A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 314: Breakdown and Repair (2)

When I opened my eyes, Sophien’s face came into view, her warm eyes looking down at me from above, and those moist eyes made her seem inexplicably benevolent.

… My hand looked up at such a Sophien, then slowly reached out, and I unconsciously caressed her cheek as half of her very tiny face covered.

The Empress made a gasping sound as I tried to lower my hand a moment too late, but Sophien’s hand caught mine.

“Professor,” Sophien called, looking at me with a smile.

At that moment, a pang of headache passed through me, and my brow twitched, as concern bloomed on Sophien’s face.

“… Your body is not well. However, I must have brought this upon myself, have I not?” the Empress continued regretfully as she held my hand, traced her cheek, and asked, “Was it because I forced too many memories upon you?”

“… Your Majesty,” I interrupted, breaking Sophien’s question. “Approximately how much time has elapsed?”

“Not even fifteen minutes have passed,” Sophien replied, shaking her head with a displeased expression.

“Is that so?” I replied, raising my upper body.

For a brief moment, my body of an Iron Man had crumbled, with traces left in various organs, and the pain in my heart continued to persist.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

However, that recovery was now occurring on its own, and sensing Sophien’s mana vaguely within my body, it was probably her doing.

“You have indeed mastered extraordinary techniques,” I concluded.

“It is the Holy Language and the Runic Language,” Sophien replied with a chuckle.

“You have learned what was not taught, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed. The Runic Language is an ancient language, imbued with mana itself, yet the Holy Language is merely the primordial language. By combining the properties of those two languages…” Sophien said, poking my stomach with her finger. “I have imbued you with the Draconic Word of Self-recovery.”

The Draconic word was tantamount to the ultimate magic within this world and was effectively a divine power.

“However, it only gains effectiveness if you are with me. The more you are in contact with me, the better it becomes,” Sophien continued, wrapping her arm around my neck, her smile a glint of cunning. “Therefore…”

Sophien’s face touched my shoulder, and as if she was holding me in her arms, she leaned against my collarbone and muttered, “From this moment, I shall protect you, even if it means I die and fade away.”

Knock, knock—

At that moment, the sound of knocking echoed as Sophien, with a clearly displeased expression, glared in that direction while I, having separated myself from her, got to my feet.

“Your Majesty, the selected mages will arrive soon.”

It was Ria’s voice.

***

On her way to the Imperial Palace, Sylvia sat in the back seat of a luxury sedan with a permitted companion by her side as a selected mage, and she glanced toward the seat beside her.

Yurie, this young knight, was glaring at a piece of paper that was an internal map of the Imperial University.

“Is it because of the Forest of Darkness,” Sylvia asked.

“Yes,” the knight replied, her body giving a visible start and trembling.

“It is best not to approach the Forest of Darkness. The mana concentration has become too dense. Many demonic events will take place.”

“… Is that so?”

Could this child really be Yulie? Sylvia thought as she looked at this woman.

“By any chance, did something happen there,” Sylvia asked.

“No,” Yulie replied, shaking her head.

Yulie denied anything had happened and suggested she wouldn’t share, while Sylvia, for some reason, seemed to understand why.

“By any chance, is it because of the revelation and the potion.”

Yulie’s eyes widened.

“Even within the Knights’ Order, such problems are severe,” Sylvia added with a chuckle while nodding.

“A-Are you aware of it?”

“It’s a well-known rumor in the Mage Tower,” Sylvia replied, taking out a grade list from her inner pocket. “Other cadets and magic students besides you all know that if you are loyal to the revelation, you will be given a potion, though many dismiss it as mere urban legend.”

Then Sylvia continued, “Many Mage Tower mages have seen their grades soar, with at least 27% by analogy, and about 25% in the Knights’ Order. As those grades markedly increase, more students will undoubtedly fall to its prey.”

Yulie concentrated her eyes upon the list.

“I will ask again. Did you meet someone in the Forest of Darkness,” Sylvia asked.

“Yes, I met one person,” Yulie replied, looking up at Sylvia with a stiff expression.

“Who was it.”

“I do not know who it was because the veil obscured it all.”

“Was it yesterday.”

“Yes.”

Sylvia took her Wizard Board from her bag and searched for information on the patrol from last night in the Forest of Darkness.

“What is that?” Yulie asked.

“Wizard Board. Patrols of the Forest of Darkness are conducted by professors or active knights. Their schedule is public, so I will find out who performed the duty last night.”

“Aha.”

Yulie showed interest, and Sylvia checked the patrol from the previous night.

“Gawain,” Sylvia said.

Gawain, a knight of considerable renown, was a name Sylvia had, indeed, heard before.

“Oh!” Yulie murmured, her eyes widening.

“Do you know him,” Sylvia asked.

“Yes, I know him. I know him well.”

I know Gawain well. Of course, he was my peer who used to do missions and train with me. If it’s really Gawain, then his words of saying ‘as expected’—as if he knows me—makes perfect sense. After all, is Gawain really Gawain? Yulie thought.

“As expected, he is a righteous knight,” Yulie continued.

“Is that so.”

While Sylvia was speaking, the Imperial Palace, their destination, became visible through the front windshield of the car.

“We’re here, Yulie,” Sylvia added, speaking in a subtle tone to the completely unguarded knight.

“Yes, we’ve arrived,” Yulie replied, looking all around her with bright, innocent eyes, as if she didn’t hear anything strange. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Is this your first time at the Imperial Palace.”

“Yes,” Yulie replied, clenching both fists, her excitement clear.

Of course, Yulie might have been the kind of person who wouldn’t mind if her name was mispronounced and might even prefer to be miscalled rather than correct someone and cause embarrassment.

However, even if that were the case, a person would unconsciously exhibit some physical reaction upon hearing a different name, yet Yulie showed no such signs and merely accepted the name Yulie as her own.

With that, Sylvia was certain. No matter how impossible it seemed, once the concept of magic was applied, it generally became understandable, and Epherene came to her mind.

Of course, it must be her doing, Sylvia thought.

“Step out,” Sylvia said.

“Yes,” Yulie replied.

The vehicle stopped, and Yulie and Sylvia stepped out together.

Thud, thud, thud—

Yulie, her face tight with tension, watched the Imperial Palace knights approach with their measured steps.

“… Yulie,” Sylvia muttered, sighing as she looked at her.

***

Yulie reached the Imperial Palace’s inner walls without any special identity check or inspection, perhaps due to a direct command from Her Majesty, the Empress, which was fortunate for Yulie, who was still using an alias.

“While the selected mages are granted their audience with Her Majesty, your companions may remain here,” Maid Ahan said, guiding Yulie into a room.

“Yes, I understand,” Yulie replied, giving a polite bow with her head.

After Ahan smiled brightly and left, Yulie looked around the interior and blinked.

The dazzling Imperial Palace’s scenery was breathtaking, with crystal chandeliers reflecting the light and Archipelago ceramics glittering in various colors, though numerous faces Yulie did not know appeared among them—about seven individuals…

“Oh? Another person has arrived!”

“Hmm? Who?”

Among those seven, two apparent minors widened their eyes upon seeing Yulie, who was unknown to her, and she nevertheless gave a respectful bow.

“Hello~! I’m Leo! I’m an adventurer!” said a child, a wide smile spreading across his face.

While a charming, brown-haired child introduced himself without hesitation, the blue-haired child next to him merely bowed his head.

“And this is Carlos!” Leo added, making the introduction for him.

“I am Knight Yurie. I came as a companion from the Imperial Palace… And you all?” Yulie replied with a bitter smile.

“We came to receive a mission! Because Her Majesty said she has a mission for us!”

“… A mission?”

“Yes!”

Sitting on a nearby chair, Yulie acutely felt a gap spanning ten years and was surprised to see that these young children were already adventurers entrusted with Imperial Palace missions.

At that moment…

Creeeeeeeak—

Once more, the door parted, and a knight and two young adventurers turned to face the opening.

“Ria!” Leo shouted.

“Shh!” Ria murmured, placing a finger to her lips. “Count Yukline is coming soon!”

Three exclamation marks appeared above their heads—not only Leo and Carlos but Yulie too—and while Carlos and Leo quickly concealed themselves, Yulie turned her chair, seating herself so her face remained hidden.

“Please make preparations!” Ria concluded, spinning around and closing the door once more.

Knock, knock—

Before long, a knock sounded; Yulie twisted her head to ensure her face was entirely unseen, whereas the other knights straightened their backs, making sure their faces were clearly visible.

Creeeak—

From beyond the opening door, a sophisticated fragrance and Deculein’s dignified presence flowed in, and a weighty tone descended with the sound of his cane.

“The companions of the selected mages—are there five in total?” Deculein inquired.

“Yes, sir, that is correct.”

Among the answering knights, Yulie had by then wrapped her face like a mummy, having completely concealed herself with a nearby tablecloth.

“… There is one unusual individual,” Deculein said, a trace of disbelief in his eyes.

The other knights, too, broke into peals of laughter.

“I apologize. I have a skin condition,” Yulie replied, lowering her head.

“It matters not. Let your appearance be of no concern as I will only guide you on Imperial Palace etiquette and have a few directives to convey,” Deculein replied as he snapped his fingers, and the lights in the room went out. “First, I will state the most important instruction. Be wary of your life.”

“… Our lives?” Yulie asked, the question slipping out before she thought.

Be careful with our lives within the Imperial Palace? Yulie thought.

“Indeed. The only purpose a selected mage was permitted to bring a companion was for that reason. The Imperial Palace is dangerous now. More precisely, a certain magical flow is flooding both the upper and lower levels,” Deculein replied, nodding. “Because of that incident, Her Majesty stated she directly hired adventurers, but those adventurers are nowhere to be seen.”

At the mention of adventurers, Yulie remembered Leo and Carlos, who had just introduced themselves as such—two children who had immediately hidden themselves when Deculein was said to be coming.

“From the beginning, scoundrels who do not keep their promises are unnecessary,” Deculein continued, shaking his head and snapping his fingers again.

“First, the selected mages’ instruction will continue for three days in the Imperial Palace gardens. You may stay here during that time, spar, enjoy the Imperial Palace facilities, play cards, or engage in any other forms of entertainment. However.”

With his expression stiffened, he swept his eyes about his surroundings and added, “During the hours of darkness, the Imperial Palace’s mana deepens, and because of that, one might encounter this demonic presence. We suspect this phenomenon, too, is the Altar’s doing.”

Puffffffffff…

Within the dark space, Deculein’s mana bloomed, and it soon formed into a shape—a spectral figure draped in a robe.

“To be precise, it is a demonic presence known as a Courier. They are beings who will displace you anywhere within the Imperial Palace’s space. In severe cases, these beings might even banish you to the Land of Destruction.”

The demonic presence, though not a demon itself, carried the characteristic properties of a demon.

“Therefore, at night, I advise you to remain hidden and avoid letting your steps fall upon the Imperial Palace’s corridors,” Deculein concluded, shrugging.

At that moment, someone raised a hand and Yulie, turning to look, flinched because it was Knight Raphel, her former senior.

“… Is it acceptable to crush them?” Raphel asked.

“It does not matter. In that case, since Her Majesty’s worries would be lessened, a reward would naturally be deserved,” Deculein replied, chuckling and nodding.

“Excellent,” Raphel replied, a smile spreading across his face.

Deculein’s eyes returned to Yulie, specifically falling upon the tablecloth that concealed her face like a mummy.

“It seems there’s also a tablecloth ghost, but I shall not speak to it. For now, all of you may get some rest.”

Yulie felt her entire body flushed in red, and she buried her face in shame.

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