A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 235: Name (2)

I, Kim Woo-Jin, was once living as a designer. I lacked the brilliance to become a Van Gogh or a Millet, but I still painted—just not on canvas. My work lived in the worlds inside games, where I gave shape to people and places that existed only in code and imagination.

[Independent Quest: Game Designer Kim Woo-Jin]

◆ Objective : Explore

◆ Reward : ???

Even now, in this world, the characters I had modeled moved as if they were alive, breathing within a world I had painted by hand. Their continent was a living canvas, with every mountain and field a brushstroke of my own touch.

“… An unconscious manifestation,” I muttered.

If so, then is this phenomenon the result of the unconscious will of the ego, as Kim Woo-Jin? I thought.

I stared at the gold ore, lost in thought. Its composition, shape, weight—everything about it was a perfect chunk of gold. But ever since the adventurer brought it in, it had left my mind in a state of confusion.

“… Wow. What is all this, Professor?” Epherene asked in a hoarse voice, her breath catching as she took it all in.

Beside Epherene, Maho and Drent stood silently, their heads nodding in agreement.

“It is the magic circle for the mental strength test,” I replied. “In its original form, it spans over three hundred pages. But when fully unfurled, this is what it becomes.”

The enormous magic circle spread across the mansion’s library was built upon a four-category magical theory. Its major categories were Ductility and Manipulation, while Harmony and Enchantment were its minor categories.

When activated through the Magitech Brainwave Explorer, enhanced by the Midas Touch, the circle would bring forth the very test that adventurers had wished for.

“Wow~! That’s amazing, really amazing~! So, Professor, what will you do now~? I-I also want to try the test too, I really do~!” Maho asked, beaming from ear to ear.

Epherene crouched low, her eyes staring at the magic circle.

In silence, I raised my eyes to the night sky, my thoughts centered on the canvas of quiet stars above. Kim Woo-Jin—a man not from this world, but from somewhere beyond the distant, shadowed reaches of the stars—was, without question, the core of who I was.

And so, this quest became not only proof of Kim Woo-Jin but also evidence of the reality that lay beyond this one.

If I were to complete this independent quest, perhaps the truth would finally come to light. Perhaps I would understand why I was brought here—and why I now exist in this world. However, this was a quest meant for Kim Woo-Jin, and for Deculein to be the one to resolve it felt like crossing a line that the universe had never meant for me to step over.

“… Professor. But what about Sylvia?” Epherene asked.

I turned toward Epherene and the foolish and dazed look on my protégé’s face—clearly still under the weather—snapped me out of my thoughts, and I couldn’t help but let a faint smile slip onto my lips.

“… W-Why are you smiling at me?”

I was Kim Woo-Jin, and I was Deculein—but I would be swayed by neither. I would not be torn, nor would I hesitate. After all, contemplation was no virtue of the nobility. Wasting time on fruitless consideration was nothing more than intellectual vanity. A true noble was defined by resolute belief in oneself—nothing less.

Therefore, I was certain—I was one of the elite. I was sure that I was above the masses, above all the other insignificant people. I knew, without doubt, that I belonged to a class deserving of respect from the commoners. And with that stature came responsibility—something I accepted without hesitation.

Even if this was all the result of a systemic personality, a construct shaped by the rules of the game, that conviction never changed. It had become a kind of faith—one that believed in no one but myself.

“Nothing,” I replied, shaking my head.

Because of the name Kim Woo-Jin—and the system’s notification—I nearly forgot the one thing that mattered most.

“This test will be used to keep the adventurers in line. As for what awaits at the end… I find myself curious as well.”

An Independent Quest for Kim Woo-Jin—at the end of Kim Woo-Jin’s world, where adventurers will one day wander, what awaits them. Whether it is an event destined for the distant future or something that will come before I am gone, only time will reveal it.

***

Starting the next day, I began collecting identification cards and resumes from the adventurers and all applicants. I instructed Yeriel to select a location within Hadecaine where the test could be carried out safely.

At the same time, I secured permission from the Floating Island for the creation of the magical space for the test. Not long after, the Floating Island also issued an official document regarding my level promotion.

Level Promotion Deliberation for Monarch Deculein

∵ In recognition of Monarch Deculein’s distinguished achievements—now gaining significant attention not only across the continent but within the Floating Island itself—the upcoming Addicts’ Assembly, along with the Floating Island’s Agenda Committee, will convene to deliberate on his level promotion.

∵ As part of the agenda verification process, an Addict will be dispatched to examine your notable achievement of the creation of the magical space. We kindly request that you grant them access.

∵ The proposed level for promotion is Ethereal.

Given that Monarch Deculein is now over thirty-three years of age, an approval rate exceeding 80% will be required for the promotion to proceed.

∵ Please provide your signature below, accompanied by a single drop of blood.

∵ [　　　]

When it came to Level Promotion Deliberation, age was a significant factor—especially for mages. The younger the candidate, the more lenient the evaluation was.

It was widely accepted that a mage’s potential began to show around the age of ten, with real talent appearing before twenty, and their abilities reaching full maturity by thirty. That was why promotions granted past the age of thirty were rare—almost unheard of, since most were already considered to have reached their limits by then.

[Level Quest: Promotion to Ethereal]

◆ Mana Point +300

◆ Magic-Related Attribute Will Be Acquired Upon Completion

Perhaps because it had been a rare quest, the reward was just as extraordinary. I signed the letter from the Floating Island, let a single drop of blood fall, and sealed it shut. Then I checked the clock—midnight, April 9th—and the world no longer turned back, meaning that regression had finally ended.

However, it wasn’t entirely good news. The end of regression could only mean one thing—the Altar had gotten what it wanted.

“Master, here are the documents you requested.”

At that moment, the shadow from the study mimicked Ren’s voice.

“What is it now?” I said, my eyes narrowing at the shadow.

“Hehe. Brother-in-law~ It’s been far too long,” Josephine replied, twirling toward me like a waltz before placing the documents on my desk. “This spring will be stained with the blood of a purge.”

“Was it done as I ordered?”

“Everything has been tied together, just as you ordered, brother-in-law. I’ve pulled every string—even the underworld lent their hands.”

I sat down with the list in hand that named hundreds of nobodies from the Imperial Palace who had involved themselves to the Altar before my regression. Reading every detail from start to finish took no time at all. Speed reading had always been a talent of mine; ten minutes was more than enough.

“Well? What do you think?” Josephine asked.

I gave her a nod.

“I’m glad to hear that~ However, there’s still one problem we need to address,” Josephine said with a bright smile.

“A problem.”

“Yulie has been persistently looking into your past, Professor.”

I remained silent.

“She is sharper than she looks. If I hadn’t stepped in, she might have uncovered the truth on her own. The Intelligence Agency is backing her, you see—and she has a few agents cooperating with her as well.”

Click—

I picked up the radio in silence, and the line connected on the other end.

“Intelligence Agency. This is Deculein,” I said.

— Yes, sir. I’m—

“Put the Director on.”

— … Yes, sir.

“Wow~ As expected of you, brother-in-law~” Josephine said, widening her eyes, clearly impressed.

— This is the Director.

“Director.”

— Yes, Professor. What brings you to the line at this hour?

Tap, tap, tap.

“I’ve been hearing rumors that the Intelligence Agency has been cooperating with Knight Deya lately,” I said, tapping my fingers against the desk.

— Yes, Professor. It was by Her Majesty’s command.

“As I recall, Her Majesty’s command was only to grant access clearance.”

— … Yes, Professor. As for the matters Knight Deya is currently investigating, our agents found them reasonable and offered their support of their own accord.

The Director’s voice held an unexpected firmness.

“Reasonable?”

— Yes, I believe it is.

“Then, do you intend to continue cooperating with her?”

— … We are an independent agency, Professor. The only one with authority to command us is Her Majesty.

“I, too, am a loyal subject of Her Majesty,” I said, leaning into my chair.

Then the Director’s voice came through the radio, carrying a trace of hostility.

— Yes, Professor—you are Her subject, not Her Majesty herself. Don’t mistake the two. The Intelligence Agency is a special agency, guided not by the pressure of nobles or the influence of Houses, but by reason, by evidence, and above all—by information.

“… Is that so?”

— Yes, Professor.

“Very well. We’ll speak again later.”

Click—

I switched off the radio, ending the line.

“Brother-in-law, does even Yukline’s influence mean nothing to the Intelligence Agency?” Josephine asked, her brow furrowing in visible disappointment.

“Josephine,” I said, meeting her eyes. “Did you not read the list? The Director’s name is on it, as well.”

Josephine picked up the list she had handed over earlier, skimmed through a section, then looked back at me.

“… There isn’t for the Director of the Intelligence Agency—”

“No,” I interrupted. “He’s on the list.”

Josephine’s expression tightened ever so slightly. Pale moonlight seeped through the cracks in the window, and a chill breeze stirred the curtains.

“… This is very interesting. Brother-in-law, is it that you want government officials who just follow you? Or is it—”

“Following my lead is the path that serves both the Empire and the continent.”

Josephine remained silent.

“Therefore, whether their names are on the list or not—that’s entirely up to me, don’t you think?”

Josephine then smiled faintly, her eyes resting on me as she gave a slow shake of her head and asked, “What will you do, Professor?”

“He’s nothing but a replaceable head. If he continues to prove difficult…”

Due to the Intelligence Agency’s inherent secrecy and culture of anonymity, the man who became its director was stripped of his name the moment he took office. From that day forward, he was known only as the Director.

“We’ll remove him and install someone more useful,” I replied.

“Do you already have someone in mind to take his place?” Josephine asked, holding out the Intelligence Agency’s list.

“Well,” I replied, silently scanning the names.

There was nothing on the list that stood out, but I had no doubt that they had already informed themselves within the Intelligence Agency like spies slipping through the cracks. The last flickering flame for the Great Elder, led by Elesol—a group of Scarletborn that lived in the desert and rejected the Altar.

“I’ll have to find the right one through proper interviews.”

I was prepared to hand them a title or two in order to keep the balance.

***

… A wave of bloodshed swept through the Empire. In a single night, numerous nobles were arrested—regardless of their family name, rank, or office. Merchant guilds and corporate houses were broken apart, and the corruption of government officials was exposed for all to see.

The names on the execution list included not only minor figures but also the major elites who had long dominated the Empire. In fact, it was the influential—not the expendable—who filled most of the list. Each of them scrambled to preserve their lives, but the moment they learned who was behind it all, horror overtook them, and despair followed.

“… Deculein. That damned man…”

Romelock, a senior minister of the Empire and a pillar of the Imperial Palace faction who had served both Crebaim and Sophien, sat trembling in his room. The cause was a single letter that had arrived at his mansion that morning.

If you still think of your children, your grandchildren, and the honor of your house—then I ask that you step down with grace. The Mortal Realm has grown far too unforgiving for those who remain too long.

The letter, penned in Deculein’s distinctive handwriting, was a clear and calculated threat—proof that bending Her Majesty the Empress to his will hadn’t satisfied him. Now, the damned professor had set his sights on swallowing the entire Imperial Palace whole.

“… I feared it would come to this,” Romelock muttered, pressing a trembling hand against his temple, and his aged fingers would not stop shaking. “What am I to do now…?”

At that moment, Romelock thought of Deculein. A noble in name only, he was a tyrant in spirit—one who would spill the blood of every official, claim the throne drenched in it, and rule with absolute authority.

He bent Her Majesty the Empress to his desires and burrowed his claws deep into the heart of the Empire, a great and festering evil in the shape of a man. Even his very face bore the mark of treason.

“Your Late Majesty, what is an old servant to do, standing helpless before such unrepentant evil…?” Romelock muttered, closing his eyes as if in prayer, searching the far heavens for an answer that would not come.

***

“It’s April ninth, Professor,” Epherene said with a smile, as if the weight of the world had never touched her.

“I am aware,” Deculein replied, straightening his tie and nodding.

“What a relief, it’s really over… Oh—right. I heard you’re being promoted to Ethereal rank, Professor?”

“The vote is underway,” Deculein said, adjusting his tie as he slipped a stack of documents into his briefcase.

A moment later, a report came through the radio by his side.

— The Director of the Intelligence Agency has been secured. Interrogation will commence shortly.

“… Secured? Interrogation?” Epherene muttered, blinking in confusion.

“That is not your concern. For now, your thoughts should be on Sylvia—and nothing else.”

“Oh, yes, Professor.”

Sylvia was on the Voice, and for Epherene, the weight of reaching her—before even a second slipped through her fingers—had become her every waking thought.

“I’ve been reworking the spell for the magic tournament in that direction.”

“… We’ll speak on it later,” Deculein said, his hand pausing on the door as he gave a single nod.

“Yes, Professor. See you later!”

… And so, Deculein stepped out. Once he was gone, Epherene glanced around, moving with the deliberate caution of someone who knew the walls might still be listening.

“Ahem. Ahem,” Epherene murmured, clearing her throat as she slightly opened the office door just a crack.

Ding—

No sooner had Deculein stepped into the waiting elevator than Epherene made her way straight to the Assistant’s Research Lab and pushed open the door.

“You may come out now,” Epherene whispered.

“… Hmm.”

Then a head of crimson hair slowly rose up from beneath the desk.

“I offer my humble greetings to Your Majesty…” Epherene said, straightening her back as if she’d practiced it a hundred times.

Epherene had run into Empress Sophien in what she believed was pure coincidence—though for Sophien, it had all been planned. It happened in the library, and Epherene, wandering between the shelves in search of a book, had accidentally bumped into her. In that brief collision, the Empress’s disguise fell away—and that’s how everything led to this moment.

“Enough of that. Let’s tail him, then—I’ve always been curious about what Deculein does on the day of remembrance for his former fiancée,” Sophien said.

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”

Today, the purpose shared by the two—no, the purpose Sophien had approached Epherene for in the first place—was the day of remembrance for Deculein’s former fiancée.

“I don’t love the feeling of spying on someone, but so be it. Considering the things that man has been up to in the Imperial Palace, I’d say it’s more than justified.”

Sophien found herself wondering about everything—the woman whom Deculein, that emotionless man known for his uncompromising legacy of violence, had once loved so deeply. Sophien wondered who this fiancée was, the one he could never forget, and what expression he would wear when standing before her gravestone.

… Gulp.

“Yes, Y-Your Majesty… but if you don’t mind, could I not be part of this…?” Epherene said, her head nervously bowing repeatedly.

“There’s no need to worry. You just need to show me the way—leave everything else to me,” Sophien replied, her eyes softening as she looked at Epherene.

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