Chapter 59: Lord of Death (5)

“What? Akuyuham?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Albus, who had been busy tweaking the roguelike system starting from the seventh floor of the Tower of Labyrinth, was left dumbfounded by the guide’s report.

“…………So, that’s why he insisted on going back, even when the final boss was right in front of him.”

It wasn’t because he had gone mad after weeks of witnessing the hellish, dark fantasy landscapes.

“I never thought he’d fall in love with a game NPC.”

Something entirely unexpected had happened. 

Though it wasn’t completely unheard of—after all, the first Emperor of the Empire, Ahenobarbus, had fallen in love with an NPC after conquering the third floor of the Tower of Labyrinth.

But the reason for Ahenobarbus’s affection was that the NPC, Clarice, had reused assets that made her resemble his old mentor. 

Moreover, someone had tampered with Clarice’s memories, inserting the idealized version of his mentor into her.

Akuyuham, on the other hand, had fallen in love with an NPC he met for the first time in his life.

“No matter how much these otherworlders consider Rudera as another world entirely…………”

In a test environment, could someone truly fall in love with such an obviously artificial creation?

Albus couldn’t believe it.

“So. He’s asking to be sent back to that test server? Is that his request?”

“Yes. He swore on his soul that he would pledge eternal loyalty to you if you grant him this. Here is the soul contract he wrote in his own hand.”

The guide projected the image of a contract written on blood-stained parchment.

“The Lich, who commands spirits, has staked his soul on this oath. Once the contract takes effect, he will no longer be able to defy your will.”

After the death of his master, Akuyuham had resolved to never let himself be swayed by anyone again. 

He had lived by that principle ever since. 

And yet, here he was, offering himself up as someone’s slave, staking his own self as the price.

That was how desperate he was.

“Ha. The test server, huh.”

Granting Akuyuham’s request wasn’t an impossibility. 

If anything, Albus felt inclined to help. 

Akuyuham was obsessively devoted to the game Albus had created, after all. 

And there was a bit of guilt for forcibly pulling him out of that world.

However, there was one issue.

“The test server has already been deleted.”

One of the primary features of a roguelike is that the world completely reshapes itself every time the player dies or clears it. 

While certain key points remain fixed, the rest of the map, enemies, and rewards are entirely reshuffled.

Thus, when Mirakel, the final boss, was defeated, the test server ceased to exist. And even if Akuyuham hadn’t defeated the boss and remained within the world, it was designed to collapse within three days due to its unstable nature as a test environment.

“Do I just have to recreate the same world?”

It wasn’t entirely impossible if he reconstructed it based on Rudera’s logs.

“That would be difficult, master,” the guide replied.

“Why?”

“The world’s information changes dynamically with the player’s progress. A single small variable can completely alter the world, making it impossible to reconstruct the world based on the player’s action logs.”

“So, I can recreate the world as it was when Akuyuham first entered the test server, but I can’t restore the world as it was at the time of its destruction?”

“That’s correct.”

Which meant that Akuyuham had only just started the roguelike. 

The memories of that NPC, Maria, could not be restored.

“He’ll have to face the woman he loves, who has lost all memory of him.”

‘Is this some kind of tragic tale?’

Albus didn’t like it.

“I don’t mind if the world is reset to the beginning. Isn’t there any way to at least restore the NPC’s memory?”

Albus didn’t want to subject Akuyuham to such a tragedy. 

He recalled a time in his past life when he had stayed up all night playing a package game. 

After months of following a strategy guide, gathering companions, and finally reaching the ending, all of his data was lost due to a bug.

The bitterness and emptiness he felt then still haunted him.

If Akuyuham truly believed this world to be real, how would he react if the memory of his beloved was erased?

“There is a method,” the guide said.

“There is?”

“Yes, but it is highly uncertain. Success is not guaranteed.”

“I don’t care. What’s the method?”

As long as the chance wasn’t zero, he was willing to try.

However, as the guide explained, Albus’s expression hardened.

“……Is that even possible?”

“We estimate the success rate to be between 10% and 30%. There are too many variables for an accurate prediction.”

“Which means failure is more likely.”

“Yes. However, the will of the player, Akuyuham, is the most critical factor. His determination will greatly influence the outcome.”

“I see.”

An endless journey through countless worlds, searching for the correct timeline. 

Whether or not his will breaks will determine his success.

“Proceed.”

I am the GM. 

The game master of this world who grants users opportunities.

‘From here on out, it’s up to you, Akuyuham.’

If she is that precious to you, then reach out and take her back. 

From beyond the endless worldlines.

…………This is your master’s message.

“Aah…….”

Akuyuham, kneeling on the ground, bowed his head in reverence.

“Thank you, my GM. My master. I will dedicate everything to you.”

“As I said before, player Akuyuham, if you wish to fully restore Maria’s memories of the time you shared together, your will is the most important factor.”

“There is no need for concern, messenger of the GM.”

Akuyuham slowly stood.

“Even if this body, even if my soul, is destroyed, I will never give up. No matter what I face in there.”

“Have you fully understood the plan?”

“Yes.”

A low hum resonated as the guide confirmed Akuyuham’s resolve and opened a portal in the air.

“Beyond here lies the newly restored test server. It is a separate server, completely independent from the Tower of Labyrinth. Enter, and proceed as planned. The passage of time within will be infinitely accelerated until success is achieved, so you needn’t worry about the outside world.”

Akuyuham nodded resolutely and stepped through the portal.

With a flash, Akuyuham disappeared into the dimensional gateway, leaving the guide to murmur softly.

“May the GM’s new servant be blessed.”

Thump.

Akuyuham felt the suffocating air of that vile world envelop him once again.

It was the world he had wanted to escape from as quickly as possible, yet it was also the world where his most precious memories were etched.

Akuyuham melted into the shadows, soaring into the sky in search of her.

“I curse you……………”

A man was torn apart by two snakes as Akuyuham rescued a small girl.

It was her.

His precious Maria.

“I am Akuyuham, Lord of Death. I ask for your understanding.”

It was difficult to suppress his emotions, but he pulled his hood lower and spoke softly.

“……Maria.”

Thus began a new journey with the Maria who no longer remembered him.

Boom!

A grotesque monster, unlike any he had seen in the previous world, crumbled as Akuyuham advanced through his journey, eventually reaching the Celestial Sanctuary.

Ding!

• Defeat the giant usurper, Mirakel.

Lightning descended upon the giant.

Countless black magic circles unfolded at Akuyuham’s sides.

Boom! Boom!

“Ugh!” Mirakel collapsed to his knees under the bombardment of Akuyuham’s dark flames, bolstered by the power of numerous blessings.

“This Mirakel…………..!”

Mirakel dissolved into golden dust.

Akuyuham turned to look at Maria.

“Maria! I…………!”

But she too was disintegrating, just like Mirakel.

‘Failure…………!’

If the celestial Maria disappears after defeating the usurper, that worldline is a failure. 

Snap your fingers to reset the world. 

The world will reconfigure itself according to the designated triggers.

Akuyuham recalled the guide’s instructions before he entered.

Once again, he snapped his fingers.

Snap.

The world flickered out of existence.

Rumble.

The world crumbled and reformed.

Everything in the world shattered into powder, scattered, and then was pieced back together to create a new world.

After what seemed like an eternity, Akuyuham found himself standing once more in the vast plains at the world’s starting point.

Boom!

A horrific bird with twisted horns lunged at Maria, but Akuyuham soared through the air and saved her once again.

“I am Akuyuham, Lord of Death.”

• To regain the celestial Maria you remember, player Akuyuham must find the specific worldline where ‘Maria’ exists.

‘Failure.’

Snap.

Again.

In this newly reconfigured world, Akuyuham saved Maria from crazed cultists wearing triangular hats.

“I am Akuyuham, Lord of Death…………….”

• If you defeat the boss, Mirakel, in a specific worldline with ‘Maria’ by your side, it will be possible to restore her memories through the resonance of the worldlines.

‘Failure.’

Snap.

Again.

Akuyuham rescued Maria from a hedgehog-like hippopotamus with spikes covering its body.

“I am Akuyuham, Lord of………..”

• However, the number of possible worldlines is infinite. You must continue repeating the journey across endless worlds until you find the one you seek. It may take eons of attempts.

‘Failure.’

Snap.

Again.

• No mortal, not even a deity, could endure such infinite trials. Even if player Akuyuham decides to give up halfway through, no one could blame you. The GM, in his boundless mercy, has decreed that you can live out your days in the newly constructed world with a new version of Maria. You could build new memories and happiness together.

‘Failure.’

Snap.

Again.

Akuyuham found himself standing in the plains of the newly constructed world once more.

Thud.

Akuyuham fell to his knees, exhausted.

Thousands.

No, tens of thousands?

Maybe even hundreds of millions.

He had experienced an unfathomable number of worlds. And yet, in none of them had he been able to reclaim his Maria.

Even her memory was beginning to fade.

The small Maria who once nestled in his arms.

The Maria who used to scrub his head clean.

The Maria who would clutch him tightly, afraid he would leave her.

Was it all real?

Or had he merely gone mad, hallucinating?

Akuyuham collapsed in despair.

“I…………”

Maybe it was time to give up.

He had repeated the journey through an astronomical number of worlds. It had become a lifetime too vast for any mortal mind to bear.

Who could fault him for his efforts?

Perhaps it was time to settle with this world’s Maria.

• My…………Ku.

Suddenly, Akuyuham jolted upright at the sound of Maria’s past voice echoing in his mind.

“No.”

He had promised never to abandon her.

He had vowed not to leave her alone.

He had sworn to protect her.

With a powerful thrust, Akuyuham launched himself into the sky once more.

Just beyond the plains, in the village of the jar makers,

“Put her in the jar! Put her in the jar!”

Amidst the villagers shouting around a girl bound to a cross,

Boom!

A calamity of black flames descended upon them.

Akuyuham gently lifted the blood-soaked girl wrapped in a black blanket.

“I am Akuyuham, Lord of Death.”

The skeletal mage cradled her in his arms.

“……You took too long.”

“Have you been waiting……my Maria.”

Gently caressing the skull of the one who had repeated worlds for an eternity for her,

“I’ve been waiting for so long, you fool, Kuu.”

The girl, who remembered all the worlds, smiled.

“Honestly, dad………….”

Outside the test server

“Noong.”

A small girl touched the server with her hands, infusing it with divine energy.

“If only you’d asked Dua for help from the beginning.”