Chapter 210
When do you get the chills in a game?
When you're playing a Survival Game and you're surrounded by Hostile Mobs? Or when you're playing a Horror Game and a Grotesque Creature suddenly pops out nearby?
Of course, both of those are definitely awful and terrifying experiences.
But they weren't quite enough to be called the *most* chilling.
No matter how messed up the situation was, they were still just things happening *in* the game. As long as it wasn't connected to your real self, fear could only ever be felt with a wall between you and it.
In that sense, for me personally, the most chilling situation would be... when an In-game Character suddenly knocks on the Fourth Wall and approaches you.
If the Character on Screen suddenly—
“Hello! So you're Kim Dongyu, living in Banghak-dong, Dobong-gu? Based on your Bio-signal today, it seems you didn't get much sleep. And based on the Residual Components in your mouth, you ate Doenjang-jjigae with beef brisket. A Website History Check shows your preference is SM and femdom! Oh, and you masturbate twice a day...”
—and suddenly recited your Personal Information like that, wouldn't that be absolutely terrifying?
I guarantee that nine out of ten people who heard something like that would scream like a little girl.
Of course, Demon's Saga didn't delve into Users' lives in that much detail.
Of course, during Amdusias's time, they briefly checked Users' Sexual Activity, and during Dantalion's time, they read others' thoughts... but that was it.
Demon's Saga only ever touched the Fourth Wall indirectly; it never directly produced anything like that.
Even Gaians, who were aware of the term NPC themselves, didn't explicitly say it.
In that sense, what the Demons had just said was enough to plunge the Users into a crucible of shock.
A Boss Mob mentioning Demon's Saga itself? And a newly appeared Demon suddenly claiming to be a Game Master? It was a scene Users had never witnessed while playing the game.
What was even more surprising was that Basin's words weren't over yet.
“Each Dimension has something called a Protective Veil.”
Receiving everyone's gaze, he continued speaking. Even the way he began his explanation felt very much like a salesperson introducing a product.
“It's a difficult concept... but you don't need to think of it that way. Just as most Medieval Castles are surrounded by walls, Dimensions are also surrounded by the Protective Veil to prevent External Invasion.”
And that Protective Veil, Basin added, was made of mana. The Mysterious Power you always use and feel, like air.
“Naturally, the less mana a World uses, the stronger the Strength of the Veil, wouldn't you agree? In that sense, the World where Earthlings live truly has a high Tier of the Veil, you Otherworlders. As if mana has never been used there before.”
When Basin mentioned the word 'Earthling,' the Otherworlders shivered. Hearing words they were familiar with from In-game Characters was not a pleasant experience.
Regardless, Basin merely shrugged and continued speaking.
“Well... sometimes there are such Worlds. Places where mana exists, but only exist Life Forms who don't know how to use it. It's not your fault.
Because the more similar each individual's strength is, the higher the World's Stability becomes.
“That must be the method your World chose. In fact, most Worlds with thick Protective Veils take on a form like yours.”
His words were not easy to understand. Most of the Otherworlders listening to him wore puzzled expressions.
However, it didn't seem like the Demon Basin was explaining with the expectation of being understood. He was merely explaining why they had chosen that World and what efforts they had made because of that Protective Veil, half in Self-absorption.
“The problem is that we decided to break through it. For us, it was the Worst Wall imaginable. That's why we had to put in every effort to create a Small Gap.”
Basin briefly imagined past events. Although he vaguely described it as a “Protective Veil,” its function wasn't merely to solidify the Outer Wall of the World. It could be considered the World's Own Tier itself.
Just as waterfall water flows from top to bottom. Just as a king at the pinnacle of a Nation wields power over his Subjects below. It grants numerous authorities to the Life Forms within it simply because the “Protective Veil” is thick.
And the Demon Realm, a Dying World, had a Protective Veil that was paper-thin. Even if they recognized Other Dimensions, it wasn't easy to even get out.
In such a situation, invading another Dimension was no different from trying to climb up a waterfall. From the Demon Realm, which was practically rock bottom, reaching Earth at the top was simply beyond their capabilities. Therefore...
“A bypass was needed.”
A single stone jutting out from a long waterfall. A place that could shorten the distance and, incidentally, temporarily replenish the Demon Realm's Mana. Gaia.
Climbing the interdimensional waterfall wasn't simply about scaling a wall. The rope to pull themselves up required “recognition”.
Sentient Beings, by nature, feel more familiar with something the more they know about it. And that itself became a cause and effect, granting an attractive force to the Lower World itself.
Basin briefly thought about how much time it had taken to get this far. He felt a natural sense of pride at the sight of the Demons who had worked so hard.
“Thank you for enjoying our game.”
Having finished his brief recollection, Basin continued speaking in a calm tone.
“And we hope you continue to diligently enjoy it in the future.”
His neat appearance was accompanied by an even deeper smile.
“We will continue to strive to provide even more high-quality service.” “...What are you doing?! There's no need to listen anymore! Everyone, raise your weapons!”
As his story ended, the Knights finally began to step forward. Everyone had been frozen by the sudden appearance of the new Demon, but they couldn't just stand by.
They had to do something. At the Knight's cry, Yor also picked up his spear. The frozen air shattered, creating a Glass-Shard-like, chilling atmosphere.
It felt like a clash was imminent... but strangely, Basin made no preparations to fight.
“Oh dear.”
Instead, he merely waved his hand, trying to stop them.
“Please don't. I have no intention of fighting any of you. In fact, I'm not even good at fighting. Hmm, to explain it in a way Users would understand, I'm like a Non-hostile Mob with no First Strike... and half an Invincibility Frame. Frankly, if you all charged at me, I could just Cross Space and escape, so how exactly do you plan to catch me...?”
His faint smile felt as if he were mocking them.
Honestly, Yor inwardly agreed.
If he were Isolde's true essence, his Ability to Cross Space would be far stronger. Even if they charged, if he moved tens of meters away, they wouldn't even be able to catch him.
That's why he was even more worried. What if he took the almost-defeated Paimon and escaped? How would they respond?
It seemed Basin was having similar thoughts. He looked at Paimon and asked.
“So, Lord Paimon, what will you do? Will you escape with me like this?”
And the words that came from Paimon's mouth were:
“...It is done.”
It shattered their expectations. It was the only chance to escape a Life-or-death Crisis, yet she refused it.
As Yor pondered this, Paimon spoke again.
“Haven't I already fulfilled my role? I've once again imprinted the Demons onto the Otherworlders through this Boss battle, and I've bought some time.”
“Hmm, that's right. Indeed, Lord Paimon, you've worked hard.”
“Yes, so now... I wish to rest for a while. And it's already too late. As I said before, this body is Evaporation.”
At her words, Yor looked at Paimon for a moment. The flowing blood was gradually evaporating beyond her deeply pierced side. Just as she said, she was returning to the Demon Realm. At that fact, Yor let out a short sigh of Relief.
“Before that, I suppose I should make some atonement.”
After that, Paimon began to walk slowly somewhere towards Neria, who was standing a little distance from the Extermination Squad.
“!”
Seeing that, Yor immediately ran in that direction. He didn't know if she might harm Neria. And he stood in Paimon's path for a moment, as if to cover Neria. Paimon, seeing Yor's grim face, smiled weakly.
“Don't worry. I have no intention of doing anything bad.”
And then.
CRUNCH—! She suddenly plunged her hand into her own chest and tore it out!
“Ugh...”
For a moment, he frowned at the Grotesque Sight that unfolded before his eyes.
Regardless, Paimon eventually pulled something out from within her body.
It looked like an internal organ... but it was something more like a sparkling jewel. Stained with blood, it emitted a blue light, looking quite mystical.
As Yor stared at it for a moment, Paimon coughed, spitting blood, and spoke.
“It is a Part of a Demon's Body, my Heart Fragment. I hear that Manifestors are originally freed from curses if they receive a Part of a Demon's Body, no?”
“...”
“It is an apology for the trouble I've caused. Take it. After all, I, Demons, do not die just from losing a part of our bodies.”
At Paimon's urging, Neria reached out for the Heart Fragment as if entranced. The moment her hand touched the Heart Fragment.
*WHOOSH—!* Light flashed. The energy... the power contained within the Heart Fragment was being absorbed into Neria's body, bit by bit. Having seen this sight once before, Yor wasn't as surprised as he might have been. Instead, he was more surprised by the Demon before him who had willingly offered her Heart Fragment.
*To show such a side at the very end?*
As if all the fighting and turmoil until now had been a lie, Paimon's body began its Evaporation.
Before finally disappearing, Paimon murmured softly.
“Glory to the Demon Realm once more...”
That was the end. The Demon, who possessed immense power, disappeared just like that. She was noble and serene, befitting her royal status. Only soot remained where she had vanished, silently bidding her farewell.