A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 297

Chapter 297.2: Cactus (4)

Due to the mission's failure, Deculein was locked in his office while General Bell seized full authority and advanced tyrannically, slaughtering eleven tribes and beheading thousands of Scarletborn in just one week.

“... I mean, why did you advance in such a hurry?” Ria asked. “Where did Count Yukline go—the one who used to analyze even the tiniest details so thoroughly?”

"That is none of your concern," Deculein replied.

Between Deculein and Ria was a small barrier, and if Deculein stepped outside it, an alarm would immediately sound, followed by a prompt summary judgment resulting in execution.

“But still.”

"Is that a cuff?" Deculein inquired, pointing at the object in Ria's hand.

“Yes, Her Majesty said that this is for you, Count Yukline.”

"Indeed. Hand it over."

Ria placed the cuff inside the mana barrier.

Click—!

Deculein put on the cuffs himself, his face strangely calm.

"... Are you really going to be alright, Professor?" Ria asked.

"It is merely a process, after all," Deculein replied, nodding.

“A process?”

Was even being imprisoned like this all part of his plan, then? Ria thought.

"Is Her Majesty well?" Deculein inquired.

"Sorry? Oh, yes. I think she's fine."

“That is a relief.”

“Umm... then, I’ll be going now,” Ria replied, bowing before leaving Deculein’s office and rushing toward someone waiting for her.

***

“... Is that so?” Sophien said.

In Sophien's presence, Ria precisely described Deculein's actions as Sophien sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

“And Count Yukline asked me if Your Majesty was well,” Ria replied.

Hearing Ria’s words, Sophien lowered her eyes once more.

Did Deculein's worry melt her heart? Ria thought.

Ria then hurriedly added, “Count Yukline must have thought that Your Majesty’s heart was not at ease either—”

“It is needless to say—I already know.”

“... Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ria carefully watched Sophien's expression, the air between them as fragile as a thin sheet of ice.

I have no idea what happened to the expedition that day.

“But why, then... Count Yukline...”

Ria paused as Sophien silently looked down at her.

"Are you asking why I imprisoned the Count?" Sophien replied.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I do not know,” Sophien said, shaking her head and resting her chin on her hand. “The Professor abandoned the desert, claiming it was an advance without benefit.”

“... Oh.”

“I am well aware,” Sophien continued, a sneer playing on her lips—as if scoffing at herself rather than Deculein. “Annihilating the desert, massacring the Scarletborn—none of it changes anything. It brings no benefit to the Empire. It is of no help to me.”

Sophien herself had to admit that she loathed the Scarletborn—an emotion whose origin was unknown and unknowable, yet surged like an unbearable tide, pounding her mind and setting her heart ablaze. She knew the expedition to the Desert would bring no benefit to her or the Empire and was aware that it was a pointless endeavor without any clear justification.

"However, hearing of it still enraged me."

“Enraged... Your Majesty?”

“Indeed, I could not endure it.”

There was no justification or principle behind the Scarletborn massacre, and Sophien knew this all too well.

“I genuinely wanted to kill Deculein,” Sophien said, raking her fingers through her hair in frustration. “Perhaps I just fooled myself into thinking Deculein was a kindred spirit.”

Sophien might have seen Deculein as a kindred spirit, believing that he, like herself, loathed the Scarletborn and despised the desert.

“And perhaps that’s why some part of me mistook disappointment for betrayal.”

“... Then maybe it’s not too late to—”

“No,” Sophien interrupted, shaking her head. “Deculein stays where he is until the expedition to the desert is over.”

Sophien's tone was resolute, cutting off Ria's words without the slightest room for interjection.

“Is there a reason...?” Ria asked, voice barely above a whisper.

“That’s a secret,” Sophien replied with a faint smile tugging at her lips.

***

“... Her Majesty said the reason you’re still locked up is a secret. But at least she doesn’t completely hate you. That’s kind of a relief,” Ria said, leaning against the office wall as she looked at Deculein.

“How many visits does that make now?” Deculein inquired, not bothering to mask the fatigue in his voice.

Even when I try to help, he’s like this, Ria thought.

“I’m only helping because you helped me first,” Ria said, narrowing her eyes slightly.

“That is unnecessary.”

Rustle— Rustle—

The sound of Deculein turning a page filled the air, and for no particular reason, the peaceful scene drew Ria’s eyes to the window where a full moon hung high in the dark night sky.

“Count Yukline.”

Deculein offered no reply.

“So, you must have really loved your former fiancée,” Ria continued, throwing a light blow as Deculein read without looking up.

The sound of Deculein turning the page suddenly stopped.

Did I scare him into ripping his papers? Ria thought.

Scratching the back of her neck, Ria added, “People always say the same thing when they look at me. That Count Yukline teaches me because I remind you of your former fiancée who passed away. Because I look like her—”

“That’s not true.”

“Really? I’m not so sure. Feels like it might be,” Ria replied.

At that moment, Deculein struck a heavy blow to Ria's heart.

“... Yuara.”

At that moment, Ria’s heart felt as if it were bursting with a thunderous pulse, as if she had given a little and received an infinite blow in return.

“She did not die,” Deculein added.

“... Sorry?” Ria muttered, like the breath had only just returned to her.

“She’s still alive,” Deculein said.

What is he talking about? Yoo Ah-Ra’s alive? Does he know I’m Yoo Ah-Ra—

“She left me because she feared me.”

Some time ago, Sylvia told Deculein that Yuara’s soul was still alive somewhere, breathing, and that she had merely feigned death to leave him.

“She must have hated me enough to pretend she was dead.”

Ria remained silent.

“Therefore, there’s no need for you to worry, as I do not see Yuara in someone like you,” Deculein concluded.

Ria inwardly accepted his point.

That’s what Deculein believes, that Yoo Ah-Ra didn’t die but just left him. I guess I can understand why he thinks that way, Ria thought.

“No, I don’t think that’s true,” Ria replied, closing her eyes for a moment and shaking her head.

“What would someone like you know?” Deculein replied, his lips curling into a twist.

“I heard that even our personalities match.”

“... Did that come from Delic?” Deculein said, his temple lines tightening like drawn wire.

“I don’t remember who said it... But if I were her..."

Ria fell into a brief contemplation.

The reason I broke up with Kim Woo-Jin—no, the reason I didn’t hold on when he asked me to break up with him was...

“If I were her...”

Woo-Jin had no parents and was left at an orphanage the day he was born. The only family he knew was a younger sibling from the same orphanage—someone closer to him by more than blood. But that child left the world too soon... way too soon.

“Because I couldn’t do anything to help you.”

That’s why I wanted to be Woo-Jin’s family—to bring him a smile, to raise children with him, watch them fall in love, and one day hold our grandchildren together—all so his heart could feel warm again. Like the kind of happy family anyone only ever sees in fairy tales. A happiness that ends with and they lived happily ever after...

But I didn’t know—not until it was already too late—that I couldn’t give him children and with me, Woo-Jin would never have a family of his own...

That is why I didn't hold him back. Maybe I couldn’t or chose not to.

“If it were me, that’s probably what I’d do given my personality. Or maybe not. Ahem,” Ria concluded, lightening her tone and clearing her throat to brush the mood away.

Tap—

Pat, pat, pat, pat—

Kim Woo-Jin—not Deculein, but Kim Woo-Jin, whom I miss so much right now...

Knock, knock—

Creeeeeak—

“... Eh?”

... It was a memory from long ago—or rather, it was the closest thing to a beginning this story has.

"Hehe. You didn't notice when you were modeling the character? He looks similar to you," Ah-Ra said.

The day I walked over to Woo-Jin while he worked late, just to tell him Deculein was his model—like I needed a reason to talk...

That day, Woo-Jin grabbed his hair with both hands—like I had just dropped a bombshell...

"Tsk, that’s why I dumped you."

My face stiffened for a second, and it did hurt, just a little. But he wasn’t wrong—I was the one who got dumped.

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