"That’s a wrap for today’s broadcast. To all of our beloved future directors of [Akashic Archive], thank you so much! Goodbye~~! See you next time!"
"Okay, cut."
As the filming ended, the Demon King Lucia, who had been smiling brightly, quickly stiffened.
At the same time, the divine power that had filled the studio, resembling a CG backdrop, began to fade.
"Good work."
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
Demon King Lucia left the studio, receiving praise from the director, who introduced her as the curator of [Akashic Archive].
‘...Total defeat.’
She had infiltrated the [Akashic Archive] official broadcast to gather information on her competitors.
Although she had joined in hopes of uncovering the identities of the mysterious figures behind it all, she hadn’t even been able to visit the DreamStory headquarters.
She never expected the studio itself to be conjured up on the spot by divine power.
‘So, I really can’t show my company to a competitor...’
After all, they already knew her identity and had invited her personally, so they must have thought about security.
And then there was the format of the official broadcast that captivated the viewers, with its well-crafted content.
The way the game, which had only been out for a few months, managed to evoke nostalgia for past journeys was something even she had to acknowledge.
‘It’s not just the quality of the game, but the appeal of the characters themselves that is winning here.’
Character-driven narratives, PVs designed to pull at heartstrings, and even various merchandise.
‘Total defeat.’
It was a defeat with no room for disagreement.
‘But this isn’t the end.’
Though she had been outplayed in a way that felt like something out of the blue, a game-changer in a market that had long followed a certain path, things were different now.
‘By showing me all of this and making me host the official broadcast, they’re basically daring me. They want me to try, if I can.’
They even brought in a competitor’s CEO to stir things up.
Perhaps it was a display of their confidence.
‘Then I’ll make sure to succeed, just to show them. Just wait and see.’
A small misunderstanding fueled her determination.
‘Now, I can finally make the kind of game I’ve always wanted to create.’
The person at the heart of it all had no particular thoughts on the matter, however.
***
[The Dreamteller pats you on the back, thanking you for your hard work on the broadcast.]
"Thank you, Constellation. If it weren't for your divine power, this broadcast wouldn’t have been possible."
From simply changing the Demon King's face to creating the background and PV, it was all made possible by the power of dreams.
And with this update, the first event for the game— the Memorial Rite horror special event— was also something that could only happen because of the Dream Constellation's power.
...Looking at it like this, our Constellation’s power might be more versatile than I thought.
In the past, on Earth, there were countless subculture games, and it was customary to interact with players through broadcasts whenever there were important updates, news, or character introductions.
This world didn’t have that, so I wondered what would happen if the players didn’t respond well to the broadcast. But seeing the reactions in the chat, it seems it was successful after all.
The gacha rewards I spread in the later half of the broadcast— the so-called "feed"— played a big role.
Through this, I could continue using official broadcasts to attract players who had lost interest in the game and update them with new news.
‘The advertisement for the merchandise went well, so I can expect considerable sales there too.’
Perhaps we could even hold offline events, like pop-up stores or festivals.
If that happens, not only would the sales increase, but I could even recreate the subculture scene I enjoyed in my past life in this new world.
[The Dreamteller asks what kind of event they’ve created this time.]
"An event? It's nothing special. I just want to add elements that let players revisit the journey they've been on and enjoy some new fun."
When holidays like Halloween or Christmas approached, many game companies would create events to capture the festive atmosphere.
With Christmas approaching, the sound of carols and the end-of-year mood began to fill the air.
Events that took place with that sense of things winding down were quite appealing.
In this world, the continent of Reiphania, unlike Earth, doesn't have Christmas or Halloween, but it has its own unique holidays.
I want to create a special atmosphere using those holidays.
[The Dreamteller asks if the Memorial Rite special event will involve pumpkins to create a spooky atmosphere.]
"No, I don’t think it will be like that."
The Memorial Rite in this world may seem similar to Halloween at first glance, but it is entirely different.
It has a different historical background from Earth, so there is no tradition of decorating pumpkins.
"I’m thinking of making it into an event with the unique charm of Reiphania..."
How should I create it?
It’s a tough decision.
Since I can’t just bring over Earth’s Halloween...
Still, it’s a pleasant dilemma.
I could step away from the main story and use the characters we’ve had so far, and unlike the stories I’ve been forced to make recently, this one feels like something I’m doing because I want to.
Ding!
That’s when it happened.
"This is...?"
[The Dreamteller stares at the message, wondering who it is from.]
It was a message from the Goddess of Wisdom.
***
The Religious City of Condolence, Located in the Northern Region of Academy City Reira
As I stepped off the carriage, the view of the city, with its many towering temples, immediately came into sight.
"Nice to meet you."
A man with a familiar appearance greeted me.
"I am Pater, the Fourth Apostle serving the Constellation of Wisdom."
Pater was the connection that allowed me to meet the Constellation of Wisdom.
"Nice to meet you."
Since I was using the Dream Constellation's power to conceal my true form to prevent any potential information leaks, he didn’t recognize me.
Instead, he trembled slightly, trying to hide it, likely influenced by the divine power enveloping my body.
"I’ll guide you."
I followed behind him as he led the way.
[I couldn’t help it, Prince. He was the only one closest to Condolence.]
This was the information given to me by the Goddess of Wisdom.
It was about the news of finding a Constellation corrupted by the Fourth Sin.
And since Pater, the Apostle of that Constellation, had already been contacted, I was told to go and hear the story firsthand to confirm the situation. So, on a free day with no classes, I ended up traveling to this neighboring city, Condolence.
At heart, I wanted to forget about sins and focus on making the kind of game I wanted to create, but with the Abyss possibly invading at any moment, I knew I had to prioritize dealing with the sins and gathering more allies.
I had mistakenly thought this was a sin that the Goddess of Wisdom herself carried.
The Goddess of Wisdom was indulgent, but without any sins.
[Prince, don’t get any strange ideas just because of Lust. It’s not quite what you think.]
Is that what the Constellation was like? Making me think weird thoughts.
I followed Apostle Pater, and we arrived at a temple with a reverent atmosphere.
[Lust-driven Thief]
Thievery (節度)
This was the virtue of moderation, or balance, doing things with the right measure. It was also a title used by the Dark Elves' god, one of the Seven Heroes.
"This way."
Pater led me through the back door of the temple.
"Nice to meet you. I am Safira, the First Apostle of Moderation."
Inside, I was greeted by a pure white elf who exuded a sacred and mystical aura.
"Then I will take my leave."
With that, Pater stepped back, and I followed Safira, the elf, into the deep underground of the temple.
The elf exuded an aura of gentle grace, like a motherly figure.
Her appearance and atmosphere were exactly what you would expect from someone worthy of being called a saint.
"I heard from the Constellation of Wisdom. You’re here to help solve a problem within our order."
"...That's right."
How well did the Goddess of Wisdom explain things?
"But our order doesn’t seem to have any particular issues. What kind of problem are you referring to?"
Wasn’t that a little too well explained by the Constellation?
Concerning the sin... how should I explain it?
The god you serve was infected by some strange alien entity. We need to cure that through the game.
...There’s no way they'd believe such an explanation!
"...It’s difficult to explain."
"Sigh. Honestly, I can’t blindly believe you, but... I’ve received much help from the Constellation of Wisdom."
I sat down opposite her on a reception sofa, separated by a table.
"Feel free to ask any questions. I’ll answer them all."
Ah! As expected of our Wisdom! I knew I could trust you!
Unlike someone who blindly tries to solve everything through combat!
"There’s no need to answer."
I activated my divine power.
"I’ll confirm it myself."
With that, my consciousness entered into her memories.
"Hey! I told you not to mention this!"
"B-But..."
...?
The first memory I saw.
It was a scene with a shy-looking Dark Elf boy and a mischievous white elf girl shouting at him.