Family. (4)
I sat blankly on the grassy field.
The young Yeriel had long since vanished, but the memory lingered vividly, the wind and sunlight swaying rhythmically through the blades.
"I have no idea..."
I peered into this world with Understanding, calculating the mana density. Something felt off.
The problem lay not with this memory, but with me.
Some of my Traits felt missing, and the Telekinesis imprinted in my body was gone.
"Hmm..."
I stroked my chin, pondering deeply.
"Ah!"
A sudden realization struck; I raised my index finger.
"What if only my soul came along?"
The 'security mechanism' had stored my body somewhere, allowing only my soul—that is, my 'consciousness'—to flow into this record.
"That would explain my freedom here, and why the Telekinesis imprinted in my 'body' isn't felt..."
The hypothesis fit perfectly.
But if so, the issue was 'where my body is.' Trapped in Yeriel's memory, I couldn't do a thing...
Then.
Whoosh—the wind stirred, mana condensing in the middle of the thicket.
I watched blankly.
"What the—"
The mana churned wildly, transforming into a door. A literal 'door.'
"......A passage?"
Like that famous cat robot from Earth and its 'door to anywhere.'
I tilted my head and approached, opening the door.
Inside was...
......30 minutes earlier.
Diving into the picture frame, Yeriel felt her entire body shrinking. Her mind grew foggy at the same time.
She nearly blacked out, but witnessing the bizarre sight with her own eyes snapped them wide open. Electricity prickled the nape of her neck.
"Wha... no way...?"
My hand.
Not just the palm, but every knuckle.
Tiny.
Way, way too tiny.
"How'd this happen?!"
The moment she shouted, Yeriel realized her tongue and voice were off too.
"Like thith...?"
She raised her hand to poke at her face.
Chubby like a manju bun. Plump and squishy.
"......Am I a baby? What ith thith mithion?!"
She yelled in fury at the sudden regression, when a cold gaze pierced down from somewhere.
"You. Too loud."
......It was Deculein.
Precisely, the young Deculein. But his neat appearance and icy demeanor were unchanged. His noble poise was the same as ever.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"......"
He looked about eleven, so she must be around four.
Yeriel belatedly scanned her surroundings.
It was the tea room in the Yukline lord's castle. She was with Deculein, and the face reflected in that glass window was...
"My cheekth are tho puffy!"
"......Puffy?"
Deculein furrowed his brow.
"Puffy! Pull my cheekth!"
Cheeks, pull cheeks.
Deculein shook his head, not understanding.
"You really are something. I said I don't have time, but you drag me here anyway."
"......I know, thorry."
I'm going crazy.
Yeriel checked her possessions first. Thankfully, the Yukline Key was still there, but Deculein's Notebook was missing.
Did she drop it on the way? Or did it dissolve upon entering this record?
As she pondered, the tea room door opened, and someone entered.
"Young master~?"
Yeriel stared blankly at her.
"I made these treats myself."
Her mother, Adel.
"Yeriel helped a little too..."
Ah. This memory.
She remembered.
She had baked cookies for Deculein with her mom. Of course, Mom did 95%, and she just topped the last 5% with chocolate.
Deculein hadn't touched a single one, naturally.
Just like now, he'd stood up annoyed and headed outside...
"Wait."
"......"
Yeriel grabbed his sleeve. Deculein froze, caught off guard.
"You hafta eat thith to know if it'th good."
"......"
He looked down coldly. It was ages ago, and he was much younger than now, but those eyes still made her heart sink.
"That'th what friendth do."
"I'm not eating."
"Why not."
"......Did lightning strike you yesterday or something?"
Deculein's eyes sharpened. Adel, sensing the mood, quickly scooped her up.
"S-sorry. What's wrong with her today?"
The young Deculein glared at them alternately with exasperated eyes. Adel fidgeted, but Yeriel found the situation amusing for some reason.
"Fine. Take better care of the child."
Deculein left the tea room. Adel hugged Yeriel tight, whispered "I'll be right back~" softly, and followed him.
"......Wait."
As Yeriel reached for her mom, a phrase popped into her head. Deculein's words: 'You stole the person I loved'...
Rumble—
"?"
Suddenly, darkness flooded beyond the glass window. Yeriel frowned and peered closely.
Crackkk...
Cracks spread like spiderwebs in the air, and Dikailen's red eyes glared from within.
"Eek!"
Yeriel jumped in fright. Even in her child body, her scream was loud.
—You can't escape me.
She recoiled at the echoing voice.
How did it follow her here?
Run, run—wait, how with these legs? Too short!
"......No."
Wait a sec.
This world is my record, my memory anyway.
So... can't I change it at will?
"......"
Worth a shot.
Better than nothing.
"Hoo."
Yeriel sighed, clutching the Yukline golden key tightly in both hands, glaring at one spot in the tea room.
At the same time, she pictured an image in her mind.
"Bwoooo..."
Crackkk—!
Dikailen's crack widened sharply, but her intense focus made her child body tremble—and it worked.
Just as she imagined.
A 'door' appeared where she stared.
"Yeth!"
Clenching her tiny fist, Yeriel took it further. Setting the door's destination.
"Kwooo..."
Boom—!
The air crack split fully as Dikailen emerged. It shattered the glass and wall, but her door burst open perfectly timed.
"......Deculein!"
"Huh?"
It was Deculein. Opening the door casually, he tilted his head at the chaotic interior.
"It'th me! Me! The one and only Yeriel!"
The child Yeriel's cry. Deculein grasped it instantly, rushing over to scoop her up.
Yeriel sighed in relief.
"Phew!"
"Not phew—we need to run again?"
"Eh?"
Deculein eyed Dikailen radiating murderous intent. Swish—tentacles lashed out.
He rolled aside, dodging, but the door shattered.
"Can't make another door?"
Yeriel nodded, closing her eyes and shuddering. First time was hard; after was easy.
She conjured another door swiftly.
"To that thingy!"
"Got it."
—You can't escape...
Dikailen menaced, tentacles extending, but Deculein dove through first.
Whoosh—!
The world flipped. Like swapping a picture frame's photo.
Yeriel's body shifted to match the 'memory.'
"......Garden?"
The scene: Yukline garden.
Her voice worked properly now. No slurring.
Phew.
Yeriel sighed in relief.
"Yeah. The garden."
Deculein said, surveying the flower-filled garden.
Yeriel pouted needlessly.
"......Why'd you come into this diary?"
"Thought you might be in danger."
"Liar."
"Worried you'd do something stupid."
"That's more like it."
Deculein chuckled softly.
Grr rumble— Yeriel's stomach growled loudly. She flinched, blushing; Deculein tilted his head.
"Hungry?"
"Y-yeah."
"I'm not."
"......Who you kidding? Must be nice not being hungry."
"......"
"......What?"
She expected teasing, but Deculein's face was serious. He scanned her up and down.
Yeriel crossed her arms awkwardly.
"But Yeriel, your body changes with the record. You were a baby moments ago, right?"
"......"
Yeriel nodded silently. Embarrassing.
"Mine hasn't. Even when the record changes."
"Yeah. True."
"Not hungry either."
"So?"
"Means I'm a 'soul.'"
Deculein stated with conviction. Yeriel eyed him sassily.
"......Soul?"
"Yeah."
As their eyes met, he suddenly burst out laughing.
"Pfft haha. This is wild."
His goofy grin flustered her.
The honest Deculein.
Without his shell, was this his true self?
......Not bad.
As Yeriel hid a quiet smile.
Crackkk—!
Another rift in the garden air. Dikailen again.
Deculein clicked his tongue.
"Persistent bastard."
"What now?"
"What else."
Deculein would have an answer.
Yeriel focused on his lips.
"Open another door."
"......Huh?"
"What. Till we figure it out, running's all we got."
Saying he had no solution so casually... Yeriel blanked out briefly.
"Hurry. It's coming."
Bang! Bang! Tentacles pounded the rift.
"Ah, okay."
Yeriel closed her eyes, imagining the door. It appeared instantly.
"Destination?"
"Didn't set one."
"Random's fine too."
Deculein, uncharacteristically casual—even smiling—grabbed the knob. Then looked at her.
"Together?"
"Huh? Oh... yeah."
Yeriel placed her hand on his.
Thus, they opened the door together, stepping through side by side.
......After that, it was endless fleeing. Dikailen's learning intellect dogged them relentlessly; Yeriel kept conjuring doors to escape.
Ten years old, then four, then twenty...
Yukline castle, magic tower, academy...
A frantic 24-hour chase, but Yeriel wasn't in a bad mood.
Rather, she enjoyed Deculein's new side. His honest inner thoughts.
"......I'm a kid again."
Not now.
Yeriel sulked at her mirror. Four-to-five-year-old appearance.
"Yeah. Kid again."
Deculein hoisted tiny Yeriel onto his hip effortlessly. She grumbled pointlessly.
"I'm heavy."
"You calling me a thing?"
"Nope."
"Easier this way. Anyway, what memory is this?"
"Dunno."
Back to child form, memories didn't matter to her now.
How long till they stopped running?
Doors needed mana, and hers was nearly gone...
Squeeech—
Deculein pinched her chubby cheek.
Streeetch— squeeech—
"Thop. No cheekth."
"Oops. Reflex."
Stretching the manju-like cheek, then snapping back.
Yeriel twisted her lips.
"......What now? Can't wun much more."
Meaning only a couple more runs. Deculein, understanding, stroked his chin.
"Hmm. I think I get it somewhat..."
"What?"
"Your key. Pull it out again."
Yeriel fished out the key. Deculein reached for it with a finger.
"Huh?"
Yeriel's eyes widened. His finger passed right through the key.
Like a ghost touching an object.
"Can't hold the key, and only your body changes."
"Why tho?"
"Why, huh?"
"Yeah."
Truth was, he already knew. How to beat Dikailen, how to return to normal.
But as Kim Woojin, he wanted to savor this independence a bit longer.
"Why is..."
Crackkk—!
Another rift. They sighed at the shattering air.
"How's it catch up so fast?"
Does it work in rifts too?
Leech-like persistence—pure horror.
"......What do?"
"Let's go. Another record."
"Wun?"
Yeriel puffed her cheeks. Manju to balloon.
"Don't worry. Last one."
"......Weawwy?"
Yeriel closed her eyes, praying it was truly last, conjuring the door.
"Pwah! Done."
Door appeared familiarly. Deculein approached, holding her. Her tiny hand opened it.
Rumble—!
—You know it's futile now...
Rift opened; Dikailen's sticky tone leaked in.
"Ignore."
Deculein entered promptly.
Whooshhh...
Body-stretching sensation again.
Yeriel opened her eyes, sighing relief.
"Grown-up."
"And an empty lot."
Deculein calmly surveyed. Perfectly barren clearing.
Yeriel glared playfully.
"Explain now. What's the plan?"
"Ah~ so—"
But.
Craaaack—
Dikailen's pursuit accelerated exponentially. As they adapted to fleeing, so had it to chasing.
Yeriel looked at Deculein.
"Run again?"
"No. No need anymore."
Deculein shook his head. Confident, like he'd found the answer.
"Then?"
"Remember, it mentioned 'security mechanism' first?"
Stretching as he spoke. Preparing.
Yeriel nodded.
"Yeah."
"That mechanism is the key."
"......?"
To baffled Yeriel, he pointed at the Yukline Key.
"Meaning, my body's inside that key."
"Body?"
Yeriel echoed. Deculein smiled faintly.
"Yeah. You suspected too, right? I'm a soul—unconsciousness, basically."
"......"
Caught. Yeriel pursed her lips, then nodded sulkily.
Crackkk—!
Rift widening meanwhile. Deculein glanced.
"That thing—who knows where it got demonic energy—but it's made of Demonic Energy."
Not a demon, of course.
Demons don't monopolize it. But fueled by demonic energy, and with Yeriel here, Deculein had no reason to lose.
"Reclaim my body. Then I win."
Most Traits were body-bound. Especially the core Yukline Bloodline against demonic energy.
Current Deculein was just Kim Woojin's soul.
"Body? How?"
Yeriel asked blankly, but the method was simple. In her hands from the start.
Deculein said.
"Stab that key into my heart."
Of course, reclaiming body ends this unconsciousness. Back to Deculein proper.
A bit regrettable, hesitant, oddly scary.
But couldn't stay like this forever.
Enough indulgence.
"And leave the rest to me."
Deculein flashed a confident smile.
But Yeriel acted strange. She backed away reluctantly.
"......"
"Why?"
She fidgeted, looking up worriedly.
Why's she... Deculein frowned briefly, then realized. Probably same reason as him.
"Aha~"
Crackkk—!
At this crucial moment.
Dikailen rudely ripped the rift; black tentacles slithered first.
Craaack—!
Yeriel glanced between the eerie scene and Deculein. Dikailen poked its head through the widening black maw; Deculein chuckled lowly.
"......"
Yeriel clutched the key to her chest, biting her lip.
She was a little scared.
Using this key would make him leave. Vanish completely. Forget all these memories.
She liked this Deculein; returning to normal...
He'd never smile at her again.
"It's okay."
"!"
Did he read her mind? Deculein called softly, hand on her head.
Yeriel looked up. He smiled at her.
"Just like you're still Yeriel..."
Dark, empty clearing.
Yeriel stared blankly.
His expression, smile, voice—all never shown to her in life.
"I'm still me."
"......"
Yeriel gritted her teeth, holding back tears.
Easy. Poker face, hiding emotions—negotiation basics.
Not a deal, trade, merchant duel, family meeting... anyway, rambling...
Resolutely, Yeriel gripped the key with both hands.
"Yeah. I know."
She thrust it into Deculein's chest. The key sank softly; click—like catching something.
Then, Deculein wrapped her hand. Yeriel gazed up steadily. Warmth settled in hand and heart.
"......Bye."
Click—!
She twisted the key.
Rushhhh...
That instant, the 'phenomenon' triggered.
Golden vapors and mana surged from the key, seeping into closed-eyed Deculein.
Crackkk—!
Simultaneously, Dikailen's rift fully tore open.
Yet, strangely quiet.
Slurp— slurp—
It flicked tentacles, staring at Deculein. Detecting change, probing warily.
"......"
Silence and stillness.
Yeriel eyed Deculein beside her.
His eyes utterly different. Transformed.
Sharpened like the world's keenest blade. Face brimming with noble grace, arrogance bordering on self-assurance.
The Deculein from her memories—long ingrained.
"......"
Silently, he surveyed the area.
Smooth back wildly tousled hair. Fastened disheveled cuff buttons, straightened clothes.
Not a single wrinkle left. Dust scoured pathologically. Gaze lofty.
No tiniest flaw shown.
Yeriel bowed her head, a touch sad.
"Deculein."
Dikailen's persona spoke.
And Deculein, as Deculein again, faced it.
"......"
Silent Deculein sensed his inner self.
Overreaching created thing, corrupted filth. That rotten trash, damned refuse...
Emotions absent in Kim Woojin—disgust, contempt, rage, revulsion—surged.
Deculein summed the totality of negation in one phrase.
"......You filthy maggot. How dare you utter my name with that mouth."