How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 138

I couldn’t immediately recall what kind of person Selene was, so I wore a puzzled expression.

 

“What does being sad about learning Endymion’s secret have to do with feeling guilty?”

 

That question was welling up in my throat, but seeing Endymion start speaking with a faint, distant look in his eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt the flow of the conversation with a question.

 

So, I decided to listen to the rest first, but then he suddenly brought up an unrelated topic.

 

“Actually, last night, Eve barged in, so what I’m about to tell you is also the answer to your unfinished questions.”

 

“Last night? Ah…”

 

I asked without thinking, then suddenly remembered the question I had thrown at him.

 

It was about, ‘Why are you so sure that Selene did not pose any harm to me?’

 

“It was just yesterday, but I guess you completely forgot.”

 

With a short exclamation, Endymion, as if reading all my thoughts, opened his eyes half-lidded and lightly teased me.

 

“Sorry. I had just woken up, so I was really out of it.”

 

I knew it was a teasing reprimand, but still, I apologized sincerely.

 

After all, as Endymion pointed out, I really had forgotten.

 

It was a question born from purely personal curiosity, and my head was filled with matters that needed urgent attention.

 

“It was a silly joke thrown out because your reaction was amusing, so no need to worry about it.”

 

Endymion, instead of accepting my apology, was embarrassed and took back his words.

 

“Besides, if we’re to talk about who was really at fault, my unannounced intrusion was the biggest problem.”

 

He added a lengthy explanation as if surprised I was seriously apologizing.

 

“Anyway, I’ll continue the story from before. It seems you still don’t understand what I mean.”

 

Unlike Fenrir, Endymion was rational and noticed the conversation had almost gone off track, so he naturally brought it back to the main point.

 

“Once… no, it has become something that no longer exists now, but Selene once told me something.”

 

Endymion, as if recalling a memory, closed his eyes and spoke in a softer voice.

 

“People are contradictory, but because of that, everyone holds some goodness within them.”

 

Of course, I already knew that.

 

It was a line from Endymion’s happy ending route and a phrase used to introduce Selene as a representative character.

 

“When I first heard that, I inwardly scoffed. If every human were excellent, the world wouldn’t be so ugly.”

 

She was the heroine, like sunlight, who stood in opposition to Endymion, who believed human nature to be evil, yet even she managed to move him with love.

 

“Honestly, the Selene depicted in the game can be called a true saint.”

 

In the game, Selene was the kind of person who, even if she had little left for herself, would gladly give to others if she still had something to offer. She genuinely hated sin but never hated the sinner.

 

“She even forgave Laura, who was jealous of her, and took the first step to reconcile.”

 

Suddenly, I thought maybe that’s why, even after being possessed and slightly losing her mind, I never felt a real desire for revenge against Selene.

 

When we had a harsh encounter at the Laurus baron’s house and later met again in the Holy Kingdom, I was just cautious, warning myself to be careful in case she had some ulterior motive. 

 

However, I never confronted her head-on.

 

I wondered if there was always a reason from Selene’s perspective that made me act that way.

 

It must all have been for the same reason.

 

“Some say she’s flat and frustrating, but I liked Selene—the kind of good person who might be called foolish.”

 

My biggest desire was to live peacefully without getting entangled with the original story, but maybe, unknowingly, the wish not to confront a character I once liked also influenced me.

 

And even while I was lost in these thoughts, Endymion continued speaking.

 

“But Selene proved it with her own actions. She embraced even the most irredeemable villains with kindness.”

 

The term ‘irredeemable villain’ was clearly referring to himself.

 

“Well, considering the karma Endymion had accumulated, that makes sense.”

 

He once held hostage the people close to Selene to monopolize her, even wiping out the family of Viscount Oannes to isolate her.

 

Yet Selene still chose Endymion in the end.

 

“In one of the bad ending routes, the reason Selene escaped from the palace during her captivity was also, when you think about it, for Endymion’s sake.”

 

Just as he said, Selene was that kind of person.

 

“Along the same line, I also want to once again apologize for what happened at the Laurus baron’s estate.”

 

“All of a sudden? But I told you yesterday it was fine…”

 

“I mean, Selene’s wrongdoings.”

 

Endymion cut me off firmly.

 

“I know she deliberately framed you, but I’m sure she must’ve had unavoidable reasons. So I hope you won’t hate her too much.”

 

“…”

 

The contrast from how things were in the original story left me momentarily speechless.

 

But I quickly pulled myself together and gave a suitable response.

 

“You don’t have to worry. I’m not the type to hold grudges, so I don’t dwell on what’s already happened.”

 

“Thank you for understanding. I will definitely find a way to repay your forgiveness and kindness.”

 

“I’ll have to refuse.”

 

When I rejected it in alarm, Endymion looked at me with a puzzled expression.

 

“Why?”

 

“Because it’s too burdensome.”

 

“Well, we can talk about that later. I’ve been rambling on without much structure, but the point is, I don’t want Selene to know that I remember the time I disappeared.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because it’s already something that no longer exists. I don’t want to reopen old wounds.”

 

Still, even though I understood his perspective, I was skeptical about keeping it secret from Selene.

 

Because in this world, there’s no such thing as a secret that lasts forever.

 

If it was something she would inevitably find out one day, then it was better to come forward and speak about it while there was still a chance.

 

“Endymion, if both you and Selene remember it, can you really call it something that never happened?”

 

“…”

 

His silver eyes, so much like Yves Leblanc’s, trembled faintly with confusion.

 

“You just admitted with your own mouth that it was a wound. But can you really go on as if nothing ever happened? For the rest of your life?”

 

If he had no memory at all, that might be one thing—but the scar left by the wound would surely bring back the pain of what he felt.

 

Like a phantom pain that never fades.

 

“Of course, you’d want to avoid it because it hurts when touched. But you also know that ignoring a wound can make it worse.”

 

A wound that might have only left a small scar could eventually become severe enough to require cutting away.

 

“Even if it feels like everything is fine right now, it will definitely become a problem someday.”

 

What looked okay at the moment was just a surface illusion.

 

Seeing the turmoil in Endymion’s visibly trembling eyes, I delivered the final blow.

 

“You said yourself how important being honest is, didn’t you?”

 

“That’s…”

 

“So when you meet Selene, please make sure you tell her everything.”

 

Before Endymion could respond, I pulled my hand away from his and walked toward Yves.

 

“Yves, thank you for waiting.”

 

“Did… the conversation go well?”

 

Yves glanced briefly at Endymion, then nodded calmly as if deciding not to make a big deal of it.

 

“Yes.”

 

Just then, Fenrir, who had been standing around, frowned and cut in.

 

[Hey, am I invisible now after keeping the barrier up all this time?]

 

“Of course I was going to thank you too, Fenrir.”

 

[Hmm, you looked like you were about to head back any second now.]

 

“Of course not. I still have something to report.”

 

[What is it?]

 

“The plan will be carried out tomorrow night.”

 

Strike while the iron is hot—my intent was to move quickly before anyone had a chance to change their mind.

 

At that, Fenrir’s face turned to one of shock.

 

[Wait, that’s way too sudden! We need at least some time to prepare—]

 

“We’re going to push through with force anyway, so what’s there to prepare? Just make sure you’re mentally ready.”

 

I added with a bright smile, “Then, see you tomorrow night!”

 

💫

 

The day of the decisive battle.

 

Thankfully, the first news we received was that Huluppu had regained consciousness.

 

“I’m so glad you’re safe!”

 

Yves and I had dropped everything and rushed over when Fenrir called us, and we were greeted by Huluppu, who looked just like Astarte.

 

[Thank you. It’s all thanks to Laura.]

 

Hearing his sincere words made me feel bashful, and I let out a sheepish laugh.

 

“Oh, no, not at all. If we’re being exact, it was actually thanks to the branch you gave me back then, out of concern.”

 

Also, it looked like Selene’s charges could be cleared soon.

 

That was thanks to Huluppu agreeing to testify to her innocence.

 

“And with your cooperation, Huluppu, I think we’ll be able to resolve a few other issues smoothly too. Thank you.”