How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 84

On the way to the temple of Astarte for morning prayers as scheduled.

“It’s more embarrassing than I thought, but it’s also better.”

 

I realized that Yves, who usually followed a step behind me, was now walking beside me, and it felt better than I expected.

 

Of course, it wasn’t a completely unfamiliar situation since I had occasionally been escorted by Yves before, but the atmosphere between us seemed to have subtly changed.

 

‘Should I say it’s ticklish, or should I say it’s fluffy?’

 

Rumors about Yves and me being lovers had been circulating for a while.

 

It was because there was a clear difference in how Yves treated me compared to others.

 

‘Well, to begin with, he hardly talks to anyone except me…’

 

Lost in such trivial thoughts, I suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice.

 

Directly in my head.

 

[So, you’re another saint candidate?]

 

At the same time, Yves stepped in front of me as if to protect me. He had already drawn his sword and was ready to attack.

 

“Step back.”

 

[There’s no need to be so wary. I just came to talk to you.]

 

Unlike Yves, who seemed quite tense, the other voice remained calm.

 

‘Who is it?’

 

I peeked out to get a look at the other party, but surprisingly, what appeared across from us wasn’t a human—it was an animal.

 

‘A fluffy white puppy, no less…’

 

[I’m not a puppy!]

 

“…!”

 

My thoughts were being read.

 

‘I only peeked out slightly from behind Yves, how did they know?’

 

Even though my emotions are clearly reflected on my face, they shouldn’t be able to see my face at all from over there.

 

‘And yet, it’s like they’re responding to my thoughts…’

 

[It’s because I’m reading your thoughts, not looking at your face.]

 

Just as I was about to panic from having my thoughts read repeatedly, I realized that the way they communicated felt oddly familiar.

 

‘Come to think of it, it felt like this when I met Huluppu last time.’

 

[I’ve already heard about you from that guy. He said you were an interesting kid.]

 

I felt somewhat relieved by the implication that they were acquainted with Huluppu.

 

At the very least, it didn’t seem like they intended to harm me.

 

“Who are you?”

 

[I am Fenrir, the first divine beast of Lord Shemesh.]

 

“The divine beast of the Sun God, Lord Shemesh?”

 

It was unexpected.

 

‘With white fur and blue eyes, I thought they’d be of the ice attribute…’

 

[That’s an anachronistic way of thinking. And my flames are blue.]

 

I was thinking something else in my mind, and only belatedly realized that my thoughts were being read.

 

‘But being called anachronistic by a divine beast kind of hurts my pride.’

 

However, even knowing that I couldn’t stop the unconscious surge of defiance.

 

Sure enough. Fenrir, having read my thoughts again, asked in a puzzled voice.

 

[Why does that bother you?]

 

He could read my thoughts, so it would have been fine to just think, but I didn’t like the feeling of having my mind constantly read, so I responded out loud.  

 

“You look like you’ve lived a long time, yet you’re talking to me as if I’m older…”  

 

“Laura, who are you talking to?”  

 

But before I could even finish my response, Yves suddenly interrupted.  

 

Yves, still pointing his sword at Fenrir, had a faint look of tension and confusion on his face.  

 

“Huh? Well, it’s the divine beast over here.”  

 

“Divine beast?”  

 

I answered casually, but the doubt on Yves’ face only deepened.  

 

“…Yves, can’t you hear this voice?”  

 

“No. I don’t hear anything.”  

 

Yves’ reaction, as if he had no idea what was going on, made me feel more flustered instead.  

 

I naturally turned to Fenrir and asked, “Is there some special condition required to hear your voice?”  

 

[No.]  

 

“Or is there some secret you can only tell me?”  

 

[There isn’t.]  

 

“Then why can’t Yves hear your voice?”  

 

[Because it’s you I want to talk to.]  

 

Perhaps because it was a divine beast, it seemed to have a different way of thinking than humans. I requested Fenrir.  

 

“In that case, could you make it, so Yves can hear you too?”  

 

[Very well.]  

 

Fenrir agreed so readily that it almost felt too easy.  

 

‘If that’s the case, wouldn’t it have been better to let Yves hear from the beginning?’  

 

After all, Yves was the one pointing a sword and staying on guard.  

 

That thought crossed my mind briefly, but I first checked on Yves’ condition.  

 

“How about it? Can you hear his voice now, Yves?”  

 

“I can hear it, but…”  

 

[No need to overthink it. I simply came here because I wanted to talk to this child.]  

 

“…!”  

 

Yves, trailing off his words, looked at me as if to say, ‘What on earth is going on?’ 

 

But when the answer came from Fenrir, his eyes widened in surprise.  

 

“This is Fenrir, the divine beast of Lady Enheduane. It doesn’t seem like they mean any harm, so maybe you can put that away?”  

 

When I cautiously pointed at the sword and asked, Yves finally sheathed it.  

 

“More importantly, did I just ask that question out loud?”  

 

“No. Probably…”  

 

[No need to be surprised. I read your thoughts.]

 

Whether I thought it to myself or said it out loud, the message would be conveyed the same way, so I didn’t hold back and voiced my complaint.  

 

“Lord Fenrir, I think interrupting someone while they’re speaking is a bad habit.”  

 

When I pointed out Fenrir’s behavior of cutting off my thoughts and words multiple times since earlier, Yves’ expression subtly changed.  

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”  

 

“It’s just that Laura’s consistency, no matter who she’s dealing with, feels remarkable to me all over again.”  

 

It didn’t seem like sarcasm, but it didn’t feel like a genuine compliment either, so I gave him a suspicious look.  

 

[Ahem, unlike spoken words, thoughts are often conveyed in their entirety, so I’ve developed a habit of responding immediately. I’ll be more careful from now on.]  

 

Unexpectedly, Fenrir showed a willingness to reflect on his actions.  

 

“I didn’t expect you to agree so readily. That’s surprising.”  

 

[Of course. I’m a magnanimous person who actively embraces change.]  

 

Somehow, he reminded me of an older generation trying hard to keep up with the new.  

 

[Did you just insult me?]  

 

“N-no, of course not. It was more of an observation, really.”  

 

Feeling slightly guilty, I shook my head vigorously to deny it. Yves, who had been silently watching from the side, seized the moment to ask Fenrir.  

 

“Can you read all of our thoughts?”  

 

[No, I can only read what surfaces consciously.]  

 

“For example, thoughts that rise to the surface when you’re debating whether to say something or not?”  

 

[Exactly. Humans don’t hold just one thought in their minds at a time. Fleeting thoughts or emotions that arise unconsciously are things I can only vaguely sense.]  

 

At Fenrir’s explanation, Yves’ slightly furrowed brow relaxed.  

 

It seemed he was relieved to hear that not all of his thoughts were being read.  

 

‘Well, having your innermost thoughts exposed would be uncomfortable, after all.’  

 

Though for someone like me, who’s never been good at controlling my expressions, it’s nothing new.  

 

While lost in these trivial thoughts, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.  

 

“Ah!”

 

Unintentionally letting out a sigh, Yves and Fenrir’s gazes turned toward me.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

[Is there some kind of problem?]

 

“Sigh… I’m late for morning prayers.”

 

Although I had prepared earlier than usual and left, after meeting Fenrir and talking with him, I ended up missing the morning prayer time.

 

“Ah…”

 

Yves also seemed to realize just then that he had come out to do his morning prayers, letting out a small sigh.

 

Fenrir offered him a casual consolation.

 

[Well, the goddess will probably understand for just one day.]

 

“It’s not that I’m seeking the goddess’s understanding…”

 

[Besides, you’re not under Lady Astarte’s protection, so the goddess probably won’t care much anyway.]

 

It was such a blunt truth that it stung my pride a little, but that wasn’t the part I was concerned about.

 

“Please let me finish speaking. It’s not the goddess that’s important—it’s the fact that I’m a trainee priest that’s the problem.”

 

I suddenly realized that having this conversation in front of the temple was somewhat irreverent, but since I wasn’t a devout religious person, I continued.

 

“If a trainee priest skips prayers, they get punished.”

 

That’s right.

 

The reason I had been diligently attending morning and evening prayers all this time wasn’t because of deep faith, but simply to avoid punishment.

 

That’s why, a few days ago, when I was talking to Endymion, I said I could only stay until the evening prayer.

 

[There’s a rule like that? What kind of punishment do you get?]

 

“Fortunately, this is the first time I’ve missed prayers, so I’ll probably have to transcribe a book called ‘The Mindset of a Priest.’”

 

[That doesn’t sound like a big deal.]

 

“You shouldn’t take it lightly. If you miss prayers more than seven times, you’ll be stripped of your trainee priest status.”

 

It might not seem like a severe punishment at first glance, but the number of missed prayers accumulates.

 

Since prayers are considered the foundation of faith, if you miss them repeatedly, you’ll eventually be expelled from the temple and permanently banned from ever becoming a priest again.