A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Upheaval (3)

“Look at the snow~ Snow, snow, snow~” Epherene sang softly.

As Epherene walked to Deculein’s class, she spread her arms wide, embracing the snowfall that covered the university courtyard in a thick, soft layer.

Drent, trailing behind with his nose in a textbook, chuckled and asked, “Is this your first time seeing snow?”

Epherene spun around, her eyes bright with excitement, and said, “Yeah! It’s my first time!”

“Huh? ... Oh, that’s right. You mentioned you’re from Juhale.”

Snow was a rarity in Iliade. Along with the territory of Yukline, it was often praised as an ideal place to live. But the region’s small size and constant mild weather gave it a sense of sameness that could feel dull over time.

“Looks like you didn’t pay much attention in geography class,” Epherene teased with a grin.

Drent shook his head with a mildly annoyed smile and said, “Let’s move, or we’ll get in trouble.”

Even the professors were attending Deculein’s class today, but this time, it was being held outside the Mage Tower.

“Alright,” Epherene said as she walked ahead, savoring the gentle crunch of snow beneath her boots.

By the time they reached Robeheim Hall, most of the students had already gathered. In Deculein’s class, even a second late was enough to count as tardy, and one tardy could get you expelled with no chance to return. Drent and Epherene quickly slipped into seats at the back.

“... Seems like everyone’s reading the thesis,” Drent muttered, glancing around the room. Nearly all the students were absorbed in Deculein and Luna’s thesis on the invention of the new element.

“Yeah, they’re really taking their time with it...”

Epherene had quietly hoped that the senior mages would master the thesis first and guide the others, but even the professors appeared to be struggling. The magic demanded proficiency in all four great elements.

“It’ll probably take a year or two at the very least,” Drent said.

“Really? It’s going to take that long?” Epherene asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

Drent nodded and said, “That’s the best-case scenario. Most mages learn theory through practice, but this one needs mastery of all four elements. Even top-level mages can’t just develop talents they don’t already possess.”

“... Really?”

The memory of how long it had taken to validate Dukan’s supportive spell theory years ago came to Epherene. She nodded slowly, just as the door flew open and Deculein entered, his footsteps ringing out sharply in the hall.

“Greetings,” Deculein announced as he walked to the podium, placing his papers down with precision. The students hurriedly put away their theses, turning their full attention to him.

“Today, we’ll begin with a short question-and-answer session. I’ll be calling on select students to assess your comprehension. If you fail to answer, points will be deducted, and repeated errors will lead to expulsion.”

The question-and-answer session was supposed to be light, but everyone knew better—it was anything but.

“Are there any mages willing to volunteer?”

The entire room avoided eye contact, and Epherene was no different. She lowered her head so far that only the top of it could be seen.

“You there, the mage with the exposed crown.”

Epherene flinched and hesitated, then slowly lifted her head. As she looked up, she saw Deculein staring directly at her.

“... Sorry? M-me?”

“Rise and analyze this spell,” Deculein commanded.

“Y-yes, Professor!” Epherene stammered as she quickly stood.

Deculein cast the Iron Man magic circle into the air. The spell was a complex web of hundreds of lines and circles, flowing together in a single, continuous stroke.

Deculein focused on a particular section of the magic circle and asked, “What is the function of this triple circuit?”

Caught off guard, Epherene stumbled over her thoughts and said, "Uh... it links the caster’s mana to the spell... no—it stabilizes the connection between them.”

“And what is the dynamic structure for linking the mana?” Deculein questioned once more.

Epherene observed the floating triple circuit. Describing it as triple was an oversimplification; once three or more magic circuits overlapped, the potential patterns multiplied into the hundreds. Each intersection of points, lines, and planes required meticulous calculation.

“The core dynamic structure of this spell is...”

“If necessary, you may illustrate the spell,” Deculein stated.

“Oh, yes, Professor. um...” Epherene mumbled, glancing at her notes before starting to trace the spell in the air.

Scribble, scribble— Scribble, scribble—

Deculein brought his hand down on the podium with force and said, “You’re taking too long.”

“Yes, I'm sorry, Professor! So...”

I should know this. I’ve learned this before, Epherene told herself, but the details felt distant as anxiety tightened her throat.

“... So the dynamic structure begins here, with the dual circuit... and from there...”

“Are you incapable of articulating a single thought, or is your mind utterly vacant?”

“N-no, I mean...”

Deculein advanced, his footsteps reverberating with her pulse, and asked, “If you can’t even grasp the structure of a circuit, what makes you think you can understand this class?”

“I do understand, I really do.”

“If you truly understand, then give me your answer.”

Deculein stood directly in front of her, and Epherene instinctively flinched as she looked up. His oppressive presence, the weight of his mana, was suffocating. This, too, was part of the test.

“... The flow of mana within the dynamic structure begins at the dual circuit. Reinforcing the weakest section at this connection point strengthens the entire circuit, and—”

“What makes you believe the dual circuit is weak? By all magical theory, it’s regarded as the most secure and stable structure.”

“This spell doesn’t function on its own; instead, it amplifies and strengthens another spell, acting like a magical enhancer,” Epherene said, unsure of her own words. She was just saying whatever came to her mind.

Epherene stole a glance at Deculein’s face midway through. To her relief, it seemed she hadn’t been entirely off.

“Good, let’s revisit the triple circuit. What’s the reasoning behind using it here?”

“W-well, um... that is... uh...”

“You’re stalling again,” Deculein said, his voice chilling enough to make Epherene flinch. “One more hesitation, and you’ll be expelled from this class. Now, I’ll ask once more—what’s the reasoning for using a triple circuit here?”

The chilling warning spread through the room, leaving everyone frozen in tense silence.

“You have three seconds to respond.”

Beads of sweat gathered on Epherene’s forehead, and a wave of heat flushed across her back.

“Three,” Deculein said, staring down at her as he began counting.

“Two.”

The other mages silently hoped they wouldn’t be the next to face his intense, unrelenting questions.

“One.”

And...

***

During the break, Epherene sank into her chair, utterly spent. Her face was flushed, heat radiating from her skin as if it could almost steam.

"... Leaf, are you alright?" Drent asked cautiously.

Epherene cast Drent a sideways glare and said, “I’ve told you before, don’t call me Leaf.”

“Oh, right. Sorry. It just seems to fit you better for some reason.”

"... I honestly thought I was about to pass out. I’m feeling super dizzy."

Epherene remembered the crushing pressure of Deculein’s questions, which felt more like an interrogation. It was as though her heart was being gripped, her throat constricting with every word. She barely managed to hold on, but after her, six others had been expelled from class one after another. It was clear that today, Professor Deculein’s goal was to trim down the numbers.

"Don't you think the questions he asked me were tougher than the others?"

"The triple circuit question was brutal. It’s probably easy for the professors, but for us Kendalls—"

"I know!" Epherene straightened up and added, "Why does he always single me out with the toughest questions and..."

Epherene faltered mid-sentence, her thoughts drifting back to something she once overheard Deculein say.

"Perhaps I’ve started to see her as my protégé."

Maybe he’s pushing me harder because he’s already decided I’m his protégé. Is that what he’s thinking? Does that mean the pressure is only going to keep building? I never signed up for this. Is Professor Deculein just expecting me to fall in line without a word? Epherene thought.

“Still, it feels a bit too...” Epherene mumbled, biting her lip before sighing deeply. Out of nowhere, a voice from the distant future echoed in her mind.

“But... in my world, the professor is no longer there.”

A message from her future self echoed in her thoughts, making her wonder what could have unfolded on that day. Lost in thought, Epherene absentmindedly used her Telekinesis to lift Deculein’s Wood Steel. It hovered gently in the air, emitting a soft hum, while she played with it, letting it glide like a delicate butterfly.

At that moment, Deculein walked back into the lecture hall.

"Professah!" Rogerio exclaimed, throwing her hand up with enthusiasm. "I came up with somethin' based on what I learned in class. Could ya take a look? It’s my own twist on it."

Deculein glanced at his watch, then nodded and said, "Go ahead."

"A’right, check this out. It’s a souped-up version o’ Iron Man, mixed with Ductility,” Rogerio said as she formed a wall that rippled like slime, shifting between solid and liquid all at once.

The sight left Epherene in silent awe, a quiet breath of admiration slipping from her lips.

“... So, how ‘bout I use this to trap ya, Professor?” Rogerio asked with dead seriousness. Deculein gave a nod. In an instant, the wall shifted, closing around him. “Hehe, whaddaya think o’ that?”

In the air, a projection of the flawed magic circle appeared. Rogerio took one look at it and burst out laughing. “Oh, wow! Hahaha! How’d ya know? That’s wicked good!”

“... Yeah, Prohfessah. Hahaha.”

... So, Professor Deculein! Mage Ihelm! Let’s settle this once and for all by the end of winter!!!!!!!!!!

“... So, um... Professor," Allen said, his voice uncharacteristically somber.