Chapter 6
In a corner of the Divine Realm
*Click-
*Hisssss*
In a dark room, a man wearing glasses moved a device's lever, causing a considerable amount of smoke to billow out.
*Whirrrrr*
With a loud noise, divinity flowed and the device began operating, then
*Whirr...*
Stopped.
*Bang!*
Something must have gone wrong inside as it exploded with black smoke.
*Crash!*
"...Damn it!"
The Male Researcher who had blocked the explosion with divinity slammed his fist on the desk.
"Failed again!"
Unable to contain his anger, he kicked the device.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
"Why! Why won't it work! I fixed everything!"
After venting his rage for a while, the man suddenly clutched his head.
Again.
Again this wrath fills his mind.
This strangely fast-spreading anger clouding his reason.
When he should be conducting research more calmly if anything, he'd let meaningless anger destroy a device he'd been working on.
Grimacing from the headache, the Male Researcher opened the laboratory door and stepped outside.
He planned to get some fresh air and wait for this wrath to subside before continuing his research.
As he emerged, a cool breeze embraced him.
After tinkering with mechanical devices in his room all day, breathing the outside air made his head feel a bit clearer.
"Hmm?"
While wandering the streets of the Divine Realm, he spotted a group of Gods clustered around a signboard.
To see Gods who usually carried themselves with dignity due to their divine status gathering like this.
It was an unusual sight.
The Male Researcher approached the group of Gods.
In the center of the crowd was a sign with childish, scrawling handwriting that read:
-Seeking a protagonist for [Akashic Archive]!
It was about finding a Constellation to appear in a game being serviced on the ground.
"So Sloth appeared as that game's protagonist and received an amplification of divinity."
"Yes. She appeared as the protagonist leading one of the game's episodes. It seems the game's recognition had a big impact."
"I thought being a clown in some lowly plaything of the underworld beings would be beneath us, but to think it could cause such a flow of divinity."
The Male Researcher listened carefully to what the Gods were saying.
"While we can't know the exact figures, based on mentions in faith and divine power flow estimates, the total divinity Sloth earned over the past 7 days is thought to have surpassed Blessing."
"From what I know, Sloth was one of the 7 Great Heroes and a Constellation symbolizing sacrifice, so she already received quite a lot of divinity."
"Even so, she was ranked last among the top 10 Constellations. She didn't even earn a tenth of what Blessing, who was ranked first, made."
"Oh my... that much?"
...So Sloth's divinity intake, which had been around tenth place, surpassed the previous first place, Blessing.
The Male Researcher stroked his chin.
The Sacrifice That Fell To Sloth was a Goddess who showed no particular activity and stayed cooped up like him, but due to the influence of an epic spread across the ground, she had always ranked in the upper tiers.
But that was only around 10th place.
Compared to first place, it was woefully insufficient. For her to rise to first place in just one week.
"So you're saying if we just participate in making this game, we can become like Sloth?"
For Constellations, divinity was both life and power.
Increasing divine power intake through stronger worship and faith was of interest to all Gods.
"Don't be hasty. Do you know what image this game company will create for you? While Sloth only had positive portrayals, your divine status could be damaged in the process of appearing."
The most important factor in maintaining the Gods' worship was authority.
If a God became someone who couldn't be looked up to and that authority crumbled, they could lose their existing faith and fall.
"...That's true. Hah. It's tempting but a bit concerning."
From the Gods' perspective where divine power depletion led to extinction, it was essentially gambling with their lives.
"Ho. So you're all too scared to do it."
At the Male Researcher's muttering, the Gods who had been murmuring amongst themselves turned around.
"W-Wrath?"
"Why are you outside?"
The Gods who spotted the Male Researcher backed away in surprise.
"What. Am I not allowed outside?"
The Male Researcher pushed up his glasses as he looked at the Gods who feared him.
The irritation that had filled his head with wrath earlier disappeared.
Joy at finding a new path in his stalled research took its place.
"If you all won't do it."
His lips curled up in delight at discovering a new way to reach her in his research.
"I will."
* * *
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath says he would like to work with you on something.]
I couldn't help but be shocked when I confirmed the identity of the Constellation contacting me through the chat window.
The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath...
Currently there are many Constellations worshipped as Gods ruling over the Leypania Continent.
Among them are Constellations recognized by more people and commanding more followers.
They were called the 7 Great Heroes, Three Great Sages, and Five Great Rulers.
The Sacrifice That Overcame Sloth, Ren was one of the 7 Great Heroes who left great footprints for their continent or organization.
The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath was one of the Three Great Sages who stood shoulder to shoulder with the 7 Great Heroes.
He was also famous, like Goddess Ren, for rarely coming out or interfering with the ground.
Despite being the God of Magi-Engineering worshipped by all Magi-Engineering students of the continent.
So I never imagined our first guest would be him...
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath says you can freely use his story.]
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath says he'll allow you to use him as either a villain or helper, that part is up to you.]
Use his story freely?
Even using his human-era image?
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath says there is just one condition.]
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath requests that you engrave one woman into the minds of all continent dwellers.]
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath says that is his condition.]
"Is that... all you require?"
Just engraving one person's image.
It wouldn't be difficult at all.
Compared to being able to freely utilize a Constellation's life story, it was a minor condition.
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath adds that he would prefer if there were no negative aspects to that woman's image.]
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath adds that thinking about it, his own image doesn't matter, and appearing as a villain might be better.]
A woman.
Come to think of it, the Magi-Engineer... ah, I see.
So that's what happened.
"Understood. No problem. ...Can you tell me about this woman?"
I had a pretty good idea already.
After all
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath nostalgically recalls that she was a kind-hearted and delicate fool who was also decisive, couldn't stand injustice, and worried more about others than herself.]
He was famous as the God of Pure Love who poured all his divinity and life after becoming a God into reviving one woman.
* * *
[Activating Developer Mode]
After ending the call with the Magi-Engineer, I logged into [Akashic Archive].
It was to create an episode as agreed with the Magi-Engineer.
"The Magi-Engineer's woman... huh."
The Tragic Romantic, the Magi-Engineer.
His story was famous among all continent dwellers.
A genius who showed prodigious talent in Magi-Engineering from a young age, he elevated the continent's Magi-Engineering level by inventing numerous things like Armored Golems, Magi-Engineering Generators, and Magic Excavators.
'No Magi-Engineer surpassing him will ever be born in the continent's history.'
This saying symbolizes him standing at the pinnacle of Magi-Engineering as one of the Three Great Sages alongside the God of Magic and God of Alchemy.
His incredible achievements were still praised by countless scholars as works that were ahead of their time.
Even after ascending to divine status, he continued to devote himself to research and development, truly embodying the God of Magi-Engineering.
But there was one being that even he couldn't protect.
His childhood friend Kate, who had been with him since they were young.
"He asked me to deeply engrave her in the minds of all continent dwellers."
Yet at the same time, said there must not be a single negative aspect to her.
Why make such a request?
Is he planning to use that recognition to achieve her revival?
...I don't know.
As someone ignorant about Magi-Engineering, I had no idea.
How could I understand the thinking of a God? Especially one who was called the continent's greatest genius in his human days.
My job was to create a game episode that satisfied all his conditions while being sufficiently satisfying.
There are many important elements in a character gacha game, or subculture game.
Attractive character designs, well-crafted stories, appropriate character utilization, lingering narratives and direction, avant-garde music, etc.
But what all those things aim for, what drives players to immerse themselves in the game and develop affection for characters enough to roll for them, can be summed up in one word.
Satisfaction.
Whether it's the character itself or the story, the most important thing is satisfaction that makes users feel moved and content.
It also had to be included in the first story I would create.
A romance between an inventor and his childhood friend.
What kind of satisfaction could be drawn from this.
I recalled the numerous character-centric games I had played in my previous life.
Then one villain character's story that had moved my heart flashed through my mind.
"This is the most selfish thing one person can do..."
There couldn't be a more appropriate motif for the Magi-Engineer's story.