"Will you take my hand, little brother Marik?" Youmi said, extending her hand toward him.
Marik shook his head and strode ahead of her. "I'm not a kid anymore."
"Hmph, still with the heart of one, though."
Youmi had never had siblings, but for various reasons, she had once lived for a long time with relatives' children. Having to both care for and look after them had made her temperament mature—though she still retained a playful side, compared to her peers, she often seemed calm and grounded.
Even now, despite her personality being somewhat influenced by [Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle], she instinctively treated Marik like her own younger brother.
Thinking of those children back home who would say, "I'm not a kid anymore," only to act childishly right after, Youmi couldn't help but laugh.
"Then let's keep going. Since this is your own memory, you should be more familiar with this place and what happens next, right?" Seeing how determined Marik was, Youmi shrugged helplessly and followed.
"I remember that day... we triggered a trap, and though we disguised ourselves in time, Father still found out. When my sister and I returned to our room..." Marik pressed a hand to his temple as if struck by a headache, walking into his old room. Looking at the bed and the dummy lying beneath the covers, he frowned. "Then I searched for Odion, and—"
Neither Marik nor Youmi moved, but the ground beneath them and the scenery around them began to shift rapidly like a projected film. In moments, they were witnessing a scene—Marik's father whipping Odion mercilessly, with young Marik and Ishizu watching from the side.
After another lash from the whip, Odion screamed and fell to the ground, still calling out Marik's name.
"Odion!" The present Marik tried to rush forward, but Youmi grabbed his arm.
She shook her head, signaling that it would be useless. "This is the world of memory. You can only watch."
"But Odion…" Marik gritted his teeth, broke free from her grip, and knelt beside Odion, trying to help him up. He reached for his tattered clothes and bloodied back, only to find his hands passing through him… Odion was nothing except an echo in memory.
Just then, the young Marik watching nearby suddenly screamed, clutching his head in agony.
"Eh?" Marik turned toward the sound—his father was raising the whip toward the boy; yet, young Marik, with the Millennium Eye symbol glowing on his forehead, caught it mid-strike with one hand. He even pulled back against his father. "That's... me?"
He couldn't remember ever having that kind of strength as a child.
"Marik, are you defying me?" His father gripped the whip, glaring fiercely at his son who now harbored rebellion in his eyes, uncertain of what to do.
"Heh-heh-heh... I should thank you for getting rid of Odion for me, Fa-ther-dear." Releasing the whip, the force made his father stumble backward. Yami Marik, newly awakened and unbound, muttered with a twisted grin, "Ah, that feels good," as he walked toward the pedestal where the [Millennium Rod] rested.
Noticing Marik's strange behavior, his father demanded, "What are you..."
"Hmph..." Ignoring the question and warnings, Yami Marik took up the Millennium Rod. Bathed in golden light, he was recognized by the ancient artifact. "Looks like it accepts me..."
As his father continued to scold him, Yami Marik barked, "Shut up!" and unleashed the Rod's dark power, pinning his father to the wall. Ishizu, who had run over to check on her brother, was also lifted and restrained, unable to move.
"This... that person... he's not me—who is he?" Marik panicked, unable to comprehend this unfamiliar scene. He scrambled to his sister's side before turning to look back at his father. "Youmi-onee-san, what's happening?!"
Youmi gave him a flat, emotionless look. "This is your memory—the pure, original kind, no additives. You've always insisted your father died because of the Gravekeeper tribe's destiny, that it was the Nameless Pharaoh's fault, right? Shouldn't you recall the actual event?"
Yami Marik gripped the Millennium Rod in reverse, its spear-like tip gleaming sharply. "Let's start with you, Father."
"Stop! What are you doing?!" Realizing Yami Marik's intent, the present Marik lunged forward to stop him—regardless, it was futile. He could only watch as Yami Marik plunged the Rod's sharp end into his father's chest, killing him mercilessly. "Father!!"
Though his father had been harsh, he was still blood. Watching him die before his eyes, Marik let out a desperate wail, dropping to his knees and pounding the ground. After a long silence, he raised his tear-filled eyes toward the version of himself now turning toward his sister.
It was only after Yami Marik's consciousness went dormant—the moment his regular self reawakened, preventing him from killing Odion—that Marik finally regained all the memories of his dark half, which had been completely erased by the Shadow Game.
"So it was... me?" As Shadi appeared, speaking to the young Marik, his words no longer mattered.
The current Marik covered his face with both hands, sobbing uncontrollably. Years of hatred, decades of obsession—his so-called revenge—all shattered the moment he realized he himself had been the cause of it all. "Someone like me... someone like me…!"
Moments later, Marik slammed his head to the ground—and the mental space around them shattered.
Having fully absorbed Yami Marik's memories and understood everything, Marik awoke suddenly on the couch in Youmi's room. Looking at her, still asleep beside him, he reached out a hand toward the woman who had restored his memories and helped him defeat the darkness within.
Abruptly, before he could touch her, Youmi's voice rang out: "Touch me and I'll call it harassment, little brother Marik."
"Eh? I wasn't—No, you should at least say something when you wake up!" Marik seized up, caught off guard, struggling to explain himself. "I... I just... Ever since that day, the memories my dark self held... I finally digested them. So I just wanted to thank you… for helping me so much."
"Still, I know a simple thank-you isn't enough. Whatever it takes, I want to show my gratitude. Still, I had to say it." Standing before her, Marik bowed deeply. "Even though not long ago, 'I' wanted to kill you, you still forgave me. I—"
"Stop with the mushy stuff already."
Watching him straighten up, Youmi stood as well, waving a hand dismissively. "I've looked after kids before, and when I see someone like you, I can't just leave them be. You called me 'Onee-san', didn't you? Well, even though I kind of wish you'd said 'Onii-san' instead (quietly), I'll just treat you as my little brother. What's wrong with a sister helping her brother?"
Moonlight shone through the broken window, cascading over Youmi's silver hair, making it gleam beautifully.
"Youmi-onee-san..." Marik said with emotion-filled eyes. "Who exactly are you? You duel so well, know my past... it's like you're omniscient."
Once upon a time, Youmi might have anticipated being asked that.
However, now, none of her old answers seemed appropriate for her current self.
So, improvising, she walked to the window, her back bathed in silver light. Raising her left index finger to her lips in a hush gesture, her silver demon eyes glinted softly.
"Shhh… just a traveler who will someday become the Duel King. Nothing more."
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]