A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 290

Chapter 290: Chairperson (1)

It was a clear afternoon at the Imperial University square, with pollen dancing through the air.

— ... Starting today, I’m officially the former Chairwoman of the Mage Tower!

Adrienne stood on the podium, giving her retirement speech, and the crowd that had gathered to listen was larger than anyone had expected.

Although Adrienne might have looked too young and, sure, her wit had always been childish, she was an Archmage, which is why the mages of the Mage Tower, the imperial mages, and even the Addicts from the Floating Island had shown up to pay their respects.

— I’ve been in this position for just over ten years now—hard to believe how much has happened, isn’t it?!

Ten years sounded simple enough when Adrienne said it, but to me it felt strangely distant, like a stretch of time I’d never lived through in this world with her.

— Our Mage Tower was really fun! It kept me busy in the best ways—I was never bored! That’s why I really liked it... but I guess no one can stay in one place forever!

Adrienne said with a bright smile.

— I’m glad I get to step down just when it feels right, and even after I’m gone, I know the Mage Tower of the Empire will keep growing brighter and brighter, even without me!

Adrienne turned to look over at me in my direction while I stood on the same podium but a few steps apart from her side.

— Now let me introduce who’s going to take my place!

Adrienne announced, her arm outstretched toward me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

— Please welcome our new Chairman, Deculein!

Adrienne stepped back from the podium to the sound of applause, and I stepped up in her place, looking around the square packed with people as far as I could see.

“Greetings, I am Deculein, your new Chairman," I said.

I recognized every face in the front row—Yeriel, Louina, Ihelm, Delic, Bethan, Primien, the elders of the Round Table, and even Ria was there, her head drooping as sleep tugged at her eyes.

“Long speeches are often remembered only for their length. Therefore, I will spare you all that and keep it brief.”

Of course, I didn’t plan to make my opening address a long one because I’d lived through more than one principal’s speech and knew their ceremonial drag was enough when I was young.

“For the advancement of the mages of our Mage Tower, I will see that our curriculum is refined with precision, seek out the finest talent without reservation, and guarantee that merit alone determines one’s worth.”

On paper, the Mage Tower of the University didn’t care about class, as everyone went by their first names and that was supposed to mean something, but beneath the polish, class distinction held firm, bloodlines mattered more than talent, and even the most brilliant new professors couldn’t move up if their background wasn’t good enough.

"Every mage, thesis, and theory within the Mage Tower will be judged exclusively through the lens of a magical perspective.”

Adrienne had never understood the politics behind it all—and truth be told, she never cared to.

“Furthermore, I assure you.”

However, I was different because at least within the Mage Tower, class would mean nothing, nobles wouldn’t bear down on commoners with the weight of their name or the pride of their house, and here, only skill would matter.

"The Mage Tower of the Empire will be remembered as the greatest institution of learning in the records of history,” I concluded.

That was the end of it—my inauguration as Chairman was over, my speech was barely eight lines long, and thankfully there were no bombings or dramatic disruptions.

Clap, clap, clap, clap—

However, as the crowd burst into applause and the former Chairwoman Adrienne fastened the Chairman’s medal to my chest, a system notification blinked into view—like an official seal on my appointment.

[Inauguration Completed : Chairman of the Imperial University]

◆ Title Achieved ‘Chairman of the Imperial University’.

: Mana Enhanced.

◆ Rare Attribute Catalog Acquired

I nodded in satisfaction.

At that moment...

Through the sea of crowds—easily tens of thousands strong—I caught a glimpse of a woman in a robe among the trees as if veiled by them, her eyes clear as glass watching me from beneath her hood.

“... Yulie.”

As the eyes of an Iron Man locked onto her, a passerby crossed my line of sight—and in that fleeting instant, she was gone as if she had never been there.

“You did great!” Adrienne said, holding out her hand for a handshake.

I turned to Adrienne without a word.

“Now keep up the good work!” Adrienne added with a bright smile.

“Miss Adrienne, you’ve worked hard as well,” I replied, accepting her handshake.

“Chairman,” Relin said from behind me, interrupting the moment I shared with Adrienne’s offered hand.

“Sorry?! ... Oh!” Adrienne replied, turning to Relin at the sound of the title Chairman, as if she had heard it as Chairwoman, but then laughed at herself and scratched the back of her neck. “I’ll get going now! Wishing you all a peaceful evening!”

Adrienne left the podium in a hurry.

It seemed her voice was caught ever so slightly—maybe the weight of parting had finally reached her, I thought.

“What is it?” I inquired.

“Chairman, the police have compiled a report on Epherene’s movements, but... they haven’t been able to pin her down. It’s like she disappears like smoke every time they get close,” Relin replied, offering me the report.

I opened the document Relin handed me with one hand, not really paying attention.

“It seems she’s slipping away by magical means. Should we request the Floating Island to issue a wanted notice?”

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “That will be unnecessary. A wanted notice has already been issued across the entire continent. I find all this noise disagreeable. Asking the Floating Island for help would be beneath my dignity.”

“... Oh—yes, of course, my apologies. That was shortsighted of me!”

Relin laid on the flattery as best he could while I flipped through the file tracing Epherene’s movements, finally seeing why they called her impossible to pin down since one day she’d show up in Leoc, the next in Yuren, and then again somewhere in the Empire.

Of course—she’s with Allen, isn’t she? I thought.

Thud—

"Tch," I murmured, closing the file.

***

... Time moved on—the Ages, and the continent along with it. It had already been two months since Epherene had broken into Deculein’s laboratory, and the days since had rushed by like water slipping through fingers.

“The frame-dragging and Tipler cylinder theory...” Epherene muttered.

Epherene spent the day as usual, conducting experiments while flipping through her science literature, and with the Sanctuary of the Ages stocked full of Deculein’s finest machines, she rarely had any reason to step outside.

"Frame-dragging and the Tipler cylinder. If I could just wrap my head around this... maybe time travel using nothing but my own body might actually be possible."

“Miss Epherene~ why don’t you eat something first—”

“Okay, okay, okay, okay!”

The moment Allen mentioned food, Epherene dropped everything she was doing and raced to the table.

“Knight Yulie!” Epherene called as she sat down in her seat.

Yulie awoke from sleep in the hammock, slowly opening her pale face eyes as she smiled, sat up, and came closer.

“You need to eat well, especially when you’re not feeling well.”

“... Yes, you are absolutely right,” Yulie replied, taking her seat and picking up her fork and knife.

Watching her, Epherene felt an ache in her heart, but there it was—Yulie had strength in her now and the will to survive.

However, Yulie was dying, her condition unchanged and no better today than the day before.

“Tonight’s menu is Roahawk sirloin steak~ Please, help yourself however much you'd like,” Allen said.

The moment Epherene saw the eight slabs of Roahawk steak, her eyes went wide, and just as she pressed one thick cut with her knife...

Whoooosh—

A beam of light settled into the passage of the Ages as Idnik stepped through, and like the Floating Islands, the Ages connected to the world beyond through magical passages.

“Hey, Epherene. The new release’s out,” Idnik said.

“Really?!”

Epherene’s eyes flew open, and she even set her knife down because it was news of a new release from Caasi, the leading scientist of the era and her greatest inspiration.

“However, it looks like this one won’t be made available for sale.”

“Is it because of the Floating Island?”

"Yes, that's right. Every publishing company rejected it. They’re clearly playing it safe with the Floating Island and the Mage Tower watching."

“Oh... I see. But I need that book. I can’t save Knight Yulie without it,” Epherene said, her face clouded with disappointment.

“Oh, that’s right!” freewёbnoνel-com

Then, should I sneak into Deculein’s mansion and steal it again? Epherene thought.

“... Okay, but first, let me grab a bit... Ahhhhhhhh!”

“Ah, you nearly gave me a heart attack!”

There were eight pieces just a moment ago, but only five remain, Epherene thought.

“Oh, okay. The steak is really good. It’s been a long time since I’ve actually enjoyed a meal,” Yulie replied with a warm smile.

... I really want to rewind time right now. But I can’t do complete time travel—if I went back five minutes, my old self would still be sitting there. Only if I could just rewind the steak Knight Yulie ate, bring it back to the plate, and share it all over again, that’d be fair and square... Epherene thought.

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