A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 34: Break (2)

After Sylvia fell asleep, I left the inn. A lightning bolt outside the window grabbed my attention, stirred by my instincts as a Wealthy Magnate. I had deliberately broken the rules, which caused some supernatural events, but none of them were particularly threatening. They seemed trivial compared to the terrors of a haunted house.

"Where exactly did that lightning strike...?" I wondered.

The mountain path from the Fourth Gate to the Elder Gate led to a high-level area near the summit of Berhert, accessible to players only in the mid-to-late stages of the game.

Without the Berhert meeting, only elders or devoted disciples could enter, making it a prime spot for rare items. I gazed down at the mountain range from Berhert's dark peak. Various ghosts and spirits clung to me, but their threats became merely intriguing since I showed no fear.

"Shieeshinasinlai Rodennai."

"Bururakan Turnima."

They seemed to be wondering why I wasn't scared, finding me strange. Accompanied by these spirits, I explored the mountain range with my Wealthy Magnate eyes activated.

During my wanderings, I encountered a tiger the size of a house, snowflakes that moved on their own—snow spirits—and a lynx with twenty eyes. As much as I wanted to kill them for their materials, I wasn't yet skilled enough to initiate a fight.

As I continued through the Mountain of Darkness, a glint of gold caught my eye. Amidst the snow-covered coniferous forest, I spotted a scorched patch of earth.

"Burtan Kailishnima," said the ghosts. "Latarata Krasinuma."

Ignoring the spirits, I approached the charred area. In the center lay a partially burned piece of wood that emitted a golden aura.

────────

[Purified Mana Tree Fragment]

◆ Information:

A fragment of mana tree struck by lightning.

This wood, naturally rich in mana, has been purified by the lightning strike, making it an excellent material.

◆ Category:

Miscellaneous ? Special Wood

────────

Mana Tree. A tree that easily absorbed mana for nourishment. While most trees can't draw mana from water or air, occasionally a mutant tree appears that can, converting mana into a mana energy.

As a result, Mana Tree can either become a man-eating monster or top-tier wand material for mages. This particular piece grew at the summit of Berhert and was struck by lightning, which ensured its quality was flawless. The lightning strike naturally purified and aged it perfectly, making it an exceptional find.

"... Excellent."

This wasn't just good; it made me smile. Whether I used it for a staff or a wand, it would greatly enhance my abilities as a mage. I carefully placed the Mana Tree fragment in my bag. Encouraged by this find, I continued my search, even trying to communicate with the spirits.

"Show me more treasure if you know where it is."

"Krufushirishiki!"

"Kruprrrrr!"

They spat mana at me and laughed in mockery.

"... Useless creatures."

I ignored them and kept walking. I continued my search, but finding more seemed greedy. Silently, I stood and watched the eastern horizon. The rising sun gradually illuminated the ridges, causing the ghosts and spirits to fade away. It was time to head back for the next meeting.

***

Sylvia woke with the morning sun. She ran a hand through her tangled hair and looked around, noticing that Deculein was already gone. Rubbing her eyes, she tidied herself up and returned to her room, where Swifty still slept by her bedside.

Knock, knock—

“Your breakfast has arrived.”

She waited until 10 a.m. to receive and eat her breakfast. An hour later, she headed to the Elder Gate with twenty assistants. Along the way, she felt a pang of sympathy for Allen, who was being ostracized for his lack of skill. The meeting began at noon to address the unfinished agenda from the previous day. As expected, they continued discussing the Scarletborn.

Bethan first spoke, "As Yukline mentioned, there's no proof that the Scarletborn are demons. However, isn't it clear that their blood carries demonic energy? Do any human bloodlines inherently possess such demonic traits?"

The presence of demonic energy in their blood and the ambiguous relationship between demons and the Scarletborn aroused suspicion among the mages.

"The demonic energy within them could erupt at any moment, transforming them into demons instantly!

"That's mere speculation."

"Speculation? How can you call it that?"

More than half of the magic families resented the Scarletborn and tried to sway Deculein to their side.

"You've already labeled the Scarletborn as evil. If they have outbursts, you blame their demonic blood and want to persecute their entire people. If they don't, you ignore them. You're focusing on one possibility among thousands that humans possess, using it as an excuse to condemn all the Scarletborn..."

But Deculein remained firm and said, "Claiming that a faint trace of demonic energy makes someone a demon is like saying a glass of water with a grain of salt in it is no longer water but salt."

No one at the round table, including Sylvia, could have predicted or understood Deculein's stance before their conversation last night. The war Deculein dismissed as political had involved Yukline's ancestors sixty years ago.

Yukline's forebears were among the most distinguished warriors, having killed countless Scarletborn and secured mining rights to mana stone quarries as a reward.

"They even follow different religions than us!"

"Are we here to debate religion, or is Berhert a religious council? Such discussions belong in a cathedral."

Bethan ground his teeth in frustration. However, there was nothing he could do against Yukline's steadfast resolve. Though the Berhert round table appeared equal on the surface, certain matters gave one family more authority than others.

Among the twenty families gathered, none could rival Yukline's tradition and history of magical prowess. In the field of demon extermination, Yukline was truly unparalleled. Records from 400 years ago even mentioned a demon hunter believed to be an ancestor of the Yukline family. If a direct descendant of such a lineage asserted that the Scarletborn were far from being demons...

"Since we cannot reach a conclusion, the discussion about the Scarletborn will be postponed to future meetings. After a brief break, we will move on to the next item on the agenda."

Thud—!

Bethan slammed the table and glared at Deculein as he unleashed his magic. The entire room trembled, and stones began to fall from the Elder Gate's ceiling. The rocks, infused with Bethan's power, hurtled toward Deculein but halted just above his head. It was a refined display of Telekinesis.

Deculein had deflected Bethan's magic without even blinking. The assistants from each family were stunned. Though the clash between the heads of the magical families was brief, they could gauge its intensity.

Bethan's attack had been spontaneous, unrefined, yet immensely powerful. Deculein had managed to counter the overwhelming assault using only Telekinesis instead of a barrier. It raised the question of whether his combat prowess had truly reached such a level.

"... That was a mistake," Bethan said, stepping back, just as shocked as the other family heads.

Deculein gave a faint smile, nodded and said, "I'll let it slide this time."

The stones, held by Telekinesis, lost their mana and crumbled away. Shortly after, the mages returned to their respective waiting rooms. Bethan stormed out of his chair, and Sylvia followed Glitheon.

As soon as he sat down in the waiting room, Glitheon erupted into laughter, "... Hahaha!"

"Dad."

"This is fascinating. Truly fascinating. I suppose I underestimated him all this time..."

Glitheon's demeanor was now entirely different from the fatherly figure Sylvia had known. He chuckled and seemed lost in thought, likely trying to figure out Deculein's intentions. However, Sylvia doubted he would ever find the answer. It was a straightforward matter, too straightforward for her father to comprehend.

"... What is he after?" Glitheon pondered deeply. The reason for Deculein's change, why he had abandoned his ancestors' mindset, could be summed up in one thing...

"Magic wasn't created to kill people," Deculein had said the previous night.

***

After the Scarletborn agenda, the rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly. To ease tensions with the families I had clashed with, I made positive remarks on various topics. Some families seemed appeased by my words, but many others remained hostile after my defense of the Scarletborn.

Although I wanted to escape the Villain's Fate, supporting the Scarletborn had cast me in that very role. It made sense. In the game’s storyline, the Mage Order's Suppression of the Scarletborn during the first Berhert meeting was almost a certainty.

After the nine-hour meeting finally concluded, Bethan approached me as soon as we left the Elder Gate, his eyes burning with hatred and asked, "What exactly do you want out of this? Are you secretly raising a Scarletborn?"

I shook my head and replied, "You should try to manage your anger."

"Anger... maybe you're right. But you, who have turned away from your ancestors' will, wouldn't understand anger. Your ancestors saw the Scarletborn as demons. Our family fought with yours and was nearly annihilated."

Bethan’s unwavering gaze met mine, and I didn’t flinch. Despite his short stature, his solid frame radiated both mana energy and physical strength.

"Regardless, you shouldn’t label their entire people as demons. A mage must keep their judgment free from anger," I said.

Bethan ground his teeth, a twisted smile forming and said, "Don't think this will be our last meeting."

"Do not take this personally. I hold no animosity towards the Beorad family."

"From now on, the Beorad family will despise you," Bethan said, shoving past me.

"... Tsk."

I understood Bethan's anger. In the past, such an encounter could have escalated into a major conflict. Sixty years ago, the Beorad family had been the most zealous in the war but suffered a humiliating defeat, losing almost everyone, including their head.

Despite their fervor, they gained nothing because their efforts were deemed insufficient. Bethan and his father had rebuilt the family through sheer determination.

Essensil approached next and said, "I'm surprised by your change of stance on the Scarletborn, but I agree with you. Keeping a cooler attitude toward them benefits us all."

Despite her words, most of the mage families stayed silent and unfriendly toward me. My comments today hadn’t helped, but Deculein’s past actions probably played a bigger role. I had no regrets. Inwardly, I cursed the heads of the mage families, calling them wretched vermin blinded by their rage.

"It's not too bad."

If this could be called a sacrifice, it was a worthwhile one. The next Berhert assembly would likely occur in just one to two years, but I had bought us precious time. If a player were here, they would use this time to grow rapidly.

However, in a world without a player—or at least one where I assumed none existed—I could only hope that a more righteous named character would grow and rise quickly.

***

The next morning, before leaving Berhert, I made my way down to the First Gate.

"This village is fascinating every time I see it," Allen said.

Berhert, as anyone would guess from its Machu Picchu-inspired motif, was a mysterious village built at high altitudes. The scenery was both intricate and awe-inspiring, but I wasn't here for sightseeing. I had acquired the key material for crafting a staff, Mana Tree.

A renowned artisan resided in Berhert, so I planned to buy additional materials from the magic shop and commission the staff. As I walked through the village, I noticed a familiar figure at a nearby stall.

“Is it really this expensive?”

“Of course. This is a rare material,” said the shopkeeper.

“Then show me something cheaper.”

“Hmm? No, I can’t. You said you were camping, right?”

“Yes, but why does that matter?”

“If you’re camping in Berhert, you can’t buy the cheap stuff. It’s too dangerous. Why would I sell something that could get someone killed?”

“I’ll be fine.”

It was Lillia Primien, the Deputy Director of the Imperial Ministry of Public Safety, whom I had met on my way to Berhert.

Allen's eyes widened as he pointed at her and said, “Oh!”

“What is it?”

“She’s the reason I got here safely! She’s my lifesaver!”

"I see," I said, as I approached her. The closer I got, the clearer their conversation became.

“... Look, just show me something less expensive.”

“I told you, if you’re camping in Berhert, you need this quality. Nothing else will do.”

“I’m just asking if you have anything cheaper, not whether it’s good enough.”

“I mean, I do have something cheaper, but using it for camping here means you'll be at risk of ghost attacks.”

“I don’t care. If you have something cheaper, just give it to me—”

Whether they were haggling or arguing, I stepped in. Both Primien and the shopkeeper turned to look at me.

"How much is that sleeping bag?"

"Ah, it's 10,000 elne. People are especially vulnerable to enchantment magic when they're asleep because their mental defenses are down—"

"I'll take it," I said, reaching into my coat pocket and pulling out a check. I handed it over to the shopkeeper with a decisive nod.

“Sorry, we don’t accept checks. Only cash—”

“Take a look at the seal.”

He examined the check. When he saw the Yukline family crest and my signature, a broad smile spread across his face.

“Haha, if it’s from the head of Yukline, that’s a different story. Here, please take this.”

I bought the sleeping bag and handed it to Primien, who accepted it with a blank expression.

“Take this.”

“... Why are you giving this to me?” Primien asked suspiciously, but she took the sleeping bag anyway.

"Allen said you helped him arrive safely. Consider it a token of my gratitude."

She glanced at Allen, who awkwardly scratched his neck and grinned.

“Hmph,” she clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction but eventually kept the sleeping bag.

I continued to wander through the market. Berhert truly lived up to its reputation as a treasure trove of magical materials. I quickly gathered the ingredients for the staff—Fang of the Saber-toothed Tiger, Feather of the Frost Swan, Magic Stone Keindel, and more.

In total, I spent four million elne on eight items. My personal account was empty, so I used the family check, which Yeriel would cover later. Alternatively, I could use the money from selling the vase.

"Wow, wow," Allen said, shivering at the sight of my spending.

“Hmm?”

A restaurant caught my eye. Even though I wasn't hungry, its luxurious exterior and interior were inviting. Feeling drawn to it, I decided to go in.

"Ah, Count Yukline. Welcome, sir.”

The staff recognized me instantly. This restaurant seemed to cater to people like me.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar, sly voice, “Well, well, look who it is—the noble Count Yukline!”

I spotted his sleazy blond hair first. It was Ihelm, the head of Rewind, enjoying wine early in the morning. He was about to say something but then noticed someone behind me and his eyes widened.

"Hmm? Deputy Director Primien, I heard you enjoy camping, but in Berhert? Interesting."

Only then did I realize Primien had followed me.

“Yes. I’m on vacation,” Primien responded, acting as if we had been together from the start, still clutching the sleeping bag.

Had I inadvertently completed a companion recruitment quest? If so, a sleeping bag was a small price to pay.

I sat at the table the staff led me to, but Ihelm kept talking. His face was already flushed from the wine.

"Hey, Deculein. I'm curious. What prompted your sudden change of stance?"

I ordered my meal without responding. Allen was expected, but Primien stayed as well, so we ended up ordering for three.

"You once said you wanted to kill the Scarletborn. In fact, you called them vile and inferior, unworthy of living on this continent. Your paper condemning the Scarletborn is still at the university, isn’t it?" Ihelm sneered, recalling the past.

His eyes, half-glazed from alcohol, focused on me. "Did you perhaps take a Scarletborn as a slave? Did you find a genius among them to conduct your research?"

Allen suddenly stood up and shouted, “That’s not true! Professor Deculein would never do that! Don’t insult him!”

Ihelm ignored Allen, sneered and said, “If that’s not the case, I don’t understand why you’re defending those scum and risking your reputation with the other mage families. Why? Can’t a rotten cheese like me ask questions?”

I shook my head and replied, "I get it. Your brain is already like rotten cheese. You can’t think beyond that."

“... Fine,” Ihelm said, glaring at me with an eerie smile.

“I hear you have six months until your research presentation. Or is it three? Let’s see how long you can keep your dirty secrets hidden,” he continued, shrugging as he walked away, his sneer lingering.

As soon as he left, Primien murmured, "... If what he says is true, this could be a serious problem."

“That’s not true!” Allen shouted once more.

Primien glanced at Allen before continuing and said, “Slavery was abolished long ago. Even if it's a Scarletborn, it’s still a serious crime—if it’s true, of course.”

“If you keep talking nonsense, return the sleeping bag and pay for the entire meal.”

Primien let out a small laugh and fell silent. She didn’t speak for the rest of the meal.