Raising Villains the Right Way

After Miu had conveyed the details of the rumor,

“Th-that ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍is, just in case, I’ll go out and check a bit more thoroughly~!”

Perhaps ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍afraid that additional questions would come from Magrina, she disappeared at the speed of light.

Silence ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍fell.

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍smile that had been on Magrina’s face slowly began to stiffen.

At ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that moment.

“Don’t ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍get so worked up.”

“Sister?”

Rine’s gentle voice resonated through the air.

Magrina came to her senses, yet she was slightly surprised. It was because Rine looked extremely calm.

Even though she had clearly heard the rumor about Brother together—

Magrina tilted her head without realizing it.

At the very least, the Rine she knew wouldn’t fail to react to something like this.

“Are you alright?”

”What do you mean?”

“That, the rumor.”

At Magrina’s cautious question, Rine set down her teacup with a relaxed smile.

“Magrina, you know, don’t you? That there’s no way Godfather would have someone like that in the first place.”

“Isn’t that something we don’t know?”

“No. It will absolutely never happen.”

“Absolutely?”

“Absolutely.”

Rine asserted without hesitation.

“From the start, Godfather isn’t someone who suddenly forms connections like this.”

Hmm— after thinking for a moment, Rine added.

“Most likely, the rumor got twisted and twisted before being delivered like this.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course.”

Seeing Rine drink her black tea again without the slightest concern, Magrina naturally nodded.

Certainly, as she said, her brother wouldn’t suddenly form a special connection without any prior signs.

“Hmm, I guess I got a bit excited.”

Magrina, recalling Alon’s face, regained her smile.

Rine’s belief was more reasonable than her own pointless doubts.

Magrina gently moved her hand.

Then the broken teacup was cleared away by magic, and a new cup was placed in front of her.

As Magrina poured black tea into the cup again, Rine added with a relaxed smile.

“That’s right. Rumors are often distorted, so it’s better to think about them calmly.”

“Normally I would, but whenever I hear rumors about Brother, I end up like this for no reason. Like you said, it must be distorted, right?”

Rine nodded as she brought the teacup to her lips.

However, at that moment.

Knock knock—

Another knock was heard.

Magrina opened the door again using magic.

And.

“Umm....…”

The one who came again was Miu.

For some reason, she looked even more intimidated than before as she stepped inside, her eyes darting around.

As if barely managing to move her reluctant feet, Mu reached in front of Magrina and Rine—

“This is something I just confirmed additionally.”

She spoke timidly,

“Go ahead and tell us.”

At Magrina’s now calmed tone, Miu was still slightly anxious but soon made up her mind and reported.

“They say the person who claimed to have a special relationship with the Primordial Elf is the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Mage Tower.”

The moment those words fell.

“The Blue Mage Tower’s,”

“Vice Tower Master..?”

Magrina and Rine tilted their heads.

The Vice Tower Master of the Blue Mage Tower.

Though somewhat unfamiliar, yet close to familiar, the two murmured the term.

“Sister Penia?”

“Penia......?”

As if by promise, they spoke one name.

“Yes, that was the name.”

The moment Miu confirmed it, she witnessed it.

The teacups held by Magrina and Rine began to crack simultaneously.

“. . . . . .!”

A chilling killing intent… no, magical power drifting through the air.

And then.

“That crosses the line...”

Rine’s murmur echoed lowly.

***

Exactly one day later.

”.....-!?”

“What? Why are you suddenly like that?”

“No, I suddenly feel a bit of a chill.”

“Hmm~ well............... that makes sense.”

“Want me to poke your eyes out?”

“I’ll pass.”

As Penia suddenly grabbed her arms and trembled, Evan joked, and their usual banter continued.

Watching that scene, Heinkel shouted toward Alon.

“Alright then, let’s get started right away!”

The kid’s voice was full of confidence.

Unlike yesterday, when the aftereffects prevented the use of mana, though still recovering, today she could at least use mana again.

Alon handed the fragment of faith to Heinkel,

“It’s done.”

“Really?”

After the not-so-long process ended, Heinkel immediately began to operate her mana.

After a moment.

“Mm—good!”

Heinkel nodded as if she had realized something.

“Did you figure something out?”

As Alon asked right away, Heinkel nodded again.

“Yeah. Right now my mana is still too small, so it’s difficult, but once I recover, I think I’ll be able to use it right away.”

“You can tell that?”

“I can feel the change.”

Heinkel shrugged.

At that, Alon was surprised behind his expressionless face.

After receiving faith from Alon, it had taken Penia several weeks before she could use the Phrase.

But Heinkel had drastically shortened that process.

Suppressing his surprise, Alon spoke to her.

“Just in case, I’ll mention this, but phrases can only be used with faith.”

“Of course I know. Don’t worry about that either.”

As if telling him to put his worries aside, Heinkel lightly tapped Alon’s shoulder with her small palm.

Seeing her attitude, which hardly showed any piety, Alon wondered whether she could truly use the phrase, but—

“Are you planning to leave right away?”

At the following question, he quickly cut off his thoughts and answered.

“Not immediately, but I plan to pass the blessing to the mages before moving.”

“What about magic? You’ve deciphered two more, haven’t you?”

At that, Alon pondered briefly before replying.

“It would be better to postpone that.”

If he started learning magic now, he would have to stay in the Mage Tower for at least several weeks.

Heinkel nodded as if she understood the situation.

“If you’re busy, it can’t be helped. Magic needs time to learn properly. Then is the only thing left the blessing?” 

“That’s correct.”

There was now only one task left for Alon.

“Have you decided who to give the blessings to?”

“Not yet.”

“Hmm—”

Heinkel thought for a moment before speaking.

“Anyway, you don’t have to give the blessing right now, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then can you give me a little time?”

“…Time?”

“Yeah. Since you gave me a blessing, I thought I’d help you out a bit.”

A meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

“How about it?”

At the repeated offer.

“If that’s the case—”

Though tilting his head, Alon accepted.

After spending another day, Alon left the central Mage Tower and boarded a carriage heading to the Colony.

“Have a safe trip!”

“We’ll be waiting!”

“Take care!”

Boom— boom boom~!

As if they had been waiting, the mages rushed to the entrance and each shouted their farewells.

Barely escaping that crowd, Alon let out a sigh.

“ Getting too much attention is tiring.”

“Mm— I think that’s understandable.”

While staying at the Mage Tower, whenever Alon stepped outside even briefly, mages would approach him with all kinds of gifts.

Recalling that time, Alon gently closed his eyes, and Penia chimed in as if she agreed.

Seizing the moment, Evan immediately cut in.

“Didn’t you enjoy getting attention? You were grinning every time you received something~”

“Shut up.”

Now Penia brushed off Evan’s attacks lightly.

[I thought I was going to die............]

Soon, Basiliora emerged from Alon’s ring with a tired look.

“What’s wrong?”

[You might not know, but staying inside that ring is more suffocating than you’d think!]

At Alon’s question, Basiliora shouted as if wronged.

Staring at him, Penia tilted her head.......

“Then couldn’t you have just come out? Anyway, when Lady Heinkel came out earlier, she couldn’t even use mana.”

[What if she ended up using it? That would’ve been a disaster.]

As if suffering from PTSD, Basiliora trembled before suddenly freezing.

[No, wait—was it not? Maybe that was the only chance I had to get revenge? If I had overcome my anxiety and come out??]

[Meow]

[Kraaaah—!]

Eventually, as Basiliora made a fuss by himself, Blackie suddenly popped out of the pocket and smacked his head as if he were noisy.

Thanks to that, the carriage peacefully moved toward the Colony.

***

Meanwhile, in Palantio’s second office.

Originally Penia’s research lab, it had now become Lainisius’s office.

He stood frozen with a shocked expression.

Because he had analyzed in detail the artifact effect of the Footsteps that Run Through the Past.

Repairing an already-made artifact was one thing, but uncovering its detailed operating principle was normally close to impossible. Unlike simple ‘repair,’ understanding the ‘operating principle’ was on an entirely different level.

However, Lainisius’s innate nature made it possible.

For a while, as he stared at the Footsteps that Run Through the Past, he thought to himself.

“Should I call it a transmitter-receiver?”

No, it was an artifact that operated with a slightly more complex structure than that.

Still, there was no better simple way to summarize it.

More precisely, it was more accurate to call it a ‘one-sided’ transmitter.

In other words, the artifact effect of the Footsteps that Run Through the Past wasn’t actually that remarkable.

Yet the reason Lainisius was surprised was due to one inference based on that simple fact.

‘A transmitter-receiver artifact, even if it’s one-sided transmission, loses its meaning if there is no receiver.’

But according to what Lainisius knew, Alon had already met Kylrus several times through this device.

That too, Kylrus who had become an ‘Outer God’ to take revenge on the Five Great Sins.

Which meant that Lainisius’s previous speculation before Alon left was somewhat correct.

‘The Outer Gods have not been annihilated; they only appear to be, and are trapped somewhere.’

His initial hypothesis about the Outer Gods.

And that inference provided Lainisius with one additional piece of information.

‘And if that is truly the case’

Lainisius looked at the Footsteps that Run Through the Past.

A one-sided transmitter naturally leaves traces.

And his innate nature allowed him, given time, to clearly track those traces of transmission.

Which meant—

“They can be summoned at will.......”

Lainisius’s low voice echoed through the room.