Chapter 36
The woman, preciously clutching a small piece of merchandise,
Monica pushed forward through the dark mist that seemed to have no end.
Though she had no way of knowing if this was the right direction, or if she could escape this place through her own will, she pressed on nonetheless.
Holding this badge tightly made her feel as though the Supervisor who had loved her was watching over her, allowing her to endure this unknown terror.
Filled with the power of courage, the woman took firm steps forward, driving away her fears.
Step by step.
She continued moving forward.
"This is..."
The outlines of the pitch-black space began to gradually come into view.
"Could it be..."
A dark silhouette visible far in the distance.
For some reason, it felt familiar...
"No way..."
The woman broke into a run.
A scene she had witnessed countless times. Yet that very familiarity made it feel all the more strange.
The woman was certain.
"The... Archive..."
This place, which her eyes had adjusted to the darkness to perceive, was a location she had encountered countless times within the game.
[Akashic Archive]
It was both the place her beloved Supervisor had managed, and where he had met his heroic end.
"...Something's strange."
However, it was slightly different from how she remembered it.
Unlike the Archive that was always filled with bright light and pristine white, the current Archive was shrouded in darkness with almost no illumination.
As if it had fallen into ruin, untouched by anyone since its manager's death.
Monica wandered around, unable to hide her bewildered expression.
Swirling- Swirling-
"Well, this is unusual."
At that moment, a mysterious energy coalesced into human form as a sweet voice rang out.
"!"
Monica's eyes grew round as her head slowly turned toward the direction of the voice.
"A visitor, how rare."
Monica couldn't believe her eyes.
It was him.
Definitely him.
The one she had loved and adored so much.
Not the fragmented, mechanical character she had seen in the game.
A real, living...!
The black-haired beautiful youth, the Supervisor, sat perched on the edge of his desk.
"I am the Archive's Supervisor. And you are?"
The youth smiled.
Her favorite character, alive and moving right before her eyes!
Monica felt as though her heart might stop at any moment.
Monica opened her mouth.
She wanted to speak.
To say she thought he was dead. That she had missed him. That she loved him.
But her voice wouldn't come out, as if her throat was constricted.
"Hmm..."
The youth crossed his arms and rested his chin on his hand.
"Monica, is it?"
Gasp!
Monica clutched her chest.
Her favorite character saying her name - what a sight!
It wasn't good for her heart.
In the game she had encountered him numerous times, but reality was on a completely different level from those soulless NPCs.
Poof-
The youth dispersed into smoke.
And reappeared right in front of Monica.
"This energy... courage? The Apostle of Courage? Ho."
The youth brought his thumb and index finger under Monica's chin.
"Let me see... my... memorial service."
Mmm...
The youth nodded as if reading memories.
The sweet scent wafting from the youth.
Monica's face grew hot.
"I see. You remember me and mourn for me. Thank you."
After seemingly peering into Monica's mind for quite some time, the youth placed his hand on her head and stroked it.
"...Hehehe..."
This awkward situation of having her head patted sent fluffy feelings coursing through her entire body.
Given her usual personality, it wouldn't have been strange for her to shout "How dare you!" and tackle him, but Monica simply enjoyed the sensation.
"But something is strange."
The youth tilted his head.
"Why... in your memories, am I portrayed as someone who loves men?"
"...Pardon?"
"I do not love men sexually."
Displeasure and disgust were evident on the youth's face.
"To think someone would dare spread false information about me. This is absolutely unforgivable..."
"Ah, n-no, that's...!"
Monica grew panicked.
"I must find out who has done such a thing."
The youth reached toward Monica's head again.
"W-wait a moment!"
Monica stepped back.
What if he reads all my memories?
If he sees everything I've done until now?
Won't he hate me? Won't he be disgusted by me?
The anger and displeasure the youth had just shown.
Those emotions would surely be directed at her.
She couldn't bear it.
To be hated by him.
Not even the power of courage could overcome that frightening future.
"I-it's bromance!"
"...Bromance?"
The youth's eyebrow twitched.
Usually, she would have immediately explained what bromance was, what male love was, in great detail.
That's how devoted and uncompromising she was about her interests.
But the thought of being hated by the youth before her shattered her world.
A life-changing transformation in thinking for the Apostle of Courage.
"I-it's just because I used a male Provisional Supervisor avatar while playing the game, not because I thought of you in any strange way...! I mean, there's this association trying to spread weird information about you! I've infiltrated that association out of my love and faith in you! To catch those villains who dare distort the truth!"
Despite being the vice president of the association, she immediately sold them out...
An extreme evolution and adaptation process to be accepted by her favorite character.
"...Is that so?"
"Yes! M-more importantly, those bizarre things are just slander spread by those working in secret to corrupt your image in the outside world, I would never be swayed by such bizarre things!"
The youth smirked as he watched her fluster about.
"Don't worry. I can sense the great affection within you."
"...Pardon?"
"This place is my mental world and the prison that confines me. Not just anyone can come here."
"Prison..."
The youth spread his arms wide as she looked around.
"Only those who feel very strong emotions toward me can reach this place."
Monica's face turned red under the youth's direct gaze.
"Strong faith in me, and among those, only those who hold extremely positive and intense feelings toward me can enter. And you possess such qualifications."
!!
I see!
The reason I could enter his mental world was because my love was so strong!
I alone received recognition, not anyone else from the Director's Association!
"D-does that mean I loved you more than anyone else? More than any of your other fans?"
Monica's face was filled with madness.
"..."
The youth seemed at a loss for words at her question.
Finally regaining his composure, the youth answered.
"Well... that love... could be called that, but positive and intense emotions directed at me enter inside me and give me strength. The kind of strength that will lead to my resurrection. It works in the same way as faith toward a god."
!!
How romantic that my love enters inside him!
The youth sighed with half-resigned eyes.
"In any case, you are more than suitable as my believer. If you weren't already another god's Apostle, I would want to make you my Apostle."
"T-then I'll abandon my Constellation right now and follow you..."
"No, stop. Are you telling me to make an enemy of 'Courage'?"
"...Ah."
Stealing another Constellation's Apostle.
That was no ordinary taboo.
Since Apostles were the central pillars of faith that handled a god's core, stealing another Constellation's Apostle was tantamount to declaring war.
The last time Apostle stealing occurred on the Continent, it actually escalated into a Holy War.
"It's fine. Your affection alone is enough."
The youth's hand gently caressed Monica's cheek.
"There is one thing I'd like to ask of you."
"A-anything! J-just name it!"
"Strange rumors circulating about me have a negative effect on my resurrection."
"...Pardon? Ah, negative effect?"
"Simply put, the more distorted emotions that spread strange misconceptions about me grow stronger, the more the pure divinity gathering toward me becomes disrupted. It means the time until I can manifest in reality increases dramatically."
Thud!
A heavy stone seemed to drop inside Monica's chest.
Everything I've... done until now... was hindering him?
Everything I did as vice president of the Director's Association?
The youth waved his hand as if growing tired and wanting to finish quickly.
"So I'd like someone to stop those people who make up things I never did..."
"M-me! I can do it!"
"Really?"
"Yes! I'm the vice president of the Continental Supervisor's Association! Thousands of Director fans will move at my word!"
"S-Supervisor's what? ...No, never mind."
Didn't she say earlier she infiltrated the association? This doesn't add up.
Well... as long as she can help eliminate that group, it doesn't matter.
The youth shook his head with an exasperated expression.
"Then can I ask this of you?"
"O-of course... everything shall be as you wish."
"Good. When you leave here, my Apostle will be waiting for you outside."
"...Pardon? Apostle?"
A woman who received the position of his Apostle that I couldn't have!
Anger surged within Monica.
"I'd like you to follow their instructions for a bit. ...Can you do that?"
"I can do it! Leave it to me!"
"Good. Then I'll leave it to you."
The youth placed his finger on the woman's forehead.
"If you handle my request well, we may meet again later."
"R-really?!"
"Yes. So do your best."
Poof-
Consciousness faded like a cut film.
The next moment, the woman had returned to the temple in reality.
"Ah, you're awake. Pleased to meet you, Bar Monica."
A blonde beautiful youth extended his hand to her.
"I am Ryan, the Apostle of [Archive]."