"That's such a nice deal—why wouldn't I agree to it? Of course I agree."
Yuki's voice carried into the void, confident, sharp, tinged with the faintest smirk.
To him, it wasn't an obstacle but a necessity—a heart demon wasn't something he could ignore forever. It was the shadow clinging to his soul, and facing it head-on was only a matter of time. This was just accelerating the inevitable.
"Since you've agreed, it's time for you to resume fighting the heart demon," Faunus said, his crow's form shimmering before vanishing into nothingness.
The air clicked, like a lock snapping open. The darkness swirled, and the scene reshaped.
Once again, Yuki stood at the edge of memory.
The school courtyard returned, washed in pale moonlight. The girl—Aoi—stood alone this time, her satchel clutched tightly against her chest, lips pressed into a thin line of fear she refused to voice. Yuki didn't move. His fists trembled, but he restrained himself. He was waiting.
The sound of footsteps echoed. Soon enough, the delinquents appeared again, four shadows stepping out of the night, circling her like predators around prey.
Yuki's jaw tightened. He wanted to rip them apart. But he didn't. He held his ground, knowing Faunus's words lingered like an iron chain in his ear. Don't be blinded by emotion. Don't erupt. Look deeper.
Then he saw it.
From behind the crowd of bullies, a figure emerged—himself.
Not the Yuki of this world. Not the transmigrated soul standing frozen in the void. This was the boy he once was—William—the child of the orphanage, reckless but determined, foolish but burning with raw fire.
William rushed forward, his movements unrefined but fueled by desperation. The fight was brutal. Fists cracked against bone, grunts filled the night, the dull thuds of punches and kicks colliding echoed through the courtyard. One against four, yet the boy refused to back down.
Blood spilled from his lip, his arm hung awkwardly for a moment, but still—he fought. And, against the odds, he won. The delinquents lay groaning on the ground, nursing bruised ribs and split brows.
Yuki stared, frozen. Watching himself was like looking at a stranger.
Before the fight began, William had done something that pierced Yuki's heart deeper than any blow—he had knocked Aoi unconscious with a swift strike. Not out of malice, but to keep her from interfering, from seeing what he would do.
Now, William knelt beside her, brushing her hair gently to the side. The moonlight fell across her face, painting her in silver radiance. In that glow, she looked breathtakingly fragile.
"Aoi…" William whispered, his voice trembling with something raw, something tender.
Yuki's fists slowly unclenched. His lips parted, and words escaped him—words not meant for the fake memory, but for someone far away, someone who might still exist.
"I'm sorry. But don't worry—I'll find you no matter what. We'll stay together. After all, I can't stay with this fake here. The real you… the real you is more beautiful. More lovely."
The words hung in the air like a vow, fragile yet unbreakable.
The memory fractured, splintering like glass under strain. A voice boomed in the emptiness, sharp and approving.
"Good job. You've done well. Now—onto the other one."
Faunus's announcement rang like thunder.
The darkness churned, then shifted again.
---
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound echoed through the void as the new memory unfolded.
Yuki found himself standing in a dimly lit alley, shadows stretching long and crooked. From the entrance, a man walked forward, each step accompanied by the sharp rhythm of his hands clapping.
The figure was tall, broad-shouldered, his aura carrying a dangerous weight. Yet he smiled, that grin carved across his face like it had always belonged there.
Yuki's breath caught. Recognition slammed into him.
"…Carl Huxley."
The man who had once extended his hand into the darkness of Yuki's old life. The man who had given William—his past self—a chance.
"That was amazing," Carl said, his voice smooth, amused. His eyes flicked over the beaten delinquents sprawled behind William. "Did you learn some kind of technique somewhere? Hm. I don't recognize it."
William—Yuki's past self—stood rigid, his eyes narrowed with wariness. His fists were clenched, his stance guarded. He had already sensed it—the dangerous aura that clung to this man like a cloak.
Still, William answered with indifference. He wasn't reckless enough to provoke. Not when he didn't fully understand.
"Relax," Carl chuckled, raising his hands disarmingly. "I won't do anything to you. I need something from you. How about this—why don't you follow me from now on?"
William's brow furrowed. His silence was heavy, suspicious.
Carl continued, grin widening. "You'll live a better life. Trust me. You're an orphan, aren't you?"
The words struck like a knife. William's body tensed. He had kept that truth buried, unspoken, but this man had unearthed it effortlessly.
"Don't be like that," Carl added smoothly. "It's not hard to guess. Out here, alone at night—it isn't normal for a boy your age. The girl was likely coming back from school, or the library. But you… you've got nowhere to return to, do you?"
He turned his smirk toward Yuki, as if asking him directly. "Am I right?"
William's lips pressed into a thin line. At last, he gave a curt nod.
Carl's grin sharpened. "So. About following me—"
"I'm not interested," William cut in coldly.
Carl tilted his head, then chuckled. "Not interested, huh? What if I adopt you instead?"
That grin again, infuriating in its shameless persistence.
William's heart skipped. Adoption? Family?
"No matter what you say, I won't agree," William shot back, voice hard.
But Carl didn't falter. Instead, he laughed—a booming, hearty sound that filled the alley. "Alright then. What if I told you that you'd gain the power to protect that girl? With equal status. Enough strength to keep her safe. Always."
The words hit like lightning. William's eyes flickered. His heart pounded. The temptation burned bright. He masked it with indifference, but his voice betrayed him ever so slightly.
"I'm not a stalker."
Carl only smirked. "Now then… let's seal the deal."
"Calm," William interrupted sharply. "This is a mutual relationship, right? Powered by benefits. What do you gain from adopting me?"
Carl's grin softened. For the first time, sincerity glimmered in his eyes. "I need a successor. And… I miss the feeling of family."
William studied him. The honesty was unmistakable. Slowly, carefully, he nodded.
"Alright. I agree. My name is William. William alone—I have no surname."
Carl's smile widened into something triumphant. "Perfect. Then take mine. My name is Carl Huxley, head of the Huxley family."
William's eyes widened in shock.
"The Huxley family… the one that rules almost all of the underworld, with countless businesses across the world? Built by a single man, for the sake of revenge?" His voice shook with disbelief. Then he stared into Carl's eyes. "Don't tell me… you're that man?"
Carl's smirk deepened. "Yes. I am that man. Carl Huxley, king of the underworld. And from this day forward—you are my son. My only family. My sole heir."
He extended his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you, son."
William's lips curled into a faint smile, awkward, unsure, but genuine. "…Same. Father."
---
Watching it all unfold, Yuki's chest tightened. Bliss—a warmth he hadn't felt in so long—spread through him. He almost forgot this was a trial. Almost forgot this was supposed to be about demons and shadows.
He stood in silence, soaking in the memory.
From afar, perched atop a tree, Faunus watched. The crow's eyes gleamed, unreadable. He didn't interrupt. He didn't mock. He only observed, silent as the void itself.
The memory faded, dissolving into nothingness.
Now, in the endless expanse, only Yuki, Faunus, and the tree remained.