A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 192

Chapter 192: World of the Voice (2)

The world of the Voice wasnnected in rippling waves, its mysteries even unknown to one of its developers, Yoo Ah-Ra. However, one thing was certain—itsncentric layers were deeply tied to thencept of memory.

“... So, what I’m saying is, in this world, it’s possible for even the dead to exist,” Ria said to Leo and Carlos.

The three, cloaked in robes, settled at a table in therner of the tavern.

“How?” Leo asked, tilting his head with curious eyes.

“Are you actually dumb? This world can store the memories of people who’ve died. That means someone who’s already goneuldme back, remembering everything from when they were alive,” Carlos explained.

“Yeah, that’s close to what Carlos said. But...”

Ria stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as they landed on a nearby table in the room. There, bathed in the warm glow of the light, sat two people—Sylvia and Yulie—casually sharing a plate of roasted chicken. The sight, so unexpected, sent a ripple of surprise through her; yet they were not the only ones present.

Creeeeak—

The wooden tavern door creaked open, and the air shifted with a sudden chill, like the shock of an ice cube slipping into a glass of lukewarmla. A wave ofld rippled through the room, drawing Ria and the children’s eyes instinctively toward the entrance—no, everyone in the tavern turned to look.

“... It’s Professor Deculein.”

A noble whommanded the attention of everyone in the room, an irresistibly magnetic villain whose very presence made one feel impossible to look away, as if caught off guard; an irregular beyond Ria’s status to describe; the living embodiment of independence and dominance; and a named character who alone held weight—Deculein.

Thud, thud— Thud, thud—

Deculein’s measured footsteps carried an unshakable elegance, while a frosty aura of authority flowed from him, cutting through the air like a winter gale—a reflection of his meticulous and almost obsessively pristine nature, even here, in the world of the Voice.

Leo's eyes grew wide with panic as he gasped, “Ria! What do we—”

"... Shh," Ria whispered, pressing a finger to her lips as she silently watched.

Leo nodded silently, pressing his lips together, while Carlos tugged his hood low over his robe.

“... Ria, what do we do? Should we run?” Leo whispered.

"No, let’s not run. We will have to face him sooner or later."

In the world of the Voice, Deculein was indispensable—now more than ever, as he had grown far stronger than he was in the original game. After all, the final boss of the Voice was none other than his father, Decalane.

Tremble, tremble—

The table shuddered without warning, its surface rippling faintly. Ria turned instinctively, her eyes scanning for the source.

It was Carlos.

Tremble, tremble—

The child’s pupils had already lost focus, his face drained of alllor as though life itself had slipped away. Though he was far stronger than Ria, his hands trembled violently,ld sweat trickling down his pale skin. This wasn’t fear he’d learned—it was terror seared deep into hisre. Watching him quiver so helplessly, oneuldn’t help but feel nothing but sympathy.

"... It’s okay, Carlos," Ria said, taking Carlos’s trembling hand in hers.

"Yeah! Don’t worry, he won’t even notice us~," Leo said, adding his hand to the pile of theirs.

Carlosuldn’t help but let out a faint chuckle, drawn out by the easynfidence in Leo’s words.

***

The moment I opened the tavern door, all eyes turned toward me, a reaction I had grown used to. Paying no mind to the weight of their stares, I moved toward the bar with Epherene, choosing a seat far from the unruly crowd scattered across the room as I had no intention of mingling with their kind.

“... Professor, everyone’s staring at us,” Epherene murmured.

Epherene wasn’t wrong; everyone in the tavern openly stared at us for far too long. Meanwhile, Sylvia and Yulie, now wearing ridiculous béret in a feeble attempt at disguise, pretended not to notice us.

"Is this your first time here?" the barkeep asked, wiping a cup clean with a practiced hand.

“Yes, it is. Why?” Epherene replied.

“Hmm, I never expected to see Professor Deculein walk through my door," the barkeep remarked.

“You know the Professor?”

"Who doesn’t? Even the news of Professor burying the Scarletborn alive has made their way to this place."

Epherene flinched, her shoulders stiffening as she glanced nervously at me before murmuring under her breath, "That might have been a bit too much..."

“I’d like to hear about other rumors,” I said, getting straight to the point.

The tavern was the nexus where all newsnverged and where all quests were born. It was, without a doubt, the starting point of the Voice.

"Hmm. News, you say? Had it been some nameless adventurer asking, I would’ve ffed and sent him on his way... But you, Professor, are another story. Even in this world, your reputation across thentinent carries weight," the barkeep said, arching an eyebrow as he slid a mug of beer across theunter.

Ofurse, there was no chance I would evernsider drinking such a cheap excuse for ahol.

"Ahem. I hear Count Dimitheon is currently recruiting for a mission."

“Recruit?”

"That isrrect. They say the Count seeks those who will hunt down a demon masquerading as a human," the barkeep said.

I remained silent, leaning back in my chair with my eyes on the barkeep. On the surface, I seemed calm, but beneath the stillness, a quiet storm stirred. Then, without warning, Telekinesis flared to life, shaking the tavern. Tables rattled, chairs skidded, bottles trembled on the brink of shattering—every object in the room shook violently.

Ruuuuuuumble...!

A subtle quake rippled through the walls and floor, faint yet impossible to mistake. My Telekinesis, pushed to its limits, was no longer a mere skill—it had bme an extension of my very presence, a tangible aura. In that moment, I felt an almost transcendentnnection, as though the line between my existence and the world around me had dissolved.

"Easy now, please calm down," the barkeep said, clearly startled.

The more enraged I became, thelder my heart turned—an innate aspect of Composure, an attribute that brought me a frigid calm. In mere moments, I quelled the aurampletely, as if it had never stirred.

“House of Yukline, the Demon Hunters—I can see the weight of your emotions. Will you take on this mission?” the barkeep asked.

[Main Quest: Voice (1)]

◆ Objective: Demon Hunt

◆ Reward: Store Currency +10

Ten store currencies offered a rare opportunity—perhaps the last—to strengthen the quality of my mana. It was an opportunity too significant to ignore.

“I accept,” I said with a nod.

"Alright then. You can head through that door," the barkeep said, gesturing toward the entrance next to theunter. "Farewell."

I rose from my seat, and Epherene followed closely behind me.

Creak—

Using Telekinesis, I opened the door and stepped inside. Two men immediately caught my attention. One was stretched out on a sofa, appearing to be asleep, while the other sat in a chair, his eyes closed and his fingers interlocked as he pressed them to his forehead, adopting a theatrical pose as if trying to project an air of importance.

“Hmm. Who dares to—huh? Deculein?!”

As the man in the chair slowly raised his head and blurted out in surprise, I rgnized him immediately. I had euntered him before—Jukaken, one of the Six Serpents.

"... Ahem. Deculein, this must be the first time we’ve met since the Gerek incident," Jukaken said.

I gave no reaction.

Jukaken, looking slightly awkward, adjusted his expression andntinued, "The situation may be umfortable, but in a way, it’s for the best. After all, no one is better at hunting demons than you."

The Six Serpents, a criminal syndicate cloaked under the guise of a guild, operated deep within the shadows of the underworld. They wouldmmit any act, no matter how vile, as long as it turned a profit. It was clear they deserved nourtesy from me.

"I have no time for pleasantries or meaningless chatter. Tell me—where is the demon?" I demanded.

"... I have no intention of dragging thisnversation out with you either. Here, take this," Jukaken said, pulling out an envelopentaining a document.

"Who is Count Dimitheon?" I inquired, taking the envelope with one hand.

Jukaken paused, seeming to rnsider his words, then said, "... That can wait. For now, focus on this—it’s the demon you will be hunting. The advance payment is tenins, and the reward uponmpletion is ten times that. For reference, tenins are equivalent to a fortune of a thousand elne within the Empire."

Shh-zip—!

I tore open the envelope, revealing two montage sketches inside. Picking up the first sheet, I glanced at the drawing on the paper, and rgnition struck me immediately—the face was all too familiar.

"Long story short, the mission involves a demon within the Voice—or more precisely, a human it has brought back to life," Jukaken said.

Jukaken's words hung in the air for a moment before fading into nothingness.

“They are essentially puppets infused with fragments of the Voice’s own soul. Destroying those puppets weakens the Voice itself, leaving it implete. It’s the simplest and most direct way to bring it down.”

It was a face I had never seen before, yet the name escaped my lips—a woman indelibly ingrained in Deculein’s memory.

“... Cielia,” I murmured.

"Correct, but don’t be mistaken. The face and memories may be hers, but what lies within is a demon. It will act just like her, behave as if it’s the real thing, but it isn’t. However... for you, it shouldn’t be a challenge," Jukaken said with a smirk. "After all, she’s someone you’ve already killed before."

"... Huh? Who... is this?" Epherene asked, her shoulders tensing as she glanced around cautiously.

I turned to look at Epherene, her wide, round eyes blinking like lamps in the dark.

“Sylvia’s mother,” I stated

“... Sorry?! So y-you mean th-that—”

Ignoring Epherene, I turned back toward Jukaken and asked, “Jukaken, do you not wish to see the Voice sustained?”

"Hmm? No, ofurse not. Think about everything I’ve built in the underworld—the wealth, the treasures. Do you really think I’d abandon all of that to live in a world created by some demon?

"Oh, before anything else—there's one more page in there. You must look at it now and make your decision," Jukaken said, his expression turning unexpectedly serious.

"Um... ah, I mean, I think I get it, but... who is this person, anyway?" Epherene asked, not giving it much thought, her eyes on the montage sketch.

Plop—

"That doesn’t make any sense at all—!" _{freewebnσvel.cѳm}

"Oh, whatever! Just let someone else handle it—"