NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21
Three Days Later
Promised Date
Domain of the Demon God
“Are you ready?”
Demon God Hupnis flew down from her lofty throne.
I handed her a terminal imbued with the power of dreams.
“Of course. As I mentioned before, an episode containing the story of Demon King Perlerina is ready. I believe you’ll enjoy it.”
With the save data cleared up to Act 1, we could dive right into Act 2 without any issues of immersion.
“Before we start, let me point out that if you disrupt the episode, the recognition won’t function properly. Therefore, even if you don’t like the story, you must adhere to it…”
“Hmm…”
The Demon God rested her chin on her hand as she listened to my explanation.
The terminal floated into her grasp.
“If the main character enters this, the previous Demon King will be resurrected.”
“That seems likely. It was the same for the Mage Engineer and the sacrifice.”
No, that won’t ever happen.
You won’t be clearing this episode and coming out.
Even if that were the case, the Demon King cannot be resurrected.
The story distributed to other players for Act 2 includes choices to either assist or hinder the Demon King’s massacre at the climactic moment.
Not only is there a choice added that contradicts the established history, but the recognition of players who experienced this episode will also be divided. It will be entirely different from the previous 10 Heroes and Saint Kate.
“If you do it personally, I believe you could clear it in less than half a day.”
With just a gentle nudge,
“Very well. This is my work, after all. I’ll finish it faster than anyone else.”
True to her arrogant nature, she turned on the terminal without a hint of doubt.
Vroom!
As the Demon God activated the terminal, the power of dreams enveloped her.
I watched her, and through the power of dreams, I entered developer mode of the Akashic Archive.
*
“Finally, the time has come for the third test.”
“…?”
As she surrendered herself to the power of dreams within the game, the Demon God witnessed a black-haired human boy speaking to her.
“It’s finally the last test. If you pass this one, you’ll become the official steward of the Akashic Archive.”
Boring words spilled forth.
I wanted to toss it aside and grab the steward by the neck, but recalling the earlier warnings from the Apostle of Dreams, the Demon God decided to hold back for now.
Snap!
As the steward snapped his fingers, a book soared from the shelf and flew between the Demon God and the steward.
“This story will be a bit different from the previous ones.”
The pages of the book began to flip one by one.
“The Abyss’s encroachment is the same as before. But this time it’s not through monsters. Instead, the encroachment has affected the protagonist’s mind.”
The divine energy flowing from the steward created an illusion in the air.
‘…Perlerina?’
The sudden appearance of the previous Demon King surprised the Demon God.
“She is the protagonist of this story and the one you must guide onto the right path.”
“…What do you mean? I must guide her onto the right path?”
In response to the Demon God’s question, the steward crossed his arms.
“It’s simple. The Demon King as the protagonist has stirred events in this world that determine the fates of various races. Because of her actions, this world can exist in the Archive as a world worthy of being recorded. The problem is that the Abyss’s interference has distorted her will.”
“Her will… has been distorted?”
“Indeed. What she accomplished was possible due to her firm resolve, but the Abyss has corrupted that. What you need to do is stay by her side and assist her.”
“…How do I help?”
“When you enter the story this time, you won’t possess a character as before. Instead, you’ll remain by Perlerina in a form of spirit. Don’t worry, you won’t have to experience her life in its entirety. Everything unimportant will be accelerated, so think of it as helping her only during the crucial moments.”
Whir!
The steward’s power swirled around the book.
“Remember, we are the stewards of the Akashic Archive. Our mission is to preserve the events that occur throughout the universe truthfully. Even if the conclusion isn’t to your liking, you must not change it arbitrarily.”
The Demon God half-heartedly listened to his words.
All she wanted was to quickly finish everything and meet Perlerina again.
“Then let’s get started.”
The world contained within the book swallowed the Demon God whole.
*
A peaceful village bathed in moonlight.
Flames soared in a village that should have been calm.
“Kill all the demon scum!”
“Kill and plunder!”
Human mercenaries ravaged the village, dragging out the people hiding inside and brutally slaughtering them.
“Hahaha! Just as I thought, demon flesh is delicious! So tender, it’s a treat!”
“No matter how many we kill, we won’t be held accountable! Is there any better slaughter than this!”
Most of the demons were helpless women, yet the mercenaries reveled in tearing through their bones and flesh with metal blades.
“How dare they…!”
With bloodshot eyes, the Demon God clenched her fists tightly.
This scene was one witnessed across the continent before she finalized the Demon War, breaking the chain of hatred among races.
In the past, demons faced extreme discrimination from other races and were often hunted.
Having lost her own parents to another race, it was hard for her to endure the sight before her.
Had she been present in her true form, she would have turned all the human mercenaries into dust right then.
But she was a spirit.
She didn’t possess the physical power to intervene.
Ding!
[First Help]
– The demon you must help is still very young. The village where the young Demon King is living has been attacked by demon hunters. Only she can see your spirit in this world. Lead the young demon to survival.
As the main quest guide appeared, a virtual arrow indicating the location of the goal occupied a corner of her vision.
The Demon God’s spirit floated and glided in that direction.
In a small house tucked away in a corner of the village.
“Rina, you must never come out, okay?”
“But, Mom!”
As the mother hid the young demon girl in the basement, covering her with many pieces of furniture to conceal her, she sacrificed herself to lure the huntsmen away—a classic scenario common throughout the continent.
Though such things were readily witnessed back then, it was all the more heartbreaking.
‘This is her past.’
“I love you, Rina.”
“Mom! Mommy!”
Tears streamed down the woman’s face as she sealed off the basement and stepped outside.
As she opened the door, the mercenaries trying to enter her home discovered her.
“A demon bitch!”
“Capture her!”
Though demons possessed bodies superior to humans, an ordinary demon raised in such a manner was no match for the merciless mercenaries.
The demon woman was immediately caught by the mercenaries.
“Uh-huh. I’ve caught a real prize here.”
“I bet it’ll be delicious. I’ll take the limbs.”
“Oh, you freak! You want to keep that as a souvenir?”
As the mercenaries began to slice and dismember her body for their enjoyment, the woman stifled her screams with every ounce of strength.
She feared that if she made a sound, her beloved daughter might hear it and react, revealing her hiding place.
The Demon God watched the dying woman with a heavy heart.
No matter how arrogant she was, she felt respect for the woman, dying while desperately enduring pain to protect her beloved daughter.
“Make some noise, you bitch! This is boring!”
One mercenary drove a twisted blade into the woman’s belly and twisted it around.
“Ugh!”
The woman, who had fought to keep her silence, could no longer hold back against the relentless pain, and a scream escaped her lips.
And the woman’s scream echoed around, causing the hidden girl in the basement to react.
“…Huh?”
“I think there’s another one.”
“Over there!”
“Let’s catch them.”
The mercenaries tossed the woman aside and moved toward the direction of the sound.
With her fading vision, the woman crawled to grasp the mercenaries’ ankles.
“Ugh, what a disgusting wench. Pretending to move like that.”
Crack!
Losing her head to a mercenary’s kick, she finally found peace.
Meanwhile, the girl hiding in the basement covered her mouth with both hands.
Bang! Bang!
“Hey! Bring a hammer!”
Right above, the mercenaries were smashing the entrance to the basement.
Death was looming right in front of her.
“You.”
At that moment, a beautiful woman with a mature appearance popped out from the side.
“Eh?”
The girl’s eyes widened in surprise.
“There’s no time. If you don’t want your mother’s sacrifice to be in vain, quickly heed my words.”
The form of the Demon God, Hupnis, was exactly as she envisioned it.
To the girl, she seemed no different from a great being out of a fairy tale.
Without a word, the girl nodded.
“Good. First, try to move your magic.”
“?”
“There’s no time. Ha, if you really are Rina, you can definitely do it… This won’t do. Focus on your lower abdomen…”
Teaching her the basics of magic.
Having heard the lesson on magic from the Demon God, the girl learned how to use stealth through magic.
“Done. Now use it!”
As magic enveloped the girl’s body, she shimmered and vanished.
Simultaneously—
Crack!
A massive hammer broke through the entrance to the basement.
“…What? There’s nothing here?”
“That can’t be.”
“Did we hear something?”
“Ugh. Is it an empty round? No choice but to leave.”
The mercenaries spat and exited.
Then they set fire to the empty house.
*
As a developer, I leaped into the story version of the steward that the Demon God was conducting.
Everything was going according to plan.
The Demon God would accompany her master, reflecting on her entire life, and witness the underlying truths.
What would happen if she learned that everything she knew about her master was a lie and discovered the truth?
If she came to understand that this episode was not a vengeance tale against her betraying mentor, but rather a bittersweet yet precious journey of farewell with her mentor?