Raising Villains the Right Way

Irenne momentarily doubted her ears at the conversation she had overheard with her enhanced hearing.

However—

“A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍slave? Come on—at least not that much.”

“No, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it is a slave. That’s how the contract was made.”

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍even a confirmation strike followed, her mouth fell open without her realizing it.

‘Wasn’t ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it said… that the King of Palantio is the father of the guardian dragon?’

…

Contanias had said he was the father of the guardian dragon.

In other words, that meant Alon was a dragon hiding his identity.

But a dragon hiding its identity was enslaving another dragon?

‘…Is that some kind of culture among dragons?’

As she thought that, Irenne soon shook her head.

At least as far as she knew, she had never seen any mention of such a culture among dragons, even in ancient texts.

Therefore—

‘Just what… is the identity of the King of Palantio?’

With a confused expression, Irenne looked down at the ground.

‘I suppose… I’ll have to meet the King of Palantio in person.’

With that firm resolve, she disappeared.

***

After learning that the heroic tale(?) of ‘cutting away his lifespan to grant power’ had spread because of Sili, Alon remained in the Divine Land for a few more days.

There were three reasons.

The first was to handle work.

Of course, most of the affairs of the Divine Land were being handled by Sili, but he couldn’t leave everything entirely to her.

The second was to examine his divine power.

Since the divine-blood had fallen away, Alon had not been able to properly use his divine power.

Then, after meeting Kalannon previously and distributing divine power to the people of the Divine Land, he became able to use it again.

However, even though he could now pass divine power to others and his divine power had grown even more than before, he still could not transform into Kalannon.

He needed to find out why.

And lastly—

“…Is this Simus’ ability?”

“That’s right!”

—it was to study the abilities of Simus and Sili, who were now self-generating after receiving Alon’s divine power.

Alon looked up at the sky.

Above Simus, who appeared somewhat strained, floated a massive sword large enough to draw admiration.

If it fell as it was, it would be capable of splitting even a small castle in half.

After briefly marveling at the enormous sword, the sword soon disappeared, and only then did Alon lower his gaze.

“I’m sorry!”

Simus was breathing heavily.

“No, this is more than enough.”

“No! You have granted me such a blessing, yet I am still lacking…!”

Simus tightly shut his eyes as if genuinely resentful of himself.

His clenched lips turned pale.

Alon felt a slight pang of guilt.

It was true that he had given Simus the ability, but in reality, the reason Simus’ power was not growing quickly was also because of Alon.

After all, Alon was only returning a portion of the faith Simus had offered back to him.

Thus, he felt a bit awkward inside, but—

“It’s truly fine, so stand up. Even with this alone, I can tell how much effort you’ve put in.”

Even at the calm reassurance, Simus rose with a remorseful expression.

“I will dedicate my life!”

He shouted, bowing deeply enough that his upper body nearly touched the ground.

Suppressing his embarrassment, Alon left the training grounds.

“How was it?”

Sili immediately asked.

Alon stroked his chin before answering.

“Not bad.”

Of course, from Alon’s perspective, the power Simus displayed was not particularly strong.

From his experience, Alon knew well just how absurd the divine-blood were.

Still, it wasn’t meaningless.

If it were only Simus, it might be insignificant, but once the knights of the Divine Land received Alon’s blessings and each displayed their own power—

‘It will certainly be useful.’

As he gauged the future, Alon let out a quiet sigh.

“Ah.”

“? What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

Alon shook his head at Sili’s question.

However, a trace of regret lingered on his face.

‘I should have brought Lainisius.’

The golden dragon, Lainisius.

While he might not know much about divine power, as a dragon, his knowledge of magic circles seemed useful.

It would likely be quite helpful in creating the ‘automatic blessing’—his version of automated hunting.

‘I didn’t think of it.’

He decided to talk to Lainisius separately once he returned.

“So, have you selected the people to receive the blessings?”

Alon asked Sili.

“As you said, including Historia and Ryanga who are currently outside, I selected about ten candidates. People who will absolutely follow your will, Lord Alon.”

Despite her gentle smile, the strict(?) phrasing made Alon cautiously ask,

“Absolutely…?”

“Yes. Absolutely! They’re people who wouldn’t hesitate to become martyrs for your sake!”

“…Martyrs?”

“Yes!”

At the even more shocking word that followed,

“…Sili.”

“Just in case I ask, you’re not conducting any dangerous ideological education, are you?”

Despite his expressionless face, there was a subtle unease in Alon’s voice.

Sili thought for a moment before answering.

“Hmm—of course not? There’s nothing like dangerous ideological education.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course! I’m just teaching scriptures.”

“Scriptures?”

“Yes!”

At Sili’s words, Alon recalled the scriptures he had seen once before.

But why did that only make him more uneasy?

Just then—

“Lord Alon.”

As soon as he entered the tent, Evan approached as if he had been waiting.

“What is it?”

“It’s about the information guild. They contacted us regarding the request from before.”

Since there was quite a lot of information, Evan quickly added,

“The kings.”

“Ah.”

Evan had not missed making the request.

“Did they find anything?”

“There’s both general and detailed information. I’ll go through them one by one.”

As the atmosphere turned serious, Sili stepped back.

“Oh, then I’ll step out for a moment.”

Evan’s report began in earnest.

“So, it seems that the Empire side has already all obtained some kind of ability, and the kingdoms are the same.”

“Yes. The Allied Kingdom Alliance seems to have gained abilities more easily because of the Star Cluster.”

“…Because of the Star Cluster?”

“As I mentioned, the Star Cluster is dealing with the divine-blood.”

Alon stroked his chin once.

“Have you identified the abilities of the kings?”

“Not to that extent yet, but based on what has been revealed, there seems to be variation in their abilities.”

“I see…”

Evan continued.

“And for now, the Allied Kingdom Alliance seems fine, but the divine-blood side has been quite noisy recently.”

“What’s happening?”

“I heard that something called ‘fragments’ is spreading among the divine-blood.”

“Fragments?”

“Yes. They’re presumed to be fragments of some massive divine-blood, and they’ve spread everywhere, so the divine-blood are trying to obtain them.”

“…Hmm, do they become stronger if they consume them?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Fragments.

As Alon reorganized the situation,

“…Wait.”

A memory from the past surfaced.

When he obtained the law at the eastern edge, he had heard something similar from Drawing-In Night.

‘It said it devoured part of the power and reached the second stage.’

Drawing-In Night had clearly said it devoured a portion of power.

If the remaining power had been left behind and became fragments, then everything made sense.

“…This won’t be easy.”

Fatigue appeared on Alon’s face.

If this speculation was correct, then even now, second-stage divine-blood could appear.

“Do we have any information on where those fragments have fallen?”

At his question, Evan answered,

“Not exactly, but they say there’s one near the Colony.”

“Near the Colony?”

“Yes.”

“…It seems I’ll have to go there soon.”

Alon let out a sigh.

“And is there still no news about Seolrang?”

“Seolrang? …No, I haven’t heard anything.”

As Evan shook his head, Alon ran a hand through his hair.

He had intended to move with a bit more leisure, but that now seemed like a luxury.

***

A few days later.

News arrived that Ria and Ryanga, who had gone out, were returning.

Just as Alon was planning to grant them blessings and depart—

[Hello!]

“…Kalannon.”

Suddenly, Kalannon in her cat form climbed onto his thigh, and he was pulled into a blue shoreline where a galaxy stretched out.

“…You didn’t do this when you said we’d talk before, and now you’re calling me.”

Kalannon quickly replied.

[Sorry, but I couldn’t help it! It may not look like much, but this consumes a lot of divine power. I’m barely squeezing out divine power just to meet you like this, you know?]

Kalannon spoke as if demanding praise.

After briefly wondering what to say, Alon let out a small sigh.

“So, why did you call me?”

[To give you an answer.]

“…An answer?”

[Even if I can’t answer directly, I can at least hear. You wanted to talk to me because you couldn’t transform into Kalannon, right?]

Her guess was correct.

“Do you know the reason?”

[Of course I do.]

“What is it?”

[Hmm~]

She paused briefly before speaking.

[It’s a bit of a difficult concept, but you could say… it’s been ‘separated.’]

“Separated?”

[Yes. For example, until now, you gathered divine power as Kalannon and transformed into Kalannon, right?]

“That’s right.”

[As you know, that was only possible because you gained belief as Kalannon. But now things have changed. Hmm~]

Kalannon took a breath before continuing.

[Simply put, Kalannon and you have now been separated.]

“In other words, I’ve started gaining faith not as Kalannon but as Alon Palatio, so I can no longer transform?”

[Exactly!]

Alon nodded.

Thinking of it that way, it made sense why he could no longer manifest as Kalannon.

From the beginning, he could manifest as Kalannon because he had gained faith as Kalannon.

“Then it’s no longer possible to manifest as Kalannon.”

A trace of regret lingered in Alon’s voice.

[As expected, right? But I don’t think you need to worry too much.]

Kalannon’s reaction was unexpected.

“Why?”

[Well, obviously—]

She smiled brightly.

[Because now you can manifest in the true sense!]

She exclaimed energetically.