Chapter 7
"How is it?"
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath makes a contemplative sound as he considers.]
I waited nervously for our investor's reaction.
Though it was just a draft, I had spent three sleepless nights creating this episode.
We couldn't get rejected here.
...Lady Constellation looked so exhausted after finishing yesterday - I don't think she could handle being told we need to redo it.
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath points to himself appearing as the villain Orpheus.]
"Yes, I'm listening."
Is he angry about using himself as a villain?
Surely he wouldn't go back on saying we could use him however we wanted.
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath says it's not a problem, but asks why the fake identity and pretending to be dead was necessary in the beginning.]
"Ah, you mean that part."
Thank goodness. He's not complaining about using his character as a villain after all.
"It's to strongly imprint on players' memories through a dramatic plot twist."
The Magi-Engineer needs to be a villain that makes players angry while still making a charming exit at the very end.
The character needs to be appealing so more Constellations will support our game.
That's why we needed to go through the trouble of introducing a special villain.
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath asks if players won't be confused.]
"That part will be fine. The story of Orpheus's past will be revealed in the finale anyway."
The monumental first act of the [Akashic Archive], [Orpheus of the Abyss].
In this episode, Orpheus - one of the Seven Stars of Destruction who belongs to the Abyss forces - appears as the main villain.
And this villain was the character I created based on the Magi-Engineer.
Throughout the episode, Orpheus interferes with the protagonist's journey.
Through the power of the Abyss, he consistently threatens the protagonist without being bound by the story.
And in the finale, after defeating Orpheus, the protagonist glimpses his memories and faces the character's tragic past.
"And once this story is complete, the narrative of Saint Cartesia - Kate, Orpheus's beloved - will also leave a strong impression on players."
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath nods and says he understands for now.]
[The Magi-Engineer Consumed by Wrath says he's satisfied as long as it helps form public perception of her.]
"You'll definitely be satisfied."
Killing a Constellation with love.
Evil done for the sake of reviving his beloved woman.
Such a narrative will leave an even stronger impression on the otherworlders who aren't familiar with this type of story.
* * *
The Struhl Empire
The Imperial Palace at the center of the empire
In the deepest part, Crown Prince Ryzeal's room.
"Don't let anyone enter."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The guards strengthened security after hearing the Crown Prince's order.
*Thud-*
After closing the door behind them, the Crown Prince lightly stepped toward his bed with the magic power terminal in hand.
"A new update! I thought I was going to die waiting!"
The very first story update for [Akashic Archive].
How difficult it had been enduring through work hours with this new story lingering in his mind!
The Crown Prince started up the [Akashic Archive] program with trembling excitement.
*Whirrrr*
After the black intro screen passed, the 4-star and 5-star characters the Crown Prince had collected greeted him on the lobby screen.
"Have you all been well?"
Except for [Knight Ren], they were all standard characters who appeared in side stories rather than the main story, but to the Crown Prince who loved all their narratives, they were his beloved characters.
"A new story. A new narrative."
So far, the story content released in [Akashic Archive] included Knight Ren's Episode 0 which served as the main story tutorial,
And five sub-stories as side content.
The sub-stories were simple story content that players could enjoy after clearing Episode 0, and while they had considerable scope, not many players had cleared them all due to their light difficulty.
The fact that the Crown Prince had cleared all the sub-stories while managing the empire's murderous schedule showed just how serious he was about [Akashic Archive].
"Finally, it's time for you all to shine."
As the Crown Prince pressed the start button for the new story, the characters around him were absorbed into him.
The protagonist's ability in [Akashic Archive] was Essence Absorption.
Through this, they could borrow the power of defeated Abyssal Creatures or historical figures they had formed connections with.
It was a setting created to give the protagonist character uniqueness and allow them to use the abilities of characters obtained through gacha.
"Your first trial was perfect, Zeol. Not only did you repel the Abyssal Corruption, you perfectly restored the original narrative."
As the story mode began, the Supervisor of [Akashic Archive] appeared before the excited Crown Prince.
'Restoring the original narrative. He means how Knight Ren sacrificed herself in the process of defeating the Queen.'
The Crown Prince had cleared the tutorial by defeating the Queen, but couldn't prevent Knight Ren's sacrifice.
The tutorial was designed so that it could only be properly cleared with her sacrifice. The real Ren who cleared it while keeping her alive was an exceptional case.
'Though they say the actual history was restored, it leaves a bitter taste.'
To think a hero had to sacrifice themselves in the process of defeating the Abyssal army and saving humanity.
The Crown Prince wasn't entirely happy with the current Supervisor's policy of pursuing historical accuracy over happy endings.
*Whoosh-*
As the Supervisor waved his hand, a new book flew into his grasp.
"Here. Your second trial. Like before, this story has been corrupted by the Abyss."
The pages of the book turned by themselves above the man's hand.
"The difference this time is that those Abyss bastards sent one of their servants here. Ah, don't worry though. Even though it's a servant, judging by the measured power level it doesn't seem to be a top executive like an Extinction Star. At most it would be a lower-ranked Follower beneath them. ...What? You're saying it's still dangerous? Well... if an Extinction Star invaded through Abyssal Corruption, they could exert influence while remaining unbound by the story. In that case, even our special abilities as Supervisors wouldn't work on them. Even if we reset the story back to the beginning, they wouldn't be affected."
The Extinction Stars, top executives of the Abyss.
Should I think of them as the main antagonists of [Akashic Archive]?
"But there's no need to worry. If something as powerful as an Extinction Star had invaded, I would definitely know. And I wouldn't pull it out for a trial either, right? The power level measured in this story is several tiers below that - just a mere Follower. So you can enter without worry. Even if problems arise, you have me here!"
The Supervisor flashed what he probably thought was a charming smile.
The Crown Prince frowned, not wanting to see the man's smile.
"If something happens, I'll save you, so don't worry."
Hah.
It doesn't matter. If something happens, he can just close and restart the game.
This was just entertainment created for amusement purposes after all.
The Crown Prince had no concern for danger, focused only on the game.
*Whirrrr*
After the Supervisor's long and boring explanation ended, light burst forth from the book.
"Then let's begin. Your second trial."
White light enveloped the Crown Prince.
*Flash-*
When he opened his eyes again, the Crown Prince found himself surrounded by pure white space.
"Hero! You're awake!"
As the Crown Prince tried to assess the situation while rising from the stone coffin, a woman suddenly appeared and grabbed his hand.
*Ding-*
Along with this, a brief explanation announcing the start of the main story appeared like a hologram before his eyes.
[Hero Summoned to Stop Otherworld Invasion]
-You have been summoned to the Underground Sanctuary as a hero to repel the Abyssal Creatures invading from the Otherworld. In this world, humanity has retreated underground to escape the Abyss invaders. Reclaim the surface from the Underground Sanctuary, humanity's last bastion. And stop the Abyssal Follower that has infiltrated through gaps in the Abyssal Corruption.
...Hero?
The Crown Prince's eyebrows rose.
It seems the protagonist's role in this story is that of a hero.
* * *
The Saintess, who introduced herself as Cartesia, guided the Crown Prince who had entered the Hero's body around the Sanctuary.
"This is Sir Spright, the Commander of the Holy Knight Order."
"A Hero joining us! Our victory draws one step closer!"
"This is Sir Sarunir, the Archmage overseeing the Sanctuary's Magic Division."
"Pleased to meet you, Hero."
"This person is in charge of the Sanctuary's rations..."
"This person is..."
The Crown Prince compared the visible Sanctuary to the Empire in reality.
The facilities and forces seemed woefully inadequate to hold back the monsters invading from the Abyss.
With only this level of infrastructure and troops, destruction seemed imminent.
'Is this world like the sub-story worlds - not the history of an actual continent but rather a history from another dimension?'
He had never read about Heroes or the Sanctuary's fall due to Abyssal Corruption in any historical records.
Unlike Knight Ren's story, this world seemed to have no connection to reality.
"Finally, we have the Magi-Engineering Department responsible for our Sanctuary's technology."
The Crown Prince followed the Saintess to a laboratory located at the edge of the Sanctuary.
"This is Ian, the head of the Magi-Engineering Department."
With the Saintess's introduction, a man pushed up his glasses and shook the Crown Prince's hand.
"I'm Ian Kali-Yuga. A pleasure to meet you."
Ian Kali-Yuga.
His intellectual yet benevolent appearance was the very image of a typical researcher.
That's why at this point, the Crown Prince couldn't even begin to guess.
That this character would become the most pivotal character in the story and the villain driving the narrative...and would become the role model he most wanted to emulate.