How to Survive Against Villains Chapter 374

Chapter 374: The Seed of Calamity

As the Sword Demon began walking, his gaze turned to Rengua.

His robe was stained with blood.

His face was pale and covered in dirt, reminding the Sword Demon of the first ti they t—When Rengua had dragged what appeared to be a precious corpse to the gates of Reruze.

“You’re in rough shape.”

“...I’ve lost my power. Am I still a ‘Black Star’?”

Clutched in Rengua’s hand was a broken staff—The Blood Oak Shaman’s Staff.

It was said to be a crucial dium for channeling his core ability, Madness.

“Do you know what the criteria are for selecting Black Stars?”

Rengua gave a conflicted expression and shook his head.

In truth, he did know.

But it was information given by his lord—sothing to be kept secret.

The Sword Demon nodded and spoke.

“If we picked based on power alone, there’d be more than just three Black Stars.”

“Then...”

“I didn’t make you a Black Star because of the staff.”

“I can no longer create Madn.”

“That’s a bit unfortunate. What about your doll-making technique?”

When Rengua nodded, the Sword Demon patted his shoulder.

“We’ll be traveling on horseback. Will you be able to keep up?”

“Of course.”

“Then follow .”

The Sword Demon walked past Rengua and moved forward.

When recruiting Black Stars, Karvas did value strength, but there was sothing he valued even more:

Curiosity.

A candidate had to deeply pique his interest.

Rengua seed to have lost one of his core abilities, but the Sword Demon had taken notice of him for a different reason—his dollcrafting, and the unique ambition behind it.

There was sothing Rengua aid to achieve as a puppet master.

“The Athyst Orb, and Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll…”

What was it that Rengua had tried to protect, even at the cost of his life?

The Sword Demon was curious.

Neigh—!

As Darkstorm brought out horses, Karvas, Azolett, and Rengua mounted up and rode toward the black city of Reruze.

The frozen desert—

Once the three of them were alone on the road, Azolett cautiously asked,

“What’s a Demtor spy doing visiting you, Boss?”

“If you’re going to talk like that to Arcane, then stay here.”

“You know as well as I do that Arcane isn’t just so astrologer. He’s up to sothing—he could sell our information to Grand Duke Clarke again, like last ti!”

“I only traded the information I needed. What he does with it afterward is none of my concern.”

“But—!”

Azolett looked at him, utterly baffled.

Arcane was more closely associated with Demtor than with Pri Root.

Though he moved between both factions like a bat, she was sure that, if forced to choose, he’d side with Demtor.

“Why are you so convinced?”

“He dared reject the offer to beco a Black Star.”

“So that’s what’s bothering you.”

“I just don’t get why he’s called an honored guest.”

The Sword Demon clicked his tongue and tugged on the reins.

Neither Azolett nor Rengua knew Arcane’s true nature.

They had no idea who he really was or what drove him.

The Sword Demon didn’t know the full extent of Arcane’s motives either—But he was certain of one thing:

Arcane is not soone who acts for others.

He was the kind of man who would shake hands with anyone, Demtor or not, as long as it suited his goals.

That’s what made him an honored guest.

Because, as long as the price was right, he’d reveal any information without hesitation.

Silence followed.

The Sword Demon urged his horse on, galloping across the desert.

When Azolett asked why they were in such a hurry, he replied:

“If he leaves while I’m away, that would be troubleso.”

Before receiving Azolett’s ergency call, the Sword Demon had been speaking with Arcane about a fascinating subject.

Due to the urgency, he had only told him to wait and left.

But knowing Arcane, there was a chance he’d simply disappear.

“I have more questions I want to ask.”

After their clash with the Allied Forces, the Sword Demon had developed an interest in them.

And if there was anyone who could answer his questions, it would be Arcane.

The black city of Reruze was like a frozen glacier in the heart of winter—There was no hint of warmth or sumr to be found.

Blizzards raged year-round, and the city was surrounded by a wall of ice.

“Open the gate!”

A soldier spotted the Sword Demon’s group and rang the bell in a panic. With a tallic scrape, the cold iron gates slowly creaked open.

Thud—

The Sword Demon entered through the gate.

It was dawn, just before sunrise.

The main road connected to the castle was quiet.

The windows of the buildings glowed with warm light, but no faces peeked outside.

A cold, white, frozen city.

Unmoved, the Sword Demon calmly rode down the main road.

Before long, a formation of soldiers appeared ahead.

“Salute!”

They dismounted and respectfully bowed to the Sword Demon.

There were about thirty of them.

They wore the sa black cloaks as Darkstorm, but the aura they emitted was far superior.

Each had a black star tattooed on the back of their hands.

Even Pri Root’s rowdiest raiders bowed and backed away when they saw that mark.

The Star Shadows.

They were elite candidates selected from within Darkstorm to beco future Black Stars.

Each had the skills of a 4-star warrior, with extensive real battle experience.

When not training Darkstorm, they served as overseers of law and order in Reruze whenever the Black Stars were away.

Though each was powerful enough to make a na for themselves anywhere, they had only one goal:

To beco a Black Star and stand beside the Sword Demon.

He gave a slight nod and asked,

“Any unusual activity?”

“Just minor disturbances, nothing significant.”

“Good work.”

Led by the Star Shadows, the Sword Demon continued toward the castle.

Corpses lined the roadside.

They looked freshly slain—likely killed within the past day.

No one reacted to the grueso sight.

Reruze, constantly short on food, was a city plagued by raids.

By the Sword Demon’s law, the punishnt for looting and murder was imdiate execution.

These bodies had all been judged and executed by the Star Shadows.

As they crossed the bridge leading to the inner fortress, Azolett asked,

“Looks like cri’s on the rise?”

“Criminals fleeing Demtor are increasing. Even mages have been showing up—it seems things are getting worse over there.”

“How are we responding?”

“We’re recruiting the useful ones. The rest are culled.”

“Good. Gather intel on Demtor as well.”

“Understood.”

“Kh–kugh!”

Rengua, walking beside them, suddenly doubled over with a painful cough, vomiting blood.

The Star Shadows turned their gazes toward him—not with concern, but like predators who had just found prey.

Their eyes lit up as they sized up Rengua’s condition.

Azolett clicked her tongue, and the Sword Demon continued forward in silence.

Soon, they arrived at the castle.

Only Azolett and Rengua followed as the Sword Demon led them through the first-floor corridor.

He spoke quietly.

“There will be challengers.”

“You don’t need to worry.”

In Pri Root, one could beco a Black Star by killing a current one in a duel.

A fitting thod of promotion for a faction that worshipped strength.

Of course, it wasn’t that simple.

The Sword Demon’s permission was required.

But several of the Star Shadows now possessed the qualifications.

So were likely already gathering information on Rengua’s condition.

If they confird their suspicions, a challenge would co.

“How long do you need?”

“A-about two weeks.”

“Two weeks it is.”

The Sword Demon had a feeling that, in two weeks, Rengua would face challenges from the Star Shadows.

At the end of the corridor—

As they entered the reception room, they were greeted by warm air.

A large fireplace burned along one wall, and seated near it in a small rocking chair, imrsed in a book, was Arcane.

The Sword Demon smiled and approached.

“You haven’t left.”

“Ah, you’ve returned?”

Arcane lifted his head and gave a faint smile, then closed his book and stood, stretching.

“You’ve been here the whole ti?”

“The book was so fascinating I lost track of ti. And it’s warm in here, unlike outside. Even the tea the attendant served was lovely.”

“That’s Cold Petal Tea—brewed from the only flower that blooms in the ice desert.”

“You have good taste. Thank you.”

The Sword Demon and Arcane faced each other.

Behind them, Azolett scowled as she looked at Arcane.

The blue earring on his left ear chid with a clear tone—it irritated her for so reason.

‘That white hair pisses off too.’

Compared to the Sword Demon’s wild, lion-like white mane, Arcane’s was soft and tidy.

The contrast between them was sharp, yet the two oddly matched—she hated it.

Rengua, anwhile, showed interest in the book Arcane held.

“That’s written in ancient script.”

“You can read it?”

“A little.”

They exchanged glances for a mont.

It seed they briefly recalled their ti in the Ordor Forest, but Rengua soon looked away, pretending not to know him.

He then glanced at the other thick books piled by Arcane’s chair.

All were written in ancient language, and from the titles, seed to be about the Age of the Absolutes.

“You’ve taken an interest in the vanished ones?”

“I’ve beco curious lately.”

“You managed to get your hands on rare texts.”

“I took them from the Ivory Tower archives.”

“That place prohibits removal.”

“I stole them.”

Rengua gave a dry laugh at Arcane’s unapologetic answer and backed away. He was curious about the contents, but in his current state, he could do nothing.

He just wanted to rest.

As Rengua excused himself—

“Wait a mont.”

Arcane stopped him.

Rengua furrowed his brow and glared at Arcane, as if to say, Don’t say anything foolish.

But Arcane tilted his head.

“Has sothing happened to you?”

“Why ask that?”

“Hm…”

Fiddling with his earring, Arcane looked over Rengua, then turned his gaze to Azolett, who stood behind the Sword Demon.

His eyes glead—he looked like he’d just made a discovery.

“Interesting.”

The one who reacted was the Sword Demon.

“Did their spiritual identities change?”

“You knew?”

“I expected one of them...”

The Sword Demon narrowed his eyes at Azolett.

“Didn’t expect the other.”

“May I hold their hands?”

“No!”

Azolett frowned and refused, but the Sword Demon nodded without hesitation.

“Only if I receive sothing in return.”

“Their spiritual identity readings won’t suffice?”

“You must want sothing from . Fine.”

At his signal, Azolett resisted several tis, but in the end reluctantly offered her hand.

Monts later, the sapphire earring emitted a brilliant light.

After checking both Azolett’s and Rengua’s spiritual nas, Arcane leaned on his chin.

His usually relaxed expression stiffened noticeably.

‘Their spiritual nas have changed.’

If it were a common transformation, Arcane wouldn’t have been so troubled.

Looking at the Sword Demon, who waited for an answer, Arcane said,

“Karvas, we were in the middle of a conversation earlier. Shall we continue here?”

Realizing Arcane’s intent, the Sword Demon nodded and gave Azolett and Rengua permission to rest.

They were dismissed.

Azolett frowned as she left. Rengua turned slowly, glancing back at Arcane.

Arcane, watching them leave, asked the Sword Demon,

“Did you leave earlier because of those two?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“What’s wrong?”

Instead of answering, Arcane scribbled sothing on a slip of paper and handed it to the Sword Demon.

It listed the changes to their spiritual identities.

Among them:

[Seed of Calamity]

...!

The Sword Demon’s eyes shifted toward the two as they walked away.