A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 148: Unexpected Exam (2)

Meanwhile, in the Hall, Epherene was locked in a tense competition with the others, focused on a simple stone game. The room was steeped in silence, with every eye intently watching her hands. Drent, Rogerio, Kreto, Louina, and even the red-furred Munchkin barely breathed as they tracked her every move.

Gulp—

The sound of nervous swallowing filled the room, thickening the already stifling tension. Time seemed to drag on endlessly. But sitting there, consumed by dread, wouldn’t change anything. A bead of sweat slid down her temple as Epherene, her face tight with focus, drew her finger back.

“Hoo…”

The game was called Flick the Stone. The rules were simple. Players had to flick a stone across the research table without using magic or mana, relying purely on skill. The winner would be the one who sent their stone the farthest.

With a quick breath, Epherene flicked her finger, launching the stone across the table, muttering under her breath, “Please!”

But sending the stone straight didn’t guarantee a win. If it rolled off the edge of the table, it would count as a fall, putting the player in last place.

“Please, please…” Epherene muttered, clasping her hands as if in prayer, hoping for her stone to win. She had even named it Leaflet, and a tiny label stuck to its surface read just that.

“Oh! Oh! Oh!”

“No! Whoa, whoa! Stop right there, ya lil’ rock!” Rogerio shouted.

As if answering her prayers, Leaflet rolled past Rogerio’s stone, the former leader, and came to a stop right at the edge of the table.

“Woohoo!” Epherene cheered, throwing her arms up in victory. “I’m in first! First place! I did it! First place!”

Frustrated, Rogerio ruffled her own hair as Epherene jumped around, cheering. Handing over the research notes, she grumbled, “Ah, hell. Here, take these friggin’ notes and get outta my face.”

“Here you go. Congratulations on securing first place,” Louina said.

“I know it’s not much, but you can take mine too,” Drent added.

“Ahem. Here, you may have mine as well,” Kreto said, offering his notes.

“Thanks~” Epherene said with a chuckle as she took the copies of their research.

It was all part of the winner-takes-all wager they had made over their research materials.

“But it wouldn’t be right to take everything, so I’ll share my research with all of you~” Epherene said.

Epherene handed out her research notes, and no one turned them down. The difficulty of Deculein’s exam was evident in how readily they accepted her offer.

“Aight, I ain’t sure how much it’s gonna help, but thanks,” Rogerio replied.

“Thank you~” Louina replied with a warm smile as she draped her coat over her shoulders.

Tilting her head in confusion, Epherene asked, “Are you heading somewhere?”

“Yes, we are allowed to go outside. It’s nearly time for me to begin preparing for the project,” Louina said.

As Louina spoke, something clicked for Epherene, and she asked, “Oh, is this the project you need to present to the Planning and Coordination Office?”

“Yes, that’s the one. The professors have been quite occupied with it recently. I’ll return shortly once it’s finished,” Louina said with a warm smile.

***

The top floor of the Mage Tower, the Chairwoman’s office. Just before I could begin my duties as PCO Director, I was called in by the Chairwoman.

“Oh, that’s right! Today’s the start of the PCO Director’s project review, isn’t it?” Adrienne said.

“Yes, that’s correct,” I replied.

“I’m really looking forward to it! Ever since Professor Deculein took over as PCO Director, the Mage Tower’s profits have gone up a lot!”

“It hasn’t fully begun yet. I expect real progress will be made starting next year.”

“I see! I’ll keep an eye on it from a distance. … Oh, by the way, that last exam was really interesting! You came up with another brilliant one!” Adrienne beamed, her face lighting up with excitement. “I wanted to try it myself, but the mages wouldn’t lend me a stone! Maybe they thought I’d break it! Which, honestly, I almost did!”

“I see,” I replied.

Given my talent for Manipulation, it was clear the stone had been properly designed to resist spells from that category cast by the students. It was smart for them not to let her borrow one, as her destructive category magic would have been far too much for it.

“Oh, talking about the exams reminds me of—”

“It wasn’t something that could be officially classified as an exam.”

“Oh, was it not? Anyway… Hey, stop cutting me off like that!” Adrienne shouted, banging the table and glaring at me.

I gave a light nod. Fairies hate being looked down on, and I might have been a little careless with her. As long as I didn’t push Adrienne too far, things would be fine.

“I will continue listening from here on,” I said.

“… Good! So! Talking about the exams reminds me of your final test to become Chairman. Do you think you’re ready?!” Adrienne said, handing me a document stamped with the Chairwoman’s seal.

[Final Task: Defend the Northernmost Region of the Continent]

“Defending the Northernmost Region of the continent.”

“Yes! And it’s not just any part of the Northern Region, but the Northernmost Region of the continent! It’s going to be incredibly tough up there, and you’ll have to stay for two or three months!”

As Adrienne spoke, a quest notification popped up in front of me.

[Job Quest: Promotion to Chairman]

◆ Reward: Chairman Title

◆ Rare Attribute Catalog

The Rare Attribute Catalog. I remained calm. It was a fitting reward. Promoting to the role of Chairman in the Magical Realm was a second-tier achievement, so receiving a rare attribute made sense.

“What’s the matter~? Are you scared~? You might even run into a tiger~! A real tiger, you know, tigerrrr~” Adrienne teased.

A Tiger.

“Have you ever encountered one in person?” I asked.

“Me? No, never! But I did hear a rumor that Zeit fought one and won!”

The humans of this continent had transcended their limits, but the tigers of this land had ascended even further. It’s no exaggeration—these beings are born with an innate mastery of the heart’s essence. Living deep within the mountains, they possess mana purer than any human’s, with intelligence as sharp as their instincts, both finely honed to perfection over time.

Among them are the most exceptional—Daeho, the Great Tiger, and Sangun, the Ruler of the Mountain, whose strength commands entire peaks. These beings are revered as the hidden heroes of the mountains, and not even someone as powerful as Adrienne could claim victory over one with certainty.

“If it’s looking for a fight, I’ll take it on—even if it’s a Daeho!”

“… Daeho would never initiate a fight with humans. It exists like a sage, far above mortal concerns and observing the world in its wisdom.”

“Oh~? And how are you so sure about that?!” the Chairwoman asked, raising her eyebrows with a playful smile.

I shrugged and said, “… Either way, I’ll accept this task.”

With that settled, I made my decision on which attribute to choose. The Northernmost Region of the continent—a place where I might face dangers far surpassing the terror of tigers and disease—lay ahead. But completing this quest would reward me with another Rare Attribute Catalog, therefore the attribute I needed most right now was Duct Tape.

“Excellent! Everything’s settled! There’s no turning back now!” Adrienne said, clapping her hands.

“Yes, Chairwoman. I’ll take my leave and continue with my duties as PCO Director,” I said.

“Alright!”

I turned and walked into the elevator.

“Goodbye~!”

I gave a brief bow to Adrienne, who smiled brightly as she bid farewell, then took out the Rare Attribute Catalog and tore it decisively to make my selection.

[Rare Attribute Acquired: Duct Tape]

A system notification confirmed the acquisition. I could feel the new energy of the attribute—the tape—settling within me.

***

Winter at the Mage Tower of the Empire was gradually heating up, especially from the top down. While students focused on preparing for their finals, the faculty were occupied with drafting, reviewing, and getting ready to present their project reports to Deculein.

“… We don’t know what kinds of questions might be asked, so ensure everything is thorough,” Professor Relin instructed firmly from his office, addressing his assistants and associate professors.

One of his assistant professors spoke up, “Yes, Professor, but several teams are already waiting. When would be the best time for us to submit our application?”

Deculein, the PCO Director, was expected to evaluate nearly a hundred teams. Every current or upcoming project, whether focused on the creation of life or its extension, rested in his hands.

“I’ll speak with the Head Professor directly to arrange it. There’s no need for any of you to worry; I’ll ensure we secure the most suitable date,” Relin said, subtly hinting at his close ties with Deculein.

Relin’s subordinates nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased. In the hierarchy of the Mage Tower, the connections of the supervising professor were just as critical as the research itself. Being directly under Deculein could feel overwhelming, like standing on the edge of an abyss, but having an indirect connection through their professor felt like holding onto a golden lifeline.

Relin looked at each of them with concern and said, “… Do your best. I wish I could assist, but I must attend the Head Professor’s exam.”

Relin’s face reflected a deep sense of duty, and his assistants and associate professors couldn’t help but feel proud of their mentor’s steady, commanding presence.

“Yes, Professor. We wish you the very best.”

Deculein’s exam had recently become the most significant event at the Mage Tower. While preparing white papers for their magical projects was crucial, this exam far outweighed them in importance.

After all, prominent figures like the Ethereal Mage Rogerio, the infamous addict Astal from the Floating Island, Grand Prince Kreto, and the mages of the Imperial Palace were all deeply involved.

“Alright. I’m off.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Relin marched out with the resolve of a commander preparing for war.

***

A long line stretched outside the PCO Director’s office today, filled with teams of professors to submit their yearly reports and seek approval for new projects.

“Let’s run through it one more time. Ahem! Our project focuses on the Condensation and Liquefaction of Mana Stones and…”

“No, hand me the list of expected questions.”

“Everyone’s got this down, right? Today’s crucial. One mistake, and it could derail your entire career.”

With each professor accompanied by five or six team members, the hum of voices grew louder.

“Phew… P-Professor! Are you prepared?!” Allen asked, quickly straightening his posture after briefly surveying the room through the door.

“… It looks like you’re the one who should be preparing,” I noted.

“Oh, I’m all set! But, Professor, how is the exam progressing?!”

“I’m not in a position to say either.”

After all, it wasn’t an exam at all. I had another one planned, and I never once called it an exam. The real test was scheduled for four weeks later. The students would have two exams back-to-back, but it was of no concern to me.

“Thirteen teams today, I presume?” I inquired.

“Yes, Professor, that’s correct,” Allen replied, offering me the roster and reports submitted by the teams waiting outside.

“Hmm,” I murmured, reviewing each report through Comprehension and Wealthy Magnate. I intended to highlight any gaps or inefficiencies, but if I spotted potential, I’d allow them time to elaborate. “Good. Bring in the first team.”

“Yes, Professor,” Allen responded, as he opened the office door. The chatter in the hallway immediately ceased. “First team, please come in!”

At his call, the first team stepped inside.

“Good morning, Professor…!”

The mage, unfamiliar to me, bowed politely. She had a warm presence and was accompanied by five others—three men and two women.

In a calm, measured tone, I asked, “Your name?”

“Marrone of Lumiere rank, Professor! I’ve recently been appointed as a professor!” Marrone replied.

Marrone. A fairly well-known named character. While Epherene and Sylvia were 5 star mages, Marrone ranked somewhere around 3 or 4 stars.

“Good to meet you. Let’s proceed directly to the matter at hand. The subject of your submitted thesis is…”

“Condensation and Liquefaction of Mana Stones, Professor!” Marrone declared with confidence.

Her confidence was clear, but her report and thesis were filled with shortcomings.

“Good. I’ll start with a few questions,” I stated.

“Yes, sir!”

“The concept is certainly original.”

The concept of liquefying mana stones was, of course, novel. It drew parallels to how oil had once supplanted coal on Earth, owing to the clear advantages of liquid fuel over solid.

“Oh! Thank you, Professor—”

“While the idea is innovative, if it doesn’t meet the minimum output, it’s ultimately inefficient,” I said, tracing the spell midair with mana. “Now, look here. It’s from the ninth page of your thesis. If you follow this spell to liquefy the mana stones, the result will only yield 73% of the original output.”

“Sorry? We haven’t reached a definitive conclusion yet, but based on our calculations, we assumed it would yield at least 90%,” Marrone said, looking bewildered.

“No. Look closely. The calculations proceed as follows,” I said, expanding the equation with mana. Her team watched in silence as the full spell unfolded. “73%. Even accounting for a margin of error, it won’t surpass 75%.”

“Umm… if we adjust the spell, we believe it could possibly yield at least 90%—”

“Even at 90%, it’s still a problem. How do you intend to make up for the 10% deficit?”

“… We’ve accounted for that. Lower transportation costs! It’s far more expensive to move 10 tons of solid mana stones than it is to transport the liquefied version—”

“You need to think this through more carefully,” I said, tapping my temple. “This research alone will require at least 500 million elne in funding. It’s essentially burning through mana stones. Furthermore, liquefying them will mean stationing a mage at the mine, and they’ll need to use even more mana stones to carry out the process—and, of course, they’ll charge you for that.”

“Umm…“

Beads of sweat appeared on Marrone’s forehead, her expression growing tense. Her team looked just as troubled.

“To offset those expenses… you’ll need to ensure a minimum of 120% output.”

“One h-hundred and twenty—”

“That’s the bare minimum. Have you devised a way to meet it?”

“Sorry?”

“You don’t have one, do you?”

“Ah.”

“If you lack a plan, what’s your next course of action?”

“Sorry?”

“You haven’t given it any real thought, have you?”

“Ah.”

“Are ‘sorry’ and ‘uh‘ the only things you can come up with?”

Marrone and her team seemed to face an insurmountable challenge, one they had never encountered before. The pressure weighed heavily on them, unlike anything they had experienced.

Gulp— Gulp—

Even Allen, standing close by, couldn’t help but swallow anxiously.

“… I apologize,” Marrone finally said, lowering her head, her disappointment evident. “This is our project, yet you seem to understand it better than we do, Professor. It appears we’re not fully prepared to—”

“That’s not what I want to hear,” I said, resting my hand on the thesis. “Do you believe in this?”

“… Sorry?”

“Are you confident in this research? Confident that you can deliver more than 120% output?”

Marrone stood still, her words caught somewhere between hesitation and doubt.

“If you have confidence and believe in it, I’ll support it myself. After all, the concept is quite original.”

Upon hearing that, Marrone tightened her fists with determination.

I added, “If you choose to work under my supervision, I’ll personally assist you with the revisions—”

“Yes, Professor! I am confident!” Marrone declared with unshakable resolve. “I will see this through to the end! I, Marrone, ranked mage of Lumiere, swear on my name!”

I still hadn’t received the answer I was waiting for, so I gave a slight curl of my lips and said, “Good.”

Feigning disinterest, I added, “If you choose to work under my supervision, I’ll personally assist you with the revisions of your ideas and thesis for the project.”

“Ah! Is that so? Then we’ll absolutely do that without any hesitation!” Marrone exclaimed, while her teammates, fully aware of my infamous reputation, looked visibly startled.

Yet, with unwavering resolve, she continued, “The only professor who has recognized and believed in our research is none other than Head Professor Deculein, Director of PCO! Even if it means facing danger head-on, we’ll give it everything we’ve got—heart and soul—and we’re ready to put everything on the line!”

No one had recognized their research until now… That’s the nature of being first in line for a presentation. They were slotted as the throwaway group. The moment they step outside, they’ll be bombarded with questions about how the interview went.

Thud—!

“Good. Your project is approved,” I said, stamping the report with finality. “You may leave.”

“Thank you, Professor! Thank you so much!” Marrone said, bowing repeatedly as she backed out of the room.

***

“Oh, this is seriously driving me crazy,” Epherene muttered, still deeply engrossed in her work with the stone.

Epherene had suffered several nosebleeds and even fainted once, but still hadn’t found a solution. It felt like she was cornered from all sides, suffocating under the pressure. If there were an answer, she’d have racked her brain for it endlessly—but no matter how hard she tried, nothing worked.

“… At this rate, I’m going to drop dead,” Epherene muttered.

“Things aren’t going well, are they?”

A voice from behind made Epherene pause, stretching her sore back before turning around. It was Louina.

“No… It may look simple, but it’s far too complicated,” Epherene said as she set the stone down, feigning a sob. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around how Deculein had created it, let alone how he could manipulate it with Telekinesis. The entire process was still a mystery. “No matter how hard I think, I just can’t find an answer.”

Epherene sighed, her fingers idly running her fingers over the Wood Steel. It was a gift from Deculein, and had become one of her most cherished items—second only to her father’s bracelet.

Glancing at Epherene, Louina commented, “Oh? Miss Epherene, isn’t that Wood Steel from Professor Deculein?”

“… Ah, yes. It is,” Epherene answered, her lips curving slightly into a soft smile.

Louina glanced at her with a curious expression and asked, “Miss Epherene, how did you manage to get your hands on that? Deculein isn’t known for giving away his belongings.”

“Oh, wow~ You’re not the first to say that,” Epherene responded.

“Well, everyone’s familiar with his personality,” Louina said with a quiet laugh as she sat beside her, leaning in slightly. “But don’t worry, I won’t ask how you ended up with it.”

“Um… It’s nothing special. I just… made up my mind to become his official protégé and…” Epherene said.

“… An official protégé?” Louina asked.

“Yeah.”

“Did he agree to take you on?”

“Yup, as long as I put in the effort.”

“Oh my… How unexpected. Deculein, taking on a protégé? I never would have thought he’d agree to that in all his years,” Louina murmured and glanced at Epherene, a hint of gloom crossed Epherene’s face, though the reason remained unclear.

“Me too. I never thought I’d end up as his protégé… Not even once did it cross my mind…”

Louina watched Epherene in silence. The way she fiddled with the Wood Steel, and the subtle sadness on her face revealed the turmoil she was trying to keep hidden.

Could it be…? Does she know of it as well?

Louina decided to approach cautiously and asked, “Can I ask you something? Do you happen to know about it as well?”

“… Oh?”

Epherene remained silent, her eyes brimming with tension as she looked at Louina. That subtle response gave Louina a rising sense of certainty.

“You do know it, don’t you?”

“Um…uh, know about what?”

“That Deculein’s time is running out.”

At that moment, Epherene’s eyes grew wide, her pupils expanding as they mirrored Louina, who stood before her with a soft, sorrowful smile.

Louina said, “I’m likely the first to have known before anyone else.”

Clang—!

The Wood Steel struck the desk with a sharp metallic sound, echoing the tremor in Epherene’s heart. It felt as though Deculein’s gift was now reflecting the storm of emotions churning inside her.