A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 314

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."

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

Thud, thud, thud—

"Oh? Another person has arrived!"

“Hmm? Who?”

Creeeeeeeak—

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

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