Raising Villains the Right Way

Reformation work.

Burned ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Vegetation’s answer made Arm-Spitting One look behind him with a confused expression.

There, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the divine-bloods were gathered.

Yes, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they were there, but..................

[............That’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍what you call reformation work?]

[That’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍right.]

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍problem was that the composition was quite bizarre.

Two divine-bloods surrounded by countless divine-bloods.

At a glance, it was a violent formation, and Arm-Spitting One fell silent for a moment.

A deep bewilderment spread across his face.

He turned his gaze and looked at the vegetation.

There were many things he wanted to ask about the situation before his eyes.

However, knowing the truth that ‘there are times when not knowing is better than knowing,’ just as Arm-Spitting One was hesitating, Burned Vegetation let out a sigh.

[Haa, this isn’t easy.]

[...............What do you mean?]

[Lately, even internally, there have been quite a lot of those—no, individuals—who require constant reformation work.]

Vegetation shook his head, saying it was troublesome.

Before Arm-Spitting One could respond, a scream was heard from behind.

At a glance, it was blatantly obvious how Star Root had gathered the divine-bloods.

Arm-Spitting One stared blankly at Burned Vegetation.

He briefly contemplated, ‘Does that person truly not understand the problem?’

[Hmm-hmm—]

He soon cleared his throat.

In truth, his doubts had already been resolved from the moment he faced Burned Vegetation, but it still felt somewhat strange to just leave like this.

No, to be precise, it wouldn’t matter if he left, but how should he put it..................

It somehow felt like he shouldn’t.

For now, he had no choice but to continue the conversation.

[Come to think of it, do you know about Astarote?]

[...............Astarote? Ah, those crazy zealots? I’m roughly aware of them since there are new recruits coming in.]

[New recruits............ you say................]

[Why?]

[No, no, it’s nothing.]

Arm-Spitting One let out a hollow cough for no reason.

Then Burned Vegetation continued speaking.

[Now that I think about it, things have been noisy lately because of Astarote. Is it because of the ‘Fragment’?]

[That’s right. I don’t know what reason a high-ranking divine-blood had to do such a thing, but in any case, the situation is quite serious.]

[Why is that?]

[It seems you don’t know the details.]

Arm-Spitting One briefly explained the current situation to Burned Vegetation.

[I see, so that’s how it happened.]

[But it seems no request for assistance has come here yet? I heard that other divine-bloods are moving to gather groups recently.]

At that, Burned Vegetation shook his head.

[Even if they request help, it seems we won’t be moving.]

[Is that so?]

[To begin with, if that person isn’t moving, we have no place to step forward.]

At that answer, Arm-Spitting One felt a momentary doubt, but soon realized that the ‘that person’ Vegetation referred to was Star Eater.

At the same time, a rumor he had heard before came to mind.

[Star Eater said he would move, though?]

[.....What?]

[I heard he already decided to participate in the subjugation force.]

Burned Vegetation’s eyes widened.

[............Is that true?]

[That’s what I heard.]

[............Then Star Eater will be participating in that subjugation force as a divine-blood?]

At Vegetation’s question, Arm-Spitting One trailed off, saying, ‘Uh................’

After all, he had only heard the rumor that Star Eater would join the subjugation force.

However, hearing Vegetation’s words, it did seem plausible.

[I don’t know the details either, but............... well, probably so.]

Arm-Spitting One nodded faintly.

Suddenly, vitality began to return to Vegetation’s eyes.

[I see.]

As if the time had finally come, he wore a meaningful smile.

[Then at last—]

He stood up from his seat.

As if he had been waiting for this day all along.

[The time has come to properly serve that person.]

Vegetation’s resolute voice echoed through the air.

***

The day after arriving at the Colony, Alon’s group immediately began heading toward the Empire.

They needed rest, but time was tight.

Before they knew it, it had been a week since they began crossing the desert.

”Whoo—”

In the deep night when everyone was asleep.

In the desert, which had become extremely chilly unlike the daytime, Alon stopped what he had been practicing until just now.

”Hmm— it seems to have risen quite a bit now. The completion is high.”

“Is that so?”

”Yes.”

At Penia’s evaluation, Alon let out a sigh.

Seeing that, Penia hesitated as if thinking, then carefully spoke.

”But, Lord Alon.”

“What is it?”

”Why are you suddenly practicing that magic?”

“This magic?”

“Yes. Actually, it’s not really something you need to practice right now. And it’s a bit dangerous too.”

At Penia’s question, Alon thought for a moment before answering.

“It’s in preparation for a possibility.”

”....A possibility?”

”Yes, a possibility.”

Concern and curiosity appeared together on Penia’s face.

Her large eyes turned toward Alon, but she soon closed her mouth.

Instinctively, she realized.

That even if she asked further, Alon would not answer.

So Penia decided to change the subject.

“Come to think of it, what will you do about that?”

”What do you mean?”

“Sin. You said you would also tell Seolrang, right?”

Alon slowly nodded his head.

As she said, Alon had intended to tell Seolrang about sin.

More precisely, how to properly handle ‘sin.’

”I did.”

“Will you tell her tomorrow?”

“Yes. I should hand over the artifact as well.”

“Then should I prepare anything separately?”

This time, Alon shook his head.

“No, let’s postpone that a bit.”

”Mm— alright.”

“?”

“Why?”

“Aren’t you going to ask why I’m postponing the preparation?”

”Ah, that?”

Alon thought she would surely question the decision to delay preparation.

However, at her unexpected reaction, he asked, and she hesitated before answering.

”Because you said so, Lord Alon. I’m sure there’s a reason.” 

“......Is that so?”

“Yes, and you’ve been paying attention to Seolrang continuously, haven’t you?”

She said that.

“Honestly, I don’t know why you keep paying attention to something about Seolrang. To be honest, from what I see, aside from becoming much stronger, she doesn’t seem any different from before.”

“......”

“But even so, if you’re concerned, then there must be something. I trust you, Lord Alon. Evan would be the same.”

After adding that, Penia awkwardly smiled.

At that, Alon, who had been staring blankly at her for a moment, wiped his face once with his palm.

Because he felt that receiving someone’s pure trust was unexpectedly embarrassing.

Thus, after composing himself for a moment, Alon said.

“Thank you.”

He gave a short remark.

“You’re welcome.”

Penia smiled.

And the next day.

At the point where the desert no longer stretched endlessly and green plains and forests began to appear in the distance.

”Seolrang.”

“Hm? What is it, Master?”

”Take this.”

Alon handed her the artifact.

”This is......?”

“It’s an artifact of sin.”

“An artifact of sin?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Alon briefly relayed to Seolrang what he had heard from Rine.

“Ah— so if I can properly utilize sins, I can become even stronger than now, Master?”

“That’s right. Of course, the processed sins—”

As Alon was about to add that, he paused for a moment.

Because he suddenly realized that the Sin of Pride had never been extinguished.

‘What should be done in a case like this?’

So as Alon pondered briefly.

“Mm— so the point is that I just need to imbue the sin into this artifact, right, Master?”

“Well, for now, that’s correct, but.............”

Seolrang asked.

Alon came to his senses belatedly and nodded.

At that, Seolrang seemed to think about something.

“I’ll try it!”

She soon shouted loudly.

”?”

Since Alon had previously heard from Rine how to summon using extinguished sins as a medium, he was able to help.

Alon unconsciously showed a puzzled expression.

However, to contain a sin that had not been extinguished, they first had to find the sin somewhere, so as Alon was about to speak about it—

“?”

”Huh?”

—he couldn’t continue.

Because the grayish artifact, which had clearly had no color just moments ago, was gradually beginning to fill with color.

And.

When the color finally filled completely.

[Just how long were you planning to keep me trapped!?]

Alon saw it.

The Black Dragon that burst out from the gauntlet dyed black.

”?”

”?”

Question marks appeared above Alon and Penia’s heads.

***

Around the time Alon was staring blankly at the suddenly appeared Sin of Pride.

A strange rumor began to spread in the Central Mage Tower.

It was about Heinkel.

Of course, various rumors about her were bound to arise.

First of all, she was an idol among idols whom all mages admired endlessly.

And what she said when she appeared in human form had also been quite shocking to mages in many ways.

She had essentially defined a miracle that would be deeply imprinted in the minds of mages who did not believe in miracles.

It was only natural that talk spread among mages when a dead person—moreover, their idol—returned to life, but................

The recent rumor circulating in the Mage Tower was somewhat subtle.

It was about Heinkel’s ‘body.’

Mages no longer doubted that Alon was a god. What he had shown was undeniably a miracle that could not be achieved through magic.

However, despite that, the reason mages were interested in Heinkel’s body was only one.

Because her body looked extremely similar to someone else.

To be more precise, to Penia Crysinne, the vice tower master of the Blue Mage Tower.

And perhaps because of that, recently in the Mage Tower, a rumor began to spread that Penia and Alon were not just in a special relationship, but already a pair who had promised a future together.

This was a misunderstanding by the mages.

It could only be a misunderstanding.

Because Heinkel’s body had been sealed by herself in the library for a long time for her own purpose, and she had merely taken it out this time to use it.

Contrary to the truth, there were two reasons why this absurd misunderstanding grew among the mages.

The first was Heinkel’s meticulous distortion of history.

She originally had an extremely youthful appearance compared to her age, and because of that, she always disliked her own appearance.

As a result, as if trying to hide an inferiority complex, she depicted herself as a woman in all information, including fairy tale books she appeared in. Even when she lived as a spirit, she maintained the concept that she had become younger because she was a spirit.

And the second reason was Heinkel’s statement.

She said that the Magic King had given her life.

That meant that Alon had given Heinkel a new life and body, so it also meant that he was the one who created and designed that body.

And that body he created looked very similar to Penia’s childhood.

“......No matter how I look at it, this is real............?”

“Look. The hair and eye color are both blue.”

“...No, looking at Lady Heinkel’s records, it seems her original color was blue.”

”But if you think about her appearance, even when she was young, it couldn’t have been that image, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Seems like the rumor is real after all.”

That rumor spread wildly throughout the Mage Tower without reaching Heinkel, who had recently obtained a body and was busy restoring her mana.

And.

“...Haa....... I hoped it wasn’t true.”

Hidan, who had come disguised as a mage of the Brown Mage Tower to investigate the truth, thinking—no, hoping—that the rumor he heard might be even slightly exaggerated.

“The vice tower master of the Blue Mage Tower will be replaced.”

Recalling the regular meeting of the Blue Moon that was only a few months away, he made an expression similar to a sad frog...

It was a chilly autumn.