◈ 712. [Side Story] Lookalike
“So… something like this.”
After hearing a few more explanations from Ader, I put it all together.
“The devil is hosting this game between us, ‘Game of Destruction.’ You were the opposing player. “Now he has run out of strength, so he has handed over the role to me, the substitute player.”
“yes.”
“There are those eye candy foreign media… ‘observers’ who are watching this play of destruction. “They basically just watch, but they also knowingly or unknowingly intervene in this game.”
“That’s right.”
“And you and the Demon King are resetting this game infinitely for their own reasons. You want to reach the ‘true ending’. And although it is not revealed, the Demon King also has his own reasons.”
Ader nodded and I rubbed my chin.
“To put it simply, the Demon King is also in Hell, Iron Man Clear is receiving infinite retweets, but doesn’t that mean they are voting or running roulette through viewer participation events in between?”
“…yes?”
“’What should we do with this stage dark event? ‘Are you going to vote for viewer participation?’ So those eye candy cast votes and decide. ‘What about this stage’s monster army? ‘I’m going to spin the roulette, so each of you can bet your channel points’, so the eye candy puts points into the roulette and spins it… The more points you bet, the higher the odds… Isn’t that something like that? Right?”
As I poured out game broadcasting terminology, Ader looked momentarily stunned. No, but isn’t it really essentially the same?
‘I’m finally getting a sense of something.’
Just as the God of Earth plays a game to satisfy viewers.
The Demon King conducts a ‘play of destruction’ to satisfy the ‘observer’.
So essentially, we have similar behavioral principles.
‘And even though viewers are suffering, they endlessly reset the game and try again.’
He even takes it upon himself to go through this asceticism in order to reach the ending he wants…
He is similar to me.
‘Then what does the Demon King want to do?’
For what purpose… are we repeating this game of destruction countless times?
“….”
While trying to guess my opponent’s intentions, I tightly grasped the scepter in my hand.
‘Anyway, this is the last game.’
Neither Ader nor I, the Demon King’s counterpart, can continue the game any longer.
This is the last episode. The ending is determined one way or another. There are no more resets.
There is no time to consider the circumstances of the enemy. This side just does its best and somehow achieves slightly better results.
“I will intentionally speed up the progress of the stage.”
I connected my consciousness to the scepter and continued speaking while looking at the tower offense interface.
“Intentionally violating the quiet period. Then there is a penalty on the attacking side.”
A smile formed on Ader’s lips.
As if he had guessed that I would be like this.
“We will be able to deal with weakened enemies as much as possible.”
After confirming the timing, monster army, and dark event all at once, I tapped the tip of my scepter staff on the floor.
Then, an ominous black light flickered from the jewel attached to the head of the scepter, and soon a system message was output.
[STAGE 41 has been confirmed.]
[Both players, please prepare to attack and defend.]
Sounds like sheep. Now I’m doing both.
I rolled up the corners of my mouth. Demon Lord, it’s none of my business for what purpose you’re endlessly resetting the game or what you’re looking for in your nightmares.
While you’re away, I’ll work out a plan that will somehow give this side an advantage. It’s not a leisurely situation here either…!
“Hey Ader.”
As I was thinking about future stages in addition to this stage, I suddenly said to Ader:
“Now that you think about it, you’ve never said anything to me about the true ending. “Are you really okay?”
I was already puzzled by the fact that the guy whose goal was to get the true ending was letting me do whatever I wanted.
“Because there was no need for that.”
Then Ader smiled and gave a similar answer to what she had said before.
“Because you’ve been doing very well so far. And you will continue to do well.”
“….”
I’m grateful that you trust me, but I’m a little puzzled at this point.
What on earth is a true ending?
Where are we going?
Besides that, I asked a few more questions. The Demon King’s purpose, identity, and the situation inside the Lake Kingdom that is currently not accessible.
However, Ader quietly avoided answering, saying, ‘You will find out little by little. Soon.’
This monster director. I’m sure you’re on my side, but I really don’t give spoilers.
“Well, since it’s late at night, I’ll just go. Rest, my lord.”
“Hey… you’re not trying to disappear again, are you?”
“Hehe. Don’t worry too much if you can’t see me well. “I also have my own preparations to do.”
Ader gave me a polite look and slowly left the office.
“See you again, my lord.”
Ader disappeared.
After looking at the closed door, I turned my attention back to the scepter. I held the scepter tightly.
In any case, being able to configure the stage as you please is no different from cheating.
I will eat you very frugally…!
***
“The next defense match will be held immediately after a week.”
next day. Manor house drawing room.
I spoke after summoning all first-tier heroes. Everyone was surprised.
“yes? “But my lord, didn’t you say there are three weeks left until the next defense battle?”
I nodded to Lucas who asked a question.
“It was like that originally. But I advanced it arbitrarily. Because it is more advantageous that way.”
I showed the Lake Kingdom scepter and briefly explained its function.
The type of monster that will attack, the invasion time, and even the dark event. The heroes’ expressions changed colorfully when they heard that I could set everything up.
“Of course… Then there is room for strategic use…”
“If only we could intentionally designate and fight enemies that can be easily defeated…!”
“But our military’s condition is not normal right now. “I wonder if it’s too urgent in this situation-”
After letting each person express their opinions for a moment, I spoke again.
“Obviously, the current situation of our World Defense Front is not good. Right now, the walls are not intact and the troop situation is poor. “You, who are my key cards, also failed to recover from your injuries.”
And besides these physical scars.
Mental wounds and fatigue are also accumulated in everyone.
I met powerful enemies called Lord of the Flies and the Black Dragon one after another. The city was almost destroyed, and the lives of our soldiers were constantly disappearing.
Everyone is standing strong and standing, but inside they are bound to be covered in blood.
“But nevertheless, we decided that it would be better to play a quick series now.”
It would be nice if the Demon King didn’t come back until the end, but that’s unlikely. Not only is it not a very merciful game, there is no way those so-called observers would just watch it like that.
‘So… prevent the observers from intervening as much as possible while the Demon King is away. ‘The level of difficulty of the stage is forcibly cut.’
The method of cutting is to impose a penalty.
There is a rule that there is a ‘non-sinking period’ between stages. I was planning on breaking this again and again on purpose.
Because the rules are violated, the monster side continues to be penalized.
Even if observers intervene and forcefully try to increase the difficulty level of the stage, there will be limits to their interference due to the penalty.
‘I select an army of monsters for which I am fully familiar with the strategy, apply a dark event that is most unsuitable for the army of monsters, and then summon them to the battlefield with a heavy penalty.’
And our elites cleanly sweep away this weak monster army.
To put it simply, the operation was like this.
When the Demon King returns, this scepter loses all of its authority. You must extract as much benefit as possible before the devil returns.
After explaining this in a way that the heroes could easily understand, I continued.
“And one more thing. “During such a quick battle, we raise a volunteer army.”
“…!”
“As long as I can control the battlefield with my scepter, the battle becomes easier. At this time, the volunteer army is trained.”
Currently, most of the soldiers belonging to the Monster Front are skilled soldiers, but the volunteer army is an exception.
These friends joined after the Lord of the Flies game, but due to special circumstances, they have not yet been able to compete in a real match.
Now is the right time to train them, as the battlefield difficulty can be easily adjusted. No, there is no better time than now.
“It’s a long story, but once you fight the battle at hand, you’ll get the feel for it. How much weaker the enemy becomes. “How should we fight?”
I banged on the blackboard.
“So, the next opponent for the defense is…”
I calmly announced the matter that had already been decided.
“It’s living armor.”
“…yes?”
The veteran heroes were all taken aback. In particular, Lucas Damien Lilly, who had been with us since Stage 1, was very surprised.
Well, it’s worth it. Living Armor is a monster army that we already faced in Stage 1.
But I didn’t say anything wrong.
Because this is the ‘real’ Living Armor Corps.
“The monster army we will face this time is the strongest army in the Living Armor series…”
I grinned.
“It is the army of the Ghost King.”
The Ghost Knight, who was the boss monster at the time of Stage 1, is spread out as a regular monster.
And the Lord of the Armors, who commands the ghost knights,
is led by the Ghost King – a truly authentic Living Armor Corps.
***
After explaining the Ghost King Legion and the tactics to defeat them.
The heroes were all taken aback when they heard that the defensive battle would begin in a week, but as the Jjambap they had eaten over the years was indeed unusual, they all immediately started preparing.
While watching the heroes rushing to various parts of the city to carry out their duties, I turned my head to the side.
Hecate and the Glory Knights were standing there. I approached them.
“majesty.”
“Glory Knights. “Everyone is here.”
I nodded to the polite knights and declared.
“I’m sorry, but your retirement will be postponed.”
“yes? But-”
“You will have to continue working here on the front lines until I give permission.”
They are currently sealed as the royal knights of the Crown Prince.
Even though he lost his curse, lost his magic power, and can no longer fight on the front lines, he can change his ship’s speed only with my permission.
Hecate requested retirement. It seems like all of the Glory Knights agreed.
But I had no intention of sending them.
Retirement? I can’t afford it!
“I am very sorry and embarrassed to tell you this, Your Highness.”
Gritting her teeth, Hecate pulled out a long sword from her belt.
Other surprised heroes tried to rush over, but there was no need. Hecate’s posture was sloppy, her arms were weak, and her drawn sword trembled and fell to the floor.
Hecate, who was breathing heavily just from the sword strike, chewed and spat out in a suppressed voice.
“We can no longer swing our swords.”
“….”
“After dying and coming back to life too many times, our bodies are already broken. He simply maintained his function as a knight by forcibly channeling his entire body’s magical power through a curse. But the curse has been taken back, and now we can never swing our swords again.”
Academy senior. Her swordsmanship was beautiful and beautiful enough to put even Lucas under her wing.
Now, it will never happen again in the world.
“It’s just a nuisance to be here. At best, the wages paid to us are also a waste of the empire’s precious tax money.”
“….”
“Please send it, Your Highness. Please don’t embarrass us anymore. “I beg you.”
But I shook my head.
Hecate’s face distorted.
“Does it look like we are trying to run away from the front line? “If that’s the case, please be patient here.”
“refuse.”
“If I do, will you at least let me die in this battle?”
“refuse. “You no longer go to war.”
“Then why on earth…!”
“Find it yourself.”
Hecate’s face went blank at my stern voice.
“I wonder what you can do here on the front line and how you will live in the future.”
“….”
“I wonder what I can do in this world by staying alive and not dying.”
I nodded.
“Find it. And give me the answer.”
“….”
“Until then, retirement is on hold.”
Perplexity appeared on the faces of Hecate and the Glory Knights.
After looking at the other heroes standing around me looking this way – especially the young people whose minds were all tangled up in confusion – I raised my voice and shouted.
“Now, the next defense battle is in a week! Everyone, go get ready!”
