How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 70

‘It’s cooler because you know you’ve been a terrible person.’ 

 

It was also the only unofficial main character with five endings among the targets.

 

As I stare in awe, my peripheral vision suddenly becomes blurry. 

 

It was Yves, staring at me from the library entrance.

 

Only now did I realize that looking at Endymion’s back made me look at him.

 

I made eye contact with Yves and smiled sheepishly.

 

Then his face changed in a complex way. He was usually good at reading my expressions, but he didn’t understand why I was smiling at him in the middle of a conversation with Endymion.

 

‘Come to think of it, Yves was never dated either.’

 

The pattern of being inexperienced in relationships was common, even among the most observant, so maybe Yves was similar…

 

“Focus on the conversation.”

 

Endymion, noticing my gaze on Yves, snapped his fingers lightly in front of my eyes, interrupting my musings.

 

“Oh, sorry.”

 

My gaze locked on him again as I offered an apology, but he didn’t seem to mind.

 

“Never mind. Anyway, the reason I’m telling you all these secrets is to get your honest answer.”

 

“Wouldn’t it have been quicker to swear an oath then?”

 

I spat out the question that had been forming in my head, having gotten quite used to talking to Endymion.

 

‘It’s not a blunder, so it should be fine.’

 

For a moment I panicked at the unintentional question, but then I regained my composure.

 

It wasn’t meant to offend, and I was genuinely curious as to why the efficiency-minded man had chosen to go back to the easy way out, the Oath to God.

 

‘Although it was nice to have some questions from last time answered.’

 

But this time, Endymion spoke again, with a puzzled tone.

 

“What’s with the oaths all of a sudden?”

 

“What? That’s right… If I was suspicious of you, Endymion, I might lie to you on purpose, which is why I told you the secret first, right?”

 

Endymion replied in a tone that suggested he was talking nonsense.

 

“I can tell if you’re lying or telling the truth just by looking at your face, so why would I need to tell you my secret to gain your trust or swear an oath?”

 

“So you brought it up to gauge my reaction?”

 

“No, not even that, you must be under some strange illusion, but I was merely explaining the information that would help you understand the question before asking for your opinion.”

 

“Aha…”

 

Also, I thought he knew that only favored beings could swear falsely.

 

So I assumed he was showing his hidden hand to build trust through other means.

 

Of course, I still didn’t know which deity I was favored by, so I couldn’t swear falsely.

 

It was a well-founded suspicion, but before I had a chance to discuss it, Endymion added a last word.

 

“You are well aware of Selene’s current situation, and you don’t seem intent on hiding it.”

 

‘No. How can I hide it from someone who has so confidently told me that he can recognize a lie when he sees one!’

 

A complaint flashed through my head, but fortunately, thanks to the power I was giving my brain, it didn’t leave my mouth.

 

‘Well, I don’t have to tell them, they’re already looking at me incredulously.’

 

Endymion’s reaction was a bit of a relief, as I realized that he didn’t really care about my reaction unless it was a leading question to find out something.

 

As expected, he said what he had to say.

 

“Actually, I’ve mentioned the dream to Selene a couple of times, but she’s always kept it to herself.”

 

“Selene?” I asked, my eyes widening at the unexpectedness of Endymion’s words.

 

His story was so unexpected.

 

‘She’s been so open with me… Oh, is there some kind of restriction that she’s not allowed to tell her targets?’

 

The question flashed through my mind, but I quickly pushed it to the back of my mind. It was a question that could be answered by thinking about it.

 

Shaking off the distraction, I looked at Endymion with a serious gaze and focused on the story.

 

“If you’re so surprised, I must have told you the truth.”

 

I was instantly offended. It was Endymion’s way of subtly gauging my reaction and gleaning information.

 

‘This behavior is to blame for his misunderstanding of the Oath.’ 

 

I tried to be patient with him, but he kept interrupting the flow of our conversation.

 

“If you’re going to keep talking like that, I’m not going to talk to Endymion anymore.”

 

When I looked like I was going to leave at any moment, Endymion apologized hastily.

 

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to do that, but as I mentioned, it’s a habit I can’t seem to break.”

 

“I see, so why don’t you just cut to the chase?”

 

This time, I was expecting an apology from him, so I nodded and got down to business in a more cheerful voice.

 

Endymion had answered a lot of questions, but he’d gone on too long.

 

“The…”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Did you know that I did this for Selene…”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…”

 

Why the silence? He’s been blabbering on about things that don’t matter.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Although I waited in silence for him, I gradually reached my limits of strength.

 

The conversation took a toll on my brain, and the fatigue was building up.

 

‘Honestly, I just want to lie down on my bed.’

 

I finally spoke up in frustration.

 

“Do you want to talk about your thoughts?”

 

“That’s not it. It’s just that I’ve never talked to someone about my problems before… It doesn’t come naturally. Likewise, it’s too embarrassing to talk to someone about my problems in the first place.”

 

And this.

 

‘Endymion was never one to show weakness to others.’ 

 

Though I understood, that and my exhaustion were two different things, so I said firmly.

 

“Or why don’t you come back later when you’ve finished preparing your mind, because if we take any longer, we won’t be finished before evening prayers.”

 

“…I’ll do it now.”

 

Sensing that I wasn’t really going to wait, Endymion reluctantly cut to the chase.

 

“After the dream changed my mind, I vowed to protect Selene, even if it cost me my life, but…”

 

Endymion trailed off for a moment, then continued with a determined look on his face as if he had made a great decision.

 

“Is it selfish of me to help Selene even if she didn’t want me to?”

 

“Huh?”

 

As I listened to him calmly, I was dumbfounded.

 

The question seemed so casual, so innocent.

 

‘I thought there was something seriously going on here.’

 

He must have read my puzzled expression because he quickly explained.

 

“After your trial, Selene asked me why I was acting out.”

 

At the same time, Selene’s startled face flashed in my mind.

 

‘That wasn’t an act. I thought you were roasting Endymion to send me to the guillotine, of course.’

 

Even as I recalled the situation, his story continued.

 

“In fact, Selene was initially against the idea of me coming to the Divine Realm with her.”

 

She didn’t bring Endymion along for the reverse harem ending.

 

“But how did you come to be with her?”

“Because the nobles were vehemently opposed to the remaining saint candidate, Selene, going to the Divine Realm.”

 

The situation was immediately clear to me.

 

‘They’re probably afraid of losing the advantage of having the continent’s first saint.’

 

I was a candidate, but another candidate for sainthood, me, was already in the Divine Realm.

 

“So it was on the condition that Endymion would go with her?”

 

“Yes, but Selene was not entirely convinced. That’s why the Babylonians insisted that we never follow her…”

 

Endymion trailed off and dropped his gaze, his face somber.

 

His usual air of impeccability and ease had vanished.

 

It was an unfamiliar side of him that I hadn’t seen before, not even in the game, but my attention was elsewhere.

 

‘Is there any reason why Endymion shouldn’t be there?’

 

Surely the whole point of going to the Babylonian Empire was to meet the hidden character, Xenon.

 

If so, it was to her advantage to go with Endymion, the Crown Prince, because Selene was not yet a recognized saint and would not be treated as an honored guest in the Empire.

 

And the strange part was not over.

 

‘If Selene could meet with Xenon whenever she wanted, then why bother obsessing over me at all?’ 

 

But she had tried to make me a criminal and hang me at the guillotine until the very end.

 

‘I wonder what Selene’s motives are.’

 

While I was deep in thought, trying to guess her next move, I heard Endymion’s voice, completely out of place in the atmosphere.

 

“I don’t know where the line is.”

 

For a moment, I wondered, ‘What line?’ but what he said next was completely unexpected.

 

“I don’t intend to force Selene to love me, but at least not hate me…”

 

“What?”

 

“No, um, I mean, I genuinely want to be of help to Selene, not out of my selfishness, but if she doesn’t want it, is it right for me to stay put, even if I can help her?”