[{"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-478":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},759439,1006,"Chapter 477: Astarotte (8)","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-478",478,"\u003Cp>In the land of the elves, Greynif—within the royal palace, Fildagreen—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as always, Rine was absorbed in reading through her library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, at some point—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she opened her closed eyes and—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>murmured quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though there was no one in the room, Rine spoke aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked strange—but right after—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, you knew?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm... intuition, maybe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before anyone realized it, Yutia was standing in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia looked at Rine with a hint of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I heard you were on the Empire’s side, Yutia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm, that’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Don’t you think it’s a bit tight on time to come all the way here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm— I guess so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Rine looked at her with a subtle expression and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’re not even trying to hide your power, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, layered with multiple meanings, Yutia looked at Rine silently for a moment—then gave a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not even trying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe if you didn’t know—but you already do, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine’s expression grew even more complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never once told Yutia about her own changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After holding that expression for a moment, Rine let out a quiet sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I did expect you’d know to some extent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew too. I mean— you’re smart, and your ability is what it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I figured you’d be the first to realize,” Yutia added in a quiet murmur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine naturally rose and moved toward the table where Yutia sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting across from her, Rine poured tea into Yutia’s cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia drank the tea silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief silence passed between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine, who had been watching her intently, parted her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Will it be alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which part?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Divine blood Teacher went to deal with this time. With Seollang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia tapped her slender fingers lightly on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I’m not sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’re not sure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well— it’s not something I’ve ‘experienced,’ after all. There’s only so much I can do. But— honestly, I don’t think you need to worry that much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Because Seollang is there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia nodded without much concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, doubt rose in Rine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Seollang’s condition didn’t look good, even if I’m being generous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm— that’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Isn’t there a chance some variable could arise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you think that way, maybe. But—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia paused briefly, then spoke again, still wearing that calm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’re saying there won’t be any variables at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine was puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia let out a soft “hmm” and looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if she had grasped Rine’s state perfectly, a faintly amused smile formed on Yutia’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you happen to know what generation Seollang is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...If you mean the essence of the Golden Mane Tribe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As far as I know, counting exactly, Seollang is the 27th.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Rine’s answer, Yutia smiled in a way that was hard to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re wrong, Rine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. She’s the 28th.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that answer, Rine’s eyes widened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...The 28th?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That can’t be right. She’s the 27th. Including her, there have only been 27 users.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as she said it, Rine ran through the calculation again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result didn’t change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang was the 27th inheritor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so she looked at Yutia, unable to understand—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even so, she’s the 28th. That doesn’t change.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia only repeated the same words, sounding amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rine stood there, lost in thought for a moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly realized something, her expression shifting in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could say anything—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And besides—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if my prediction is wrong, you’re not planning to just sit still, are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The others are the same, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia’s voice came first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Rine fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that silence, Yutia smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, I trust Teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She murmured quietly, taking another sip of tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the Divine blood fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—more precisely, they had no choice but to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Seollang had just shown was enough to leave everyone there in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what shocked them even more—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was Seollang’s attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after delivering that impossible attack,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her expression was utterly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if she had merely done something obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That expression overwhelmed the Divine blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What is this—]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Descended One, for a moment, was overwhelmed by that composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing it had felt something like that, its pride cracked, and it clenched its fist tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, it moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the place it rushed toward was not Seollang—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[!!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s coming—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—but the Divine blood gathered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To absorb them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Descended One had not yet fought Seollang properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, it had already realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That if it fought Seollang now, it would not end well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, no matter how much it hurt its pride, it chose practicality—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to absorb even more Divine blood and match Seollang’s level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it had intended to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Seollang hadn’t appeared right in front of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling sensation wrapped around the Descended One’s entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t done anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had simply appeared before it, preparing an attack as calmly as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the Descended One felt an overwhelming threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Seollang had appeared so suddenly that even it had failed to perceive her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one meaning behind that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her strength had far surpassed even the Descended One’s own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no other way to explain this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a breath, the Descended One—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>suddenly felt a sense of strangeness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had clearly become strong enough to overwhelm it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was wielding a power that was abnormal for something it had called a mere tool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet strangely, the way Seollang handled that power felt awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Descended One realized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That the tool was still struggling to control its own power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the moment it realized that, it rushed at Seollang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was the case, it was better to eliminate her before she adapted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA A A A—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the Descended One closed the distance and threw a punch without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blow carrying enough destructive force to call even Divine blood ‘mere.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shot forward at a speed faster than sound itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, Seollang avoided it with absurd ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if she could see the punch perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attack missed and split the ground uselessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But rather, in that moment, the Descended One saw a faint opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had been accustomed to handling that power, she should have countered immediately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but Seollang did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That small clue reinforced the Descended One’s reasoning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She has to be killed now!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—and gave it confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even as the Descended One poured out attacks like a mad beast,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang still did nothing but evade, without any counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A completely one-sided assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what Seollang felt in that situation was not impatience or anxiety—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Why?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—but doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Seollang’s eyes, the Descended One’s punches looked slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Punches fired solely to kill her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens—hundreds—of fists formed behind it surged toward her all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, doubt continued to fill Seollang’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t because of the newly gained power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather, she already had some idea about this power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was overwhelming to the point that if she used it carelessly, even her own body would be destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...And she had obtained that power by offering up lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What gave rise to her doubt—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was a strange memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power Alon had given her was not something she should have been able to use, even awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a ridiculous level of power that could destroy her if mishandled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, strangely, she was using it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because of her natural talent or instinct with her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a power that could lead her to her own destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the reason she could use it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes. Memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, among the memories of the past inheritors of the Golden Mane Tribe’s essence,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>there were memories of handling this exact power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not something similar—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but perfectly identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as that strong doubt lingered, Seollang looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Descended One was still pressing forward, trying to kill her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, instinctively, Seollang took her stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And naturally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the memories of the previous user who had wielded this power began shaping her posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rangchang rangchang—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her open left hand aimed at the Descended One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her feet braced against the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze locked onto it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a stance so strange it could hardly be thought of as one meant to throw a punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, Seollang did not question it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the stance she took was one designed by the previous user—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to use this power without placing strain on the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Short-range force—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the Descended One’s body came within range,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang’s fist clenched and struck forward in a small motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>───────────────KWA A A A A A A A—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky split.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Red Sea parting, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the black clouds were torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through them, sunlight that had not yet set poured down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that sunlight shone upon the Descended One’s body—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the body whose upper half had been erased as if it had never existed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>leaving only the lower half behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>only after that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>did the thunderous roar that seemed to tear apart the world finally explode across heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And within that roar, awe surged toward Seollang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang paid it no attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it was more accurate to say she couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was looking at a memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something that had happened to her before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When learning the techniques of previous users one by one—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and when digging deeper into those techniques—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>their memories would become clearer and clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang had used the technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And inherited the memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>why was it that within that inherited memory—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I finally did it! I knew you could! You really are a genius!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her Teacher appeared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘See? I told you! I said you could do it! Wasn’t it worth not giving up?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a bright smile full of genuine joy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seollang!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>calling her name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seollang, blankly inheriting that memory, let out a quiet breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...A small realization.\u003C\u002Fp>",1733,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","ec9d861394b8b51da30325c0660f687b01d662c5be929b9b6d1c7216534e4763","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-479","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-477",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]