Raising Villains the Right Way

Serdea Polantisia, as the Imperial Princess, was practically treated as the Emperor within the Eastern Empire.

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍other words, it meant she had never experienced someone looking down at her from above, aside from her father, the Emperor.

That ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was why this situation felt extremely unfamiliar to Serdea.

No, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍beyond just that—

Hic—!

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was terrifying.

—At ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍least, that was how Serdea perceived it.

“W-what?”

She looked around with a flustered expression.

The sunlight that had been shining down under the clear sky just moments ago had vanished.

Instead, what filled the space was a crimson light, like the color of blood.

And beneath it—

Yutia, who had been smiling with her eyes just moments ago, was now staring at Serdea with vivid red eyes.

Startled by the surreal sight, Serdea faltered.

But only briefly.

She soon recalled what Yutia had just said to her.

‘Do you want to die?’

As the Imperial Princess—now treated as an Emperor—Serdea had never once heard such insolent words in her life.

“W-what did you just say to me?”

For a moment, heat rose within her.

Even while enduring the fear wrapping around her entire body, she glared in defiance—

“Hik—!”

But it lasted only an instant.

Her mouth shut again.

Because Yutia’s eyes were far too chilling to express anger.

Yutia took a step forward.

Softly, lightly—

As the girl walked toward the throne, Serdea could not say a single word.

Eventually, the girl’s face came right up to Serdea’s.

“Didn’t I ask if you wanted to die?”

A quiet, cold voice fell—

“N-no…”

Serdea lowered her gaze.

Throwing away even the dignity of a princess.

Ironically, Serdea, who had excellent instincts, had already realized it.

That the being before her was anything but ordinary.

Even if she used her abilities or called the guards outside—

That person—no, that inhuman being—was someone she could never defeat.

As that realization set in, fear began to seep into her eyes in place of defiance.

“W-why are you doing this to me?”

Her voice, now trembling and shriveled, slipped out.

At that question, Yutia slightly raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t tell me… you’re asking because you really don’t know?”

“…I have done nothing…”

As Serdea timidly voiced her stance, Yutia stepped closer.

“Really? That’s strange~”

The girl’s pale hand moved toward Serdea’s hair.

Before she knew it, her fingers were idly playing with it.

And then—

Boom! Rumble! Craaaash—!!!!

“!!”

Serdea saw it.

In the distance, the capital’s walls collapsing like sheets of paper.

“I think I’ve heard quite a lot of rumors that you’re going to marry My Lord.”

At Yutia’s low voice that followed, Serdea froze.

Her eyes merely rolled around.

In truth, she had indeed spread that rumor.

Of course, she had previously heard from Irenne Polantisia that Alon was a dangerous individual.

Even so, she had no intention of giving up on him.

No—if anything, she wanted him even more.

Among the empires that remained in balance, excluding the already-destroyed Western Empire, Alon’s power would certainly be useful.

And in the end, Irenne was someone she would have to overcome someday anyway.

But—

No matter what, the most important thing was ‘her life,’

“…I-I’m sorry. I will take responsibility for that—”

“You’ll correct it, right?”

“I-I will definitely correct it.”

Following Yutia’s smiling words, Serdea nodded repeatedly.

Only then did Yutia nod as well, seemingly satisfied.

And at that moment—

Flash—!

“…Huh?”

Serdea blankly looked around.

Everything had returned to normal.

The distant walls that had collapsed stood firm as if nothing had happened, protecting the capital.

The crimson sky had returned to a clear blue.

As if to say that everything that had just unfolded was nothing but an illusion.

Faced with such an unbelievable situation, Serdea could only stand there in a daze.

But she knew.

That what she had seen earlier was no mere illusion.

And so, just as confusion deepened on her face—

“Well then, since that matter is settled, let’s move on to the main topic.”

“T-the main topic?”

Regardless of whether Serdea was still bewildered, Yutia nodded with a smile.

“Yes, the main topic.”

“…Is it about the temple?”

“No? Of course not. I told you earlier, the temple doesn’t matter at all.”

“Then?”

“Well, to summarize, I’m thinking of telling you how you can survive. Using a method I obtained from the Seeker.”

And just like that, she began speaking.

Without giving Serdea any chance to ask questions.

After some time passed—

“Is what you said true?”

“I’m not so free that I’d come all the way here just to tell lies like that.”

Serdea’s eyes widened in disbelief.

A smile still hung on Yutia’s lips.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. Make sure you keep your promise.”

As if she had said everything she needed, she turned without hesitation.

Watching Yutia about to disappear like the wind, Serdea—

“W-wait.”

Unconsciously called out to her.

“…What?”

“…Why are you telling me all this?”

She simply couldn’t understand.

At that question, Yutia thought for a moment.

“It’s not for you.”

“What?”

“Not for the Empire either. It’s just—”

She turned her body toward the door again.

“For My Lord.”

After leaving the words, “Because My Lord doesn’t want to see it,”

she stepped out of the audience chamber.

Serdea blankly stared at the place Yutia had left—

Bang—!

The door suddenly opened again.

Yutia had left leisurely, yet returned just as suddenly.

“?”

Startled, Serdea took a step back.

But—

“Ah, just in case, let me say this. Make sure you correct it properly, okay? If I keep hearing that kind of talk even after I leave—I don’t know what will happen next?”

At that chilling warning, the princess’s face turned pale as she nodded vigorously.

Thud—

Soon, silence fell over the audience chamber.

***

A month had passed since Alon crossed the Empire’s border and finally arrived in the Eastern Empire.

A time that could be considered long or short.

During that time, there had been a few changes for Alon as well.

First, he had obtained information.

That the protagonist of Calypsophobia had already disappeared before the divine-blood appeared.

Since even the information guild could not find the protagonist afterward, it remained a mystery.

Another change was that the preparation for his magic was almost complete.

To be more precise, the magic that would return Seolrang to her original state.

Alon naturally looked at Seolrang, who was sitting beside him, asleep.

Even during the journey, she continued her ‘act’ as if it were natural.

She always wore a smile as if she were enjoying herself, and her tail still swayed.

As if that were the correct way to be.

“Lord Alon.”

As he briefly considered finishing the preparations faster, Evan’s voice broke his thoughts.

“Yes?”

“I think we’ve almost arrived.”

Alon naturally turned his gaze outside the carriage, and in the distance—

“That is…”

He saw numerous divine-bloods, along with a single crack.

A massive crack large enough for divine-blood to enter.

“That must be the place.”

At Evan’s words, Alon nodded.

It was exactly as Sculptor had described.

If there was one difference from her explanation, it was that there were quite a few divine-bloods around the crack, even though she had said there would be none.

After observing the situation for a moment, Alon—

“From here on, I’ll go alone.”

said as he prepared to get off the carriage.

“You’re going alone?”

“Yes.”

“…Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”

“I think so too.”

Penia immediately agreed with Evan.

“Master, let’s go together.”

Even Seolrang stepped forward, but Alon firmly shook his head.

If nothing happened, it would be fine.

But there was always the possibility that something might occur inside that crack.

‘Of course, I could take Seolrang with me—’

But if something did happen, someone would also need to stay here and protect the others.

“Don’t worry.”

Reassuring his companions, Alon stepped off the carriage alone.

***

“Will he really be okay…”

A short distance from the crack.

Watching Alon walk forward among the divine-blood, Penia muttered.

Evan scratched his head with a complicated expression.

“Well… it should be fine. It’s Lord Alon, after all.”

“I suppose so…?”

“Ugh—”

Though he nodded for now, Evan couldn’t hide his unease.

“My mind always gets complicated at times like this.”

“Ah, I feel the same.”

“Right? Even if we want to help… the difference in scale is just too damn big~”

“Makes me wonder if I’ll ever get some kind of awakening event,” Evan muttered.

Even so, he kept his eyes fixed on Alon so as not to lose sight of him.

Then—

“Hm?”

He suddenly let out a puzzled sound.

“What is it?”

Without answering Penia’s question, Evan stared at Alon for a while before speaking.

“Well—”

“Well?”

“I don’t know if I’m imagining things, but…”

“If you’re going to say it, stop dragging it out and just say it already.”

At Penia’s urging, Evan paused briefly before—

“…Why does Lord Alon have wings?”

he said.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

As Penia scolded him, she turned her gaze back toward Alon—

“…Huh?”

A deep question appeared on her face as well.

Just as Evan had said, behind Alon, who was walking toward the crack, massive wings had formed.

Not just any wings, but a pair of left and right wings made from countless divine-blood, following behind him.

And so—

“This isn’t just a coincidence, right?”

“Does it look like one…?”

“I don’t think so…”

They could only blankly watch, unable to understand anything, as the divine-bloods near the crack gathered together like a lie and followed Alon into the crack.

“???”

“???”