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes. As you probably know, most magic created by mages—excluding tiered magic—has fixed mana quantity, structure, and arrangement. That applies to Origin spells as well.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Increasing the mana input doesn’t necessarily make a spell stronger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And if you mess with the arrangement like in tiered magic, it often fails to activate or explodes. But that’s not the case for tiered magic.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Heinkel spoke, she twisted and transformed the Ice Spear freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Even if you change the arrangement drastically, it doesn’t fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can even adjust the structure or mana amount however you want.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that just well-designed magic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I don’t think so.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of replying, Heinkel scattered mana in front of her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash, the mana visibly gathered into an Ice Spear, startling both Alon and Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t because the Ice Spear itself had any unique characteristics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason they were shocked—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do you get it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean... you could create it that easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Exactly.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the sheer simplicity of the process that surprised them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To create an Ice Spear—or to cast any tiered magic, really—you had to go through three distinct phases no matter how you arranged it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Ice Spear Heinkel had just formed was created instantly, skipping those steps altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any mage would have been shocked to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Just so you know, this isn’t something I can do because I’m a genius. This is still tiered magic.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hard to believe, right? But it’s true. I just eliminated everything unnecessary in the casting process.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel continued explaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[In other words, the creator of tiered magic had to have known that the spell could be cast without such complex procedures.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying they deliberately included information to be passed on to future generations?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Exactly.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel admitted she had only recently come to recognize the casting steps as “information” thanks to Penia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Anyway, it’s good news for you. We can’t use the magic you use, but by studying tiered magic—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I can acquire new spells.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s exactly it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She agreed as if she’d been waiting for him to say it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Would you like to try experimenting with it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Experimenting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes. Actually, we’ve already analyzed and broken down 1st Tier spells like Light. What do you say?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you teach me, I’ll give it a try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new experiment had begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outskirts of the desert city, Colony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under a vast expanse of nothing but sand, inside a cave—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff... huff...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang exhaled heavily and collapsed onto the dark floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of her was a gauntlet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at it with a weary expression, Seolrang looked slightly dejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why won’t this work...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering in frustration and irritation, she had been struggling for months now to pass the next test granted by the Essence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But so far, she had failed each time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impatience began to show in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as if replaying in her mind, she recalled a past scene:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive forest engulfed in flames, and the image of Sin walking calmly through it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And herself—falling with a single blow, completely unable to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory struck her, and Seolrang shook her head violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t protect her master like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face now twisted with even greater urgency, she stared intensely at the Essence of the Goldenmane Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Do you need power?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She heard a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very soft whisper, barely audible by the ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it was crystal clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without thinking, Seolrang turned her gaze toward the source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, inside the cave—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If you want power, I shall grant it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black dragon stared at her from the abyssal depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So? Do you want it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black presence spoke as if luring her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang’s eyes trembled for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing opportunity, the black entity—the darkness itself—spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Accept me, and I shall give you power. Power that won’t rely on tests like those—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as it spoke of exactly what Seolrang longed for—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still staring at the black figure with shifting eyes, Seolrang suddenly let out a soft sigh as if remembering something—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black dragon looked confused for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then lend me some power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Good, you made the right choice! Accept me and I’ll give you unlimited—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Seolrang spoke casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not that. Just lend me some power for a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[......?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give it right back after using it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[......??]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon fell silent, wearing a dumbfounded expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Seolrang licked her lips as she looked at the Essence of the Goldenmane Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>",1725,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.412Z",1,"novelbin.me","025ad5eb388bdfb6dcfbdd1d9450109c190b6ca118d9d9021c4a75d174ff4738","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-317","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-315",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]