[{"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-390":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},759680,1006,"Chapter 390 : Awakening (5)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-390",390,"\u003Cp>Alon went down underground and met Karsem again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the rough outline of the plan, Alon organized his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I just state the conclusion, it means he intends to continue a war of attrition like this and then occupy the place at the point when all combat forces have died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this plan becomes known and people, including Babayaga, try to flee, then there will be no choice but to release the anomalous entities in advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Karsem quietly nod, Alon continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said battles with the anomalous entities occur at three-day intervals?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How strong are the entities?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that I think I can explain roughly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Lime, who had been silently listening beside them, answered Alon’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First of all, for the anomalous entities, you can think of them as being at a level that Babayaga could deal with without much difficulty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if multiple entities gang up on her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I think up to five would be possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the warriors below that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they’re A-rank, I think one entity would be manageable, but from B-rank onward………… they’d need two or three working together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many anomalous entities appeared in the last battle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I couldn’t count the exact number, but it was roughly between 100 and 150.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who pondered the mismatched numbers for a moment, arrived at the answer without much difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Seolrang handle the rest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Lime’s reply, Alon mulled things over based on the information he had gathered so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What’s the best method here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he considered the methods up to now, there really weren’t that many plans Alon could come up with at this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, in the first place, there were too many things he had to take into account.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Colony he had to fight in was filled with countless people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if he ignored them, devising a plan might be easier, but at least for Alon, there was no desire to do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t the only thing Alon had to consider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anomalous entities appeared right away, how many would there be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also had to consider what form the divine-blood would take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than anything, the most important thing he had to think about was this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even though I’ve moved, there’s no particular reaction from Karaan.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon wasn’t particularly self-aware about his own standing, but thanks to constantly hearing about it from Penia and Evan, he was able to catch this level of unease without difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There’s no way he doesn’t know that I’ve entered the kingdom.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it confidence, or was some additional scheme hidden behind it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After only a brief moment of worry,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon asked Karsem a question, just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just to ask, Karaan has noticed that I’ve entered the Colony, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then do you think there’s a reason he isn’t moving despite that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……That much, I can’t be sure of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Karsem’s answer, which failed to reach an easy conclusion,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon thought, as expected, and pushed that line of thought aside for the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karaan’s intentions were certainly important, but right now, there was no time to pour into figuring them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time given to Alon was only about two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘While protecting the people spread throughout this city, deal with the divine-blood…………… huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the main issue, Alon continued to deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much time had passed like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon, who until now had been lightly tapping his fingers in silence, said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s try it like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began to voice the plan he had been forming in his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Alon finished his explanation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right. Then we’ll proceed that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll also start moving with Seolrang from late tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Much obliged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karsem and Lime immediately set their bodies in motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon likewise headed aboveground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seolrang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he came up, he saw Seolrang, who hadn’t participated in this meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So she’s back now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon recalled what Lime had said about Seolrang going out briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang, wearing her usual bright smile, shouted out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where were you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! I had a quick errand outside!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She then ran toward Alon in a patter, and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stopped short, as if something had suddenly come to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master! Sorry! I’ve got something I still need to do, so I’ll head out for a bit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have more things to take care of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah! I should’ve finished this along with everything else, but I haven’t yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Alon stared at Seolrang, who was smiling brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving behind the words, ‘See you in a bit, Master!’, Seolrang ran off far into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s always bright, no matter when you see her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seolrang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, yeah. Normally, when the situation is this bad, you’d expect someone to be a bit gloomy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm—maybe it’s because for her, as long as the Marquis is around, everything’s good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s definitely part of her character.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan and Penia chatted while watching Seolrang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Alon didn’t join their conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely gazed in the direction Seolrang had left, recalling her appearance from just moments ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang had definitely been smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bright smile, just like always, anyone could see that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, strangely enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A different impression surfaced in Alon’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did something happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could have just been Alon’s imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, in Seolrang’s smile, Alon felt not her usual cheerfulness, but a peculiar sense of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An awkward anxiety, as though she were trying to hide something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long while, Alon silently stared at the place Seolrang had disappeared to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming that the morning sun rose earlier than anywhere else, Alon asked Lime,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did the plan proceed smoothly as scheduled?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. It was a bit tight, but we managed to finish everything during the dawn hours. We also received cooperation from the other Babayagas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then all that remains is what comes after.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lime nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Alon rose from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go to the royal palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. As you instructed, I sent word in advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just in case, I’ll ask—was my entrance to the palace permitted?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. ……Rather, it was as if they had been waiting for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them headed straight for the first floor and met Penia and Evan, who had been waiting in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, just in case, should I come with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Just in case, you should stay and be part of our combat strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. Still, just in case, please don’t push yourself too hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Alon looked at Evan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sly grin, he said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have a safe trip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not saying you’ll follow me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on—how could I follow you to a place like that? If I went, I might get split in half and die before you could even save me, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Alon considered dragging Evan along out of spite, but he soon shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, have a safe trip, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you get hurt, Marquis, someone might burst into tears, waah~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia sharply pinched Evan’s side as he acted shamelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ending with his scream, Alon boarded the carriage headed for the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, the carriage arrived at the royal palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon entered the kingdom naturally, without receiving any sort of restraint, and headed for the audience chamber where Carmaxes III was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expensive treasures hanging along the way to the audience chamber, the unusual architectural style, even the distinctive marble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single thing had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“....You’ve come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Carmaxes III himself, who greeted Alon upon his arrival at the audience chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Alon even suspected that Karsem might have been mistaken or suffering from delusions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, that thought was shattered not long after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Karaan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That you remember me—what an honor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like he was his secretary, the First Prince Karaan was standing right beside Carmaxes III, and from him emanated a bizarre power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, that’s not it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon realized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aura emanating from Karaan’s body wasn’t magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he noticed Alon’s gaze?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karaan’s cold voice came crashing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, a deep smile had settled on the prince’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You came knowing everything. Just as expected—so that rat bastard was hiding in the animal brats’ hideout, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Alon considered denying it, but he nodded honestly instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk, what a nuisance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clicking his tongue as if he had already expected it, Karaan continued speaking without losing his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what did you hear from that rat bastard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roughly everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, did you come to deal with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karaan sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that smile, which revealed absolute confidence in this situation, Alon obtained the information he wanted in his own way and replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before that, I’d like to talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. There are a few things I’m curious about. Would that be possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Karaan looked at Alon with an unreadable expression, then said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding, he lightly poked the body of Carmaxes III, who was seated on the throne, with his index finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chiiiiik~!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body of Carmaxes III, which had been sitting solemnly on the throne just moments ago, began to melt with a horrifying sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyeballs flowed down like candle wax, his gums vanished, and his teeth fell out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, all that remained on the throne was what appeared to be the skin of Carmaxes III.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karaan openly grimaced as if it were grotesque, then flicked the skin aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud thud—thududuk—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skin of Carmaxes III rolled down the steps just like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon silently watched the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—well, I’d prefer if you didn’t look at it like that. It’s just skin, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying that, Karaan sat down with a relaxed expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you do with Carmaxes III?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you can see, the skin is there, and the body devoted itself to the Great One.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He crossed his legs as if it were nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon lowered his gaze and looked once more at the skin of Carmaxes III, the skin casually rolling about on the steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, suddenly, he felt grateful for his own condition—a face that revealed nothing outwardly, no matter what he felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now then, shall we start our conversation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karaan’s slick voice rang out, and Alon lifted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, but before that, there’s something I’d like to ask as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You—just what exactly are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean it literally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, to Alon,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m curious as to why you’re called the ‘Star-Eater’ among those Great Ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karaan’s question fell.\u003C\u002Fp>",1790,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","30e589ea3fd5336537c7b6602acf8b5ffe75ef1ead0927b85a2d7208a6eb7724","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-391","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-389",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]