[{"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-353":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},759643,1006,"Chapter 353 : The Ball (2)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-353",353,"\u003Cp>The ones shouting, “I’m really good at basic calculations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you interpret it closely, they were basically yelling, “I’m really good at living like a slave!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon pushed through them and stepped inside—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy Tower Master, do you know what this is? This is the famous Mana-Sensing Herb—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s not too presumptuous, may I present it to you as a gift~?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, refusing a gift would be rude, wouldn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you so much............! I am Professor Penberil of the Green Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia was extorting goods from the mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She exaggerated her throat-clearing, puffing herself up as though it suited her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia flicked her fingers casually as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what do you—eh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she spotted Alon, she quickly uncrossed her legs that had been resting on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, you’ve come, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s what people mean when they say to open your eyes innocently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan clicked his tongue in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia scowled fiercely at Evan, cutting him off, then wriggled her hands as though seriously debating how to explain herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes darted everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-this wasn’t me trying to take anything on purpose........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice shrank to a whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a light sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not planning to get angry, so at least give me a simple explanation of what’s going on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia’s face brightened immediately and she nodded before quickly beginning her explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon summarized the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you’re saying all the slots for calculation have already been filled, but there are still leftover mages who couldn’t apply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And those unchosen mages tried to have an extra interview with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you leached off those mages?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up, will you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan interrupted, but Penia shot him a harsh look to silence him, then turned back to Alon with a wronged expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I didn’t do anything! I was just sitting here and they kept bringing things to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They kept—like, even when I said I didn’t need them, they insisted on leaving them. What was I supposed to do............. And when someone begs you to accept it, refusing would be rude too. It was hard for me, you know.............”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even trying to hide the pile of reagents and artifacts stacked behind her, Penia slumped her shoulders and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan looked annoyed, but Alon stayed silent for a while before asking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did this situation arise in the first place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, why are so many people gathering for this research?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly couldn’t understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They called it basic calculation, but in reality it was no different from grunt labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The closest analogy from his old world would be coding slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, to think there were so many mages willing to volunteer for such slavery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, it seemed absurd to Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia quickly answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s probably because of the research results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Research results?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Even if the work is dull, the moment you participate, you can see the research outcomes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon nodded, but not all his doubts were cleared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could understand that mages wanted to be enchanted by his magic and take part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even if they saw his research results, they couldn’t replicate Alon’s magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much they continued the research, there was nothing they could truly gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But wouldn’t those results be meaningless to the other mages?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon pressed her, Penia thought for a moment before saying,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why don’t you meet with Lord Heinkel, Marquis?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Among the things Lord Heinkel said she wanted to discuss with you, the answer to this was included.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She mentioned Heinkel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Alon slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A little while later, Alon met with Heinkel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re later than I expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was held up with some business. Did I keep you waiting long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not at all, there’s no deadline anyway. It’s about magic. Have a seat. This might take a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......That much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel thought for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it depends on the situation. Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying so, she sat across from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before that, just a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel immediately began murmuring something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, magic circles spread across the entire library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with a rough count, there were dozens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They activated in response to Heinkel’s chanting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the moment they shone brightly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon realized the scenery around him had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Into one he knew very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place is.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the ruined world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same ruined world he always saw whenever he met Kylrus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he stood there blankly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be too startled. This is your inner world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sound of Heinkel’s voice, he turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike in the real world, she had a proper physical body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Still, for an inner world, this is quite desolate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel’s remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weren’t you unable to use magic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush. I came here precisely to explain that. First, sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Heinkel’s gesture, Alon saw that a desk and chairs had appeared in the middle of the ruined world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat at the desk and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why exactly did you enter my inner world?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s just a conversation, couldn’t we have had it in the library? Even for security reasons, this feels a little excessive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Heinkel stared at Alon for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As though debating whether or not she should tell him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s like this—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swallowed her words and let out a soft sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Penia told me you were curious why mages are so obsessed with basic calculation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s simple. This research opened a new path for mages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be precise, it’s a new method of calculation. Or rather, a byproduct created in the process of interpreting magic. Strangely enough, it seems to be very useful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......What kind of thing is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll explain it later. It takes longer than you think. To put it simply, though—it’s like discovering multiplication and division when you only had addition and subtraction before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel gave that explanation, then moved on to the main point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, now let’s get to the real matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is something wrong with the magical research?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon asked, she shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, nothing like that. If anything, magic is being interpreted at an unusually fast pace. Soon, four of the second-tier spells will be fully deciphered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed to be weighing where to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then slowly opened her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In truth, there’s no problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just that I stumbled across something a bit unsettling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She began speaking softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alon, do you remember what I said before? That all existing spells, once interpreted, turn into the spells of the True Mage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I forget?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And that spells from the first through the eighth tier, once interpreted, are all equally powerful—the only difference being their abilities, not their rank?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember that as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon answered immediately, Heinkel corrected herself quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, Alon. I was wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......? Wrong about what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Recently, I tried interpreting an eighth-tier spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that she had helpers to handle the tedious, repetitive tasks of the second-tier, she had dared to attempt deciphering the eighth-tier, wondering just how impossible it would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cautiously, Alon asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what did you find?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I spent nearly a month on it. Honestly, I gained almost nothing. But strangely, I came to understand the essence of that spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel furrowed her brow as she recalled it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......That spell, at least as far as I can judge, was omnipotent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Omnipotent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, it’s not fully interpreted, so I can’t be certain. But even Sparrow told me that no one had handled it, not even in the forgotten age. In other words, this eighth-tier spell—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—Are you saying it’s older than the Age of Forgotten Gods?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heinkel let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sparrow was shocked but agreed. Some say the words and phrases were created in an age even the gods no longer remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her words, Alon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had heard rumors like that before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then isn’t that a good thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In terms of being able to use such magic once it’s interpreted, yes. But historically, it’s negative.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon was briefly puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Heinkel continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think about it, Alon. This world has perished over and over, never truly continuing. Even though such omnipotent magic existed long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon felt a chilling realization dawn on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bleak sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ground tangled with countless roots of the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And within a giant, shattered temple built atop that land—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two figures stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side, the Apostle of Wrath sat on the highest seat, draped in a black hood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh. Surprised I’m still alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Jealousy sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from within that silence, the first to speak was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You survived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the Apostle of Wrath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flat, uninflected tone, Wrath spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Jealousy smirked wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I survived. I had plenty of insurance prepared.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even after I destroyed all the hidden clusters of your cells, you still had more concealed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. I hid them where you’d never find them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrath observed his twisted grin and calmly spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, did you come here because you want to die again? Or is this revenge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not. I know full well—I can’t defeat you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet you still came?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Because I hold your weakness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Wrath raised his hooded head and looked at Wrath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weakness?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. Your weakness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My weakness—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your true identity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrath stared coldly at Jealousy’s vile grin and answered without hesitation, voice grated like iron being scraped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t understand. How would that be my weakness, one that could stop me from killing you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even faced with Wrath’s composure, Jealousy only looked more smug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True. If your identity was simply a demon who lived too long, that wouldn’t be a weakness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips curled upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you do have a weakness, don’t you, Apostle of Wrath? Or should I say—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He enunciated each word carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yutia Bloodia. That would be more accurate, wouldn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Wrath, who had been unmoving, slowly pulled back the hood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was revealed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was hair white as snow, and a voice as clear as rolling jade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of Wrath—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t expect to be found out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia Bloodia smiled faintly and moved her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve caught me, haven’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her crimson eyes gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>",1789,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","ba9cde1c2c2d12450cd39ecc3d720795f6b9ef56fa9c6693cb05dda027ca354d","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-354","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-352",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]