Raising Villains the Right Way

The strange look Evan gave him lasted only briefly.

Soon, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Alon stepped out of the carriage and looked at the divine-bloods standing there as though they had been waiting for him all along.

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a glance alone, there were clearly more than dozens of them.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍mere sight of divine-bloods gathered together like this was spectacular.

Staring ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍blankly ahead, Alon soon silently shifted his gaze.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was because he wanted to see whether among these divine-bloods there might be one he had met before.

Once, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Alon rolled his eyes around.

Then twice.

Then three times.

…And just in case, even a fourth time.

Unfortunately, however, he could not find a single divine-blood he recognized.

“……”

Alon closed his eyes.

Then he organized his thoughts.

Before him stood Star Root, a group of divine-bloods claiming to serve the Star Eater.

And yet, the Star Eater himself—Alon—had never even seen them before.

Just how had things turned out like this?

Naturally, Alon had no way of knowing.

He could confidently say he had never once had anything to do with Star Root.

That was why he wanted to ask.

Just what exactly was going on here?

But Alon could not dare ask such a question aloud. Was it because the loyal gazes of the divine-bloods burdened him? No.

Well, that was partly true, but it was something he could ignore if he wanted.

The real reason he could not ask recklessly was because he clearly understood that such a careless question could drastically worsen the situation.

Yes, for example, if the divine-bloods before him had not actually been gathered by a sleepwalking Alon, but had truly organized themselves entirely due to their own ‘misunderstanding.’

…Though honestly, he had absolutely no idea what kind of misunderstanding could have caused things to spiral this far.

‘Now I understand why Sculptor was so flustered.’

Alon suddenly recalled the Sculptor he had met previously.

That thought only lasted briefly before he focused on the divine-bloods once more.

Anyway, if this group really had been formed through some absurd misunderstanding—

The moment that misunderstanding collapsed, he had no idea how they might react. While pondering that, Alon looked toward the two divine-bloods still standing firmly before him.

One was a divine-blood whose entire body was ablaze.

The other was a divine-blood covered in horrifying dangling skulls, staring down at Alon.

After looking at each of them in turn, Alon forcibly hid his uncertainty and gave an order to the divine-bloods.

“For now, everyone disperse and gather again tomorrow.”

For a moment, Alon himself wondered, ‘Was that the right thing to say?’ and ended up stumbling over his words.

But as though such a mistake meant absolutely nothing—

[Understood~!]

The two divine-bloods loudly answered first, and the group instantly began dispersing.

…Even that was a spectacle in itself.

Soon, Alon let out a sigh and returned to the carriage.

“……Lord Alon, what exactly is going on here?”

Inside the carriage, he received the full attention of everyone present, including Evan and Basiliora.

The time for explanations had arrived.

After some time passed.

“Uh—so, to summarize, you’re saying those divine-bloods are following you despite the fact that you’ve never once met or seen them before, Lord Alon?”

“Yeah.”

At that, Evan silently alternated his gaze between the divine-bloods dispersing in the distance and Alon himself.

“Hm. I see. So that’s how it is.”

“……! Did you figure something out?”

“No?”

“?”

“?”

“Didn’t you just nod like you realized something?”

“No, I was just saying I understood.”

“……You understood?”

“Yes.”

“What exactly?”

“That the divine-bloods are following you, Lord Alon.”

“How did you come to understand that……?”

“Ah—”

Only then realizing the conversation had gone off-track, Evan let out a low exclamation at Alon’s baffled question.

“I meant that I simply accepted it.”

“……Accepted it……?”

“Yes. Sometimes there are many things in this world that simply can’t be understood from the perspective of an ordinary human, right? At times like that, you just accept it. Don’t try to understand it. Accepting it makes life easier.”

“Ah, I think I kind of get that.”

“Right?”

“Exactly.......”

Penia suddenly joined the conversation, and she and Evan nodded at one another as though deeply sympathizing.

“……Somehow, that leaves me feeling a bit strange.”

“We’ve honestly felt that way every single time something weird happened around you, Lord Alon.”

“Has that happened so often?”

“Think carefully about it.”

“……Hm.”

Alon fell silent briefly before changing the subject.

“Anyway, given the current situation, what do you think we should do?”

“Hmm… honestly, since we don’t even fully understand what’s happening, I can’t really say for certain what we should do… but for now, shouldn’t we just maintain things as they are?”

“We can’t keep doing that forever.”

This time, Penia voiced her opinion.

“For now, I think understanding the situation comes first.”

“The situation?”

“Yes. We need to know how they view you, Lord Alon, so we can respond accordingly.”

It was a reasonable statement.

When Alon nodded, Evan, who had been thinking deeply about something, glanced toward the divine-bloods in the distance before speaking.

“Then let’s do a little spying.”

“……Spying?”

“Yes. There are still quite a lot of divine-bloods nearby.”

“I’ll come too!”

At Evan’s suggestion, Seolrang, who had been quietly listening nearby, suddenly raised her hand enthusiastically.

However, Evan shook his head.

“Penia and I will go. Seolrang stands out too much in too many ways.”

As he said that, he opened the carriage door.

“We’ll be back.”

Soon after, Penia bowed lightly to Alon alongside Evan before stepping outside.

‘Just how exactly are they planning to gather information……?’

That thought crossed his mind only briefly before Alon turned to Seolrang.

“Hm? What is it, Master?”

As always, Seolrang wore her unchanging smile.

Seeing that, Alon spoke casually.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Hng~ Really?”

Though tilting her head in confusion, she soon shrugged and naturally moved beside Alon, humming to herself while swishing her tail.

Even after everything that had happened, Seolrang still behaved exactly the same as always. To the point that Alon almost wondered whether the conversation they had shared that day had all just been a dream.

But Alon knew.

He knew that conversation had not merely been a dream.

And Seolrang surely understood that clearly as well.

“……”

Even so, why was Seolrang continuing her ‘act’ even when they were alone together?

Without a word, Alon gently stroked Seolrang’s head.

She smiled as though pleased by it.

Seolrang’s hair was soft.

……Just like before.

At that moment, outside the carriage, Evan and Penia were walking toward the divine-bloods while conversing.

“By the way, what exactly are we trying to figure out?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said we’re spying, right? Shouldn’t we at least know something before we go?”

At that, Evan lightly shrugged.

“We don’t know much for certain, but we do know who we should spy on.”

“Who?”

“Those two.”

The place Evan gestured toward contained the burning divine-blood and the one covered in skulls.

“Them?”

“Yeah. Those two were obviously acting like leaders. Look. Even earlier, when Lord Alon entered, those two split to either side of him like wings.”

“……Ah, I see—”

Penia nodded as though finally remembering.

“You’re more observant than I expected.”

“How exactly do you usually see me……?”

Penia’s oddly impressed reaction left Evan staring at her in disbelief before he soon looked at the two divine-bloods gradually drawing closer.

“Still… what exactly do you think happened this time?”

At Penia’s question, Evan let out a low groan.

“Honestly, even I can’t get a read on this one.”

“Were there other situations where you actually could?”

“Well, not really, but at least before I could think, ‘Maybe that could happen.’ But this situation feels different.”

“That’s true.”

At Evan’s words, Penia could not help but agree.

There had been many incomprehensible events until now, yet they had still been able to just accept them.

Because the subject involved had been Alon.

But for such a gigantic group to form like this without Alon even knowing about it… honestly, even if the person in question was Alon, that did not feel easily possible.

“I’m guessing some kind of misunderstanding or misconception piled up over time.”

Muttering that, Evan eventually drew close enough to overhear the two divine-bloods’ conversation.

And soon, they could hear it clearly.

[What a pity. The first one to receive grace from the Star Eater shall be me.]

[What nonsense are you talking about? Ah, I suppose you couldn’t see properly because you have no eyes. The Star Eater looked at me first.]

[How ridiculous. The very moment the Star Eater turned his gaze, the first one he saw was me. Surely he even witnessed me personally dealing with those maggots earlier.]

[Tch. Do you really think the Star Eater would choose you over killing one insignificant worm? The first one to receive his grace shall be this body!]

[No, me—!]

[I said me!]

A somewhat—no, far more bizarre conversation than expected.

And after listening to it from afar without even needing to sneak closer, Evan unconsciously muttered—

“……Now that I think about it.”

“Go ahead.”

“What if Lord Alon really does have sleepwalking issues?”

The words slipped out unintentionally.

“……Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing myself.”

Penia blankly agreed as well.

The next morning.

Alon briefly stood there confused after hearing Evan and Penia, who had supposedly gone spying yesterday, speaking with tired expressions.

‘They still haven’t snapped out of it at all……’

But that confusion lasted only briefly.

As though they had been waiting for him, the divine-bloods were once again gathered around the carriage, making Alon feel dizzy all over again.

In the end, they had failed to figure out at all why the divine-bloods were following Alon.

But even so, he still could not ask the divine-bloods the truth directly.

“……Move out.”

Thus, he simply gave the order.

Immediately afterward—

[Our side has gathered as well.]

[Same here.]

With that, the three factions gathered to subjugate Astarote immediately began moving.

And from that moment onward, the official campaign to eliminate Astarote began.

And around the time dozens of divine-bloods converged upon the ruined land—

She, whose eyes reflected a bizarre pentagram, was watching the divine-bloods moving to subjugate Astarote.

No, more accurately, what she was looking at was not the divine-bloods themselves.

To be even more precise, it was the carriage among them.

And more specifically still, she was silently staring at the man seated inside that carriage.

The man sitting there expressionlessly.

“……What exactly did you do.......”

While looking at him—

“Yutia.”

She quietly murmured.