How to Survive Against Villains Chapter 178

Chapter 178 - Escape (5)

“…My lord, your blood.”

Kal wiped his cheek again, frowning as he looked at the deep crimson stain.

Blood dripped steadily from his chin.

It seed a shard had cut deep into his cheek.

The bleeding wouldn’t stop.

“This is botherso.”

“…I apologize.”

Rengua bowed his head.

Judging from Rengua’s montary shock at Kal’s injury, the knight in the carriage must have been one of his subordinates.

What a sha.

If I had known Wiley wasn’t here beforehand, I would have done whatever it took to settle things right here.

If only I could kill Kal…

If he died, all the conflicts in Tobaron would be neatly resolved.

That thought hadn’t changed.

Will another chance co?

As I observed the situation, Arcane—who had been silent until now—pressed a handkerchief against Kal’s wound.

The pristine white fabric quickly turned red with blood.

Kal scoffed and brushed the handkerchief aside.

“I don’t need it.”

Instead, he called for a shaman to heal him.

As he was being treated, Kal turned his gaze to and spoke.

“I have two proposals for you.”

“…Go on, I’m listening.”

“Hand over Lochter.”

“That’s a shitty offer to start with.”

“If you give Lochter, I won’t hold you accountable for the damage done to my territory, and I’ll withdraw. I’ll also double the bounty—from 1 million gold to 2 million.”

“And why the hell would I trust you?”

“I can provide an official guarantee. Would you believe it if Arcane certified it?”

Arcane, the Prophet of Fate.

Using one of the most renowned figures in service to the gods as a witness ant Kal was likely serious about his offer.

So he hadn’t just stopped to waste ti, after all.

A full pardon and 2 million gold…?

On paper, it was an offer tempting enough to flip the table over.

But…

“That’s way too cheap.”

“What did you just say??”

“Lochter is already being frad for the murder of Viscount Tomzael. If you use him as a sacrifice, you can take not just Blyer, but Etor as well. And you’re offering a asly 2 million gold? Make it 20 million. If you bring 20 million gold in bars, I might consider it.”

“You’re more demanding than I thought.”

“Did you forget? I’m his ssenger.”

“What do you really want?”

“That old bastard.”

I pointed at Rengua.

His face contorted like a demon’s.

He definitely wanted to rip to pieces.

Honestly, being a dark shaman, he was a bit terrifying.

I had a feeling he’d haunt my dreams.

“Rengua is my loyal retainer. No ruler abandons such a follower.”

“Right back at you.”

“We don’t abandon our comrades, either.”

“So the first offer is off the table? Then here’s my second proposal.”

“Doesn’t matter if it’s your second or third, Lochter is off-limits.”

“…I want you.”

I froze.

What the fuck did he just say?

He wants ?

The fact that he said it so seriously made it even creepier.

“…You’re serious?”

“What did he offer you? Whatever it was, I’ll treat you better.”

“You killed my father. Anyone who shakes hands with their father’s murderer is called a traitor.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

“…What?”

“Your father’s death? Don’t tell you actually had feelings for him.”

Shit.

Did he see through ?

That damn insight of his was exhausting to deal with.

Kal pushed the shaman away and strode forward, his Dragon Fang cloak billowing behind him.

He had no combat power, and yet, his sheer presence dominated the area.

That was his talent.

“I killed all my blood relatives to reach this throne.”

A hidden confession.

What the hell was this bastard up to now?

For a brief mont, I was thrown off—

[You idiot, snap out of it!]

“...”

[Control your thoughts. You’re being exposed.]

Reto’s warning shocked back to my senses.

That’s when I noticed the faint light emanating from Kal’s body.

It was a dreamlike, intoxicating glow.

For just a mont, I had been drawn into his words and overwheld by his presence.

But I had the Third ntal Barrier.

I could withstand temptation, but Reto wasn’t worried about Kal—he was wary of Arcane.

Because for a brief mont, the Divine Na list I had sealed in my consciousness had almost been exposed.

Kal and Arcane.

Being between these two was ntally draining.

Even so, I played along.

Because this conversation felt like it would reveal sothing important.

“If you support , I’ll make you lord of Etor. And if my power grows even further… I’ll make you king of Tobaron.”

“…King.”

“Arcane will witness this promise as well. I an it.”

“Even if I accepted, would you really trust with the Blyer army? Your back must be itching just thinking about it.”

“I trust you.”

“You trust ??”

“Before that, offer a proof of loyalty.”

“…Proof?”

“Dominic’s research journal.”

So that was his real goal.

The research notes of Dominic Huaton, the biomagic scholar.

Kal wanted the vast knowledge of human experintation that had advanced dark magic by two whole stages.

The problem was, I had been using it as a pillow before this trip and left it in Beneta.

Since it was a paper book, I was worried it might get damaged, so I entrusted it to the Blue Rose Inn.

Hopefully, it’s still there.

“I know you have it.”

Kal slowly extended his hand toward .

“Give it to .”

At that mont, a burst of light flared from the back of his hand.

The glow surrounding him intensified.

A captivating light, ant to ensnare the mind.

I knew exactly what it was.

“You’ve acquired the Mark of Enchantnt, huh…”

The longer one was exposed to it, the more one’s mind would be chard and eventually enslaved by its owner.

But it didn’t work on because my ntal defenses were too strong.

Still, I stared blankly into the light, pretending to be dazed.

“…The journal.”

As I reached into my coat, Kal’s lips curled into a deep smile, and he took a step closer.

As I moved away from Arcane, Kal’s Divine Na glyphs began to reveal themselves.

Taking this risk was worth it.

[Kal Blazer – The Greedy Monarch Who Walks Two Paths (Ti)]

[Charisma Beyond Control]

[Insight That Pierces the Soul]

[ntal Domination (Enchantnt)]

[Subjugation Control]

[Leader of Blyer (3)]

The glyphs burned into my vision.

I let my posture sag even more.

‘Three more steps, you bastard.’

We still had so distance between us.

If I use Burst Strike, I can crush his skull and escape.

It would be my final Burst Strike, aning I might lose consciousness afterward.

But if the price was Kal’s head, it was worth the risk.

I had already figured out my escape route.

All I needed was the perfect mont—

Just a little more—just a little more!

As I silently urged the opportunity to ripen—

“You are not soone who can be brainwashed.”

Arcane’s voice cut through the air.

At his words, Kal stiffened as if realizing sothing, then glared at and took a step back.

Ah, fuck.

He took the bait.

But now, the glyphs of the Butcher’s Divine Na blurred again.

Was that murky light interfering with my vision?

What was that aura surrounding Arcane’s body?

It was different from his natural aura—sothing else entirely.

“A puppet acting like it has free will.”

“And you got fooled, didn’t you?”

When I pulled my hands from my coat, revealing nothing, Kal’s expression twitched slightly.

“Are you still under that damned Blessing?”

“…Blessing?”

At Kal’s words, Arcane reacted, his gaze sharpening as he scrutinized before abruptly asking:

“Are you an Absolute Being?”

I kept my expression neutral and my mouth shut, but internally, I nearly laughed.

An Absolute Being?

Even Arcane could miscalculate, huh?

“Only an Absolute Being can bestow a Blessing of that kind.”

“…You think he’s an Absolute Being??”

“If impossible things keep happening around him, isn’t it worth considering?”

Kal fell into thought, recalling every inexplicable incident connected to him.

It was as if he always knew what would happen in advance.

But the most baffling part?

Alex’s growth rate.

It was faster than his own—a regressor.

Could he really be an Absolute Being?

Yet, if that were the case, too many inconsistencies remained.

“…And if he’s not an Absolute Being?”

“Then his words are all lies. There was never a Blessing to begin with.”

“…Lies?”

Kal and Arcane both turned to stare at .

Shit.

This was bad.

I widened my eyes and shouted dramatically.

“W-Wait… Master is an Absolute Being?!”

The damage was already done—so I might as well bullshit my way through.

“…So that’s why he knows everything…”

“Your Divine Na is hidden. Isn’t it because of the Blessing?”

I locked eyes with Arcane.

Dealing with Kal was bad enough—but Arcane, too?

My Divine Na can’t be seen…

Arcane never directly stated whether I had a Divine Na or not.

He only said he couldn’t see it.

He was testing .

“You’re a fraud, aren’t you?”

“…What?”

“A servant of the gods can’t even tell if I have a Divine Na? Do you even know who I am?”

“I wouldn’t say I know you exactly.”

“But I know you.”

I sneered.

“You’re the fortune teller who whispered lies to Crux’s Master to have killed.”

Now that I thought about it, there was no way in hell I could ever get along with Arcane.

The first chain of suffering I endured in this world started with his damn mouth.

The pain I went through after swallowing those explosive beetles…

Yeah, fuck this guy.

He was basically my mortal enemy.

Since we were going to be enemies anyway, I decided to go all in.

I didn’t need Arcane to reveal Divine Na information—I already had Lily for that.

“You son of a bitch!”

“…Hah.”

“Still, I should be grateful for your big mouth—it got this bow.”

The ti I had been waiting for had arrived.

It was ti to retreat and regroup.

I drew my bowstring tight—

The shielders imdiately raised their defenses, while Rengua lifted his staff behind them.

A mont of standoff.

I t Kal’s gaze and spoke.

“My goal isn’t to beco the King of Tobaron. It’s the world.”

“…You’re insane.”

“So don’t—”

I released the arrow.

“—fucking show up in my dreams anymore, you Misery-loving bastard!”

TWANG—!

A golden projectile shot straight at Kal.

A Holy Power-infused arrow, fired at maximum output.

I didn’t aim at Arcane—because I knew it wouldn’t work.

Arcane was a survivor until the end of the story—his strength was real.

Since he had never revealed his true abilities, he’d probably just watch for now.

CRACK!

The arrow dented and shattered the shielders’ shields.

The ancient shields buckled, but still managed to absorb the hit.

Rengua’s eyes glead as he scanned the area and shouted:

“There’s no one else around! He’s alone!”

“Capture him!”

It seed the Sllows had finished scanning the surroundings.

The mont Kal gave the order, a chill ran down my spine.

What the hell?

It felt like the air itself was turning red.

The aura seeping from Rengua’s staff was agitating the knights.

At the sa ti, Rengua pulled out a stone.

A sinister, pulsating stone.

The mont it shook like a crying infant—

The knights’ eyes turned blood-red as their aura erupted.

"Madness Explosion!"

“KUAAAAAAGH!”

At Rengua’s command, the knights blazed forward, leaving only afterimages as they instantly surrounded .

Too fast.

They were coming from all directions.

I felt the danger, but I clenched my teeth and kept calm.

I had planned for this.

When I had analyzed Rengua’s Divine Na, a certain strategy had co to mind.

I raised my bow again.

Kal scoffed, while the shielders lifted their shields.

My golden eyes flashed.

I suddenly twisted my body—

—and fired a crimson arrow at Rengua.

The knights threw themselves in its path—

But the arrow pierced straight through them and hit Rengua.

A Hunter of Divine Nas ability—

The Arrow of Divine Nas.

[Rengua Field – Descendant of the Blood Oak Shaman (Madness)]

[Madness Control]

[Madness Contagion]

[Madness Explosion]

One of the entries on Rengua’s Divine Na list began to fade.

The mont Madness Control was erased—

“W-What?!”

“KUAAGH!!”

“STOP THEM! PROTECT THE LORD!!”

The berserk knights started slashing wildly in all directions.

The shaman unit and the shielders were instantly overwheld, blood spraying everywhere.

For the first ti, Kal’s expression twisted in shock.

Rengua, coughing blood, scread:

“NO! STOP!!!”

So knights regained control, but it was too late—they were already clashing with their own allies.

Chaos.

Amid the turmoil, no one could focus on —

Except for one.

Arcane.

He was calmly watching .

I didn’t like that look.

“…Shit.”

I had been waiting for one last shot at Kal, but I had to abandon it.

If I had more Burst Strikes left…

But Arcane’s gaze unsettled , and my life was on the line.

I thought of the people waiting for .

I leapt into the forest.