Arthas April 12, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
"Your soul, you've been kidnapped, haven't you?
Merlin's gaze pierced through me.
'...Insane.'
This wasn't just simple bluffing. Soul, and Kidnapped. The implications of these two words were unmistakably clear.
Possession.
Merlin was convinced that I am a possessed individual.
Does that mean, by chance, she also knows about my regression?
The truth that this world is the game world?
Going even further, does she know about the existence of the system?
It was impossible to discern Merlin's intentions. What would happen if she deliberately kept silent about the location of the Sacred Artifact?
The fine hairs on my skin stood on end; beads of cold sweat trickled down my back.
"Judging by your reaction, I'm right, aren't I?"
Merlin let out a chuckle before abruptly turning her back.
"Merlin Trivia, I wondered how you knew that name from the distant past...? Ah, I see, you're not originally from this world, are you? Impressive, to have come all the way here with that in mind."
"........"
"You don't need to be so on guard. I have no intention of turning against you immediately."
"And how am I supposed to believe that?"
"How, you ask."
Plop—
Merlin simply plopped down on the sofa in the corner.
"You already know, don't you? That in this Empire, there isn't a single person in this empire who can help you, except me."
It was true.
The information about the Sacred Artifact could only be obtained through Merlin.
"You said you were looking for the Sacred Artifact, didn't you?"
"...That's right."
"How curious. I wonder what could possibly compel someone from another world to seek the Sacred Artifact in the first place?"
"......."
"Eternal wealth and grandeur? Immense power? If not that, then perhaps..." An impish laugh burst from her lips. She then fixed me with a chilling gaze, "Tearing through the dimensional barrier."
The temperature in the shop plummeted.
She lowered her eyelids slightly, speaking in a languid tone, "To forcibly rip open the dimensional gateway and return to your original world, isn't that right?"
Tearing through the dimension gateway.
The resounding echo of those words made my head spin and my heart pound.
I opened my mouth, reminding myself to remain cautious of Merlin, "It sounds as if you're saying the Sacred Artifact alone can tear open the dimensional gateway."
"You understood correctly. That is precisely what I meant."
"How can you be so sure I can return to my own body? For all I know, I could end up in a completely different world."
Merlin gestured, causing a chair to float aimlessly in the air; the floating chair soon dropped with a thud in front of my feet.
Shen then gestured for me to sit.
Keeping my gaze fixed on her, I slowly took a seat on the chair.
"You don't need to worry about that. The dimension a kidnapped soul can cross is ultimately just one."
"Just one?"
"Yes. Where else could a lost soul traverse, other than the world you so desperately wish to return to - the one you lived in before being kidnapped?"
Ah, I can go back.
As hope morphed into certainty that I could escape this damned world, a sigh of relief escaped me naturally.
"Where is the Sacred Artifact?"
"Well now, if you're looking to buy that information, you should be ready to pay the price, don't you think?"
"...Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you need."
As I asked urgently, Merlin's eyes crinkled into a smile, "There is one thing I desire."
"And what is it?"
"In the distant future, the moment you succeed in activating the Sacred Artifact and finally cross the dimensional gateway…."
"That moment?"
"Take me with you. To the world you came from."
"...Are you insane?"
I stood there, dumbfounded, blinking my eyes. Merlin was definitely telling me to take her to the world I lived in.
'...Is she out of her mind?'
I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. My suspicions rose to my throat, making it impossible to hold back, so I asked Merlin why she would want to leave this world.
Her response, which came forth, was...
"You don't need to know."
A clear rejection.
She pressed me to make a choice - whether to proceed with the deal or to sabotage the transaction in order to pry into her inconsequential past.
But there was no need to ponder this.
My objective has never changed, from the very beginning until now.
"...Alright, let's make the deal."
"Excellent choice. Then..."
With a gesture from Merlin, documents, a quill pen, and holy water appeared in succession.
The quill danced across the documents suspended in the air.
When a few drops of highly compressed mana mixed with the holy water fell, a faint flash engulfed the shop.
"Take a look."
It was a Geass contract, and of exceptionally highest-grade at that.
What exactly was I witnessing here?
These weren’t supposed to be made so easily.
"...Huh."
I briefly skimmed through the contract.
It stipulated that Merlin would fully cooperate in my efforts to secure the Sacred Artifact, and in return, I will allow her to accompany me when crossing the dimensional gateway.
There were also minor clauses about not causing any issues in the world we enter.
Alongside the provision of not harming me in any way, Merlin has even staked her own soul as collateral.
It was flawless, almost excessively considerate towards me where I couldn’t help but feel it was too much.
Although I still had my doubts, a Geass of the highest grade was an absolute oath that even transcendent beings cannot break.
Since it was imprinted on the soul, the Geass would persist even across dimensions. Besides, hadn’t the setting book officially recognized Merlin Trivia as a good person, not a villain?
I swallowed a sigh and completed the signing.
Moments later, I felt a shifting sensation, followed by a powerful gust of wind.
Wheeee—
The gust swept through the shop before dissipating.
As I brushed the disheveled hair from my face and looked up, I was met with Merlin's beaming smile.
"The Sacred Artifact is hidden in the Imperial Palace."
My mouth fell open at the unexpected information.
The Sacred Artifact was hidden within the imperial palace, home to the royal family, with its strict security and guards — how on earth am I supposed to infiltrate that impregnable fortress?
The thought of the matter becoming increasingly complicated weighed heavily on my mind.
"Princess Rudine Eckhart.”
The serene voice ringing in my ears seized my attention.
"The rosario she wears around her neck. That's the Sacred Artifact you've been searching for.”
Rudine Eckhart.
A woman of the noblest lineage and the embodiment of beauty. Moreover, she was a candidate for the main heroine in the game.
A fragment of memory suddenly flashed through my mind.
The rosario, a unique-grade artifact of the imperial household, passed down through generations of princesses.
Most importantly...
— Once the rosario is worn, it cannot be removed by conventional means, as it resonates with the wearer's mana.
— If I remember correctly, it can only be taken off if the wearer dies.
I swallowed the profanities welling up to my chin.
‘Damn it.’
The already formidable difficulty had just doubled in an instant.
"How am I supposed to take that from her?"
As I stared at her in bewilderment, Merlin replied nonchalantly, "Just kidnap the princess and then kill her. How about that? Simple, right?”
A question mark appeared in my mind.
Damn, how is that simple at all?
Rudine Eckhart, as a contender for the main heroine position, also abhorred Kyle Winfred. In fact, She was on par with Luna in terms of being a crazy woman — a classic case of a split personality, where the exterior and interior were completely different.
Recalling her past actions in the previous playthrough, I couldn't help but shudder.
'I've nearly died because of that woman more times than I can count.'
She would act meek and docile on the surface, only to suddenly turn into a different person and stab someone in the back at a critical moment. Due to her plot-driven high intelligence, she was adept at scheming, and her lack of emotional variation was chillingly precise.
I've lost count of the number of times - over five, now - that I've nearly fallen for that woman's wiles before even completing the progress.
But now, she's telling me to kidnap and kill that woman?
I asked Merlin in a reluctant tone, "Does she really have to be killed?"
"Of course."
Her answer was resolute. I already felt my mind growing dizzy.
"You don't have to worry about your identity. We have a disguise artifact, so it won't be too difficult."
"...Well, that's a relief to hear," I responded.
Merlin stood up from her seat, brushing off the dust on her clothes.
That's when it happened.
That's when it happened.
— 21%
— 22%
— 23%
…
…
The progress rate suddenly began to climb.
— 26%
— 27%
…
…
This surge was abnormal, not something to be lightly dismissed as a fluke by the system.
Shortly after.
【Scenario Progress: 30%】
The progress rate stabilized at 30%.
Simultaneously, the system window that appeared in mid-air began to shake violently.
【Scenario Progress 『#1 Checkpoint』 Achieved】
【Revealing the Penalty】
The system started acting up. Then, the truth about the penalty that had been hidden until now struck me like a bolt from the blue.
◆ Penalty
: The heroines will retain their memories from before the regression.
My eyes twitched. Isabel and Luna. All their bizarre, impulsive actions flashed through my mind like a film reel.
'Is this for real...'
I had somewhat expected it, but I didn't want to accept it. No, I just wanted to block it all out.
But the text hovering in the air mocked me mercilessly.
Clenching my fists in the system's malice, I felt a sinking dread wash over me. This whole situation was horrific.
A document floated down in front of me. I bent over to pick it up and checked its contents.
"Luna Winfred and Isabel Yustia."
"......"
"Now that I think about it, wasn't your sister and fiancée confirmed to be coming together to the imperial capital for Rudine Eckart's coming of age ceremony?"
Dammit.
Maybe I should just destroy this whole damn world.
Arthas April 12, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
"Your soul, you've been kidnapped, haven't you?
Merlin's gaze pierced through me.
'...Insane.'
This wasn't just simple bluffing. Soul, and Kidnapped. The implications of these two words were unmistakably clear.
Possession.
Merlin was convinced that I am a possessed individual.
Does that mean, by chance, she also knows about my regression?
The truth that this world is the game world?
Going even further, does she know about the existence of the system?
It was impossible to discern Merlin's intentions. What would happen if she deliberately kept silent about the location of the Sacred Artifact?
The fine hairs on my skin stood on end; beads of cold sweat trickled down my back.
"Judging by your reaction, I'm right, aren't I?"
Merlin let out a chuckle before abruptly turning her back.
"Merlin Trivia, I wondered how you knew that name from the distant past...? Ah, I see, you're not originally from this world, are you? Impressive, to have come all the way here with that in mind."
"........"
"You don't need to be so on guard. I have no intention of turning against you immediately."
"And how am I supposed to believe that?"
"How, you ask."
Plop—
Merlin simply plopped down on the sofa in the corner.
"You already know, don't you? That in this Empire, there isn't a single person in this empire who can help you, except me."
It was true.
The information about the Sacred Artifact could only be obtained through Merlin.
"You said you were looking for the Sacred Artifact, didn't you?"
"...That's right."
"How curious. I wonder what could possibly compel someone from another world to seek the Sacred Artifact in the first place?"
"......."
"Eternal wealth and grandeur? Immense power? If not that, then perhaps..." An impish laugh burst from her lips. She then fixed me with a chilling gaze, "Tearing through the dimensional barrier."
The temperature in the shop plummeted.
She lowered her eyelids slightly, speaking in a languid tone, "To forcibly rip open the dimensional gateway and return to your original world, isn't that right?"
Tearing through the dimension gateway.
The resounding echo of those words made my head spin and my heart pound.
I opened my mouth, reminding myself to remain cautious of Merlin, "It sounds as if you're saying the Sacred Artifact alone can tear open the dimensional gateway."
"You understood correctly. That is precisely what I meant."
"How can you be so sure I can return to my own body? For all I know, I could end up in a completely different world."
Merlin gestured, causing a chair to float aimlessly in the air; the floating chair soon dropped with a thud in front of my feet.
Shen then gestured for me to sit.
Keeping my gaze fixed on her, I slowly took a seat on the chair.
"You don't need to worry about that. The dimension a kidnapped soul can cross is ultimately just one."
"Just one?"
"Yes. Where else could a lost soul traverse, other than the world you so desperately wish to return to - the one you lived in before being kidnapped?"
Ah, I can go back.
As hope morphed into certainty that I could escape this damned world, a sigh of relief escaped me naturally.
"Where is the Sacred Artifact?"
"Well now, if you're looking to buy that information, you should be ready to pay the price, don't you think?"
"...Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you need."
As I asked urgently, Merlin's eyes crinkled into a smile, "There is one thing I desire."
"And what is it?"
"In the distant future, the moment you succeed in activating the Sacred Artifact and finally cross the dimensional gateway…."
"That moment?"
"Take me with you. To the world you came from."
"...Are you insane?"
I stood there, dumbfounded, blinking my eyes. Merlin was definitely telling me to take her to the world I lived in.
'...Is she out of her mind?'
I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. My suspicions rose to my throat, making it impossible to hold back, so I asked Merlin why she would want to leave this world.
Her response, which came forth, was...
"You don't need to know."
A clear rejection.
She pressed me to make a choice - whether to proceed with the deal or to sabotage the transaction in order to pry into her inconsequential past.
But there was no need to ponder this.
My objective has never changed, from the very beginning until now.
"...Alright, let's make the deal."
"Excellent choice. Then..."
With a gesture from Merlin, documents, a quill pen, and holy water appeared in succession.
The quill danced across the documents suspended in the air.
When a few drops of highly compressed mana mixed with the holy water fell, a faint flash engulfed the shop.
"Take a look."
It was a Geass contract, and of exceptionally highest-grade at that.
What exactly was I witnessing here?
These weren’t supposed to be made so easily.
"...Huh."
I briefly skimmed through the contract.
It stipulated that Merlin would fully cooperate in my efforts to secure the Sacred Artifact, and in return, I will allow her to accompany me when crossing the dimensional gateway.
There were also minor clauses about not causing any issues in the world we enter.
Alongside the provision of not harming me in any way, Merlin has even staked her own soul as collateral.
It was flawless, almost excessively considerate towards me where I couldn’t help but feel it was too much.
Although I still had my doubts, a Geass of the highest grade was an absolute oath that even transcendent beings cannot break.
Since it was imprinted on the soul, the Geass would persist even across dimensions. Besides, hadn’t the setting book officially recognized Merlin Trivia as a good person, not a villain?
I swallowed a sigh and completed the signing.
Moments later, I felt a shifting sensation, followed by a powerful gust of wind.
Wheeee—
The gust swept through the shop before dissipating.
As I brushed the disheveled hair from my face and looked up, I was met with Merlin's beaming smile.
"The Sacred Artifact is hidden in the Imperial Palace."
My mouth fell open at the unexpected information.
The Sacred Artifact was hidden within the imperial palace, home to the royal family, with its strict security and guards — how on earth am I supposed to infiltrate that impregnable fortress?
The thought of the matter becoming increasingly complicated weighed heavily on my mind.
"Princess Rudine Eckhart.”
The serene voice ringing in my ears seized my attention.
"The rosario she wears around her neck. That's the Sacred Artifact you've been searching for.”
Rudine Eckhart.
A woman of the noblest lineage and the embodiment of beauty. Moreover, she was a candidate for the main heroine in the game.
A fragment of memory suddenly flashed through my mind.
The rosario, a unique-grade artifact of the imperial household, passed down through generations of princesses.
Most importantly...
— Once the rosario is worn, it cannot be removed by conventional means, as it resonates with the wearer's mana.
— If I remember correctly, it can only be taken off if the wearer dies.
I swallowed the profanities welling up to my chin.
‘Damn it.’
The already formidable difficulty had just doubled in an instant.
"How am I supposed to take that from her?"
As I stared at her in bewilderment, Merlin replied nonchalantly, "Just kidnap the princess and then kill her. How about that? Simple, right?”
A question mark appeared in my mind.
Damn, how is that simple at all?
Rudine Eckhart, as a contender for the main heroine position, also abhorred Kyle Winfred. In fact, She was on par with Luna in terms of being a crazy woman — a classic case of a split personality, where the exterior and interior were completely different.
Recalling her past actions in the previous playthrough, I couldn't help but shudder.
'I've nearly died because of that woman more times than I can count.'
She would act meek and docile on the surface, only to suddenly turn into a different person and stab someone in the back at a critical moment. Due to her plot-driven high intelligence, she was adept at scheming, and her lack of emotional variation was chillingly precise.
I've lost count of the number of times - over five, now - that I've nearly fallen for that woman's wiles before even completing the progress.
But now, she's telling me to kidnap and kill that woman?
I asked Merlin in a reluctant tone, "Does she really have to be killed?"
"Of course."
Her answer was resolute. I already felt my mind growing dizzy.
"You don't have to worry about your identity. We have a disguise artifact, so it won't be too difficult."
"...Well, that's a relief to hear," I responded.
Merlin stood up from her seat, brushing off the dust on her clothes.
That's when it happened.
That's when it happened.
— 21%
— 22%
— 23%
…
…
The progress rate suddenly began to climb.
— 26%
— 27%
…
…
This surge was abnormal, not something to be lightly dismissed as a fluke by the system.
Shortly after.
【Scenario Progress: 30%】
The progress rate stabilized at 30%.
Simultaneously, the system window that appeared in mid-air began to shake violently.
【Scenario Progress 『#1 Checkpoint』 Achieved】
【Revealing the Penalty】
The system started acting up. Then, the truth about the penalty that had been hidden until now struck me like a bolt from the blue.
◆ Penalty
: The heroines will retain their memories from before the regression.
My eyes twitched. Isabel and Luna. All their bizarre, impulsive actions flashed through my mind like a film reel.
'Is this for real...'
I had somewhat expected it, but I didn't want to accept it. No, I just wanted to block it all out.
But the text hovering in the air mocked me mercilessly.
Clenching my fists in the system's malice, I felt a sinking dread wash over me. This whole situation was horrific.
A document floated down in front of me. I bent over to pick it up and checked its contents.
"Luna Winfred and Isabel Yustia."
"......"
"Now that I think about it, wasn't your sister and fiancée confirmed to be coming together to the imperial capital for Rudine Eckart's coming of age ceremony?"
Dammit.
Maybe I should just destroy this whole damn world.
