Raising Villains the Right Way

The basement of the guild house.

Once, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍an incident had occurred where the king of the Colony had defected and become a puppet of the divine-blood.

In ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that very basement where everyone had united and struggled to somehow reclaim the Colony from the divine-blood, now, only an awkward silence filled the space.

An ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍extremely embarrassing and flustered silence.

Alon ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looked at Karsem and Lime.

Karsem, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍unable to decide where to place his gaze, kept shifting his eyes around, while Lime stared only at the ground as if it might suddenly collapse.

—Yes, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and actually, even when you’re not here, brother, I often come here at night.

Seeing that scene brought Karsem’s words to mind once again.

Now that he had faced a truth he hadn’t particularly wanted to know.

Alon suddenly thought about this situation.

‘……No, does it really have to be this awkward?’

Hmm.

…It did seem like an awkward situation.

After all, Alon and Penia had ended up seeing it.

·A scene(?) that was somewhat difficult to describe………………’

Still, Alon felt slightly wronged.

In truth, the moment Penia opened the door, Alon had immediately intended to leave the room after offering a brief apology.

—W-wait! I’ll explain……!?

However, the one who stopped him was none other than Karsem.

He didn’t know what exactly there was to explain, but in the end, because of his desperate cry, Alon and Penia couldn’t escape.

Thus, being placed in this awkward four-person face-off, Alon, who felt somewhat unjust,

“Hmm-hmm—”

Soon cleared his throat.

At that, Karsem and Lime flinched.

Eventually, Alon spoke first in a calm tone.

“We were rude.”

At the light bow, Lime and Karsem showed surprised expressions.

However, Alon’s apology was not strange.

Thinking about it, it was rather strange that the two were acting as if they had been caught doing something they shouldn’t have. From the start, Alon was in no position to comment on whatever relationship they had.

Not only that, in a sense, it was Alon and Penia who should be apologizing.

After all, they were the ones who had barged into a secret meeting.

“No, rather, we’re the ones who should apologize for showing something like this. In a sacred guild office…”

Karsem lowered his head as if ashamed.

Only then did Alon realize why the two were so restless.

‘This was a guild building.’

Although Alon’s group was currently staying in the guild building, as far as Alon knew, the only one who truly resided here was Seolrang.

Anyway, as he nodded.

“Hmm?”

Alon paused.

Because another question arose.

Why were they doing this(?) specifically in the guild office?

Don’t both of them have quieter and safer places?’

Lime, being Seolrang’s secretary, had her own home.

And naturally, Karsem also had a home.

A very large one at that—the imperial palace.

Yet instead of their homes, they were doing this in the guild office?

If so—

“Ahem, I understand everything. I do understand, um………… tastes can vary.”

Perhaps Penia had reached a similar conclusion, as she awkwardly coughed and spoke.

At that, Karsem immediately shouted.

“Th-this is because there are circumstances!”

“Circumstances……?”

“Ah…… certainly, that—”

“No, it’s not like that……!”

As if he didn’t want the misunderstanding to grow any further, Karsem hurriedly began explaining.

“So, if this relationship becomes known, it could become politically complicated, and since there’s a secret passage connecting the imperial palace to here, you’ve been meeting like this to keep it discreet?”

“That’s correct……”

At the honest confession, Alon nodded.

Certainly, for Karsem, who had become the king of the Colony, the card of ‘marriage’ was not something he could easily play right now.

Alon looked at Karsem.

It seemed like a reasonable judgment.

However, perhaps something crossed his mind under that gaze, Karsem firmly grabbed Lime’s hand and said.

“But someday, I will officially announce it and take her as my wife. She is someone I absolutely need.”

“Karsem…………”

At Karsem’s sudden confession attack, Lime blushed deeply.

“……Eh.”

Of course, Penia, who was standing beside them, instantly made a face that clearly said ‘how ridiculous.’

But with a mood that felt like, if the two were alone, an even more intense continuation would unfold compared to earlier, Alon eventually stood up.

“We will keep this matter to ourselves, so please do not worry too much.”

“Thank you!”

With those words, Alon and Penia quietly left the basement.

A sigh escaped naturally.

“We learned a truth we didn’t really want to know.”

“Seriously. I’m sorry.”

“Suddenly?”

At Alon’s reaction, Penia scratched her head.

“Well, if I hadn’t opened the door like you said, we wouldn’t have ended up in that situation.”

“Well, it couldn’t be helped. We were mistaken until then.”

“Still, if we had thought a bit more, we might have realized it was connected to the palace…”

Penia added, sounding slightly embarrassed.

“By the way, I suddenly got curious. When people are in love, do things like that all sound romantic?”

“……Things like that?”

“Yes. You know, like ‘She is someone I absolutely need.’ Something like that.”

She didn’t say it outright, but added that it made her cringe as soon as she heard it.

Alon thought quietly.

“Hmm~”

“As expected, you think so too, right?”

“It does feel a bit embarrassing to me as well, but………… I think it depends on who says it.”

“Depends on who?”

“Yes. From our perspective, it may sound like that, but if someone you love says it, it would feel different.”

“Hmm~ for me, even if someone I like said that, I think it would still be cringe—”

Step—!

“? Penia?”

As Penia suddenly stopped walking, Alon showed confusion.

However.

She lowered her head without answering.

“Um, Lord Alon. I’ll step outside for a bit.”

“At this hour?”

“Yes. I suddenly have a magic I want to test, and I can’t do it inside.”

“Well, alright.”

Though he wondered why at this hour, Alon nodded and continued walking alone.

Because of that, he did not see it.

The ears peeking out from between her blue hair, dyed red.

***

The day after Alon glimpsed a truth he didn’t want to know.

“Alon, a divine-blood has come to see you.”

“Has come to see me?”

“Yes.”

“Here?”

“Well, I’m also surprised…… but yes, apparently so.”

Evan brought the news that a divine-blood had come.

The moment he heard that, Alon instinctively spread his mana to scan the surroundings.

However, as he couldn’t feel any presence of divine-blood at all, he looked puzzled, and Evan asked further.

“What should we do?”

“Let’s go for now. But where are they?”

“I heard they’re waiting for you in an underground cavity prepared in advance by the information guild.”

“I’ll go too!”

At that, Seolrang shouted as if she had been waiting.

Accepting her accompaniment, Alon immediately stood up.

After getting into a carriage and leaving the Colony, Alon’s group soon stopped at a small cavity.

“I greet the great one.”

The masked man with reversed eyes bowed immediately as Alon stepped out of the carriage.

Giving a slight nod, Alon asked.

“Is the divine-blood inside?”

“Yes.”

Soon, following the guide, the group walked deeper into the cavity.

After going in a fair distance.

“You’ve come.”

A thin voice was heard.

At the center of the large cavity sat a woman.

“A person?”

Alon muttered instinctively.

However, he soon realized.

That the being sitting on a chair in that mismatched place was not human.

‘There’s no vitality.’

There was no sense of life from her, and her face was extremely pale.

And the moment he recognized that.

“To be precise, it’s a puppet I’m controlling.”

The woman—no, the puppet—spoke.

“Well, you wouldn’t mind my true body anyway, but generally, humans feel more affinity toward forms similar to themselves rather than different ones, right? So I tried making one. Well, I didn’t do a great job though.”

She shrugged as she said that.

Even though there was no vitality, the movements of her body felt as if life were present.

Feeling the strangeness, Alon approached.

When he finally reached in front of her, she stood up.

“First, I’ll introduce myself.”

“I’m ‘Sculptor.’ Honestly, I’d prefer to greet you with my real body, but as you know, my body tends to stand out and is difficult to move.”

At her casual tone, Alon felt something new.

As far as he knew, there had never been a divine-blood that showed this level of familiarity toward humans.

Thus, as he felt curiosity, Alon soon spoke.

“I’ll introduce myself as well—”

“Ah, no need. I already know you well.”

“You know me?”

“Yeah. Among divine-bloods—well, there might be some who don’t know, but anyway, you’re quite famous.”

‘Star Eater,’ Sculptor added.

“No, actually, at this point, there might not be anyone who doesn’t know you.”

She raised the corners of her lips.

“……Am I that famous?”

He couldn’t understand.

However, at Alon’s question, Sculptor nodded as if it were obvious.

“Of course. At this point, who wouldn’t know the leader of Star Root?”

She let out a laugh.

”?”

Alon became bewildered.

”?”

Seeing that, Sculptor’s expression also turned puzzled.

”?”

”?”

”?”

”?”

Question marks passed between them.

Alon turned his gaze to the right and looked at Evan.

“??”

Evan also wore a face full of confusion.

This time, Alon looked at Penia and Seolrang.

“???”

“?”

Likewise, they too had countless question marks floating above their heads.

Then, turning his gaze back to Sculptor, Alon said.

“I am not the leader of Star Root?”

“What?”

And so he said,

“No…… you’re not?”

“I’m not.”

“Really……?”

“Really.”

“……You’re not the leader of Star Root who violently beats divine-blood and absorbs them in groups……?”

“What kind of trashy behavior is that.”

“……Huh?”

At this unexpected fact(?),

With a thought of ‘What is this?’

Great confusion filled Sculptor’s mind.