A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 306

Chapter 306: Why Is My Time the Only One That’s Messed Up (1)

Epherene was eating in the Mage Tower's dining hall.

“... This is okay to eat,” Epherene muttered.

The Mage Tower dining hall was decent enough in its own way, though naturally not comparable to Roahawk. The food was delicious, and during lunchtime, the sheer number of mages naturally provided good cover for cloaking or disguise.

"I wanna eat Roahawk so bad."

Since my account has been frozen anyway, Roahawk is just a pipe dream. But should I ask Sylvia for some money? Epherene thought.

Tap—

As Epherene was lost in thought, a meal tray was placed on the seat opposite her by Sylvia.

"Oh, perfect timing. Hey, Sephine, do you—”

"Why did you come out here on your own without telling me," Sylvia asked, her face creased with anger.

"Hmm? Why, it's morning. I came out to eat breakfast—"

"Deculein is pursuing you," Sylvia said.

However, what Sylvia spoke of was already known, and therefore, Epherene only gave a slight tilt of her head.

“The Purger, too, is pursuing you.”

“... The Purger?” Epherene muttered.

“Yes, the punishment sentenced for you is execution, and Deculein, too, participates in it.”

The spoon in Epherene’s hand dropped. Her mouth fell open, and her wide eyes stared at Sylvia.

"The Purger is already in motion. So," Sylvia continued, pulling out a thick envelope from within her robes. "You keep doing what you're doing."

“What...?”

"What we were studying. The Empress's Instructor Mage Selection Exam."

Epherene accepted the Empress's instructor mage selection exam from Sylvia, but something felt strange.

With the Purger pursuing me, how in the world am I supposed to go to the Imperial Palace? Epherene thought.

"The Purger is an independent agent of the Floating Island and their actions are not under an Imperial Palace decree, and this clause explicitly states that all mages capable of solving the problem are eligible to be selected as instructor mages."

Given that Deculein and the Imperial Palace prioritize principles, they would neither change the provisions if Epherene passes, nor disqualify her due to her wanted status.

“Therefore, if you pass the examination and enter the Imperial Palace, the Purger will be unable to pursue you and Deculein, too, will not have the authority to cast you out,” Sylvia concluded.

“... I mean, but why would Deculein...”

Epherene genuinely did not understand.

The very person who even said he commended my efforts to save Yulie... why all of a sudden? Epherene thought. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

“Why me?” Epherene muttered.

"Because you are dangerous," Sylvia replied, sighing as she cut her steak.

“Dangerous?”

“Yes, they say that there are two of you.”

“They say that there are two of you.”

As the words were not easy to understand by ear, Epherene blinked in a daze.

"It means that you exist as two in this very timeline," Sylvia continued, taking a bite of steak and shaking her head. "It's a paradox of time travel.”

"If you fail to sufficiently control your power, a multitude of temporal paradoxes will inevitably arise. This would inflict severe harm upon the continent, and Deculein is the mage most capable of making a dispassionate choice in such matters. Between a single protégé and the entire continent, he would, naturally, choose the latter."

At that moment...

Whoooosh...

An artificially generated gust brushed through Epherene and Sylvia’s hair, and in that moment, it felt as if the entire space had frozen, with all the mages in the dining hall focusing their attention on that spot.

"... It is the Purger," Sylvia said.

Thud—

A strange mana emanated from the three mages in worn robes walking through the dining hall, unlike anything Epherene or Sylvia had ever experienced—an aura distinctive of the Purger, who specializes in assassinating, imprisoning, and abducting mages.

Thud—

Epherene swallowed.

Thud—

The Purger's steps steadily drew nearer, and it was unclear whether he knew Epherene was there or was merely surveying the area.

The Purger merely walked past the tables one by one...

Thud—

With the sudden cessation of footsteps, small beads of cold sweat formed on Epherene's and Sylvia's temples. Not far away—no, within a very close radius of thirty feet—three Purger agents stood still, beginning to scan their surroundings, releasing their mana as if conducting an inspection of the mages.

Whoosh...

The moment that blue mana thread approached Epherene, Sylvia prepared for battle, and...

“That is enough.”

There was a voice, restraining the Purger agents.

"Under whose authority are you conducting arbitrary inspections of the Mage Tower's mages?"

It was Deculein who appeared at that opportune moment, and Epherene clutched her pounding heart, her body involuntarily leaning toward the table under extreme tension.

"A trace exists here," the Purger replied, his voice carrying a chilling mana like that of a ghost.

"I recall that I never granted permission for such a haphazard approach. Treating all mages of the Mage Tower as criminals is unacceptable," Deculein said.

The Purger remained silent.

"Come out. You three must refine your investigative methods. Are you behaving like ruffians? Such crude methods would have driven away even those present here," Deculein continued, glaring at the three Purgers in turn.

The Purger agents held their stance for a moment, but soon, they exited the dining hall as per Deculein's command.

"... You may resume your meal," Deculein concluded.

Deculein’s manner of speech seemed considerate of the restaurant, which was stunned by the sudden commotion. Meanwhile, watching him exit, Epherene and Sylvia swept their hands over their pounding hearts.

"... Then, Sephine, I suppose I should just stay hidden for a bit, right?" Epherene said.

"The very air speaks of it," Sylvia replied, nodding.

"I have some work to be done as well. When that's finished, I'll return, but until then..."

Mentioning that there was work to be done, Epherene pulled out a wooden pocket watch, and the time was fast approaching.

"I will find out what plump Relin and those professors are up to at the Mage Tower—"

"You don't need to state the obvious, foolish Epherene," Sylvia interrupted, handing Epherene a crystal orb. "I'm already spying on them with Wind, even now. If anything happens, I'll share it with you.”

"... Okay," Epherene said, pushing herself upright with a bitter expression.

"But," Sylvia said, adding almost as an afterthought. "Deculein's punishment and the Purger's punishment will be different. You know what I mean, right."

“... What?”

"If you're going to be caught, try to be caught by Deculein."

Sylvia's words offered a slight measure of comfort to Epherene.

"Yes, I know," Epherene replied, a smile on her lips. "I won't be caught, but if I am, I'll do as you say."

***

... Freyden was being consumed by frost, and from the winter castle on the northern frontier of the Empire, Zeit looked out at the outer landscape with dark eyes.

The whitened land was too harsh for life to sustain itself, and in the high heavens, ultra-low-temperature biting winds raged, threatening to tear apart the very atmosphere. It was perpetual ice, an eternal winter, with nights longer than days, and a cold more biting than the nights themselves.

“... An Ice Age, it is.”

The Ice Age had come.

"Another Ice Age?" Zeit continued, gritting his teeth.

The Ice Age—far beyond mere cold, as the Altar had prophesied—was verily causing Freyden to become transparently frozen like a delicate ornament, slowly dying away.

"Even though matters have come to this, there is no support from the Central," Zeit muttered, letting out a dry laugh, shaking his head as he turned away. "Then again, I never expected it from them in the first place. But... you are claiming that you have a method?"

"Yes, sir," replied Belrhan, the subordinate, straightening his back in the chilly room as Zeit questioned him.

"What would that be?"

“The individual known as the mage Berbaldi, sir.”

“... Berbaldi.”

Zeit was familiar with the name Berbaldi, an anonymous mage who had showcased a new paradigm for artifacts at Yuren's magical expo.

At that moment, Epherene, having returned to the Sanctuary of the Ages by Allen's Stride, was conducting her conclusive assessment of Yulie.

I bought that to eat after I finished my work, Epherene muttered.

"Oh..." Idnik muttered, her eyebrows rising. "You've become a prominent figure, with even the Purger pursuing you."

“Hup!”

Fwooooosh—!

Swoooooosh—

It is now ready, Epherene thought.

Booom—!

Booom—!

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify