CHAPTER 2 PHANTOMA THE HERO FLEES! Garad Golm…… The home of Demonia located on Galarm, Disboard’s smallest continent. Evidently, Demonia’s territory spanned the entire continent, and the land they laid claim to had never been under the control of another race. There was one reason for this: The Devil—the Tower and its domain had stood in Galarm for as long as history could remember. But as it would turn out, that long history might come to an end, for seven brave souls sought to challenge the immortal Devil anew. It was a party of heroes, who set foot on the continent after arriving via long-distance shifting. Well, at least they believed they set foot there… It was where they were told they were going before they teleported… “It’s fr-fr-fr-freezing here!! Wh-wh-wh-where the hell are we?! The South Pole?!” “Br-Br-Brother! I-i-it’s…so c-c-cold—e-e-everything, hurts…” Of the seven heroes, Sora and Shiro stood out in their usual outfits with nothing but a backpack each. Their favorite outfits, however, offered minimal protection against the loud, blistering wind, which drowned out any shouts for dear life in complete darkness. Thankfully, they received an answer from a friend, who must have been right next to them. “Explanation: Galarm, closest continent to Disboard’s southern pole. Current season in the Devil’s capital is winter. Complex geographical features and sea currents bring cold wind from the southern pole. Blizzards are frequent. Current temperature is minus thirty-one degrees Celsius.” Apparently, they had arrived at the capital of the Devil’s territory. They only barely managed to hear the report provided by the party’s third hero—Emir-Eins—over the relentless wind. You could’ve told us that before we left Elkia… Though Sora couldn’t actually voice this—his teeth were too busy chattering while he and his sister clung to one another—his sentiment was evident. “Report: This unit’s surface temperature has been adjusted to fifty-four degrees Celsius. Hold me, Master?” As it turned outkeeping the siblings in the literal dark was all part of Emir-Eins’s plan…but Sora and Shiro were in no position to express their discontent. They immediately took the opportunity to latch on to their mechanical companion— “My apologies for the wait, Master. It took me a moment to appropriately calibrate my magic. ” The fourth hero, Jibril, could be heard from the darkness as she cast her magic. A small orb appeared above the trio, putting a quick end to Emir-Eins’s devious plan. “…Tch/Request: Irregular Number, disclose your reason for casting magic at a speed far faster than normal.” “I’m always willing to push the limit for Master. You needn’t worry about this, though. I doubt a false servant who causes Master harm for its own gain would understand in the first place. ” By the bead of light above them, they could see the two women glaring at each other. Plus, the fierce wind had been blocked off and the harshness of the cold had been softened to a slight briskness. W-wow…that was too close for comfort… Sora and Shiro were at ease knowing they wouldn’t freeze to death. “…It’s still goddamn freezing, please. I hate the cold, please…” “Hey, pooch! I’m not your toy, and I’m not your hot water bottle, either! I am the DEV—” The fifth and littlest hero was Izuna Hatsuse. She must’ve instinctively dug her own foxhole upon arriving in the new frozen world, because she was sharing her hate for the climate from the tiniest opening in the ground. Which left the sixth and seventh heroes. They, too, like Sora and Shiro, were initially relieved to have found a lifeline in the dark frozen hellscape, but they quickly switched gears and hollered in confusion. “Uh, uh, uhhh?! Why did you bring me and not the chieftain, Sir?!” “That goes double for me!! My presence here is the biggest mystery!” And these members were: Til and Steph. Their questions both asked well before departure, but thoroughly ignored by the group… “I—I mean, it’s common knowledge how inept I am at games. Forget about games—we’re going into combat, where we have to defeat any Demonias that try to kill us!! What are you expecting from me?!” According to both Schira Ha’s explanation of the game and Til’s understanding of past records, the game was essentially— —a dungeon crawler. The seven-member party—five active combatants and two substitutes—were to enter the dungeon and defeat any Demonia mobs that aggroed them until they reached the hundredth floor, where they would need to defeat the Devil, who awaited them. The dungeon itself was the Devil’s Tower, and since it was a part of the Devil, it was affected by his Domain of Despair—an area of effect that consumed all hope of those who entered it. In addition, the only weapon the party could use to fight the enemies in the game was their hope, or so Schira Ha had said. These two aspects notwithstanding, the game itself was fairly simple. In a game such as this, it made sense why a Flügel, an Ex Machina, and a bloodbreaker Werebeast were present. Til’s presence made some sense, too, as the Dwarves had probably reached a tie game with the Devil once before. That being said, the question remained why the party would bring Dwarf’s weakest member, Til, over its strongest, her uncle Veig. Steph’s presence there was an even bigger puzzle, and she and Til wanted answers. Sora looked at the two and took a deep breath before nodding confidently and sharing his long-awaited answer—which was! “It just felt right! My gamer senses tell me that this is the best makeup for our party!!” “You’re starting to sound like the chieftain, you are!!” “And here I always pegged you as more of the logical, strategic type…” Heh… Of course, this is a logical party build. My logic just needed some help from my gut to fill in the gaps, is all. Sora, flashing a bold grin, kept this to himself. Suddenly: “Erm…Sora? I thought you were worried about us making the first move?” Yes, while it’s true we mustn’t allow the Domain of Despair to run rampant and are thus left without much of a choice…if we make a move that ends in failure at this stage, it could spell the end for the Commonwealth, which has kept us from doing anything so far. We don’t even know if we can beat the Devil, nor do we have an inkling of what’s in store for us if we do manage to defeat him… Steph had discernable worry on her face as she whispered to Sora, who responded… “Yeah, it’s fine. We were actually waiting for something exactly like this, and it’s the ideal time to get started,” Sora answered confidently, leaving Steph slightly confused, yet nonetheless ignored. “So…Schira Ha. Where to next?” he asked. Thanks to Jibril’s magic, the party had access to the bare minimal light and warmth, but what awaited on the other side of their magical refuge was a blistering blizzard in the dead of night—they couldn’t even see anything. This was a problem when they needed to rely on shifting, which could take them only as far as Jibril’s or Emir-Eins’s eyes could see. While they were in Garad Golm, they were going to have to walk the rest of the way. There was a good chance they could get lost before they ever reached the Tower… Sora winced at Schira Ha. “Mweh-heh-heh… Fret not, O Heroes… For it appears our escort has arrived.” Schira Ha, who did seem to be quietly waiting for something up until this point, finally spoke up. She gazed into the darkness, and from within its harsh winds emerged a single source of flickering light. “His Evilness has already prepared a guide for us, mweh-heh-heh…” “Gah-ha-HAAA! But of course! We wouldn’t want our heroes dying of frostbite before they even got to the Tower, now would we?” Evidently, the furball, still in Izuna’s clutches, had called for someone to come and escort the party to his Tower. It’s not every day you get a Devil who saves the heroes who are supposed to slay him… The group kept this shared sense of irony to themselves as they watched what the source of light was emerge from the darkness. It was a large carriage pulled not by horses but by…centaurs? There were two of them…each with the lower body of a horse and the upper body of a human. Either way, the centaur-like creatures pulling the wagon must’ve been Demonias. Its doors soon opened, revealing a humanlike figure. He was smiling evilly—or so one could only assume. It was difficult to tell what kind of face he was making, because his expression wasn’t so easily readable—or perhaps more aptly, he didn’t have an expression. The escort was wearing an expensive-looking tailored suit, and with one hand pressed to his chest, he gave an elegant bow. “Kah-kah… It is truly a pleasure to meet your acquaintances, heroes. I am—” “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK?!” Steph interrupted the skeleton’s self-introduction with a loud scream…… It turned out centaurs really were pulling the carriage. It looked like it was made of human bones, but it had quite a lavish, inviting interior. Save for Jibril and Emir-Eins, who had a natural resistance to the frigid weather, the rest of the party sat comfortably within the roomy carriage. “Kah-kah… Let’s try that again, shall we? I am Genau Ih, leader of the Skeleton Lords and Schira Ha’s successor as the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” His jaw rattled as he spoke with what the party imagined was a wicked grin. Following Schira Ha’s retirement, Genau Ih was Demonia’s second-in-command under the Devil. The polite Demonia finished his self-introduction with a deep bow. “Nice to meet you… So, uh, where’s your voice coming from—?” What piqued Sora’s interest most of all was the physicality of how the skeleton projected his voice without…a voice box, among other things. Sora’s intrusive question for the overly polite gentleman, however, was cut off abruptly by Steph: “I am so, so sorry!! You surprised me, and it was dark, and I just—!!” Steph was more embarrassed by her initial reaction to his appearance than anything. “Kah-kah…kah-kah-kah— It’s quite all right! On the contrary, it was truly an honor for me to receive such a reaction!” Her shame was wasted on the Demonia, however, for he seemed to take her fear as a compliment. “That’s not fair, Genau Ih! These heroes aren’t even the slightest bit afraid of me!!” “Oh, Your Evilness! Their fear stems from the terrifying way you created me!” “Mweh-heh… Which means that any fear they have for us is fear for Your Evilness…!” “Why, yes!! Gah-ha-ha! Perhaps the heroes have finally come to realize how terrifyingly evil I truly am!!” The little furball must have liked the flattery his underlings showered him with. They seemed sincere, too, or as far as the group could tell, at least. “So…you guys want people to be afraid of you?” Sora asked. “It isn’t necessarily that we want you to be afraid of us, but that your fear is inevitable! For I am the Devil!!” the furball insisted yet again, trying to release himself from Izuna’s unforgiving clutches. “Kah-kah… Demonia will lead the world to its destruction. So it only makes sense that we are feared! It may come as a surprise that you, ma’am, were the first to have ever shown your fear, for which I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I find you quite the wonderful Immanity damsel for it!” Genau Ih finished by taking Steph’s hand and kissing it. Seeing this, Sora and Shiro thought… Okay, so this is the race that wants destroy the world more than anything else…but they were shrugged off and ignored during the Great War, only to be considered worthless once the Covenants were established… The idea that a Demonia would feel gratitude after being feared made a bit more sense considering how rare it must’ve been until then… “Kah-kah… But I must say, Schira Ha. It is a delight to see you in such good health and vigor.” Meanwhile, the polite skeleton touched upon something that the siblings were curious about. Namely… “I feared for your fate when the Devil ordered your death.” “Huh? I ordered no such thing.” “But of course, Your Evilness! However, upon your most recent revival—” “Mwa-ha-ha… GAH-HA-HA-HA!! The material world feels incredible after my four-hundred-and-eight-year slumber!! Let us make haste and destroy it! SCHIRA HA! I command you to go forth, find the hero candidates, and bring them to me!!” “—that is how your humble servant remembers you wording your orders.” “Oh, well…I suppose I did say that, but…” You actually said that…? The Devil was oblivious to the carriage full of people squinting at him in disbelief. The polite skeleton used his tone and gestures to skillfully convey his concern. “With the Front being under the Devil’s Army’s flag, the hero candidates would have to be selected from the Commonwealth…” “Y-yes… This much should be obvious.” “My lesser intellect perceived these orders—sending Schira Ha the Wise against the Elkian monarch who has defeated and now commands the Flügel and Ex Machina—as a death sentence…” …………? …………? “I, wait… Hmmm?” Thirty seconds of silence passed before the Devil eventually processed the chain of logic, and it was all the rest of the group needed to finally understand why he’d sent Schira Ha against Jibril and Emir-Eins without a plan. He gave his orders without really putting too much thought into them… “Mweh-heh… It seems the likes of you, Genau Ih, cannot fathom the depths of the Devil’s Greater Plan… It is inevitable, I suppose… Please, feel at ease—but do be mindful of your place.” “!” However…Schira Ha had a different view of the matter. She maintained her wicked smile and elegant mannerisms while firmly reprimanding her successor. “Do you truly believe the Devil lacked the far-reaching foresight to comprehend your own measly concerns?” Her sharp snake eyes homed in on the skeleton, who shuddered as if he’d been zapped by lightning. Foresight…? What foresight…? Even Mr. Evilness himself let an awkward “wait” slip out from Izuna’s arms just now… The entire group stared in disbelief at Schira Ha, who ignored their gazes and proceeded to lay out the facts for them! “For after I relinquished myself of my position as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I forfeited myself to the party of heroes!! And as would be proven true through the power of the Covenants, I was able to make it known to them that they had no choice to but accept this journey! This—this was surely the Devil’s Greater Plan!” “I-is it true…?! Y-Your Evilness!!” “Mweh-heh… The Devil also foresaw the party of heroes’ disposition to opt for the path of least sacrifice, even when it went against their interest. Thus, he knew his humble servant would remain unscathed while in their custody!” “It’s all so clear to me now!! Oooh! Your Evilness!! Please forgive this brainless pile of bones’s disparagement unto you!!” ………, “Ah… V-verily… You are forgiven… For I am a magnanimous ruler… Heh, heh-ha-ha…” Though he maintained his arrogant persona, it was fairly evident that the Devil knew what he was doing, because he averted his gaze as he said this. Nevertheless, the skeleton’s bones were literally shaking with gratitude at the Devil’s supposed generosity. “Only you, Schira Ha, have the incredible perception required to read into the Devil’s words with such profound depth…!” “Mweh-heh… It was His Evilness who blessed me with my wisdom. Wisdom only second to His—it would be blasphemy unto Him for me to miss such details despite this gifted wisdom!” Watching Schira Ha gloat over her boundless wisdom and loyalty once more, Sora realized: I’m starting to think Demonias are smarter than people give them credit for… Even if they let their imaginations run wild when it came to hidden meanings behind their leader’s words… “Well…with that issue cleared up, I would now like to guide you to the accommodations the Devil has prepared for you, O Heroes.” The skeleton bowed after being granted amnesty for his blasphemous obliviousness, but as it would turn out: “Or at least I had come here with that very intention, but if you would, please allow me to guide you straight to the Devil’s Tower instead…” …………? “Er… That’s where we were planning on going anyway, but what’s all this talk about accommodations…?” Sora asked. Evidently, the skeleton’s bow was out of sorrow, which left the group confused. “Hey!! You’re not trying to pit a party of tired heroes against me, are you?! I order you to give them a full night’s rest at our finest inn!!” Apparently, the Devil wanted the party in their best condition for the game. The furball was livid that his servant had rejected his orders, however: “Oh! I beg your forgiveness, Your Evilness!! Given the sudden nature of the decree—all inns are currently closed for the day!!” “Ack! Hmm… Mmm… Th-then so be it…” “Closed for the day” was a good enough reason to put an end to the exchange. The Devil’s decree was shut down by…business hours… “…Y-you don’t think that the Devil…isn’t all that respected around here, do you…?” Til couldn’t help but whisper into Sora’s ear, but… “Mweh-heh?! Wh-wh-what are you trying to say?!” “Kah-kah-kah!! The Devil’s authority is a shining beacon of darkness that dims the lands far and wide!!” “Eeep?! I-I’m sorry, I am! But what does shining darkness even mean?!” Schira Ha and the rattling skeleton must have caught Til’s off-the-cuff remark; they ran straight toward her, and she immediately took refuge under Shiro’s skirt, though not without pointing out the irony in the statement just made. Schira Ha cleared her throat before addressing their confusion: “Mweh-heh… Garad Golm follows a strict eight-hour workday and four-day workweek.” She bowed her head politely for her sudden show of dishevelment. “Mweh-heh… Work outside of these hours is paid threefold and requires the worker’s consent, and its application must be submitted to our Labor Department at least two days in advance. This merely means that it isn’t so easy for us to bend these rules on such short notice.” Though spoken in the wickedest of tones, Schira Ha described what sounded like a very hospitable work environment. Unable to suppress his surprise at the seemingly paradoxical presentation, Sora asked, “Even if it’s the Devil’s orders…?” “Mweh-heh… Nonsense! Should the Devil order it, not only the inns but all of Demonia would awaken and go straight to work with tears of joy streaming down their faces! However—” “That would be abusing my power!! But enough of this!! You shall take the heroes directly to my Tower!!” The Devil seemed as magnanimous as he touted himself to be, at least in terms of workers’ rights. The Devil… The so-called Phantom of Destruction who was trying to end the world… In any case…setting aside the surprisingly lenient working environment… The centaur-drawn carriage appeared to have finally reached the capital. The snow was weaker than it was in the wilderness, and from the window, the group could see the flickering lights of a town dotting the townscape. “Y’know, when I heard we’d be going to Garad Golm—basically a nation of monsters—I just…” “…You’d think…it’d be, in a cave…or something…” “This town seems to be on the same level of Elkia in terms of civilization…” Sora, Shiro, and Steph were shocked by the sight as they advanced into the city. While everything was made of stone, the many tall structures clearly marked it as a city. Perhaps due to the diversity of their people, from its buildings to its doors, everything was massive. At the same time, it took only a glance to recognize that the placement and the structure of these giant buildings were meticulously planned. “…Also, I’ve been wondering this entire time, but are these seats made of silk…?” “Mweh-heh… Indeed, the silk spun by the arachne tribe is among the world’s top quality, which was dyed by the slime tribe, who is known for their dyeing techniques. The body of the carriage was fashioned out of wood provided by the orc tribe, which was then built by the goblin tribe, known for their woodwork. Have you taken a liking to it?” Schira Ha flashed yet another wicked smirk. She took great pride in her nation’s industry, but this left Sora groaning with yet another question. “Sooo you mind tellin’ me why…the race trying to end the world is this civilized…?” One would expect a more rough-and-tough, barbarian feel from the people who wanted to destroy the world. Not to mention that, if there was such a difference in the intellect and ability between species of Demonia, it wouldn’t be shocking if it were a more starkly disparate nation. Sora and the others had pictured something more rustic, but Schira Ha and the skeleton addressed their doubts. “Mweh-heh-heh…? Why else would they be this civilized if not for the sole purpose of bringing about the world’s destruction?” “Kah-kah… Yes, it is all Schira Ha the Wise’s—and transitively, the Devil’s—will!” Really now…? The group turned to the Devil, who was still trapped in Izuna’s hands, but…he exercised his right to remain silent and let Schira Ha do the talking. “All wisdom exercised by me, Schira Ha the Wise, is a mere by-product of the Devil’s own will.” So Schira Ha is responsible for Demonia’s level of civilization. This was Sora and Shiro’s interpretation, and Schira Ha was quick to ask a question of her own. “Mweh-heh… What do you think is necessary for destroying the world, if you don’t mind me asking…?” Hmmm…… It was Sora’s first time thinking about world destruction, as opposed to world peace. It didn’t require much deep thought in his original world. In fact, it was more likely the world would find a way to destroy itself. “Maybe, like…immense military might…?” Sora replied. Schira Ha nodded wickedly in agreement, but not without specifying one detail. “Mweh-heh… It is as you say. Though, to be more precise, it is immense national might.” She continued with her usual wicked smile and evil tone. “Mweh-heh… Then, what makes a nation mighty if not its own people?” She spoke plainly with words that made Sora, a ruler himself, want to run for the hills… “The great and powerful Devil created a diverse people, each of them receiving their own unique characteristics. Though we may be different, there is no higher or lower social standing in our society, and we’ve sculpted our nation into a place where all beings can excel—this is what makes us powerful.” “…………” Sora and Shiro were struck dumb by what seemed like a perfect answer, but Schira Ha wasn’t finished yet. “For example, we could not have cultivated the frozen earth of this frigid environment without the help of the wyrm tribe. The slime tribe excretes a liquid that can be made into medicine, and the orc tribe’s strong bodies allow them to handle a wide variety of labor-intensive jobs, while the goblin tribe focuses more on fine-tuned craftsmanship. Each of these tribes was a necessary piece of the puzzle that went into creating the city you see before you, mweh-heh.” “…………” “In the same vein, without their help, I, too, would starve. As it is my duty to keep my people alive and thriving, I used the wisdom bestowed unto me by the Devil to do so. This much should be a given, should it not?” Yeah, it definitely should. Everything she said is highly logical…but such logic is usually written off as pie-in-the-sky ideals. When it comes to actualization of such ideals, there are many problems that arise, namely… “Does this mean Garad Golm follows a feudal system? What do you do about your people’s career choice in relation to the fluidity of your economy when—?” Steph began to ask before a wickedly grinning Schira Ha interrupted. “Mweh-heh… Allow me to stop you there, for Demonia boasts a diverse population. Let’s take some of the larger species, for example—they receive a tax break on their food as they require more sustenance than most. When it comes to career choice, we impose no path on any individual—in some cases, even extra-tribal careers have proven highly fruitful—we do intend on eventually creating a support system for such individuals, and—” She went on to list example after example of intricate political systems implemented to balance out the minutiae that made the so-called ideal perceived as difficult. Somewhere along the way, Steph had taken out a pencil and paper and listened as if it were a lecture, when— “Mweh-heh-heh… My apologies. It was not my intention to allow myself to get too caught up in the many details. What I mean to say is—” Schira Ha brought a quick end to her lecture: “Our diverse people require a society where they retain the ability and will to be able to use their diverse talents. In other words, each and every Demonia is a member of the Devil’s Army—and a special treasure made by the Devil himself! He takes firm responsibility for his people, and immense pride in each and every one of them!! We are a powerful nation all moving toward one shared goal! That is, in my best estimation, the bare minimum required for us to eventually realize the world’s destruction.” Schira Ha’s conclusion, based on the wisdom given to her by the Devil, was cause for Sora to let out an audible gulp. “Wow… Who would’ve imagined that this world already had a country where diverse people lived together, hand in hand…” If only they didn’t have the whole world annihilation part…, he mused, clutching his head. Ah, so this is the society Elkia is working toward. A society I thought didn’t exist in this world… But here it exists…to destroy the world. They’re so close to perfect, and yet so far away. Why does it have to be like this? If only it was just a little more, you know… “Sora… Why not use your dominion over Schira Ha to make her work with us?” Steph asked. “We could definitely use her as an adviser… Honestly, I wouldn’t mind working under her myself.” Demonia, a race of idiots? It couldn’t be. At the very least, Schira Ha the Wise was as intelligent as her name suggested. She was, without a doubt, among this world’s wisest individuals. The problem was…what she was trying to use her knowledge for…and that was a big problem…… They continued riding the carriage through the capital for another hour before finally reaching their destination. The group—with the exception of Jibril and Emir-Eins—all gazed in awe at the sight. “Mweh-heh… Ahem, if you would, please.” “Kah-kah… Welcome, party of heroes. You stand before the Devil.” The Devil—Schira Ha and Genau Ih’s creator and leader. The two bowed pridefully, and behind them, Sora, Shiro, Steph, Til, and Izuna got their first glimpse of their opponent, which elicited an audible gulp from the entire group. So this is the Devil… It had finally sunk in, making them tremble. This was the tallest structure any of them had ever seen, and though strange in nature, it was indeed a tower. It was less of a physical structure and more of an illusionary nightmare. The Tower was uncannily similar to the sort of non-Euclidean geometric structure people imagine from the well-known Cthulhu Mythos—unlike any physical structure one would expect in a three-dimensional-space world that twisted and turned randomly and jutted toward the sky in a difficult-to-describe way. It filled all who gazed upon it with dread and made several things very clear: Were it not for the Covenants, whoever laid their eyes on this Tower would certainly lose their sanity. This Tower would sap the hope from all who entered it. This was the Hope-Consuming Beast. The Phantom of Destruction. The Domain of Despair… The Devil… “Ga-ha-ha-HAAA!! How’s THAT for a tower?! Pretty frightening, eh?! Has it finally set in? The TERROR of the DEVIL?! SCHIRA HA!! Begin the game now before the heroes succumb to their fear and attempt to flee!!” “Mweh-heh… Ah, I’m afraid I cannot assist, Your Evilness. Your humble servant is currently in the possession of the heroes…” “Sir! Then with Your Evilness’s permission, I shall head the Joint Chiefs of Staff and oversee the game.” “Oh…you’re stuck with them…and now you’re the…? …Right! GENAU IH! LET THE GAME BEGIN!!” What should’ve been a moment for the party to feel some real fear was ruined by the furball forgetting who did what, and the intensity of it all just kind of…fizzled out. Once everyone had returned to their senses, the suited skeleton made an announcement: “With that, O party of Heroes, I believe you’ve been informed as to your task, but allow me to…” He bowed and proceeded to rehash the outline of the game they would be participating in: The seven-member heroes’ party was to clear the Tower dungeon. Of the seven members, five could be active, with the other two waiting inside their inventory. The heroes could use only hope to fight whatever Demonias appeared within the dungeon until they made it to its top floor, where they would have to destroy the Devil’s core. Should they emerge victorious, they would become the owners of the Devil and everything in his possession. If the entire party’s hope was consumed before doing so, they would lose, and the game would come to an end. There was one last thing for the skeleton to add: “Should anyone in the party abandon the game, that will be considered a loss, and their hope will be promptly consumed.” And: “Please note that you may not leave the Tower during the game.” He made it clear that quitting halfway through and leaving the Tower was against the rules. “That is all. If you have no further questions, then we shall begin the game by the Covenants.” Are you ready…? The skeleton awaited their answer. “Hm… ’Kay, mind if I ask three questions?” With the rules fresh in his mind, Sora presented a few issues that were eating away at him. “First: What’s to keep you from jumping us the moment we enter the Tower?” “Mweh-heh… At ease, heroes. There is a preparation room where you will acquire your weapons of hope. It is a safe zone where we cannot attack each other.” Weapons of hope… Sora watched as the skeleton nodded at Schira Ha’s mention of the hope-derived armaments. The idea of using hope as a weapon was something he’d been thinking about since Schira Ha had first mentioned it back in Elkia. Which brought him to his next question: “Okay, question number two: What exactly do you guys mean by hope?” That was going to be their only weapon for the duration of the game. Should their hope be consumed, they would lose. Hope was a key aspect of the game, but the concept itself was still way too nebulous. Sora took this chance to ask the same question he’d asked Schira Ha before they left Elkia. But it was neither the skeleton nor Schira Ha who answered him: “Review: A spiritual activity that makes up the ‘soul.’ Defined as part of the ‘heart.’ A feeling.” “It is primarily a mechanism of the soul’s desire to exist—a concept shared by all living beings.” “…Yeeeaaah… That’s what I thought you two would say…” “…We can’t…get a straight answer…around here…” It was exactly as Schira Ha had said before, but this time, Jibril and Emir-Eins were the ones who broke Sora’s and Shiro’s brains. Evidently, just as souls seemed to exist in definite terms in this world, the idea of hope stemmed from the “soul” and was clearly defined. The siblings were forced to accept the definitions being given to them as fact, it looked like… “My last question might sound kinda random, but it could be the most important one of all.” Since figuring out what “hope” really meant was not in the cards, Sora had one more query: “This country runs on a strict four-day workweek with eight-hour workdays, right…? What happens if the schedule runs awry…?” Once they entered the Tower, they would not be able to leave. Would the staff inside the Tower have to go home at a certain time? Say there was a boss enemy that the party couldn’t beat; would they have to wait for it to come to work the next day? “Kah-kah… You needn’t worry about that… I shall see to it personally that the game operates twenty-four seven.” The skeleton politely answered Sora’s question, to which he responded with, “Oh, so you guys bend the rules there a bit, eh…?” A country could only be so lenient with these sorts of things. There were always exceptions. Ideals were, in the end, ideals. Sora was almost disappointed upon hearing this, but there was more to the game’s operation than just that… “Yes… Four overseers are set to manage the game on six-hour shifts each. The boss monsters are being kept on standby with bonus pay, and they will be dispatched when the heroes close in on their posts… On the whole, this game has required tremendous coordination between all of Demonia and the Labor Department… My bones ache thinking what I would have done if not for the schedule produced by Schira Ha the Wise before she relinquished her position…” “Mweh-heh… Yes, the planning that went into that did quite the number on me as well.” Sora’s disappointment was wasted, for the response was superb. The country ran like a well-oiled machine, one where the pressure fell not on the workers but on the higher-ups. Sora and the others were impressed. “But of course!! What kind of Devil would I be if I forced my heroes to fight on a four-day workweek?!” And yet the leader of all this was apparently oblivious to his subordinates’ efforts. Ideals will always be ideals…, Sora thought as he stared off into the distance. And then came the time “If there are no further questions, then let us make our pledge to the Covenants.” With that, the skeleton raised his hand, and all eyes fell on Sora. During the Great War and since its end—not a single soul had beaten the Devil. Not even an Old Deus. Should they really be challenging him to a game…? Everyone waited for Sora’s answer. “Yeah, let’s do this. Aschente!” If Sora was this confident in his decision, then his friends were with him. Shiro, Steph, Til, Izuna, Jibril, and Emir-Eins: All seven party members joined the skeleton—and the Demonia staff that awaited inside the Tower—in making the mass pledge: Aschente. “Mweh-heh… Oh, Your Evilness? If you wouldn’t mind…you, too, must Aschente…” “Hm? Oh…right, you’re all waiting for my consent to begin! Yes, of course! Then so be it! The Devil, too, agrees to your challenge, O Heroes!! Face mine wrath—Aschente!!” With Schira Ha’s reminder, the furball agreed to the game from within Izuna’s embrace. The door to the dark, evil Tower ominously opened. “Kah-kah… I will be excusing myself to the staff office. Ta-ta for now, O Heroes…” The skeleton offered one last deep bow before departing. “Mweh-heh… Come, heroes. I shall take you to where you will begin.” With Schira Ha leading them, Sora and the party entered the Tower Through the massive door and into the Tower they went, where they found an expansive room void of life. It was not unlike Elkia Royal Castle’s throne room in terms of size and scale, but taking into consideration the massive size of the door they’d just passed through, it felt unusually small. When they turned to look back, the door they’d originally passed through had turned into a size that matched the room’s. Just as its outward appearance suggested, the Tower didn’t follow the conventional concept of physics. Either way, this must’ve been the safe zone that Schira Ha had described to them before. There was a small window through which the night sky peered into the massive room, and in its center was a large magic circle made of strange patterns and symbols. At the very center of said magic circle were seven balls of light, each swaying ever so slightly, and a small floating bag. “Mweh-heh… Now, heroes… Each of you must touch one of the lights.” Though cautious, the party followed Schira Ha’s directions and held their hands out to the light nearest them. The next instant… “I see what’s going on here… These must be our weapons of hope.” It was one of the rules of the game: Their hope was their only weapon. The rules made more sense now that they were physically holding those weapons. A dimly glowing weapon materialized into each party member’s hands. Sora looked around at them all before nodding to himself. “So basically—our hope takes on the form of an actual weapon?” “…Mm-hmm… I can…work with…this…” Sora and Shiro each examined their armaments, which seemed to fit perfectly in their hands. Schira Ha affirmed their suppositions with a nod of her own, only to cock her head to the side with a bit of confusion. “Mweh-heh… Impressive of you to understand, heroes…but I must ask: What race ever used weapons such as those, and in what time period…?” Seeing as each person’s weapon took on a shape of its own, the only sort of weapons that could materialize were weapons that actually existed within the beholder’s mind. It must’ve been strange for Schira Ha, who’d been alive for tens of thousands of years, to see any given weapon for the first time. The siblings shared a wry chuckle; it was no wonder she’d never seen their weapons before. Sora had what looked like a high-caliber Anti-Matter Rifle, and Shiro held two fully automatic Machine Pistols, one in each hand. Both weapons were not of this world. As for the rest of the heroes “…Hey, is this thing supposed to be some kinda…weapon, please?” “Gahhh-ha-ha! One befitting a Werebeast, whose greatest weapon is their body! Speaking of which, how about you let me go now?! Are you listening, pooch?!” Izuna held the rowdy furball tight in two large paw-shaped Kitty Gloves that glowed faintly like the siblings’ guns. “Does this look right…? Setting aside the fact that it’s all glowy and stuff, this looks like my spirit arm, it does…” Til appeared concerned, seeing as this Great Hammer was much like her usual weapon, just shinier. “Oh? I’ve never understood the novelty of a weapon before…but I quite like this.” Jibril took a liking to the weapon her own hope had chosen for her: an evil-looking Scythe. “Analysis/Estimation: Remote-control-operated miniature aerial attack aircraft. An ideal weapon. This unit is not a Kämpfer battle unit.” Floating around Emir-Eins and similarly glowing was a group of Drones that looked like they could shoot laser beams. So this is what they meant by hope. Doesn’t seem like we have to worry about the game operators tampering with our weapons. Sora felt much better now that this ambiguity had been cleared up. “Um…,” Steph began. “I’ve only ever heard about weapons in stories, but—” All forms of violence and weapons had been eliminated six thousand years ago. For a modern person, the idea of a weapon was nothing more than a long-lost artifact of history. Steph was aware of this going into the Tower, but even then, what manifested in her hands didn’t quite fit what she had in mind… “—I’m fairly sure this isn’t even categorized as a weapon!!” She cried out in confusion as she held up a giant shield, eliciting wide-eyed stares from Sora, Shiro, and Izuna. It was…a Great Shield… The perfect weapon for someone who wished no harm to others and sought only to protect them… Someone like Steph. Not only that, but despite strict definitions, it was nevertheless a valid weapon. What had everyone wide-eyed was not the shield, but— “…Steph…what’s with…your stats…?” “…S-Stuch… A-are you a monster, please…?!” —the bar—or bars—that hovered above her head… Two bars appeared above each party member’s head when their weapons materialized. Based on the rule that loss of all hope meant losing the game: “These must be our status bars. Lemme guess: The red bar on top is our HP, which goes down when we get hit, and the blue bar on the bottom is our MP, which we use to attack, right?” “Mweh-heh… Indeed, hero…… But that’s quite the pinpoint guess you’ve made.” Schira Ha was caught entirely off guard by Sora’s remark, which was less of a guess and more of an inference from his own world’s tried-and-true game mechanics. Now that the rest of the party was caught up on the status bars, Til yelled out a new question: “…D-does that mean Lady Steph is immortal?!” “Stuch has three goddamn HP bars… I think you broke her, please…?” “What’s everyone talking about…? Is there something wrong with me…?” Steph soon realized she was the odd one out with how everyone was looking at the space above her in shock. The group stared at Steph’s HP bars with a strange, almost anxious curiosity, when… “Huh. Looks like Steph will be the key to this game after all,” mumbled Sora, the only one who appeared to grasp the situation. “The key—?! What’s that supposed to mean?! …Oh!!” Steph’s eyes glimmered with excitement. “So you did have something in mind for me when you brought me along! Let’s face it: No one would expect me to be useful for this sort of game, but you must have insight on how to win! Don’t you, Sora—?!”
Chapter 185
35 min read