The Villain Wants to Live

The most important process in unification was liquefaction. I couldn’t shove the Snowflake Obsidian into my body in its metal form, so I dissolved it in a liquid to draw the demonic core‘s formula in my heart.

“What? How are you going to melt it?”

“It’s easy.”

Yeriel frowned, but I immediately plunged the Snowflake Obsidian into a vial. The Snowflake Obsidian agglomerated into the pure white solution in an instant.

“!”

Yeriel’s eyes became the size of baseballs. I laughed a little.

“…It is the result of hard work.”

99% Understanding meant that this thing knew me near-completely, and I knew it near-completely. The Snowflake Obsidian was now extremely focused on heat among the contradictory dual qualities of cold and hot.

“Do not touch it.”

Yeriel, who had unconsciously reached out, stopped.

“…Yeah. But you’re putting this in your body?”

I nodded. Yeriel grimaced.

“Are you thinking of committing suicide?”

“It’ll be okay if I coat it.”

The next process was focused on the extreme expression of cold in the Snowflake Obsidian.

“Cold and hot, so that the two states can be in perfect balance at the apex.”

“Oh, I know what you mean. Are you saying that the outer part of this liquid will be cold?”

“Yes.”

The surface of the liquid Snowflake Obsidian froze. However, freezing didn’t result in a full transition to a solid. It was still liquid, except for the nanometer-thick outer part. It was now in a state of perfect harmony between ultra-high and ultra-low temperatures.

Now I was going to inject this into my body and draw the formula. I would craft the demonic core using the heart as a medium and the Snowflake Obsidian as material.

“It’s too dangerous.”

Yeriel said. Of course, it would be dangerous.

“I-“

“Indeed, there will be war soon. The Annihilation expedition, the desert expedition. I heard it all. Would this be better than being too weak to survive on the battlefield?”

“…”

“Yes. That’s right. It’s too embarrassing to die in battle, right? What would you say to the family elder if that happened?”

She figured it all out before I said a word.

“Okay. Then I know my role too.”

Yeriel’s lips drew a thin line.

“As you can see, the most basic element in Decalane’s magic is the environment.”

Saying that, she radiated her mana out. It formed a barrel-like cylinder around me with an open spout.

“Of course, mana in the air doesn’t affect most jobs. But, what you’re trying to do right now isn’t normal, is it?”

Whoong—

The mana inside the cylinder was sucked through the upper spout as it drained out all of the mana in the air.

—It’s a barrel that only filters mana. It’s a mana vacuum now; how about it? This is the help I can offer.

Yeriel’s voice couldn’t breach the barrier. Being completely shielded, I was reading her lips.

─I can’t help you directly, so I’ve thought about this… oh. You won’t be able to hear me anyway. I’m stupid.

I laughed a little.

─…Anyway, good luck. You’re not going to die like this, right?

When I frowned slightly, she flinched.

─…Did you hear me? If you did, it’s a failure. Tell me if you heard me because it’s a failure.

I shook my head.

“I can’t hear you.”

─What? How can you answer me if you can’t?

“Just like you are reading my lips now.”

─…

Yeriel cleared her throat.

─Yes. Good luck. And…

Then, she covered her mouth and mumbled something. She reminded me of my little sister.

Kim Woojin’s younger sister was no longer on Earth and, of course, not in this world either. Of course, Yeriel couldn’t replace the one I wanted to meet again because Yeriel was Yeriel and nobody else. My sister.

“Watch me.”

I said so and laughed. Yeriel nodded and smiled.

“…”

I shut my eyes slowly, parting my lips. The Snowflake Obsidian stretched out like a thin thread and moved into my mouth. And…

This substance that is both cold and hot, liquid and metallic, slowly spread throughout my body.

─!

The first moment was painful. The next moment was painful. The moment after that was also painful. Every moment that followed was an agony that even Iron Man couldn’t bear. My head, body, and mouth were full of the word pain.

A high fever, like a supernova overflowing inside me. A chill, as if the cold of space was wrapping around me. The joints of my body froze, and a fire raged in my power source. Indeed, if I lacked mental power, this kind of pain…

…Brother.

A voice barely reached through my clouded consciousness, burning body, and frozen reason.

…Brother.

Her voice. Yeriel was calling me. It overlapped with a memory from my distant past.

─…Oh, brother! Hey, Kim Woojin!

My sister was shouting and calling me.

…Brother! Hey, Deculein!

Yeriel overlapped her.

“…Not yet.”

I grabbed at my consciousness again and moved the Snowflake Obsidian in my body with the power of my mind. I drew a magic circle wrapped around my heart, taking care to carve out the path. Facing the pain that continued through the eons, I transformed the heart of the Iron Man into the demonic core.

─So.

A message rose from the threshold of death. It reflected in the empty and dark field of vision that overtook my sight.

[Assimilation Complete]

◆ The Snowflake Obsidian inhabits everything in you.

[Magic property added]

◆ Added Ice attribute

At that moment, I opened my eyes. I raised my body that had faded unbeknownst to me and exhaled. Then, I clenched my fist and smashed Yeriel’s cylinder.

Clang-!

“Oh, my!”

Yeriel screamed.

“I thought you died, no… aren’t you dead?!”

I looked in the mirror without responding, understanding Yeriel’s strange response right away. My body was covered with frostbite and scorch marks. Rather, I could only be glad that my hair remained intact.

“…Hey. No, brother. Are, are you okay?”

“No. I’m not okay.”

I shook my head. I looked messy.

“Does it hurt somewhere…?”

I looked in the mirror and straightened out my messy tie, and trimmed my messy hair. I tightened my sagging cuffs, straightened them up, remade the two-button suit’s melted buttons with ductility, and fastened them. Now it was perfect again.

I nodded.

“…I’m okay now.”

The world suddenly went dark.

* * *

“…Isn’t he nuts?”

Yeriel stood in shock beside the fallen Deculein.

“He’s crazy.”

Anyone who just saw that would say the same.

“Hey! Even if you lived, you could die from this!”

She didn’t know how it felt to Deculein, but it had taken at least six hours.

“I’m going crazy.”

After that relentless magical and physical abuse that continued all day…

“Why are you using magic, shit?!”

What madman remade buttons with ductility because the old ones melted?

“Hey! Hey! Hey, Deculein!”

No matter how Yeriel cried out, Deculein already had his nose firmly planted to the floor.

“Seriously… it’s not mysophobia; it’s fucking madness.”

Reluctantly, she raised Deculein. Although he was heavy due to his stature and muscularity, Yeriel, who didn’t neglect her physical training, lifted him as if holding a princess. She put her ear to his chest, finding he was fortunately breathing.

“…I dare you to die like this.”

While grumbling, a button on Deculein’s suit caught her eye.

“What is this? The button…”

It was white and blue like the Snowflake Obsidian and had a strange texture. Yeriel blinked and looked at the buttons. It was clear as ice.

“…No way, this.”

Then, a thought came to mind, and she murmured with amazement.

“Did he soften the Snowflake Obsidian?”

* * *

At the same time, in Epherene’s office on the 10th floor of the Imperial Tower.

“…The theory of relativity.”

Epherene wasn’t interested in the events of the world or the passage of time.

“Theory of Relativity.”

She was engrossed in this theory only. Related to time, it was a theory that expanded her horizons almost indefinitely. No, it ripped apart her common sense, like it was grabbing her by the collar and shaking. And.

“Quantum mechanics.”

Physics she’d never heard of, guessing at particles smaller than atoms.

“This… is revolutionary.”

Since receiving this new book, Epherene hadn’t taken her eyes off for even ten seconds.

“With this—”

Epherene was sure. If she understood this theory, she would assemble her time more freely. Also, she could adjust it.

Bang, bang, bang, bang-!

At that moment, the door rattled.

Bang, bang, bang, bang–!

With a frown, Epherene stood and swung open the door.

“Gosh, who is it?”

“It’s Relin.”

“Eh?”

Several people were standing outside. She could see Professor Relin, Professor Ciare, Wizard Ihelm, Professor Louina, and even (still) Chairman Adrienne. All the important personnel of the tower gathered and looked at her.

“What… is going on?”

Epherene asked, blinking. In an instant, Relin’s eyes grew, and he yelled.

“Are you asking because you don’t even know?”

“Ugh, why are you suddenly screaming like that…?”

“Anyway, you’re unbelievable. Do you know what our tower is listening to right now because of you?! If you think like that, do it alone; why do you have to submit such a disgrace to academia!”

Relin shoved Epherene aside and looked into her office. He strode over and took the book she was just reading.

“Theory of Relativity? What is this fucking bullshit now….”

“Nope. It’s not fucking bullshit-“

“Assistant Professor Epherene! Take this!”

Suddenly, Adrienne handed her a note. Epherene asked as she took it.

“What is this?”

“A Personnel Committee is being held!”

Adrienne said it brightly. She was acting so bright that she couldn’t tell if this was a joke or not.

“Personnel… Committee?”

“Yes! The target is Assistant Professor Epherene! The presenter is Head Professor Deculein! The topic of the review is the very profane thesis that you submitted!”

“…What are you saying?!”

Epherene’s expression grew truly terrifying. Adrienne’s lips trembled.

“Hmm! More details, we’ll talk later! Hihi! Oh, right! And I think this personnel committee can even be held on the Floating Island if in the worst case! It’ll be a fun day on my last day~.”

Adrienne left the office chattering, and the rest of the professors looked at Epherene with different emotions in their eyes. Most of them, except for Louina, held contempt.

* * *

…One day the following week, at noon, during lunchtime.

Yeriel was standing in the warm Yukline mansion, welcoming the guests that Deculein talked about.

“…Lia. Long time no see.”

Lia. She was reluctant to see her every time.

“Yes. I’m here to learn.”

The girl hauled in a lot of luggage and smiled brightly. Yeriel shrugged.

“Okay… but. Deculein is sleeping now.”

“Is he sleeping? Still?”

“Yes. He’s oversleeping today, which is uncommon. He has achieved a~ grand, hard magical achievement.”

Lia’s eyes widened. Yeriel chuckled and beckoned for her to come in.

“Hurry. Everything is already ready.”

“Yes.”

She walked down the hallway with Yeriel.

“Your room is a three-room private bedroom with a living room and a bathroom. Better than any mansion.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

“By the way, do you have a boyfriend?”

What an absurd question. Lia shook her head.

“…Nope?”

“Really?”

Then Yeriel sighed with a slightly anxious look, muttering something like – still, Deculein won’t do anything to a kid.

“But how did you come to seek classes? Deculein, he’s not that kind of guy.”

“Oh, he said I have a talent….”

“Hmm. The truth is, your talent has nothing to do with me. But you know what? The most important thing.”

Click, click—

Yeriel’s high heels clicked off the stone floors.

“You look like Deculein’s ex-fiancé.”

“…”

“I’ll show you a picture. There’s one left. Normally, Deculein doesn’t let me in, but now he’s completely asleep.”

Lia chewed at her lip.

“…Yes, but why?”

“Just for you to know. Because you both look so alike.”

It wouldn’t be such a big deal if they looked alike just a bit, but really, they resembled each other too much.

“Oh, of course, Deculein isn’t going to try to do anything to you. I swear. He values dignity more than life. You haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony yet, have you?”

That was why Yeriel was troubled every time she saw this child. Because of that woman, Deculein went to the brink of death, and it was because of that woman that he survived.

“Still, if Deculein treats you too well or too mean, it’s because of that.”

Yeriel stopped in front of Deculein’s study. Looking up at the large door, Lia swallowed. Perhaps, there might be a hint of the story progression — the reason Deculein was learning the divine language — or something in there.

“You can run away anytime.”

Click—

Opening the door with the key, Yeriel turned to Lia.

“She was the one… Deculein loved her so much.”

Lia was a little frightened, feeling like she had entered a dungeon alone.

“It’s okay. There are many people like that on this continent. One or two similar people is…”