A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Break (3)

After we finished our meal, we all left together. It felt like we had been a group from the start. Primien, acting like an NPC from a game, seemed to think receiving the sleeping bag obligated her to escort me. She even caught a pickpocket trying to steal from me. As we walked, we stopped in front of a shabby wooden building.

“Could you just leave now?”

“Alright. I’ll just say I found this sleeping bag on my way here,” Primien replied.

"Allen, you wait outside too."

"Yes, sir!" Allen responded eagerly.

Primien left, and I made sure Allen stayed outside. I knocked on the door and stepped inside. The place smelled like an old, dusty bookstore. The creaky wooden structure seemed to barely hold together.

"May I inquire if anyone is present?" I called out, feeling slightly out of place using such formal language in this dilapidated setting. However, the owner of this place deserved the utmost respect, and I could set aside my usual Personality Trait for that.

"Hem, who is it?" wheezed a raspy, phlegm-filled voice from above. It seemed there was a second floor I hadn't noticed. Each step on the wooden stairs made the whole building shake. Soon, an old man with a strong presence descended. Despite his age, he left a powerful impression.

“I’m here to request the creation of a staff.”

“A staff?” the old man asked, putting on a pair of glasses he grabbed from a nearby table and peering at me. “Ah, Deculein. It’s you.”

I nodded in silence.

“As I mentioned before... Hmm? You've changed quite a bit, haven't you? No, it’s more than that... has your soul changed? You must have gone through something significant. The resonance of your heart and blood is much purer than before, even your speech has changed.” the old man said, raising his eyebrows, and the wrinkles on his face followed suit.

My heart skipped a beat, but I maintained my composure and replied, "I am only here to commission the creation of a staff."

The old man chuckled, nodded and said, “Very well. I’ll craft one for you this time. What kind of staff do you want?"

Apparently, Deculein had visited before. Even though I didn’t play as a mage in the game, I knew about the artisan Rockelock.

"... A standard staff will suffice," I replied.

“There are various kinds of staffs—wands, rods, and standard staffs.”

“I'll be satisfied with whatever can be crafted from this,” I said, presenting the Mana Tree.

The old man’s eyes sparkled and said, “Ah, Mana Tree. Indeed, this will suffice.”

"And I have several other materials," I added, laying out the additional materials I had purchased. They were of the highest quality, as confirmed by my Wealthy Magnate's discerning eye.

The old man’s mouth dropped open and said, “With all these materials and the Mana Tree... are you aiming to create the finest staff in the world?”

“If it could be remembered in history, that would be splendid.”

“In that case, why not add your blood to the mix?” the old man suggested. “The blood of the Yukline family is worthy material. Your lineage has a profound history in magic.”

I hesitated at his suggestion. Despite Deculein's lack of talent, I trusted the old man to filter out any negative influences.

“If you could ensure it is well filtered,” I said, rolling up my sleeve.

The old man made a quick, painless cut on my arm with a flick of his finger, collecting the blood in a beaker. His mastery of blood magic was unparalleled.

“Normally, crafting a staff doesn’t take long, but with these materials, I’ll truly put my heart into it. Give me ten days, and I’ll send it to you by courier,” Rockelock said. Noticing my concern about security, he added, “If I infuse your blood into the security magic, no one but you will be able to open it.”

“... How much will it cost, if I may ask?”

"The total cost will be five million elne, including the security magic and delivery."

Five million elne, excluding the cost of materials, was precisely what I had anticipated. Although I could already imagine Yeriel's displeased expression, I knew I could earn ten million elne from selling the vase.

"Do you accept family checks here?"

"Of course, since you're from Yukline."

I handed him the check, he chuckled and said, “You’ll have it within two weeks at the most.”

“Yes, sir. I'll head back now.”

“Farewell, hahaha,” Rockelock said with a hearty laugh.

As I bowed and left, several notifications appeared.

[Sub Quest Complete: Rockelock’s Staff]

Condition 1: Sufficient fame or infamy

Condition 2: Kind-hearted or reformed

Condition 3: Top-quality materials to pique Rockelock’s interest

Condition 4: At least two visits

◆ Store Currency +1

◆ Staff crafted by Rockelock

Unexpectedly, the quest was completed. It must have been thanks to Deculein’s previous visit, though I wasn’t sure when that had happened. Grateful and satisfied, I left the shop.

***

Meanwhile, in the office of the Freyhem Knights Order near the capital, Yulie was chatting with her relative, Reylie, who had visited after a long absence.

“I’m so busy these days, and I barely make any money. Being an adventurer really isn’t worth it. It’s just a constant drain on your finances. Honestly, I’m only doing it for the ID card. It allows unlimited overseas travel.”

“That does sound appealing,” Yulie said, smiling politely at Reylie’s grumbling.

“Grand Knight Yulie, you made the right choice not becoming an adventurer a while back.”

“Haha.”

There was a time when Yulie had considered becoming an adventurer herself. In fact, under Deculein's pressure, it had once seemed like her only option. She had even thought about abandoning everything and just leaving.

“But Reylie,” Yulie said, shifting the conversation as Reylie finished speaking.

“Yes?”

“Might you have any knowledge... concerning Deculein’s former fiancée?” Yulie asked, feeling a strange irritation just bringing up the subject. She ran her fingers through her hair.

“Pardon? Why do you ask about that? And what’s with the sudden change in tone?”

“Hmm? It’s nothing really... I’m just curious,” Yulie replied, her thoughts drifting to the time she had seen Deculein at his late fiancée’s gravestone. She had stumbled upon him by chance and, though she hadn’t meant to spy, she couldn’t bring herself to leave. He had been openly mourning, his tears a testament to his sorrow. “Never mind. It’s nothing important.”

“What was that about... Well, I don’t know much. She was just a noble lady. Not much was revealed about her, and I didn’t know much either. I didn’t even know they were engaged at first,” Reylie said. She was an adventurer from the Mage Tower and two years younger than Deculein. They had known each other back when Deculein’s fiancée was still alive.

“What do you mean you didn’t know?”

“I only knew she was very sick and stayed at home a lot... But why are you really asking about this?” Reylie said, looking at Yulie with suspicion, making her shudder slightly.

“It’s nothing. I was just curious.”

“You already knew they were parted by her death, though?”

“... Yes, I knew that.”

“I don’t think that’s a valid reason to end your engagement.”

“That’s not what I meant...”

Yulie sighed for no reason in particular. She found herself genuinely curious.

How much had he loved his late fiancée for someone as cold as him to still shed tears for her? Despite his lingering feelings, why had he shown such raw emotions toward me? And how, still unable to forget his old love, could he request a smile from me once a month? Was his promise to change somehow related to her? Or... did I remind him of her? Yulie thought.

“... It’s fine. I was just curious.”

“Hmm. Okay?”

Knock, knock— _{frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓}

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Deputy Knight Rockfell entered, unexpectedly draped in a black cloak.

“Grand Knight Yulie.”

“Yes, what is it?”

Rockfell lowered his head in silence, biting his lip for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. Finally, with a somber expression, he began to speak. As his words sank in, Yulie and Reylie's faces grew cold and tense.

***

At the same time, in the lord’s office in the capital city of Hadecaine, within the Yukline territory.

"Of course, it was idiotic of me to expect anything different," Yeriel muttered, glaring out the window. The anger that had once peaked had not yet subsided. "Why not me? Ugh, it's so annoying! Just because I gave up on magic halfway, why pick someone like Allen or Allal, whatever his name is..."

He seemed like a nobody. I couldn't understand why he picked him as an assistant professor. If he needed someone for the meeting, why not me... Yeriel thought angrily.

"Well, whatever," Yeriel muttered. After three days, she had begrudgingly come to terms with it. “It’s been over ten years since we acted like we were close siblings.”

It's crazy to think we could work together now. Honestly, I prefer it this way, with us hating each other. Deculein doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him. He’s just a bad example to me. I really do hate him. I hate him. I hate him...

Chirp— chirp—

As she silently nurtured her forced hatred, a sparrow gently landed on the window sill. Yeriel, leaning on the window, watched it. She slowly opened the window, and the bird didn’t fly away.

"Hey, come here," Yeriel said, extending her finger.

The sparrow hopped onto her finger, chirping cheerfully. She chuckled softly. Strangely, animals always liked her, even though she wasn't particularly gentle with them.

"You’re cute. Off you go now."

“Phew~” Yeriel said, taking a deep breath and exhaled, feeling a wave of emotion wash over her.

Knock, knock—

Clunk, clunk— clunk, clunk—

"... Haha, time flies. Fifteen years ago, you were young too. Look at you now."

"Ah, yes, sir. It's a real honor," Allen stammered.

“Ahhh—” Allen stretched widely under the station lights late in the evening.

Crunch, crunch—