How a Villain Defies Destiny – Chapter 60

Author: Nikss

That’s how I observed him, the same way.

‘It’s almost like a regression, isn’t it?’

In the game, Endymion was a character obsessed with being the ‘perfect monarch’.

His idea of a ‘perfect monarch’ literally means a ruler who has perfection.

A flawless being with no weaknesses, no flaws, and no tolerance for mistakes or failures.

He always had a relaxed demeanor, looking down on everyone from above and feeling the need to rule from the pinnacle.

Raised with this compulsion from a very young age, Endymion desperately hid his weaknesses and mistakes, never allowing himself to become flawed.

But no human being could be perfect.

We all make mistakes and have weaknesses.

Nevertheless, he refused to admit his mistakes and blamed others for them.

After all, Endymion had more than enough words in his vocabulary. He was willing to throw away any of them in order to become the perfect ruler.

This personality trait caused the most conflict with Selene in the game.

‘In the original, Endymion doesn’t recognize his love for Selene and treats her as a bit of a useful pawn, and the repercussions are devastating.’

That’s why, at the time of the trial, Endymion reveals the curse in front of the nobles only for Selene’s sake.

Endymion, who was so fixated on being the perfect monarch, had done something he would never do, especially so early in the game.

So when I went to the Holy Realm and reviewed Endymion’s strange behavior, I instinctively felt that he had somehow regressed or been possessed, even though my brain denied it.

‘Then again, I was shocked when he apologized for framing me at the Harvest Festival.‘

For Endymion, apologizing for one’s mistakes does not mean blaming others.

‘Even though I was falsely accused and nearly guillotined, the original Endymion would not have batted an eye if I had been executed.’

Another man’s life was not worth a lock of his own hair.

A psychopathic scumbag.

That’s what I saw, the Endymion of the game.

‘Well, I guess players would hate him for that, so they added a setting that says he values the lives of those in his path more than his own.’

The funny thing was, he was the only person within those lines.

His loyal men, his family, and his shared blood, were all mere tools for Endymion to use to fulfill his ideals.

‘Only Yves was briefly able to step outside of it.’

The terrifying thing was that once inside, he would cut them off like a knife the moment they stepped outside.

This was evidenced by the fact that as soon as Yves became popular among the nobles and was deemed a threat to his position, he would dismiss him with impunity.

‘Endymion cut him off unilaterally, without even asking him.’

This explains why the relationship between Yves and Endymion went so badly, even though Yves had no intention of threatening Endymion’s position at the time.

‘He’s such a piece of trash in the game, and yet he’s so nice to Selene, and yet not to Yves…’

This was the reason I observed Endymion and wondered endlessly whether he was a possessor or a regressor.

‘By the way, when is Yves returning?’

With my thoughts on Endymion roughly wrapped up, I glanced toward the library entrance.

‘I’m starting to feel like running away.’

As curious as I was about Endymion’s purpose, it was too much of a disadvantage to continue the conversation with him reading my thoughts.

The last thing I wanted was to be here.

‘If only Yves hadn’t insisted on staying here earlier, I would have gone first.’

Normally, I didn’t mind being away for a while, but…

‘…and I don’t think we’ve been away from each other for a while.’

As I grumbled to myself, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t spent any time away from Yves.

As a Guardian Knight, it’s his duty to stay by my side, but it was so familiar and comfortable to be with him all day.

Then I heard Endymion’s voice.

“I still don’t understand your purpose.”

Apparently, he’s finished thinking.

‘If only I could have continued until Yves came, but alas.’

There was no avoiding it now.

The more we talked, the worse it was for me, so I decided to enjoy the ride while I could, and made Endymion an offer.

“I’ll tell you my purpose, Endymion, and you can answer my question.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Not if you don’t want to.”

Why would he ask the obvious? It’s not like he’s going to do it if I force him to.

Anyway, I thought if he said no, the deal was off. To my surprise, Endymion looked troubled.

“Let me hear your question first.”

He must be wondering what my purpose is.

‘I’m sure he’s going to hate it.’

Of course, I wasn’t about to reveal my deck before the deal, so I calmly asked the question.

“I was just wondering if you could answer a question I had.”

When asked how many times he’d gone back in time, he said no to all of them.

‘It was a nuance, as if he had never traveled back in time.’

It took only a few questions to figure out that Selene was a regressor, but Endymion wasn’t so sure.

“Are you asking me what secret I’m hiding?”

“You don’t have to go into detail, but I’d like to know if it makes common sense.”

“Why, because it seems different from you and Selene, who have traveled back in time again and again?”

It seemed like he knew Selene was regressing, after all.

Still, I shook my head.

“I can’t say for sure that we’re different, I just asked because something Endymion said seemed contradictory.”

“It must have seemed contradictory to you.”

“…You pretended to hear the question, but then proceeded to leave me hanging.”

My eyes actually widened and I almost lost my cool.

‘I can’t believe you’d ask me a question backwards and see how I reacted.’

It was hard not to feel awkward because he was rambling on about little things related to the first question.

If he hadn’t spat out the words that he was checking my reaction, I wouldn’t have noticed and would have continued to be manipulated.

‘Not that I’ve mentioned anything important.’

It really caught me off guard.

“I must admit, I’m a little surprised. You’re surprisingly sharp.”

Endymion didn’t seem to expect me to see right through him. I, on the other hand, was drained.

The thought of a trap being laid in each of his questions drained me of energy, and I didn’t even want to talk to him anymore.

“Well, never mind, I’ll tell you what I’m here for, and that’s all you need to hear.”

I made a show of abstaining.

‘My purpose is boring anyway, it’s not interesting to hear, and there’s no point in hiding it.’

Just take it or leave it. But perhaps I had given Endymion’s twisted mind too much credit.

“This sudden change in attitude is even stranger. Is there something you’re hiding?”

Wow, I didn’t realize he was so twisted.

‘Maybe he’s not so twisted, maybe he’s just looking at the world upside down?’

At the same time, I sensed something was wrong. I had a sudden premonition that no matter how I responded, he wouldn’t let go easily.

‘I should have just left earlier, even if it meant listening to Yves nag me.’

Hindsight gives me a rush of regret.

In the first place, I didn’t care if Endymion was possessed or regressed, as long as he didn’t try to kill me.

That’s why I’d shrugged it off after a few encounters.

‘It wasn’t information I needed to know, it was mere curiosity!’

I sighed deeply, my annoyance evident in my voice as I turned to face Endymion.

“Huh…”

It was no longer any of my business that he was the Crown Prince or one of the targets.

Moreover, even if I kept a straight face, it would be easily read, and no matter what I said when asked if I had an ulterior motive, I’d be judged.

Without any hint of exasperation or attempt to hide it, I sighed heavily in annoyance before Endymion spoke again.

“What’s wrong?”

He stared at me as if he were looking at a monstrous creature.

‘I wonder if I’m weird to Endymion.’

Taking a moment to calm myself, I reflected on my behavior.

‘I underestimated him, I admired his sharp trick, then he suddenly offered to show me his hand as a bargaining chip, and when I questioned why he was showing it, I sighed in annoyance… I don’t understand.’

Every action must have seemed meaningless in Endymion’s eyes.

“In the name of Astarte, I swear to tell you the truth. The more I talk to you, Endymion, the more tired I become, and I wish to make my purpose known and end this conversation.”

On a whim, I swore an oath.

At this point, I knew Endymion would be listening and criticizing me no matter what I said.

The look on his face was familiar, similar to the look on the first time I met Yves, so I swore an oath of silence.

“I further declare that I have no ulterior motives other than what I have stated.”

“…”

Endymion’s brow furrowed for the first time in the entire conversation.

Though I didn’t mean to, it made me feel a little better.

“So, can I tell you now? Or do I have to say this under oath, and if I did it before, does it continue after?”

“Okay.”

“What is it?”

“Because it wasn’t your purpose to ask in the first place.”

“What? Then what is it?”