A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Hadecaine (3)

Charlotte watched as the assassins were ground to pieces. Deculein’s Steel spun dozens of times per second, turning the area into a scene of carnage as blood and flesh scattered. She quickly covered Maho’s eyes with her hands. When Maho tried to peek around them, Charlotte held her firmly, blocking her view completely.

“W-why are you doing this?” Maho objected, her voice trembling.

“You mustn’t look, Princess,” Charlotte insisted firmly.

The situation remained dire. A dozen or so assassins had escaped the range of the attack, and the most dangerous threat, Diarnath, had yet to reveal itself. Charlotte gripped her sword, the mere act causing her right shoulder to throb with pain. It was an injury she had hidden from the princess, a wound bound by a curse.

“Charlotte,” Deculein called, gripping his staff and keeping his eyes on the enemies. “Take the princess and leave. I will follow shortly. If we delay here, the princess will be in grave danger. The demonic energy is too dense.”

“... Are you certain?” she asked.

“Go,” he commanded.

Charlotte hesitated but finally nodded. It wasn’t the time to be stubborn and insist on fighting together. She picked up Maho, and a piece of Wood Steel followed them, seemingly for protection.

“Boss, I will stay and assist the professor,” Ron said.

“... Understood,” she replied.

As Charlotte turned with Maho, the demonic presence grew more distinct. Diarnath emerged nearby. Though it looked human, its silhouette was as faint as the setting sun. It was a hybrid of demon and ghost, a monster both material and fluid. Charlotte ran, adjusting her speed to shield the princess from the demonic energy.

Whistle—

Diarnath whistled mockingly as they ran away.

“How far can those two women run?” Deculein wondered aloud, clinging to his sanity by sheer will. Deep-seated hatred and contempt rose from the depths of his consciousness, but he suppressed them.

“You cannot kill me with mere steel devoid of mana or even ordinary magic,” Diarnath declared, his laugh rough and crackling like burnt embers.

As Diarnath claimed, ordinary steel couldn’t kill it, nor could ephemeral magic. It was like trying to cut or burn air. Killing it required extremely high-level magic, but in Crebas Canyon, powerful spells would dissipate due to the demonic energy. Diarnath knew this well.

Deculein closed his eyes, calculating the path of the Wood Steel, considering his amplified and recovering mana. He devised a plan to tear Diarnath apart, predicting and measuring every aspect of the battle.

Hummm—

The Rockelock’s Staff glowed with his mana. Infused with the exorcist's blood, it mirrored its master’s fury. Deculein opened his eyes, now gleaming with bright blue light. Diarnath still stood on the other side. Deculein drew an imaginary line on the ground. The moment Diarnath crossed it, the Wood Steel would execute his meticulously devised plan.

Step.

Diarnath took one step forward. Sweat gathered in Ron’s hands.

Step.

Diarnath approached confidently. However, Deculein knew how to kill it.

Step.

Diarnath took another step. As it crossed the line, a cold flash of steel struck from its right side. Neither Ron nor Deculein could see it happen. The Wood Steel moved according to the prearranged plan, acting independently. Time seemed to stand still, and only the steel moved.

Swoosh—!

Diarnath felt its neck being pierced, yet not a drop of blood flowed from the wound. The first piece of Wood Steel severed its neck and then swiftly descended, slicing from collarbone to groin. The second piece was cut horizontally, from the lower right pelvis to the upper left armpit.

The third, fourth, and fifth pieces tore through its spine, segment by segment. The sixth and seventh pieces severed its wrists. The eighth and ninth pieces sliced through its legs. The tenth and eleventh pieces spiraled around its body, carving fine lines into Diarnath's flesh. Smoke seeped from the cuts.

Soon, Diarnath felt its vision flip. The world spun, and it saw its own headless body being torn apart by the steel. The twelfth piece calmly approached, piercing its eyes and crushing its brain. The thirteenth and fourteenth pieces rampaged inside its body. In less than a second, Diarnath was divided into 2,352 pieces.

Meanwhile, several assassins tried to bypass Deculein and chase after Charlotte. Deculein extended the Wood Steel, killing them instantly. Their swift retreat and the confusion on their faces were apparent, even to Ron.

“Professor! O-over there!” Ron shouted, pointing urgently.

Diarnath began to reassemble, its body shifting and melding back together.

“Do not make a fuss,” Deculein said calmly.

He knew how to kill it. The method was simple.

“You kill it repeatedly until it is truly dead,” he said, his tone edged with finality.

Then, dozens of Wood Steel blades rose once more. They repeated the process of dismantling Diarnath endlessly. Ron stood in awe, mesmerized by their destructive power.

***

Charlotte and Maho crossed the canyon and ran across the field without stopping until they reached the border of Yuren.

However, their escape was not easy. Enemies emerged, assassins rushing at them from the shadows. Charlotte swung her sword with one hand, killing them. The cursed pain in her right arm spread through her body, but she ignored it. Her Sword Qi flickered with mana, crushing their flesh and bones.

Before long, someone shouted, “Over there!”

It was the Grand Duke’s knights. Although they couldn't enter the Empire’s border, they appeared at the designated route in Yuren to aid Charlotte. The knights swiftly charged in and cut down the assassins, turning the battle in their favor. Charlotte sighed in relief.

She looked down at Maho in her arms, who gazed up at her and asked, “Are you alright, Princess?”

“Yes... I feel a bit nauseous, but I’m alright.”

“It is an early symptom of demonic energy poisoning, but it is mild. You will recover soon.”

Agghhh—!

The knights didn’t let a single assassin escape. Those captured chose to take their own lives.

Slash—!

As the sword sliced through flesh, the area fell silent.

Soon after, Girand, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Maho’s grandfather of the Principality, appeared.

“Maho.”

“Ah! Grandfather!” Maho cried, running to him.

Girand looked at her with a deeply apologetic expression and said, “It has been a while. Please forgive us for being able to do nothing but wait here.”

“It’s alright, it’s alright~ I understand~ I’m just grateful that you came. Thank you.”

Maho remained as cheerful as ever. Girand patted her head and then turned to Charlotte, who was clutching her sore shoulder.

“Charlotte.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well done. Are you the only survivor?”

“... No, sir,” Charlotte replied, shaking her head. Since Deculein had made it clear he would follow, and surely, he would bring Ron with him. “We will wait here for them.”

Girand nodded. They settled down, burying the bodies while waiting for their comrades to arrive. Time passed slowly, and the wind was cold. Thirty minutes went by, then an hour, then two.

“Let us return inside,” Girand said, placing a hand on Charlotte’s shoulder.

“... Wait! Look over there!” Maho exclaimed, pointing.

Everyone turned to look. In the dim light of dusk, where the horizon blurred, two figures approached. Charlotte sighed in relief.

“Professor, professor! You’re safe!” Maho cried, running to greet him.

Deculein, still bearing the tension of battle, wore a stern expression. He soon smiled, bowed politely and said, “Thank you for your concern, Princess.”

“I’m so relieved. Phew. Thank you, Professor, truly—”

“Princess,” Deculein whispered in her ear. “There’s no need to pretend anymore.”

Maho’s expression hardened slightly. Deculein knew her true nature. Her playful demeanor wasn't false, but her innocent facade was. She knew exactly which aspects of herself would elicit sympathy and which actions would increase her chances of survival. Maho looked at Deculein with her large eyes. He smiled silently.

Charlotte approached and said, "Hey, you—"

“Now that our task is complete, I shall take my leave. Ron will provide the details. Ron?”

“Yes, sir! Understood!” Ron replied, standing at attention.

Ron, who had been full of suspicion just a day before, now regarded Deculein with admiration and respect.

Charlotte nodded and said, "... Thank you. I will never forget this favor—no, this deal."

Deculein turned without a word. He displayed neither fatigue nor any desire for rest, maintaining the same dignified presence as when they first met.

“Charlotte,” Girand called, his gaze following Deculein's retreating figure. To him, it was a mysterious sight.

“Yes, sir.”

“Is he part of the escort team?”

Before Charlotte could answer, Ron interjected, “Yes, sir. He is Deculein, the Head Professor of the Mage Tower of the Empire. He killed dozens of assassins and defeated Diarnath.”

“... Diarnath? From the Crebas Canyon?”

Ron nodded proudly and said, “Yes, sir.”

“Is that possible? Even for a professor, Crebas is quite challenging.”

“I witnessed it myself, sir. Professor Deculein’s magic is far beyond that of ordinary mages,” Ron said, gazing into the distance with admiration. Maho also looked in the same direction. “The professor toyed with Diarnath effortlessly. Every attack missed him. His skills were almost invincible, the pinnacle of combat magic..."

Ron’s praise was full of emotion. Girand and the other knights regarded Deculein with newfound respect. Against the darkening horizon, the figure of Yukline’s lineage stood tall.

***

[Independent Quest Complete]

Upon exiting the Crebas Canyon, I found the Red Hare waiting as instructed. I mounted it, ready to return, but glanced back at the canyon entrance. Inside, the mana recovery rate had been enough to imbue all the Wood Steel with the Midas Touch and still have excess. During the six-hour walk out, I had managed to imbue attributes to four pieces of Wood Steel.

“... Hmm.”

“... Ah! Good evening, Master Deculein!”

I opened the door. The room was tidy and unremarkable, but a notebook on the shelf caught my eye. It was untitled and looked ordinary, yet my Sharp Eyesight told me it was special. Without my Sharp Eyesight, I wouldn’t have noticed it at all. I tucked the notebook into my coat and left.

Knock, knock—

Yeriel handed me the journal without a word. I employed my Comprehension to solve the problem. With the answers accessible, my Comprehension worked remarkably well. The more specific the subject, the less mana it consumed.

“... Hm?”