A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 302

Chapter 302: Name (2)

Sophien fell asleep, and Keiron, in his knightly bearing, watched over her. Though she had clearly collapsed as if fainting, tormented by anguish, Sophien's face was more peaceful than ever before. Because of this, Keiron did not yet know if she had broken free from her restraints or been liberated from a destiny given by God.

However, to Keiron, the Empress's knight, his lord's face was, at least for now, peaceful—devoid of distress or apprehension and brimming with confidence—with the smile on her lips clearly defined.

"Your Majesty, that is a smile you have never once revealed," Keiron muttered.

Sophien's smile was subtle and radiated mere contentment, neither too intense nor too slight—a humble smile, as unadorned as any ordinary human on this continent and as beautiful as a wild flower swaying by the roadside...

“... Who is it?”

At that moment, a voice came from behind, prompting Keiron to turn and see Epherene, who had rushed back to the Sanctuary.

"Oh?!" Epherene murmured, her eyes widening as she looked at Keiron and Sophien on the floor.

"Epherene?" Keiron said, taking Sophien onto his back.

Epherene swallowed hard and nodded.

"You have done well," Keiron added, gesturing toward Yulie within the cylinder.

"Oh, about that..." Epherene mumbled, her fingers fumbling at her neck.

"Knight Yulie does deserve to live a better life."

Keiron's words were, at the very least, not empty words.

"... Yes," Epherene replied, giving a stiff nod.

"Well, see to Yulie's condition without delay, and for any future requirement arises, speak to me," Keiron said, drawing a miniature knight figure from his armor and placing it on the table.

“... Is that you, Knight Keiron?”

“That is correct.”

"But why did Her Majesty come here to this place?" Epherene asked with a nod, and then the most fundamental question surfaced.

"It was for the killing of Yulie."

“What?! Why?!”

"Given Yulie's hold upon Deculein's heart."

"What?!" Epherene said, her eyes widening as she rushed to look at Yulie inside the cylinder.

Fortunately, Yulie was in perfect condition.

"... But she looks fine?"

"Because Her Majesty changed her mind."

"Sorry? What does that mean..."

At that moment, the echo of demonic energy grazed Epherene's mind, and she felt the creeping presence of someone approaching.

“It’s Deculein!” Epherene yelled.

“... Deculein?”

"H-Hide! If he discovers you here, you’ll be in trouble too, won’t you?" Epherene said, digging a pit with magic.

Epherene shoved Keiron and Sophien into the pit, then covered it with a mana barrier, and this, too, was an application of nanotubes.

Thud—

Thud—

To the sound of approaching footsteps, Epherene cleared her throat and turned, finding a form of demonic energy shimmering in the darkness, knowing the demon had indeed been killed but that Deculein was submerged within that demonic energy.

“... Professor,” Epherene muttered.

Deculein is dangerous right now, having just fought the demon, and his eyes are stained violet, Epherene muttered.

Deculein stood still, surveying his surroundings while silence weighed down the space. Epherene’s tension tightened to her jaw, and the pit where Sophien and Keiron were hidden continued to trouble her.

"Here you have been," Deculein said, demonic energy swirling like smoke from his lips.

"We are trying to save Knight Yulie," Epherene replied.

Regardless, Deculein maintained his composure, merely meeting Epherene's eyes directly and showing no response whatsoever.

"It's true. About the method we’re using to save her... I will explain all of that as well," Epherene continued, as if offering an excuse.

The very principle that would save Yulie was Epherene's distinct Time Magic, a blend of science, magic, and the medicinal herbs of nature. Epherene offered her explanation, yet the most important part still weighed heavily on her mind.

"Of course, if time were rewound, Knight Yulie would forget all memories."

There was no way Deculein would permit Yulie to forget his memories, as he loved her above all others, and could not bear the thought of fading from her mind.

"But!" Epherene continued, her nervousness betraying her as she snatched the diary from the table. "Knight Yulie wrote her diary here. The diary, written in her own handwriting, flows with her mana. Upon Knight Yulie’s awakening, she will remember everything again."

Thud—

Then, Deculein resumed his movement, stepping toward Epherene, his entire body pulsating with demonic energy, appearing as the most fearsome Yukline she had ever seen.

"What are you trying to do?" Epherene asked, placing herself before Deculein.

"... Such memories are merely false," Deculein replied.

“Sorry?”

"Then you would let her die with memories of you, Professor?" Epherene asked, furrowing her brow at Deculein's ambiguous words.

Without a word, Deculein stared down at Epherene, who felt a slight wave of anger.

"Professor, do you prefer her to die remembering you rather than live, as Knight Yulie does?"

"Even if she survives in such a manner, she will live with false memories, in an existence bereft of purpose or worth," Deculein replied.

“... Wow.”

Epherene's head suddenly grew hot.

Have I misjudged the Professor all this time? I never imagined this. Is he really wishing for Knight Yulie to die merely to remember him? Epherene thought.

"Step aside," Deculein said.

"You cannot go. If you mean to, you must first break through me," Epherene replied, spreading her arms wide, blocking Deculein's advance with her own body.

“How arrogant, Epherene.”

"Hmph! I am actually strong now, you know—argh!"

Whooooosh—!

Deculein's immense mana pushed Epherene, sending her flying into the sky like a paper doll hit by an automobile, her body fluttering through the air before falling to the ground.

“... Ugh, argh...”

The overwhelming mass of Telekinesis caused Epherene’s entire body to ache, as though a wave of steel had crashed over her.

To think that it was a surprise attack... couldn’t he have given me time to put on my armor...? Epherene thought.

As Epherene struggled with pain, Deculein had already made his way to Yulie.

“Wait!”

Epherene's cry was lightly brushed aside as Deculein turned to Yulie in the cylinder, his face bearing a look of bittersweet affection. Then with a single hand, he picked up the diary.

"What... are you doing...?!" Epherene said, forcing her tattered body back to her feet.

"Do not overstep your bounds," Deculein replied, glaring at Epherene.freewebnovfreewebnovel.comel.com

“... What.”

"It means that it should not be turned back."

“No!”

At that moment, mana ignited in Deculein's grip, and the destructive flames, intermingled with demonic energy, were clearly destined to break something—or so it seemed to Epherene.

"No!" Epherene shouted, her hand outstretched.

Fwoooosh—!

Something burst into flames.

Then...

Epherene blinked in a daze, and the Sanctuary became steeped in silence.

“... Oh.”

Something had certainly burst into flames, but it was a different object from what Epherene had expected. What withered into fine black ash and flowed through Deculein's fingers, as the bewildered Epherene watched, was not Yulie's time cylinder in which she slept, but Yulie's diary.

"... But why?" Epherene asked, her eyes wide and uncomprehending.

Then, Deculein turned his body, causing Epherene's body to tremble.

“... The reason I released Yulie,” Deculein said, his voice resonating through the dim sanctuary as he approached Epherene, “was because I wanted her to live freely.”

Deculein knew, with certainty, that only by escaping from him—no, by having to escape from him—could Yulie attain true freedom.

"Because I desired Yulie to dedicate her remaining life entirely to herself."

Epherene's eyes trembled, and a moment too late, she understood Deculein's heart.

"... I commend your efforts to save Yulie's life," Deculein continued, his steps measured.

Thud, thud.

Perhaps it was only a feeling that Deculein's steps seemed unusually sorrowful.

"However... do not withhold Yulie’s opportunity to live freely."

Epherene looked up at Deculein.

"That second life must belong to her, and her alone," Deculein continued, extending a hand to Epherene, who lay upon the ground.

Epherene remained silent.

"And I must not be within it."

Looking at the hand Deculein extended, Epherene thought that she had, in truth, judged Deculein differently and seen him in a different light. Though this Professor was perhaps too fundamentalist a mage—sometimes arrogant and disdainful, easily disregarding and contemptuous of people—his capacity to love a single person was greater than anyone else's...

Tap—

Without warning, Deculein's eyes closed, and he gave way, remaining in the stance with his hand outstretched.

“Oh?”

... Under such clichéd circumstances, the falling direction was more often the issue.

“Oh.”

Snug—

— Very well. However, this is conditional upon your cooperation in the expedition to the Land of Destruction.

— Trade, you say?

Sophien, using Telekinesis, took the documents and read them.

— ... There is little of note. I grant my assent. However, no Scarletborn shall partake in this entire process, as I am not yet prepared to face their kind.

— Take him. Keep him in a pigsty and raise him, or let him live his days as a plaything before you kill him. The choice is entirely yours.

— Hmph, that is more likely Deculein’s doing. Well, he is such a master at eliminating his enemies—that one. It explains his utter disinterest in the plight of the minority tribes.

— This concludes the agreement.

— Deculein.

Swish—

"Indeed. Ahem," Sophien replied, clearing her throat. "This is my offering of reconciliation to you, and—"

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