Raising Villains the Right Way

Alon remembered very clearly the first time he met Irenne Polantisia at Seeker’s Tower.

Not ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍only had it not been that long ago, but what he had heard from Serdea back then had been quite shocking.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍at least in Alon’s memory, the emotion Irenne held toward him had been close to indifference.

Indifference.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍meant exactly what it sounded like—she had no particular feelings at all, and Alon hadn’t found that strange.

No, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if anything, Alon thought Irenne Polantisia’s reaction had been the most reasonable in some ways.

At ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the very least, she didn’t pick fights suspiciously with someone she had just met, nor did she act suspiciously friendly, nor—did she suddenly propose marriage out of nowhere.

Yes, that was certainly how it had been—

Alon looked forward.

There sat Irenne.

With a stiff expression, and for some reason, her body trembling.

“Hoo—”

“Hiiik—”

At the sigh he let out from a headache, Irenne reacted overly sensitively.

“??”

Serdea tilted her head as she looked at her, finding it strange.

Seeing that, Alon recalled what had happened earlier.

‘She didn’t seem like that right before seeing me.’

More precisely, when Alon first heard that the two imperial princesses had arrived and entered the audience chamber, Irenne’s expression had been tense rather than fearful.

Her complexion had changed only after Alon entered.

As he thought about that—

A new question suddenly surfaced in his mind.

‘Come to think of it, why are the two of them together?’

As far as Alon knew, the Empire had split into four, and the four divided princes and princesses were tearing at each other to claim legitimacy as emperor.

“Then how did the two of you come together?”

Since this wasn’t even an official setting, it was strange for two imperial princesses to be present together like this.

When Alon pointed that out, Serdea, who was beside him, glanced at Irenne and shrugged.

“Hm, I was originally alone, but when I arrived near your territory, she was already there.”

So they came in together?

‘…No, even so, they’re in a situation where they’re pointing swords at each other, yet they’re this amicable?’

Alon still didn’t understand, but unfortunately, he had no time to think further.

“Aren’t you curious why I came to see you?”

It was because of Serdea’s next remark.

She, who had been making an unreadable expression while looking at Irenne just moments ago, asked proudly.

“For what reason have you come?”

When Alon asked back, she cleared her throat and opened her mouth—

“I have come to personally forgive the rudeness you committed at the border—ughk~!”

—only to be unable to continue.

The reason was—

“I’m sorry. Serdea is still immature.”

The previously frozen Irenne suddenly slammed her hand down on Serdea’s head.

“W-what are you doing! Ughk!”

Though Serdea protested with a dumbfounded expression, Irenne forced an awkward smile toward Alon and continued pressing her head down firmly.

“Ghk—wait! Why all of a sudden!”

Serdea’s head was gradually being pushed below the table, while Irenne desperately held it down.

At that sight, Alon’s face went blank.

“Let go—Let go, I said!!”

Despite Serdea’s screams, Irenne forced the corners of her trembling lips upward.

No, um…… is that really okay?

Weren’t they supposed to be fierce enemies……?

Numerous thoughts filled Alon’s mind.

He glanced to the side.

Evan’s reaction was the same.

His eyes were narrowed as if looking at a madwoman.

After confirming Evan’s reaction, Alon let out a short sigh.

Of course, Alon did not fully grasp the exact situation.

However, one thing he could tell was that the two imperial princesses—

No, more precisely, Irenne Polantisia—was misunderstanding something.

If it wasn’t a misunderstanding or misconception, such a drastic change in attitude made no sense.

‘……Just what kind of misunderstanding is she having?’

The answer wasn’t hard to find.

‘A dragon……?’

The father of a dragon.

Because of Arculainisis, even Contanias had mistakenly thought of him as the father of a dragon.

That was probably the reason.

However, he soon tilted his head.

Looking at it from various angles, things didn’t quite line up perfectly.

Still, Alon decided to lightly bring up the topic of dragons first.

At least, in his judgment, there was nothing else that could cause such a misunderstanding.

“......Princess.”

“Yes, y-yes! Please speak.”

With Serdea still being pressed downward while shouting “Let me gooo!!,” Irenne smiled.

Alon once again felt puzzled.

Even if they were family, they were supreme authorities leading their respective nations and competitors pointing swords at each other—was this really acceptable?

But soon, he shrugged.

“It seems you are misunderstanding something, so I will clarify—I am not a dragon.”

“Hm?”

The first to react to Alon’s statement was Serdea.

A gaze that seemed to say, ‘Huh? You’re not?’ mixed with a bit of suspicion.

Exactly the reaction Alon had expected.

However—

“Yes, I know.”

“?”

“?”

At Irenne’s response, Alon now wore the same expression as Serdea.

“Pardon……?”

“I know………!”

Perhaps she didn’t even have the composure to hide it, as she was visibly trembling.

“No, I mean, I really am not a dragon.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“......”

Then why are you trembling like that……? That thought suddenly arose, but—

Alon felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he had experienced this situation somewhere before.

At that moment—

“F-first, we’ll be taking our leave!”

“W-what? Wait, I’m not done—”

Suddenly, Irenne stood up, grabbed Serdea, bowed briefly, and left.

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think they came here for?”

“Even with my exceptional insight, I have no idea.”

“.....”

“…Ah.”

“What is it?”

“No, it just feels strange not getting interrupted……”

Watching Evan scratch his head, Alon tilted his head again.

“For now, investigate the two imperial princesses further.”

“Understood.”

He gave the order.

‘What on earth was that?’

As he recalled Irenne’s face, a sigh escaped him once more.

***

Outside the capital of Palantio.

More precisely, inside Serdea Polantisia’s grand carriage.

“What the hell was that supposed to be!”

Serdea glared at Irenne with a deeply furrowed brow.

Her voice was filled with blatant irritation.

However, despite the heated reaction, Irenne remained silent for a while.

“Are you ignoring me……?”

Serdea’s frown deepened even further.

“Even if we formed a temporary ‘pact,’ this is clearly a violation!”

A pact.

While it might not apply to the other siblings, Serdea and Irenne had secretly formed an alliance under the name of a pact.

Strictly speaking, it was less of an alliance and more like a business partnership that would last until a certain point.

In the end, the only reason these two could sit together like this was because of that pact, so Serdea’s anger was understandable.

“Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”

Irenne, who had been lost in thought until just now, spoke.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You may not know, but I actually saved you from a threat.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Still unable to understand, Serdea growled.

At that, Irenne let out a sigh.

“As you know, just as you gained a ‘mouth,’ I gained ‘eyes.’ That’s information we already shared, right?”

At Irenne’s words, Serdea nodded lightly.

She had already realized what Irenne was getting at.

“Was there something?”

Though her tone had softened slightly, Irenne did not answer.

She simply recalled—that moment.

“Hoo……”

Irenne let out a deep sigh.

After first meeting Alon, the emotion Irenne mostly felt was curiosity.

Curiosity about whether Alon was truly a dragon hiding his identity, and how he had managed to enslave that radiant golden dragon.

And the next thing she felt was a plan.

If Alon truly was a dragon,

If he really was the father of a guardian dragon as it had said—

Then from now on, her relationship with him would become extremely important.

Especially for Irenne, whose combat ability was relatively lacking compared to her siblings who could fend off divine-bloods.

That was why she had no choice but to remain in Palantio to confirm Alon’s identity and had made many plans during that time.

But in the end, none of those preparations mattered.

More precisely, the moment she met Alon, they all became meaningless.

“Hoo.”

Clenching her trembling hand tightly, Irenne recalled that scene.

The moment Alon entered, as if waiting for it, she activated her eyes—and what filled her vision were pitch-black flames.

Irenne had seen those black flames before.

Not from a human—

—but from divine-blood.

Of course, Irenne was greatly shocked by the fact that the King of Palantio was divine-blood.

However, that alone would not have made her tremble in fear.

Even if the opponent was divine-blood, the fact that he maintained a human form meant she wouldn’t be attacked as long as she didn’t reveal it.

Yet the reason she was consumed by fear was something else.

First, because the flames within Alon were not just one.

As far as Irenne knew, all living beings—including divine-blood—should possess only a single flame.

At least, that was how she had understood the knowledge she gained after obtaining her eyes.

But the King of Palantio was different.

‘It was clearly…… four.’

The King of Palantio possessed four flames.

Four black flames that divine-bloods were supposed to have.

And that wasn’t all.

She saw it.

No—more precisely, she was dragged into it.

A crimson temple beneath a rising red moon.

There, Irenne had no choice but to see—

A girl with dazzling white hair and red eyes, smiling at her while placing a finger on her lips.

[Sorry, but please keep your distance.]

A being possessing black flames large enough to burn the entire world.

And she heard it.

[There are too many flies gathering.]

The cold voice she spoke so casually.

And so—

Tremble tremble—

Irenne could clearly feel her hands trembling again.

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

Holding onto that single question even amid her fear.