‘...I was also greatly shocked when I first saw those scenes through a dream within the Goddess of Wisdom. ...Players who witnessed the game story, enhanced with dramatic scenes, would likely find it even more intense, not less.’
At first, I had considered adding the research director as a weekly boss like the previous Abyss creature, so that players could vent their anger on him, but...
‘Personality jelly... How horrifying and terrifying a thought is that?’
If the person from whom the personality was extracted wasn’t the research director, and if the one who extracted that personality wasn’t the victim, the Goddess of Wisdom, I would have stopped it right away... such a terrifying idea.
I decided to break the jelly into pieces and incorporate it into the game.
‘Since it’s jelly, it’s more suitable for use that way.’
To leave a lingering feeling, I killed off the character Muria-13-07 at the end of the story.
To highlight the tragedy, she scattered and vanished into dust before the player's eyes.
It wasn’t possible to release a character who was already dead as a new character.
But what if a character who looked exactly like her appeared, with her memories lost?
Additional Story Update.
Act 3, Chapter 3 release.
***
The Crown Prince Raizeol turned the page of his document with a blank face.
Swish
"Ugh."
A wound appeared, and blood dripped from his finger.
No, I must pull myself together.
I’m the next emperor who will lead the empire.
I can’t waver.
He tried to forcefully forget, but the final moment kept coming back to his mind.
‘...My beloved prince.’
The last words she spoke before vanishing in a burst of light wouldn’t leave his mind.
Raizeol shook his head.
It’s just a game.
Even within the game, it’s just virtual.
She’s not real.
Raizeol tried desperately to pull himself together.
He grabbed the official documents and tried to focus on work, but the words on the paper wouldn’t come into focus.
Heh, heh... waah, my prince!
Her voice echoed in his ears.
Crash!
When he heard the news of the "New Story Update," it was only natural that he rushed out without looking back.
“Are you okay, Zeol?”
The director glanced at the crown prince.
“I’m always fine. Why are you asking?”
“Well, after the last training, you weren’t in a good state.”
“That... huh. It was nothing.”
“Good to hear, then.”
The director gestured, and a book flew into his hand.
“...That book.”
Normally, he wouldn’t have even been able to tell the difference, but this time, the book in the director's hand was different.
“You recognize it?”
I can’t forget it.
It’s the book with her as the main character.
That book.
“It’s nothing special... It’s just something you need to do as part of your training.”
“Something I need to do?”
“When you went in last time, it was still a perfectly fine story, but then the Abyss began to erode it.”
The Abyss... eroded?
“Think of it as an Abyss assassin sneaking in here. Don’t worry, it’s just one of them.”
“So I just need to deal with him?”
“That’s right.”
“Easy enough.”
Just one.
With his character already reaching max specs, there would be no problem.
He could skip the weekly boss [Abyss Assassin] patterns with the damage output his character now had, since all of Raizeol's characters had reached the highest level with max specs.
‘...How dare you try to defile my memories with her. I can’t forgive you.’
At the same time, part of him felt a fluttering excitement.
Perhaps he might meet her again.
“You’ll do fine. But don’t overdo it since it’s part of your training. If you really can’t do it, call me.”
“I understand.”
The storybook that had been activated again, just like always.
Raizeol was soon inside the story.
“...Wait a minute.”
He wasn’t wearing the researcher’s uniform?
He was standing not in the middle of the lab but in the middle of a street where countless people passed by.
This was completely different from when he entered the previous story.
This wasn’t the beginning in the research lab?
Then, does that mean he couldn’t meet her?
Just as Raizeol’s heart began to burn with anxiety...
Thud, thud
Someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Raizeol turned his head.
!!
Unlike when she was an experimental subject, the beautiful girl was now wearing an academy uniform, and she had even put on makeup.
At a glance, she might seem like someone else, but Raizeol was certain.
The girl who looked exactly like her, the one he missed so much, was now looking up at him.
“...Excuse me...?”
She hesitated, unsure of how to begin.
“Have we met somewhere?”
“...Met somewhere?”
“Oh, no, it’s just that you feel familiar somehow...”
The girl blushed slightly and looked away in embarrassment.
Raizeol’s heart ached.
“Please don’t misunderstand. I went on a date with a prince in my dream... and he looked exactly like you...”
Raizeol finally felt like everything was clicking into place.
The director had said that this story wasn’t over, and was still in progress.
That meant the story’s main character, her, hadn’t completely disappeared, and the story was still ongoing.
If that was the case, it meant the girl who had died had reincarnated and was living again.
“I’m just Versia...”
Versia.
Was that her name in this life?
Raizeol grabbed the pendant item that was in his pocket.
If he showed this item, he could reveal the truth.
He could tell her about her past life and convince her that they had a special connection.
...But should he?
The memories of her past life were some of the worst of the worst.
After finishing that story, he had even issued an order to investigate the human rights abuses in the research lab throughout the empire.
If he told her the truth, she would learn about those painful memories.
...That thought didn’t sit well with him.
“No, I’m not crazy! I mean, really in the dream! ...Howl.”
The girl seemed to be at a loss, lowering her head deeply.
“I believe you.”
“...What?”
“Recently, in my dreams, someone calls me prince.”
I’m a crown prince, but...
“...Really?”
“The dreams were blurry, so I couldn’t tell who it was, but I never thought it would be someone this young.”
“I’m not a kid!”
“Heh. Is that so?”
Raizeol walked with the girl.
“Are you attending the academy now?”
“Yes, I’m in the second year!”
She smiled and made a V-shape with her fingers.
Thankfully, this life seemed to be much happier than her past life.
“Why don’t you show me the academy?”
“The academy? It’s famous for being really boring, though.”
“It’s fine. It’s the one you’re attending, isn’t it?”
“...You’re so sneaky, prince. Is there such a thing as sneaking in like this?”
The girl muttered, slightly turning her head.
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, nothing! Shall we go to the academy now?”
The girl grabbed Raizeol’s hand and started running.
“Hey, Versia! Where are you going?”
As Raizeol and the girl were walking around the academy, another academy girl called out to her.
“Ah, Circula!”
“Wait. Are you with a guy...?”
“No, it’s not like that...”
“You always pretend to be so pure.”
“Well, that’s...”
“Sorry to interrupt. Have a good time~.”
“Hey! Listen to people!”
The girl named Circula quickly disappeared after talking to Versia.
Was it Muria-17-06?
Even Muria-17-06 had reincarnated.
Far off, Circula was hiding behind a wall with half-closed eyes, watching the boy and girl.
That must be Muria-25-03.
It seemed like the three of them had all reincarnated and were now living happy lives.
This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.
“Hurry up, prince!”
The girl grabbed his wrist again and began to run.
“This is my secret base, my hideout.”
On the rooftop of the academy’s building, away from the main area.
“If you look at the night view here, it’s really beautiful.”
“...I see.”
Raizeol chuckled.
The girl, admiring the view and laughing, looked just like an ordinary academy student.
Finally, free from the research director’s curse, she was now living a proper life.
“Hey, why are you laughing? Is there something on my face?”
“...No. It’s just...”
Because I’m happy.
A proper ending.
A proper life.
From the story updates until now, it felt like all the unnecessary thoughts that had plagued him were finally gone.
If he hadn’t entered the story because of the Abyss's corruption, he never would have expected this outcome.
Hmm?
The Abyss?
Now that I think about it, the story’s Abyss had corrupted...
A large flash of lightning seemed to strike his mind.
Raizeol jumped to his feet.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
He ran.
Something jelly-like appeared behind the girl.
Sharp blades shot out from the jelly.
An attack aimed at her back.
The world slowed down.
Perhaps because he was pouring everything into saving her.
In a world where the speed was so fast that he wouldn’t normally have recognized it,
Raizeol activated various abilities and ran.
I will protect her.
No matter what happens this time.
Boom!
“My prince!”
I won’t lose you again.