A VILLAIN'S WILL TO SURVIVE

Chapter 178: Hunting (2)

Daeho was a cunning beast, with intelligence exceeding that of most humans. For that reason, I needed a plan that was both thorough and brutal, which is why I went to the trouble of crafting grenades. If the sniper shot failed, I had to be prepared for its sudden, stealthy assault…

… And now, the sensation of the wind brushing against my skin, the air thick and stagnant, and a world where the concept of time stretches endlessly, like taffy pulled too thin.

Grrrrrr…

The beast’s amber eyes locked onto mine, but I didn’t look away. It was likely the first time it had ever encountered a human bold enough to shove their arm right into its jaws.

Craaaaaack—!

Daeho tried to tear through my muscles, nerves, and bones, but Iron Bone and Iron Man proved more than enough to resist. It was a plan that would have been impossible to attempt without my attributes in the first place.

I held its tongue in my grip, and the grenade I had lodged in its maw detonated. The searing heat of mana coursed through my arm, and shards of Black Iron burst violently from the beast’s body.

That wasn’t all—I used Telekinesis to control the metal shards, amplifying their speed and spinning them at blistering velocity. Nineteen blades of Wood Steel followed, piercing deep into its flesh.

Whoooosh—!

Daeho swept its massive paw, and with a single motion, a thunderous sonic boom shattered the air. The sound struck my eardrums like a hammer, and I braced myself for the blow that was sure to follow.

The damage would undoubtedly be catastrophic—

“Hooah!”

But a small figure suddenly darted toward me like a moth to a flame, shielding me with her body and taking the hit meant for me.

“Argh!”

Ria, like a mosquito, was swatted away in a single blow, sent flying far into the distance. But even that brief moment was enough. Daeho’s arm swept toward my neck once more, however…

Clang—!

This time, a sword intercepted the attack, its clear and melodic resonance ringing out, filling the forest with its song. The wind gathered around the blade, gliding along its edge in a quiet, unbroken dance.

“Oh, yeah! I’m not late, am I~?”

Shortly after, Sirio shouted, his voice clear and refreshing as he charged in like a gust of wind, his bright smile showing off his perfect teeth.

“You alright, Deculein? … Never mind, you don’t look alright at all,” Sirio said, looking me up and down as he assessed my condition.

Grrrr—!

Right at that moment, Daeho shook off the sword and disappeared into the depths of the forest.

“Whoa! Daeho’s turning his back?! Is he running away?! Now that’s something you don’t see every day! Get over here! Where do you think you’re going, huh?!” Sirio shouted, chasing after Daeho.

Not long after, another knight appeared on the distant horizon, coming from even farther away.

Thud—!

The sound of chasing footsteps faded, and Yulie, clad in leather sabatons and full armor, stood before me, staring quietly. I, too, stood still, saying nothing.

Breaking the silence, Yulie said, “… I heard—”

“Assist Sirio in tracking Daeho. It’s injured, so it won’t be able to escape too far,” I interrupted.

Yulie fell silent once more, nodding slightly before sprinting after Sirio’s tracks.

… Whooooosh.

In the cool breeze that blew through the rustling leaves, surrounded by nature’s song, I looked at my arm—only to find it gone. It was lying on the ground.

“… So it was severed after all.”

The Iron Man attribute, with the Iron Bone characteristic fully awakened, should have made me virtually invincible. But here I was, my arm lying on the ground, crumpled like a broken doll’s limb. Perhaps this, too, is a reflection of Daeho’s might.

As I lifted my arm, using the little mana I had left to wrap it with Duct Tape…

“Ugh… Aaagh… Owww…”

A groan echoed from somewhere, pulling my attention. When I turned, I found a young adventurer curled on the ground, clutching her stomach in pain. She had taken the blow for me, and now she was paying the price. I approached and examined her closely. There was no visible bleeding, but the internal damage appeared severe.

“Aaagh…!”

I pressed down on the wounded adventurer’s pressure point, and soon she fainted. Then, with her unconscious, I adjusted the Wood Steel and opened her abdomen.

Splash—!

As expected, blood poured out in a gush, revealing a severe internal hemorrhage, with both her intestines and muscles torn open.

“… Even the personality is just like hers,” I muttered.

Such impulsive bravery had left her injured, so I began wrapping her wound with tape.

***

An hour later, Ria sat on the ground with Leo, blinking slowly. The search for Daeho was still ongoing, but Leo had been sent to protect Ria and Deculein due to their injuries.

The two children stared at Deculein, who, despite having his arm bitten by Daeho, stood perfectly upright. He hadn’t sat or lain down, and his posture remained as firm as ever, without the slightest hint of faltering.

“Are you… alright?” Ria asked.

Leo wore the same look of curiosity.

No one had ever survived a bite from Daeho that was so devastating. It wasn’t just a simple tear—it was on an entirely different level: a brutal push and pull.

From what Ria remembered, the bite lasted about three seconds, but with Daeho’s poison damage and the bleed damage over time, he was already facing a game over.

At that, Deculein turned around, causing Leo and Ria to flinch in surprise.

“… Oh, it’s nothing. Nothing at all, right, Leo?” Ria said.

“Mm-hmm,” Leo replied, nodding his head.

To her, this was the perfect moment to eliminate Deculein, the future threat. He was a genuinely evil character—nothing more than a villain who tormented players and had no chance of redemption.

But today… Ria saw a possibility for change in Deculein, as he wasn’t acting like his usual self. Though she couldn’t rule out the possibility that he was still a villain, something in his behavior suggested he was no longer the same as the original character from the game.

“Why have you come to this land?” Deculein asked.

“Sorry? Oh, we’re heading to the Land of Destruction,” Ria replied.

“The Land of Destruction?”

“Yes, we believe there’s a way to purify Carlos there.”

At the mention of Carlos, Deculein’s eyes stiffened, and the unmistakable aura of Yukline began radiating around him.

“They said demonic blood was something that could be controlled, and we think the key to doing that is probably in the Land of Destruction,” Ria continued.

Deculein stared at Ria silently before sneering and saying, “… You’re trying, though in vain.”

“Of course!” Ria said, nodding confidently.

Ria, finding hope even in the worst of the named characters like Deculein, regained her conviction that Carlos’s purification was not out of reach.

“Tch,” Deculein muttered, his tongue clicking.

“What’s wrong?” Ria asked, tilting her head.

“Every time I see your face, it bothers me.”

Ria had a feeling she knew why, but for some reason, she couldn’t shake off the frustration.

“I don’t like your face either,” Ria shot back, crossing her arms.

Deculein fell silent, glaring at her with an intense stare.

Ria quickly added, “I’m just kidding.”

With a slow shake of his head, Deculein sat down, leaned back against the tree, and closed his eyes for a brief moment, as the forest suddenly grew quiet.

“… Ria, is he asleep?” Leo whispered, leaning toward her.

Ria looked at his face closely and, sure enough, it seemed he had fallen asleep.

“Yeah,” Ria replied.

Phew. Finally, things should be a bit more comfortable, Ria thought.

Ria let out a sigh as she checked her body, finding everything seemed fine. Deculein’s skill in opening and stitching the wound was flawless, and thanks to the first aid, the pain in her abdomen from Daeho’s blow had eased.

“That’s surprising…”

I can’t believe that Deculein took care of me.

“… Wait.”

But wasn’t Deculein’s injury quite serious too? How was he able to perform the surgery so perfectly in that condition?

Ria looked at the sleeping Deculein, her eyes scanning his body, and something about his arm caught her eye.

“Oh.”

The treatment of his arm was far from clean. The tape was in place, but too short, and the bleeding hadn’t completely stopped. As Ria alternated between her own comfortable state and Deculein’s imperfect condition, her face suddenly hardened. In a situation where his mana was limited, he had used it to heal her, not himself.

And the reason must be… I feel bad for him, Ria thought.

“Leo, could you hand me the first aid kit?” Ria said.

“Huh? Oh, sure~ Here!” Leo replied, handing it to her.

Ria, carrying the bandages and herbs in her arms, stepped toward Deculein.

“… Gulp.”

Though she felt tense, fearing he might suddenly open his eyes and glare at her, Ria hesitated as she slowly applied the herbs to Deculein’s arm, wrapped the bandages around the exposed wounds to ensure there were no gaps, and wiped away the blood with clean water.

At that moment…

[Quest Completed: Daeho Hunt]

◆ Defeat of the Vesilita, the Akho of the Altar

◆ Rare Characteristic Catalog Acquired

It was then that the notification she had been waiting for finally appeared.

***

In the Northern Region, the snow never stopped, falling persistently without pause, day or night, as if in a frenzy, blanketing everything in snowflakes.

“Epherene.”

Epherene stared out the window at the snow grains falling, blurring the world outside.

“Epherene.”

Behind the desk, at the far side of Deculein’s office, snow swirled in the air outside, just beyond his chair.

“Epherene. Answer me.”

“Oh, yes?” Epherene said.

Epherene snapped back to reality, startled by his mention.

“Take this. It’s the exam paper,” Deculein said, holding out a large envelope to her.

“Oh… right. Yes. Yes, of course…”

Epherene mumbled blankly, her eyes marked by dark circles and traces of dried tears.

“Yes…”

It had been three days since Allen was attacked by the tiger. They had successfully hunted Daeho, but his body had never been found.

“Pull yourself together,” Deculein said.

“… Sorry? Oh… yes, Professor.”

Epherene was the last person to see Allen in person, and the memory of that day remained traumatic, continuing to haunt her.

If only I hadn’t let the painkillers cloud my mind… Epherene thought.

Thwack—!

Out of nowhere, a fountain pen flew through the air and struck Epherene on the forehead.

“Ow!”

“If your behavior continues, you’ll be sent back,” Deculein said.

“Ugh…”

“The exam period will begin tomorrow and last for one month. During this time, you may choose whether to continue your duties or not, based on your preference.”

“… I will continue my regular duties during the exam period,” Epherene replied, bowing her head. “Now, I’ll take my leave.”

On the cusp of tears, she quickly stepped outside, and Deculein silently watched her leave.

Bang—!

The door slammed shut, and Primien flinched, curling up on the guest sofa with the heater in her arms.

When did that Deputy Director sneak in again? Deculein thought, furrowing his brow.

“… When do you intend to leave?” Deculein asked.

“I still have much to take care of. But more importantly, how are you holding up, Professor?” Primien said, shrugging.

“Of?”

“You’ve lost your assistant professor.”

At her words, Deculein shot Primien a sharp look, his confusion plain. Rather, Primien’s probing might have been an attempt to prevent any potential eavesdropping.

“I’ve confirmed the scouts’ reports from those guarding the wall,” Primien added.

The reports from the scouts about the tiger taking Allen were consistent, and this was a result of Primien’s attribute. Not only could she materialize and stabilize thoughts, but she could also implant artificially altered memories into others. This attribute was the reason she had become the youngest Deputy Director of the Ministry of Public Safety.

“It is of no concern,” Deculein replied.

“Waaaaahhh—!“

The sound of crying echoed through the hallway, likely from Epherene.

“Is that so? I’m relieved—”

“Waaaaaaahhhhh—!“

“I’m relieved to hear that,” Primien said, nodding. “But it seems the other assist—”

“Waaaaahhhhh—!“

“It seems the other assistants are concerned,” Primien concluded.

“Growth often comes with loss,” Deculein said, silencing the crying outside with his Silence spell.

“… I suppose that’s somewhat true. But how is your arm, Professor?” Primien asked.

“I’m recovered and capable of continuing the duties in the Northern Region.”

Primien glanced at his arm, a look of confusion crossing her face as she noted how quickly he had recovered.

“… But, Professor,” Primien said, pointing out the window, “are you really going to leave them like that?”

Everyone, including Ganesha, Reylie, the members of the Red Garnet Adventure Team, Leo, and Ria, was enjoying the campfire.

“There is no reason to stop them. The Red Garnet Adventure Team has legal immunity, and unless that half-human, half-demon shows up, we have no right to interfere,” Deculein said.

Deculein paused and handed Primien an ordinary but aristocratic hand mirror.

“However, deliver this to the Red Garnet Adventure Team and instruct them not to discard it.”

“Yes, Professor,” Primien replied, though it was unclear what his intention was. However, she nodded briefly, then stood up from the sofa. “Have you considered holding an assistant professor’s funeral?”

“Once the body is recovered, we’ll handle it then,” Deculein said, sinking into his chair as if lost in thought.

“Hmm… yes, that’s one way to handle it,” Primien replied in a neutral tone, though a faint smile played at the corners of her lips.

***

Once Primien left Deculein’s office, she made her way to the group gathered around the campfire.

“Professor Deculein mentioned that the funeral would be held once the body was recovered,” Primien said.

Primien repeated what she had just heard from Deculein, and the art of passing information between both sides—gaining their trust while staying neutral—was the hallmark of a double agent.

“Ah… I see. Allen seemed like such a sincere person. I guess that was really the case, to have earned the professor’s trust like that,” Ganesha said, her eyes glistening with tears.

Leo, Ria, and even Reylie looked similarly affected. For a moment, they all stared silently at the sky, where the twinkling stars shone brightly and sparks flew up from the campfire. It almost seemed as if Allen’s bright and innocent face had appeared in the fire.

“I’m surprised he said that, as I thought Professor Deculein had venom running through his veins instead of blood,” Ganesha said, breaking the gloomy atmosphere with a slight chuckle.

Ria offered a small, soft smile in response, while Reylie pouted.

“… Once the body is recovered? It is clear that he will have difficulty accepting it.”

At that moment, a voice echoed from across the campfire, drawing everyone’s attention. Ihelm gripped the neck of his whiskey bottle, his fingers tightening around it.

“Well, it’s always difficult to lose a protégé, especially someone like him, who hates losing or having things taken from him…” Ihelm said, taking a sip of whiskey before sitting on a nearby wooden chair and staring into the dancing flames. “… But I suppose he’ll get over it in his own time.”

At that moment, Reylie glanced over and saw Yulie standing behind a tree not far away. It wasn’t an attempt to hide—she was standing openly, and everyone knew she was there.

“Yes, I guess so~ But more importantly, what does everyone plan to do now, with the mission and all~?”

As Ganesha tried to shake off the topic, disliking the heavy, gloomy atmosphere…

“Captain Ganesha?” Primien called.

“Hmm? Yes?” Ganesha replied, turning with a smile.

Primien reached into her coat and pulled out an antique hand mirror—the item Deculein had asked her to deliver—and said, “This is a gift from Professor Deculein to you.”

A gift from Deculein? Ganesha thought, blinking in disbelief.

The others nearby stared at the mirror, just as shocked by the idea of Deculein giving such a gift to anyone.

“… A gift? From Professor Deculein, of all people?” Ria asked, stepping in for the shocked Ganesha.

“Yes. Is there a problem with that?” Primien replied, nodding without a hint of emotion.

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