Transmigrating as an Extra Third-Rate Villain

Breaking the silence, Ren hesitated for a moment before pointing the open book on Lily's lap and asking.

"What happened on the last page of the book."

Thinking for a moment, Lily stared at the blank page of the book I had given her before finally saying.

"Like any other fantasy novel, there was a happily ever after where the world was saved, and the heroes were fine."

Nodding my head, I began drawing together all the answers she had given me so far to make a new question.

"So that means, if we make minimal changes to the plot that allows the main and major events to stay intact, the book will be guaranteed to have a happy ending where the world is saved, right?"

Looking away from the book, Lily made eye contact with me before stretching her hands upwards and saying.

"Ah, so that's your strategy, isn't it? That's what you've made yourself believe."

Shaking my head, I replied.

"From your previous answers to my questions, you've said it as well, just in a more indirect and roundabout way."

Cocking her head, Lily replied.

"Nothing is guaranteed, even your happy ending from the book you're hoping for. Even if you follow the book to the tee, there's no real guarantee that things will turn out how the book ends."'

"This world is based on this book; how do we know there's not some random divergence point somewhere? What if this world suddenly stops following the plot of the book for some reason? Then what?"

Sighing, Ren shook his head, not having an answer to Lily's question.

From what he had seen so far, the plot of the book would turn into what happens in this world.

But what would happen if all of a sudden, that just stopped happening, and the world stopped following the plot of the book?

Breaking Ren out of his silence, Lily got up before walking towards Ren and saying.

"Even if there is no divergence point, and from start to end, this world follows the plot of the book, the happy ending is not guaranteed."

Grasping Ren's internal problem, Lily continued.

"You're too concerned with the long-run outcome of this world, and because of that, you fail to realize what happens around you.

"Nothing is ever guaranteed. You've just convinced yourself based on your biased perspective on the world, and the book that this happens to end that occurs in the book will happen here if you follow the book's plot."

Understanding that refuting Lily's verbal criticism would be impossible, Ren decides to attack Lily's strategy.

"And is your strategy of saving everyone you come across with no regrets better? At least, my plan is based on some evidence, even if that evidence is somewhat faulty. You're just doing things on a whim without any regard for the outcome.

"Sure, I'm too obsessed with the long run, but you're too focused on the short run. You fail to consider what impact your actions will have on the outcome of this world. You just do whatever you want, saving people and killing enemies without any thought."

Strolling over to Ren, Lily stood right in front of him before looking up into his eyes.

"On Earth, was a happy ending ever guaranteed? At any moment, our world could have been destroyed by some unknown force like aliens or some other creature in outer space."

"But did that stop you? When you were living your life on Earth, did you focus on how your actions would impact whether the world survived or not?"

Taking Lily's words seriously, Ren recalled how he had spent his last life solely studying and doing work, only caring about his future rather than the future of the world.

Continuing, Lily took advantage of Ren's silence to add in.

"Earth was our world then, and this is our world now. I'm not saying live exactly as you would have on Earth, but realize that, just like Earth, this world is random and full of possibilities."

"Even if you think you know more than anyone else because of your knowledge of the book, you are just as clueless as everyone else in the world in the end."

"This world is random, no matter how fixed it may seem. This a real world with real people and real things."

"That means people here will not act exactly as they did in the book as their emotions are random and only controlled by themselves, not the book."

"And because of that, this world isn't fixed...because the people, or characters in the book, can change them."

"Therefore, your happy ending at the end of the book is only guaranteed if the people in this world act exactly as they did in the book, which simply will not happen."

"They were made by the book, but they don't have to act according to the book. They are people with minds of their own and will sometimes act abnormally, throwing the plot of the book off."

Letting Lily's words take place inside his brain, Ren let out a sigh before asking.

"So your plan then is to live one step at a time? Solve one problem at a time... finish one and then do another new one."

Nodding her head, Lily's eyes sparked as she replied.

"Just like how I acted on Earth, I do what I want. I do what my heart tells me to do, and that's it."

"This world isn't a book in my mind anymore; this is a real place with real people, who are not robots made by an author but real people who have their own minds and brains."

Nodding his head, Ren realized why their ideologies and ways of doing their things were so different.

Their lives on Earth, as Ren could tell from Lily's words, differed greatly.

Perhaps one day...he would figure out how Lily lived on Earth.

As for now, he had more important things on his mind that he needed to sort out.

He wouldn't be solely swayed by Lily's words, but he would take them in and decided for himself if what he was doing was truly right, or if something needed to change.