A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 92: Second Semester (1)

Boom—!

The ground trembled with the intensity of a meteor strike, the impact hitting squarely on the road beneath the Training Island.

“Whew.”

The impact was strong enough to leave a crater, yet the one who caused all the commotion merely dusted off his clothes, as if nothing had happened.

“This is definitely quicker~” Allen muttered as he jumped straight down from the Training Island to the ground below. He had free-fallen from a height of 3,000 meters, adjusting his speed as necessary.

— Explain yourself. Why did you do that?

Allen had barely taken a few steps when a voice came through his communicator.

Allen touched his ear and replied, “Sorry?”

— I was informed about what occurred yesterday.

"Oh, that? It was simply part of the mission."

— We never authorized such a mission for you.

As expected, they didn’t understand him.

Allen smiled broadly and responded, “Yes, that’s why I mentioned it was part of the mission. A small part.”

A brief silence followed. Allen inspected his robe, making sure it was spotless. The professor detested even the slightest stain. Somehow, the professor’s obsession with cleanliness seemed to have rubbed off on him.

— You need not harbor unnecessary feelings toward the target.

Allen was momentarily taken aback by the sudden remark.

"... Sorry?" Allen said, tilting his head in feigned confusion, then allowed a slight smile to form on his lips. "Oh~ Surely you know me by now. I hadn't even considered it a possibility until you brought it up."

— ... As you noted, Ellie, it has been extended by three months. Ensure it is managed appropriately.

Ellie didn’t bother to respond. She simply smiled and ended the communication. Just then, she heard voices.

"Hey! Over there! It’s the supervisor!" shouted one of the children as three of them came running out of the forest, panting heavily. Each wore a name tag—Carlos, Leo, and Ria.

“Excuse me, are you the supervisor?” Ria, the girl with the name tag, asked.

Ellie shook her head and replied, “No, I am not~ But it appears you’re in the middle of an exam?”

“Oh, we’re taking the adventurer’s test—Ah! Run!” Ria exclaimed. The three kids glanced behind them in alarm and grabbed Ellie’s hand, trying to pull her away.

Ellie turned to look in the direction they were pointing.

Boom—! Crash—! Boom—! Crash—!

A massive demonic beast charged toward them. It was as large as a bear, with the steel-cutting antlers of a stag. This creature was a Bearhorn.

“If you’re not the supervisor, you should find somewhere safe—”

“It’s fine. You should all go ahead first.”

“Sorry?”

“Go ahead,” Ellie said with a smile.

Grrrrrr—!

The children hesitated briefly before finally running off. The Bearhorn let out a furious roar and charged at Ellie.

“Goodbye. Take care,” Ellie said, still smiling as she drew a diagonal line through the air with her hand.

Shhhhhhk—!

That single gesture was enough. The Bearhorn’s body split cleanly in half, blood spraying from the severed halves as Ellie stepped forward into the crimson mist.

In an instant, the scene around her shifted. One moment, she was in the middle of the forest; the next, she was stepping into the bustling marketplace of a village.

“Two fishcakes for one elne! Just one elne, get them now!”

“Plenty of fresh herbs here~ Come and see for yourself~”

“Magical supplies for sale! Buy here and make a profit on the Floating Island!”

The merchants’ voices rang out loudly. Ellie quickly recognized that she was in the village of Lophon.

“In an hour, I’ll reach the capital,” Ellie murmured to herself, nodding in satisfaction. She decided to rest until her Stride skill recharged and approached a stall. “I’ll have two fishcakes, please.”

“Sure thing! Here you go! By the way, what kind of magic was that earlier? You just popped up out of nowhere,” the merchant said.

“Oh, you’re observant. It was nothing extraordinary.”

Ellie possessed the ability to manipulate Space. It wasn’t merely teleportation—it was the actual control of space itself. She could shift her own space to another location or relocate someone else’s space to wherever she desired.

This ability, of course, required an enormous amount of mana. Ellie often used it to sever a creature’s head from its body. If the opponent resisted with magic or mana, she might need to exert a bit more force, but if they were much weaker than her, she could dismember them in the blink of an eye.

"... These fishcakes are quite delicious!"

“Haha, enjoy as much as you like! Two for one elne, it’s a great deal.”

“Alright~! I’ll take two more,” Ellie said as she promptly grabbed two skewers of fishcakes.

***

After the exams ended, Epherene hurried down the main road of the Floating Island, trying to keep up with Sylvia. Maiho walked closely at her side.

"Miss Epherene~ Are we truly permitted to follow her like this~?" Maiho asked with concern.

Epherene scratched the back of her neck and replied, "We’re not following her; we’re merely walking together."

"Oh~ Is that so~?"

In truth, they were struggling to keep up with Sylvia. Sylvia, fully aware, could hear their conversation, her ears twitching in disbelief. Suddenly, Sylvia came to a stop, and they found themselves in a residential area of the Floating Island. Epherene looked up at the sky and froze in astonishment. Above them was another neighborhood, almost like a mirror image.

"W-what is that?" Epherene gasped, her voice trembling in shock.

A mage retrieving a newspaper from the mailbox glanced up at her. Their eyes met briefly before the mage smirked and went back inside.

“The residential areas on the Floating Island use spatial engineering to maximize space. You’re so clueless,” Sylvia remarked casually as she inserted the key into the front door.

Epherene and Maiho hesitantly stepped closer and asked, “Is this really your house?”

"Yes."

Epherene swallowed her envy. Owning a house on the Floating Island—it was like living in an entirely different world.

"Aren’t houses on the Floating Island expensive?"

"Ten million elne."

"What? This small place costs ten million elne?"

"Isn’t that too expensive~?"

Epherene and Maiho’s jaws dropped. Ten million elne could buy a mansion in the capital, yet Sylvia’s home barely looked like it was around 700 square feet.

"That’s how it is on the Floating Island. It’s not even owned; it’s rented," Sylvia said.

"Oh, I see... Sylvia, does that mean you won’t be returning to the university?"

Sylvia remained silent.

Feeling slightly disappointed, Epherene pouted and asked, "Can I visit you sometimes?"

Sylvia gave a barely perceptible nod.

Epherene’s eyes widened in surprise. "W-wait, did you just nod?"

"Yes."

Sylvia had thought about it for some time, but in the end, she made up her mind. She would now consider Epherene as fuel for her fire—a rival was better than none.

"Then I’ll be coming to the Floating Island more often, so I’ll stop by," Epherene said.

"Me too~! Me too~!" Maiho exclaimed unexpectedly.

Although Sylvia found her somewhat annoying, she nodded again.

"Alright, take care, Sylvia! I’ll see you later!"

"Goodbye~"

Thud—!

After Epherene and Maiho left with bright smiles, Sylvia shut the front door behind them. She glanced around the fully furnished interior. Though much smaller than the mansion in the capital, it was perfect for her. Too much space would only make her feel lonely. Sylvia then walked into her bedroom, where Bearbie Panda and Swifty were waiting.

“I’m home,” Sylvia said as Swifty fluttered over in a flurry of wings, and Bearbie Panda leaped up, its cape billowing.

Both were artificial beings she had created, with mana stones as their core. Sylvia hugged them and sat down on the bed.

Tick-tock, tick-tock—

Tick-tock, tick-tock—

In the quiet room, the ticking of the clock was the only sound. Feeling a bit bored, Sylvia reached for a sketchbook beside her bed and began drawing. Her pencil moved lightly across the page, forming the face of a sharp, cold-looking man with striking blue eyes—Deculein.

***

After returning to the Yukline mansion after a long time, I threw myself into training and study. There was a lot to accomplish. My first priorities were mastering Intermediate Telekinesis and improving my control over the Snowflower Stone.

[Comprehension : 23.1%]

My comprehension of the Snowflower Stone was only 23.1%. I still had a long way to go, but at least I could control around 20% of it.

"... Not bad."

The Snowflower Stone was as mysterious as its reputation claimed. With Telekinesis, I condensed a portion of it into a ball, about the size of a ping-pong ball. The unprocessed Snowflower Stone could shift its form freely, stretching like fabric, compressing into a sphere, or extending into spikes. Its responsiveness to Telekinesis was unmatched by any other metal.

Knock, knock—

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Knowing who it was, I used Telekinesis to open it.

"Professor, I’ve brought refreshments," Yulie said, setting down a tray of coffee and snacks on my desk.

After getting lost during the Training Island ambush, she insisted on taking on servant duties as a form of penance.

“Please enjoy.”

I shrugged and said, "Yulie, there’s no need to be so hard on yourself. It’s not your fault that you’re poor at wayfinding."

Yulie bit her lip slightly and said, “I’ll strive to improve. How is your training progressing?”

“I have just completed it.”

I stored 80% of the Snowflower Stone in the safe and shaped the remaining 20% into a ball before placing it in my pocket.

Yulie spoke once more, saying, “The new semester will begin soon.”

“Indeed. We will both have a lot to handle.”

Yulie handed me a folder, her wry smile silent.

"And what is this?"

“As part of my escort duties, I have analyzed the traffic around the Yukline mansion. I identified several individuals displaying suspicious behavior at irregular times. This list includes those whose movements deviate from the norm,” Yulie explained.

I scanned the document. There were about thirty-three names on the list. Surveillance at this level was, honestly, just a formality. With the Yukline family at its peak, it was only natural that we were closely watched by the Altar, the Imperial Palace, the eunuchs, and various noble families.

“Yulie.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

My words seemed to embarrass her. She scratched the back of her neck and looked away, pretending to focus on a nearby bookshelf filled with books on herbal medicine.

Noticing this, a faint smile appeared on her lips as she said, "No, Professor. I’m the one who’s thankful."

I’ve been researching ways to heal Yulie. In truth, I already know the best method, but my selfish desire to keep her with me holds me back from taking that step.

"It’s time for you to return now."

“Yes, please rest well.” Yulie bowed and left the room.

Left alone in the quiet annex, I sipped the coffee Yulie had brought and gazed up at the night sky. Stars sparkled in the darkness, and the coffee was incredibly bitter.

"... She must have prepared it herself."

She could have easily had one of the servants prepare it, but she chose to make it herself. The bitterness was intense, yet I drank the coffee, every last drop, shaking my head.

***

Beep-beep— Beep-beep—

A loud alarm blared from Room 201, echoing through the dormitory of Imperial University as mid-August sunlight streamed through the half-drawn curtains.

Beep-beep— Beep-beep—

The alarm blared with an overwhelming intensity.

“Ugh... make it stop...” Epherene groaned, slowly waking up.

Finally, the alarm fell silent.

"Ah..."

Epherene’s head pounded from the hangover. There had been too many celebration parties lately, with visitors from her hometown and gatherings with Julia and the rest of the Common Magic Research Club members.

“I feel like I’m dying...” Epherene muttered, stumbling out of bed and over to the sink. She turned on the faucet and let the water run as she stared into the mirror.

“... Today’s the interview.”

It was the day of her interview for the assistant position under Deculein. Rather than feeling nervous, Epherene was preoccupied with unresolved questions that lingered in her mind.

“Pendant,” Epherene muttered, her lips still groggy from sleep.

Epherene was still confused. She couldn’t grasp why Deculein valued her or why he kept a pendant with her picture inside. There must have been some incident connected to her father’s death that she didn’t know about.

"Or maybe..." Epherene muttered, catching her reflection in the mirror. "It wouldn’t be surprising if I’m well-liked, considering how I look."

Even now, despite the lingering scent of alcohol, she knew her looks could hold their own. With a little effort, she could easily outshine anyone. Her striking features and curves, admired even by Julia, were hard to miss. Her grandparents often joked that with her looks alone, she could pass any exam.

“But there’s no way the professor has feelings for me...” Epherene said, chuckling at the absurdity of the thought.

Shaking her head, Epherene warmed the water in the sink. She undressed and used Fluid Manipulation to wash herself.

"... The new semester is coming up soon. What happened to all the good days?"

She quickly dried off with a Cleanse spell, then dressed in loose clothes—a baggy T-shirt, pants, and a robe—before slinging a backpack over her shoulder and heading out of the dormitory.

Buzzzz—! Buzzzz—!

Cicadas buzzed in the midsummer heat as she walked across the sunlit campus toward the Mage Tower.

“Solda Epherene, reporting,” Epherene announced with joy as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the 77th floor. No longer a Debutant, she carried herself with confidence.

Ding—!

The 77th-floor hallway was empty, even though it was interview day. Meanwhile, Professor Louina’s floor had been bustling with activity all day.

“Ah! Solda Epherene! Over here!” Allen called out, waving excitedly from a desk in the hallway.

Heh, he called me Solda Epherene. No longer a Debutant, but a Solda now... Epherene thought with a chuckle as she approached Allen and asked, “Is it my turn?”

“Yes, Miss Epherene, you’re the final candidate.”

As expected, she was the last. Epherene cleared her throat and knocked on the head professor’s office door.

“Come in,” Deculein commanded from behind the door.

As she opened the door, Deculein was there, impeccably dressed as always. Epherene walked over and took a seat across from him.

“Epherene.”

“Yes, sir.”

In a cold tone, Deculein asked, "You're applying to start as an assistant, correct?"

Allen, who served both as an assistant and an assistant professor under Deculein—since Deculein didn’t have an official assistant—handled both roles. There wasn’t an immediate need for Epherene to start as Deculein’s assistant. It might have been better for her career to work as a Solda mage at the Mage Tower first, then join Deculein after Thesis Colloquium.

“Yes, that’s correct, sir.”

But Epherene didn’t want to waste time. She was determined to uncover the truth about Deculein and her father as quickly as possible.

However...

“Very well. I respect your determination. You’re hired,” Deculein said.

Thud—!

Deculein stamped her application without hesitation, and the swiftness of his decision made Epherene uneasy.

“Is it that simple?”

“There were two applicants,” Deculein stated, his voice cold and matter-of-fact.

Epherene almost laughed, recalling the hundreds of Soldas who had applied to work under Louina. Then she noticed something unusual about Deculein’s statement.

“Wait, that many people?”

“... That many?” Deculein said with a frown.

Epherene quickly shook her head and said, “Oh, no, that’s not what I meant. I’m simply curious about who the other applicant is.”

“It’s Drent.”

“Drent...”

“He’s the one who plagiarized your thesis. I understand he has already apologized.”

“Yes, he did.”

Drent had sincerely apologized to her—even going so far as to offer to kneel, which she had barely managed to talk him out of. Yet it was puzzling that Drent, of all people, would want to work under Deculein, especially after Deculein had publicly burned his thesis.

Deculein continued, “Epherene.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You will be attending classes at the Mage Tower while working as a research assistant. A salary will be provided, and I have left your pre-semester research assignments with Allen. You can collect them from him.”

“A s-salary! Y-Yes, sir!”

“You may leave.”

Epherene stood up, casting a glance at Deculein. He appeared deeply focused on his paperwork—or perhaps just pretending. It was entirely possible that he was still paying close attention to her.

“I’ll be leaving now,” Epherene said, feeling a bit overwhelmed as she hurried out of the room.

The moment she stepped into the hallway, Allen greeted her.

“Solda Epherene, congratulations on becoming an assistant!”

“Sorry? Oh, haha. Yes, thank you.”

“Come with me. Let’s head to the research lab,” Allen said with a bright smile as he led Epherene to the Assistant’s Research Lab.

“Wow, these higher floors really are different. Even the labs have a special feel,” Epherene remarked.

“Hehe, right?”

The research lab on the 77th floor was much larger and cleaner than the dormitories. Epherene found it so spacious that she could easily imagine lying down on the floor and sleeping right there.

As Epherene took in her surroundings with awe, Allen said, “This will be your workstation, Miss Epherene.”

She turned to her designated area, noting the impeccable quality of the desk and chair—just as she expected from Deculein. After a brief pause, she set her backpack on the back of the chair.

“Now, Miss Epherene, I will provide you with your research assignments.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

Thud—!

A heavy book thudded onto her desk.

Epherene recognized the book, nodded calmly, and said, “The Source of Earth Property... It’s challenging, but I believe I can manage.”

“Yes, that’s correct~ And here is another.”

But then...

Thud—!

Another book was placed on her desk.

Epherene felt a twinge of unease and said, “Two books... Lupalene’s Records is quite an advanced theory book, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct~ And here is another.”

Thud—!

The third book dropped onto her desk.

“E-excuse me,” Epherene stuttered, her voice betraying her shock.

“And this one, then another, and another.”

“W-wait!”

Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!

Grimoires piled up on her desk, one after another.

“And this one.”

“S-stop!”

“And this one.”

“Please, stop! I can’t handle it any more!”

“And this one.”

“Ouch! That book landed on my finger!”

It wasn’t just four books. There were more—five, six, even more.

Understanding of Flames

Demian's Deep Sea Expedition Logs

Lupi Skelman: An Immersion in General Property

Harmony of the Four Elements

Core of the Four Elements

Calculation of the Wind...

There were thirteen books in total.

“These are all your research assignments~ Professor Deculein expects you to fully understand them before the semester begins.”

Deculein planned to mold Epherene into a model for his Carbon Research through her study of the Four Great Elements.

Epherene stared, dumbfounded, at the mountain of books and muttered, “... Has that professor gone crazy?”

“Oh no! You shouldn’t say such things. If you use inappropriate language, you might never become a teaching assistant. Also, here, take this,” Allen said as he handed Epherene a small piece of paper.

Still in a daze, Epherene slowly asked, “What... is this...?”

“Ah, yes. While Professor Deculein is covering the cost of the grimoires, some are still under copyright. Unlike the book costs, the royalties of the intellectual property fees must be paid by the mage studying them. You’re aware of that, correct?”

In essence, it was a receipt. Epherene’s knees nearly buckled as she looked at the price.

“... Ah.”

“These are high-quality grimoires that would usually cost twenty times this amount, so while it may seem expensive... Miss Epherene? Miss Epherene? Ah! Miss Epherene—!”

Five seconds later, Epherene fainted.

***

In the dimly lit Hadecaine Castle, Yeriel was going over documents and ledgers related to imperial support for the Roharlak Concentration Camp and the income from the Marik Underground Passage when she suddenly frowned.

“Did that bastard come back again?”

“Yes, Lady Yeriel. He claims to have something for you... Since he’s from the Imperial Palace, we couldn’t just turn him away, so we provided him with a guest room,” the butler replied.

Once again, the unwelcome Jolang had arrived.

Yeriel sighed and said, “What does he want to give me? Just tell him to hand it over and piss off.”

“You know how persistent he is. He insists on delivering it to you personally...”

“Ugh. What a fucking nuisance.”

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. The butler shook his head as he glanced toward it.

“Let him enter.”

“Yes, Lady Yeriel,” the butler replied as he opened the door, once again revealing the visitor, Jolang.

“Good evening, Lady Yeriel,” Jolang said with a smug smile as he seated himself in front of her. He then turned to the butler. “Would you mind giving us a moment?”

The butler, after gauging Yeriel’s expression, quietly left the room.

Still smiling, Jolang placed an artifact necklace on the lord’s desk and said, “Please, have a look.”

“You’ve got some nerve. How do you think you’ll deal with the consequences later?”

“Once you see it, I’m confident you’ll change your mind,” Jolang replied, his tone oddly assured.

Yeriel shifted her gaze between the visitor and the necklace on the desk before saying, “... No matter how bold you are, you should learn some tact.”

This eunuch, barging into the lord’s office uninvited, was clearly up to something. The rat-faced man was certainly scheming.

“I understand. Just take a look, and I’ll leave immediately.”

“Tsk.”

Whatever it was, the only way to get rid of him was to humor him. Curious about what trick he was trying to pull this time, Yeriel clicked her tongue and picked up the necklace.