How a Villain Defies Destiny Chapter 94

While I was deeply lost in my thoughts, shocked by a startling revelation, Fenrir tapped me with his front paw and spoke up.

 

[Hey, are you listening?]

 

“Huh? What did you say?”

 

I honestly hadn’t heard anything, so I answered truthfully. He frowned deeply and lightly scolded me in a bewildered tone.

 

[You’re the first human who hasn’t heard the thoughts I poured into your mind.]

 

Feeling a bit defiant at his reproach, I responded in a joking tone.

 

“To hear that I’m the first from you, Fenrir, who has lived for so many years, is quite an honor.”

 

[I thought no human could surpass Xenon, but you’re quite something too.]

 

Fenrir exclaimed, not hiding his astonishment.

 

‘I’m not sure in what way I’m greater than Xenon, but it doesn’t seem like a compliment.’

 

Although I’m usually unable to resist asking about things I’m curious about, this was one thing I didn’t want to delve into deeply.

 

I had a feeling that digging deeper would only worsen my mood.

 

So, I subtly changed the subject.

 

“By the way, what did you just say to me?”

 

Fortunately, Fenrir didn’t seem inclined to elaborate on that topic and easily moved on.

 

[I said I’d help you without any cost.]

 

“With what?”

 

[To live a life of leisure in the Babylonian Empire.]

 

I had been so engrossed in finding any common ground between Xenon and the Northern Duke that I momentarily forgot the main point.

 

“Ah, right. We were having that conversation. Wait, but you’re offering to protect me without any cost?”

 

Following the flow of the conversation, I absentmindedly agreed, but then belatedly realized the implications of Fenrir’s words and asked again in surprise.

 

It was hard to understand why someone would do something that offered no benefit to someone they had just met.

 

Fenrir, however, nonchalantly affirmed.

 

[Yes.]

 

“But why?”

 

[I quite like you.]

 

I thought there might be something wrong with me that he wanted to help, but the reason was quite simple.

 

So, I lightly declined, “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline. I have no intention of going to the Babylonian Empire.”

 

[That’s a shame. I thought things wouldn’t be boring with you around.]

 

It seemed more like a proposal to satisfy his curiosity rather than pure goodwill.

 

I found Fenrir’s shameless attitude of treating me like a research subject in front of others absurd, but before I could point it out, I suddenly realized that Yves was unusually quiet.

 

‘Huh? Normally, this would be the perfect time for Yves to chime in.’

 

Yves usually steps back and silently observes when I’m talking to others, but he doesn’t completely stay out of it.

 

He often steps in to help before I even ask when I’m being treated unfairly or poorly. But currently, Yves was strangely quiet.

 

“Yves?”

 

“…”

I cautiously called his name, but there was no response.

 

‘His eyes are open.’

 

His gaze was fixed on the ground, so he was definitely lost in thought. I waved my hand in front of his eyes and called again.

 

“Yves, are you tired?”

 

Finally, the focus began to return to his hazy silver eyes. His gaze, which had been fixed on the ground, turned towards me, and then Yves opened his mouth a beat late.

 

“…No.”

 

“Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

 

“Ah, it’s not that I’m not feeling well…”

 

[He was deliberately emptying his mind to avoid having his thoughts read.]

 

Yves hesitated to speak, and Fenrir quickly added, seemingly impatient.

 

‘Was he struggling to calm the thoughts rising in his mind?’

 

As I was thinking that, Yves’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

 

A chilling coldness spread, enough to make my skin tingle. It seemed he was upset about having his inner thoughts read repeatedly.

 

On the other hand, Fenrir easily brushed off Yves’s menacing aura.

 

‘I’m the only one feeling awkward, caught between them.’

 

I alternated my gaze between Yves and Fenrir, who had suddenly started a staring contest, and then suddenly came up with a good idea.

 

“Ah! Fenrir, is it possible to not read the thoughts of a specific person?”

 

[Of course.]

 

“Then, as a favor, please don’t read Yves’s thoughts.”

 

[What?]

 

“…!”

 

Two pairs of eyes instantly focused on me. Their gazes seemed to demand a detailed explanation.

 

‘They’re really in sync with this kind of thing.’

 

Thinking that to myself, I began to explain to Fenrir and Yves.

 

“Anyway, I didn’t have anything to ask of Fenrir as a favor. And since Yves seemed uncomfortable with Fenrir constantly reading his thoughts, I thought it would be a good idea to use my favor for that.”

 

“Laura, I’m fine. You should save it for when you really need it.”

 

“Once the Saint selection is over, I probably won’t have any reason to meet Fenrir again. If I save it for later, I might never get to use it. It feels like the opportunity will just slip away.”

 

“That’s true…”

 

I tried to convince Yves that it’s better to use the favor now rather than let it go to waste, and he seemed slightly swayed.

 

Just when I thought I had finally persuaded Yves, Fenrir expressed his dissatisfaction.

 

[This is rather sudden. And honestly, since you’re the one fulfilling my request, I’m not too keen on using it for something that benefits him.]

 

“But since I’m the one fulfilling your request, and this is what I truly want, shouldn’t it be fine?”

 

[Well, I suppose…]

 

After leaving both Yves and Fenrir speechless, the room fell into silence.

 

“Let’s all think positively. Yves gets to keep his thoughts private, I get to request Fenrir even though I didn’t have anything specific in mind, and Fenrir gets to keep his promise. In the end, everyone wins.”

 

It wasn’t as flawless as Yves’s arguments, but it wasn’t entirely nonsense either, so both of them seemed unsure.

 

“If you think about it carefully, there’s nothing wrong with it, right?”

 

I smirked as I posed the question to the silent Yves and Fenrir, and they both reluctantly nodded.

 

‘After all, there’s nothing factually wrong with what I said!’

 

They were probably just unsettled because my request didn’t align with their expectations.

 

Fenrir was the first to change his mind amidst the lingering dissatisfaction.

 

[Hmm, if this is what you truly want, I’ll gladly grant it.]

 

“Please do,” I repeated my request without hesitation.

 

Fenrir let out a deep sigh and reluctantly agreed.

 

[Fine.]

 

“Thank you.”

 

After receiving his approval, I waited for a while. But strangely, the room remained eerily silent, with no noticeable changes.

 

Eventually, I cautiously asked, “Are you planning to fulfill the favor after meeting Huluppu?”

 

[What are you talking about? It’s already done.]

 

“Huh? But there was no light or magic circle around Yves. Are you sure it’s done?”

 

[You seem to be misunderstanding. My ability to read your thoughts isn’t some special power—it’s as natural as breathing.]

 

According to Fenrir’s explanation, there’s no need for spells or oaths. He simply blocks specific thoughts from his consciousness.

 

“I thought it was related to your unique abilities.”

 

[As I mentioned earlier, my ability is to control fire. Well, broadly speaking, it’s not entirely wrong since the thoughts come through divine power.]

 

Fenrir’s explanation left me even more confused.

 

‘It’s not like some warm iced Americano.’

 

I was starting to get more tangled up in whether it was due to divine power or not.

 

[Lord Shemesh is the Sun God, but he can also be called the God of Light.]

 

Noticing my confusion, Fenrir cleared his throat lightly and added an explanation.

 

[And light exists everywhere in the world.]

 

He explained that even when the sun sets and night falls, light doesn’t completely disappear. It’s always present, just like air, everywhere and at all times.

 

I could understand that concept, so I nodded eagerly as he continued.

 

[In other words, light is connected to all living beings in the world, so with Lord Shemesh’s divine power, I can naturally read thoughts.]

 

“Wait a minute. I understand the first part, but what you just said feels like a lot was skipped.”

 

I told him I understood that light is connected to all living beings, but I didn’t see how that related to reading thoughts. Fenrir wrinkled his nose again.

 

[This requires a longer explanation.]