Raising Villains the Right Way

[...............Did you marry a dragon?]

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the golden dragon Lainisius’s question, Alon was left speechless.

Swallowing ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his embarrassment, he barely managed to ask back.

“What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did you just say?”

[............I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍meant exactly what I said?]

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if wondering why Alon found it strange, Lainisius instead looked puzzled.

“......Huh?”

“When on earth...?”

At the unexpected turn of events(?), Penia and Evan, who had been listening from behind, each blurted out in shock.

Alon let out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t quite follow. I’d like you to explain it step by step from the beginning.”

At that, Lainisius looked somewhat reluctant and, for some reason, subtly stepped back.

As if avoiding something.

While Alon felt puzzled by that, Lainisius spoke.

[It’s not a particularly special story. Our dragon race, after finding a mate, leaves each other’s scent on their bodies.]

“Scent?”

[Yes. To make it clear to other dragons.]

Leaving scent on purpose.

“So marriages are held quietly?”

[That is not the case.]

“......Hm?”

[Most dragons gather for a wedding ceremony.......... why would you think that?]

“If you go as far as leaving scent, I thought it was to inform others.”

At that reasonable inference, Lainisius nodded.

[Well, it’s not exactly that. As I said, for dragon marriages, the entire race gathers to celebrate. Even so, the reason for leaving scent is because sometimes troublesome situations arise.]

He continued with a somewhat peculiar expression.

[As you may know, dragons are beings blessed with mana, and the polymorph they use is extremely precise. So much so that even dragons cannot recognize one another.]

“I see.”

[And roughly a thousand years ago, it was popular among dragons to polymorph into humans and enjoy themselves.]

“..?”

And Lainisius fell silent.

Alon felt puzzled, but—

“Gasp.......”

as if realizing something, Penia let out a faint cry, and soon Alon’s mind reached the answer as well.

“No way.”

[Yes, there were some unintended affairs......... and so that culture came to exist.]

As if unwilling to expose his race’s disgrace further, Lainisius cut his words short.

Understanding him for a moment, Alon returned to the main point.

”If I piece together what you said, does that mean there is a dragon’s scent left on my body?”

[Yes. Especially around your waist, quite heavily.]

Even while looking at his waist, Alon tilted his head.

That was because he hadn’t met any dragons recently.........

“Ah.”

At that point, Alon unconsciously let out an exclamation.

Thinking about it, there was indeed another dragon he had met besides Lainisius.

”You’re talking about Arculainisis............ right?”

At Penia’s question, who had thought of the same person, Alon nodded while looking at his waist.

She, who had always been crying, had constantly wrapped her tail around his waist.

Having roughly grasped the source of the scent, Alon lightly inhaled to smell it, but—

[That is not how one perceives scent.]

“I see.”

[And.............]

Lainisius looked at Alon with a displeased expression.

[I must say this.]

“What is it......?”

[A dragon’s life is different from a human’s.]

“? I know that.”

[What............?]

Surprised by Alon’s response, for some reason, even more contempt filled Lainisius’s eyes.

[....You know that?]

“Well, at least that their lifespan is different?”

[Yes, it is different. Even if a dragon has lived for 30 years, in human terms, it is still a child. In other words, an immature being.]

“Right?”

[...............And you still married it? An immature dragon?]

At Alon’s immediate reply, Lainisius asked again as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Gasp—”

“......Lord Alon?”

[Huh]

[Meow?]

Evan and Penia, as well as Basiliora and Blackie, were all shocked as well.

No, why are you reacting like that............! he thought, but—

[I knew mages had peculiar tastes, but to think you would do such a thing knowingly—]

“Excuse me, but could we first discard that bizarre assumption that I got married before continuing.....??”

Having even received Lainisius’s direct criticism(?), Alon shut his eyes tightly.

After that, 30 minutes passed.

“I have said it repeatedly, but I did not hold a marriage ceremony with a dragon.”

[............I see.]

After thoroughly explaining his relationship with Arculainisis, Alon was finally able to escape the dragon’s suspicion.

Even before getting to the main point, the fatigue washed over him, making his head spin.

As Lainisius watched Alon sigh, he finally—

[So, the reason you came here............... is it to keep the promise?]

He gestured toward Blackie with his chin.

“......Do you think I’ve accumulated enough strength to keep that promise?”

[Did you come without even knowing that?]

“I also had something to ask, and to see how much stronger Blackie needs to become to fulfill the promise.”

Lainisius quietly looked at Blackie.

[From what I can see, your Shadow Dragon already seems strong enough to release me from the seal.]

“......Really?”

[Though it is not yet an adult............ strangely, it possesses power beyond that.]

When Alon looked at Blackie on his shoulder, it tilted its head cutely, going “Meow?”

“Blackie, I’m counting on you.”

At those words, Blackie nodded as if it understood and moved toward Lainisius.

Soon, as Blackie climbed onto the dragon, black smoke began to seep out from its body.

And then—

Fwoooosh—!!

The black smoke instantly engulfed Lainisius’s body.

At the same time, the dark spear embedded in the golden dragon began to slowly disperse into black smoke.

Fwoooosh—!

A change began to occur in Lainisius, who had been waiting only for death without any hope.

Fwoooosh—!

The dull brown scales began to shine with a fierce golden light, and the hollow brown eyes were filled with a brilliant golden glow.

Kwagagagagagagagak—!

Along with that, an overwhelming amount of mana rampaged throughout the space.

At the final moment.

—!!!

A deafening sound erupted.

And Alon witnessed it.

[............Ah, it has been a while.]

The true form of the golden dragon, radiating dazzling golden light.

But it didn’t end there.

Along with the resurrection of the golden dragon, the overwhelming mana that spread in all directions instantly took the form of chains, connecting Alon and Lainisius.

Before Alon could even react to the sudden situation—

[Since you have kept your promise with me, I must also keep mine with you.]

At Lainisius’s voice as a signal, dozens of layers of chains formed additionally, linking Lainisius and Alon.

Finally, when they merged once more into an unbreakable massive chain—

[By the great covenant, I, Lainisius, shall serve the one before me as my master until the moment he fades away as mana.]

Lainisius’s declaration echoed through the cavern.

As the chains surged toward Alon all at once—

[Take care of me from now on.]

Alon had obtained the golden dragon.

Alon roughly explained everything that had happened so far to the golden dragon.

[....So, to summarize, your Shadow Dragon has gained the ability to absorb and use the power of what you call divine-bloods?]

At Lainisius’s conclusion, Alon nodded.

The dragon pondered for a moment before speaking.

[I cannot fully grasp what exactly has happened either.]

“......I see?”

[However, there are some things I can infer. So if you give me a bit of time, I will investigate.]

After nodding, Alon asked.

“Then, what do you plan to do now?”

[Me?]

“Yes.”

[What else? Since you have become my master, I plan to follow you. Is there a problem?]

As soon as Lainisius said that, he seemed to realize something and nodded.

“I see— traveling in my true form would be inconvenient for both of us.”

He began gathering mana into his body.

At the same time, Lainisius’s form gradually shrank.

After some time passed.

”Fuck.”

A curse came from behind—Evan.

A completely out-of-nowhere curse.

But Alon didn’t bother to comment.

He knew why Evan reacted that way.

“Isn’t this an enemy of humanity?”

A violent mutter, as if it were unfair.

Alon unconsciously nodded.

Because Lainisius’s face, after polymorphing into a human, was so overwhelmingly handsome that even a good-looking elf would be put to shame.

“Ah— heavens, why did you create me, and also Eliban and the golden dragon?”

“? That’s nonsense.”

At Evan’s lament, Penia immediately replied with a straight face, while frowning slightly at the golden dragon.

“Honestly, he’s so handsome it’s actually unpleasant.”

That, too, somehow made sense.

“Ah.”

By then, Lainisius, having finished polymorphing, spoke.

Checking his voice several times in a lower tone than when he was a dragon, he then said to Alon’s group, who were staring blankly at him.

“Even after a thousand years, this reaction never changes.”

“Wow, what an asshole....…”

Seeing the handsome man shrug as if it were completely natural, Penia muttered quietly.

Anyway, after that brief commotion, Alon left the great cavern together with Lainisius.

***

Two months later.

After leaving the wasteland, the group did not stop anywhere and headed straight for the Palantio Kingdom.

And when Alon arrived at Palantio—

“Yes.”

“Evan.”

“What is that?”

At the sight before him the moment they entered, Alon asked.

Evan, who was also speechless at the spectacle,

“Uh....…”

continued thinking blankly before—

“......The Demon King’s castle......?”

he muttered.

A massive floating island hovering above Palantio’s skies.

There was no other way to describe it.

‘What in the world happened in half a year............?’

Confusion filled Alon’s mind as he returned home after so long.