A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 103: Family (4)

I sat on the grass, dazed. The young Yeriel had been gone for some time, but the memory remained, with the breeze and sunlight gently moving in rhythm.

“I genuinely have no idea...”

I had used my Comprehension to examine the world around me, calculating the mana density. But something felt off. The problem wasn’t with the memory—it was with me. It seemed like some of my attributes had vanished, and the Telekinesis that had once been etched into my body was now undetectable.

“Hmm...” I murmured, stroking my chin as I pondered deeply. Suddenly, an idea struck me, and I raised my index finger. “Oh!”

“What if only my soul was pulled in?”

If the security system had stored my physical body elsewhere, it might have drawn only my soul—my consciousness—into this memory.

“That would explain why I feel so light and why the Telekinesis once imprinted on my body is no longer noticeable...”

The theory made sense. But if it were true, the real issue was figuring out where my body was. Trapped in Yeriel’s memory, there wasn’t much I could ...

Just then.

Whoosh—

A breeze stirred as mana gathered in the center of the clearing. I watched the scene unfold in a daze.

“What the heck...”

The mana shifted on its own, taking shape until it became a door—an actual, physical door.

“... A pathway?”

It reminded me of that eccentric, wild-haired scientist and his often anxious teenage grandson from Earth, who used a Portal Gun to open doorways to different dimensions. Tilting my head in curiosity, I approached and opened it. Inside there was...

***

Thirty minutes earlier, Yeriel had dived into the frame, feeling her entire body shrink as her mind slipped into a daze. She almost lost consciousness, but the bizarre scene before her jolted her awake, sending a sharp shock down her spine.

"Wha...?"

My hands... Even my palms and each of my fingers—so small. Too small.

"Wha's goin' on?!" Yeriel exclaimed, realizing her voice wasn't right either. It sounded strange and unfamiliar.

"Nooo..."

She reached up and touched her face. It felt round and puffy, like a soft, chubby bun.

"... Wha' jus' happen? Wha's goin' on?!" Yeriel yelled in panic, sensing a cold gaze piercing through her from somewhere nearby.

"You are being excessively loud," a voice declared.

It was Deculein, though much younger. Despite his youthful appearance, he still carried the same composed demeanor and cold attitude, his noble aura unchanged.

"Have you taken leave of your senses?" Deculein said, his tone sharp and critical.

If Deculein appeared to be around eleven years old, then Yeriel was likely in the body of a four-year-old. As she slowly grasped the situation, she took in her surroundings. They were in the tearoom of Yukline Castle. She was with Deculein, and when she glimpsed her reflection in the window...

"Wha' happened to my jeeks?!"

"Your jeeks?" Deculein said, frowning.

"My jeeks! The squishy part!" Yeriel yelled, pointing at her cheeks. She fumbled with her words, struggling to connect her thoughts with her tongue.

Deculein shook his head, more annoyed than concerned, and said, "You are truly determined to waste my time, aren't you?"

"... I'm wosin' my mind," Yeriel mumbled, frantically checking her stuff.

Fortunately, she still had the Key to Yukline, but Deculein's Notebook was missing. She wasn’t sure if it had been dropped along the way or if it had disappeared when she entered this memory. As she considered this, the door to the tearoom opened, and someone walked in.

"Young Master?"

Yeriel glanced up at the woman, still in a daze.

"I made some snacks for you," the woman said softly. It was her mother, Adelle. "Yeriel helped me make them..."

Oh, I remember now. Mom and I made some snacks for Deculein. Well, Mom did almost everything, and I just put the chocolate on top.

Of course, Deculein hadn't touched them, just like now, rising from his seat to leave as if it were a chore to even stay.

"Dun go," Yeriel blurted, grabbing his sleeve. Deculein froze, clearly not expecting that. "Mama an' Dada said we s'posed to eat together."

He looked down at her with those cold eyes—eyes that, even at a younger age, still made her heart skip a beat.

"Dat's good manners."

"I will not be eating."

"No, eat it."

"... Were you struck by lightning yesterday?" Deculein asked, his gaze sharpening as if to assess her for some hidden motive.

Sensing the tension, Adelle quickly gathered Yeriel into her arms and said softly, "I-I’m so sorry. I’m not sure what’s come over her today."

Deculein glanced between the two of them, his expression filled with disbelief. While Adelle was clearly flustered, Yeriel couldn’t help but find the whole situation amusing.

"See to it that the child is properly managed," Deculein said dismissively as he exited the tearoom. Adelle held Yeriel tightly for a moment, then gently reassured her before following him out.

"Dun go," Yeriel whispered, reaching out for her mother.

But then, another thought struck her. She remembered Deculein's words about someone taking away the one he loved...

Glooooom—

A deep, ominous darkness began to creep in from beyond the window. Yeriel frowned as she stared into it.

Craaack...

A spider web-like fracture spread across the air, and within it, Decalane's red eyes fixed on hers.

"Whuat!" Yeriel gasped, startled by the intensity of the vision despite her small, childlike form.

"You will not escape me," the creature growled, his voice sending shivers down her spine.

How did he catch up? Run, I have to run... but how can I run in this body? My legs—they're too short!

“... No.”

Wait. This world is part of my records and memories, isn’t it? That means... I should be able to change it. It’s worth a shot. Better than just sitting here.

Yeriel took a deep breath, tightened her grip on the golden key of Yukline with both hands, and fixed her gaze on a specific spot in the tearoom. At the same time, she concentrated on forming an image in her mind.

"Mmmmmm..."

Craaaack—!

As the sound of Decalane widening the crack echoed through the air, Yeriel’s small body trembled from the sheer intensity of her focus. A door appeared precisely where she had envisioned it.

"Did it! I can 'scape!" Yeriel cried, her small fists clenched in triumph. The next step was to decide where the door would go. "C'mon..."

Boooom—!

At that moment, the crack split wide open, and Decalane burst through, shattering both the glass and the wall. Just then, the door she had created swung open at the perfect moment.

"Decuwein! Decuwein!" Yeriel called out.

"... Hmm?" Deculein murmured as he casually opened the door and looked inside, puzzled by the chaotic scene.

"It’s me! It’s weal Yeriel!"

Hearing Yeriel's cry, Deculein immediately understood the situation and, with a single stride, crossed the room to pull her into his arms. Yeriel sighed in relief.

"Phew!"

"Don't say phew just yet. We might need to run again," Deculein said.

"Eh?" Yeriel mumbled, blinking in confusion.

Deculein pointed to where Decalane, radiating murderous intent, had begun to advance.

Sssshhhhh—!

Decalane extended his tendril, but although Deculein rolled out of the way, the door was still destroyed.

"Can you make another door?" Deculein asked.

"Yes, I can!" Yeriel said, nodding eagerly as she closed her eyes to focus. The first time had been hard, but now it was easier. Soon, another door appeared. "Wet’s go thwough that!"

"Okay."

"You will not escape..." Decalane hissed, sending tendrils toward them. But Deculein was quicker, pulling them both through the door just as the tendrils shattered the one behind them.

Whoooosh—!

In that moment, the world around them shifted once more, like a photo being swapped in a frame. Yeriel's body changed too, adjusting to match the new memory.

"... The garden?"

They were now in the garden of Yukline. Yeriel’s voice had returned to normal, her pronunciation clear once again.

"Phew," Yeriel sighed with relief.

"It does look like a garden," Deculein agreed as he surveyed the flower-filled landscape.

Yeriel pouted slightly, a strange sense of loss washing over her, and then asked, "... So, what brought you into this diary?"

"I was concerned you might be in danger," Deculein replied.

"Liar."

"I was concerned you might act recklessly."

"That sounds more accurate."

Deculein smiled faintly at her reaction.

Grooowl—

Yeriel’s stomach suddenly rumbled loudly, making her blush with embarrassment. Deculein raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Y-yes."

"I'm not hungry."

"... You're teasing me, aren’t you? It must be nice not being hungry," Yeriel muttered.

Deculein remained silent.

"... What!"

She had assumed he was teasing, but Deculein's expression stayed serious. He scanned Yeriel up and down, causing her to cross her arms defensively.

"But Yeriel, you noticed, didn’t you? Your body... it changed with the memory just now. You were a child earlier," Deculein remarked.

Yeriel gave a silent nod, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"But I stayed the same, even when the record changed."

"Yes, that seems like it," Yeriel agreed.

"And I don't feel hungry."

"And?"

"It means I’m just a spirit," Deculein concluded with certainty.

Yeriel looked at him skeptically and asked, "A spirit?"

"Yes. Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe," Deculein said.

"... You too," Yeriel responded quietly.

It was an awkward reunion. They exchanged glances, both feeling slightly uncomfortable, until he suddenly chuckled.

"Eh? What's so funny?" Yeriel asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Nothing. It's just... strange, but in a good way," Deculein replied, still smiling.

Yeriel was startled by his uncharacteristically open smile. Deculein was being unusually frank.

With that icy exterior gone, is this what he’s really like? It’s strange and awkward, but... not bad.

As Yeriel quietly concealed her smile...

Craaack—!

Another fracture split the air above the garden. Decalane had returned.

Deculein clicked his tongue and said, "He's really stubborn."

"What should we do?" Yeriel asked. Yeriel focused intently on his next words, confident that he had a plan.

"We should open another door," Deculein said casually.

“... Huh?”

"What? We just have to keep running until we figure something out," Deculein said.

I can't believe someone as proud as Deculein would admit so easily that we still don't have a plan, Yeriel thought, momentarily lost in thought.

"Quick, before he arrives."

Boom—! Boom—!

Tendrils emerged from the crack, pounding the ground as they closed in on them.

"Oh, okay," Yeriel said, imagining another door, which appeared almost instantly.

"Where to?" Deculein asked.

"I haven't decided on a specific destination."

"A random choice works too," Deculein said, smiling at the unexpected adventure, unusual from his usual self. He placed his hand on the door handle, then glanced at Yeriel. "Let's open it together."

"Sorry? Oh... Alright," Yeriel replied.

Creeeeak...

Yeriel gently placed her hands on top of his. They opened the door together and stepped into the unknown.

***

After that, they were caught in a relentless cycle of fleeing. No matter where they went, Deculein's unyielding pursuit was always close behind. Yeriel repeatedly imagined doors to escape, while they shifted between different ages—sometimes ten years old, then four, then twenty, then twenty-one.

One moment, they were in Yukline Castle, then in the Mage Tower, the Academy, and finally, the grand mansion in the capital. Despite their frantic escape lasting more than 24 hours each day, Yeriel didn’t mind it all that much. In fact, she rather enjoyed seeing this new side of Deculein—his honest thoughts.

"... I’m wittle again," Yeriel muttered, frowning at her reflection in the mirror. She now looked about four or five years old.

But she didn’t enjoy moments like this.

"Yes, you did get smaller," Deculein remarked as he lifted the tiny Yeriel and tucked her under his arm.

Yeriel grumbled, "You fink I’m a twoy or somfin’?"

"You're asking if I think you're a toy?"

“Dat’s wight."

"It’s easier like this. But more importantly, which part of the memory is this?"

"I dunno."

Now that she had reverted to a child, Yeriel didn’t care about memories. What truly mattered was when this endless chase would finally end. Creating doors required mana, and she had almost none left...

Squeeeze—

Deculein played with Yeriel's chubby cheeks, giving them a gentle pinch.

Squeeze— squeeze—

"Shtop it! Don’t stwetch my jeeks!"

"Oh, my mistake," Deculein said, letting go of her cheek, which had stretched like dough before bouncing back to normal.

Yeriel pouted her lips and said, "... What do we do now? We can't keep wunning foweva."

Deculein, understanding that she meant they couldn’t keep running forever, gently stroked her chin and murmured, "Hmm, I think I’m starting to figure it out..."

"Whassit?"

"Grab your key again."

Yeriel took the Key of Yukline from her pocket, and Deculein reached out to touch it.

"Huh?" Yeriel said, her eyes widening as Deculein's fingers slipped right through the key, like a ghost.

"I can't hold the key, and only your body changes."

"Why dat?"

"You're asking why it's like this?"

“Cowwect.”

In truth, Deculein had already begun to figure out how to handle Decalane and restore things to normal. Yet, as Kim Woo-Jin, he wanted to savor this sense of independence just a little longer.

"The reason is..."

Crrrraaaack—!

Once again, the crack formed. Yeriel and Deculein sighed as they watched the sky shatter like glass.

"How does he keep catching up so fast?" Deculein muttered.

It felt as though he was tracking them with radar. His relentless pursuit was like something straight out of a horror movie.

"... Wha' we do now?"

"Let's move on to another memory."

"‘Gain?" Yeriel said, puffing out her cheeks, which now looked more like balloons than buns.

"Don’t worry. This will be the last time."

"... 'Kay." Yeriel said, closing her eyes, hoping it would really be the last time, and imagined another door. "Phew! Aww done!"

With the last of her mana, she managed to create a door. Deculein, holding her close, stepped toward it. Yeriel’s small hand reached out and opened the door.

Rrrruuummble—!

"You must realize by now that it’s futile," Decalane said, his dark, scorched voice seeping through the widening crack.

"Ignore him," Deculein said, stepping through the door.

Whooooosh...

The familiar sensation of being stretched, along with the nausea and dizziness, returned.

When Yeriel opened her eyes, she sighed in relief and said, "I’m an adult again."

"And now we're in an empty clearing," Deculein remarked, calmly surveying the surroundings. They had arrived in a completely barren field.

Yeriel glanced at him and said, "Now explain it to me. What is your plan?"

"Ah~ so—"

But then...

Crrrraaaack—!

Before he could finish, another crack quickly appeared behind them.

"Why is he getting faster?"

Decalane’s pursuit had accelerated rapidly. As they grew accustomed to running, he seemed to have perfected the art of chasing them.

Yeriel looked at Deculein and asked, "A-are we going to run again?"

"No, we don’t need to run anymore," Deculein said, shaking his head with a confident air, as if he had found the solution.

"What do we do then?"

"Do you remember when he talked about the security system at the start?" Deculein asked as he stretched, preparing for something.

Yeriel nodded and replied, "Yeah."

"That key was the security system," Deculein said, pointing to the Key of Yukline in Yeriel’s hand. "Which means my body is inside it."

"Your body?" Yeriel asked, confused.

Deculein smiled and replied, "Yes. By now, you’ve likely figured it out—I’m a spirit, but more precisely, I’m the unconscious mind."

Yeriel flinched, biting her lip before giving a slight nod.

Crrrraaaack—!

In the meantime, the crack widened further.

Deculein glanced at it and said, "I don’t know where he got that demonic energy, but he fights by releasing it."

He is not a demon, of course. Demonic energy isn’t exclusive to them. But as long as his main power source is demonic energy, and with Yeriel by my side, I have no reason to lose, Deculein thought.

"I just need to get my body back. Then, I can win."

However, most of Deculein’s attributes had been tied to his physical body, particularly the bloodline of Yukline, which was crucial for combating demonic energy. In his current state, Deculein was merely the soul of Kim Woo-Jin.

"Your body? How do we recover it?" Yeriel asked, still puzzled, though the solution was quite simple. It had been in her hands all along.

Deculein replied softly, "You need to place that key into my heart."

Naturally, once I reclaim my body, this unconscious state will end. I will revert to being Deculein. There’s a touch of sadness, some hesitation, and even an irrational fear, but I cannot stay like this forever. This brief escape from reality has gone on long enough.

"And then, leave the rest to me," Deculein said, smiling confidently.

However, Yeriel suddenly hesitated, stepping back with a look of reluctance on her face.

"What’s wrong?"

"Well... it’s just that..." Yeriel murmured, hesitating as she looked up at Deculein with uncertainty.

She appeared concerned. Deculein frowned briefly before realizing the reason. He understood her feelings; they likely mirrored his own.

"Ah~ I see."

Crrrraaaack—!

It was a critical moment, yet Decalane, as oblivious as ever, opened another crack, and dark tendrils seeped through.

Ruuumble—!

Yeriel glanced back and forth between the ghostly aura of the scene and Deculein. Decalane, with his dark tendrils pushing through the widening crack, contrasted with Deculein, who smiled warmly.

Yeriel clutched the key to her chest, biting her lip. She felt a little scared, fearing that if she used this key, the current Deculein would disappear—that he would vanish completely, along with all these memories.

I like the Deculein he is now. But if everything goes back to how it was, he won’t smile at me like this again, Yeriel thought.

"It’s okay," Deculein said softly, his gentle voice breaking through her thoughts as he placed a hand on her head.

Yeriel slowly lifted her eyes. He smiled at her, just as warmly as before.

"Just as you’re still Yeriel..."

In the dark, empty clearing, Yeriel stared at him. His expression, his smile, his voice—these were things he had never shown her before they had entered the space in memory.

"I’m still myself."

Yeriel gritted her teeth, holding back her emotions. It wasn’t hard. After years of negotiations, maintaining a poker face and hiding her feelings had become second nature.

Of course, this wasn’t a negotiation, a deal, or a discussion with a merchant or between families... It might have seemed like she was rambling, but Yeriel, with a determined nod, grasped the key with both hands.

"Yes, I know," Yeriel said, as she pressed the key into Deculein’s chest.

The key slid smoothly into him, stopping with a click as if it had found its rightful place. Yeriel hesitated for a moment.

At that moment...

Deculein’s hand closed over hers. She looked up at him, feeling warmth spread through her hand and heart.

"... Goodbye."

"You as well," Deculein replied.

Click—!

Together, they turned the key.

Whooooosh...

In that instant, a transformation took place. Golden energy and mana surged from the key, each particle flowing into Deculein. His body reformed as his spirit returned to its rightful place.

Crrrraaaack—!

Almost simultaneously, Decalane’s crack fully opened, yet, strangely, everything remained silent.

Hiss— Hiss—

Decalane’s tendrils flicked as he stared at Deculein, seemingly aware of the change. He hesitated, observing cautiously. Silence and stillness filled the air. Yeriel glanced at Deculein, who now stood beside her. His eyes were sharper, more focused than before, and his appearance had completely transformed.

He had become the Deculein she remembered from long ago, or rather, the Deculein she had always known. Standing tall, he silently surveyed the area. He smoothed back his disheveled hair, fastened his loose buttons, and straightened his clothes. Not a single wrinkle remained, and not a speck of dust marred his appearance.

He exuded a dignified presence, his gaze haughty and unyielding, allowing no room for even the smallest flaw. Yeriel, feeling a twinge of sadness, lowered her head slightly.

"Deculein," Decalane’s voice resonated.

Deculein, now fully himself once more, faced Decalane with cold contempt. In silence, Deculein connected with his inner self, sensing Decalane’s presence.

As he looked at Decalane, a corrupted and fallen creation, emotions that Kim Woo-Jin had never felt surged within him—disgust, contempt, fury, and revulsion. He channeled all of that loathing into a single phrase.

"... How dare a wretch like you utter my name."