Raising Villains the Right Way

The room, now dyed red by moonlight.

Silence ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍settled in every corner.

Yutia stared at Seeker without a word.

Her crimson lips parted slightly.

“I came because there was something I needed to discuss with you.”

A natural smile soon bloomed upon her previously expressionless lips.

Seeing that, Seeker let out a small sigh.

At least as far as he knew, that smile must never disappear from her face.

If she was truly ‘one who had crossed over,’ then all the more so.

“Then I would appreciate it if you released this first.”

“Oh my, how careless of me.”

Yutia feigned innocence as if she had forgotten.

Seeker’s body regained its freedom.

Only then did he turn from the window where he had been watching the red moon and face forward.

In his sight was a girl.

At some point, she had already taken the seat before him.

Tick—

There was no clock.

And yet, a sound that should not have been heard rang clearly in his ears.

It was only for a moment.

“Why did you do that?”

Yutia’s question flew toward him.

Though the smile remained at her lips, her expression was infinitely cold.

“……What exactly do you mean?”

“I believe you know very well what I am asking.”

At her continued interrogation, Seeker remained silent for a moment before answering.

“If you mean regarding the Star Eater, I had no particular ulterior motive. I merely said what needed to be said at this point in time.”

“……And what does ‘this point in time’ mean?”

“I judged that it would be necessary for him now.”

“Not your own arbitrary desire to easily prevent the destruction?”

“I cannot say that intention was not reflected at all, but it is indeed something he needs. You know it as well, do you not? Now that the divine-blood have descended, things will not return to how they were.”

“……”

“Even if not now, there will be others like you in the future. No—there is already one suspicious individual within this Tower. And the matter I have now set in motion as well—”

“Enough.”

Yutia cut him off.

Seeker closed his mouth without resistance.

Yutia looked into his eyes.

As though watching something amusing.

Yet her gaze was mixed with scrutiny.

After a stretch of silence—

“Hm~”

Yutia tilted her head slightly.

“I roughly understand. You judged it so both for him and for your mission, is that it?”

“Yes. From the beginning until now, my purpose has been only one.”

“To prevent the destruction of the continent?”

Seeker did not answer her question.

It was not that he ignored it deliberately.

They both already knew.

What the answer would be.

“But even so, it seems rather reckless.”

“It may be difficult. But you will follow him, will you not?”

“You even anticipated that?”

“Yes. Though even if you go with him, this is ultimately something he must accomplish himself.”

At last, as though she had heard all she needed, Yutia nodded.

“Very well. I will take it as such.”

The moment her voice echoed again, the red world began to crumble slowly.

The blood-red moon regained its original blue hue.

When the world finally returned to normal, Seeker muttered,

“……I am relieved that we could understand one another.”

“Are you?”

“Had that not been the case, I would have been forced to use force.”

Yutia’s steps halted.

“Oh my, did you truly judge that you could escape even if you used force?”

“If it were you before crossing over, it would be impossible. But now, it would be possible.”

Seeker said so while looking at the girl’s back.

“The current you is clearly weaker than before.”

On her way toward the door, she turned her head slightly to look at him.

Beneath her crescent-shaped eyes, the smile at her lips shimmered faintly.

“There is no need to worry too much. I intend to reclaim it soon.”

Yutia resumed walking and silently grasped the doorknob.

Seeker, who had been lost in thought, suddenly seemed to recall something and widened his eyes.

“Ah.”

Yutia’s hand, about to turn the knob, paused.

“There was one more thing I forgot to mention.”

“What is it?”

Without looking at Seeker, she opened the door.

“If your goal is to prevent destruction, you may need to pay a little more attention.”

“What……?”

“Even if you stop all the divine-blood, if He does not remain at the end—”

“.....”

“In any case, the world will perish.”

Leaving those low final words behind, she scattered and disappeared beyond the door.

For a moment, Seeker stared blankly at the place where she had left.

Then, quietly, a single question arose within him.

The expression Yutia had used.

……Reclaim?

Seeker frowned.

He knew she was one who had crossed over.

However, her power was not something she could simply regain because she wished to.

At least, as far as Seeker knew.

From the very beginning, her power was—

As he reached that point in thought, Seeker’s eyes widened.

A sudden possibility crossed his mind.

‘If that were possible—’

An involuntary laugh escaped him.

“It may truly be possible.”

Seeker muttered, recalling the temple at the western edge of the continent.

A temple where perhaps someone other than the Star Eater might also gain something.

***

And the next day.

“Then, let us depart.”

“Yes.”

“Y-Yes…”

“Very well.”

Alon’s party departed toward the west.

Though Yutia had been added to the group’s journey, little had changed.

If there was any difference at all—

“Ahem, Lord Alon, you see—”

—it was that Penia seemed oddly awkward, and Basiliora and Blackie, who would roll around and bicker whenever they had the chance, did not fully reveal themselves.

Aside from such trivial(?) matters, nothing particular occurred, and the journey of Alon’s party was peaceful.

However—

The longer the journey stretched on, the more Alon’s worries gradually increased.

It was because of Rhythm.

Law, a law……

Aside from simple magical research, the matter Alon had been continuously preoccupied with recently was what kind of law he would establish upon reaching the second stage.

At present, Alon had alleviated a certain degree of risk through Reverse Heaven.

What he needed now was not merely to mitigate risk, but to step forward beyond it.

Yet no matter how deeply he contemplated, no decisive idea came to mind.

It was not because his magic was near completion.

There were still many shortcomings in his magic.

However, those were problems to be resolved through magic itself.

This was an entirely different matter.

Thus, Alon continued to spend his time in contemplation.

And after more days had passed—

“Lord Alon.”

“What is it?”

“We have arrived at the border.”

“The border…… Did we not pass one before?”

Alon recalled several days earlier.

Unlike the border of the Allied Kingdom Alliance, the Empire’s border had been empty, as though it did not even need to be guarded.

“Ah, it seems this is the border of the Eastern Empire.”

“There is another border?”

“Yes. Please take a look.”

Alon cast his gaze outside the carriage.

Ahead stood a massive fortress wall.

As vast as the one they had seen before.

“They built another one.”

“Yes. It appears to have been constructed after the Empire split. Come to think of it, I believe I heard about it somewhere.”

“I failed to consider that.”

Alon let out a small sigh.

Of course, he had been slightly taken aback before, but that border had been empty, making it easy to pass.

He had not expected that they would build an entirely new border like this.

“Hmm…… what should we do about this……”

“Indeed…… The Eastern Empire may be somewhat difficult.”

Evan, Penia, and Yutia each fell into thought.

After a brief deliberation, Alon made a decision.

“Let us approach first.”

They could not turn back after coming this far.

Before reaching the border, the group held a short strategy meeting.

“Well, at times like this, there is one method built on faith and trust.”

“What is it?”

“This.”

Evan made a circle with his fingers.

“But if that fails, we might not only be unable to enter but could even be imprisoned.”

“Ahem, would it go that far?”

“First of all, we are not citizens of the Empire, so it will not be easy…… How about this instead?”

“What is it?”

“We reveal our affiliation and say we came to deliver a message to the little prin— I mean, the Princess of the Eastern Empire regarding what happened recently.”

“And after that?”

“We enter first, then cross the Eastern Empire and head to the Western Empire.”

“And how will we deal with the aftermath?”

“That is……”

Ahem—Penia coughed and averted her gaze.

While nutritionally lacking countermeasures poured forth, the carriage had already approached the gates of the border fortress.

Anxiety showed on everyone’s faces.

At that moment—

“There is no need to worry too much, My Lord.”

“……Yutia?”

Yutia stepped forward.

“Do you have some method?”

“It is not guaranteed, but I remain under the guidance of the Goddess Sironia. And within the Empire as well, there are those who serve the Goddess Sironia.”

“Oh.”

An exclamation escaped Alon unconsciously.

If what she said was true, it would indeed make things easier.

After all, she was a cardinal of Rosario.

……But did not the Empire worship a different god?

The doubt crossed Alon’s mind only briefly.

“Identify yourselves!”

The moment they reached the gate, a soldier’s shout descended from atop the wall as if he had been waiting.

“Yes.”

“Let us step down.”

Alon and Yutia descended from the carriage and looked up at the wall.

There stood a man who exuded an unmistakable presence at a glance.

Judging by his aura, at least a Master Knight—perhaps even higher.

Alon gauged his ability from the faint mana flowing from him.

“Greetings. I am Yutia Bloodia, a servant of the great Goddess Sironia.”

Yutia stepped forward calmly.

The man, who had been looking down without interest even at her greeting,

“……?”

Soon wore a slightly strange expression.

Then, as if realizing something, he vanished from atop the wall in an instant.

Krrrggggg—!!!

At the same time, the gates began to open.

“Wow, the Goddess Sironia works in the Empire too.”

“Indeed.”

While Evan and Penia exchanged words behind them—

“Greetings.”

The man who had stood atop the wall came running down hurriedly.

Then immediately—

“I failed to recognize you!”

He bowed deeply to Alon.

The entire party was bewildered.

“What is this?”

“Are you not His Majesty Alon Palatio, King of Palantio Kingdom?”

At Alon’s question, the man raised his head carefully.

“That is correct.”

At Alon’s affirmation, the man nodded vigorously.

“I have heard the story. You may pass.”

He guided them willingly.

“……What?”

Alon tilted his head in confusion.

The man smiled proudly, as though praising his own social acumen.

“Are you not soon to become the consort of Her Highness the Princess?”

“Ha?”

The smile vanished from Yutia’s lips.

……And from Penia’s as well, standing beside Evan.