How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 53

“There’s still time, so there’s no need to take action right here and now.”

 

“Are you uncomfortable with me being here?”

 

Not understanding why the subject was suddenly jumping there, I shook my head.

 

“Not really… But if it makes you uncomfortable, Yves, why don’t you go back to your room and enjoy your rest?”

 

“I’m not uncomfortable either, so I’ll stay a little longer.”

 

Why?

 

As much as I wanted to point it out, it felt like sweet nothing’s compared to his recent behavior, so I decided to let it go.

 

‘There’s nothing to be gained by staying here.’

 

Nothing good would come of staying here, she reasoned, even if she didn’t nudge him to leave.

 

“If you’re tired, you can lie down.”

 

Perhaps I should get a new fan.

 

‘I thought it would be weird to hold a fan while dressed as a priest.’

 

A nagging thought crossed my mind that I shouldn’t have to cover my face with a fan as much as I did with Yves, who could read my facial expressions so well.

 

‘But now that I’ve been told I look tired, I’m really feeling it.’

 

Like a cut that feels fine until you realize it’s there, and then it stings like hell.

 

“You’re right, Yves, I think I’m tired, so I’ll go lie down in bed.”

 

For a moment, Yves’s gaze seems to follow, but then it’s turned elsewhere.

 

‘Ah, that feels good.’

 

As I lay down, I felt as if I could fall asleep at any moment.

 

‘Before I fall asleep, when Yves leaves…’

 

💫

 

Yves was genuinely stunned.

 

‘Did she really fall asleep?’

 

Laura had fallen asleep within minutes of laying down on the bed.

 

Besides, Yves was a man. Even though he wouldn’t touch her in her sleep, not all men in the world would be like him.

 

There was a need for a sense of urgency.

 

Slowly, Yves approached Laura, vowing to nag her about it later, when she woke up, to make it stick in her mind.

 

As he watched her sleep, breathing evenly, he remembered an incident from just a few days ago.

 

‘There’s never been anyone named Huluppu in the entire pantheon… but it’s possible that this being was involved before entering Laura’s body.’

 

Furthermore, there was something about her behavior lately that bothered him.

 

Sometimes, her gaze was directed at me, but it felt like she was looking at someone else through me.

 

And that’s only after she’s been in contact with the Divine Tree.

 

“Ha…”

 

Looking at her has been making me a little nervous lately.

 

And suddenly, when I woke up, my gaze would follow her. Even though I didn’t mean to.

 

“Mmm…”

 

Rolling over, Laura rubbed her eyes and pulled the covers over her head.

 

Watching from the sidelines of the scene, it only made Yves’s heart grow fonder.

 

Even in her sleep, she seemed to be instinctively rejecting him.

 

It was as if she hadn’t allowed him to see a single hair, as if she was hiding it from him.

 

‘It can’t be.’

 

If she truly found him repulsive, she would never have let him into her bed in the first place.

 

‘Bed…’

 

He’d forgotten about it for a while, but now that he recognized the thought he’d been consciously avoiding, it hit him like a ton of bricks.

 

The scent of Laura’s body on the covers, or the way she’d fallen asleep first, offering to stay with him.

 

Suddenly, his face flushed with heat.

 

‘Have I gone crazy?’

 

Never in his life had he ever felt such an unfamiliar sensation.

 

Eventually, Yves quietly slipped out of the room without touching a single strand of her hair.

 

💫

 

‘But there are only four seasons here.’

 

I wonder if it’s a problem with the creators that this world has magic or divine power but no seasons of its own, or if it’s just an inviolable law of life, like gravity.

 

…I’m lost in such meaningless and uninteresting musings.

 

“I’ve been thinking about it.”

 

“Ah! Ugh…”

 

From behind me, Yves suddenly spoke up.

 

The suddenness of Yves’ voice startled me out of my reverie, and I nearly screamed.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

To my surprise, Yves was looking at me strangely.

 

“Could you please be a little more respectful when you come from behind, I got so startled.”

 

“…I see, I’ll be more careful next time.”

 

It was my usual lighthearted reprimand, but Yves seemed to take it too seriously.

 

‘I should say he’s behavior has gotten burdensome.’

 

Well, the burden was the same, anyway.

 

“Just be careful and try to be loud, okay?”

 

“…”

 

I scoffed in a playful tone, my eyes narrowing to break the stiffening mood, but somehow Yves’ expression grew even harsher.

 

Embarrassed that I hadn’t expected a response like that, I coughed and changed the subject.

 

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

 

“…It’s about that counseling session we had the other day.”

 

Realizing his intentions at once, I looked around and moved to a less populated area.

 

“Did you come up with any good plans?”

 

“Miss Laura can judge whether it’s a good plan or not after she hears it, because I don’t know the most important conditions.”

 

That made perfect sense, so I just nodded and waited for the rest of the story.

 

“You said the third condition is that people don’t leave the city, and you said the city is Dilbat.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“As I understand it, Dilbat also has a temple.”

 

Yves explained that temples built in large cities usually have a protective barrier of divine power.

 

“I don’t know how long we can withstand the dragon’s attack, but I was wondering if it wouldn’t be a good idea to designate the city as a refuge.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

“Is it bad?”

 

“No. It’s not that…”

 

“Well, if you have a problem with it, feel free to tell me.”

 

“I noticed from last time that your tone has gotten a little stiff, don’t you think?”

 

It’s off-topic, but I couldn’t help but feel annoyed by the way Yves was talking.

 

‘I’ve noticed a subtle change in your tone since we met again in the Divine Realm, but it’s gotten worse lately.’

 

His lips pursed, as if surprised by the unexpected comment. I turned to sit down on a nearby bench, intending to wait for him to respond.

 

But suddenly, Yves grabbed my wrist.

 

“Where are you going in the middle of this conversation?”

 

“The bench. I’m going to sit down because this is going to be a long conversation.”

 

I gestured with my other hand to the bench in front of us, and Yves’s face turned as hard as stone.

 

“So why did you change your tone?”

 

“…Because I, too, have given up my status.”

 

“What?”

 

“There are no noble titles in the Divine Realm, and you, a candidate for sainthood, are in a higher position than me, a mere paladin, so I only addressed you accordingly.”

 

“What? Have you been paying attention to such things all this time?”

 

“…”

 

“What did I say? I thought you were trying to keep your distance.”

 

“Do you like it or don’t you like it?”

 

“I guess I don’t like it because I want you to be as comfortable with me as you were before.”

 

To be honest, hearing sentences ending so politely made me feel very uncomfortable, like I was living in a hierarchical society.

 

“…I will.”

 

“Oh, by the way, getting back to the point, I think it’s worth a try.”

 

As I waited for Yves’ answer, I remembered that it was the priest of the Temple of Dilbat who had called for help earlier in the game.

 

I’m not sure if he survived the dragon attack, or if he was lucky enough to be outside the city and learned of the problem later.

 

‘At least it’s better than my plans.’

 

At best, the plans were to keep Syris safe, and at worst, to leave her be.

 

‘I’m not completely at ease yet.’

 

Having never been to the area firsthand, I have no idea how big the temple in Dilbat was.

 

Or even how many people it could accommodate.

 

‘Dilbat is an agricultural city, so I’m guessing the population is quite large.’

 

There were concerns about whether the entire city would be able to take shelter in the temple.

 

But there was a bigger issue.

 

The dragons.

 

Dragons, the beastly creatures at the top of the human power rankings, were intelligent.

 

More than human.

 

‘So they’ll think it’s strange when they come to destroy a city and find it deserted.’

 

If they knew they were gathered in a temple and unleashed a giant magic or blast, the people inside the temple would die without a second thought.

 

“Hmm… maybe if we make a few changes, it’ll be a little better.”

 

“Miss Laura isn’t planning to go there herself, is she?”

 

“Oh, no, I don’t think so. Firstly, my life is precious, and I don’t want to go somewhere dangerous.”

 

Though her desire to help Syris as best she could was sincere, on the other hand, she didn’t want to walk into a city where a dragon attack was confirmed.

 

“Very well, I will speak to His Highness Enheduane about these matters first.”

 

“Yes. Take care.”

 

💫

 

‘Ha…my life…’

 

Never thought I’d actually step into it.

 

“Laura, are you okay?”

 

“Uh, yeah. Isn’t it uncomfortable, Miss Syris?”

 

“I’ve ridden it a few times, I’m fine!”

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Okay!”

 

To my surprise, it was me, Syris, and Yves. The three of us were headed to Dilbat.

 

It was my suggestion that set things in motion. I told them that there would be a dragon attack on Dilbat.

 

The discussion was serious, as Yves had told Enheduane about my precognitive abilities.

 

Of course, he hadn’t told her the most important condition, but she shrugged it off, saying it didn’t matter as long as she could save people.

 

‘Honestly, I’m surprised she’s even willing to help.’

 

In the first place, Dilbat was not part of the Divine Realm, but a city of the Euphrates Kingdom.

 

It wasn’t even close to the Divine Realm, and there wasn’t much to be gained by helping, yet she had said that it didn’t matter what country they belonged to when it came to saving lives.