*
The Grand Route wasn’t completed.
That was the conclusion Giseok and I reached at the end.
We said there’s a high chance we wouldn’t see Pina Grancia’s happy ending.
In the end, there was that Magic Hat which had become a Demon God.
And Pina, the dear Hero, not mastering her Ultimate Move.
If we were to talk in game terms, critical elements were missing.
The Status Window said the conditions for the Grand Route were not met either.
‘Perhaps Pina not becoming the Nameless Saintess is some kind of butterfly effect.’
Not managing to connect the love line between Drake and the Sage was probably the issue.
If not that, then maybe it was that I recklessly killed the Demon Kings of the Hero Church.
But really, was it best to just heed what the Status Window said and leave the Demon Kings as is?
Should I have turned a blind eye knowing that people around me were getting hurt and were sad?
“…Absolutely not.”
There’s no way that’s true.
If I hadn’t saved them, I wouldn’t have gotten close to her like this.
Pina was someone who would protect others even at the cost of her own life.
Last time, she saved Kainel and Ariel during the fight with the Magic Hat, and she stopped me from trying to fight alone.
If those events hadn’t occurred, my relationship with Pina would have played out very differently.
And I wouldn’t have been able to count on their help either.
“I came at the call of Princess Pina Grancia. So you are the Demon King of Truth.”
“Looks like we know each other? Nice to meet you.”
As soon as I whistled, two figures appeared in mid-air, piercing the heart of the Demon God.
Just like a couple married in the game. They summoned the Northern Spear Techniques at the same time.
“Who’s that man next to the Grand Duchess…?”
With a bent waist, even though his heart was pierced dead center, he wouldn’t shut up.
The way he moved his body with wide-open eyes was almost grotesque.
“…Seeing that even Rock and Giseok don’t recognize him, looks like his ability isn’t complete.”
The power of the Head, the Demon King of All Knowledge.
Seeing how he couldn’t recognize Giseok, I spoke up.
‘The power to know all information in the world.’
To be precise, he could only know the information that had been either spoken or recorded somewhere.
That was also why I avoided talking about the Nameless Saintess at first.
“Oh my, you caught me! You’re really sharp, my lord!”
I quickly realized that the Magic Hat was inexperienced at using the Demon Kings’ abilities.
Since he was copying with the power of lies, it meant that the fake couldn’t compare to the real deal.
Boom—!!
Once again, everyone’s attacks erupted, but they weren’t landing effective hits on the Magic Hat.
“Talk about a drag.”
“Yeah, right?”
I echoed Sophia’s sentiments. The Demon God just kept regenerating.
‘What on earth is its weakness?’
Even with Rock Emperor severing its limbs, and Sophia and Giseok piercing its heart, it wouldn’t die.
Even Kainel and Ariel using their Ultimate Moves didn’t inflict any real damage.
Calling Dennis to teleport was impossible, and even the Hero, Pina, swinging her sword was futile.
“I’m so touched by how hard you’re trying to kill me… I might even cry a little!”
Fighting an immortal enemy was just exhausting.
If we keep this up, we might wear ourselves out first.
“What could be the reason that thing won’t die? Su-hyun.”
Giseok, who had summoned countless spears from the ground, asked me.
“Probably because it became a Demon God.”
It claimed to be a god, so could it really be immortal?
“Really? You really think so?”
“Well, nothing is truly perfect.”
I shook my head at Giseok, who kept asking.
If it really was a god, it wouldn’t have come here to fight me.
Even if it was just for fun, something felt off.
‘But seeing it bleed, it must be the true form.’
A fake made from a deck of cards.
The last time I fought the Magic Hat, its clone didn’t bleed even when its head was cut off.
But what about now? Watching it bleed a little from Rock Emperor’s attack seemed to confirm it’s the real thing.
“…Could it be that only its body is ‘invincible’?”
When I captured the Magic Hat in the game, during the last phase.
It was strange that it didn’t summon the King, Jack, and Queen patterns while struggling.
Even though the Queen of Hearts was taken from me and the Queen Bellin couldn’t be summoned, other ones should still be summonable.
The Clover King, which provided enormous power and magic to the Magic Hat.
The Heart Queen, which could instantly heal any wound.
And the Spade Jack, which pursued to attack the opponent until death.
In the sequel [Black Heart], the reason the Magic Hat was so wicked was due to the strength of its real body, but also because summoning subordinates made for a terrifying pattern.
At that time, all my companions had been declared dead, leaving me with no support.
‘If it takes no damage, there’s no need to pull out the trump cards.’
Demonstrating that our attacks were ineffective might be to demoralize us.
To hide its own weakness.
“That’s impossible! I’m invincible! My lord..!!”
Pina noticed the Magic Hat’s lies and called it out. That might be the ability of a dear Hero.
Like the heads and tails of a coin. The ability to spot lies directly opposed that of a Demon God.
“Well then, Director Laplace. I’m counting on you.”
As that thought crossed my mind, I immediately summoned Laplace.
His ability was to extinguish fire without touching it.
By touching concepts like a power, he could ‘snuff it out’ regardless of where the object was.
“Licht, we’ll proceed as planned.”
“I’m counting on you. It should work.”
Its range was vast enough to temporarily snuff out even the sun in the universe.
He even managed to turn off the light in the Library of Truth, which I didn’t even know the location of.
Theoretically, it should also be possible to make the Magic Hat lose consciousness.
“Wha, huh? You’re gonna use the Director’s ability on me? I didn’t see that coming….”
Human nerves are made of electrical signals.
Since this is reality, what was impossible in the game was now feasible.
The green-haired man was steadily walking towards the Demon King, flicking his fingers continuously.
“With such trivial means…!! You’re not making me die by your lord’s hands!!”
At that moment, Magic Hat’s eyes turned white.
Like a dead person, it drooped, then seemed to convulse.
“…This can’t be happening!!”
Desperately trying to retain its consciousness, it resembled a bug twisting in distress.
Finally sensing the urgency, the Magic Hat started to summon soldiers from its cards. The King and Jack we saw in the game jumped out, ready to attack Laplace.
“What’s with all this shouting that it can’t be happening!! Hahaha!!”
“D-Drake! Be careful! This is dangerous since I can’t foresee the future!”
In that moment, a silver flash sparkled, deflecting Jack’s sword.
Possibly the Grand Sword Master, who I asked to come just in case danger arose.
“Listen well, my disciple. Learn from what your master does!”
“Understood, Master.”
Drake and the Sage joined the battlefield to protect Laplace.
To confront the Demon God, it was best to unleash all the means I had.
Even if they’re weak, I must give my all.
That was the driving force that brought me this far.
Even though they were yet to connect, they were certainly some of the strongest around.
All the students from the Academy had been evacuated, so they could now focus solely on the enemies.
“Just a little more… and I would’ve had it!!”
The Magic Hat pressed the revolver of the Head against its own temple. Was it trying to commit suicide to negate Laplace’s powers?
That couldn’t be allowed.
Kaah—!!
I quickly severed its arm. While I was preventing the Magic Hat from continuing its frantic movements.
“I’ll make you regret laying a hand on my daughter for the rest of your life.”
“If I eliminate that one… mother will return.”
The Clover King was torn to shreds by Rock and Pina’s attacks, and soon the Spade Jack was shattered by Drake’s sword.
“Was it trying to slowly grind us to death? How unfortunate.”
That plan had already failed.
Unlike in the game, I had allies with me, and thanks to Magic Hat letting its guard down, the situation was easily resolved.
“There’s no way the truth itself will die─.”
Thud, and the Demon God’s face met the ground as it lost consciousness. Its last gasp was cut off.
I didn’t let my guard down while watching it lie there limply.
‘Not yet. Even if it’s like this, its life hasn’t been cut off.’
If it was truly dead, the Status Window would inform me.
Right now, Laplace’s power was still active.
Just like the appearance of Licht in the game.
The black armor reflected in the puddle.
The happy ending hadn’t appeared then either.
This time, unlike in the game, I had gathered the strongest I could.
Even if it’s a Demon God, there surely has to be a weakness somewhere.
‘So, let’s give Pina at least a good ending.’
That was the plan I made while staying up all night.
Not a Grand Route ending, but a good ending. Commonly referred to as a normal ending in games.
Assuming the Status Window is the gods of this world, then the Grand Route ending was probably closer to the true ending.
Originally, it should have connected all the love lines to complete the power of the dear Hero. I was trying to twist that and break it.
A simple happy ending would be better than a grand true ending or something.
Tending to blue roses and living a normal life.
That would surely be better than ending up lonely as the Nameless Saintess.
“…..”
I gripped the sword’s handle tightly.
The blood I spilled had pooled enough to make a puddle, and the Demon God twisted its body but still wouldn’t die.
What could its true identity be, that it referred to me as my lord?
The one responsible for ruining Pina Grancia’s happy life was currently lying defenseless like this.
I prayed that there was nothing more left to it and swiftly cut its throat.
[The Hero and the ■Mage clashed in battle.]
A strange message in the Status Window appeared before my eyes.
[The problem was that they thought their love was weak.]
The words that came up when a total party wipe event happened in the game.
What? Kainel and Ariel are right here. What could possibly be the problem….
Soon, Magic Hat’s body, severed at the head and neck, began to shine white.
There was still something left. Damn it.
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