In the original game's setting, this seemingly flawless Princess had always shown nothing but blatant disgust and coldness toward Greg, her former fiancé, viewing him as the shame of the nobility.
But Greg's current impression of his former fiancée wasn't actually that bad.
The reason was simple: in the original game's narrative structure, Vivian Kahn shared a similar identity with him—that of a villain.
Indeed, this beautiful, powerful, and high-status Eldest Princess was not a romanceable heroine, nor was she an important supporting character who provided aid. She was a female villain destined to fall to darkness in the mid-game and stand in opposition to the main party.
In every single story branch of the original game, as the plot progressed, Vivian would endure increasing psychological pressure from witnessing her younger sister Lilith's ever-more dazzling talent and brilliance.
When this pressure reached its peak at a critical juncture, she would completely break down. Driven by temptation or coercion, she would choose to cast herself into the shadows and join the Demon King Cult, even going as far as to fuse with Demon blood to gain power, eventually becoming a terrifying enemy who fought the heroines to the death.
The difference between her and himself was this:
Greg Sass mostly suffered from the malice of the game developers; his various nonsensical deaths often made players laugh, treating him as a clown used to lighten the mood.
Vivian Kahn was different.
Her descent into darkness and fall from grace were accompanied by thorough psychological depiction and tragic foreshadowing.
Especially in Lilith's route, when the player controlled Victoria and Lilith to team up and finally defeat her after a hard-fought battle, the dying Vivian would have a moment of confession and a monologue in her sister's arms that truly elevated her character.
Greg still remembered that CG animation to this day:
The princess, as beautiful as ice and snow, lay in her sister's arms, her body gradually turning cold due to the backlash of her demonic transformation and her fatal wounds.
Her ice-blue eyes gazed at Lilith, her past severity and coldness melting like snow under the sun, leaving only deep exhaustion and a sense of relief.
She intermittently recalled warm fragments of them playing together as children and her teaching Lilith magic, before saying with a weak breath:
"Feeling pressured by your talent was just an excuse. Perhaps I... was simply jealous of that fiery, burning purity you have, something I could never possess."
Finally, using the last of her strength, she gently wiped the tears from her sister's face and spoke her final words.
"I'm sorry, Lilith... I actually... just wanted to be your pride too..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she shattered like broken ice crystals, completely dissipating in Lilith's arms.
It was this final monologue, filled with tragic beauty and complex emotions, that caused countless players to feel strong sympathy or even love for the villainous Vivian while playing Lilith's route. They would try every possible way to save her during the game and prevent her from reaching her destined destruction.
However, the results were despairing.
No matter how hard the players tried—raising her affection early, triggering hidden events—Vivian Kahn would always eventually fall to darkness and be killed in the final battle against the main party.
Like Greg Sass, she was a character nailed to a fated death by the original script.
This point had also caused Greg to sigh with regret back when he was a player in his previous life.
But that was all stuff that happened after the mid-game.
At least at this point in time, the blue-haired girl before him was still that cold, serious, and highly capable Student Council President who was feared and respected by both teachers and students—the pride of the kingdom, Eldest Princess Vivian Kahn.
"Regardless of what exactly happened, whatever was able to kill Lady Eight-Legs is undoubtedly a powerful being. Furthermore, according to the professors' confirmation of the dungeon's restrictions, this person must be a registered student of our academy."
Vivian's clear, cold voice echoed in the cavern, breaking the whispers of the Student Council members and interrupting Greg's thoughts.
Her gaze swept across every corner of the nest, as if she were reconstructing the scene in her mind.
"A-A student?!"
"How is that possible!"
"President, that was a Level 35 Lord! It even had the Dungeon's Divine Protection!"
Hearing this, the Student Council members all wore expressions of unbelievable shock.
To them, being able to safely explore the deep area already required considerable courage and teamwork.
To solo a first layer Lord?
That was simply a fairy tale!
In the shadows, Greg silently withdrew his gaze.
Nightmare's teasing voice chimed in at just the right moment.
"Oh? Has your taste changed again? Are you interested in this serious, ice-queen type of girl now? But I must remind you, she looks like the type who has a very strong desire for control. I'm really worried your little body won't be able to take it in the future~"
Greg rolled his eyes in his mind. "You're such a lewd Hajimi...! How can you even see something like that?!"
"I am the Goddess who governs the dark night."
Nightmare's voice sounded perfectly justified. "Is it not natural for me to see through a mortal's secret fetishes and desires that are not for public knowledge at a single glance?"
"...I feel like there's a fundamental gap between your definition of a goddess and mine," Greg complained helplessly.
He carefully wound the last few strands of Golden Glow Spider Silk and tucked them into his inner pocket.
Having finished his collection, he didn't leave grandly right away. Instead, he continued to lurk in the shadows, waiting for the right moment.
Just as he was about to quietly retreat along the hidden path he came from, his gaze inadvertently swept over the standing blue figure in the center of the cavern again.
Vivian still stood there, her ice-blue eyes staring into the depths of the nest, her profile appearing calm and focused under the dim light, as if she were contemplating something.
Greg's movements paused slightly.
"A fellow villain fated to die by the script..."
A thought flashed through his mind.
Although the time isn't right yet and the plot is still early... considering your final monologue was somewhat touching, well...
He let out a soft breath and took one last look at Vivian, making a vague decision in his heart.
If there's a chance in the future and conditions allow... for the sake of being the same kind, if I can give her a hand, I'll give her a hand.
Consider it... a way to make up for that regret from my previous life.
With his mind made up, Greg lingered no longer. His form was like flowing water merging into the darkness as he quietly slid along the shadows of the rock wall toward a narrow crack half-hidden by tattered webs on the other side of the nest. He soon vanished into the deep darkness without leaving a trace.
A second after Greg's figure completely disappeared into the crack—
Vivian, who had been staring into the depths of the nest, suddenly shifted her ice-blue eyes. As if she had sensed something, she abruptly turned toward the shadow on the rock wall where Greg had just been hiding and leaving.
Her gaze was as sharp as a blade, lingering on that shadow and the entrance of the crack for several seconds, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
But there was nothing there now. Only the rough texture of the rock wall and the hanging tattered webs stood silently in the dim light. Greg was long gone.
Vivian stared for a moment before finally withdrawing her gaze. A flicker of faint doubt passed through her ice-blue eyes, but she did not pursue it further.
She shook her head gently.
"Was it an illusion..."
Immediately after, she refocused all her attention on the Student Council task at hand. Her face returned to its usual calm and serious expression, as if that moment of hesitation had never happened.
Rate on N.U.
