A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 61: Resolve (1)

Under the clear night sky with a full moon scattering a fine mist, Sylvia quietly pondered in the mansion’s backyard. Today, she finally understood why, despite being the head professor, Deculein excelled in theory and was so skilled at teaching others.

"However, think about it. A child praised as a whiz kid grows up only to find themselves becoming ordinary."

Lacking natural talent, he worked harder than anyone else, choosing the path of rigorous theory. With his intuition faltering, he immersed himself in intricate logic.

"How would they feel seeing those they once deemed inferior surpassing them?"

Suddenly, Sylvia remembered the sorrow of doubting her talent, the fear of facing an insurmountable obstacle, and the dread of being surpassed by those once deemed less capable. She wondered if she could overcome it all.

"What if they imagined those they looked down on, eventually mocking them?"

She imagined what it would be like if Epherene became a better mage than her. Sylvia clenched her teeth and puffed out her cheeks.

"... Arrogant Epherene."

Although it was unlikely, the mere thought made her feel dizzy. It was even more astonishing that Deculein had overcome such feelings through sheer effort. Finishing her contemplation, Sylvia returned to her meditation, breathing calmly and drawing up her inner power. As she focused, a kaleidoscope of colors filled her vision.

Soon, the Origin materialized. The darkness of night receded as light took its place. Flowers bloomed, butterflies fluttered, a warm breeze blew, and the grass swayed gently. This landscape was shaped by her Primary Colors. Her inner vision painted the garden, where her colors became the natural law.

In this magical field, Sylvia closed her eyes. She had once heard about the Mage's Luck: the first was innate talent, the second was diligent effort, and the third was a muse.

She knew she had talent and wasn’t lazy, but she had thought the third wasn’t necessary. A muse—an inspiration or stimulus for a mage. Now, Sylvia realized her third piece of luck had arrived, albeit a bit late.

***

At early dawn, I sat at the entrance of the Mountain of Darkness, flipping through an Item Catalog.

───────

[Beginner's Item Catalog]

1. Record Notebook.

2. Character Magnifying Lens.

3. Incubator...

───────

As the name suggests, the catalog listed items. I could use it to obtain one, but none would dramatically impact gameplay. The Beginner's Catalog only offered slightly convenient or unusual items.

? 2. Character Magnifying Lens.

I chose the Character Magnifying Lens. The A4-sized catalog popped into a single, frameless lens. It was a bit disconcerting, but I used Telekinesis to place it over my eye, turning it into a sort of monocle.

Rustle, rustle—

Just then, I heard footsteps in the grass and looked in that direction.

“Ah,” the woman said, her familiar voice accompanying the sight of white armor and a cape. The magnifying lens identified her most important attribute.

───────

[Eternal Winter]

◆ Grade

: Unique

◆ Description

: A season frozen forever.

: A flower that blooms more brilliantly the harsher the conditions.

───────

The woman’s unique graded attribute was Eternal Winter.

“Professor, you’re here too,” Yulie said.

“Why? Shouldn't I be?” I replied curtly, on purpose.

Yulie scratched the back of her neck awkwardly and said, “No, I just heard rumors. They said you fought Rohakan in a battle... I thought you would rest today.”

The Chairwoman had personally asked me to keep watch on the Mountain of Darkness. She explained it was an order from the imperial family, concerned that Rohakan might return.

“... Yulie, does the Grand Knight typically handle such menial tasks?”

"As the Grand Knight, I lead by example."

“If that’s true, then in a war, the commanders should all be the first to die.”

“Ah! That’s a great question. The answer is in the third volume of the Knight’s Handbook. I’ll give you a copy as a gift later.”

I used Beginner Ductility to create a chair. Yulie glanced at me and then sat down hesitantly, sneaking glances without saying a word.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“No.”

I nodded as a breeze blew in from the darkness, carrying the rich scent of mana and grass.

Then Yulie asked, “Is the Empress’s lesson next week?”

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The lesson schedule usually followed the Empress's whim, but it was traditional to have one or two sessions a month. The next lesson was scheduled for next Monday.

“I thought you said you had nothing to say.”

Yulie fell silent and stared into the forest, her ears twitching at every sound. She was completely focused on keeping watch.

“... Hmm.”

I checked my pocket watch. It was 1 a.m., with three hours left until the shift change.

“Yulie.”

“Yes?”

"Since we have some time, would you like to play a game of chess?"

"... We’re on duty right now,” Yulie said, shaking her head firmly.

A surge of irritation washed over me as I replied, “What kind of duty is this? I'd like to know which fool thought Rohakan might return here.”

Yulie looked guilty, took a sharp breath, and held it.

I scoffed and said, “... So it was you.”

“Ah, well, it wasn’t only me—”

“You're quite the fool.”

“I-it’s standard practice. Criminals often return to the scene—”

"Rohakan is a criminal, but not just any criminal. If I were in charge, I’d scour the entire mountain instead of just guarding the entrance. Finding out why he came here should be the top priority."

Yulie's face turned red. I chuckled softly and spent my time reading a book. When the clock finally struck 4 a.m.

"Grand Knight Yulie of the Freyhem Knights Order, you may stand down. Rohakan has fled the capital," Isaac's voice came through Yulie’s communication crystal.

“Yes, sir,” Yulie answered politely, then looked at me.

She pulled a chessboard from her backpack, but I pretended not to notice.

“Um... ah...”

Yulie glanced at me, hoping for a response. When I gave none, she started playing by herself.

Click— click— click—

The sound of her moving the pieces by herself amused me. Reluctantly, I looked at the chessboard. It had been a gift from me.

"You'll lose if you keep playing like that."

“... Really~?” Yulie replied with feigned innocence.

I closed my book, turned my chair to face her, and said, “Listen carefully. I'll teach you from the beginning, but I won't repeat myself...”

Yulie clasped her hands and nodded earnestly. With conviction, she said, “Absolutely!”

Her face was filled with genuine enthusiasm. She seemed truly eager to become a chess master.

***

The next day, the Chairwoman summoned me early in the morning. She instructed me to come to her private office on the 99th floor.

"Professor! Here’s your mailbox!"

But before that, Allen handed me the mailbox for sponsor number 39953. It was an actual mailbox, filled with letters from the mages I sponsored.

"Well done."

"Yes, sir!"

I took the mailbox and went up to the 99th floor, which was entirely the Chairwoman's office. As soon as the elevator doors opened, I saw a massive desk. She was sleeping on top of it, not just resting her head but with her whole body curled up like a shrimp, using a large cone hat as a blanket.

"Snore... snore..."

Seeing her like this, I suddenly remembered the Chairwoman’s lineage.

"Snore... snore..."

This was a fact known only to me at the moment—the Chairwoman was half-fairy, half-human. This rare lineage, as uncommon as giants, likely made her the only one on the continent.

"Snore... snore..."

She chose to sleep on the desk because fairies liked high places.

"Snore... snore..."

"... Good grief."

Her loud snoring made me wonder if she had a breathing disorder, but I quietly sat in a nearby chair and waited. I had some things to do, anyway. I opened the mailbox and reached inside, hoping for some letters. There was only one. Puzzled, I shook the mailbox up and down just in case.

Rattle— rattle—

The mailbox was full of dust. I had definitely sponsored at least thirty mages. Even with anonymous sponsorships, they should have sent a thank-you letter. But mages are like that—they accept sponsorships with the intention of repaying them later. I opened the single letter I had.

To my anonymous sponsor,

Hello. I am Epherene of the Luna family, the insignificant Debutant mage whose talent you recognized...

The familiar name made me chuckle dryly.

... Our family’s home is a tiny hut with little to rely on. Despite living in such a small place, we are overwhelmed with debt, and debt collectors frequently visit us.

As the daughter of a nominal noble, I grew up in nature and became self-sufficient. I caught and ate frogs and rabbits, and fishing and hunting became some of my specialties...

The letter's tone was serious, and the writing was refined. A calm smile spread across my lips.

... There was a time when I thought hard work would fix everything. But the world wasn’t the calm sea I had imagined. Instead, it turned into waves that pushed me away and broke me.

My father took his own life. When I heard the news, I couldn’t cry openly. My grandparents sobbed their hearts out, much more than I did...

Epherene’s voice seemed to come alive from the letter.

... To fulfill my father’s dream and meet my grandparents’ expectations, I ventured to the Mage Tower. But every day felt like walking on thin ice. In the midst of that despair, your sponsorship arrived. Your support brought warmth to my life under the cold skies of the capital.

Sponsor, in the southern plains, there are wild boars called Roahawks. They roam freely and eat Euphrain perilla leaves for all three meals...

"Roahawk?" I muttered under my breath.

The Chairwoman opened her bleary eyes and looked at me with a sleepy expression. Groaning, she mumbled, "Oh... you're here... when did you get here... why did you come while I was sleeping..."

Her sluggish tone was very different from her usual self.

I put the letter in my pocket and replied, "You summoned me, so I have arrived just now."

"... Oh, right... yaaaaaaaaawn..."

Her yawn lasted almost a minute. Afterward, she slowly wiped her eyes.

"What did you need from me?" I asked.

"Yawn... I wanted to ask about the progress on the Symposium problem..."

"It's nearly finished. I plan to complete it today. Only the final review remains."

"Good... That's great news..."

The Chairwoman, looking like she was about to fall asleep again, continued, "Oh, by the way, you know the external guest professor has been decided to be Louina, right? The welcome ceremony is today..."

"Yes, I am aware. It is of no concern to me."

The Chairwoman's eyes widened, and her pupils dilated like a cat's.

"It is none of your concern? What do you mean by that? You two were arch-enemies!"

The Chairwoman loved rumors, especially juicy gossip. She was known for her personality trait, Busybody.

"It was merely a misunderstanding back then. Everything is fine now," I said.

"You're kidding! No way!"

"Is that the reason you summoned me?"

"No! Not just that!" the Chairwoman exclaimed as she climbed down from the desk and plopped into her chair. She pulled a scroll from a drawer. "Here!"

Voice of the Floating Island: Promotion Exam Supervisor Deculein

It was a letter from the Floating Island. It stated that Deculein, a Monarch-rank mage, would be assigned to supervise and design the promotion exam.

"Supervisor," I said.

"Yes! You know the Solda exam can last anywhere from a week to a month, right?" the Chairwoman said. "When the Floating Island requests, Monarch-grade personnel must participate!"

"Yes, I am aware of that."

"You've really climbed the ranks! Supervising promotion exams and everything. Anyway, great! Let's go to the professor's welcome ceremony!"

The Chairwoman jumped up and pressed the elevator button.

Ding—!

As soon as we stepped into the elevator, she remarked, "Every time I see you, Professor Deculein, I’m struck by how unnecessarily tall you are!"

I looked down at her as she craned her neck to look up at me.

"Chairwoman, you are simply short."

The Chairwoman was probably around five feet tall. As a half-fairy, she wasn’t as small as a true fairy.

"What did you say? I’m perfectly average height!"

"You would faint if you met Count Freyden."

"That bear is not a human; he's a beast!"

"Shh. Be quiet," I said, putting my finger to my lips as if I had something important to say.

The Chairwoman fell silent and said, "... Why? What happened to that bear?"

"Nothing. He remains the same as always."

"Then what is it? Tell me! I promise I can keep a secret..."

"... Very well, if you insist."

"Hurry..."

I nodded, and the Chairwoman gulped nervously.

"Chairwoman, your voice is too loud. You should practice speaking more softly."

"... What did you say? Are you joking with me right now?"

***

The Mage Tower of the Imperial University invites external professors two to three times a year. These appointments can be from the Mage Tower of the Kingdom, the Floating Island, or occasionally, from adventurers.

“Everyone! Our external visiting professors have arrived! Let’s give them a big round of applause!” the Chairwoman announced in the 40th-floor party hall as she introduced them.

The elegantly dressed woman was Louina, and the handsome man with long, wavy hair standing beside her was Bargan. Bargan’s hairstyle, with its flowing curls, resembled what modern times would call a goddess's hairstyle.

“I am Louina. I will be staying at this Mage Tower for a while to conduct research and gain experience. It’s nice to meet you all.”

“I am Bargan. I look forward to this opportunity.”

I stared intently at Bargan, knowing he might soon become the mid-boss known as the Baron of Ashes. It wasn't certain, though. Bargan could be just a regular named professor or the actual Baron of Ashes.

“Both have returned from foreign lands after achieving remarkable accomplishments. Since they are originally from our Empire, please give them a warm welcome,” the Chairwoman said.

In this game, each mid-boss has unique traits, and the Baron of Ashes is known for its random difficulty. The Baron of Ashes is a formless entity made of ashes that parasitizes named individuals with a mana grade of four or lower. It was likely that it had already parasitized one of the professors gathered here or was preparing to do so.

“Great! Now, everyone, enjoy the banquet! Professor Louina, your seat is over there!”

With that, the introductions concluded, and Louina took the seat next to mine.

“Everyone, don’t worry too much! Professor Deculein and Professor Louina have reconciled!” the Chairwoman suddenly shouted, perhaps still thinking about the joke in the elevator.

For a moment, the professors’ attention turned to us, but Louina remained composed and asked, “I heard you're tackling the Symposium problem this time.”

“That’s correct.”

“Do you think you can handle it? The reviewers will be very strict. If it’s not genuinely your own... idea, you’ll fail to prove it.”

I turned to look at Louina, but she couldn’t meet my eyes.

“Louina.”

"... Why? I’m genuinely concerned for you, boss.”

“I know how you feel about me.”

Louina's expression was ambiguous, a mix of contempt, ridicule, and criticism. She glanced at my chest, her eyes full of conflicting emotions.

“However, I’m not the Deculein you used to know anymore.”

“... Hmph. So, you really think you can do it?”

“It will be done by today or, at the latest, tomorrow.”

“Today?”

“Yes, all that’s left is the final review.”

Uncertain when the mid-boss might appear, I planned to finish the remaining tasks as quickly as possible. The solution was already 97% complete.

“Hmph... the final review,” Louina muttered, then nodded as if coming to a decision. “Alright. Do your best, boss.”

***

As soon as the welcome ceremony ended, I went up to my research lab on the 77th floor. On the large table, I laid out the rune translations, the nearly complete spell, and a top-grade mana stone worth 100,000 elne.

6. An ancient inscription features the following spell and runes. Historically, these runes also served as circuits. Deduce the ancient spell.

The key to solving problem six was in the use of runes. However, individual runes weren't powerful enough to function as circuits on their own. The challenge lay in combining the runes.

As mentioned, the sixth problem of the Symposium used a total of fourteen runes. Among them, only three could be used as circuits. Therefore, I needed to combine these three runes with the others, supplement the missing mana with the mana stone, and employ a high degree of Comprehension to complete the spell...

Resonance. Vibration. Trembling.

The hum of the runes signaled the solution.

“... Hmm.”

The problem I had worked on for quite some time was finally resolved, or rather, the final review was complete. I transcribed the solution onto a magic scroll, placed it in my briefcase, and headed down to the Mage Tower's parking lot.

Ren and Enen were waiting in front of the vehicle. My previous driver, Jeff, had been promoted to a general administrative position.

“You’re here, sir.”

“Drive to the Floating Island.”

“Yes, sir.”

The headquarters of Wizard Academic was located on the Floating Island, where I planned to submit the answer sheet in person. Upon arriving, I reviewed the list of Symposium judges and finally understood Louina's ambiguous reaction.

Symposium Judges: Monarch-rank Louina, Addict Astal, Ethereal-rank Rogerio, and four others