A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 299

Chapter 299: Ancient Demon (2)

“What’s so special about this place? I only came to see you locked up, Professor,” Epherene said, peeking into my room. “... I’m not here to help you or anything, so don’t get the wrong idea.”

Epherene said she had no intention of helping me, yet her eyes lingered on the cuff around my wrist with a seriousness that told a different story.

“How did he even come up with stuff like this?” Epherene muttered as if speaking to the cuff itself.

"This is an artifact far beyond what someone like you could ever hope to dismantle. Take your incompetence elsewhere," I replied.

“... Wow, you really haven’t changed, Professor, even after all this time,” Epherene replied, glancing at me with her lips pursed. “Anyway, what is this about a demon?”

“The Devourer—a ghost that feeds on humans.”

Epherene’s eyes widened in shock.

The legends about demons were already tucked away in my mind, even though I’d never studied them. Of course, it must have been a Yukline instinct—among all that knowledge, the Devourer stood out as one of the more prominent demons.

“I told you earlier—this isn’t a place meant for someone like you,” I added.

“What are you talking about? I’m pretty strong now, too, you know. Look. See?” Epherene said, weaving mana into armor reinforced with nanotubes around herself.

"It is unique," I replied, shaking my head at Epherene, who claimed to be strong.

“Unique?”

I pointed toward the window, and Epherene turned to look.

"Look at the sky."

The sky remained dark, though morning had been due some time ago.

"... Oh, I've learned about this. It's the Long Night phenomenon, isn't it?"

“Indeed.”

It was a magical phenomenon known as the Long Night, where, when the mana concentration in the desert rose beyond a certain threshold, the sand would lift like a veil and block out the sun.

"The sand becomes lighter than air and just floats up, right? But what about it?"

"It caused this phenomenon."

The Devourer was known for moving like a ghost through the darkness of the desert’s long night, hunting humans, and remaining unseen by the human eye.

"And it has already claimed this space as its dining hall," I added.

“Its dining hall?”

“Indeed. You entered here by choice, but only minutes remain to leave. Consider your exit now—the moment is at hand.”

The Devourer’s attribute, called Killing Field in game terms, was nearly complete—and once it was, no one inside would be able to escape.

"Neither mage nor knight has the power to eradicate it," I concluded.

“... Not a single mage? What of Adrienne—” free𝑤ebnovel.com

"That applies to Adrienne and Zeit as well," I interrupted.

There was a reason it had been sealed instead of eradicated.

“But you’re saying you can kill it, Professor?” Epherene asked, her eyes narrowed.

"Because I am Yukline," I replied, nodding.

“... Wow,” Epherene murmured, squinting her eyes with a dry laugh and crossing her arms, though a smile played on her lips. “It’s always about bragging, after all. You never change, do you, Professor? Honestly.”

Epherene sighed, but composure returned to her face before she gave a nod.

"But I trust you, Professor, because you never lie."

Epherene then took a step closer and looked at me.

"However, Professor," Epherene continued, her moist eyes sweeping over my features. "While I was in that desert, I discovered a truth—the Scarletborn are not our enemies."

I remained silent.

"Of course, Professor, you'll likely loathe me for saying this, but honestly, it matters little if you loathe me any further. Still, I felt like I had to speak of this."

Leaving aside my loathing for Epherene, her words were far too dangerous a statement.

“Our enemy is elsewhere. It is not the Scarletborn. We are merely being manipulated by Quay’s game right now.”

I glared at Epherene as she spoke those words.

“... I’m telling you, our enemy is elsewhere, Professor. Do you want me to articulate it in a thesis?” Epherene concluded, staring at me with a blank expression.

"Epherene," I said, silencing her with a gesture. "You've passed the point of no return."

I could not bring myself to utter the words that I shared in her mind—for Sophien had undoubtedly watched me from the most intimate depths of the main building.

“Has Idnik swayed you with her words?” I inquired, foregoing any further discussion.

“... And if she has?” Epherene replied, biting her lip.

With this, the greatest sin will move to Idnik. That, at least, is a saving grace, I thought.

"In the first place... Wait."

Epherene, who was about to say something else, widened her eyes and hastily released mana, spinning to look behind her.

“... Who is it?”

At that moment, within the swirling quietude and profound silence, the flickering ember of light coalesced into a human form, shimmering just beyond Epherene’s intense glare.

"... Be careful, Professor. It could be an enemy," Epherene muttered.

“One would rather call it Scarletborn,” I replied with a scoff at Epherene’s words.

Epherene swallowed and fell silent.

“... Deculein.”

Then, from within that darkness, a woman’s voice echoed my name—a Scarletborn who now pulled back her hood to reveal her face.

"Deculein, you will recognize me."

The woman who spoke had a peculiar appearance, and besides being cloaked in a thick coat, she wore a blindfold across her eyes, reminding one of a sightless monk.

"Lucy, is it?" I replied, a smile touching my lips.

"Who is Lucy?" Epherene asked.

"The granddaughter of the Scarletborn Great Elder, she was a Scarletborn who lived in Padahal," I replied.

"... But how do you know her, Professor?"

"It was I who extracted that eye and then placed her in confinement within Roharlak."

"What?! Why?!" Epherene replied, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Lucy, from a distance, also bit her lip.

"Given it was an eye of excellent quality, I extracted it instead of her core," I said, offering a brief explanation.

"... What on earth are you talking about—”

"Lucy, have you escaped Roharlak?" I inquired.

Lucy remained silent, radiating a potent death variable that needed no explanation—a definite threat capable of ending me.

Where on earth is Karixel, who ought to be preventing her actions? I thought.

"Is it your intent to kill me?" I asked.

“Do you ask that of me? The grudge we hold for the people of my clan whom you slaughtered far outweighs the rage over the eye you claimed,” Lucy replied.

"Hmm, you've decided on the most regrettable choice. You are far too impetuous for the Great Elder's granddaughter."

“... You are worthless, Professor. Accept, then, the judgment of our clan.”

As I responded with composure, Lucy began to radiate hostility.

Boom—!

A ripple of dark crimson mana shook the entire floor.

Fwoooooooosh—!

The mana, which had rushed like a tsunami threatening to tear my heart asunder, abruptly subsided.

Tap—

Then, it returned toward Lucy.

Squirm, Squirm.

The dark crimson mana flowed back, like salmon swimming upstream, as if time itself were rewinding.

“Stop it.”

The enemies, their eyes wide with disbelief, watched this miraculous phenomenon, a spectacle entirely conducted by Epherene.

“... Mage Epherene, I’ve heard about you through Idnik,” Lucy said, turning to Epherene. “Isn’t Deculein a villain to you as well? Leave him to me, and I will kill him myself.”

“Still, stop.”

“... Haa,” Lucy murmured, a sigh slipping through her teeth.

"It is for all of us," Epherene added, quickly clarifying her words.

“... Us?”

"Yes, look out the window."

Epherene mirrored my recent action toward her earlier, while Lucy, too, looked up at the darkness beyond the window.

“There’s a demon present in this space,” Epherene concluded.

"Do you think we wouldn't know that? We intend to kill Deculein, and then present it as the work of a demon."

“No! You’re missing the bigger picture! Before you can kill Deculein, the demon known as the Devourer will lock us here. I tell you, we won’t be able to escape! Right, Professor?” Epherene asked, turning to me.

I nodded.

“Yes, so, we’re talking about an ancient and incredibly powerful demon here. For example, it is the Roahawk of the demons.”

“... Roahawk?”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh—!”

At that moment, an eerie cry echoed, reverberating through the air.

“Yes, and only Yukline stands a chance against that demon. Therefore, if you kill Deculein right now, it means all of us will die here...” Epherene concluded.

“No, it’s invisible from the very beginning. It’s like gas... so you can’t even kill it. Oh, look over there!” Ria replied, pointing to an Elite Guard sprawled on the ground.

“... Oh.”

— Your Majesty, you were already aware of the demon’s arrival and of Bell’s inevitable decision to release Deculein.

“Hmph, as if I would abandon Deculein for the likes of a brainless bastard like Bell,” the Empress replied, nodding.

— It is, therefore, because Deculein displeased Your Majesty that you granted Bell complete authority.

— ... Hmm, it seems Your Majesty has already forgiven the Professor.

Love, then, I find myself forgiving because I love—no, it’s more than that. Because of love, Deculein’s sin is no longer a sin, Sophien thought.

— Your Majesty, is there no call for us to save the Professor?

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