- Chiaki -

Okay... Something is different.

The bright blue sky and the shining sun I see might be indicators.

Yep, also the fact that the hall I'm in turned into some kind of palace in whitish grey is an undeniable hint at that.

However, what should be able to bring up far more about my current situation would be the people I find around me.

Guards, standing in attendance, heralds shouting stuff, and trumpeters, doing their thing.

And yep, there's some kind of king on the throne in the center.

I say "kind of", because he looks rather cute than majestic.

Like one of those mascots with a beard.

"The hero has arrived!" (herald)

Ehm, come again?

"What are you waiting for? This was your sign!"

Okay, not sure how to react now, but there's a dark-purple glowing fairy next to me.

Huh, this day is actually rather weird.

And I know Iori!

"What are you?" (C)

"I'm your 'terrifically useful traveling operator relaying instantaneous assistance leverage' and here to guide you in your way." (fairy)

Yeah, not buying this.

I'm pretty sure my new friend can't help but want to get involved personally.

"Oh, hero! I beseech you. Vanquish the demon king, so peace will be restored to these lands!" (king)

Hm, where did I hear this line again?

I'm rather sure it was a game.

Well, figures.

That's probably what this is.

"Of course, you won't have to set out by yourself. These brave champions will accompany and support you in your cause!" (king)

... Right.

A brim-hatted mage girl, a huge guy whose sword makes for more material than he has on his whole body, especially the upper side, a middle-aged thief, with stubbles for a beard, a dwarf with a battle axe, and an elven archer ranger.

Even I need to cringe at how cliche this is.

"Can we just skip this?" (C)

"No, no, no! You need to play your part!" (fairy)

I was never a fan of this holdup at the game's beginning when you just want to get started with the action.

"Is this really necessary?" (C)

Then, from one moment to the other, the whole world freezes.

The fairy next to me distorts, extends, and shifts into some weird black figure.

At least I think it's black.

Is it?

Anyway, they begin to speak.

"Do you have any idea what kind of effort it was to build this? And you can't even the slightest bit stick here to let it play out as it's planned?!" (P2)

Ehm, not sure how severely, but I guess they're on some level kinda pissed.

Is this how game developers react when others play their games?

God, I don't want to imagine their reaction to speedrunners.

"You never said I'd have to act!" (C)

"I told you to play your role as the champion of light!" (P2)

Well, I can't deny that he did.

I suppose I have to give them that.

"Okay, sorry! I'm just not really good with that. Also, you threw me right in. It's not like I could really practice to get into the role." (C)

"Get into the role... Oh, right!" (P2)

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Abruptly, the very ground turns into black tentacles, reaching out to me.

Instinctively, my light flashes out, but the assault is so all-encompassing that it can't prevent them from at least reaching the edge of my skin.

At least it can't dwell deeper than this, as apparently my inner light isn't allowing my inside to be accessible.

"Fascinating counterreaction. But this should work out." (P2)

The mass around me recedes, and I'm again free to act.

"What was this?! What is with my voice! I..." (C)

Oh damn.

When I look below, I find me wearing some kind of chest plate.

The issue is how flat it lies against my skin.

The other part would be how I'm wearing pants.

Yet at a certain place, they rub in a way that gives off very distressing implications.

"You didn't..." (C)

"With this, you should be able to get into the role." (P2)

"You made me a man!!!" (C)

"Yes. The original script was for a male of your species." (P2)

"We agreed on not doing anything permanent!" (C)

"I'm going to restore you as you were once your part is concluded. Aside from that, it's only a hull." (P2)

"Also, I'm not doing any nude scenes!" (C)

As an actor, you can't be too early to set some boundaries.

"That isn't a required factor." (P2)

"Then why would this be important?!" (C)

"General aesthetics." (P2)

I realize that this one might be harder to argue with than Iori.

"If this is all you want from it, then at least take off this... thing." (C)

I point at my crotch.

My voice change isn't bothering me as much.

I'm apparently rather young, with blonde, rippled hair, but this thing isn't agreeable!

It squeezes uncomfortably against the fabric.

"Not sure. It might..." (P2)

"You said nobody is going to look there, which I hope for your sake is the case, but I'm not going to do anything before you take care of this! I may have agreed to follow my role, but not to be good at it!" (C)

"Alright. Just wait one of your seconds." (P2)

Promptly, the tentacles are back.

Concerningly only concentrated on this particular area.

It's weird, but true to its word, it only lasts a second.

"There. As requested." (P2)

I "check".

To my dismay, I realize they took me quite literally.

The thing is gone.

Sadly, there's nothing at that spot to replace it.

I'm totally blank, like a mannequin.

"Couldn't you, I don't know, restore it to how it was before?" (C)

"I could, yet as you just said, there'd be no need for this." (P2)

"What about... you know, if I need to take a leak?" (C)

"Not a necessity in this realm. You'll be fine without. It would only distract you from your task." (P2)

Convenient, but distressing.

Does this mean none of these people have a need to piss either?

"So about this 'task'. What exactly is it? I have to walk over to Iori and it's going to be over?" (C)

"It won't be that simple. The demon realm is protected by a seemingly never-ending stream of demons. To break through, you're first required to increase your strength to acquire the power to take the demon king down." (P2)

Wow, they're really into this.

"Meanwhile, I'll do my best to hold the frontline, but you shouldn't dawdle for too long. Otherwise, the demons will break through, and you may come to harm as well, by the will of your very own friend. Your current hull is masking your original self very well." (P2)

As if that wasn't planned.

Now I get why I need to reach the demon king, aka Iori.

I'll quickly be able to convince her if I get her to listen, but her creatures aren't as nice.

Rather, they can be terrifying monsters who'll rip apart...

"Okay. So I'll have to fight my way through to Iori after all this hero journeying and then it's gonna be over." (C)

"In detail, you'll accumulate relative power, reach the demon king, and pierce her with the charged Sword of Light to free this world of her presence for good." (P2)

W-wait.

What was this?!

"You, you said pierce her?" (C)

"Certainly. A great act has to mark my victory. Nothing less than total annihilation could suffice." (P2)

"No! Not happening! I'm not going to do this!" (C)

"You can't refuse. We have a contract." (P2)

At this, I feel some kind of pressure deep within me.

Some kind of force sipping at my will to refuse, reminding me over and over that this was my will.

It's particularly difficult to fight it, as it doesn't feel forceful, but always nudges around the willpower I put up against it.

Yet there's one way I can take against it.

"Yes, we had a contract! That one says both me and Iori won't come to harm!" (C)

"Which neither of you will. It's going to be nothing but a lost game to her. No true harm, no true death, everything set to recover." (P2)

"You want me to pierce her body with a magically overcharged sword! How is that not deadly?!" (C)

"Oh, aren't you aware of the truth about your friend? Then let me enlighten you." (P2)

...

Damn, that's something.

"So now that this is clarified, I expect you to fulfill your role." (P2)

I'm highly unsure about this, but something in my mind tells me that all this is true and the right course of action.

Seems like I'm gonna have to fight Iori.

Her and all her super killer demons.

I mean, I saw them.

They don't do things half-assed.

Hopefully, I'm getting adequate assistance.

"Ehm, who's fighting on your side again?" (C)

"The people of this kingdom of course. As they're supposed to." (P2)

I thought so.

He's setting up humans against Iori's forces, where they'll be ripped apart by them.

"You know, I'm not quite sure how I find it that you're manipulating those people only to play your game with Iori." (C)

"Manipulating? I'm not manipulating anyone. Except you, through offerings." (P2)

Actually, it's truly not adding up.

If they'd be the kind to do this, I wouldn't be in my full mind right now.

There wouldn't have been the need to promise me anything at all in the first place.

"Then what is with them?" (C)

The figure walks up to the mage of my "team" and cups her head.

The woman doesn't even flinch.

In fact she isn't reacting at all.

"They? They aren't even real. Just mere puppets, formed to shape. They'll do as they're made. To play this game. Nothing else is there to their existence." (P2)

So they are his NPCs by all accounts.

But how far does this truly apply?

I mean, how would I know that they aren't like the people at Iori's place?

I'm sure she could freeze them just like this if she wanted. The fact that this thing can stop their minds from working isn't telling much.

On the other side, they just started this game.

The people can't have been around for long.

Still, I don't really like the thought that they're used for this being's convenience and probably thrown away afterward.

Kinda irritating.

"Okay, we can continue, but please be gentler with them." (C)

"Of course I am. Why would I ruin my game pieces? I certainly intend to begin now." (P2)

"Alright, alright. Then let us actually get started." (C)

Suddenly, the figure again shifts, and this weird echo in all the tonalities they usually use as their voice shifts to a high-pitched squeaky something.

"Alrighty! Let's kick the demon king's butt!" (fairy)

Oh my...

"Yeaaahhh." (team monotonous)

Just where did I end up here?!