A Villain's Will to Survive-Chapter 219: Interaction of Each Individual (2)

"Has everyone gathered?" Ahan asked.

After their meeting with the Empress, Yulie and the knights gathered once more in a hidden chamber within the Imperial Palace—a secret room Sophien had built to escape from the watchful eyes of eunuchs and officials. There, Ahan distributed the imperial certificates.

"This is an imperial certificate granting cooperation from the Intelligence Agency. With it, you may access information classified as grade 3 or lower and receive assistance from agents stationed across the continent."

Yulie gave a slight nod and tucked the imperial certificate into her coat.

"Each of your trials will be different, so please avoid sharing them with one another. Additionally, you will all be provided with an Elite Guard uniform and an identification card."

A place in the Empress’s Elite Guard was the highest honor a knight could hope for, yet Yulie found only slight happiness.

"As you may already know, you will not be called upon for ordinary missions. However, having entered the Imperial Palace and accepted Her Majesty’s trial, you are all expected to uphold the dignity, loyalty, and qualifications befitting your roles. For this reason, you have all been granted a place within the Elite Guard."

Of course, it was not that she begrudged serving Her Majesty—far from it. Rather, she knew all too well who stood at the pinnacle of this hierarchy...

"Your designated grade is Vesilita—a term from the runic language meaning an agent who operates independently. Your privilege is the right to act alone. Even when deployed with other members of the Elite Guard in large-scale operations, you will not be bound by their ranks or chain of command."

Yulie glanced down at her identification card.

Yulie: Vesilita

Elite Guard Identification Card

The identification card featured detailed engravings in gold, its elegant patterns radiating a beauty matched only by the strong pulse of mana embedded within.

"This magic artifact was personally crafted by Her Majesty. Do not lose it—no replacements will be made, and its loss will lead to your removal from the Elite Guard," Ahan concluded.

"... Oh, that explains it. The mana within the identification card is fluctuating," said one of the knights.

All thirty knights, Yulie among them, were struck with astonishment. In a way, receiving this was no different from being granted a gift crafted by the Empress herself.

"Speaking of privileges, I am curious—does each grade come with its own privileges?" said Jaelon, the Mountaineer, one of the strongest knights in the Northern Region and even larger than Zeit.

"Yes, privileges differ by grade and are further tailored to each individual," Ahan replied.

"Hmm, interesting. Now, that brings me to another question—what privilege has been granted to Professor Deculein?"

"Absolute authority over the lives and deaths of others," Ahan replied, answering his question.

... A heavy silence fell over the room.

***

— Everyone, please remain seated! Stay in your seats!

Epherene stepped onto the podium, guiding the examinees back to their seats. With a wave of Telekinesis, she distributed pamphlets to them, easing the tension in the hall.

“Ahh...”

Ria still looked serious, while Maho stole glances at me, a bright smile playing on her lips.

I scanned the hall. Among the hundreds gathered, there had to be an archmage or someone of equal standing—but I couldn’t pick them out.

"Then..." Ria mumbled, nibbling on her fingernail.

I watched her silently.

"Oh... what should I do now?"

The way she mumbled to herself, her eyes darting in deep thought, and the habit of nibbling her nails—it all reminded me of someone from long ago.

Clip—!

I caught her small hand just as she moved from her chewed thumbnail to her index finger. Ria blinked up at me, her eyes wide with surprise.

"That’s a filthy habit you have," I said.

"... Oh, okay," Ria said, quickly pulling her hand away.

"Hold still. This isn’t something your worrying could ever resolve."

At the very least, there was no immediate death variable here. Of course, if they were someone like Josephine, they could have concealed their murderous intent, but that seemed unlikely—if killing had been the plan, there would have been no reason to keep us alive this long.

“But—”

"I am the one in charge. The responsibility is mine to bear, and so the solution is mine to find."

I stepped back onto the podium, took the microphone from Epherene, and stated, "From this moment on, the admissions briefing will resume."

At that moment, the examinees looked dazed.

***

"Wow, he's really doing it," Epherene muttered.

Behind the curtain of the podium, Epherene let out a chuckle in disbelief as she watched Deculein.

“The written exam will be divided into theoretical questions and specialized sections, and the practical test will follow the same structure,” Deculein said.

Even within the barrier, Deculein remained completely unbothered as he continued the admissions briefing. It was almost ludicrous—but then again, it was just like him.

"If you have any questions regarding category selection, speak now."

As expected, no one stepped forward to ask a question—or so it seemed. But then, one person did.

"Me, me~" said Maho, the princess of Yuren, raising her hand with a bright smile.

"Ask your question," Deculein said, pointing at her.

“Okay, okay~”

At that moment...

Epherene's entire body tensed, as if a cold blade had lodged itself in her throat, cutting off her breath.

"Upon entering the Mage Tower, will we be able to attend Head Professor Deculein’s lectures right away~?"

“No.”

"Oh my! Why, why? But I want to attend Head Professor Deculein’s lectures~!"

As their question and answers session continued, Epherene's attention remained on the presence behind her. Sweat trickled down her back, and she swallowed hard.

Gulp—

Someone was there—closing in on her from behind without making a sound.

"A pleasure to meet you."

The voice was cold, and the man's identity undeniable—the mage who had cast the Shamanic Barrier of Complete Detachment.

“... Who,” Epherene muttered.

"I am Murkan."

The moment she heard the name Murkan, Epherene's legs gave out.

"I am the blood of Rohakan, the one your professor killed," Murkan said, supporting her as she began to collapse.

Epherene had known of Rohakan’s death, and it left her heartbroken. They hadn’t been particularly close, so the sadness wasn’t overwhelming, but the loss left a bitter taste—especially because she understood why he had to die.

“Are you afraid?” Murkan asked.

“... Wouldn’t it be strange not...”

... To be afraid? You are Murkan, after all—the man denied the title of Archmage because of your nature.

Epherene couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence.

"Is... revenge why...”

You are here?

Epherene's words kept breaking off before she could finish them.

"That could have been the case," Murkan said.

“... Sorry?”

"But, looking at you—and at him—I find it unnecessary."

“What do you...”

"That man was born fated to die."

Epherene’s eyes widened in shock.

"And his fate is even more tragic than my nephew’s," Murkan added, his eyes resting on Deculein standing at the podium.

“... Why?”

"Hatred is his every breath, and tragedy his destined end," Murkan replied, lowering his eyes to Epherene, whose eyes, devoid of whites, were pitch black, as if ink had spilled and swallowed them whole—a terrifying sight, with an inhuman weight. "Would you care to experience his fate for yourself?"

"No," Epherene replied, refusing without hesitation.

"Well, your fate is far from smooth either," Murkan said with a nod.

"Sorry? Oh... yes. I suppose that's true."

"You are entangled in the threads of time—that is your fate."

“... Eh?”

"The sun and moon shall repeat."

“Umm... repeat?”

The words carried the vague ambiguity of a prophecy.

"A bomb will detonate," Murkan said, closing his eyes for a brief moment.

“A bomb?!”

"Néscĭus—a bomb wrought from the very being of a demon."

Néscĭus, demon, bomb—an incomprehensible string of words continued, and Epherene's brows knitted.

"You will come to understand in time. And when that moment arrives, it will be no different from what happens then," Murkan continued.

"No, no—what do you mean? If it’s a bomb, then where and when will it explode...?"

That was all. Before Epherene’s eyes, Murkan disappeared, and with him, the barrier deactivated.

“Oh? The barrier is gone!”

As relieved sighs escaped throughout the admissions briefing hall, Epherene blinked, momentarily dazed by the sudden change. But as her eyes fell on Deculein, now stepping down from the podium, her scattered thoughts snapped back into focus.

“Oh, Professor!” Epherene called.

Deculein, too, seemed puzzled by the sudden dissolution of the barrier. Without hesitation, Epherene rushed toward him.

“What is it?” Deculein replied.

"Professor! I just met Murkan!"

“... Murkan.”

"Yes! In here—actually, I’m not sure exactly where—but there’s a bomb! Something called a Nexus? Whatever it is, it holds the essence of a demon!"

At the mention of the demon, Deculein’s face turned to stone, and a weighty silence fell over the room.

"Let’s move," Deculein said.

"Yes, Professor!" Epherene replied, quickly falling into step behind Deculein, her face mirroring his...

***

... Since that day—since the encounter with Murkan—nearly two months had passed, and much had happened since that time.

Of course, the university had reopened, the oppression on the Scarletborn had intensified, and the assimilation of the Voice had deepened. Epherene had entered the World of the Voice with Deculein and, at last, conquered that damned trial of mental strength.

"Umm... but, Professor..."

And now, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the car carried them from the Mage Tower back to the Yukline mansion...

“So...” Epherene muttered, nervously playing with her fingers as she stole hesitant glances at Deculein beside her.

Deculein's hands were empty today—no book, no newspaper, nothing to read at all.

“You know...”

"Speak. Stop hesitating," Deculein said, turning to face her, his eyes staring at her with impatience.

"That... bomb, he mentioned—what do you think it really was?" Epherene asked.

About two months ago, on the day of the university’s admissions briefing, Epherene messaged Murkan’s words exactly as she had heard them. In response, Deculein gathered the university’s forces and the Elite Guard, launching a sweeping search in the hall.

“Who can say?” Deculein replied.

As a result, the entrance exam had been delayed by an entire week...

“... I’m sorry.”

It became the one blemish on Deculein’s otherwise impeccable record. No bomb was ever found anywhere in the university, and Adrienne never passed up an opportunity to make fun of him. The incident even made newspaper headlines, with bold and dramatic titles.

"It is not your fault. The mistake was in misinterpreting Murkan’s words."

“... Yes. Murkan clearly said there was a bomb—one that was created with a demon’s power. Something called a Nexus, right?”

"There is no demon named as such."

“Oh... okay.”

Deculein gave a slight nod and said no more, his eyes turning to the sky beyond the window.

"Oh, and he also said, ‘The sun and moon will repeat,’" Epherene said.

At that moment, the car came to a sudden stop—so smooth that they hadn’t even noticed the brakes being applied.

Epherene glanced out the window and pressed her lips together. A sudden weight pressed against her chest—their destination was a cemetery.

“Epherene,” Deculein called.

“... Yes, Professor,” Epherene replied.

Today was April 9th—the day of remembrance for the woman Deculein had loved.

"Wait at the mansion."

"Yes, Professor. Take your time."

Deculein stepped out of the car and walked toward the cemetery gates. Epherene leaned against the window frame, watching him in silence.

"Then, I will proceed," Ren said from the driver’s seat.

“... Okay,” Epherene replied.

Vroooom—

As the car continued down the road and Deculein disappeared into the cemetery, Epherene let her eyes wander to the sky, where the sunset bloomed in shades of pastel pink.

“... Hmm?”

Then, all of a sudden, she noticed it—a massive current rolling across the sky, swallowing every inch of the horizon.

“What is that...”

First, a massive pillar of mana shot into the sky, its peak unfurling outward like a thick, blooming mushroom, rising as if to touch the sun.

"A festival?"

As Epherene stared blankly at the strange phenomenon...

Fwooooosh—!

Then, the detonation began.

“Oh?”

Mana and searing heat spiraled into a tempest, rising like a dome. A blinding light flooded her vision, and the car’s metal frame groaned as it seared with heat.

... In the searing brilliance that threatened to blind her and the ominous shockwave that set the world ablaze, Epherene realized—far too late.

"A bomb will detonate.”

The mysterious warning Murkan had given her two months ago.

***

"... Ugh!" Epherene yelled as she opened her eyes.

Epherene sat upright, her breath ragged as she scanned the room.

“Dream... was that a dream?”

Epherene was in Deculein’s office on the 77th floor of the Mage Tower, seated in the assistant’s chair.

"Just a dream... Wow, what a ridiculous dream that was," Epherene muttered, running a hand over her chest.

Phew... But why would I even dream about a bomb going off? Was I that curious about it? Epherene thought.

"Did you dream?"

At that moment, Deculein’s voice broke the silence, his eyes piercing her like an arrow.

"It's nothing. Also, Professor, you don’t have anything scheduled for this evening, so you can leave whenever you’d like. I have something to take care of tonight," Epherene replied, scratching the back of her neck.

Deculein remained silent, his eyes resting on her with an unreadable depth, leaving her unable to understand its meaning.

"Hmm? Hmm?" Epherene muttered, tilting her head. "Why are you looking at me like that, Professor?"

"Roteo Hall Entrance Exam Admissions Briefing."

“... Sorry?”

"Tonight’s schedule."

“... Sorry?”

"... You must still not be completely awake?" Deculein said, his eyes narrowing.

"No, no! I'm completely fine. Why do you ask?" Epherene asked, tilting her head.

But... Deculein’s expression seems off. Why is he looking at me as if I’ve lost my mind? Epherene thought.

“Why...”

Just as Epherene was about to ask what was wrong...

Epherene's eyes fell upon the thesis paper resting on her desk.

Utilizing the Properties of Allotropy Through Electric Potential Manipulation: Epherene

Why is this here? I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into finishing this three days ago and submitted it to Deculein for review. So why is it back on my desk? Did he already finish proofreading it? Epherene thought.

Finding it strange, she spread out the thesis—only to see it was incomplete, an impossibility that sent a strange, mysterious feeling through her.

The calculations, spells, and magic circle that I had poured everything into—gone. Why are the pages blank where my work should have been?

“Umm...”

As Epherene blankly read through her own thesis, she suddenly paused, raised her head, and looked up at Deculein, who was still eyeing her with suspicion. Epherene asked, "Professor, what day is it—"

“Wednesday.”

Only then did Epherene realize—something was wrong. No, not just wrong—completely, absolutely wrong.

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

April 9th can’t be a Wednesday... No, not just can’t—it definitely isn’t. It’s Thursday, Epherene thought.

"You never fail to amaze me with your foolishness."

Deculein shook his head and turned to leave, but a voice lingered in Epherene’s mind, repeating itself again and again.

"The sun and moon shall repeat."

"The sun and moon shall repeat."

"The sun and moon shall repeat."

The words Murkan had spoken carried the weight of a riddle.

“Oh, oh, oh!”

Pat, pat, pat, pat—

At the sudden realization, Epherene's breath caught, and every hair on her body stood on end. Without thinking, she bolted toward the floor-to-ceiling window behind Deculein's desk, pressing herself against the glass.

In its reflection, she caught his eyes—cold and filled with quiet disapproval, as if he found her completely pathetic. But right now, she had no time to care about that.

This is so strange. An impossible phenomenon is happening right before my eyes.

"Why... are there no cherry blossoms?"

Late March to early April is the season when cherry blossoms bloom on the university campus, celebrating the meetings of freshmen and seniors, juniors and seniors.

But that pink flower, the one that blesses those encounters, is nowhere to be seen. No matter how hard I look, no matter how wide I open my eyes, I can’t find them. Just yesterday, they were in full bloom, annoyingly spread among those damned couples, making my eyes sore.

"... Professor," Epherene muttered, her eyes staring out at the view outside the Mage Tower. "What is the date today—"

“February 17th,” Deculein replied.

“... Oh.”

Right... That’s how it is. No—no, that’s not it. This must be a dream. What just happened was real, and this... this isn’t. Yes, that makes sense. I fell asleep in Deculein’s car. If I close my eyes now... I’ll wake up. I have to.

“... That’s right.”

If this isn’t a dream, then... does that mean I have to do everything again? The thesis, the calculations that nearly split my head open, the lectures, all the work I’ve done, the cavern in the World of the Voice, the exams I took... all of it, all over again?

"I just need to wake up from this dream. Yeah." Epherene muttered, nodding to herself before slamming her forehead against the glass.

Bang—!

“Have you lost your mind? Epherene, pull yourself together."

As Deculein moved forward with cold disdain...

“... Why am I not waking up?”

Bang—!

Slamming her forehead against the window once more, Epherene collapsed into unconsciousness.