I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 79

Theodore slowly rubbed the corner of his mouth as if his interest was piqued.

 

He, too, was dissatisfied with the current situation.

 

“How do we get rid of it? Can we actually turn back time?”

 

“According to my research,” Rivena explained bluntly.

 

“We can return to a specific point in the past and brainwash Yurika. That way, a completely different future will unfold.”

 

“Brainwash her, huh.”

 

“Yes. If we continuously inject messages into her when she’s still in her divine beast state, before gaining full consciousness, we can prevent her from ever becoming human.”

 

Theodore’s eyes lit up. Rivena continued speaking.

 

“As long as that divine beast doesn’t become human, everything will proceed as expected.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“From that point on, the phrase ‘never become human’ will echo endlessly in Yurika’s mind. It’ll be such an absolute message that she won’t be able to resist it. If you can just create the environment I need for the experiment…”

 

Rivena bowed her head and asked.

 

“I’ll offer Yurika Medes to Your Highness this time for real—she’ll remain a divine beast forever.”

 

Theodore’s eyes narrowed.

 

After a while he lifted his chin and answered.

 

“Okay. This life is ruined, so starting over isn’t a bad idea.”

 

Although he did not trust people, he acknowledged Rivena’s research skills.

 

Especially after learning the secrets of the temple and discovering her bloodline.

 

And it was clear that she was saying that because it was a possible experiment, given her personality of not talking nonsense.

 

“Fortunately, Yurika doesn’t know that she’s real. That’s why she hasn’t entered the Medes estate yet. That means we still have time.”

 

“How can I help you?”

 

“Can I use a few of your knights? In fact, most of my subordinates are spies, not fighters.”

 

“That might be difficult, considering my situation right now.”

 

“Not even one?”

 

“If they go unarmed and use the excuse of going on vacation, I guess one day might be possible.”

 

Rivena sighed faintly, as if she was not satisfied, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

Still, the knights that Theodore can command would be of a different level of skill from the average knight.

 

She nodded with a bitter face.

 

“Then I’ll ask only that much. If I’m going to do the experiment, I’ll definitely need to take something from the temple.”

 

“Didn’t you mention something about the Duke of Medes back then? Is it related to that?”

 

“Yes. Since things have come to this, I was going to kill him somehow, but with only one unarmed person, it would be difficult. Perhaps it’s better to let him live for the sake of future experiments.”

 

And so, though neither trusted the other, they once again joined forces.

 

“And I have one favor to ask.”

 

“Another?”

 

“Please deliver a letter to the High Priest.”

 

“Well, that much I can do.”

 

Even under confinement, that kind of task was nothing for Theodore.

 

Rivena carefully pulled a letter from her cloak and handed it to him, and Theodore received it casually.

 

“After all, the palace is my space.”

 

Rivena began to hate the so-called wizard race all over again. And that fact strangely comforted her.

 

‘Yurika Medes also joined hands with Yohan Hyrad.’

 

Yohan Hyrad was a great wizard incomparable to Theodore.

 

In other words, he’d be worse, not better.

 

‘No matter how gentle he pretends to be, a wizard is still a wizard. She’ll probably get hurt later. After all, wasn’t Yurika Medes a divine beast?’

 

 

The situation was bleak, but the thought of Yurika one day being betrayed by Yohan brought her some grim satisfaction.

 

‘She might even get locked up. Just like Theodore envisioned.’

 

All wizards must think the same thing.

 

They’re a selfish race that sees everything in the world as tools to fulfill their desires.

 

‘If she trusts Yohan, she’ll suffer even more than I did.’

 

With a proud expression, Rivena left the prince’s palace.

 

* * *

 

“So, as soon as I came to consciousness, there was only one thought in my head. It was really strange.”

 

I was talking about old times with John as we prepared to go out into the capital city.

 

After that kidnapping incident, I was able to trust Yohan completely and tell him everything I had been through.

 

It was true that my relationship with him was still ambiguous, but I no longer blindly regarded him as a wizard like I used to.

 

“I’m human. I must become human. I can’t live as a squirrel forever. That thought was absolute to me. Almost like someone had brainwashed me.”

 

I thought it was just me thinking that way.

 

At first, I thought I was only thinking that way because I had been reincarnated.

 

But judging by what I overheard that day, I wasn’t just a soul who had possessed Yurika—I was the real Yurika, only newly awakened.

 

So then what exactly was that ‘original story’ I thought I knew? Was it just one possible future?

 

But how could a future that didn’t exist in the first place exist in my head?

 

Anyway, those were things I couldn’t figure out at all.

 

“It’s so strange. Divine beasts supposedly don’t have the will to become human. So how could I have had that thought running through my head over and over again?”

 

In this situation, it was necessary to clearly point out even the slightest oddity.

 

I shrugged my shoulders, turned to Yohan, and smiled as I continued speaking.

 

“Anyway, that’s why I went to you right after I was sold to Duke Hyrad.”

 

Until now, I hadn’t gone into detail about our first meeting—partly because I felt a bit guilty for having used him.

 

“I thought I had to become human somehow. And that’s how things turned out.”

 

“That’s fortunate.” Yohan said with a grin.

 

“Because that’s how I met you.”

 

“Uh, yeah. I guess.”

 

And every time Yohan’s eyes folded prettily, I felt a little strange.

 

Today we decided to take a walk together through the busy shopping district.

 

Of course, many people would glance at us, but that was exactly what we wanted.

 

It was important to keep the rumor alive that I hadn’t returned to the Medes estate.

 

That way, Rivena would feel at ease.

 

“Come here, Yurika. We have to go.”

 

And since this was a date with public attention in mind, Yohan and I were putting on quite the show as a couple.

 

We held hands, linked arms, and sometimes even hugged each other for a little while.

 

And even the faintest contact had a calming effect.

 

“Yurika, I know you like calculating.”

 

Yohan spoke to me seriously as we left the duke’s residence.

 

“In that sense, our calculations align perfectly. You need me to draw the temple’s attention away, and I always want emotional stability.”

 

It was certainly more comforting than the vague, “Use me, Yurika. I’m on your side.”

 

He interlaced his fingers with mine and smiled deeply.

 

“Just think about Theodore, who got himself imprisoned for a bit of peace.”

 

The sensation of our fingers slowly entwining under countless watchful eyes felt strangely sensual.

 

“Then I guess I feel so good right now.”

 

“Mm, Yohan,” I whispered.

 

“But from what I can feel, your magical power seems pretty stable already.”

 

Maybe it was because I’d been soothing him in my divine beast form every night lately, but Yohan’s magical power had settled down a lot.

 

“Oh, really? Hmm.”

 

He paused, as if thinking, and then suddenly pointed to the sky.

 

“But doesn’t it look like it’s going to rain?”

 

“What?”

 

It would be a problem if it rained today. I had to go shopping in the downtown area, so it was a hassle!

 

Just as I looked up at the sky in surprise, a loud thud came from behind—something had collapsed.

 

“Don’t worry about it.”

 

I was so focused on the sky for a moment that I didn’t realize what was happening until I heard an unidentifiable cracking sound.

 

When I turned around with a puzzled expression, Yohan’s adjutant, who was standing next to him, quickly explained.

 

“It just looks like an old statue has fallen over.”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

Yes. At this rate, there won’t be much left of the Duke of Hyrad’s estate… but anyway, that’s all. Also, the weather looks clear. No need to worry.”

 

“Yeah, don’t worry. It’s not your money anyway.”

 

Yohan just shrugged and nodded nonchalantly in agreement.

 

‘But… was his adjutant always this talkative?’

 

Despite the circumstances, he seemed to be being overly polite to me, so I couldn’t help but respond kindly, even though I was a little suspicious.

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

Then, just as I was stepping into the carriage and naturally accepting Yohan’s escort—

 

“Hm, Yohan? Your magical power’s gotten a bit unstable, hasn’t it?”

 

“Well, that happens sometimes.”

 

He smiled casually as he spoke.

 

“It’s normal for it to get tangled over time.”

 

‘Still… was it always this tangled? Something felt off.’

 

But anyway, this outing was entirely for me.

 

Even if I wasn’t going to seriously calm him down, the least I could do was keep holding his hand.

 

In the end, I tilted my head in confusion and ended up staying close to Yohan the entire ride in the carriage.

 

* * *