Squeak.
Thud.
After finishing up the group work with Seamin, I returned to my room, took a quick shower, and collapsed onto my bed.
“Ugh...”
I wanted to close my eyes and fall asleep right there, but I forced myself to sit up.
I was exhausted to the point where my whole body felt weak, but I had to get things done.
Gripping the device in my hand, I invoked the power of dreams and entered the [Akashic Archive].
Soon, the unfinished work I had left behind appeared before me.
It was the story for the fifth statue, which was to be released soon.
‘...Maybe I shouldn’t have chosen twelve gods from the start.’
I regretted setting the story’s scale so big. It felt like I just created more work for myself.
We’re only at the fifth one now, and the rest—how long will it take to finish them?
Though the four constellations and players introduced so far were satisfied, if I keep dragging out the story, they might start feeling bored.
I wanted to rush to the climax and finish the Twelve Gods' story as quickly as possible.
To do that, I needed to create the story faster, but...
“When am I ever going to finish this...”
Now I understood why ‘Wisdom’ had told me to take it easy.
In reality, during our date, I’d been able to escape that pressure and relax.
...Well, until her little outburst, anyway.
The sudden outburst during our conversation.
If her two sisters hadn’t rushed in, things might have gotten dangerous.
Her outburst had been triggered by her divine nature, and apparently, it was due to the stress she had accumulated from handling so many things recently, as explained by her sisters.
She had been struggling, but to use her wish to help relieve my stress... Whatever her intentions had been, I was grateful.
Of course, going back to her now wasn’t easy.
She must be feeling a lot of embarrassment, just like after a drunken mistake.
In cases like that, it’s better to wait until the memory fades and then meet casually later.
Time will take care of it.
In any case, I couldn’t rely on Wisdom’s help right now.
I had to create the story on my own.
The constellation who would be the protagonist of this fifth story was the [Dragon Slayer].
Like the other constellations, she had a story related to Beidos, which made it a fitting choice.
I reached out to continue crafting the story but paused for a moment.
A conversation I’d had with Seamin earlier in the day kept echoing in my mind.
Lately, the stories of the new constellations seemed to be showing a different pattern...
I hadn’t realized it, but it seemed that from a regular player’s perspective, it might feel that way.
A different pattern.
Could it be that the characters of the twelve statues are starting to feel disconnected from the previous ones?
“Hm...”
I thought deeply.
Since [Akashic Archive] is a subculture game, it mainly relies on the charm of its characters.
The goal was to make the players feel attracted to the characters, so they’d want to summon them.
In contrast, the stories of the recently introduced constellations might not be as engaging.
Even if their stories are noble and cool, that alone isn’t enough to discuss their charm or character depth.
“...I think I’ll need to add a bit of variation to the story.”
A great idea suddenly struck me.
A cute girl hidden beneath impressive armor.
This can’t fail.
I’ll need to contact the protagonist of this story, the fifth constellation.
I’m not sure if she’ll like it, but it’s worth a shot.
***
Red Dragon Burner
He was a very young dragon, having only been an adult for about 100 years since he shed his hatchling form.
In the past, at this age, he would have been old enough to venture out and enjoy life. However, with the dwindling numbers of his clan, that was no longer possible.
According to his clan's rules, he couldn’t indulge in any leisure until he had mastered the Dragon Tongue completely.
As a result, Burner was stuck in his lair, spending his days practicing the language of the dragons.
He dreamed of the day when he could embark on an exciting adventure of his own.
Naturally, it was only a matter of time before he became absorbed in [Akashic Archive].
A romantic adventure, where he didn’t have to leave his lair or master the Dragon Tongue to enjoy himself.
In that world, Burner was a knight, a demon king, a hero.
Before long, he found himself eagerly waiting for the latest update to bring new stories to explore while he trudged through his boring Dragon Tongue studies.
And today...
“It’s here, the fifth story!”
The story of the fifth statue, the one he’d been waiting for, had finally been updated.
What kind of tale would unfold this time?
The chief who sacrificed himself for his clan, the humble citizen who rose to prevent an unjust death, the mother who cared for a child not her own, and the alchemist who healed the sick with his own craft.
The stories of the four previous heroes had all struck a deep chord.
Despite their grim circumstances, they had lived lives of nobility and selflessness, saving others.
And surely, this new story would be connected to the Beidos Empire.
As the stories of the twelve statues unfolded, more information about the surrounding circumstances had emerged.
The time of the heroes seemed to have been the same era.
Though not perfectly aligned, it was clear that it took place toward the end of the Beidos Empire.
And as the heroes’ tales were told, secrets about the empire were gradually coming to light.
The first story revealed the backdrop of the Beidos Empire’s tyranny.
The second story exposed the tense atmosphere within the empire and the dark magic lurking at its heart.
The third story uncovered the fact that the empire’s leaders were aware of this dark magic.
The fourth story revealed that not only were they aware, but they were actively using it.
The veil covering the dark Beidos Empire was being slowly peeled away.
What kind of secrets would be hidden beneath?
Burner eagerly leaped into the game, his heart racing with excitement.
“Before we start the story, there’s something I need to say.”
Before Burner could enter the fifth statue’s story, Queen Thystina stopped him.
“...Hmm? What’s the matter?”
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“This story... hmm... it will be a little different from the others.”
“Different?”
What did she mean by that?
Does it mean this isn’t going to be a story about the Beidos Empire?
“...Maybe explaining this won’t help much.”
Burner noticed a different kind of discomfort on her face compared to usual.
“Before you enter, I should warn you. Communication with me will be impossible. You won’t be able to communicate with anyone else either. Only the protagonist of the story will be able to understand your voice.”
“...What?”
What did she mean by that?
Only the protagonist will understand my voice?
Am I becoming deaf or something?
“You’ll understand what I mean once you enter.”
Then, the light of the statue filled his vision.
Pfft.
When Burner’s vision cleared again, he realized someone was holding him in their arms.
‘...Armor?’
It was a faint, cold, yet firm sensation.
Someone in armor seemed to be holding him.
But something about the sensation felt strange.
It didn’t feel like the usual human avatar from the game...
It felt more like a memory from his childhood, a sensation he hadn’t experienced in so long that he could barely recall it now.
Wait a minute!
...Could it be!?
Burner quickly turned his head and looked down at his body.
Scales covering his skin, small claws that hadn’t fully matured yet, tiny wings that seemed to be stretching, and...
“Q-queet?”
A bubbly voice.
He had turned into a freshly hatched hatchling.
“Hm? You’re awake?”
Had his movements caught the attention of the person holding him?
The deep, gravelly voice from within the armor only revealed that the person was male, but nothing more could be deduced due to the armor.
Burner looked up at the figure holding him, and a chill ran down his spine.
The large sword the figure carried on his back.
Behind it, a dragon's corpse, drenched in blood, lay fallen.
D-Dragon Slayer...!
The sword, the color of deep violet, was large enough to have cleaved through a dragon's head.
The killing intent radiating from the figure was unmistakable.
This was the legendary Dragon Slayer.
The one who had mercilessly killed so many of Burner’s kin... the Dragon Slayer!
Burner’s body trembled violently.
“Just rest for now.”
The cold, rough hand of the Dragon Slayer patted his small, round head.
So, that’s what she meant by only the protagonist being able to understand his voice!
Burner finally understood what Thystina had been trying to say.
It seemed the protagonist of this story was none other than the famous Dragon Slayer.