Surviving as a Villain at the Academy - Surviving as a Villain at the Academy chapter 171

171 – Longing.

Magic Professor Elaine Avariety was reading the report recently submitted by Frah and his party.

The report they submitted was a dungeon exploration report. There had been rumors of people going missing somewhere on the outskirts of the jurisdiction… She had no idea they would head straight there.

“Well, they must have been confident in their skills to venture without hesitation. Normally, one would get thrashed in such places… but skill is skill.”

The result was, of course, dungeon conquest. The report concluded with information on the chimera they encountered and the research materials of the mad wizard they had attached.

“This is… quite remarkable.”

Elaine murmured as she sipped her tea. The mad wizard’s research materials were dangerous and wicked beyond compare, but they contained considerable magical knowledge.

“A mad wizard, indeed. A fitting name. One would have to be mad to conduct such research… It’s terrifying to even think about.”

Yet, even as she said this, her gaze did not stray from the research materials she held. Even if the research was insane, it was enough to captivate her attention.

The research materials, which involved fusing humans with monsters to drastically extend the lifespan of the body, were tempting enough for those with not much life left.

Of course, there was the fatal side effect of mental collapse… but it was undoubtedly an interesting study. Extending life was something every human longed for.

If the rulers were to see this research… the same incidents that were happening in secret on the outskirts might just repeat themselves.

She was torn over whether to report this to her superiors or not.

But her dilemma was short-lived. After all, she was merely employed by the academy.

It was up to the higher-ups to make the decisions… She didn’t need to take responsibility for the consequences of this research material.

She promptly made a copy of the research materials and submitted it to her superiors. The reason for making a copy was simple. She was a wizard, after all.

Even if it was the research of a mad wizard, research is still research. It might prove helpful to her magic.

* * *

“It’s ruined.”

The demon, Aym, looked around the deserted laboratory and said. The place where his useful contractor had died was desolately empty.

Indeed, it was Aym who had passed the knowledge of the chimera to the mad wizard.

“Such a fool. I told him time and again to pull out at the right moment… Didn’t he know the basic principle that a long tail will get caught?”

He clicked his tongue and muttered. To him, who lived off human’s vile desires, the wizard who endlessly wrapped himself in the longing to live was an excellent prey and a source of power.

In other words, with the prey gone, Aym had to find his next meal.

But he was not in a hurry.

“It seems all the materials have been taken. This should make things easier.”

He had already confirmed that the lab’s materials had been completely looted. If the lab’s materials were stolen, it meant someone would see the research related to the chimera.

Finding the next prey wouldn’t be too difficult.

After all, it was Aym who had transferred the research related to the chimera to the owner of this lab, and it was he who had stirred up the longing for life extension.

If someone were to see this research material, especially a wizard… they would surely long for it. Eternal life was, after all, a dream akin to that of wizards.

Infinite time meant an equally infinite possibility of reaching the truth, a temptation no ordinary mage could resist.

Already, he had taken measures with the research materials unbeknownst to the mages.

The locations and movements of those who read the research would all be known to him. Therefore, his task was not a burdensome one. At most, he needed to quietly monitor those who obtained the research materials and consume the desires of those engrossed in them.

“I hope the next one to see the materials is someone filled with desire.”

With a faint hope, he checked where the research materials were drifting… and he couldn’t help but be dismayed.

“…The Imperial Tower of Magic?”

Because the place his materials had flowed into was none other than the Imperial Tower of Magic.

* * *

The research materials sent by Magic Professor Elaine had eventually reached the Imperial Tower of Magic.

High Mage Delarzio Talantis of the Tower.

As his surname Talantis suggested, he was a member of the royal family. Of course, he was a collateral relative, not a direct descendant of the Emperor.

Even as a royal, the position of a high mage in the Tower was not something that could be obtained merely through blood relations. Rather, he was a legendary figure who became a high mage of the Tower purely on his own merit, disregarding all his status.

“Are you saying this material was obtained from the site explored by the Academy students?”

“Yes, Lord Delarzio.”

“…I see. You may leave.”

He examined the newly arrived materials. The ominous feeling emanating from the entire research suggested that it was not conducted with good intentions.

However, what was important to him at the moment was not the intent. Good or bad, as long as it expanded the horizons of magic for him, that was enough.

There was no need to concern himself with other factors.

He too was a mage who, despite decades, had yet to reach the rank of a great mage.

Rising to a high mage in the Tower was a commendable achievement, and he was considered talented, but the problem was that his talent ended there.

Decades as a high mage, yet his magic had not progressed.

The brother of the former Emperor, he had no interest in the throne. Only magic mattered to him. But even that magic refused to pave the way for him.

When he woke and began his day, he always saw a wall before his eyes. A wall that his magic could not possibly remove.

He did not envy others. He merely lamented that his talent had reached its limits. If only he had given up then, but he couldn’t.

Magic was everything to him.

For decades, he held onto his stubbornness, unable to let go. Though he studied magic with an indomitable spirit… the problem was still time.

His body had aged as much as it could. Before his life ended, he wanted to tear down the wall before his eyes.

Those who loved magic too much but lacked sufficient talent, in the end, would despair before the wall erected by magic.

He too, was no different from a mad mage.

Inhumane methods did not matter to him. He had the social status and power to mitigate and conceal that.

He wasn’t the Grand Magus of the Tower, but he had been a high wizard for decades. Naturally, he had many disciples who followed him and learned from him.

Even a scion of the royal family. If he so wished, the mad wizard’s experiments could proceed in secret.

He was convinced after seeing the mad wizard’s research materials.

With this, he could ascend even higher. Magic doesn’t allow it? Then he’d have to force his way through that barrier.

Using time as his weapon.

He might get caught someday… but well, as long as he doesn’t show it, there would be no discovery. If his lifespan turns out to be longer than expected, he could simply feign death and hide.

He knew all too well that a long tail gets caught, and he had seen many wizards fall after dabbling in evil research.

He was confident he wouldn’t get caught, and that his tail wouldn’t be stepped on.

And to such a man, Aime’s approach was, in a way, inevitable.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself.”

“…Who are you?”

Dellazio greeted the unfamiliar visitor without a hint of fear. And what he saw was a neatly dressed young man. But the moment he saw him, Dellazio sensed it. This person, he’s not ordinary.

An ordinary human couldn’t infiltrate the Imperial Tower without leaving a trace. Surely, he must be some transcendent being.

“I suppose you’re the owner of the materials you’re holding.”

“The owner of the materials? These materials were clearly from a dungeon…”

From noble mtl dot nete

“I was the one who ordered the wizard to create that dungeon. I needed something.”

“…Then, who are you?”

“Well. If I say I’m the owner of such evil materials, wouldn’t you think of a certain being?”

“A devil, then.”

“That’s right. A high-ranking human.”

“Do you want something from me?”

“Of course.”

“What is it?”

“Your dedication to magic. And… your continued longing.”

“What should I long for?”

“Well. You would know better than anyone, high-ranking human.”

Dellazio closed his mouth. His longing was the driving force that kept him alive.

“So, what can you do for me?”

“Well, I can take care of menial tasks for you. After all, I know humans like you well. You wouldn’t want me to directly influence your magical achievements.”

“You’ve seen me quite accurately.”

Delazio looked at Aime with a hint of surprise.

“Living long, the quickest thing to grow is discernment. Anyway, I quite like you. You could become a great source of power for me.”

“What kind of tasks will I be doing, specifically?”

“The miscellaneous tasks that are difficult for humans. Concealing existence, assisting with any task that aids malevolent research, that’s where you’ll come in.”

Aime extended his hand.

“Not bad. What’s your name, demon?”

“Aime.”

“Got it, Aime. I’m Delazio. Delazio Talantis. I look forward to working with you.”

Delazio readily took the demon’s hand.