A Villain's Will to Survive novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Wooden Pocket Watch (2) Part 1

Snowflakes fell from the distant sky, and the moonlit breeze whispered through the quiet night of Rekordak. Deep within the Northern Region’s coniferous forest, Yulie sat in a rocking chair, looking down at the bracelet around her wrist.

“... It was my first field mission after joining the Imperial Knights' Order," Yulie said.

Yulie’s voice was low, almost like a murmur, and Epherene listened in silence.

"To protect the Professor in Marik and transport the core."

“Transport?” Epherene asked.

"Yes," Yulie replied, exhaling a quiet breath.

A pale breath slipped into the air like fading mist, while snowflakes fell quietly on Yulie’s shoulders.

"At the time, Count Decalane, former head of the Yukline family, was conducting critical research. I never learned its exact purpose, but one thing was certain—the core was crucial to Yukline."

It was a past unknown to Epherene, one she could never come to understand.

"With my fellow knights and I entered Marik alongside Deculein. However, we were met with an unexpected sudden attack."

Yulie still blamed herself for that day. To her, the very idea of something being unexpected was inexcusable, as a knight should always be prepared for every possibility and ensure that no threat ever caught them off guard.

"The mission failed, and many lost their lives," Yulie concluded.

“... Is that when you lost your bracelet?”

“Yes.”

Epherene nodded, then reached into the basket inside her robe, pulling out a steaming potato and taking a bite, warmth spreading through her fingertips.

"Then... ha, hot... ha, ho... ha, ho..." Epherene murmured, blowing on the steaming potato as she rolled a piece around in her mouth. "But how did the Professor ever find this bracelet again?"

"... Marik has been reopened recently."

“Aha.”

Yulie suspected that he had retrieved it on purpose when Marik was reopened, yet she couldn’t understand why—surely, to him, it should have been nothing more than just a simple bracelet.

"It must be something important to you, Knight Yulie," Epherene said.

"Yes, it is," Yulie replied without hesitation. "It was the first and last gift I ever received from my father."

Though it had blackened like coal, the bracelet still held the memories of that day. The pounding of her heart before receiving it, the rush of emotion that followed, the warmth rising to the tip of her nose, the sting in her lashes weighed down by unshed tears—every moment remained vivid within it.

"The one and only gift of a lifetime."

A single token of proof that, even if only once, Yulie’s father had spared a thought for her.

"It is that important to me," Yulie said, turning back to Epherene.

Epherene, too, held Yulie’s eyes.

"... Miss Epherene, what does the letter say?" Yulie asked, pointing toward the envelope resting on Epherene’s lap—the one Deculein had left for her.

"Oh, this? It’s nothing important. Would you like to read it?"

"... Are you sure I may?"

"Sure," Epherene said, handing the letter to Yulie.

As Yulie read the letter, her brow furrowed—just as Epherene had earlier reading the letter.

Epherene,

I leave this letter to you.

You will undoubtedly understand the meaning of this letter.

“... What is this? Is that all there is?”

"Exactly. Just three lines—that’s it. I was just as confused when I first read it," Epherene replied.

"Magically speaking—"

"There's nothing. No hidden mechanisms. This is all it says."

Yulie gave a small nod, returning the letter before leaning back in her chair and said, “Miss Epherene.”

“Yes?”

"If what you say is true, Miss Epherene, then we will experience regression. This bracelet in my hand, these memories—everything will disappear as if they never existed."

"Yes, that’s right. Without a doubt."

"Then, could you explain why you said that... and why you believe Professor Deculein does not hate me?"

Crunch, crunch...

Between them, snowflakes floated silently, hair tousled by the cold wind, and the immense landscape stretched seemingly forever into the horizon.

“... Umm.”

Epherene lowered her head in silence, looking at her feet buried in the snow, adjusting her weight slightly, drawing a small circle in the frost.

“Well, you know.”

Epherene raised her head to the sky once more and the snowflakes, light as falling petals, brushed against her face.

"The Professor doesn’t have much time left."

Yulie remained silent.

"Whether we regress or not, the Professor won’t be in the future. His time is running out, and he knows it," Epherene said, thinking of the Deculein she had met in her timeline. "So... maybe he never hated you, Knight Yulie. Maybe he only wanted you to hate him."

Yulie paused for a moment before closing her eyes.

"So... that when the time came for him to leave on his final journey, you wouldn’t mourn—but feel a sense of happiness instead."

Yulie remained silent.

"Of course, that’s just my imagination."

The wind swept through the forest, sending the trees rippling like waves on the sea.

“... It’s just a thought, just my imagination. You’re okay, right?” Epherene asked, glancing at Yulie’s expression.

"No," Yulie said, shaking her head. "Even if it’s only an imagination, it still hurts."

Yulie placed a hand over her heart, and somewhere in the distance, the sound of ice cracking resonated.

"The more it hurts, the less I want to forget those words."

Perfect timing. It was just starting to get awkward, Epherene thought.

Whoooosh—