A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 81: His Exam (1)

Tap, tap, tap—

Rain drummed against the restaurant window as Epherene, drowning in melancholy, absently pushed her food around on the plate.

“Why does life take such turns?” Epherene murmured. “It often strays too far, beyond the point of no return. When despair comes uninvited, you wish for hope to follow, but reality is seldom so kind. Relief that balances this kind of despair... is rare.”

Epherene toyed with her chopsticks for a moment, then set them down, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“B-but why? The food is delicious,” said Lethe and Endel, Sylvia’s maids, their voices tinged with confusion. To them, the steak was perfectly fine.

“She just prefers another type of pork,” Sylvia said offhandedly, continuing to eat without a care. To her, it didn’t matter if it was rice balls, fried rice, pork, or beef.

“Why did it have to be today, of all days...” Epherene muttered, her voice heavy with despair.

The Flower of the Pig restaurant was closed today, leaving her puzzled. She resolved to ask Julia about it later.

“Foolish Epherene,” Sylvia sneered, rising from her seat with a smirk.

Epherene was too drained to respond. One of the three maids followed Sylvia out, while the other two remained, silently observing Epherene.

“This is the first time,” one of them remarked to Epherene, whose spirit appeared utterly drained.

“... Pardon?”

“Since the mistress’s passing, Lady Sylvia has never once brought a friend home.”

“Ah...” Epherene muttered, a bitter smile crossing her lips.

Sylvia's reputation, along with her family’s history, was widely known. Not just those at the magic tower, but even ordinary university students were aware that Sylvia’s mother had passed away. This was the weight of her fame.

“That is why we were so pleased when you visited, Miss Epherene. You entered the mansion so freely.”

“Ahaha... well, I must admit, I did feel a bit hesitant...”

To be honest, I was merely lingering outside when I was brought in. The attendants were so kind that, before I knew it, I had taken a shower without realizing.

“No, truly, it was the first time. Everyone finds Lady Sylvia intimidating, and she has never pressured anyone like that before. She’s never twisted anyone’s nose like that.”

“... I-is that so?”

“Yes, so... might you continue your friendship with Lady Sylvia?” the maid asked.

Epherene hesitated, knowing they wouldn’t realize that the relationship between the Iliades and the Lunas was far from amicable.

“Would it be too much to ask...?”

“... Sorry? No, no, of course, we should get along well,” Epherene responded, her voice tinged with unease as she forced a smile, picking up her fork and knife before returning to the steak she had set aside earlier.

***

Sylvia returned home before nightfall. With Deculein’s exam only a week away, she had a great deal to prepare, including revising her application.

“Sweetie.”

In the dimly lit living room, however, an unexpected figure was waiting for her—Glitheon.

“Oh, Master. When did you—”

“Lethe, leave us,” Glitheon ordered, his voice icy as the tension in the room deepened.

"... Yes, sir," Lethe replied, her voice tinged with worry. After a brief hesitation, the maid bowed slightly and left Sylvia behind as she quietly exited the room.

Tilting her head, Sylvia stepped closer to Glitheon and asked, "What's going on?"

Glitheon tapped the application on the desk without a word.

"Why did you look at that without permission?" Sylvia said, her eyes widening as she confronted her father.

She reached for the application, but Glitheon, with a stern expression, intercepted her and asked, "Are you seriously considering applying under Deculein, sweetie?"

"... Yes, but just for six months."

Glitheon clenched his teeth as he stared at her, struck by how much she resembled her mother.

"... Sylvia, I wanted you to grow up surrounded by kindness and beauty, not burdened by the harsh realities I faced."

Glitheon’s eyes settled on a framed photo of his late wife, Cielia, who had been gone for years. Her smile was still as radiant and joyful as he remembered.

“The conflicts between mage families, the ruthless nature of mages—I was certain that the world was still too harsh for you,” Glitheon said, his expression growing increasingly severe.

This was no pretense. Even Glitheon, who had planned to mask his true feelings, couldn’t hold back the wave of emotions rising within him.

“What do you mean?”

“... Sylvia, do you know the history that binds the Iliades and the Yuklines? Do you truly grasp the depth of the hatred between us?”

Sylvia remained silent. The sight of Glitheon without his usual mask was both unsettling and terrifying. As she slowly stepped back, he watched her retreat with a cold, detached gaze.

“Cielia,” Glitheon said.

The name was that of the person Sylvia had loved most in this world—her mother. A faint tremor ran through Sylvia’s shoulders.

“She was a beautiful woman, an exceptional wife, and a devoted mother,” Glitheon said as he suddenly rose and stepped toward Sylvia. He gripped her shoulders firmly, preventing her from retreating, and looked directly into her eyes. “Listen carefully, Sylvia.”

He carefully enunciated each word with unwavering intensity.

“The Yuklines killed Ciel—the woman you loved and the one I once called my own.”

Sylvia’s eyes widened, reflecting the fury in Glitheon’s gaze. The world around her blurred as her ears rang and fear took hold. Glitheon was no longer himself; he was a raging fire.

“Deculein is the one who killed Cielia.”

Sylvia snapped back to reality, no longer a child immobilized by fear.

“The Iliades and the Yuklines are tied by that kind of bond. You must understand—”

Glitheon continued explaining, but Sylvia’s heart had already settled on one unshakeable belief.

“That’s a lie.”

Glitheon’s face tightened with fury.

Sylvia pushed away the hand holding her and said, “I know the true reason my mother left.”

“What?”

“Mother hated you.”

“... Sylvia.”

“And still, you lied back then.”

Glitheon let out a bitter laugh. Deculein’s face suddenly flashed in his mind—arrogant, as if he alone were noble, looking down on everyone. And before Deculein, there were the Yuklines who came before him, those treacherous, cunning snakes. The entire Yukline family stoked Glitheon’s fury.

“... Then why don’t you ask him yourself?” Glitheon said, his voice was cold and cutting. “He wouldn’t dare accuse me of lying. So...”

Glitheon stared at Sylvia, noticing the doubt in her eyes—the same accusatory look Cielia had once shown him.

“Go ahead, ask him yourself! Then you’ll see just how foolish you’ve been!” Glitheon shouted, ripping her application to pieces.

Sylvia had never seen him look like that before. Stunned, she bit her lip to stay silent.

"You’ll know it deep inside. Only then will you understand."

With those final words, Glitheon stormed out of the mansion, slamming the door behind him with such force that it rattled on its hinges. The servants outside bowed deeply as he passed, but he ignored them, heading straight to his car.

— ... Are you sure about this?

A faint voice whispered from the crystal orb in his pocket.

Glitheon breathed heavily and replied, “I’ve allowed myself to become complacent. Even in peace, one must be vigilant in preparing their heirs.”

— Brother, isn’t this too harsh? She’s still a child, and this may be more than she can bear.

Glitheon reflected on his past. At seven, he barely escaped a tiger’s jaws. At thirteen, he had to kill his closest friend. By twenty, war had claimed his mother.

“If she cannot rise above this challenge, she does not deserve the name Iliade.”

Yet Glitheon never lamented his fate. The trials and hardships only fed the flames of Iliade’s ambition, burning through his life like wood in a fierce fire.

"There’s no need for concern. Sylvia won’t let me down. Even if she falters, she’ll rise again, shining brighter than before," Glitheon murmured, his eyes cold and unwavering.

***

On early Friday morning, Epherene stretched and yawned as she left the dormitory. Most of her exams were already behind her—core subjects like Destructive Category Magic Applications and Supportive Category Magic Conversion, as well as general courses like Imperial History and Criminal Investigation. She was confident she had done well in all of them.

Now, only the final exam in Deculein's Understanding Pure Elements remained.

"This is the most, most important one," Epherene said.

The final exam for the five-credit course carried considerable weight. Failing it would render even three A+ grades in core subjects meaningless. To secure a professor's recommendation and maintain a strong position in the rankings, she needed to place at least second.

As she walked, focusing on the challenge ahead, a flash of yellow in the distance caught her attention. But this wasn’t just any yellow—it was a radiant mix of gold and sunlight, cascading like a waterfall. Sylvia’s hair, the envy of all who saw it, was a symbol of Iliade’s beauty.

“Sylvia!” Epherene called out, her steps quickening as she neared.

Sylvia flinched before turning to face her, a familiar disdain in her eyes.

"Today... Wait, what happened to your face?" Epherene asked, her voice laced with concern as she noticed Sylvia’s appearance.

Sylvia looked drained, with shadows under her eyes and hollowed cheeks.

"Did something go wrong on your exams? No, that can't be right. Everyone's saying you aced them."

Without a word, Sylvia walked past her. Confused, Epherene quickly followed.

"You’re going to the 40th floor, right?" Epherene asked as they entered the elevator, pressing the button for the 40th floor.

Yet again, Sylvia said nothing.

"... Why are you suddenly ignoring me? That’s not like you, ‘Arrogant Epherene’—aren’t you going to say it?” Epherene muttered, pouting in disappointment.

The Mage Tower featured Special Floors, areas seldom accessible to beginners. These levels were typically designated for every tenth floor—10th, 20th, 30th, and so on. The 40th floor, in particular, housed Lokail’s Forest, an artificial magical landscape.

Ding—!

The elevator doors opened to reveal a lush forest. Epherene and Sylvia stopped in their tracks, momentarily stunned by the sight. It was a green oasis, with vibrant foliage and dappled sunlight streaming through the canopy.

"Wow... So this is what a Special Floor looks like," Epherene whispered to herself as she stepped into the forest.

They hadn’t gone far when they encountered a group of Debutants—Lucia, Beck, and Jupern, accompanied by the usual nobles and members of the Common Magic Research Club, including Julia.

"Ephie!" Julia called out excitedly as she spotted her.

"Julie!" Epherene exclaimed, instinctively running to her and pulling Julia into a tight hug. She ignored the disdainful looks from the nobles nearby. "So you figured it out too!"

"Yes! It took me nearly two weeks to figure it out," Julia replied with a smile.

While talking with Julia and the others, Epherene continued to glance at Sylvia, who remained detached from the lively conversation around her. Then, a voice suddenly cut through the chatter.

“Welcome.”

Everyone froze and stood at attention while Deculein observed them from a hill in the forest.

"Congratulations. You are the 117 Debutants who have successfully arrived at the exam site," Deculein announced to the group.

Sylvia's eyes glazed over as she gazed at Deculein, utterly captivated. Epherene smiled bitterly, noticing her fascination.

The subject of today's exam is the integration of theory and intuition," Deculein continued

The difficulty of the task was unmistakable. Epherene and the other mages grew tense, concentrating fully on the challenge before them.

"As I have often stated, without theory, intuition falters. And without intuition, theory is nothing more than an empty shell," Deculein asserted.

He effortlessly combined the earth and wood around him, forming an elegant chair with his usual refined Ductility magic.

"In Lokail’s Forest, various magical phenomena and disasters will continually disrupt your sense of theory and intuition. Your task is to complete your assignments without faltering," Deculein instructed, his tone firm as he took a seat.

"Allen?" Deculein called, and Allen promptly appeared.

Allen smiled as always, but his energy seemed noticeably diminished.

"Alright, everyone~ Please step forward to collect your exam papers," Allen said.

1. Manifest and secure the following three spells in the specified order below.

2. Identify and record the eight properties of Pure Elements.

3. Describe the magical phenomena encountered in the Lokail’s Forest.

4. Analyze and cast the forthcoming spell of magical disaster.

5. Demonstrate the reactivity of Pure Elements within the forest.

The exam presented five tasks. Epherene sighed as she looked over the list, noticing the other mages mirrored her reaction. Even so, she reminded herself of the importance of staying focused. If it was difficult for her, it was difficult for everyone. This was the mindset she needed to hold on to.

"Certain spells may require specific materials for manifestation, which you can locate within Lokail’s Forest. However, exercise caution. The Special Floor is designated as such for a reason—it is extremely dangerous!" Allen cautioned.

"What is the time limit for this exam?" Epherene inquired.

Allen sneezed loudly, then replied, “Oh, excuse me. There is no time limit. Should you face any danger, do not hesitate to seek assistance from Professor Deculein~”

Allen quickly made his way up the hill, unrolled a mat beside Deculein, and sat down calmly.

"Professor, may I offer you some tea?"

Allen’s soft voice carried through the air, reaching Deculein clearly as he spoke.

***

Seated by the stream, Sylvia cast occasional glances at Deculein, who was still deeply immersed in his book.

“Deculein is the one who killed Cielia.”

Glitheon’s words played over and over in her mind. Whenever Sylvia looked at Deculein, her father’s enraged face seemed to blend with his. She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away.

"It must be a lie. It has to be," Sylvia whispered to herself, repeating the words over and over. "The only truth is probably the conflict between Iliade and Yukline. Everything else has to be a lie. Father always exaggerates and twists the truth."

“... The exam.”

Sylvia refocused on the exam, crouching over the test paper with intense concentration.

Clunk—!

Suddenly, a piercing cold pain struck her head.

"Ouch."

Sylvia clutched her throbbing head and looked up, only to see hailstones pelting down from the sky. Without hesitation, she quickly created a shelter.

1. Manifest and secure the following three spells in the specified order below.

She proceeded to the main task, carefully manifesting and preserving the three spells in sequence. It wasn’t difficult. Yet, the words continued to echo in her mind, overwhelming her thoughts...

“... Then why don’t you ask him yourself? He wouldn’t dare accuse me of lying. So...”

"My head hurts," Sylvia groaned, gripping her head as the tormenting words refused to fade.

Deculein remained visible in the distance—her muse, the one she admired, perhaps even loved. Yet, her father had accused him of murdering her mother.

After enduring the headache for what felt like ages, Sylvia finally nodded to herself. She would finish the exam, complete it perfectly, and then ask. Once Deculein told her she had scored full marks again, she would confront him. She knew Deculein would surely deny it, insisting that Glitheon was mistaken.

"You can do this," Sylvia whispered to herself, gathering her determination as she began working on the first problem.

The tasks were easy for someone of her skill, yet within minutes, she sensed something was wrong.

"... Ah."

1. Manifest and secure the following three spells in the specified order below.

She was meant to cast the three water-based spells in sequence, but instead, Sylvia unintentionally fused them. Ironically, her mistake stemmed from the sheer brilliance of her talent and overwhelming magic. The merging of the three mid-level spells was sudden, and the resulting backlash was unavoidable.

"Oh no."

Roaaaar—!

The moment she whispered those words, the magic erupted. A surge of Water and wind, bound by her spell, rushed forward. Sylvia was caught in the turmoil before she had a chance to react.