A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 285

Chapter 285: Theory of Relativity (4)

“... Wow,” Ria murmured, her eyes wandering around Deculein’s study. “It really does look just like they described.”

Deculein’s study was the epitome of refinement, with every piece of furniture—from the grand bookshelves to the velvet curtains—radiating luxury, not a speck of dust found anywhere, not even along the window frames or the tops of the shelves, the tiled floor gleaming, the books perfectly aligned, and the air itself feeling purer than in a sterile lab.

“Hmm? What, did he already clear it out?” Yeriel muttered, scratching the back of her neck as she rummaged through his desk drawer.

Ria moved over to where Yeriel stood.

“Anyway, you just need to know that you really do look like her... and you two will be seeing each other a lot from now on,” Yeriel continued, straightening the drawer in order.

Yeriel is putting everything back just the way it was. Deculein really remembers even the smallest details, doesn’t he? Ria thought.

“Here, take this,” Yeriel added, handing Ria a sheet of paper inked with densely written lines. “It’s a list of etiquette reminders. You’re a guest, so you won’t have any duties, but there are a few rules to follow.”

As Ria read through the list of etiquette rules, her mouth fell open as the instructions ranged from walking slightly to the right side of the hallway to observing strict table manners and avoiding coarse language in conversation.

“But hey—you were at the Imperial Palace for a few weeks, right? You’ll be fine.”

“Oh... okay,” Ria replied with a nod.

“Just stick to what’s on the list—and if you can, don’t draw his attention during the day. He’s rather particular about it,” Yeriel said with a chuckle.

"What, exactly, do you find particular about?"

As a sudden cold voice rang out from behind, Yeriel and Ria flinched before turning toward the entrance of the study.

“... You’re awake already? Was four days of sleep enough for you? Are you feeling alright?” Yeriel asked.

It was Deculein, whose face showed signs of fatigue, yet he was neatly dressed in a white shirt and black knit sweater—less formal and stripped of the weight of a suit but retaining all of its dignity.

It seems he doesn’t wear the whole suit around the house, Ria thought.

“You’re here,” Deculein said, glancing at Ria with little interest.

“Yes, I am here,” Ria replied.

“Yeriel,” Deculein said, while gesturing toward the door with his chin, and no further explanation was needed.

“Alright. Hey, if you ever need anything, just come up to the 5th floor—that’s my room. I’ll be staying here for a month, so don’t hesitate."

“Leave.”

“Ugh, okay.”

Thud—

The door to the study clicked shut behind Yeriel as she left.

“... Gulp.”

Now alone with Deculein, Ria swallowed hard, a sudden wave of nervousness tightening her throat.

“Take this,” Deculein said, offering Ria a piece of paper first.

“What is this?” Ria asked.

“It’s the internal circuit map of your body.”

Ria looked down at the piece of paper Deculein had handed her and flinched as a chill ran through her because it was a human anatomical diagram of her own body—the kind one would usually see hanging in a science lab.

“This—”

“I can tell at a glance—the circuits within your mana and how they function,” Deculein said.

Honestly, that’s kind of creepy. It’s like he has taken my whole body apart—literally, Ria thought.

“Start by seeing it for yourself,” Deculein said, snapping his fingers.

Then, mana rippled across Ria’s anatomical diagram on the paper, flaring from her core and branching out in every direction.

“What?!”

“This is the flow of mana when you manifest your talent. Even you can see it’s all over the place—chaotic and without structure.”

Just as Deculein had described, the mana shown on the anatomical diagram wandered all over her body, barely managing to find its way out.

“Your body’s circuit is like uncultivated ground with no roads, and the mana within runs wild—disordered and without any structure,” Deculein concluded.

“Oh... yes. I can see that now,” Ria replied.

“Frankly, most adventurers are the same, and they waste more mana than they realize.”

I didn’t know that. Then again, I’ve never had formal training—I just learned everything by throwing myself into it, I thought.

“In contrast.”

With another flick of Deculein’s finger, the mana spread once more across Ria’s anatomical diagram, and this time everything changed as the mana inside her body flowed with clarity and precision, traveling down a perfectly paved road with not a single thread wasted as it surged toward its destination.

"This is the optimal circuit I designed for your body. On paper, it reduces mana consumption by 57% and boosts power by 33%. In terms of efficiency, that’s more than threefold,” Deculein concluded.

“Whoa... But, wait a second. You designed this, Professor?” Ria asked.

“Indeed, I factored in your height, weight, and mana capacity. It’s perfectly optimized.”

Ria’s brow furrowed without thinking because, more than anything, it was the numbers written on the paper—her height and her weight.

“H-How do you know my height and weight?”

“I can tell just by looking. But is that really what matters right now?” Deculein replied, sitting down with a sigh. “Don’t be pathetic.”

Ria’s chest tightened for a moment.

“... Right, it’s not important. Then, how do we build the road?”

“It’s simple. I will flow my mana into your body.”

Ria stared at Deculein, head tilted, completely lost on what he just said.

What did he just say he’s going to do with his mana to me? Ria thought.

“In other words, I will be laying the path—using my mana within your body,” Deculein added.

“... Eh?”

“With my mana, I will be directing yours and shaping an efficient path. After a few hundred repetitions, the way will open. It’s effectively a form of extreme accelerated training, but it’s the best method to train the body before the mind. Or would you rather spend the next two or three years learning it by the book?” Deculein said.

Ria shook her head because the main quest could end in six months and there was no time to waste.

“Very well. But know this—pain is inevitable. We’ll be forcibly correcting your circuit’s path and stretching its limits.”

“Okay, I understand,” Ria replied.

"Then make your preparations and return,” Deculein replied, giving a nod.

“Oh? But I’m already ready."

Deculein remained silent.

“Let’s start right now!” Ria added with a bright smile.

There’s no need for any preparation. I’m an adventurer—pain’s something I got used to a long time ago, Ria thought.

“... Very well,” Deculein said, raising a single finger with a smirk.

A thin stream of mana bloomed from the tip of Deculein’s index finger and drifted toward Ria, flowing through her nose as she didn’t resist and it passed into her without a trace of resistance.

“Brace yourself.”

“I’m all ready for arghhhhh!"

The next moment, Ria coughed up blood that wasn’t just a trickle but came from deep within her lungs.

“... Urghhhhhhh.”

A burning pain tore through her gut, intense enough to feel like something inside had snapped, and when Ria came to, she was sprawled on the floor with her vision swimming and her limbs twitching without control.

“Urghhhhhhh...”

I can’t even breathe. This is the worst of the worst. That crazy Professor Deculein—what is this villain trying to do to me? Is he trying to kill me or something? Of course he is. A villain through and through. This freaking villain, Deculein.

“Ah— Ah— Ah—”

Ria couldn’t think as her mind was blank, her lips moved trying to form words but no sound followed, and she just lay there stunned.

“Hmm.”

At that moment, Deculein’s voice came from above, his tone dispassionate—as if he were critiquing a painting, not addressing a living person.

“That’s all you’ve got?” Deculein said.

Ria managed to raise her eyes, straining upward as Deculein’s unreadable stare met hers and she saw his face above her, distant and tinged with displeasure.

“No... not yet,” Ria replied.

Ria barely managed to speak as she pressed her clenched fist against the floor, trying to hold herself up.

“If that is the case,” Deculein said with a nod.

Then a second wave hit, stronger and harsher, causing Ria’s insides to twist, and just as she tried to rise, her body gave out completely and collapsed to the floor.

“Arghhhhh...”

“... Tch, perhaps such a frail body was never meant to hold a talent too grand for it.”

As I’ve already arranged for a Harmonic-category mage and the proper medicine to stabilize her body, there shouldn’t be any residual effects, I thought.

90th Floor

“Oh, you’ve arrived, Professor!"

Was submitting my thesis to Academia such a crime? Was the idea of integrating magic and science really such an unforgivable insult? Am I so influential—or was my mistake so catastrophic—that the Personnel Committee had to be convened just for me? Epherene thought.

— Regarding your thesis on the integration of magic and science—Assistant Professor Epherene, is it your professional judgment that such a theory is demonstrably valid?

Maybe it’s because everything said at the Personnel Committee gets recorded that makes Relin speak like a gentleman, Epherene thought.

— ... Assistant Professor Epherene, there’s a heritage to magic—a reputation it’s cultivated over centuries. The Mage Tower is no exception to this legacy.

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