[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son":3,"chapter-reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-540":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son",{"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},1366239,1806,"Chapter 540: A Hopeless World [11] [Help]","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-540",540,"\u003Cp>Zenith asked. \"....How do they know about the runes if you didn’t tell them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t answer her, my gaze solely on the diagram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were only two beings who knew all twenty-four runes, me and El.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t believe El was tied with the church of the moon Goddess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’.... Perhaps, their goddess knew about runes as well.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rubbed my temples as I felt a headache incoming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how I saw it, this was really unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Himmel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, yeah.\" I focused back on her. \"I never told anyone except you, this has nothing to do with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith didn’t look convinced. \"Are you lying to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\" I replied, rubbing my neck. \"Gods and Goddesses are aware of runes as well, perhaps someone helped them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith gave a short nod and crouched down to get a closer look at the diagram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a slow breath and leaned back against the couch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This church.\" I muttered. \"What are they up to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith’s fingers tapped lightly on the floor beside the diagram. \"Himmel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see a lot of mistakes in it.\" She said. \"I don’t know if it’s deliberate but there are gaps in some places.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned forward as I looked at the diagram. \"Gaps?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are like...uh. Concepts.\" She said, looking up. \"If someone is careful they can reverse-engineer this into something else without changing the structure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rubbed my face as I understood the severity of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s like changing a few numbers in an equation without any effect on the outer surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But depending on the numbers, the outcome would be completely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith stood up, grabbing a handful of her hair, she tied it into a bun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She walked towards the table and picked up a pen and paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith dropped back to the floor with the paper and pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her posture changed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch,\" she said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She redrew a small part of the outer ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first it looked identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she erased one tiny stroke and replaced it with a slightly curved line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This,\" she said, \"is the same sigil visually but conceptually, it shifts from containment to direction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed at multiple places in the ritual diagram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All this can be changed later on.\" She said. \"So this ritual is basically an open framework.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a low whistle. \"So, it can be changed without making it obvious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" She replied. \"It’s most likely a trap.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a sigh and leaned back on the couch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was some bullshit plan by some shady church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I was a fool to believe that they were actually going to help Akasha.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slowly stood up and wrapped the sheet back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in discussing this anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith didn’t stop me as she kept staring at me from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I was done with the sheet, I placed it in my space bracelet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....Are you going to leave now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to agree but stopped when I noticed the look on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had the face of a puppy that was about to be abandoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a sigh and walked toward the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking out, I noticed the ring of white creatures had become even more clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How have you been?\" I asked, looking back at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith blinked at the sudden question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That’s what you’re asking now?\" she said, but her voice had already softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged. \"Feels like a normal human thing to ask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are not human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked down at her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve been alive,\" she said after a moment. \"That’s about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t interrupt as she leaned back and stretched her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The house was too quiet at first,\" she continued. \"I didn’t know when but I lost most of my friends.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....Is that so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded with a weak smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I learned to cook properly,\" she added. \"Burned everything for the first month. Nearly set the kitchen on fire twice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s...some insane progress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rolled her eyes. \"I also stopped waiting by the door expecting you to visit me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t respond as I kept looking at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind brushed through the open window, lifting a few strands of her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood up and began to clean the nearby area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Though, I am happy for you.\" She said. \"With Christina back, you must have been over the moon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t answer right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her back was turned, but her shoulders had gone stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s good.\" I said. \"Though she was with her family for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt really annoyed by the tone of her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the world had already ended for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Agh, this stupid girl.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a tired sigh and walked closer to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith sniffed and turned around, going into a defensive position. \"W-what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored her protest, as I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her whole body went stiff in my arms like she had stopped breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, she moved her hand and hugged me back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You idiot,\" she whispered, voice shaking. \"You can’t just do that out of nowhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up, stupid child.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She made a small sound that was more like a cry and pressed her forehead against my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t... waiting for you,\" she said, words muffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wasn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I hate you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pulled back just enough to look up at me, eyes still wet but steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes flickered towards my lips for a long second but she quickly moved away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Urgh, I hate this.\" She mumbled. \"Why...now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked around the house as I asked. \"Are you free?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\" She replied without looking. \"I didn’t have to go to the academy after I took my major.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked out of the window at the white ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you mind living with me for a while in Lumina.\" I said, folding my arms. \"I don’t think you would be safe here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She froze in place as she robotically turned around. \"W-with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t worry.\" I said. \"You won’t be alone, Heather, Aimar and Elijah were also home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face immediately turned down. \"Of course, they were.\" She grumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, I will live with you just because I don’t want to hurt your little heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I snorted. \"My heart is doing just fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zenith wiped her face one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then walked past me like nothing had happened, though the tips of her ears were still red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When are we leaving?\" she asked, already moving toward the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Soon,\" I said. \"Pack what you need.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused. \"...You’re serious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers tightened around the edge of the doorframe for a second before she nodded. \"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She disappeared into her room and I stayed by the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’...I need to do something about Akasha.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were so many people who were planning to destroy it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Casita Household, Akasha.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel gulped down a glass of wine as he sat on the edge of a table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the table the same ritual diagram lay that Himmel had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel poured down another glass of wine, as he stayed silent in the empty room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truth be told, Edel was not doing well for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the death of his son and grandson, he had felt like his Empire was getting destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chip by chip, brick by brick, what he had built was now slowly getting torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Be it the declining business or the number of people dying in his family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel stared at the diagram without really seeing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will kill him.\" He said, his voice grim. \"I will kill everyone who is against me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the tall windows, Akasha’s sky glowed faintly, the white ring visible even from here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel didn’t like that one bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back down at the ritual sheet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, he had believed it was salvation but the more he studied it, the more uneasy he felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Sealing ritual,\" he murmured. \"Is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around as he looked at the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man stood there wearing a blue priest outfit with a small smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panta, a member of the Saintess Cathedral church of the moon Goddess walked out of the shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are well known for rituals, my Lord.\" He said smiling. \"You already know what this is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel gulped down another glass. \"You have some guts coming here.\" He said. \"What makes you think I won’t kill you right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panta didn’t flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped fully into the light, hands folded behind his back like he was in a garden instead of a hostile lord’s hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you won’t,\" he said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel’s jaw tightened. \"Try me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You need my goddess, my lord,\" Panta replied. \"And you know it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled and began pouring another glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What can she give that I don’t already have?\" He asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Godhood.\" Panta said confidently. \"She can help you reach godhood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word hung in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Godhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel didn’t drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glass stopped halfway to his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Say that again,\" he said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panta’s smile deepened. \"My goddess can raise you beyond demigod limits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel slowly set the glass down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think I’m desperate enough to believe that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think,\" Panta said, calm as ever, \"you are desperate enough to consider it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel stared at him without any word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All you need to do is not point out the flaw in the ritual.\" He said. \"And my goddess will give you the way to godhood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edel remained silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>",1608,"2026-06-05T21:29:27.041Z",1,"novelbin.me","8ad4834c74afabdae3a3ab7450b2c32c470fb381fd26f9aefe9316da13013b72","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-541","reincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-chapter-539",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freincarnated-as-the-villainess-s-son-cover.jpg"]