A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Forest (1)

The second game of our best-of-five had ended, with Sophien, as White, taking the win by a 2.5-point lead. Given White’s 7.5-point komi, it was a narrow and rather disappointing loss.

“Muhaha,” Sophien chuckled, her smile reserved yet unmistakable in its satisfaction. Though her face remained composed, her lips alone hinted at a subtle, almost playful triumph.

“Muhaha.”

Sophien hadn’t fully savored her victory in the first match, but now, she seemed set on enjoying the game of Go itself.

“Muhaha.”

I slowly replayed the match in my mind—Sophien’s white stones challenging my black. Each opening and move carved itself into memory as I delved into analysis, guided by a profound sense of Comprehension.

Just then...

“Your Majesty, we have captured them,” one of the imperial knights reported, stepping forward with measured respect. The matter had already been resolved some time ago, but they had waited for the match to conclude before approaching. “Would you like them returned to the capital for interrogation, or—”

“There's no need. Put them to death,” Sophien commanded.

"But, Your Majesty, what of those behind this—"

"I said, put them to death. There’s no sense wasting time on vermin like them. Burn the bodies when you’re done."

“... Yes, Your Majesty," the knights replied, bowing before they respectfully withdrew from the room.

Sophien gave them a brief look, then turned back to me and said, “Deculein, that was quite entertaining. I take it our third match is set for next week?”

“Yes, that appears to be the case,” I replied.

"Do you have the confidence to claim victory in our next match?"

"Yes, the time has come for me to take victory," I replied with a nod.

Sophien’s expression softened into a smile as she said, “Good. I will look forward to it.”

— Professor!

At that moment, a loud voice burst from the crystal orb tucked in my inner pocket—Allen’s voice on the other end.

— We’ve found Miss Epherene!

Sophien let out a quiet laugh at the report, her tone softer than usual, and said, “So, the falling child has returned. Go on, and look after that child. I’ll review the match myself—it seems I’ll need to put in some more effort to keep up with you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said, rising respectfully before taking my leave.

"Are you alright?"

“You didn’t get hurt, did you, Miss Epherene?”

Epherene returned to the accommodation with Drent and Allen by her side.

“... I’m alright. It wasn’t a big deal—I just lost my way for a bit, that’s all,” Epherene replied.

Fortunately, she hadn’t been away for long—just three days in total, though her time spent with the Deculein of the future had been a week.

“Well, that makes sense. There are so many magical phenomena up here in the Northern Region during winter..." Drent muttered, his words trailing off as he pointed ahead. "... Oh, there’s the professor."

Standing in the distance was Deculein, his formal attire and his ice cold look adding to his aura of detachment. Although they had spent the past week together, Epherene couldn’t shake the awkwardness that settled over her in his presence.

“... Epherene,” Deculein addressed her, his tone cool and edged, a voice that now felt strange and distant.

Epherene raised her eyes to him and quietly responded, “Yes?”

“Where have you been off to?”

“That’s... something of a secret,” Epherene muttered, scratching the back of her head.

Deculein looked her up and down, then said, “You’ll receive a penalty point for abandoning your mission and straying from the assigned area. With your habit of keeping secrets, I trust you’ll have no objections?”

“... No, Professor.”

“Then go inside.”

Epherene trudged slowly to her accommodation, opening the door. A strange emptiness filled a corner of her heart—a bittersweet emptiness tinged with sadness. he let out a sigh as she climbed the stairs, feeling the unease settle deeper with each step. How strange it felt when timelines slipped out of sync.

But then...

“You would be Epherene.”

Epherene looked up at the sound of her name, and in an instant, she went rigid, every part of her body freezing in place.

“Protégé of Deculein from what I understand?"

Long hair blazed like flames, and her eyes shone with the brilliance of polished rubies. The heir to the Empire’s most noble lineage and the most revered figure across the continent—Empress Sophien, Aekater Augus von Jaegus Gifrein.

Thud—!

Epherene fell to her knees instinctively, her voice unsteady as she stammered, “I-it’s an h-honor to meet you, Y-your Majesty—!”

With a smirk, Sophien lifted her to her feet and said, “Enough. What I’m more interested in is where you’ve come from.”

“... Pardon?”

Sophien noted the strange aura shimmering around Epherene, leaving faint traces in its wake. Surely, Deculein had noticed it, too.

“And Deculein—he didn’t press you for answers?”

“N-no, Your Majesty, he only told me to get inside...”

“Hmm. Yes, well, he is not really one to pry into such matters,” Sophien remarked as she looked into Epherene’s sparkling eyes. “But I, on the other hand, can’t help but ask. I’m quite curious to know whether you’ll tell me the truth... or something else.”

A faint smile traced the Empress’s lips as she spoke, and Epherene gulped, feeling a rush of nervous tension settle over her.

***

At the foot of a mountain near Rekordak, deep in the Northern Region, Yulie stood, wiping blood from her blade and body.

“He’s come to the Northern Region?” Yulie asked.

The ground was soaked in blood, with scattered flesh strewn across the area. A brutal, slanting wound scarred her back—a gash that would have been fatal to most. As the blood loss continued, even a knight of her rank might struggle to survive.

"... Yes," Reylie answered evenly.

Yulie, too, remained composed; simply making it out from the battle alive seemed relief enough for now.

“Something in that size is probably worth enough to buy a house in the capital.”

Reylie motioned toward the beast she had just brought down—a tiger with tawny fur streaked in dark patterns, infamous for hunting down the region’s herbalists and scouts.

“It seems it hasn't fully grown yet... Let’s craft some armor for you from its hide,” Reylie said as she approached Yulie. “This may sting a little.”

“I’ll manage,” Yulie said, nodding as Reylie peeled away her damaged armor and carefully applied medicinal herbs to her torn muscles. Her slim shoulder shuddered under the sudden burn, as these injuries often brought a sharper agony during recovery, doubling the pain.

“Ugh...”

“Does it hurt?”

“... It’s tolerable.”

“Yet, I see tears running down your face.”

“No, it’s not...”

“Still, it’s a worthy accomplishment for you, Knight Yulie—just like Lord Zeit’s,” Reylie said with a light chuckle.

Yulie fell silent, her eyes drifting shut as fatigue claimed her, pulling her briefly into unconsciousness.

“Oh? Hmm.”

As Yulie rested, Reylie worked methodically, stripping the tiger’s meat from its hide. The skin would be carefully tanned into armor, and the meat—boiled or roasted—to strengthen Yulie through her recovery.

Clang—!

In a sudden fit of frustration, Reylie hurled her tools aside and spat, “Ah, Deculein, that son of a bitch.”

That damn bastard—tearing through the entire Freyhem Knights’ Order just to bury the truth of Veron, and if that wasn’t enough, he went and killed Rockfell too. Cruelest, most depraved monster alive, twisted beyond belief—worse than even Decalane, Reylie thought.

"It's really frustrating!"

I should never have trusted him to begin with. I should have kept my suspicions all along.

"... Still," Reylie murmured, turning her attention back toward Yulie.

Yulie was growing stronger now, shaped by his betrayal and the ruin of everything she once depended on. With nothing left to hold her steady and no one left to lean on, she had become her own unyielding strength.

“One day, he’ll come to regret it.”

Taking down the tiger alone was undeniably a rare accomplishment. In the Northern Region, few had ever managed to defeat such a fully grown beast in single combat; only Zeit, head of Freyden, had done so before.

“... Oh, you’re awake?” Reylie said, immediately passing her a tiger meat. Yulie accepted it, taking a bite with her small mouth. “How does it taste?”

“Hahaha. Go on, enjoy it while it’s still warm.”

“... Hmm.”

“... Ah,” Sophien murmured, releasing a quiet sigh as her eyes drifted to the ceiling.

“... Ah.”

“Hmm,” Sophien murmured, her eyes drifting back to the ceiling as a fleeting question slipped into her thoughts. “I wonder why celestial mana has found its mark on you...?”

“... And,” Sophien murmured, using a trace of Telekinesis to slide Epherene’s robe from her shoulder.