episode_0001

*****

Every otaku has experienced something like this at least once.

I had the experience of digging up something hip that even when I asked on a fairly large internet site, people said, ‘What is that, you idiot?’

To me, that something was an RPG game.

RPG game ‘Yggdrasil Saga’

It is the story of a group of warriors who set out to prevent the resurrection of the Demon King on the fictional continent of Yggdrasil.

It was one of the open world RPGs that were coming out in droves at the time, but ‘the graphics are too bad’, ‘it smells like shit’, ‘it’s too conscious of the degree of freedom, so the main story is poor’, ‘isn’t it Scar O Rim Pakuri in the first place?’ It was a game that sank after hearing harsh criticism.

Of course, if that was all there was to it, I wouldn’t have had to dig into it. If nothing else, the open world data of Yggdrasil Saga was decent, and thanks to this, Mod, a secondary creation genre that transforms existing game elements, attracted attention.

Cover up trashy graphics with a mod. The fact that the character design is otaku-like is actually a plus, and the poor main story has been transformed into a spacious worldview that the mod creator can add anything to.

The Yggdrasil Saga, which had once been ruined, was reborn based on Mod.

Most of them are on the Western web, so in Korea, they have not been able to escape the level of games that are literally ‘known only to those in the know’. At the time, I was introduced to the diversity of mods and fell in love with the game.

Even so, it’s just a game that I once had fun with. It’s not like I spent thousands of hours grinding my life like a wreck.

“Clear that game? The Yggdrasil Saga? Go directly into the game?”

“That’s right. That is the condition our god gave you. There is only one way for you to return to your original life.”

Who would have imagined that they would hear such a proposal?

I’m not sure if it happened just now or not. I died once. The cause of death was a traffic accident. While waiting for a bus at a bus stop, he was crushed by an oncoming truck.

It’s a cliche of a reincarnated truck that looks like it was drawn, but it’s something you can’t laugh about if you’re the one experiencing it yourself. The pain of having your whole body crushed by a huge mass. Fear of death. When I remembered that memory, I fell to the floor and rolled around in a mess.

The person in front of me who forced me to become sane was the woman who called herself a ‘manager’.

Calm tone of voice, half-open eyes. Although she is a woman who gives the impression of being mechanical in many ways, I remember the feeling of my emotions being kneaded like clay.

At least it will be clear that it is not an ordinary being. Assuming this isn’t some crazy nightmare.

As I calmed down, the manager explained why I had been summoned. There is a problem with the world’s circulation. Because of that, fate got twisted and I died. Originally, I was destined to die, but God took pity on me and gave me a chance.

That opportunity means having to enter the game world and see the ending.

It’s so stereotypical and cliché that it’s almost astounding.

“More accurately, it is a form of granting your wish upon clearing. So you don’t necessarily have to go back to your original life.”

There is only one wish you can make, but it doesn’t matter if the conditions are long. They say that if you just wish for it, you can live a better life than before. I felt that there was a strong appeal regarding wishes.

Honestly, I thought it was a bit like insurance fraud.

“In that case, is that person the same as God? … What?”

“Please use whatever title you prefer. Although I have some authority, I am nothing more than a service member. However, I am making this offer to you, yes. He is worthy of being called a god to me and you.”

“Ma, what if I decline the offer? What happens?”

“Does nothing. Like this, you will return to the path of reincarnation.”

… Does that mean I’ll just die like this?

Perhaps that god is not a lie. It’s a ridiculous situation that might come out of a comic or novel, but if it actually unfolds before your eyes, it becomes more persuasive.

Additionally, I felt that the other person was continuously playing with my emotions to make me ‘accept’ this situation. Whatever I think of God, he has the equivalent power. The manager’s words can be seen as meaning something like that.

If I could live, I would like to live. It’s natural. In that sense, it’s like there’s only one option left for me.

However, even if that proposal was accepted, there were still some things that needed to be clarified.

“What exactly is the ending of the game? Does this mean only the true ending?”

Yggdrasil Saga is a game that boasts a high degree of freedom, so there are many different endings. There is a way to just strengthen the devil lord’s seal, there is a way to live a leisurely life saying you don’t know what the devil lord is, and there is even a route to break the devil lord’s seal and become his servant.

In a broad sense, even if you kill yourself right from the start and the game is over, that is also an ending. It would be pointless to do something like that, so I probably wouldn’t allow it.

Of course, the level of difficulty that can be considered for each ending varies greatly. Among them, the true ending is the most difficult ending that can only be achieved by directly eliminating the resurrected demon king. I only saw the ending in the game as if I were eating it through repeated playthroughs, but if I had to see it with my own body after just one playthrough, it would be a different story.

This is something that must be addressed if you take the offer seriously. In front of me, who was nervous about what answer I would give, the manager slowly shook his head.

“I don’t care what path it takes as long as I can reach the end. As long as it doesn’t lead to your death.”

In other words, almost any ending is possible.

At first glance, these are very generous conditions. The only endings that mention the main character dying are the leisurely ending where the Demon King’s army rules the continent and the game over. In all other endings, the main character survives.

But doesn’t this mean that it’s that difficult not to die? Even in a game, if you make a few mistakes, you’ll die. What’s the probability that I won’t die in a fight myself, even though I’ve never held a sword before?

However, the manager shook his head again, as if to put my worries to rest.

“I understand what you are thinking, but it is useless to worry. You don’t die. To be precise, it should be said that even if you die, you start over.”

“Huh? But just now… .”

“It is true that an ending that leads to death is impossible. Because I will go back again. The only possible ending is not dying.”

In short, it is possible to retry even if you die. Also, the number of coins is infinite.

“Ah. Could it be that my mind is broken by continuing to die? I’ve exercised a bit, but I’ve never actually fought.”

“There is a possibility. However, since the body itself is different, it is unlikely that many people will die in a simple battle.”

“… That means you can clear it unconditionally.”

“Unless you give up your will to see the ending.”

In short, unless I intentionally delay and delay clearing the course, or unless I intentionally commit suicide, doesn’t that happen?

And the reward you get for clearing it is a wish granted by a divine being.

What is this poor setup? There’s definitely something going on.

“If you think so, please refuse.”

“Then they say you will die!”

In response to my protest, the manager just quietly closed his eyes as if he had said everything he wanted to say.

but. A manager is like a service center employee. Even if you complain about the company’s policy to a simple counselor, it will only be difficult.

After that, I asked a few more questions, but there was no meaningful result. Because most of the questions ended up being that it would be faster to experience it yourself.

As I was groaning because I wanted to ask something but couldn’t think of anything, the manager created a two-colored door in the air as if it was not possible.

“If you decline the offer, go to the red door on the left. If you accept, please proceed through the blue door on the right.”

“Jae, don’t rush me. Because there’s still more to think about.”

“Is that so? If so, I hope you will be satisfied. It doesn’t matter how much you worry.”

I can clearly see what’s inside you. It made me a little angry to hear him say that. No, it may be that I simply took it as a business-like statement.

However, it is also true that there is nothing to worry about anymore. I approached the blue door, hesitated for a moment, grabbed the handle, and pulled.

The moment when you are swallowed up by a bright light and at the same time you are dragged somewhere.

I want to go back home. That thought passed through my mind.

***

“… Did you go? ”

Entity name: Seraph. She, who had been given the role of administrator by the god she served, quietly looked at the blue door.

There was no trace of the milky-white soul that had been there just moments ago. Seraph guessed that it was probably going through the [reconstruction] process by now.

“This is already the fifth time.”

The low-level entertainment of gods that should be high-level. Remnants that prove they were once mortal before they existed as a world system.

‘Personally’ consuming the soul of a being was an act more unpleasant than rumor.

Especially as she has seen what happens to such souls.

“… It’s not really something that can be prevented.”

Both the purpose of existence as a species and the mission as administrators are focused on serving God. If it was something the gods needed, I had no intention of hesitating. You can’t help everything in the world. Because she is not God.

Even so, as long as it is within your reach.

“… … .”

Sigh. When Seraph waved her hand, a small figure fell from the air. The powder created by cutting out the soul looked up at Seraph, and Seraph gave a small nod to the thing that resembled her.

Communication between them was enough. Bunche immediately jumped towards the blue door and soon became invisible.

Not all sacrifices meet an unfortunate end. Taking that as her only comfort, Seraph sent a small prayer to the poor soul.

Please, have a nice trip.

*****