[{"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-397":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},759687,1006,"Chapter 397: It Doesn’t Change (2)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-397",397,"\u003Cp>Alon’s blank expression didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Evan with a face that clearly said he didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So... what was the question again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a deep sigh, Alon grabbed his head and asked, just in case—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>maybe he’d heard wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you actually a real god in your past life, or something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that question that still left him speechless, Alon fell silent for a moment, then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Evan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you honestly think I was a god in my past life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon shot back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was expressionless, so it didn’t show much, but anyone could tell he thought this was absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan scratched his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Hmmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t answer easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as Alon was about to speak again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, are you feeling any better?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia stepped through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yawning and stretching with a tired look on her face, she paused when she sensed the weird atmosphere and tilted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What is this vibe? Did something happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, not exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We were just talking about the Marquis’s past life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Past life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia echoed, confused, and Evan nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was asking whether the Marquis might’ve been a god in his past life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Marquis was a god?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I didn’t say he was. I asked if he was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I genuinely don’t understand why you’d even ask a question that answers itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon shook his head again like this was ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia stared at Alon along with Evan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Honestly, it’s not impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want to agree with you, but... I think it could be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They traded affirmative opinions like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What about me makes you think that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon asked, completely baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Evan and Penia looked just as baffled by his bafflement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Do we really need a specific ‘what’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just listing what you’ve done so far is enough. By normal standards, you’re way past ‘not ordinary.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it really that bad...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s response, Evan rubbed his jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis. It’s not exactly news, but I think you’ve got a few screws loose in this area.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Most people, the second they accomplish even a little, they’re dying to brag about it. But you don’t even seem to properly realize what you’ve done. It’s not a disease, exactly, but....”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about it was just kind of weird...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Evan’s muttered add-on, Alon cleared his throat without meaning to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Anyway. The point is—Divine blood saved Caliban?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the reason it saved Caliban was because of me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is that Divine blood now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard it settled in Caliban.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And, actually, that’s not the only thing I needed to report.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...There’s more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not exactly the same, but something similar happened in Raksas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Divine blood protected Raksas too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Though in that case, it protected them and vanished without a word....... And in the north, they’re saying a gigantic tiger protected the barbarians from Divine blood as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...The barbarians too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. According to the information guild, in the case of that tiger in the north, it helped the barbarians while mentioning the Star Eater.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon let out a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation was good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before coming to Colony, Alon had sent Historia of Divine Land and Ryang-a, the White Ghost Gang boss, to places that were being attacked by Divine blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after properly facing Divine blood this time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he’d realized it in his bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine blood weren’t something you could deal with easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Divine blood that suddenly appeared and helped could only be reassuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the same time, it could only raise questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...There’s more and more to think about.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since he’d truly come face-to-face with Divine blood—maybe even before that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s mind hadn’t stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a lot to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to keep researching magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to evolve his divinity to the next stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to raise them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d heard it from the Wanderer, but this battle had driven it in even harder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could never stop Divine blood alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were never an easy opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To stop them, Alon needed allies too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People strong enough to stand against Divine blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon kept following that train of thought for a ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) while, but then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right. Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I totally forgot because I jumped in earlier, but I had something to tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Did Seollang wake up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant he saw Penia nod, Alon stood up immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go. Now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they arrived at Seollang’s lodging, Lime greeted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh—Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you all right? You really shouldn’t be pushing yourself yet, should you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine at this level. More importantly, Seollang...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s question, Lime let out a relieved sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thankfully, it’s nothing serious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I was worried too, just in case. But it was Seollang as usual.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lime pressed a hand to the chest like it was truly a relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon relaxed too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lime naturally stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Alon stepped inside, Seollang came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang was lying on the bed, staring blankly out the window, then turned at the sound of the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Teacher!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant Seollang spotted Alon, Seollang broke into a huge smile and sprang up, charging over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang’s eyes were overflowing with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile filled Seollang’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that swaying tail was broadcasting pure excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Seollang threw arms around Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bung-bung—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tail wagged even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you okay, Teacher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinging tight to Alon’s waist, Seollang asked naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like always, Alon patted Seollang’s head and answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’m fine. You—are you all right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah! I’m fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stared at Seollang, who looked proud as if showing off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang’s eyes were still unmistakably bright with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang’s lips were still curved into a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang’s tail was still wagging diligently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing that looked different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Teacher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Sorry. I just had something on my mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s okay!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe Seollang found it strange that Alon was staring so hard—Seollang tilted head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon carefully brought up the real issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you tell me what happened to you? If anything did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s request, Seollang immediately started laying out everything that had happened yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon couldn’t help being shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, because the word “Monster blood” came out of Seollang’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...And that’s what happened!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh? Teacher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon stared at Seollang for a long moment, then shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. It’s certainly... surprising.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. I don’t really know about Monster blood, but—anyway, now I can handle every lightning!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every lightning...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And that’s not all. I’ve got more skills too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Skills too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah! When I accepted essence, I got all the skills of the people who used essence too. Which means! I’m not lacking at all when it comes to protecting you, Teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh heh heh— the expression on Seollang’s face practically screamed, I’m a mega genius! as Seollang flashed a V sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that sight, Alon smiled back without meaning to and patted Seollang again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang flinched slightly, then hummed as if the sensation of that hand felt good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Seollang quietly, Alon called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seollang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Whaaat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anything happens—anything at all—tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Alon’s words, Seollang looked up at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon held that gaze steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those calm, golden eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you talking about? I’m totally fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for a moment—Seollang tilted head again, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Is that so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah! My body feels kind of creaky, but this is fine! If I rest a bit, it’ll probably get better?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a relief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um—though even after my body gets better, I think I’ll be like this for a while, struggling to handle that power—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a groan as if thinking hard, Seollang—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—but don’t worry too much! I’ll adapt fast and protect you, Teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang brightened into an energetic smile and thumped chest twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as Alon started patting Seollang again with a hollow little laugh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ma-Marquis! Something terrible happened! Th-the venom-swallowing one... it-it came back to life!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evan burst the door open and shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-that—over there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He urgently pointed at the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that finger, Alon saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like Evan said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>something that had been rolling around without a care in that red sea of blood until yesterday—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’re saying... really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—the venom-swallowing one Seollang had definitely killed was alive again, maintaining its shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pajik—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s brow twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang’s condition wasn’t normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for Alon too, fighting now and beating the venom-swallowing one was close to impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, Alon couldn’t just leave that thing alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon immediately burst through the window and used the Thunder God form, rushing to where the venom-swallowing one was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then Alon faced it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fighters and citizens who had been working on rebuilding the city just a moment ago were all staring at the venom-swallowing one in sheer terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ts—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there it was, revived so perfectly it didn’t even have a scratch—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—the venom-swallowing one...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon’s serious expression loosened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was in front of Alon was definitely the venom-swallowing one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the threads it was scattering—threads Alon couldn’t tell the purpose of—were the same ones Alon had seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet Alon was drowned in confusion, because—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the venom-swallowing one’s appearance was far too dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a shadow had taken shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the moment Alon realized that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuu?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the venom-swallowing one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice Alon knew far too well—familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon stood there, bewildered by the situation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon witnessed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That head that had definitely been covered in dozens of eyeballs—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Kyuuuu?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...turn into Blackie’s gigantic head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“????”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more question marks flooded over Alon’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>",1625,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","79aafc250aabd98da6f4ed20e70fd645d5a85e8bdc5d25097ec9ae57a374e27d","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-398","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-396",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]