[You still think of this world as a game.]

“What do you mean by that?”

What on earth does that mean? I immediately asked back at Iriel’s words that I couldn’t understand.

Saying that I see this world as a game. That’s nonsense.

In the first place, if I really saw this world as a game, I would have invaded the demon realm by now and exterminated the demons with respawn restart rushes. If it were a game, I would have thought I could revive no matter how many times I died.

However, since coming to this world, I knew that I only had one life, and I had long since realized that everything in this world was reality that I could touch with my hands.

Therefore, when I asked Iriel back with a scoff, Iriel looked at me with a small sigh.

[Just because you’ve accepted in your head that this world is reality doesn’t mean your subconscious has accepted this world as reality.]

“Subconscious… you say?”

[With the intention of making it easier for you to accept this world, I visualized game-like systems like status windows, skill windows, and avatar windows to some extent, but it was truly a painful mistake.]

After saying that much, Iriel closed her mouth for a moment and tightly shut her eyes.

At that face showing sincere regret, I unconsciously opened my mouth blankly and fell into thought.

‘Am I still seeing this world as a game?’

Before Iriel opened her mouth, the first thing I did when I fell into thought was to question myself.

Just now, Iriel told me that I was still thinking of this world as a game unconsciously.

But in what aspect?

In fact, it was stupid to try to find the answer through self-questioning when she said it was unconscious, but shock came before that, so I stroked my chin and fell into deep thought.

[You…]

If it hadn’t been for Iriel speaking first just before I was about to fall into the swamp of thoughts, I would have been lost in contemplation.

Iriel looking at me with brightly shining eyes.

As I faced her, Iriel finally opened her mouth and continued her words.

[Do you think of the people of this world as personalities like yourself?]

“Of course. I already know from looking at students like Arin, Kana, and Riana. That they are also people with their own thoughts and emotions, just like me.”

[Then what about others?]

“Ah…?”

A question that didn’t even need to be answered about whether I considered others as personalities like myself.

I immediately answered thinking of some students that came to mind, as well as Mira, Isolde, Morgan, etc., but I couldn’t help but close my mouth at the following question.

And at my silence, Iriel said with her hands still politely clasped together with a cold face.

[Your way of thinking that considers those with connections and important roles in the game as personalities, but sees those who aren’t as insignificant lives that don’t matter if they die. If that’s not seeing this world as a game, then what is it?]

“That’s…”

I wanted to answer that it wasn’t, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

I hadn’t been conscious of it until now, but when I traced back my memories after hearing Iriel’s words, there were mountains of things that came to mind.

So many that I couldn’t even pick them out one by one.

For example, focusing only on the representative characters in the academy classes and not paying much attention to other students.

For example, including the readiness to sacrifice a few ordinary students in the plan when devising the strategy for Sky Island.

For example, thinking of using ordinary students merely as fertilizer for the representative characters.

For example, for example, for example…

The more I dug, the more endlessly disgusting traces of my past actions came to mind.

Actions that I didn’t feel even a bit of guilt about at the time.

Actions I had taken without any prick of conscience, thinking they were natural and necessary to prevent the Human-Demon War.

[It seems you’ve finally realized.]

“No, but that’s…”

And when such thoughts came to mind, perhaps my expression distorted, as Iriel, who had been quietly observing me, spoke.

At those words, I unconsciously tried to make excuses, but before that, I covered my mouth with one hand.

No, more precisely, I was at a loss for words due to the shock of myself still showing no change even after recalling my past self who had done such things.

‘Why?’

They were clearly, undoubtedly actions that anyone would objectively call disgusting.

Actions that wouldn’t be strange for anyone to look at as if looking at a heinous criminal. That’s what I had been doing.

‘But I…’

But to be honest.

I still didn’t feel any guilt at all.

Rather than guilt, what pushed into my head was a shamelessness that made me want to vomit, saying ‘Is that a problem?’

And following the thread connected to that shamelessness, what was attached at the end was selfishness.

‘What was my reason for trying to stop the Human-Demon War? Of course, it was to stop the Human-Demon War and return to my original world. For that purpose, since I’ve entered a world inside a game anyway, isn’t it okay to sacrifice a few unimportant kids? Isn’t that right?’

The selfishness of wanting to return to the original world. That selfishness continues to drag out thought after thought.

If it’s for my desire, wouldn’t it be okay to kill someone?

Especially if they’re ordinary students who aren’t even much help in defeating the demons.

In the first place, aren’t humans always beings that think of themselves as the top priority? If you really think about it, this way of thinking of mine isn’t wrong.

Besides, once I exterminate the demons and leave this world, this place will become a game to me again anyway.

So there’s no problem, right?

[A thought that has once taken root is something that even a god cannot easily change,]

“…!”

When my mind was about to fall into a deep darkness somewhere in my heart, Iriel’s voice that suddenly rang out pulled me back once again.

At that voice that felt divine, I unconsciously snapped back to my senses and raised my head.

Then, as I looked at Iriel’s face that appeared, Iriel also looked at me with her eyes trembling slightly.

[The human heart is so deep and solid that once a thought has taken root, it doesn’t change easily. Therefore, all I can do is plant a seed.]

“A seed?”

[Yes, a seed. It might take a long time, but a seed that will seep into the land that is you and slowly dye even the depths of that unfathomable ground white. Even if it takes time, to change you.]

Saying that, Iriel sent the pure white light she had created between her hands gathered in front of her chest towards me.

Iriel’s light that floated gently like dandelion seeds and seeped into my body.

And when I let out a short exclamation at the warm and cozy feeling that came as the light seeped in, Iriel looked at me with sad eyes.

[Now when you leave this place, it will be hard to see you again. Moreover, the time I can keep you here is not long. So I have just one request.]

“…”

[All the people you see, all the lives, are living, breathing personalities in this place. They may feel like simple game characters to you, but please don’t ignore them anymore. And.]

Iriel, who had been pouring out words hastily and desperately, paused for a moment.

I just waited in that silence for Iriel to finish her words to the end, and after a few seconds, Iriel, having caught her breath, conveyed to me with heart in each word and letter, unlike just now when she had been pouring out words.

[I already know how difficult it is to change your heart. So I don’t think it will improve right away. Then at least, please look around you.]

“Around me…?”

[Yes, there may be those who have clung to you outside the view you’ve been running straight ahead with. So please look around and get to know this world one by one.]

You don’t have to hurry. It’s only your own business anyway if you hurry.

So please move forward slowly at your current pace.

But at least look at the places you haven’t seen until now, Iriel pleaded.

A god to a human. While bowing her head.

And with her deeply bowed head, all I could do in response to her request was.

“Alright, I’ll keep it in mind.”

To nod with a heart that still couldn’t be certain.

Showing her with as much certainty as I could muster.

But this alone seemed to be enough, as Iriel smiled with satisfaction and conveyed her thanks to me.

Even though I hadn’t even shown the appearance she had requested yet, and couldn’t even be 100% certain of my selfish heart, Iriel sincerely thanked me and greeted me.

I consoled her with a wry smile and semi-forcefully made her stand up, and when the situation had settled down somewhat, Iriel wiped away the small tear marks that had formed at the corners of her eyes and spoke with her previous kind voice rather than the cold voice from just now.

[You can do it, traveler from beyond the world. Because you are the one with the heart in which I dwell, and no one else.]

“Thank you, even if it’s just words…”

[I’m saying it because I absolutely believe it. Don’t worry.]

Iriel, who gave me words of encouragement while making a cute fighting pose.

Her kind voice and the kind smile she showed had the power to make even me, who was watching, feel good.

I will also move forward, living up to her expectations.

Because Iriel had made me realize things I had unknowingly overlooked, I also took a deep breath with such thoughts.

Then, just as I was about to smile gently towards Iriel smiling at me.

[Now I have to send you out of this library, but it seems our mischievous librarian has caused a problem…]

“Hm?”

Woong───

The space at my feet began to open, rippling like waves in a puddle of water.

And when I realized my body was starting to fall belatedly after the space had opened, what I could see was Iriel’s face smiling mischievously, unlike her kind expression from just now.

[I’ll leave the cleanup to you, okay?]

I really need to hit her without hesitation next time we meet.

Inside the story of the book.

The five who had been watching the professors calm down from inside the semi-transparent barrier were having an in-depth discussion about whose words were right.

Shati, Pina, and Riana saying that the father should be killed, sympathizing with Kama and Yeonhwa’s appearance.

On the contrary, Arin and Kana saying he shouldn’t be killed, sympathizing with the appearance of Arin and Meiyel who still love their father.

No one had taken Yujia’s neutral side, but the discussion was quite heated, and even the librarian who had been in the role of commentator had joined in and was expressing her own opinion.

Outside the barrier, the five professors sitting at the table again in the messed-up house had also just started a conversation.

“So I’m saying that bastard of a father deserves to die! Look at what he did to the professors there!”

“Still, we can’t judge rashly. The professors still love their father…”

“Even so, it would be better to kill such a father. If it’s killing trash who treats people like objects, wouldn’t even the goddess forgive it?”

“Pina! How can you, a priestess of the temple, carelessly talk about killing…”

The discussion of the five that was truly all over the place. Adding the librarian who occasionally tripped them up with logical answers, it could only be said to be maddening.

However, the discussion that seemed like it would continue endlessly had to stop at the small voice that suddenly began to be heard from the sky.

“This is…”

The first to notice and sense that presence was none other than the librarian. More precisely, she could only know from the impact on the viewpoint barrier.

Kugugugu───

The surrounding air violently shaking as if to break the barrier between the past story and the readers.

And before the five who realized it belatedly as they were absorbed in the discussion could turn their heads to the sky and the librarian’s warning could brush past their ears.

Crash───!!!

As the semi-transparent readers’ barrier broke, a woman landed in front of the five who were dumbfounded.

No, to be precise.

“…Me?”

“…Hm?”

The current Aria, identical to the past Aria sitting at the table, landed in front of the five.