Chapter 9: Sinner Ian

[Game Termination]

The Crown Prince sat up in his bed after returning to reality.

"...I'm screwed."

He hadn't imagined this at all.

Who would have thought that Orpheus would be unaffected by Save & Load?

So it wasn't just the Extinction Star that existed independently from the story among the forces of the Abyss.

Or was Orpheus himself an Extinction Star?

Either way, the story was already broken beyond repair.

At this rate, even if he returned to the beginning of the story, that guy would remember this iteration.

"How is this even possible? Was this more than just a game?"

An enemy who maintains their memories even when everything is reset. This wasn't just game level - had they created an entire world?

The Crown Prince felt his common sense about games and programs being denied.

"..."

How should a Regressor act when facing an enemy who is aware of and remembers the regressions?

The Crown Prince pondered this for a moment.

Thinking about it, it wasn't that difficult.

In a situation where all regression depended on him.

Unless he accidentally used the save function, whether to regress or not was his decision.

He would only reset when things went badly and save when they went well.

This was a battle that favored the Crown Prince.

* * *

"Hero! You're awake!"

[Hero Summoned to Prevent Otherworld Invasion]

-You have been summoned to the Underground Sanctuary as a hero to defend against monsters from the Otherworld. In this world, humanity has hidden underground to escape the Abyss, the invaders from the Otherworld. Reclaim the surface from humanity's last bastion, the Sanctuary. And stop the Servants of the Abyss who have infiltrated through the cracks of Abyssal Corruption.

When he logged back into the game, the Saintess greeted the Crown Prince at the story's starting point.

'Even if he regresses like me, he can't prevent the environment from resetting.'

Unless the game progress was saved, the Crown Prince had infinite chances.

'Then I just have to keep trying.'

The Crown Prince moved the Magi-Engineering Department, including Ian Kali-Yuga.

A new research lab established within the Holy Knight Order.

Even if Orpheus invaded here, they should be able to stop him.

Or so he thought.

"Did you think this would be enough to stop me?"

*Crack-*

Preventing Ian Kali-Yuga's death proved impossible.

...He could just try again.

This time he set up the research lab at the Holy Knight Order's station and stationed mages as well.

He thought this would be impenetrable but

"What a meaningless act."

*Crack-*

This too was impossible.

Again

"I told you."

*Crack-*

Again.

"Is this all you have, Provisional Supervisor?"

*Crack-*

Again.

"How disappointing."

*Crack-*

Again.

*Crack-*

Orpheus was always one step ahead.

A...gain.

"Hero! You're awake!"

"Damn it!"

The Crown Prince struck the sarcophagus with a twisted expression.

What should he do?

Why couldn't he win?

We both have memories of previous iterations!

Feelings of inferiority and powerlessness consumed his entire body.

"In that case, I'll stake everything on Ian Kali-Yuga."

For some unknown reason, Orpheus kept targeting only Ian Kali-Yuga.

He was obsessively fixated on killing Ian.

If he was going to be the target anyway, it might not be bad to hole up in the Sanctuary protecting only Ian Kali-Yuga instead of going out to reclaim the surface.

Set traps there, wait, and succeed in killing Orpheus - then head to the surface.

If it fails, just start over.

"What? You're saying you'll personally guard me, Hero?"

"That's right. The Abyssal creatures are targeting you. You'll need to stay with me until I can confirm your safety."

And so the Crown Prince began spending time with Ian and the Saintess, just the three of them in a sealed room.

If anyone tried to infiltrate the room, numerous traps lay in wait to strike the intruder.

As the Crown Prince inspected the defenses around the room, he overheard Ian and the Saintess talking inside.

"Do you also think it's right for the Hero to protect me?"

"Don't feel too burdened, Ian. You're an important person responsible for our Sanctuary's Magi-Engineering. You're worth protecting personally by the Hero..."

She seemed quite close with Ian Kali-Yuga, given how strongly he reacted each time Ian died in previous iterations.

"Do you think others feel the same way, Kate?"

"What are you saying, Ian?"

"You know how me and our researchers got pushed to the most remote corner of the Sanctuary. Saying we consume too many resources while not helping with surface reclamation."

"That's just what people who don't understand say! How can they say Magi-Engineering isn't important! I believe you'll play a crucial role in reclaiming the surface, Ian!"

So that's how it was.

The Crown Prince could now understand why the Magi-Engineering Department was located at the edge of the Sanctuary unlike other departments, and why everyone had unpleasant expressions when he ordered them to protect the department.

'It seems Magi-Engineering is quite looked down upon in this world.'

It was a stark contrast to reality where Magi-Engineering, developed by the [Magi-Engineer], drove the continent.

"Hah. Of course you'd say that. You're kind to everyone."

A loner trapped in feelings of inferiority who pushes away even those who treat him well.

The Crown Prince saw himself overlapping with him.

"But this isn't good. The Magi-Engineering Department is already seen as resource-hogging pigs, and if people find out we're getting special treatment from you and the Hero, the other researchers might face persecution."

"That's..."

"That won't be a problem."

As the Saintess hesitated choosing her words, the Crown Prince entered through the door and cut in.

"Hero...!"

"I will protect you. Who would dare persecute you?"

The Magi-Engineering Department is absolutely necessary.

Without repair and maintenance capabilities, they would take a huge hit to sustainability and lose their ability to continue the war.

Unlike what the Sanctuary's people thought, the Crown Prince saw the Magi-Engineering Department as core of cores. It was also Orpheus's highest priority target after all.

"You are the most important existence to us, to the Sanctuary. So don't feel burdened or blame yourself."

Kuu! He was the very image of a monarch!

The Crown Prince was admiring himself as he reached out to Ian.

"...If only we had a hero like you back then, things wouldn't have turned out this way."

Ian dropped his glasses and muttered in a deep voice while hanging his head.

Bang!

!!!!

And suddenly numerous mechanical arms burst out and restrained the Crown Prince and Saintess.

They were the traps Ian himself had installed to deal with Orpheus.

"I-Ian! What are you doing!"

"Doing what must be done."

When Ian raised his head again, he was wearing a mask.

"...So you were Orpheus."

The Crown Prince asked while hiding his confusion.

That couldn't be.

All the Ian corpses Orpheus had killed until now were real bodies.

There was no way they could be the same person.

Ian removed his mask, revealing a face with slicked back hair and a sinister smile.

"To be precise, this one isn't me. I am this one's future self."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't need to know. You won't be going back anymore anyway."

"...What?"

[Game auto-saving]

!!!!

The Crown Prince's eyes went wide.

Auto-save?

[Akashic Archive] didn't have separate save slots.

An auto-save meant he could never return to the past through Save & Load again.

Ian took out a small mechanical device and operated it.

*Woong-*

Magic power condensed in the air and a small portal formed.

*Step- Step-*

From within emerged Ian with slicked back hair, looking older than the current Ian with more wrinkles.

It was the Orpheus the Crown Prince knew.

"Ian? H-how are there two Ians?"

The Saintess looked between them in confusion.

*Whoosh-*

When Orpheus extended his hand, the mask on Ian's face flew off and attached to Orpheus's face.

And Ian's head was also pulled into Orpheus's hand.

"This sinner won't be coming back either."

*Crack!*

When Orpheus smashed Ian's head against the ground, just like in previous iterations, Ian's head was crushed, splattering blood and brain matter.

"Ian! No!"

The Saintess wailed like before.

"...You're always so kind. This foolish Ian... even though I caused your death, you're always the same..."

Orpheus approached the Saintess with a wistful expression as he reminisced about the past.

"I'm sorry."

As his hand brushed the Saintess's cheek, she lost consciousness and went limp.

"Now then, Provisional Supervisor. It's our time."

*Whirr-*

A mechanical device covered Orpheus's right hand.

The device gradually transformed, taking the shape of a beam weapon.

[Game auto-saving]

'Another auto-save!'

Cold sweat ran down the Crown Prince's neck.

Even if he reset the game, he would clearly be stuck repeating this situation endlessly.

What if Orpheus kills me and triggers an auto-save?

That would completely block story progression.

The Crown Prince struggled against the mechanical arms' restraints but power flowing from them nullified all his abilities.

"Farewell."

*Woong-*

*Bang!*

Energy gathered in Orpheus's hand and a destructive beam was fired.

Just before the beam could pierce the Crown Prince's head

*Crash!*

Someone intercepted between the Crown Prince and Orpheus, deflecting the beam.

A young boy with black hair.

"...I thought you would appear, Supervisor. It's been a while."

It was the Supervisor of [Akashic Archive].

"Orpheus. I never imagined the Extinction Star would infiltrate. How did you deceive my eyes?"

Orpheus shrugged at the Supervisor's question.

"...I see. This story... you were the protagonist of this story... That's why I couldn't find you."

"You were slow to realize, Supervisor. The Abyssal Corruption of this world has exceeded its limits. [Archive]'s authority can no longer reach this world."

"...[Archive]'s power is not all that you know."

Divine light gathered in the Supervisor's hand.

"Oh?"

Orpheus twisted his lips.

"You didn't think I would just stand by and watch, did you?"

Orpheus charged at the Supervisor with his hand transformed into an energy blade.

*Clang!*

The Supervisor shouted while blocking the attack.

"Zeol! You are our last hope!"

Power flowing from the Supervisor enveloped Zeol's body.

"I'll send you into Orpheus's Mental World! Cut out the core of Orpheus constructed from the Abyss inside! That is the only way to stop the Abyssal Corruption in this world!"

The Crown Prince's vision gradually narrowed.

Through that narrowing gap, he could see Orpheus's face smiling with satisfaction as he clashed with the Supervisor.

A face that seemed pleased even with the current situation of the Crown Prince entering his Mental World through the Supervisor's final power.