I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 54

‘So, my father is alive…’

 

My father, whom everyone in the Duke’s house misses, the one even Uncle Jayden always recalled when he saw me, saying, “You really resemble my brother-in-law.”

 

Just like before my consciousness returned, before I regained my memories… completely unaware of anything.

 

“You’re trying to distort Yurika Medes’s time once again.”

 

And yet, they had no remorse. They were only thinking about how to use me again.

 

“So that she can live as a quiet divine beast as before. Of course, the research will take quite some time.”

 

Theodore fell silent for a moment.

 

It seemed like he was calculating something in his mind.

 

He was probably deciding whether to continue trusting Rivena and working with her or to start going his own way.

 

“Hmm,”

 

After a while, Theodore opened his mouth.

 

“Okay. Since you’ve been honest with me, let’s continue to work together. Anyway, you need me to stop Roymond from trying to crush the temple, right?”

 

“Thank you.”

 

‘To be honest, Roymond’s political suppression of the temple was less of a threat than Yohan, who could just destroy it in an instant.’

 

But now I could not ask Yohan to destroy the temple.

 

Because the Duke of Medes, my father, was there.

 

‘No, he might not even be in the temple. He could be in some third space.’

 

Considering how easily Rivena had returned to the world, there was a chance they had another base outside of the temple.

 

To get all that information, I couldn’t just blow up the temple or kill those people.

 

Besides, if Rivena’s specialty was research, she was likely an essential figure.

 

‘The upcoming celebration at the temple is my chance. I can enter the temple, and with many outsiders coming in, it will be easier to cause distractions.’

 

As I was thinking about the next plan, Theodore continued speaking.

 

“In exchange, if things go your way, give me that divine beast.”

 

‘What? Who was he saying he wanted to take from whom?’

 

“Because I wanted it from the beginning.”

 

‘Wow, unbelievable.’

 

Even though I was in a squirrel’s body right now, the more I listened, the more absurd it sounded.

 

‘This guy, this guy is worse than Tezen.’

 

At least Tezen didn’t know I was originally human… or at least, he was just a kid.

 

“Alright. I’ll do as you say.”

 

“And I’d like to do something about Yohan Hyrad, too. He always looks like he wants to take what’s mine.”

 

‘This was pure chaos. Who was claiming ownership over whom now?’

 

Theodore clicked his tongue once and then asked abruptly.

 

“By the way, what’s the relationship between Yurika Medes and Yohan Hyrad? If what you’re saying is true, it seems suspicious. After all, it’s a relationship between a divine beast and a wizard.”

 

“That’s….”

 

Rivena sighed before answering.

 

“I don’t know the details, but I assume he played a role in Yurika Medes’s transformation into a human. Though I can’t say for certain.”

 

That was half true.

 

Since Rivena knew I had stayed at the Hyraid estate, she could have easily made that deduction.

 

“…..Is that so?”

 

There was clear displeasure in Theodore’s voice.

 

“Then…. is this the case where Yurika Medes finally calmed down Yohan Hyrad enough to allow her to be human?”

 

Well, that was also half true.

 

Even if just for a moment, I had been able to transform into a human thanks to Yohan.

 

“That’s really unpleasant.”

 

‘…Why, though?’

 

It wasn’t just me who found this ridiculous—Rivena also sounded confused.

 

“Why?”

 

“Wizards naturally have a possessiveness toward divine beasts, don’t they?”

 

That was something I had read about in books before.

 

It is said that wizards instinctively feel possessive toward the divine beasts who have calmed them down.

 

So I was vaguely thinking that maybe Yohan’s blind obsession with me had that kind of effect.

 

And since I was also the one who had saved his life, it felt natural that he would be so desperate to stay close to me.

 

‘However, I did not take his kindness for granted.’

 

It was a life-or-death matter for me, so I was a bit desperate, but I planned to somehow repay the favor later when everything was over.

 

“That’s why I can’t stand Yohan Hyrad being near her.”

 

“But it only happened once, as far as I know.”

 

“Even so, that one time was enough. If the temple had continued distributing the calming potion and stopping divine beasts, he never would have let her go. In that sense…..”

 

Theodore added irritably.

 

“Yohan Hyrad is really annoying. I think he hates me too, though.”

 

“Well, I see.”

 

Rivena responded insincerely.

 

Honestly, it was ridiculous who was talking about possessiveness to whom.

 

“Then don’t just stand by. That man guarding Yurika Medes is also quite bothersome to me. And the fact that he even requested a victory celebration at the temple is really unsettling.”

 

Rivena must have sensed that Theodore was a bit of a jerk, because she continued speaking in a stiff voice.

 

“Now that we are convinced that Yurika Medes is real, we will move more actively. We will try various short-term methods.”

 

“Try to do well.”

 

‘How exactly were they planning to be more active and implement short-term solutions?’

 

I perked up my ears as Theodore grumbled.

 

“Then let’s go out now. We also have to keep an eye on Yurika Medes and Yohan Hyrad.”

 

“Yes.”

 

After that, Theodore and Rivena finished their conversation.

 

Only after they left the balcony did I turn back and start running towards Yohan.

 

* * *

 

Yohan was waiting for me, leaning against the balcony with an anxious look on his face.

 

I ran as fast as I could and stood on the railing in front of him.

 

“Momo!”

 

Yohan, who had discovered me, shouted in a joyful voice.

 

‘Momo…?’

 

I placed both of my front paws on my waist and gave him a pointed look.

 

Feeling awkward, he muttered,

 

“Sorry… I’ve just imagined you with that name for so long.”

 

I never liked the name “Momo” from the start.

 

Actually, I never liked any name—whether it was “Blackie” or anything else.

 

Thinking back, maybe I instinctively knew I was Yurika all along. I had no issue using a name that I once thought belonged to someone else.

 

While I was feeling a bit sentimental, Yohan smiled quietly and tapped my cheek with his long index finger.

 

“At first, when you turned into a squirrel, I was so surprised that I didn’t realize it.…”

 

“Kyuung?”

 

“Looking at you like this really brings back old memories.”

 

His voice was soft.

 

“Actually, I kept thinking about it while waiting for you.”

 

“Kyuung?”

 

As I tilted my head, he continued speaking slowly.

 

“At the Duke’s castle, I waited for you so desperately every night. I was worried that something might happen and you would never come back.”

 

Now that I thought about it, Yohan had been doing nothing but waiting for me, just like in the past—only now, I was a squirrel.

 

By coincidence, it was a dark night, just like back then when we secretly met. The banquet hall was high up, and the view was similar.

 

“I was worried all the time,… Just looking at your face makes me smile.”

 

Yohan smiled and whispered.

 

“I guess I haven’t changed at all.”

 

Contrary to his words, everything looked the same as back then, but Yohan himself was completely different.

 

The frail, pitiful boy who couldn’t handle his own body now stood tall, dressed in fine clothing with a dignified presence.

 

But the way he looked at me with such longing… that seemed exactly the same as before.

 

“You have no idea how much comfort you gave me back then.”

 

Yohan slowly lowered himself and met my eyes.

 

“Yurika.”

 

I remained in my squirrel form and simply looked at him. Then, Yohan quietly continued.

 

“You… Letting those awful rumors spread about you…”

 

“Kyuung?”

 

“….. I know it was part of your plan. But wasn’t it also for Mariel Medes?”

 

I blinked in surprise.

 

‘He noticed that?’

 

I didn’t intend to tell anyone about that. Not even Mariel.

 

“The more malicious the rumors about you become,… it can divert people’s attention from the scandal of Lady Mariel Medes.”

 

“Kyuung….”

 

“Right?”

 

Yohan’s guess was correct.

 

In fact, Mariel was meant to be married to a war hero.

 

However, if she suddenly attended the victory banquet as the Crown Prince’s partner, envious people would surely start nasty rumors.

 

They might say, “They even exempted her from military service, so was she just seducing the Crown Prince all this time?”

 

‘Well, technically, that is true. They did fall for each other.’

 

But by acting arrogantly as the adopted daughter of the Medes family, I ensured that all attention shifted to me instead.

 

That’s why I showed up to the banquet today dressed even more extravagantly than Mariel.

 

Even if there are people who gossip about Mariel, others would counter, “But she was overshadowed by that adopted daughter.”

 

Someone like that couldn’t have been so calculating.

 

At that moment, Yohan asked in a calm voice,

 

“Is Mariel Medes really that precious to you, Yurika?”

 

* * *