A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 54: Quickening (1)

Epherene and Sylvia, exhausted from their attempts at Category Alignment, were drenched in sweat. Sylvia managed to succeed, but Epherene fell short.

"Beck. Lucia. Step forward."

I asked other Debutants to attempt Category Alignment. They struggled as well, drawing circuits haphazardly. Their spells lacked any logical structure, relying purely on intuition.

"... Enough."

I switched off the crystal orb that powered the transformed classroom. As the barrier dissolved, the room reverted to its regular lecture hall form.

"Your abilities are still inadequate. It seems I overestimated you. Sit down."

The Debutants returned to their seats, their nerves evident in every step.

"I intended to teach you to perceive magic through logic rather than intuition. Without a solid theoretical framework, intuition alone will fail."

Of course, this method was unfamiliar to them. That’s why it wasn’t easy; it frustrated them and eventually brought them back to square one. I never slacked in my efforts to teach. There likely wasn't a more dedicated professor than me. I had studied and translated various methodologies, game systems, and even ancient texts from the magical era of the theocracy.

In the distant past, logic was paramount, and I believed in its systematic correctness. However, only about five or six students genuinely grasped this teaching. In simpler terms, it was a moment of clarity.

"Let me explain this in detail once again."

In the game, various bonus systems existed—attribute bonuses, category bonuses, combination bonuses, harmony bonuses, and more. Attribute bonuses enhanced performance and reduced mana consumption when using spells aligned with a character's talent, similar to category bonuses.

However, harmony bonuses were more complex. Mastery of spells required more than just acquiring a grimoire; it demanded practical skill and the process of internalization, known as Comprehension. Harmony bonuses activated when Comprehension and practical mastery were perfectly aligned. I aimed to teach the Debutants about these harmony bonuses.

"Observe the structure of the Will-o'-the-Wisp spell."

Using Telekinesis, I picked up a piece of chalk. On one part of the board, I drew the Will-o'-the-Wisp spell. Then, I illustrated the supportive category spell, detailing how to connect them. This was an analog approach.

"When Will-o'-the-Wisp is applied within a supportive category, it generates special effects. Memorize the entire structure and circuit connection."

If understanding was difficult, the first step was to memorize. For Debutants admitted to the Mage Tower of the Empire, comprehension would naturally follow memorization.

"When the Thundercloud is applied to the destruction category, it exhibits special effects. Commit this to memory as well."

I demonstrated the logic of integrating each Pure Element into its proper category. Six pieces of chalk moved simultaneously across the board, illustrating the process. To enhance readability, I used different colors for the core circuits, hoping the students would appreciate the attention to detail.

"Handling metal like a blade, Metal Leaves manifests special effects when applied to the summoning category. Though its full depth remains beyond your current understanding, focus on memorizing it."

I wrote continuously, filling the blackboard with the application of eight different magic categories. It became covered in thousands of lines and circles, forming intricate and almost indecipherable geometric patterns. The lecture lasted 150 minutes.

"That concludes today's lesson."

There was no response. Half the class appeared drained, while the other half continued scribbling notes. I glanced at the scene behind me. The enormous five-meter-high blackboard was completely covered with spell structures.

"Feel the helplessness of relying solely on intuition. You must experience this to grasp its necessity."

Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. After that, perspectives change. I continued coldly.

"We'll have a simple test next week. Be prepared."

The clock read 6:00 and 11 seconds. The slight delay was immensely irritating as I exited the lecture hall.

***

As soon as the class ended, Epherene made her way to the library. Deculein’s lecture today had been especially complex and challenging.

Logical application of Will-o'-the-Wisp in supportive categories

Logical application of Thundercloud in destructive categories

Logical application of Metal Leaves in summoning categories

★IMPORTANT★ Effort required to perceive the logic as magical

“... Logic.”

Deculein always insisted that in magic, logic paved the way, and intuition followed. Relying solely on intuition could lead one astray, deceived by appearances. Simple spells and problems might be solved intuitively, perhaps even more efficiently due to accumulated knowledge aiding insight.

However, when confronted with difficult magic or new magical phenomena, logic became an essential tool for problem-solving.

“... It’s difficult.”

The reasoning was sound and persuasive, but the difficulty level was the issue. It began with basic arithmetic, but before long, the blackboard was filled with geometric circuits, each requiring complex mathematical calculations to understand.

“How does Deculein manage to...”

No matter how much she pondered, too many contradictions with her father's letters remained. It was possible that Deculein possessed some theoretical prowess. Perhaps he had learned from her father, or maybe he had hired someone else to fill her father's role.

"... Well, I should just focus on studying."

Learn, practice, and try again later. Professor Deculein welcomed challenges, after all. Before she knew it, midnight had passed. Epherene packed her thick notebook into her bag and stood up.

Plod, plod—

Trudging back to the dormitory, she passed through a deserted alley. She instinctively hid when she spotted someone. It was Relin, accompanied by a slender figure—Professor Siare. The two were whispering quietly.

"... So, Louina has gone missing? Professor Siare, is that true?"

"Yes, that's correct. After her lesson with the Empress, she was last seen getting into her car, and her whereabouts since then are unknown," Siare confirmed.

"Why has she disappeared so suddenly...? Could it be that Professor Deculein is involved?!"

"Shh. Shh-shh," Siare said, hurriedly.

Epherene's eyes widened.

"Further details will be addressed at the Mage Council. For now, her disappearance remains confidential to prevent any unrest within the Mage Tower."

"Understood. However, the timing is quite curious, especially with the opposition's signatures due soon..."

Holding her breath, Epherene waited until they left before exhaling and wondered, "... Kidnapping? Gone missing?"

Epherene knew of Louina. Her name had appeared in her father's letters, and she was considered one of the special talents of the current era in the Magical Realm. The idea that Deculein might have done something to her crossed Epherene's mind.

"No way."

Not all gossip among professors was true, and she had her own problems to worry about. Her current bank balance was a concern. At the beginning of the semester, she had received 100,000 elne in support.

Of that, 85,000 elne had been spent on grimoires, specialized writing instruments for mages, and departmental event fees, with the remaining 5,000 elne going towards food. Now, she had only 10,000 elne left...

“Miss Luna?” the dorm supervisor called, as Epherene reached the dormitory.

“Yes?” Epherene replied, approaching her.

The supervisor adjusted her pointed glasses. Despite her stern appearance, she was the most reliable person in the dormitory. Handing over the letters, she said, "You have several letters. I didn’t want to leave them in your mailbox; the other students might tear them up."

“Oh, thank you so much.”

“Take care.”

As she climbed the stairs, Epherene sorted through the letters. One was from her hometown, but the other... Her eyes widened in surprise. It was a sponsorship certificate. She tore it open to find another donation of 100,000 elne.

“Wow...”

The certificate gleamed like gold, and Epherene's eyes sparkled with delight. Perhaps the sponsor had heard about her second-place finish in the midterms and intended to continue supporting her if she maintained her grades.

Smiling brightly, she tucked the certificate into her pocket and opened the letter from her hometown. Upon reading it, she immediately turned and ran to the administration office.

“Ex-excuse me!” Epherene shouted as she burst through the door, her voice trembling with urgency.

The night duty officer looked at her with a weary expression and said, "Yes?"

"I received a sponsorship certificate earlier today..."

Her grandmother’s letter mentioned that 300,000 elne had been deposited into their account as sponsorship funds. Her family expressed their deep gratitude, crediting Epherene’s efforts for this blessing, and reassured her not to worry about them.

“Is it anonymous again?”

“Yes, it’s anonymous,” the officer replied with a nod, stifling a yawn.

Epherene quickly interjected, “But isn’t there a way—”

“Just accept it. Your situation isn't the best, right? No sponsor would reveal their name.”

Though harsh, it was true. The rumors about the so-called Crazy Commoner Epherene were widespread.

Seeing her downcast, the officer added, “If it troubles you, why not write a letter?”

“... A letter?”

“Yes, even with anonymous donations, letters can be delivered. Maybe if you’re lucky, they might reply. You’ve already received 200,000 elne in support. That’s a considerable amount.”

“Oh... You’re right. I’ll do that!” Epherene agreed after a moment’s thought, nodding.

If the sponsor disliked receiving letters, they simply wouldn’t respond. Sending a letter wouldn’t do any harm.

Epherene widened her eyes and asked, “Excuse me, but do you provide stationery?”

"... You need to get that yourself. We only handle the sending and receiving of letters. With the sponsorship funds, you should be able to afford it, right?"

"Ah... I see. Thank you."

***

The next day, the Mage Tower of the University was bustling with festivities and parties.

?????~ ?????~

The faint sound of parade music drifted in from outside. His recent work on the relationship between runes and circuits was nearly complete—a precise analysis.

The runes used in the sixth Symposium problem totaled fourteen characters, but only three could function as circuits. With this research, solving the Symposium problem seemed within reach. He sealed the documents with magic and placed them in his briefcase.

“... Hmm.”

Suddenly, a notebook caught my eye in the corner of the drawer. It was untitled and didn’t resemble anything related to Wealthy Magnate or Villain’s Fate. It was a mysterious and unidentifiable notebook.

“This is...”

I picked up the notebook and examined the cover closely before flipping it open. The pages were blank. I couldn’t just keep wondering about it.

“Let’s see what it is.”

After taking a deep breath, I carefully infused it with mana...

“... You persist in disappointing me.”

A stern voice echoed in my ears. I looked up to see a man who resembled Kim Woo-Jin, an older version of myself. His eyes gleamed with deep disdain.

“... This is your final opportunity. Deliver results in Marik.”

I tried to respond, but the overwhelming magic stifled my words. When I reopened my tightly shut eyes, I found myself in a dark mine, being carried by a frail figure.

“... Who are you?” I asked.

“Rest assured, everything will be alright.”

The voice was familiar. I opened my eyes wide and saw her. It was Yulie. She was as beautiful as ever, but she looked unwell, with blood flowing from her side.

“How did the mission proceed, Yulie?”

My father had ordered me to retrieve an item from Marik, but an unexpected attack occurred.

“Yes, my colleague has retrieved it. We can rendezvous with them on the surface.”

I sighed in relief, but soon, a surge of demonic energy filled the air. Though I appeared calm, my heart pounded wildly.

“Ensure my safety.”

“I will.”

“It is your duty to ensure my safety.”

“I will.”

“Guarantee my safety.”

Yulie gently placed me on the ground nearby. I leaned against the wall, wincing from the pain.

“Discharge your duties as a knight.”

It was futile advice, asking her to sacrifice herself for my sake. Yulie responded, “Yes, I will guarantee your safety.”

She turned around with her sword in hand, and I watched her back. Just then, a powerful wave of demonic energy surged from straight ahead in the mine.

I felt as if I were being swept away by a tidal wave before returning to reality. The memories and emotions from that day flowed vividly. They were Deculein’s past, yet they felt as if they had always been mine. I pressed my fingers to my temples. Those memories had become a part of me.

[Independent Quest Complete: Deculein’s Diary]

◆ Store Currency +1

◆ Attribute Yukline Growth

It appeared this notebook was Deculein’s magical diary.

“Damn it...”

I left the Mage Tower, not wanting to be haunted by those memories. I wandered the university grounds aimlessly.

“... This is your final opportunity,” the voice had said. It was my father’s voice. No, it wasn’t. It was Deculein’s father. But in my reconstructed memory, his father resembled mine...

Thud—

I accidentally collided with a passerby.

“Oh, sorry,” he mumbled before walking away with that meager apology.

I didn’t care for that unknown commoner, but the encounter helped calm my turbulent mind a bit.

“Come see the play! Only a few tickets left!”

A theater stood nearby.

“Oh, would you like to see the play? We still have tickets available,” a student asked as they handed me a ticket.

I nodded and stepped inside.

“Please take your seats! Portrait of a Sad Day is about to begin!”

I sat absentmindedly, and the play began shortly after.

“Dad. Dad. I'm sorry, I...!”

None of it registered with me, visually or aurally.

“Ugh... Sniff...”

However, the person next to me appeared deeply moved.

“... Sniff.”

The constant sniffling was irritating, so I glanced over and was taken aback.

“Ugh...”

It was Epherene. I quietly handed a handkerchief to the crying child.

“Oh? Ah, th-thank you... sniff...” Epherene said, wiping her tears before handing the handkerchief back to me.

Obviously, I tossed it to the floor.

“You can't kill him honorably! Too many people will die in the process! That’s exactly how my father died!”

I finally caught a line of the dialogue. I didn’t know the full story, but it seemed to be a revenge drama, and the actress’s performance was excellent. Even from an Aesthetic Sense perspective, it was superb. During the intermission, Epherene, with red, puffy eyes, ran off but returned right after the second act started.

“... Thank you,” Epherene whispered softly as she handed me some popcorn.

She had her hood up, making it seem like she couldn’t see my face.

“... I have loved you. But staying by my side will only bring you pain. I am a murderer, a criminal who took his life.”

The play reached its climax. Epherene hunched over, tears streaming down her fingers.

“Sniff! Sob! Sniff!”

She was more emotional than she seemed. I took out a proper handkerchief from my suit pocket and handed it to her.

“Th-thank you... Sniff... Sniff...”

Her attempts to stifle her sobs sounded like a boiling kettle. I got up and left the theater, walking through the campus until I found a random bench. To clear my mind, I closed my eyes in the darkness and lost track of time.

[Main Quest: Quickening]

◆ Completion Reward: Store Currency +2

Suddenly, a main quest notification appeared.

***

At 11 p.m., as soon as the play ended, Epherene stepped outside. Magical fireworks lit up the sky, signaling some kind of party, but she wasn’t interested.

“Sniff! Ah, I had a good cry,” Epherene said, wiping her tears with a handkerchief as she walked.

An unknown gentleman had given her the handkerchief. It looked very expensive, and she had intended to return it, but he disappeared before she could.

“Ephie!” someone called out. She turned to see Julia running toward her. “Something terrible has happened!”

“What?”

“Do you remember the runes on the dormitory wall at the beginning of the semester? Never mind, just follow me!” Julia exclaimed, grabbing Epherene’s hand and running.

When they arrived at the dormitory, Epherene gasped in shock. “What is this...?”

Part of the dormitory, particularly the third building where many commoners stayed, was shrouded in a dark red barrier. It was enveloped in a mysterious mist.

“Remember the red spells drawn on the dormitory wall at the start of the semester? Isn’t this related?!”

Bang— boom—!

Fireworks continued to light up the sky as cheers echoed in the distance.

“Wh-what’s going on?!”

Professors Relin, Siare, Retlan, and Camel, who had been in a meeting at the Mage Tower, arrived on the scene with their eyes widening in horror.

“What is this... such intense demonic energy...”

“Curses! This is why I opposed opening the Mountain of Darkness!”

“... Chairwoman, where is the Chairwoman at this moment?” Relin asked Retlan.

“She is likely on the Floating Island. Why did this have to happen today of all days...”

The professors hesitated to enter the barrier. They couldn’t act rashly without knowing what was inside. The dense demonic energy leaking out required gas masks and the presence of knights for safety. Even the professors’ spells would struggle against such concentrated demonic energy. They were being rational.

“Professor, what will you do?!” Epherene shouted.

Startled, Relin narrowed his eyes in annoyance and said, “Why are you asking me, kid?!”

“There are people inside!” Julia retorted, causing Relin to bite his lip as he looked at the barrier.

He seemed to be contemplating, and as a man in his middle years, he had much to lose. Relin soon demanded, “Who discovered this first?!”

“That is not the issue at the moment!”

“Of course it is... Ah, Professor Siare! Are you not in the Department of Destruction Studies?”

“... I am not in good health. We might as well wait a bit. The knights will be here soon.”

Waiting might be too late; no one knows what is happening inside. With a sigh, Epherene handed her bag and handkerchief to Julia.

“Ephie, why are you doing this?”

“I’m going in. Who’s inside?”

“What? No! You can’t go!”

At that moment, a sharp voice pierced the air.

“What is the current situation?”

The voice was so cold it seemed to cut through the humid air. Everyone turned to see Deculein. He emerged from the crowd, appearing composed, his gaze icy as he surveyed the area. His posture was arrogantly upright.

He noticed the invisible barrier and frowned slightly. The professors, terrified of the bizarre phenomenon, watched as he spoke, “This disruption is unnecessary.”

That was all he said. Without addressing anyone or waiting for a response, he walked toward the barrier.

Clomp, clomp—

With each step, his footsteps echoed loudly. The professors watched his back, observing the absence of fear or hesitation. As he gradually distanced himself, his dignified presence radiated inherent nobility. He embodied elegance and nobility, not through words but through his very being.

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