Proofreader: Me!

Sunset was approaching, the sky turning a subtle pink.

Krulia complained, “We’ve scoured the entire village, but there’s no one here.”

“A ghost village,” I murmured.

“Precisely,” Ark noted. “The priests also had the same experience over in the forest further north.”

It seemed the quest was progressing as normal, the player would see no NPCs sparking a quest log telling you to delve into each and every corner of this area.

“We’re thinking of regrouping before night and conducting a search via magic sensing,” Ark told us.

“Seems like a good idea, right juniors?”

I shrugged, to which Lisana nodded. I wanted to get there before they did, however, meaning I had to act soon.

“Is it alright if I go for a bathroom break?” I nudged Lisana.

“I. Also. Need. To. Go.” She looked back at me, with a small hint of pride shining in her eyes.

Contrary to what she believed, the three of us stared at her, with only the pink lighting of the sky illuminating the sky above us.

“…”

“Erm… you two can go?” Krulia stammered. “Don’t do anything naughty, okay~?”

“Yup.” Outright dismissal, is what I gave.

“Hey don’t ignore me!”

I turned around, aiming toward the far right side of the village.

The surroundings were dead silent, only air brushing past the buildings creating inklings of sound. Glancing at my mini-map, I could see the indicators I was looking for. Even without the distinction between ally and foe, it was in the same spot as it was supposed to be in the game.

“Pot?”

In a flash found myself in a stance with my sword. “Oh, it was just you…”

“Who else?” Lisana tilted her head.

She held no particular emotion toward me pulling a weapon. Was she trusting, or just ignorant? No… I’m just too weak.

She pointed toward the trapdoor I was crouching on, “Why?”

“This?” I scratched my head, “Well, you’ll see.”

With a swipe of my hand, the hinges came free, with dust and foul stenches rising from the basement.

“…”

I turned toward Lisana, witnessing an unexpected sight.

“Why are you wearing a clip on your nose?”

“Stinky.”

I had no idea where she stored her miscellaneous items, from a nausea reliever to a nose clip. Wasn’t she supposedly a stiff and formal character?

Ah…

The plot always faced her in a combative environment, unless partied later on in the story. But, didn’t I just recruit her in the spur of the moment?

Lisana, the strongest of the Golden Nest.

“Hello?” I found her waving her hand in front of me.

“Sorry.” I sighed, “Truthfully, there’s a handful of people in this basement. In my opinion, I’m almost one hundred per cent sure, that a lesser demon attempted to summon a superior on par with a duke.”

Funnily, the developers ranked demons in terms of an aristocratic hierarchy, with the Duke’s being before kings.

“Really?”

“Yes, but… they’ll likely be here any moment now.”

“Can I trust you?”

What I was saying… it was insane. But, the state of this world was considerably crazier.

“I’ll create an oath using my mana, sound good?” I bluffed, having no idea how to manipulate my mana to do so.

“No need.” She stared at her hand, then at me. “Go in.”

‘Yes!’ Approval received.

I continued, “We need to be quick, cut the chains off the prisoners, alert the seniors and get out.”

“Mm.”

With a thrust of my leg, the wooden barricade crumbled. Immediately, we were blasted with a gut-wrenching stench.

“Urgh.” I pinched my nose.

Lisana on the other hand dashed inside. Sounds of wood creaking echoed throughout the passageway at a speed I couldn’t match. Soon, there were cries, and chains being cut.

‘Gotta hurry up.’

I tanked the smell forcing myself down.

“Thank the Gods!”

“Thank you!”

“They’ve been holding us for weeks!”

I could vaguely hear grateful cries for help. Upon entry, Lisana was already helping up the captured.

‘Oh?’

On her face was a light smile. It was the first I've seen it, besides the forums in real life.

After helping a child up, I called her. “Lisana, is there a black vial anywhere?”

“No,” She briefly answered, helping up another child.

It was stated that Deviliser had been used to experiment on them. Which is why a pile of what was barely human sunk deep in the corner.

I could almost feel myself about to vomit again. I began scavengeing the rags and cages the people once inhabited.

“Sir! I found this, is it what you were looking for?”

A girl walked up to me, smiling as she handed it over.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“It looked important so I stole it!” She smiled, with a childish sense of pride.

“…”

They cowered slightly, “Are you upset?”

“Not at all! I’m so glad I forgot how to speak,” I put on a smile and led her up to her family.

“Luke?” Lisana noticed my precarious state.

I… I wanted this one to join my party… I had it done within the game, but I doubt I'll get the chance here. As a mob, I don't have much of an impact on the academy.

[Irene]

[Age: 11 ] [Race: Human/Beast]

[Attributes]

Vitality: Tier 0 (10%)

Agility: Tier 0 (2%)

Strength: Tier 0 (4%)

Mana: Tier 0 (0%)

[Notice - Due to malnourishment full potential is sealed.]

[Skills]

Beast Transformation (A) (1.32% - Proficiency)

* Multiplies stats fivefold at the cost of losing rationality.

[Other Skills available to view.]

Certainly, in the future, she would be extremely powerful. As she was mixed, the ability to wield magic was within her, unlike the rest of the beast kind. At the same time, she also held their powerful transformation innate skill.

The future. She was too young, but who knows?

“Yo kid, what was your name?”

“Irene!”

“Let’s meet again in the future,” I threw her a rainbow-flavoured candy. “This is a reminder.”

“Uaaah! You’re so cool sir!”

I let out an inner chuckle, securing a connection to a big asset in the future. Her name was somewhat familiar, but I doubt it was related to what I was thinking of.

Lisana put her finger to her cheek, “You, like kids?”

“WHAAAAAAT!?”

She tilted her head, “Hm? Is it bad?”

"Ack," I coughed, "Sorry, I thought you meant something else.”

She tilted her head puzzled by what I said. Lisana, an airhead to a deadly extent. I never got the chance to see this side of her in the game.

Getting back on track, now that I have the vial, we can order a wide-scale investigation and sink this territory as traitors.

I felt a sharp breath next to me. “So this is what the ‘Bathroom Break’ was, quite cheeky of you kids.”

“Haha, who knew you two would’ve found a place like this?”

“Sorry, I didn’t want to waste your time if I was wrong,” I lied.

In truth, I didn’t want to risk being found out by the worshippers who created this hideout.

Ark shook his head, “No no no, it’s fine. Just give us a heads up next time.”

I simply nodded, “Will do.”

“So junior, what is this place?” Krulia asked.

“Honestly, it likely was an attempt at a demon-summoning ritual.”

“Hmm?”

“Look at the room, markings of all kinds are engraved, even the floor is splattered with blood and a foreign language.”

“Yeah, seems like a valid assumption,” Ark turned to observe the layout. “Got any hard evidence? We’d be able to get the inquisitors involved with it.”

“Of course,” I threw the black vial at him.

“Whew, be careful with that.”

“Would you look at that Ark? It has the same energy as the monsters we fought at Philios.”

“This is probably some dangerous stuff.”

‘It turns you into a pseudo demon.’ That is what I wanted to say, but I shut up.

“Alright, I’ll let the others know, this quest is just about done.”

I turned to Lisana who remained silent, only watching.

“You enjoying it well?”

“It’s okay.”

“Is that it?” I pressed for a proper answer.

“Also refreshing,” She muttered looking at the cut chains.

At least, Lisana was an extremely kind person. Which contradicted her outward presence that emanated ice queen levels of energy.

“Is there a reason you act so cold to everyone? In fact, why did you accept my invitation?”

“Felt right.” She shrugged.

Well, I’ll find out eventually. I heard her back story was tragic so that probably plays a role in it.

“What! You’re under ambush?” Alarming words came from Ark. “We need to go now!”

‘Seriously? Fuck, this is why this quest was always taken by only one party in the game.’

Similarly to the deviliser event, the chance to encounter the demon worshippers relied completely on luck. However, such a change would exponentially increase when undertaken by more than one party.

In the first place, people took this quest to loot and experience a farm, or to collect the hidden reward from finding the black vial. I aimed for the latter option, but… yeah.

-x-

“Hah… hah…” I grabbed my knees as I exhaled air.

I was standing in the middle of the forest next to Ark as he had abruptly separated us into groups. Luckily, I managed to get a word in with Lisana and Krulia, ignoring Ark’s orders in the process.

“Luke, you’re with me. Even with just us two and the others, we can initiate guerrilla warfare to disrupt the cultists.”

Miniature war was on the horizon.

Besides that small grievance, I liked this senior the more I learnt about him. His quick and sharp orders were at an impressive level for his age, considering we’re… eighteen?

Wait no, sixteen to eighteen, so three years…

“Hey, you alive?”

“Sorry, I got distracted.”

Transitioning from college back to high school was too much of a jump backwards. It was more akin to stumbling downstairs.

“Good, our job right now is to be a bait and switch.”

“Wait, what?” I considered my life to be pretty valuable.

“Weren’t you listening?”

“About that…” I scratched the back of my head.

“Never mind then… the point is, we both have skills in physical combat and not so much from afar.”

“So…”

“We’re perfect for the job.”

‘Great!’ I almost found myself yelling.

“I’ll keep you alive, I can’t lead a junior of mine to death,” He reassured me.

I’d agree if it wasn’t me in this situation. Hearing such words, should be comforting, but it had more of an opposite effect.

Ark pat my shoulder, “Still not good?”

‘Of course!’ I wished to say… but I only managed a word, “Somewhat.”

“What if I let you have the rewards?” He shrugged, “Would that give you - woah.”

In my hands stood my sword in perfect stance, presenting the clear resolution burning within me.

“I wouldn’t have expected this kind of trait from you,” He chuckled softly.

‘No, you are right Ark.’

It’s just that I couldn’t let this one slip by. I was already thinking of an argument to let me at least choose my reward out of the rest. For the sake of not just myself, but the world, this item was almost absolutely beneficial.

I didn’t expect to take this quest initially since I figured it was too risky and not worth it. Yet, now that I am, it was only a given to aim for it.

[Diary of the Future]

It was able to connect the Player to future events in a confusing but potentially useful way. It was difficult to figure out, but the easy way to think of it was that, through owning this item, events which required connections to characters, or items, would inexplicably involve you anyway.

I’m betting on how this game is now a reality, that I’ll be able to see the writing in the book.

Also, one might consider it strange that a diary came out of a village rescue, but when you consider that the supposed saviour of the Earth rose from this village, pieces start to fit.

“Point is…” I mumbled to myself.

Ark put his hand on my shoulder, “Point is what?”

Ahem.

“We need to get going,” I nodded.

“Yes…?”

Even though he had a confused expression, he led me toward the loudening strikes of magic and steel. The trees were singed, with a bright flame building up in the sky.

“That could only be the work of a devil,” Ark’s expression grimaced.

Although, I already knew that. Thankfully, Uriel was there, or else we may have been screwed. If there was a reason as to why her route almost always led you to the Saintess role, it was because of her absolute advantage against demons.

‘And would you look at that?’

From afar, beneath the piling heap of clouds above, the signature halo of Eien descended. It was undeniable proof of Uriel’s chosen status.

“This power, I see why she’s the leading candidate. Even to the point, Krulia fell out of the race.”Despite praising her, he let out a resigned sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah right, you’re a commoner aren’t you?”

“…” Before answering, I pondered. “Lisana and I are.”

“She acts aloof, but she holds significant burdens too… I would tell you, but if she hasn’t said anything yet, I won’t either.”

‘I’ve never heard of this backstory.’

Was this another difference from Hell’s Paradise? Even if she wasn’t prevalent in Serina’s route, Krulia was extremely prominent in the beginning stages. From what else I’ve heard, she even becomes the leading Pope in some of Uriel’s.

“Then, I’ll graciously await that.”

The giant burning ball faded away as I spoke, the halo swiftly vanishing along with it.

Ark looked at me, “C’mon, it’s our turn now.”

“Got it.” I braced my legs.

It was time! Enhance agility all the way!