While everyone else in Squad 35 rushed into the forest, we leisurely strolled toward it.
โWhy is everyone running?โ
โTheyโre probably trying to fight monsters they can handle first. Fighting something too strong wonโt earn them any points.โ
โSo, we just need to fight the strong ones? Easy!โ
โItโs not easy at all! Iโm not good at fighting, you know!โ
Despite saying that, Mireille quickly dispatched the weak monsters coming our way. Well, thatโs expected from someone whoโs contracted with a great demon.
This forestโthe โForest of Trialsโโis only visited during exams. The further you go into the forest, the stronger the monsters become.
In other words, if you donโt go toward the center, you wonโt have to fight tough monsters. Thatโs why the other students are scrambling to rack up points by defeating the monsters on the outskirts.
Only a handful of people will venture toward the center. Personally, I donโt want Hera to go that far, butโฆ itโs a test, so it canโt be helped.
โWeโre heading toward the center, right!?โ
Wilhelm asked while loosening up his body. Despite asking, he was already far ahead of us, ignoring the monsters as he ran straight toward the center.
โโฆBattle maniacs are always like this.โ
โI agree! If weโre going to the center, Iโm not fighting!โ
โIn that case, please take care of all the small fry monsters gathering because of his loud voice.โ
โUgh, thatโs annoyingโwait, for something like that, sure! Iโll wipe them all out!โ
As I gave Mireille a deadpan look, she scratched her cheek awkwardly before jumping into the swarm of monsters to distract me.
โNow thenโhey, Kurt.โ
โY-yes! W-what is it!?โ
โIโm going to act separately from now, butโฆ try to convince those two to stay safe.โ
โI-I understandโฆ By the wayโฆ why are you going off on your own?โ
โYou donโt need to know that. Just handle it for me, okay?โ
โGot it!โ
With that, I enveloped my legs in lightning and dashed toward the ominous aura emanating from the center of the forest.
โโOld man, is this the right way?โ
โIt is.โ
Ten minutes of jumping from tree to tree brought us close to the ominous presence.
โโฆFrom here, Iโll suppress my magic power.โ
I moved forward silently, careful not to make a sound. Occasionally, I almost ran into a monster, but I managed to camouflage myself or escape into the spirit realm to avoid them.
โDamnโฆ too many monsters in this forestโฆโ
Having never ventured this deep, even in the game, I was surprised by the number of monsters. But then I heard a voice that was clearly not from a monster.
I sharpened my senses and listened intently.
โโฆTchโฆ Not a single magic tool hereโฆ Is someone trying to alter the story again?โ
โBingo.
Though I couldnโt see them yet, there was no mistaking it. This had to be a reincarnator with the forbidden tome, the Akashic Records.
I quietly approached the source of the voice.
โReallyโฆ why are there always idiots trying to mess with the storyโฆ I just donโt get it.โ
Thirty meters away.
โThe original story is the most beautiful oneโฆ I canโt understand why thereโd be fools in this world who donโt see thatโโ
Fifteen metersโ!
โโIs that you?โ
Suddenly, a beam of light shot toward where I was hiding. I instinctively cloaked myself in lightning and deflected the beam.
โLightningโฆ I see. So, youโre the fool trying to alter the story!โ
โI havenโt done anything deserving of that titleโฆ But whatโs so bad about changing the story?โ
I emerged from the bushes, facing a man cloaked in a robe. The hood obscured his face, making him hard to recognize.
However, his voice grew harsher as he yelled at me.
โDonโt play dumb! Whatโs wrong with changing the story? Canโt you seeโฆ the original story is the most magnificent!โ
โFor the most part, I agreeโฆ but this game is different. Only a select few around the protagonist get to be happy. Everyone elseโฆ meets a tragic end.โ
Hera is a prime example.
All she wanted was for someone to truly love her, to have a family. But everyone only saw her beauty and status. Eventually, they feared her talent and power, leading to attempts to eliminate her.
In her despair, the evil god tempted her, stripping her of her will and turning her into an enemy of the protagonist.
Arthur, too, suffered. The person he loved was stolen by the protagonist, and he had to endure watching them flaunt their affection right in front of him. He fought bravely for someone he knew heโd never be with, only to die protecting his childhood friend Cynthia.
โAnd thatโwhat part of that is a great story?โ
My question made the reincarnator in front of me tilt his head in confusion.
โWhat are you talking about? Thatโs how itโs supposed to be! Itโs natural for anyone outside the protagonistโs circle to meet tragic fates. So whatโs the problem?โ
โฆI see.
Thereโs no way weโll ever understand each other.
โThis world isnโt a game. Everyone here is alive. Thatโs whyโโ
I recalled the image of Arthur, now with a fiancรฉe and finally able to smile from his heart. I still visit him from time to time, and that smile was one Iโd never seen in the game.
And then thereโs Hera, who has shown me affection. In the game, she never loved anyone, never smiled, and eventually became the final boss, consumed by despair.
But in this world, she laughs, surrounded by people like Arthur and Maria, who harbor no malice toward her.
I channeled the power rising from deep within me and declared:
โโNo matter what anyone says, Iโll reshape this world into one where everyone, including Hera, can live happily and smile.โ
Because thatโs the mission I believe the god who reincarnated me into this world has entrusted to