A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Selection (2)

"I even gave you the chance to object. It’s your fault for not paying close attention," Deculein stated, his voice as cold as ice.

Yulie lowered her head silently. Her senior knights watched her, their emotions mirrored in her own turmoil. Yet, she knew it was too soon to give up.

"... I admit it's my fault," she murmured quietly.

Determined, she placed the Ice Flower on a stable surface and concentrated her mana into her palms.

Thud—!

A familiar, dull pain from an old injury flared up. Direct mana release was still a challenge, but she ignored it. Clenching her teeth, she gathered her mana into a sphere in her hand and then dispersed it like dust.

Whoosh...

Her magic spread throughout the villa, freezing everything and extinguishing the warmth of the fireplace, causing the temperature to plummet.

"This should suffice," Yulie said with confidence, her gaze steady on Deculein.

Deculein's expression briefly flickered with surprise before he regained his composure. Shaking his head, he stated, "Your method is flawed. Inspect the flower yourself."

At his instruction, Yulie turned her gaze to the Ice Flower she had set down earlier.

"What...?"

The petals were scarred, the damage evident at a glance.

"The Ice Flower is highly sensitive to mana."

"... Hah," Yulie laughed bitterly, holding the damaged flower in her hand.

She closed her eyes after gazing at the shimmering flower bud, lowering her head in defeat. Though the clock above the frozen fireplace was still, it soon struck seven o'clock.

"You're disqualified," Deculein announced.

***

Yulie stayed at the villa for a while because her body temperature was too low to leave immediately. After finishing her meal, she fell into a deep sleep while the knights gathered in the living room.

“It wasn’t fair,” Sirio said.

However, I was more concerned about Yulie’s mana than his complaint. It was the first time I had seen it with my Sharp Eyesight, and I noticed a flaw, an unknown injury.

[Status Effect: Mana Impairment]

Yulie's mana was damaged. Mana impairment, or a core injury, was rare and couldn't be caused by ordinary harm. It must have been a curse or a nearly crippling injury. I wasn't sure if Yulie in my game had reached the pinnacle of knighthood with such an affliction or if she had overcome it to reach the top.

“Yulie’s task was far too difficult. Ice flowers and a fireplace? I didn’t get it at first either,” Sirio grumbled.

Gwen and Raphel glared at me, their eyes full of anger. The knights were clearly unhappy with the unfair process. It suddenly occurred to me that they might have a connection not only with Deculein but also with Yulie, which could mean they knew the reason behind her Mana Impairment.

“... Yulie sustained an injury once,” I mused aloud, almost to myself.

I was subtly probing, yet the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.

“Injury? That was your fault. During our group mission to guard the VIP... Oh, could it be?” Sirio’s eyes widened as he stared at me.

Raphel stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, “The aftereffects are still lingering?”

Gwen frowned and said, “She seemed fine using her Sword Qi... Raphel, what do you think?”

“She seemed to consciously limit her mana usage. She used her Sword Qi but never released a lot of mana at once,” Raphel added, a hint of pride twisting his lips.

Something seemed off. There was no other way to counter Raphel’s explosive sword technique.

Sirio nodded and said, “If the aftereffects are still present, it’s a problem. She could get into trouble being near Her Majesty, especially with the strict eunuchs.”

They talked about things I didn’t understand, events from before the game’s timeline.

“But are you sure? How did you know, Deculein? Well, I suppose you would. You care so much about her,” Sirio said with a sly grin.

Gwen's eyes narrowed as she snapped, “Enough. Even if it’s true, is this how you show you care for someone? It’s not impressive. Despite her injury, she can still instruct Her Majesty just fine. Your overprotection is unnecessary.”

“Gwen,” I said firmly, calling her name.

“What?”

“Would you like to be disqualified as well?”

Gwen fell silent, so I turned my attention back to my duties as the Selector.

“Return to your rooms. The second test will commence once the first disqualified participant has departed.”

***

It was 3 p.m., but the world outside remained dark. Yulie stood, gazing up at the sky. The winter air was taut and biting.

“Best of luck, Grand Knight!”

“You’ve been stressed lately, so show them what you’ve got and return even stronger!”

She recalled the encouragement from her fellow knights. Determined to pass the test for their sake, she had failed. She couldn't blame anyone else and wouldn't allow herself to. Yulie accepted it humbly. As she was about to leave, she heard a rustling sound and saw Deculein watching her from not far away.

“Yulie.”

“Yes?”

He walked towards her slowly, his steps crunching in the snow. Stopping just three steps away, he paused as if carefully choosing his words.

"Today's outcome was indeed unfortunate."

“Not at all,” Yulie replied, shaking her head. “As you said, it was my fault. I understand. That was the nature of the test itself.”

Deculein remained silent, unable to comprehend Yulie’s insistence that it was her fault.

Yulie continued earnestly, “The Ice Flower and the fireplace were quite ingenious. I should have examined them more thoroughly when I received the task.”

Deculein sighed softly. He knew it wasn't ingenious; it was more that she was stubbornly straightforward.

“... Before you leave, I have a question I would like to ask you,” Deculein said.

“Does this pertain to your duties as the Selector?”

He shook his head and replied, “No.”

“Very well, please ask your question.”

As Kim Woo-Jin, enduring Deculein’s emotions, he remembered meeting Yulie for the first time five months ago. She had been furious about a promise he had broken, but he hadn’t even asked what the promise was.

“I once broke a promise,” he said. Yulie looked at him silently, and Deculein continued with a detached tone, “Remind me of that promise.”

Yulie’s eyebrows twitched. Deculein offered her a small smile and said, “I merely wish to hear it from you once more.”

She found him puzzling; at some point, he had become an enigma.

"... It has been over half a year. During that time, I received a letter from someone in the Luna family. It was from the mother of a mage who took his own life while working on your research."

“And what were the contents of that letter?”

“I've already shown it to you. It outlined the... wrongdoings you had committed. I asked for an explanation, and you remained silent.”

Yulie had shown him the letter, but he had burned it, insisting she didn't need to know its contents.

“I see.”

However, Deculein acted as if nothing had happened, his behavior inexplicable once again.

“Why do you ask this now?”

He looked at her with a bitter smile on his lips and said, “Because it was my fault.”

“... Pardon?” Yulie asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

“It was my fault then... the fault of I, Deculein. But the research continues. He designed it, but I am the one carrying it forward. As a joint effort, he will be credited as a co-author.” Deculein gazed at the horizon as the sun finally began to rise, the natural magic of the space adding a strange quality to the moment.

“If there are profits, they will be shared, and I will help his family recover. When this research is published, I will also extend my apology to him,” Deculein said, his face bathed in sunlight. He was cold yet warm, like ice melting in spring.

Yulie responded softly, “... Why did you not say this back then?”

Feeling a warmth like that of a cozy candle flame, Yulie turned and walked in the opposite direction. His words echoed in her mind, "I will endeavor not to love you..."

“Eventually, we shall each find our own paths...”

The selection examination concluded smoothly. After three days of testing, Raphel was selected, while the other three knights were eliminated. Although it consumed three days, it was far from a waste. I observed the movements of the top knights with my Sharp Eyesight and committed them to memory with my Comprehension.

It was an experience more valuable than any treasure. As soon as I returned to my office in the Mage Tower, I compiled and organized my observations. The two volumes I produced would be invaluable for my Iron Man project.

"Hm," I murmured as I placed the record book in my desk drawer. A notebook caught my eye. I took it out—it was the titleless notebook I had taken from Deculein’s room in Hadecaine.

Knock knock—

Imperial Instructor Mage List: Deculein von Grahan-Yukline, Louina von Schlott McQueen.