A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Interaction of Each Individual (1)

Whether the space itself had been sealed away or ensnared within a barrier, the admissions briefing hall of the Mage Tower was swallowed by an unnatural magical darkness.

“Hmm...” Ria murmured, her eyes narrowing as she stared into the darkness beyond the door, the keen eyes of an adventurer at work.

“Do you get it, Ria?” Leo asked.

“No... I don’t know. I can’t see anything, and it feels like there’s nothing there. I mean, I’m not a mage, after all...” Ria replied, shaking her head.

Even the system couldn’t read it, and there was no way to make sense of the phenomenon.

"What could it be? What could it be?" Maho said as she approached with a beaming smile, her arms overflowing with torn pamphlets from every department. "If this really is a magical terror attack, does that mean we've been kidnapped?"

“I haven’t thought that far yet... Oh, right,” Ria replied, tapping her temple lightly, as if knocking the thought back into place.

I lost focus for a moment. No matter the chaos, escorting the princess must always be my top priority, Ria thought.

"Please have a seat for now, Princess Maho. Leo, your only focus should be on her."

"Okay! Princess, come with me!" Leo said.

"Okay, okay~" Maho replied, having wandered over out of curiosity, but just as quickly, she returned to her seat beside Leo.

"... As expected, she doesn't miss a thing," Ria muttered. _{freewёbnoνel.com}

Maho was the picture of innocence, a perfect image of the naive princess from old fairy tales—full of openings, easy to overlook. But beneath that facade lay not just a single blade, but dozens, each sharpened to a deadly edge, coiled like serpents in the dark, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Even now, it probably wasn’t just curiosity that had led her here. Although she had wandered over not out of interest, but to gently remind them that they were neglecting their duty.

"Mister Leo, how did you become an adventurer at such a young age~? I’m so curious, it’s amazing~"

"Sorry? Umm... Ahem... Hahaha! It’s really not that impressive~" Leo giggled, squirming under the princess’s praise, his body wriggling like a delighted puppy.

As Ria watched the two, her thoughts turned to the future that was fated ahead. In the course of Maho’s quest—in that independent quest—her death was not merely a possibility, but perhaps an inevitability.

Of course, possibility and inevitability were a paradox in themselves...

"It has been some time."

At that moment, a voice, cold as ice, sent a chill down Ria’s spine, freezing her in place. Ria flinched and turned, only to find Deculein standing before her, looking down with quiet intensity. In the depths of his eyes, her reflection trembled.

Gulp—

"So, you have returned to the capital." Deculein added.

“... Yes, sir,” Ria replied.

"What became of the task you mentioned in the Land of Destruction?"

It was both a duty and an oath she had sworn to Deculein—to find the herbs for Carlos, to cure him, no matter what, and put him back to the human he once was.

“So, you failed,” Deculein added with a smirk, as if he had expected nothing less.

“It’s not a failure. I found a chance,” Ria replied, clenching her fists.

“Chance.”

“Yes.”

“Explain.”

“... It’s a secret,” Ria mumbled, stealing a hesitant glance at him.

Then a sudden shiver crept over her, raising goosebumps along her neck and arms. Deculein hadn’t moved, and the air remained unchanged—yet the weight of his presence alone made it feel as though the temperature had dropped.

“... I met someone in the Land of Destruction.” Ria said.

“You mean the Altar?”

Ria's eyes widened in shock as she met Deculein’s eyes, since she hadn’t wanted to speak of it—not because she feared the words, but because they were too unbelievable. After all, most named characters would not believe that anyone could live in the Land of Destruction.

However, Deculein showed no sign of surprise, nor did he doubt it. Instead, he pinpointed the Altar.

“So... you know who they are?” Ria muttered.

At that moment, a flicker of suspicion stirred in Ria’s mind.

Could Deculein have allied himself with the Altar? Ria thought.

“Speak.”

... No. Deculein, a named character, is a staunch atheist. If atheism were a religion, he would be its most devoted follower. The idea of him joining the Altar—it would be a contradiction, an impossibility. Deculein had interrogated and slaughtered the Scarletborn without mercy. Of course, he would know of the Altar’s existence.

“... I asked them, and they said there is a flower.”

“Flower.”

"Yes. They said it’s a flower that brings balance between demonic energy and mana."

“... Balance,” Deculein said, a slight furrow forming between his brows.

"Yes. If all of Carlos’s demonic energy is purified, he will die. But... if there’s balance..."

Carlos would be no different from the Scarletborn.

Ria swallowed the rest of her words, as Deculein saw little difference between the Scarletborn and demons.

"Anyway, they call the flower Rezetal. If we find it, Carlos can live just like a normal person."

Then Deculein paused, his expression unreadable, his thoughts veiled in silence.

“... But, umm... if it really is a magical terror attack, shouldn’t you do something about it?” Ria muttered, twisting her fingers, worried about whatever was running through Deculein’s mind.

"It is impossible."

“... Oh?”

The answer came without hesitation, and the response—that it was impossible—left Ria staring blankly, her head tilting in confusion.

“Because it is the Shamanic Barrier of Complete Detachment,” Deculein explained.

“... What is that?”

“With its core existing outside the barrier, it is classified as ‘complete detachment.’ And because it combines the properties of both magic and shamanism, it is known as a ‘shamanic barrier.’”

Shamanic Barrier of Complete Detachment. I have no idea what that means, but okay.

“... Does that mean we can’t get out?” Ria asked.

“Escape from within is impossible.”

“... Forever?”

“Until the core’s mana fades or the core itself is destroyed.”

“Oh~”

As always, there was nothing Deculein didn’t know. Ria was still a little taken aback by the drastic change in his personality, but she couldn’t deny that she was the one who had introduced such a turning point—regarding his former fiancé.

"So, it’s not a big deal then, isn’t it?" Ria added with a bright smile.

“It’s a big deal,” Deculein replied.

“... Sorry?”

"Rather, it is a serious matter."

“... Why? If you already know what’s going on, then it’s not a serious matter, is it?”

“The Shamanic Barrier of Complete Detachment is the final hypothesis. Hundreds of possibilities were considered first—the spell improvised, the state of the hall assessed, its traces, and the density of mana examined one by one until only this remained,” Deculein replied, looking down at Ria and explaining at length.

“... Final hypothesis?”

"Indeed. When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the only truth."

Ria flinched—she had heard those words before. As she hesitated, a mage quietly approached. Unlike Deculein, Epherene’s expression was far too serious.

"So... are we now in big trouble?"

“The Shamanic Barrier of Complete Detachment is grand magic.”

That single phrase left Ria speechless. Grand magic was something beyond the bounds of magic itself—In other words, a magical miracle.

“Grand... magic?” Ria muttered, staring up at Deculein in a daze, and he remained as composed as ever. “So... does that mean it’s not a terror attack?”

“By imperial law, manifesting a barrier in a civilian area without authorization is deemed an act of terrorism. However, the caster of this barrier is one who stands beyond the law.”

“... Caster.”

“An archmage, or a mage of equal standing, is here,” Deculein continued, nodding as he let out a deep breath before turning his eyes back to the podium.

At that moment, Ria’s mind went completely blank.

Archmage... Demakan? No, if it’s a mage of equal standing it could be... Murkan? Ria thought.

“Most likely, he has come for me.”

“... For you, Professor? Why?” Ria asked, blinking in confusion.

“Because I killed Rohakan,” Deculein stated plainly.

***

Meanwhile, Yulie stepped into the capital with Reylie at her side.

“Over here! This way, Knight Yulie!” Reylie said.

“Alright!” Yulie replied.

Before heading to the Imperial Palace, the two stopped by a nearby boutique—Antoire, the most prestigious clothing shop in the capital.

“... Knight Yulie, look at this. What do you think?” Reylie said, glancing through the garments before selecting an elegant dress.

“How about this suit instead?” Yulie replied, but as expected, she shook her head.

How many shares of stock could I buy for the price of that dress? Yulie thought.

— This would suit Yulie well.

— Haha, Professor Deculein, it seems Knight Yulie is the only one on your mind.

— It is only natural to think of beauty when surrounded by it.

— Then, is the betrothal ceremony set for tomorrow?

— Indeed. Have it wrapped.

— Yes, Professor. Hahaha. Knight Yulie is the most fortunate on this continent—to have such an extraordinary professor like you as her partner...

“Umm, well... I suppose the phenomenon of the Voice is said to emerge through those most deeply connected to the listener. So... I can’t help but feel worried myself—I might hear my mother or father. Anyway, let’s not dwell on it too much—”

— However, Professor... Forgive me if this question is impertinent, but...

— It is a topic the social circle has been most curious about as of late...

— Speak.

— Hahaha. Forgive my curiosity, but what is it about Knight Yulie that has so completely captured your heart, Professor?

— ... A poor woman, who has never had anything to call her own. That empty life of hers is nothing but a tragedy, and the strength she pretends to hold only makes it all the more heartrending.

— Sympathy... is that it, Professor?

— Perhaps. But what does it matter? If anything, that is why she will find happiness by my side. And she too desires me—she must. There is no world in which she would not...

“Umm... Now that I look at it again, this isn’t bad at all,” Reylie said, picking up the suit Yulie had left behind. “Excuse me, w-we’ll take this one. Please wrap it up.”

— Bommas. I should have known you’d be here.

— Haha! Likewise. But what could have prompted Her Majesty to summon all thirty of us...?