Chapter 146: Winter (2)_A Villain's Will to Survive

<h4>Chapter 146: Winter (2)</h4>

 Epherene arrived at The Pig’s Blossom with Rohakan. He had insisted they dine at the finest restaurant in town.

 "Hmm, this is quite delicious," Rohakan remarked, clearly pleased with the roasted Roahawk.

 "See? I told you it was good," Epherene responded.

 Their names sound almost identical. Roahawk, Rohakan... Roahkan, Rohakan... Epherene thought with a quietugh to herself.

 "Hehe... But really, why are you here? And what’s all this talk about a demon?" Epherene asked, taking a bite of the Roahawk’s hind leg.

 As a reference, she had given Rohakan the front leg, even though the hind leg was tastier. Without much thinking, she lied, iming the front was the best.

 “It’s called the Voice. Even I cannot grasp its full nature. Of all the demons I’ve encountered, it is unquestionably the most powerful,” Rohakan said.

 "... Wait, really? Does that mean the continent is doomed?" Epherene asked, her eyes widening in shock at the thought that even Rohakan couldn’t fully understand it. The piece of meat she had been holding slipped from her hand and dropped onto the te.

 Rohakan let out a heartyugh and said, "No, demons wouldn’t want the continent destroyed—without humans, they’d have nothing left to entertain them. Their true purpose lies elsewhere."

 "Then what does it want?"

 "I’m not sure yet, but one thing is certain—it presents an opportunity for all of you to grow."

 “... Grow?” Epherene echoed.

 "Yes, it will be dangerous, but you’ll understand when the timees. ... Oh, and should you ever find yourself in the World of the Voice..." Rohakan paused, pulling out a curious coin from his pocket.

 "What’s that?" Epherene asked, her eyes fixed on the unusual coin.

 "This is the currency of the Voice," Rohakan said. "I’ve been giving one out to each of my trusted friends."

 Epherene epted the coin but remained silent, her eyes full of curiosity as she watched him, waiting for an exnation.

 @@novelbin@@

 But Rohakan swiftly changed the topic and said, "So, has anything newe up recently?"

 "Anything new? Oh, I ran into De not too long ago."

 “... De?” Rohakan said, his expression grew serious as he ced the Roahawk bone into the bucket and asked, "... And what did Deculein say to you?"

 “Yes, but only in a dream,” Epherene replied, quietly setting the Wood Steel on the table. Words weren’t necessary.

 Rohakan nodded thoughtfully and said, "It seems you’ve reconciled with him."

 "It wasn’t really something... that needed reconciling," Epherene muttered, letting the conversation trail off.

 Rohakan regarded her for a moment, a faint smile ying on his lips, and said, "He must have taken quite a liking to you."

 "What?! Wh-what are you talking about?!"

 Rohakan watched her reaction with a knowing smile and said, "Hahaha, I know him well enough. If he didn’t like you, he’d never trust you with his belongings."

 "... Really?"

 "Of course. He can’t tolerate anyone else handling his belongings. Or do you really believe his nature has changed overnight?"

 “Well, I’m not sure... Was he always like that before?” Epherene asked.

 "Yes. There was a time I barely touched his staff, and he flew into a rage—even toward me, his mentor. He doesn’t even use that staff anymore. He simply threw it away."

 Epherene lowered her head in silence, her attention fixed on the Wood Steel on the table. Thoughts drifted in her mind like mist—so many that they merged into a formless blur.

 With a softugh, Rohakan gestured toward the Roahawk and said, "That’s enough talk for now. Let’s focus on the meal. You can be sentimental afterward."

 "... Okay," Epherene mumbled, grabbing the hind leg of the Roahawk once more. "When life getsplicated, nothing beats a good bite of Roahawk..."

 "What kind of saying is that?" Rohakan asked.

 "... Just something I came up with," Epherene replied.

 ***

 The night was thick with clouds, the moon swirling ominously in the dark sky. Back at Yukline’s mansion, I stood in silence, holding the radiant treasure in my hands. The Dragon’s Soul—an elixir beyond price, a treasure no wealth could ever attain.

 “I don’t quite understand,” I muttered.

 The Empress’s unexpected gift made me reconsider her intentions. Whether she had faith in my loyalty or was testing me was still uncertain. Still, I infused the elixir with the attribute of Midas Touch.

 ───────

 [Dragon''s Soul]

 ◆ Details

 ...

 ◆ Special Effects

 : Upon consumption, increases mana by 333 and smoothly enhances the flow of mana throughout the body.

 : All five senses sharpen, gaining rity and heightened precision.

 [Midas Touch : Level 4]

 ───────

 “All five senses sharpen, gaining rity and heightened precision...” I mused.

 Beyond boosting my mana capacity, it seemed to sharpen my other abilities, likely improving my vision and hearing. Without a second thought, I uncorked the ss bottle and drank the elixir, knowing it had once been offered as a rare tribute from the Principality of Yuren.

 [You have consumed the supreme grade Dragon''s Soul.]

 ◆ Mana Point +333

 ◆ Physical Reinforcement

 That was the end of the system notification. No pain followed, just a soothing warmth that spread through my body.

 “... Hmm,” I muttered, reviewing my mana stats—now increased by an impressive 333 mana. A faint smile crossed my face.

 Knock, knock—

 Just then, there was a knock at the door, followed by the familiar voice of my butler, Ren.

 "Master, the item you requested..."

 “... the item you requested... the item you requested... the item you requested...”

 The words seemed to stretch and warp, as though they were drifting from far away. I turned toward the door.

 In an instant, I became aware that the world around me had changed.

 “Hmm,” I murmured, surveying my surroundings.

 The corridor was dark, lined with strange paintings, and cobwebs draped the corners like an old, forgotten mansion. But there was no need for rm—this was the World of the Voice.

 "... Nothing’s changed."

 Fortunately, the scene closely resembled what I had seen in the game. I walked slowly down the corridor. While there were only a few signs of life, the sensation of being watched was unmistakable.

 Thud— Thud—

 As I continued down the hall, I soon reached a fork. To my right, a small que hung above the doorway.

 Restaurant.

 I headed toward it without a second thought. The restaurant was exactly as the sign suggested.

 "Hey there, can I get some fried rice?"

 "Can I get a beer with that?"

 The room buzzed with chatter, more like a rowdy tavern than a proper restaurant. Among the noise, I spotted three familiar heads—small figures I knew all too well. As I approached their table, heat rushed through my veins, and a primal instinct stirred within me.

 "So, it means time moves here, while outside, only a split second has passed."

 “Really?! But how’s that even possible?”

 "Basically the way it works is... Oh?’ the girl said, her voice trailing off, and the two boys, noticing her hesitation, stopped eating as well.

 It was Ria, Leo, and Carlos—the trio I had encountered on Ghost Ind. Carlos, the half-human, half-demon boy with navy blue hair, seemed to sense my presence sooner than the others.

 “You filthy half-breed...”

 The sight of him sparked a surge of anger, the tension mounting until my temples began to pulse.

 Booooom—!

 Without realizing it, I unleashed a surge of Telekinesis, shaking the entire restaurant. The air rumbled, and the walls trembled under the sheer force of my power.

 “Guys, run aw—”

 As Ria screamed, her face turning ghostly pale, my time in the World of the Voice came to an immediate end.

 “... the item you requested...”

 I was back in Yukline''s mansion, the clock unchanged, not even a single second having passed.

 “... has arrived. May Ie in?” Ren asked, his voice growing clearer as the flow of time, once halted, slowly returned to its natural rhythm.

 Using Telekinesis, I opened the door and said, “Set it down and you may go.”

 "Yes, sir," Ren said, cing the items on the desk before quietly excusing himself.

 It was the Go board and stones I had requested. As I stared at the wooden grid, my thoughts wandered back to the recent event. The anger still simmered in my veins. Carlos—his face was now burned into my memory.

 "It’s no surprise that someone like him—a half-human, half-demon—wouldn''t be left out of a major event like the Voice," I said.

 After all, the Voice was both a threat and a chance—an opportunity for even a mage ascking in talent as Deculein to grow.

 “Go, huh...”

 Since I couldn’t enter the World of the Voice whenever I wanted, I had no choice but to focus on Go for the time being.

 "Let’s give it a try."

 The culture of the Eastern Archipgo—a game that stirred old memories of Earth.

 ck—!

 I ced a Go stone on the board, drawing on the memories of master yers that still lingered in my mind as I entered into Comprehension. This session was dedicated entirely to Empress Sophien.

 Meanwhile, in the World of the Voice, Ria and her group let out deep sighs of relief.

 “Phew... That was way too close."

 Deculein’s mana was so overpowering, it felt as though their bodies might be ripped apart. Everyone in the room had endured the crushing weight of his murderous intent—it tore through the space like a relentless storm, shaking everything in its path. The sheer intensity of his anger left the area in chaos, as if a great earthquake, an 8.0 on the Richter scale, had struck.

 “... So, what exactly did he say to me? A half-bread?” Carlos asked Ria.

 Ria gave a silent shake of her head. Half-breed was a derogatory term for those of biracial heritage, but there was no point in exining it to him any further.

 “I’m not entirely sure, but it’s nothing to worry about!” Ria said.

 “... Really?”

 “Wow, Ria! That was crazy! His mana was all over me—it was insane! Amazing, amazing! Professor Deculein is awesome!” Leo shouted, practically bouncing with excitement.

 Leo’s wild behavior was something Ria had long since gotten used to—it was just part of him. Whenever he faced a strong opponent, it seemed like his adrenaline actually started to rush, almost like a Saiyan.

 "Alright, you guys finished eating?" Ria asked.

 “Yeah! I’m stuffed!” Leo replied with enthusiasm.

 “... Yeah, I’ve had enough,” Carlos responded, his tone noticeably more reserved.

 Ria gave a bitter smile before standing up and said, "Alright, time to go hunting! If we want to stay alive, we need to get stronger!"

 "Absolutely! Absolutely!" Leo yelled, practically jumping out of his seat.

 Carlos paused for a moment, his face clouded with worry, before stepping forward to stand beside Ria.

 "Alright, let’s get moving~" Ria said, shing a bright smile as she took the lead.

 ***

 The world was a vast expanse of white, where sky and earth blended seamlessly, erasing any trace of the horizon. This was Rekordak—a prison at the frozen edge of the Northernmost Region of the continent, its barrenndscape swallowed by endless snow.

 "Ugh! He was getting on myst nerve, seriously."

 Yulie was nearing hell at the world’s end, but she didn’t face it alone.

 "Just look at this—I’m covered in bruises."

 Beside her, two sturdy horses plodded through the snow, apanied by Reylie, who had taken it upon herself to serve as Yulie’s second-inmand.

 "Getting smacked with steel—how on earth am I supposed to defend against that?" Reylieined.

 Reylie had volunteered herself as Yulie''s deputy knight, on temporary loan from the Red Ga Adventurers. Yulie, fully aware of Reylie''s stubborn kindness, hadn’t the heart to refuse.

 "Still, at least we got rid of him in the end. Maybe it’s for the best, right?"

 "Reylie, there’s a book poking out of your pack," Yulie remarked.

 "... Oh."

 In the middle ofining about Deculein, Reylie followed Yulie’s line of sight to her bag, where the edge of Yukline’s Theory was sticking out, the section authored By Deculein clearly visible.

 “Oh~ Oh, ah~ Um, this? Y-yeah, I just epted it, that’s all...! Want me to throw it away? I can get rid of it right now if you want!”

 Yulie remained silent.

 "Do you want me to throw it away? Should I do it right now? I’ll do it! I’ll get rid of it right here, no problem~?"

 "... Don’t bother throwing it away. It’d just be a waste," Yulie responded.

 Reylie smiled innocently and said, "Oh,e on. It wouldn’t be a waste at all. I could throw this away without a second thought. But since you told me not to, I’ll hold onto it. It’s not entirely useless, after all, you know?"

 "... Alright," Yulie replied with a nod signaling it is fine, not being the kind of knight to dwell on such minor matters.

 Neighhh—!

 At that moment, the horses suddenly reared back on their hind legs.

 "Ah, there they are! I can see them clearly now."

 Not far ahead, a group of people had gathered—guards, wardens, and officials from Rekordak, neatly lined up to extend their wee.

 "Knight Yulie! Deputy Knight Reylie!"

 They weed the pair with warmth, the relief of seeing new reinforcements evident on their faces.

 "Ah, a warm wee to you both!"

 The role of Rekordak prison was to stand as a bulwark against the southern advance by the hordes of demonic beasts. Each winter, these ravenous creatures pressed forward in unrelenting waves, like a tide that couldn’t be turned. The prison’s duty was to hold them at bay, or at the very least, slow their approach. As such, reinforcements were always essential.

 “We''re deeply honored! To have knights of such high standing here is beyond our expectations!” Derrick, the warden, said with a broad smile, his tone brimming with enthusiasm as he weed them.

 Yulie greeted them with the poised bearing of a knight and said, "It’s a pleasure to see you, Warden Derrick."

 "Yes, Knight Yulie! Allow me to show you around right away. You there! What are you waiting for? Take their horses!"

 "Yes, sir!" the guards responded, quickly moving to take the reins of their mounts.

 Dismounting, Yulie surveyed the area. Her focus shifted to the central yard of the prison—though it barely resembled one. Groups of prisoners lingered there, most destined to be sacrificed as the first line of defense against the demonic beasts.

 "... Reylie."

 "Yes?"

 "Are you sure you’ll be alright?" Yulie asked softly.

 Reylie had done nothing wrong to deserve the harshness of Rekordak, a ce that was nothing short of a living hell.

 "Of course, I’ll be alright. I’d be upset if you tried sending me away," Reylie said with a warm smile, her resolve clear.

 Yulie nodded, her voice filled with heartfelt gratitude, and simply responded, "... Thank you."

 ***

 Within the office of the Mage Tower’s Head Professor.

 "... Gulp," Epherene breathed, swallowing hard, as she locked her eyes on Deculein.

 Sweat gathered on her forehead, and her hands trembled uncontrobly. What was meant to be a simple process—having her thesis reviewed—had be an agonizing ordeal. Deculein’s eyes, scanning the pages, seemed to strip away her defenses, while the faint rustle of the paper cut through the stillness like a sharpened de.

 “Gulp... Gulp... Gulp.”

 By the third time she swallowed, Deculein lifted his head, irritation clearly etched across his features.

 “Gulp. Sorry, hic— Ah, why am I, hic—”

 Her swallowing soon morphed into hups. Startled, Epherene mped a hand over her mouth, but it didn’t help.

 "Oh, hic!"

 Deculein observed her in silence.

 "My diaphragm is— hic!"

 "... How unnecessarily dramatic you are," Deculein said.

 "Hic! Sorry, hic!"

 Shaking his head, Deculein set the thesis aside and said, "That will do. I’vepleted the review."

 "Oh, thank good... hic!"

 "... Your thesis has shown some improvement, however," Deculein said, casually flicking his wrist. Using Telekinesis, he guided the pen over the paper, making a correction to the fifth spell on page 38 of her thesis, The Spell Utilization of the Three Elements (Epherene’s Work. Do Not Steal—especially you, Drent).

 "Take a look. This revision makes it more efficient, reducing the excess mana consumption."

 Epherene’s eyes widened as she examined the revised spell and said, "Wow! Hic! the mana consumption..."

 Epherene tried casting the spell herself, calcting the mana consumption. The adjustments in the revised version reduced mana usage by nearly 20%pared to the theory in her original thesis.

 "Yes, that’s right! Hic! I’ll remember that! Thank you!"

 Deculein’s correction was priceless, and Epherene made sure tomit it to memory.

 "But Epherene, was it necessary tobine all three elements—earth, fire, and wind?" Deculein asked.

 "... Sorry?"

 "Two elements would have been sufficient," Deculein stated, indicating another section. This time, it wasn’t a criticism but a genuine question.

 Epherene blinked, nodded without much expression, and said, "Yes, it was.”

 "Don’t you think handling all three elements might be beyond your current capabilities?"

 "... No, I can handle it," Epherene said with conviction, her pride stung.

 Deculein furrowed his brow slightly and said, "It appears you stillck a clear understanding of your own abilities."

 "... But the thesis itself doesn’t have any problems, is there?"

 "There isn’t, but are you really going to submit as it is?" Deculein asked, his usual expression dripping with arrogance and condescension.

 It was as if his very expression sneered at her by saying, "How dare you even try? You’re destined to fail—might as well give up now."

 "Yes, I’ll submit it."

 "You will need to deliver a wless demonstration at the Thesis Colloquium, but I doubt you have what it takes. You tend to crumble under the pressure of an audience, don’t you?" Deculein remarked, his tone was sharp and calcted, each word designed to provoke her pride.

 Epherene had grown familiar with Deculein’s personality by now and had learned how to turn it to her advantage.

 "I will give a wless demonstration," Epherene said.

 She chose to turn Deculein''s provocations into fuel for her growth, determined to crush his doubts with a relentless drive that felt limitless.

 "Hmm... Very well."

 In truth, Deculein wasn’t doubting her in the slightest. His belief in her potential was so strong that he intentionally pushed her beyond her usual limits.

 "We''ll find out soon enough," Deculein dered.

 Professor Deculein had always appreciated mages who weed a challenge, and the faint smile curling at his lips was proof of that. Epherene only realized his true intentions a little toote.

 "Yes, Professor."

 He had always pushed me to improve. Of all people, he was the one who recognized my potential for growth, Epherene thought.

 “I’ll give it my all,” Epherene replied, a determined nod apanying her words.

 "Depending on the results of the Thesis Colloquium, there may be an opportunity for you to be appointed as an assistant professor. Have you given much thought to your career ahead?" Deculein inquired, his words breaking the silence.

 Epherene offered a soft smile as her eyes drifted toward the namete on his desk.

 Head Professor Deculein.

 "Yes, I have," Epherene replied. "I’d like to be your formal protégé. What do you say, Head Professor Deculein...?"

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Chapter 146: Winter (2)