A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 316

Chapter 316: Breakdown and Repair (4)

Within the Sanctuary of the Altar, located in the Land of Destruction, a multitude of people gathered. Though no structures stood above ground, a diverse collection of humanity had converged deep within its subterranean depths where I observed their varied faces.

"The followers are numerous," I said.

The Sanctuary bustled like a village. Adults, elders, youths, children, women, and men—regardless of age or gender—were leading their own and their families’ lives beneath the already extinct land.

"Yes, what do you think?" Quay asked. "Do they seem unfortunate?"

I shook my head. The children here played energetically, their parents watched with contentment, and the elders passed on their wisdom, while smiles graced all their faces—a sight far removed from misfortune or brainwashing.

"For it is entirely otherwise, and thus, I do not understand you, who seek to kill them all."

"I am not killing them. I will preserve the souls of the followers. In my next world, they will be with me."

Quay lightly waved his hand, and the space was inverted, becoming once more the surface of the Land of Destruction.

"Then are we a temporary alliance?" Quay added, smiling up at me from the forsaken land overflowing with demonic energy.

"... It is merely cooperation based on necessity."

"Yes, at this point, I, too, am growing curious. If you really are the being God arranged for me," Quay replied, nodding and extending his hand.

Without a word, I took Quay's hand.

"When will you start repairing the lighthouse?" Quay asked.

"Right now," I replied, looking back at the lighthouse.

***

"Will it be alright?" asked one of Quay's confidants, speaking from the Land of Destruction as the morning sun broke.

"What do you mean?" Quay replied with a smile.

"I am speaking of that man," Quay's confidant said, pointing to the lighthouse—more precisely, glaring at Deculein by the lighthouse. "I find him very suspicious."

Deculein was inscribing a magic circle with Wood Steel while renovating the lighthouse, and his Telekinesis had already dismantled part of the lighthouse in an instant. Its remnants floated in the air for a moment, and as a result, the lighthouse looked gaunt, as if it had been gnawed by a rodent or was missing its teeth.

"That man seems to be intentionally trying to collapse the lighthouse."

"There is no need for doubt," Quay replied, shaking his head. "To my eyes, it is visible. The lighthouse is being correctly reconstructed."

“Yes.”

Quay’s confidant held no doubt, for to them, Quay’s words were both law and faith itself.

"... Now, go and deliver the revelation," Quay said, a smile on his lips.

"Yes," Quay's confidant replied, then thereupon made his leave.

Quay silently watched his confidant’s back as he walked away, before turning his attention back to Deculein.

Whooooooosh...

The mana emanating from Deculein—and his Telekinesis that had been dismantling the lighthouse floor by floor—finally completely deconstructed the entire lighthouse.

Screech— Screeeeech—

It was a spectacle in its own right—the bricks of the lighthouse moving erratically by unseen magic, then reassembling from the beginning.

“Quay.”

At that moment, someone called Quay, and he turned to see it was Creáto.

"What is the reason the Professor is in this place...?"

Creáto, just about to question, saw the stony expanse in the distance, and his eyes rounded in surprise. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"We have formed a temporary alliance," Quay replied.

"What did you say?" Creáto said, his eyes hardening with disbelief as he stared at Quay.

"Deculein agreed to help only with the completion of the lighthouse."

“Does that mean...”

"Yes, Deculein betrayed Sophien."

Then, addressing Creáto, who was at a loss for words, reassuring him not to worry too much and to stay by his side, Quay continued, “Deculein will betray Sophien, all for Sophien.”

***

... By its very definition, the Courier was a being that delivered. It could deliver something to someone, or even someone to somewhere, which made it an annoying presence in-game—constantly banishing players to entirely different fields whenever they tried to do anything.

"This is... the Sanctuary, isn't it?" Ria said.

The Sanctuary was evident at a glance, for it was the Altar’s stronghold, stirring beneath a land of death where not a blade of grass nor a single flower could grow.

"The Sanctuary, you say?" Yulie replied, covering her mouth with her sleeve, for the air was thick.

"Yes, this is the Altar's stronghold."

Yulie's eyes widened as she immediately gripped the sword at her waist, but Ria, Leo, and Carlos hurriedly held her back.

"It's alright. It's not a place where people kill each other as soon as they see one another. Rather, the outside is dangerous, while the inside is safe," Ria continued.

"... Is that really possible?"

"Yes. Even if they are cultists, they are followers. Just make sure to cover your face."

“Yes.”

The four individuals pulled their robe hoods up.

"Anyway, it seems the Altar is just kidnapping people with Couriers. Should we walk for now?" Ria asked.

Yulie nodded with a reluctant expression.

"Leo, Carlos. You as well."

“Alright.”

“Okay.”

The four individuals moved their legs, and, as Ria had said, no immediately threatening situation occurred, while the landscape of the Altar's stronghold remained peaceful—a normal place where people lived.

"Are they really the Altar... who caused that chaos on the continent?"

"Yes. If it were a religion that practiced tyranny, it would be easier to deal with. That's why it's more difficult and challenging."

This was precisely why the final boss indeed lived up to its name. At times, the followers of this place appeared even more harmless and innocuous than the humans of the continent—a prime example being the New Church's suppression.

Probably, even now, the New Church is killing the Altar's followers indiscriminately, inflicting upon them the most painful torture rather than merely cutting off their breath, Ria thought.

"Right, right. Can't we all just live well together?" Leo said.

"If everyone were as dumb as you, we could all live well together," Carlos replied.

“What did you just say?!”

Ria, for a moment, paid no mind to Leo and Carlos, who were arguing amongst themselves.

"Oh..." Yulie murmured, nodding with a slightly complex expression, and she couldn't help but find herself glancing at Ria.

"... Is it because I resemble her? Yuara, that you speak of?" Ria said, chuckling as she sensed Yulie's stare.

“Yes... Argh.”

At that moment, a pang of pain struck Yulie's temple—a stinging and piercing sensation, like being stabbed with an awl.

"... What is wrong?" Ria asked, her brow furrowing in worry.

"... It is nothing. However, you really do resemble Chairman Deculein's former fiancée," Yulie replied, a bitter smile on her lips as she shook her head.

"Do you know her well?"

"I have seen her face but a single time."

"Oh, yes... Anyhow, that memory is very vivid," Yulie replied, looking at Ria's face again. "You really do resemble her."

"... Ahem, is that so?" Yulie said, clearing her throat.

Of course, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about the old relationship between Deculein and me, Yulie thought.

"Oh?!" Yulie murmured, pointing somewhere.

"What is it?" Ria asked, following Yulie's finger, as they saw a giant presence in a robe. "Wow, he's really big."

Well, Ria thought, nodding. Zeit is a person who only thinks of his house. If his house is in danger of ruin, he wouldn't care about religion or anything else.

“Hsssssssssssss—”

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