Raising Villains the Right Way

As soon as Alon cast the ‘Frozen Crystal Spear’, he could grasp the effects of the spell.

Though the area was only about a 10-meter radius—not particularly large—the space’s effect was the immediate conversion of a fundamental law.

Just as water naturally flows downward, a law so obvious it is rarely questioned, in this space, such rules no longer applied.

The law of the ‘Frozen Crystal Spear’ was simple: everything within the space would freeze.

No exceptions. The spell was an absolute law, enacted by the caster’s will.

However, Alon’s spell barely lasted six seconds before vanishing.

From the beginning, this magic was not something that should have been permitted to him, neither in terms of magical power nor knowledge.

But even with just six seconds of manifestation, Alon achieved what he desired.

He felt a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he looked ahead.

There, an Outer God stood.

Kailas, frozen blue and crumbling into small pieces.

“…How pitifully weak this body is,” he muttered.

His body was far from normal. His arms were already shattered, and his legs were crumbling to pieces.

“Hah… you got me good.”

Yet, despite his condition, Kailas was smiling.

The stern expression he’d worn just moments earlier seemed like a lie as he beamed at Alon.

“If I had been in my true form, able to fully manifest and use magic properly, your clumsy spell would have been no match for me. But…”

He said it with a tinge of regret, then added:

“Speculation means nothing.”

Just as he was about to respond to Alon’s next remark,

“You’re right, insignificant one. Or rather…”

With a chuckle,

“…Magician. I admit defeat.”

With those final words, he completely disintegrated, leaving only his clothes behind.

And then—

“Hoo—”

Letting out a small breath that turned white in the lingering cold air, the mercenaries stared blankly at the Count Palatio, who had defeated the Outer God with nothing but a human body.

A feeling they couldn’t suppress began to spread among them.

***

Shortly after Kailas’s destruction, the mercenaries, who had been looking at Alon with eyes full of awe, briefly celebrated their survival. Then, they quickly got to work, organizing the situation.

As for Alon, he collapsed on the spot.

A day passed like that.

When Alon, who had fallen unconscious as if a switch had been flipped, woke up, he received some moderately good news.

It was that both Myaon and Argonia were still alive.

Myaon had vomited blood, but with the help of a potion, she could move around to some extent. The bigger issue was Argonia.

Though he had survived the direct hit of the Outer God’s magic, even with the characteristic toughness and regenerative ability of a half-dragon, he was barely clinging to life, little more than a half-dead shell.

It was practically impossible to carry him out of the labyrinth in that condition.

Of course, Alon wasn’t in any shape to walk out of the labyrinth either.

“Hoo…”

Forcing himself to calm his trembling breath, Alon looked at his left hand.

His entire left arm had turned a sickly blue, as though frostbitten.

From the looks of it, he wondered if it would need to be amputated.

However, it wasn’t just his arm. While his left arm was worse off, various parts of his body were already turning a bluish color, as though covered in bruises. Fortunately, this was not due to frostbite but a symptom of mana poisoning.

‘No strength at all,’ Alon thought, letting out a small sigh as he looked at his arm, which remained completely motionless as though devoid of sensation. He soon lay back on the makeshift bed. This situation had been predictable, considering how much mana potion he had consumed.

‘I’m lucky it ended at this,’ he thought. Among the effects of mana poisoning, nerve paralysis due to mana overload was relatively mild. It would take some time, but it would heal naturally.

However, if he had suffered permanent damage to his mana core or if mana had flooded his heart, causing heart mana sclerosis, he could have died on the spot.

“Hoo…” Alon exhaled, grateful to be alive, just as the temporary tent opened and Rine entered with her usual stern expression.

“Are you alright, Godfather?” she asked.

“It’s just a little difficult because of the poisoning,” Alon replied.

“That’s a relief,” Rine said.

A brief silence followed. Alon glanced at her. She still wore her usual stern look, but Alon sensed a slight awkwardness about her.

‘Before, even though she was blunt, we could still have a natural conversation…’

Today, however, she seemed disinclined to speak. Just as Alon considered breaking the silence himself, Rine spoke up.

“Godfather.”

“What is it?”

“Forgive me, but may I ask you something?”

“Feel free to ask.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, she asked, “Why did you save me?”

“Why?”

“Yes, why did you save me?”

“…Why are you suddenly asking this?”

“Back then, in that situation, I wasn’t particularly useful.”

At her words, Alon looked at her. Despite her impassive face, her eyes clearly held the question, as if she truly didn’t understand why he had acted as he did.

Alon suddenly remembered that Seolrang had asked him a similar question, and a feeling of injustice welled up inside him.

‘How do people see me? Do I really look like a villain? Why does everyone think I saved them just to use them somehow?’

Although he had saved them as part of his larger goal to eliminate the Five Deadly Sins, Alon had never expected anything in return. At most, he had hoped for a little good fortune or perhaps a slightly fancier birthday present.

Feeling wronged, Alon forced himself to sit up on the makeshift bed and began to speak.

“Rine.”

“Yes, Godfather.”

“I don’t know what you think of me, but I didn’t take you in to use you.”

“Is that so?” Rine answered, her voice slightly wavering.

Seeing her response, Alon couldn’t help but feel that she had indeed thought that way. He continued.

“I think of you as family.”

“Family…?”

“Yes. A family that helps each other in times of need. Our relationship isn’t based on profit or necessity. So saving you doesn’t hold any special meaning. I did it because—”

He sighed and added, “—it’s simply the natural thing to do. Just as you saved me.”

“Oh,” Rine murmured, her eyes widening slightly at Alon’s words. Though she remained as expressionless as ever, her eyes clearly conveyed that his sincerity had gotten through to her.

“Remember this, Rine. We are not in a one-sided relationship. If you really want to do something for me, just remember my birthday or something.”

After adding that little bit of selfishness, Alon looked at her. Rine, who had been staring at him blankly, finally smiled, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips for the first time.

“…Understood, Godfather.”

“That’s all I wanted to hear.”

Feeling that he had finally gotten through to her, Alon nodded slightly. After a brief conversation, Rine left, and Alon closed his eyes.

He had only been awake for about an hour, but his frail body, not yet fully recovered, craved rest.

Five days later.

In the Fifth Level, where only a blue sky existed and night and day were indistinguishable, Alon had finally recovered enough to move again.

“Can you move?” he asked.

“To some extent,” came the reply.

“…Impressive,” Alon thought, as Argonia, who had made a remarkable recovery with his monstrous resilience, got ready to leave the labyrinth.

After two more days of climbing through the dark abyss, they finally reached the exit.

“We made it!” Argonia exclaimed, unusually animated.

At last, they had returned to the outside of the labyrinth.

***

Three days had passed since they returned to the labyrinth city of Lartania.

Alon couldn’t leave because he was still recovering, but as rumors and praise for the task force that defeated the Outer God spread throughout Lartania, the story slowly began to reach beyond the city.

By the time Alon finished his much-needed rest at the building Rine owned, Merde, he had confirmed that his mana poisoning symptoms had greatly improved. He promptly began preparing to leave. In truth, he wanted to stay and relax a bit longer, but staying too long in Merde would surely be a burden.

So, before heading back with Evan, Alon had one last meal with Rine.

“Godfather,” she said.

“Yes, what is it?”

“When is your birthday?”

Alon paused for a moment, then answered after some thought.

“My birthday… it’s September 25th.”

“September 25th… I see,” Rine replied.

After finishing that conversation, they wrapped up their final lunch.

“Well then, I suppose we’ll meet again when the time comes,” Alon said.

“Yes, Godfather. I’ll see you again,” Rine responded.

“Alright,” Alon said, offering his final farewell before getting into the carriage to return to the Count’s estate.

As the carriage started moving, Evan turned to him.

“Count?”

“Yes?”

“You must be looking forward to next year.”

“Looking forward to what? Ah, my birthday?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not expecting much. After all, I get plenty already.”

“Oh, come on—formal gifts from well-wishers are different from what the kids will give you.”

“…Well, I still don’t expect too much,” Alon replied, but contrary to his words, he was actually a little excited.

In fact, he had been anticipating it since the moment Rine asked about his birthday.

…Wine, maybe? No, Rine deals with artifacts, so perhaps she’ll give me something useful? Though that might be a bit expensive, so maybe she’ll compromise on something more reasonable…?

With these thoughts in mind, Alon hid his growing excitement behind a calm expression, imagining what gifts might come in a year.

Meanwhile, shortly after Alon had left, Rine sat in her office inside Merde. She gazed out at Alon’s carriage as it moved off into the distance.

‘Gift… A gift for the one who acknowledged me as family…’

Her eyes shifted to focus on one particular place.

In her view stood a single building—Lartania’s castle, home to Lord Lucimore Grace, the ruler of Lartania and the only one allowed to reside there.

“There’s something… there.”

A smile spread across Rine’s face.