A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Solda Promotion (2)

Sylvia clenched the map fragment in her hand, staring at the small piece before closing her eyes. The category of magic or its properties didn’t matter now. She focused on the texture of the map she had felt, recalling its structure and function.

Gradually, the Primary Colors formed a shape. The stolen map, the one Sylvia had touched, began to regenerate from the fragment, slowly taking form. Though she had never done this before, the map was soon fully restored, identical to the original. Even the red circle moved just as it had before.

“Reylie from the Red Garnet Adventure Team,” Sylvia muttered, her voice cold as she clenched her small fists tightly.

“Iliade thrives on anger. Trials that do not kill only make Iliade stronger.”

This must have been the growth Giltheon had spoken of. Sylvia had once believed in the legendary deeds of Reylie and Dozmu, as described in the fairy tales. But now, they would pay for their betrayal. She was certain they would cross paths again during the exam, and she would never forgive what they had done.

“I won’t be fooled again,” Sylvia murmured, admitting to herself her inexperience.

Sylvia realized her naivety but was slowly beginning to grasp the harsh realities of battle. She glanced at the sky and saw that the sun was already setting. Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved a mana stone and created a bat, linking her vision with its own. As the bat flew off, Sylvia observed her surroundings through its eyes.

As Sylvia examined her map, she reflected on why Reylie had required three maps. Then, she recalled the Chairwoman’s remark just before the exam started—mentioning that a thousand examinees were far too many. At that moment, Sylvia finally understood the true significance of those words.

“It’s not a destination,” Sylvia realized.

The map didn’t indicate a destination; it marked a target. If everyone on this map was a target, the objective became clear.

“Targets,” Sylvia murmured, her eyes hardening with resolve.

Meanwhile, along the coast on the outskirts of the Training Island, Dozmu murmured as he strolled by the sea beneath the sky-bound island, “Giltheon is a peculiar man, offering money to those who would torment his own daughter.”

Reylie chuckled. As soon as they registered for the Solda exam, Giltheon had approached them with his unusual request.

“Dozmu, there’s no use in trying to understand mages. It’s pointless.”

“But we’re mages too.”

“We’re the ones who left because we couldn’t tolerate that society~” Reylie said with a shrug. “But I think I understand Giltheon’s intention. Sylvia is still inexperienced. He likely believes it’s better for her to learn from minor setbacks with us rather than face a catastrophic betrayal later on.”

Lions are known to raise their cubs with strict discipline.

Reylie took out a map. She had four in total, including Sylvia’s, and murmured, “Alright~ Now that we have them all...”

As Reylie received the maps from the supervisor, their purpose quickly became clear. The nine circles on each map represented targets, but there was no need to steal all nine. By overlapping just three maps, part of the hidden magic circle would emerge, and with Reylie’s insight, she could infer the entire circle from that fragment.

“Wooh!”

Zooom—

A blue passageway materialized with a faint hum—a Short-Range Portal.

“Finished~”

Reylie and Dozmu exchanged a quick high-five and moved toward the Short-Range Portal. But just as they reached it, Reylie suddenly hesitated.

“Hmm?”

Reylie felt a presence. Robed figures began to rise from the ocean beneath the Training Island, pushing through the underbrush as they moved inland.

"How did they manage to get up here?"

“... Must be the Altar,” Dozmu suggested.

Reylie pressed her lips together and said, "Perhaps. But for now, let's leave. This sort of matter falls under the Security Chief’s jurisdiction, doesn’t it?"

“You mean the seventh strongest?”

“Yep, that would be Professor Deculein’s job.” Reylie smirked, and with that, she and Dozmu stepped into the Short-Range Portal.

***

Night had completely fallen. I stared at Sylvia's reflection in the glass of the control tower before turning off the screen. A large moon hung in the sky, its pale light casting a soft glow across the room. Using it as my only source of illumination, I reached into my inner pocket and pulled out the Untitled Notebook—a diary filled with Deculein’s memories.

Inside were memories of a past unfamiliar to me—Sylvia and her mother, Giltheon and Deculein, Yukline and Iliade, and even Deculein’s father. As Kim Woo-Jin, I found myself hesitating, unsure if merging these memories with mine would alter who I truly was.

“... How ridiculous,” I murmured.

It was an unnecessary worry. This was just a diary. There wasn’t a single memory in it that my unwavering resolve couldn’t handle.

— Can you hear me?

Just as I was about to open the diary, the crystal orb in my pocket buzzed with Yulie’s voice.

"I hear you."

— Ah, are you well?

Yulie, unfortunately, wasn’t able to enter the Floating Island. She had attended the previous Symposium, the Place of Verification, but strict rules barred her from coming back.

“I’m fine.”

— That’s good to hear. I’m relieved.

Her words were meant to be reassuring, but the concern in her tone was unmistakable.

I chuckled softly and said, “Is my well-being troubling you so much that it’s taking a toll on your health?”

— This is no time to be joking around.

Her response left me feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“... What is it?”

— I’ve been informed that a surge of demonic energy has rendered all airships on the Floating Island inoperable.

The airships, the only means of travel between the Training Island and the Floating Island, were now grounded. _{freёwebnovel.com}

— However, another flying object has been detected on the radar, suggesting an infiltration of the Training Island. We are now in a state of emergency, and I am en route as well.

"You’re on your way? But you just mentioned that the airships aren’t operational."

— There is another way. Please wait a moment; I will be there soon—

Zzzzt—!

The communication through the crystal orb abruptly ended, a clear sign that something serious was unfolding.

“Something’s gone terribly wrong!” Louina exclaimed as she stumbled down the stairs, bursting into the room.

She had opted to stay another night in the control tower. Holding a fountain pen, she was clearly winded.

“This is a catastrophe!”

"The airships, I presume?" I said.

"... You already knew?" Louina’s expression shifted to one of surprise.

"I was just informed."

"Oh dear. We're in the midst of a significant project... So why did you ask me to stay?"

It was because of the death variable. While I had managed to avoid it, its very existence suggested a serious danger. Even so, I hadn’t expected Louina to stay without question. She’d been surprisingly cooperative lately.

“... You’re not going to answer me, are you?” Louina said, pouting as she poured herself a cup of coffee. She handed me a sheet of paper filled with intricate spells, likely tied to her current project. “I’m stuck on this part, so if it’s not too much trouble, could you at least give me a hint?”

I said, “My revisions don’t come cheap.”

“If your revisions prove valuable, I’ll give you credit.”

I reviewed the document with Comprehension. The project involved a Remote Barrier—a crucial defense against demonic beasts. It aligned with concepts from a book I had recently studied, Advanced Grimoire: Principles of Barrier.

“It’s a barrier,” I said.

"This is a barrier, but the circuit is highly inefficient. Maintaining it for a day consumes twenty-two pounds of mana stones. No one would use something so impractical."

“Let me take a closer look,” I said, as I used Telekinesis to control the fountain pen she held. I began writing, guided by my intuition and knowledge.

Rustle— Rustle—

As my attribute amplified my thoughts and calculations, I evaluated the project with flawless magical insight, making precise adjustments at critical points. The process cost me around 2,000 mana points, but it was a worthwhile reward for Louina staying behind.

“... Take this.”

“Hmm? You finished so quickly, Boss. Did you just scribble randomly...”

She began reading my revisions with a skeptical look, but as she continued, her eyes widened in realization.

“... Oh, you didn’t. My goodness.”

Louina’s reaction was sincere. Being a genius herself, she understood it right away.

I shrugged and said, “I recently read a book that might benefit your research. I’ll lend it to you when you’re back. For now, you can help me with my work here.”

“With work, you mean security...?” Louina asked, her eyes still focused on my revisions.

“Indeed.”

“But will I be of any help? The Seventh—”

“Don’t refer to me as the Seventh Strongest.”

“... Why not? It’s true,” Louina said, blinking up at me. After a brief sigh, she nodded. “Well... I guess titles like that don’t really matter.”

Her tone carried an unexpected sadness.

“Alright, I’ll assist. You should be careful not to overexert yourself.”

Bubble, bubble—

“Oh! Then you must know Professor Deculein~?” Maiho exclaimed, clapping her hands again.

“Wow! Amazing, amazing! So, would you say Professor Deculein is your mentor?”

“Wow. This is delicious.”

“Consider it a special talent of mine, haha,” Karixel said with a smile as he pulled out an empty cup.

Karixel, wearing a modest grin, explained, “It’s a bit complex, but I like to call it the Midas Touch.”

“It’s not something that can be taught. It’s innate, haha,” Karixel said, scratching the back of his neck bashfully, leaving Epherene with a trace of disappointment.

“Shh,” Karixel whispered, raising a finger to his lips.

Rustle— Rustle—

“Huh? Enemies?”