A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 126: Ghost Island (2)

The cruise ship docked at the pier of Goreth Island. Allen stepped off first, his arms full of documents and analysis reports, while Epherene followed, struggling under the weight of a large magitech device strapped to her back.

“Ughhh... arghhh...” Epherene groaned, grumbling as she struggled under the weight of the machine, which easily weighed dozens of kilograms.

She silently cursed her fate for having to carry it herself, but there was no avoiding it—mana-sensitive devices couldn’t be moved with magic.

“I heard another team has already arrived,” Ihelm muttered, plucking a leaf from a nearby tree and twirling it as he glanced at Epherene. “Hey, Leaf, how long have you been here?”

"... Stop talking to me. I’m barely managing here," Epherene snapped.

Ihelm nodded, casually chewing the leaf. Then, he plucked another and handed it to his protégé.

Epherene frowned at him and muttered, “Why is he even chewing on that?”

“Hmm, don’t you know? Trees are excellent at purifying mana. Once they absorb enough, they become mana trees. Depending on the type, chewing their leaves can clear your mind. But usually, they’re cut down for staff or weapons before they can fully mature...”

Ihelm then pointed to Deculein’s staff and said, “That staff is crafted from mana wood. It’s rare, so make sure to choose a good one before we leave. You won’t be able to cast spells with just your bare hands forever, will you?”

Upon hearing that, Epherene briefly pictured herself holding an elegant staff, skillfully casting and weaving spells with ease.

“Hmm...”

It didn’t seem so bad as she imagined how she might look.

Ihelm smirked, letting out a soft chuckle as he remarked, “Pfft, such a simpleton.”

“What did you say?”

After walking for some time, they reached their destination—Ghost Castle. At the entrance, an Imperial support team was already waiting for them.

“It is an honor to meet you, Professor Deculein, Sir Ihelm. I am Hetrog,” the man in charge said, offering his hand.

Deculein simply regarded his outstretched hand, making no move to shake it.

With a faint smile, Ihelm grasped the man's hand instead and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Have there been any problems so far?”

“No, sir, everything is in order. All the exploration and investigation findings are inside the castle. Let me guide you,” Hetrog replied.

“... Hmm. Is this where you’ve set up the base camp?” Ihelm asked, his tone reflecting mild dissatisfaction.

Hetrog nodded casually and replied, “Yes, sir. It’s safer within the castle. Outside, mana storms strike without warning.”

“Well... It is the infamous ghost island mentioned in textbooks. Let’s get inside.”

They followed Hetrog into the castle, and the atmosphere shifted the moment they crossed the threshold.

"This place feels somewhat unsettling..." Allen muttered.

As Allen had mentioned, the air inside felt unnaturally cold. Both Epherene and Allen instinctively moved closer to Deculein, advancing with caution.

“This will be your quarters,” Hetrog stated as they arrived at the reception room on the first floor.

Epherene took in her surroundings. The spacious hall held several beds, with no doors or dividers anywhere. Simply put, there was no privacy at all.

Ihelm inquired, “Will we all be staying here together?”

“Yes, it’s a communal space. Nightmares are frequent, so we make sure to wake each other. The standard is to stay in groups of three.”

Coincidentally, both Deculein's and Ihelm's teams consisted of exactly three members each.

Hetrog continued, “Please avoid leaving the first or second floors, and make sure the doors remain open. I’ll provide more details tomorrow morning, but this castle is a magical space...”

Epherene glanced at Deculein, his displeasure over the communal accommodations evident on his face.

“There is also an adventurer team staying here.”

“An adventure team?” Ihelm asked, raising an eyebrow in mild curiosity.

Hetrog nodded and said, “Yes, sir.”

“Which one?”

“The Red Garnet Adventure Team.”

At that, the group’s eyes widened. The Red Garnet Adventure Team was renowned across the entire continent.

“Ganesha is here?” Ihelm asked, his tone laced with surprise.

“Yes, sir. The Imperial Palace has hired them. There are more threats on this island than you might expect,” Hetrog warned once more. “So, I advise you to remain on the first or second floors and stick with your assigned groups of three.”

After Hetrog finished, Deculein said, “I will be staying on the second floor.”

“Sorry?” Hetrog replied, blinking in confusion.

Deculein reiterated, “I’ll stay by myself.”

For someone like Deculein, communal quarters might as well have been a death sentence.

Meanwhile, a figure watching from another section of the castle allowed a faint smile to cross their lips.

"So, the professor has arrived as well~" someone murmured.

Professor Deculein. I never imagined I'd meet him here again. Is this what the god of chance has planned...? Ganesha sighed softly, turning her attention back to the children.

“Ria, how’s Carlos holding up?” Ganesha asked.

“... He’s managing, for now,” Ria replied, tending to Carlos as his fever raged on.

It had been five days since they arrived on the island, and Carlos’s fever, which started on the third day, showed no signs of subsiding.

Ganesha asked gently with concern, “Do you think we should head back?”

“No,” Ria replied, shaking her head firmly. “If we run away in fear now, it’ll be the end for us.”

The truth was, Ria knew something about Carlos. The blue-haired boy would grow into a dangerous named character. There was even a time when she had considered killing him, back when he was younger and less of a threat.

As time passed, her feelings for him softened. Instead of ending his life, she decided on a new course—one that involved honing his potential. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Though Carlos was a threat, that very danger could be turned into an advantage in future quests. If she steered him carefully, not only could he survive, but he might also find true happiness. He could even grow into a valuable ally for this world.

“... Carlos will be able to overcome this.”

But if he couldn’t, if fear pushed him to run again, there would be no happy ending. She would be left with no choice but to take the life of this small, innocent child herself.

"Alright, do what you feel is right, Ria. You’re more mature than I am," Ganesha said, gently stroking her hair, feeling proud of the girl’s poise and reassured by her determination. "But still, things might get a little complicated. The Altar has shown up as well."

Ria’s head shot up, and she asked, “The Altar?”

"Yeah, some particularly troublesome ones."

Carla, known publicly as the Authority, and her brother, Jackal, commanded a formidable combat unit. Whether they were in a cooperative relationship with the Altar or had been assigned to it remained uncertain, but one thing was clear—they were a serious threat.

“If even you find them troublesome, Ganesha, then...”

“Don’t worry, they’re still no match for me,” Ganesha said with a reassuring smile, hoping to calm Ria’s worries. She gestured toward Leo, who slept peacefully. “Let’s wake him up before he starts having nightmares.”

***

“Are you certain you’ll be alright?” Hetrog inquired.

I headed up to the second floor. In any horror movie, the first rule was to never go off alone, and those who followed it were smart—but that wasn’t me. It just didn’t suit my nature.

“It will be fine,” I replied.

“Yes, Professor. However, for precaution, I advise leaving the door open,” Hetrog said with a respectful nod before descending the stairs.

Now that I was alone, I surveyed the room. It wasn’t eerie or cold as I had anticipated; instead, it was filthy—that was my first impression. Using a combination of Telekinesis and Cleanse, I promptly cleared the space until it was spotless.

Then, I closed my eyes. My new attribute, Encryption, functioned much like an inventory. I could store specific objects as mana codes in my mind and, when required, decode and manifest them into reality.

As I focused, the mana condensed into particles, slowly forming items from my mansion—furniture like a desk, dresser, bed, chair, books, a fountain pen, blankets, pillows, and more.

Shhhhhhhh...

“Hmm.”

The end result was a clean, modern-looking room.

“Good,” I muttered, settling into the chair and gazing out the window. A violent storm lashed against the landscape, lightning cutting through the sheets of rain.

Ruuumble—!

The thunder rumbled like the growl of a beast. Swirling winds formed spirals in the storm, but I watched it all without flinching. An idea struck me—training. Without a second thought, I stepped outside into the storm’s chaos. The rain poured down in sheets, and the wind screamed, but not a single drop touched me. Every bit of water was held back by my Telekinesis.

Druuuum—!

The pounding rain echoed in my ears as I initiated Memorize. I pushed the telekinesis circuits engraved in my body to their absolute limit.

Whirrrrr...

My veins had darkened to a deep purple as mana surged through them, carving out new channels for the spell’s circuit. My target was Intermediate Telekinesis. For most mages, it would have been a small step, but for me, it was anything but.

The power difference between Basic and Intermediate was immense—easily hundreds of times stronger. With every tier I ascended, the memorized magic became something entirely different, evolving into a more potent force.

Crack—

Mana surged violently into my muscles, tearing them apart with excruciating force. The pain was sharp but endurable. Heat flared in my throat, and the pungent smell of burning flesh filled the air.

It felt like I was being burned alive. Blood leaked through my clenched teeth, and my skin darkened as my capillaries burst. The magic rampaged through my veins, shattering my bones, but my body, tempered like steel, broke and healed over and over again. Then, just as I was on the edge of self-torture...

The rain had stopped, and not a single drop could be heard. The pain still coursed through my body, but the world around me had fallen into silence. I slowly opened my eyes and raised my head. The rain that had once poured down in heavy sheets was now reversing, the streaks of water lifting back toward the sky.

Gradually, they rose, meeting the clouds above. It was a sight that defied the very laws of nature. As I stood watching this strange phenomenon, a system notification blinked into view.

[Memorize Complete: Intermediate Telekinesis]

"... Not bad," I muttered.

At this point, I felt satisfied to a certain extent.

***

Epherene unpacked her belongings into the drawer, placed her thesis paper on the desk, and then lay down on the bed. She stared blankly at the ceiling. Sleep was creeping up on her, but the fear of nightmares kept her awake. Of course, there were plenty of people around to wake her if necessary, but a voice from the past echoed faintly in her mind...

“But... in my world, the professor is no longer there. ... And if you can, try to keep him around in your world for as long as possible.”

It was a memory—words from her future self, long forgotten until now. Epherene didn’t know when or where Deculein would meet his end, but she was certain it wouldn’t be a natural death far in the future. It could happen as soon as next year...

“... Ugh,” Epherene muttered, shaking her head as if to clear the troubling thought from her mind.

There’s no reason to think about this while I’m here for work. It’ll only get in the way. And if Deculein dies, it doesn’t really concern me... not at all...

"Ugh!" Epherene groaned as she jumped out of bed and made her way to the kitchen. She hadn’t gone far when the mouthwatering scent of food wafted toward her.

“... Wow.”

Soup bubbled on the stove while fish sizzled in the pan.

"Uh, excuse me,” Epherene said.

“Ah, hello. Dinner will be ready shortly,” said the man preparing the meal.

“Haha... it smells delicious. But, how did you manage to gather all the ingredients?” Epherene asked, swallowing her saliva as she moved closer to the man preparing the meal.

West, a mage in his mid-to-late thirties who had a calm, gentle look, was preparing the meal.

“Fishing and hunting, of course. The ingredients here are actually better than what we get back on the continent. With all the mana around, the fish are incredibly fresh and flavorful. It’s one of the few perks of being on this island. The food is great, and the rewards are astronomical—that’s why we stay.”

“Oh~ that makes sense... Why am I drooling?” Epherene muttered, swallowing quickly.

West opened the refrigerator, and Epherene jumped in surprise. Instead of food, she saw what looked like a room, filled with cobwebs and dust.

“What... is this?”

“This happens from time to time. It’s why we’ve had to break down most of the doors,” West replied.

“Sorry?”

West closed the refrigerator door, paused for a moment, and then reopened it. This time, everything appeared normal. He casually took out some vegetables for the soup, behaving as though the strange event from before had never happened.

“This castle is larger than the island itself, which is why the spaces tend to mix up.”

“I see... Does it have something to do with the mana stone mine?”

“The castle itself is the mana stone mine.”

Epherene blinked, puzzled by his words.

West pointed to the ceiling and said, “See that up there?”

A small object jutted out from the ceiling. When Epherene looked more closely, she realized it was a mana stone.

“Ah~” Epherene breathed in surprise.

“There are plenty scattered all over, so be cautious when you open or close doors. Besides ghosts, there are real people here—thieves, to be exact. You’ve heard the saying, ‘People would go to hell to mine mana stones,’ right?” West continued, “Well, we’ve got thieves straight from hell in this castle.”

Epherene stiffened at his words and muttered, “Oh, I see...”

Sixteen minutes later, however...

“This... this is so delicious...” Epherene murmured, her spirits lifted after tasting the second-best fish she’d ever had.

***

The following morning, after everyone had finished settling in, Hetrog called the group together.

"... First, the primary objective is to stabilize Ghost Castle by addressing the discontinuities in space and eliminating the interference caused by the ghosts," Hetrog said.

The discontinuities in space meant that any closed room in the castle could connect to a random location when its door was reopened. In other words, closing the door didn’t guarantee that reopening it would lead back to the same place.

"Do you have the results of the findings?" I asked.

“Here are the findings, Professor,” Hetrog said, handing over a stack of documents.

I read through the entire stack—a method to improve the efficiency of my Comprehension. The more foundational knowledge I possessed about the castle, the less mana would be needed to fully comprehend its structure.

“So, basically, does that mean the rooms don’t actually connect to the living room?” Epherene asked.

Hetrog nodded and replied, “Yes, that’s correct. Opening the door to the living room from any room could lead to a completely different place.”

"Aha~," Epherene murmured, resting her chin thoughtfully on her fingers.

After reviewing Hetrog's report, I rose from my seat.

“What do you plan to do, Professor Deculein?” Ihelm asked, reclining comfortably in his chair.

“I plan to experience it for myself,” I said.

Magical spaces like this demanded direct experience and comprehending to be fully grasped. To immerse myself in such a discontinuous space, I needed courage.

“Certainly, Professor. There’s a room set aside for research over there,” Hetrog said, gesturing toward a small room in the corner.

I nodded briefly and walked toward the door, pushing it open.

Creak—!

Suddenly—there was someone on the other side. A woman in a robe and a samurai dressed in martial attire. The samurai appeared to be in the middle of a fight, his blade raised as if ready to strike.

“... Huh, like, what’s goin’ on here?” the man said, freezing mid-swing before turning to face me.

I recognized him at once—waist-length hair and the Muramasa, the cursed sword, in his hand. This was Jackal, the Samurai, without a doubt. And if he was here, the woman beside him could only be his sister, Carla, known as the Authority.

"Run!"

A sharp voice echoed through the air, drawing my attention. Three children were fleeing—two running and one being carried on the back of another.

"Hey! Ah, jeez! Oh, ah!"Jackal blurted out, visibly startled as he reached for his blade, but the kids had already vanished. He shot me a heated glare. "I was this close to catch ‘em! Who the hell even are you—"

“... It appears to be Deculein,” Carla interrupted.

At the mention of my name, Jackal’s eyes widened. He pointed his sword at me and said, “Wait, Deculein? Aha, dude, so you’re like—”

Slam—!

I quickly shut the door with a slam. Then, without haste, I turned and walked back to my seat in the conference room, sitting down as if nothing had happened.

"Now, let’s approach this logically."

Though I kept my composure, the situation was urgent. What stirred within me wasn’t fear, but a deep recognition of the challenge and complexity that lay ahead.

"How should I go about dealing with those two?"

Jackal and Carla. In this world, they ranked among the strongest enemies.