A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 191

Chapter 191: World of the Voice (1)

The influx of mages into Rekordak had grown unexpectedly in recent days. Even while studying in the library, Epherene remained unaware of the cause of this sudden migration.

Rekordak, cut off from supplies because of the demonic beasts and the Scarletborn—how is it that five or six people, sometimes even ten, manage to arrive here daily? What drives them to come all the way to Rekordak? Epherene thought.

Seated in her usual spot in the library, Epherene slowly glanced across the room. Among the familiar faces of the Imperial Palace mages, she noticed several new arrivals she didn’t recognize.

“... Excuse me.”

Someone tapped Epherene lightly on the shoulder, startling her and making her flinch as she quickly turned to see who it was.

“Yes?”

“Have you finished reading that...?” the male mage asked, gesturing toward the book on Epherene’s desk.

The Magic of Probability: Advanced Edition

It was Deculein’s groundbreaking theoretical work, which introduced the concept of probability to magic and was structured into three levels—basic, intermediate, and advanced.

“Oh, yes, I should be finishing up soon,” Epherene replied.

“Then, perhaps, is there anyone next in line?”

“There’s no set order. Once I’m done, I’ll pass it to you.”

“Thank you.”

The library in the basement of Rekordak’s main building housed only a modest collection, as most of the valuable books had been relocated to Deculein’s mansion. As a result, the space contained just four shelves, each entirely dedicated to Deculein’s most recent works.

The shelves were lined with titles such as The Magic of Probability, Magical Analysis of Phenomena, and Spells of Inductive Magic. In total, seventeen distinct works authored by Deculein during his time in the Northern Region were present, with three hundred and forty copies, including duplicates, nearly arranged in perfect order.

"... Is this what brought them here?" Epherene murmured.

But the mages I know aren’t the type to risk their lives and come all the way to Rekordak...

At that moment, a robed mage briefly appeared in her line of sight before quickly disappearing between the shelves. Yet, the glimpse of radiant golden hair—lustrous as molten sunlight and meticulously kept—left no doubt that it was Sylvia.

“... Of course, it’s her.”

Well, it’s no surprise—she’s the type who lights up when it comes to books, Epherene thought, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Yet, she made no move to go up to her and instead resumed her studies.

Just until the next wave hits...

“Yawwwn,” Epherene murmured, stretching her arms slightly before slowly looking around the room.

Of course, Deculein had insisted that Epherene sleep—whether for a nap or through the night—only under his supervision. But following such an instruction proved far more challenging than it seemed.

Just as Epherene was succumbing to the slow pull of sleep...

"I had anticipated it would come to this."

At the sudden sound of a voice, Epherene snapped her eyes open and shot upright, her upper body springing off the desk as she screamed, “Oh no! Was that a dream?”

Everyone in the library turned to look at Epherene, but the room seemed unchanged, grounded in reality, with even the Wood Steel showing no reaction.

It didn’t feel like a dream... but what was that voice?

“What was that...?” Epherene muttered.

“Here.”

At the sound of the voice again, Epherene jumped in her seat and turned toward its source. On the mirror she had placed on the desk, Deculein stared back at her from its glassy surface.

“Professor, h-how are you... there?” Epherene stammered, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

“I have told you numerous times that you must never sleep when you are alone,” Deculein said.

“Oh, no, I wasn’t sleeping! I just yawned, that’s all—”

“You will get a warning."

“... Yes, Professor,” Epherene muttered, nodding as her shoulders slumped.

***

Yulie visited the garrison farmland. Although less than ten days had passed since the seeds were sown, the barley fields had already begun to show promising growth.

"Oh, bless my stars! Knight Yulie, you done showed up!” one of the villagers said, pausing their work and strolling over.

“They’re growing well without any issues,” Yulie observed, her eyes sweeping over the lush expanse of the fields.

The most pressing issue in Rekordak was, without a doubt, the food supply. With supply lines cut off and the rising number of demonic beasts making hunting increasingly difficult, securing sustenance had become a constant struggle. Yet, seeing the barley sprout so healthily brought an unexpected sense of comfort.

"Yessum, reckon we’re gonna get a good yield outta this here field. Shoot, even the grains look mighty big!"

“... Yes. Thank you all for your hard work.”

“Oh, now, don’t ya go sayin’ that! We’re just doin’ what we gotta do to keep food on the table, is all.”

Watching the villagers smile so brightly, Yulie felt a bittersweet warmth welling up within her.

Will I be able to protect them safely? Will I have the strength to preserve their home? If only I could... Yulie thought.

“Hello there~”

At that moment, a voice rose from behind a nearby tree, catching Yulie’s attention as she snapped toward it, trying to pinpoint its source.

“Oh! Captain Ganesha?” Yulie said.

Standing in the shade was Ganesha of the Red Garnet Adventure Team, a hero who had managed to delay the southern advance of the demonic beasts alone.

"I pay my deepest respects to the captain of the Red Garnet—"

“Oh, there's no need for that—it’s too much,” Ganesha said with a smile as she approached. “I’ve heard the news. Apparently, Deculein buried dozens of Scarletborn alive.”

“... Yes,” Yulie replied, lowering her head for a moment.

"Is it absolutely sure that all of them were Scarletborn?" Ganesha asked.

Yulie offered no response to the question, her silence heavy with disappointment, which ran deep in Deculein. Although she had grown numb to such feelings, Deculein always managed to reveal new depths of cruelty to prove her wrong.

“... Even if they were Scarletborn, burying them alive cannot be justified. However, I was already aware that such actions aligned with the kind of man the professor was.”

Deculein had buried forty individuals alive without verifying whether they were Scarletborn, neglecting any thorough investigation or assessment.

If he had chosen to hang them instead, the act might not have been as horrifying. Burying them alive, like execution by fire, was one of the most barbaric forms of capital punishment—long since abolished within the Empire due to its cruelty.

“Well, I see it written all over your face. Anyway, about that favor you asked Reylie for the other day~?”

“... Pardon?” Yulie responded, her eyes widening in surprise.

“I’ve heard you gave Reylie some money to hire a few adventurers,” Ganesha asked.

“Yes, I do recall that, though I wasn’t aware the adventurers who were hired were from your team, Captain Ganesha—”

“Come on. If you asked Reylie, it’s as good as asking me. Besides, I happen to like you too, Knight Yulie~ Don’t I, Dozmu?” Ganesha said, casting a glance at the shadows.

From the shadows stepped Dozmu, a founding member of the Red Garnet Adventure Team, who approached Yulie without a word and placed an envelope in her hands.

“That mission was assigned to the man over here. Based on the investigation, it seems likely that Veron was killed by Deculein, and Rockfell’s death... Well, let’s just say it’s suspicious,” Ganesha added.

Yulie opened the envelope and read its contents, and for a moment, her breath caught in her chest.

“It’s Rockfell’s... diary,” Yulie muttered.

“Yes, that’s correct. There are also the letters he exchanged with someone, as well as the words of the family who communicated with Rockfell through the crystal orb before his death. We found out he had a son and a daughter, both eight and seven years old.”

The contents of Rockfell’s letter were simple and straightforward.

I am being chased by the unknown. I am in desperate need of help. It seems that Deculein is trying to kill me...

“Thank you,” Yulie said, slipping the items back into the envelope before tucking it securely into her robe, as such matters were not meant to be exposed in the open.

“You're welcome. So, what will you do now?” Ganesha asked with a smile.

“I don’t understand. I really would like to know why, but I can’t. I can accept why he might have turned against me, but why Rockfell and Veron...” Yulie muttered, shaking her head and keeping her emotions in check, though her fists were clenched and her lips tightly pressed. “But once the truth comes to light, even Professor Deculein will answer for his actions. No matter what.”

"I'll dig up what I can on my end, too~" Ganesha replied.

Then Ganesha regarded Yulie with uncharacteristic gravity, for her, Deculein was no longer a man who could be dismissed as a mere villain. Rather, he was a cold-blooded man, willing to sacrifice everything to achieve his goals, yet deeply committed to his family, whom he held dear above all else.

“... Don’t let your heartache get the best of you~ If you wear yourself down now, you won’t have the strength to face what’s ahead.”

“Yes, I understand,” Yulie said, her face hardening just a heartbeat too late.

Ganesha’s return signaled that the moment she had been holding back—the time that could no longer be postponed—had finally arrived.

***

Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!

Drums thundered as the horde of demonic beasts began its advance. Their sheer numbers defied imagination, and the strength of each creature grew more fearsome with every passing moment.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

Crossbow bolts streaked across the sky, their shadows flickering over Rekordak as destructive magic rained down upon the battlefield. Knights, cloaked in supportive wind spells, charged forward, their steps quickened as they plunged into the fray.

"Fear not! Our mages stand strong upon the walls!" declared Knight Delic, commanding as he rallied the knights to stand resolute.

Thud—!

Kabooooom—!

Fwwooooosh—!

■■■■■—!

Whoooooosh—!

Shrriiing—!

Whoooosh—

Whooooo...

Rrrraaaakkk—!

Though merely an intermediate spell, Telekinesis, empowered by the full breadth of Deculein’s theories, unleashed power unrivaled in efficiency, its force seeming to tear the very ground apart—no, it wrenched the earth asunder.

“... Wounded, are there any wounded?” Yulie asked, moving quickly among the knights, knowing well how they tended to hide their injuries. _{frёewebnoѵēl.com}