A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209: Rohakan’s Words (3)

"Take on the role of my proper mentor once again," I said.

If it were Rohakan, even my exacting nature would be able to accept him as a mentor worthy of the title. With that certainty, I raised my eyes and met his gaze.

"Your talent is, without a doubt, nonexistent. The fact that you've made it this far is nothing short of a miracle," Rohakan said, a smile playing on his lips as he regarded me.

I remained silent.

"Of course, I imagine you must have put in such effort. But without a change in your very soul, such an achievement would have been impossible."

A change of soul—somehow, the words weighed heavily on me.

"However, do not grieve. Even if you kill me today, you will always find the past me here, waiting for you," Rohakan concluded.

“... The past you, Rohakan?” I asked.

"Yes, I wished to stay a little longer, so I created this place. I gathered the last remnants of my life and let them sink into this place. Now, somewhere in this vineyard, there lives a Rohakan far older than myself."

I looked over the vineyard, where mana and time wove together like strands of an unseen tapestry. Their currents swirled and swayed, each thread revealing itself through Sharp Eyesight. As I watched, a passage from Rohakan’s letter rose to the surface of my mind.

Deculein, my protégé, there are still many meetings ahead of us...

"Is that why you said there were still many meetings ahead of us?" I asked.

"Yes, I have met you here more times than I can count—the one who kills me, only to find me again."

Rohakan, with the Origin of Timeline, had shaped a world of his own within this place—one where his past and future selves stretched across time.

“I see,” I said.

"Yes. So today, I need you to kill me first. Only after that will you be ready to learn. The you who returned after taking my life carried mana sharpened to its finest edge. Perhaps then, I might finally find you worth teaching—if only a little."

It was likely due to the mana quality. By killing Rohakan and enhancing it through the unique attribute and store currency, I would be able to elevate my rank to a respectable third rank—even by this world’s standards.

"... Then, I won’t delay any longer,” I replied.

"Good. Oh, and take the knights from the mountainside with you. I did not kill them—only bound them. They are probably wandering, trapped in their own memories. With your mental strength, you should be able to lead them back."

"I will," I said as I rose to my feet, channeling mana into the Snowflower Stone.

Chhht—

Blue and white crystals froze in midair, aligning into a perfect line, their edges gleamed like a finely honed blade.

"Deculein," Rohakan called, his eyes drifting past me, drawn instead to the boundless heavens above.

I tightened my grip around the hilt of my sword.

"When the time is right, see that this reaches Sophien."

Whoooosh—

A breeze of mana swept through, rustling the vine leaves with a gentle whisper, while clusters of white grapes loosened from the long, winding branches and swirled down like snowflakes caught in the wind.

“... That your curse has brought misfortune to all who have walked by your side, and it will continue to do so,” Rohakan murmured, as if speaking to the air, his eyes slipping shut.

The wind carried his voice into the distance as the faint moon waned in the midday sky.

Then, with a smile on his lips, Rohakan continued, "Yet, in the time I spent with you, I found happiness."

“... Deculein,” Rohakan added.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Even if I were to tell you that Sophien will one day kill you, you would still remain by her side.”

“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.

I, Deculein would remain by Sophien’s side, bound to her as her loyal servant. Of course, it was not only because she was inextricably tied to the main quest, but also because it was simply who I was. Deculein could never betray her trust.

“... Good,” Rohakan murmured with a nod. “I’m glad to know you’ll be there. Until we meet again, my protégé.”

No more words followed, and as if marking a farewell, the wind fell silent.

"Yes, Rohakan. We will meet again soon," I said, raising my sword and bringing it down upon him.

The Snowflower Stone blade slipped through Rohakan’s throat, severing the thread of life. Even in that fleeting moment, my heart remained still, as cold as ever. At that very instant, a distant scene surfaced in my mind, lingering like an afterimage.

— ... Why?

In the dim corridors of the Imperial Palace, blood pooled from her lifeless mother, spreading across the floor and tinting the tips of young Sophien’s feet as she turned to Rohakan and whispered—”Why”, a single word, small yet heavy.

At that moment, the Rohakan of that time bit his lip and clutched his weathered wooden staff. But the words he would speak—the only words a child could be told—had already been decided.

— Yes. I am the one who killed her.

Rohakan’s confession—that he had killed the Empress—lingered in the air, his voice stained red with blood. ... As I placed his head into a wooden chest, a thought took shape that the one who ended the Empress’s life... perhaps it could have been Sophien herself.

***

... Meanwhile, Yulie and Sylvia lay among the twisting vineyard vines.

"It’s because you forced your way onto the airship," Sylvia muttered.

Or rather, they were bound. The more they struggled, the tighter the branches wound around them. In the end, they surrendered to the vines’ captivity and, with nothing left to resist, settled into quiet conversation.

"I am finding a way out," Yulie said.

"This is what happens when you force your way on. And when you’re too heavy." Sylvia muttered, her eyes narrowing as she shot her a sharp glare.

"... I would not say I am heavy."

"You weigh over one hundred and fifty pounds."

"Excuse me? Oh, what? No, that’s not true. And even if it were, it would be expected of a knight. After all, my body is built entirely of muscle—"

“Muscle pig.”

"Oh no, why would you say such a thing?!"

Sylvia shook her head, then leaned against the tangled vines and lifted her gaze to the sky.

In this space, where the air was so clear that even the mana within it became visible, simply breathing allowed Sylvia to grow. With every breath, her mana capacity expanded, deepening and strengthening in real time. It was a natural talent she had been born with, one destined to make her an Archmage.

Sylvia silently turned toward Yulie, the knight, who was groaning and struggling, but the vines had already bound her hands and feet, holding her fast and draining the last of her strength.

"How do you plan to take revenge on Deculein?" Sylvia asked, feigning indifference, as if the question were of no real importance.

Then, Yulie paused for a moment, contemplating, then muttered, “... Revenge?”

“Yes.”

Yulie’s mind was heavy with thought—searching for a way to exact her revenge on Deculein and a just path to repay the grudges of those who had suffered.

"My revenge is simple—to make Deculein confront and confess every wrongdoing he has committed with his own lips."

"What wrongdoing has he committed?" Sylvia asked.

"He has left many in ruin."

Even setting aside the knights of Freyhem, many mages saw their careers crumble at Deculein’s hands, and countless merchants were stripped of their livelihoods, their businesses seized by force. Yulie sat among them, listening to the stories of those left in his wake.

"... And many have lost their lives because of him. I am gathering evidence of his wrongdoing," Yulie concluded.

Sylvia's eyes rested on Yulie for a moment before she murmured, "My mom was one of them."

“Ahh!”

Crrrack—!

“... Oh.”

"Oh, Deputy Knight?" Yulie said, eyes widening as she looked at him.

“Do you mind if I—” _{ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm}