Chapter 111

The way people enjoy games varies from person to person.

Even when playing the same game, some aim to clear all achievements, some enjoy life content, and others relish combat.

As for Akane, she played the game as hard as she could.

However, it’s important to know that Akane is a broadcaster. Even though she became a VTuber by showcasing her unfiltered, natural self, that alone wouldn’t have gotten her to where she is.

To describe Akane’s gaming style more accurately, she plays the game as hard as she can to make it “entertaining for the stream.” That was it.

So, what exactly does it mean to make the game entertaining for the stream?

Everyone has their own style, but Akane wasn’t the type to plan and stream meticulously.

She would come up with the most suitable action for the given situation on the spot and stream it. That was Akane’s streaming style.

So, as soon as Akane started <Arcane Punk 1009>, she learned magic first. And she became a fixer. It was a choice she could make because she was a lone wolf, unconnected to anyone.

Other participants like Mai might feel wronged, but Akane had no hidden backstory.

Despite having an ordinary lineage, she was a rare case of someone who accidentally possessed magical talent.

Thanks to that, the early game was uneventful with no assassins coming after her, but her growth was steady.

With no threats and only quests to complete, her level shot up, and she learned a ton of magic. In this genre of games, magic is usually scattered around the back alleys.

“…This might not be good.”

But that was only in terms of the in-game character.

It wasn’t a great look for the stream.

Akane had already seen a few videos of <Arcane Punk 1009> on Kirinuki, and they were all entertaining.

Of course.

The game provided its own crises, choices, and growth opportunities, making it a rare and convenient situation for a streamer.

So, while other VTubers from Novel Live kept their listeners entertained day after day, Akane couldn’t do the same.

It was too smooth.

Of course, someone who relies solely on the game can’t become a VTuber. Akane was entertaining enough with her own skills, but it still felt somewhat lacking.

To put it metaphorically, Akane was like someone cooking a very delicious ramen with lobster.

“Sure, you made a delicious meal, but did you really have to go that far?” That thought wouldn’t leave her mind.

Playing <Arcane Punk 1009>, which Han Yoorim had a hand in, and relying solely on pure skill to entertain was a huge waste.

But even knowing it was a waste, there was nothing she could do.

If all you have in the fridge is ramen, you cook ramen. What else can you do?

Akane muttered softly to herself.

“Normally, I’d be interacting with others to find streaming angles, but everyone’s so absorbed in the game. They’re just doing their own thing, so it’s hard to meet anyone.”

Actually, Life Server wasn’t supposed to feel like this.

The core of the content was to stick to the set RP and act like a character in a movie, but this Life Server was completely different from the usual.

Everyone was too busy enjoying their personal scenarios, called “secrets of lineage,” to even meet each other.

Well, once they cleared their personal scenarios one by one, it would probably feel like a normal Life Server again, but until then, she had to play the game alone.

Akane muttered to herself.

“Isn’t there a way to make this more fun?”

And that’s when it happened.

“You seem to have a lot of grievances with the world.”

Someone spoke to Akane.

Akane raised her guard and scanned the person.

Their face was hidden under a black robe. The gender was female. But it was a voice she had never heard before.

Meaning, it was likely someone Akane had never met, probably an NPC.

Akane slowly opened her mouth.

“Akane has no grievances.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Akane doesn’t lie. What do you want?”

There was no need to talk to a suspicious person, but she didn’t have much else to do anyway. Thinking it was a good opportunity, Akane continued.

The person said.

“I know what Akane wants. You want to set the world on fire.”

“Not at all. You’ve got the wrong person.”

It was a completely out-of-the-blue suggestion.

Wanting to set the world on fire? She never had such thoughts, not in real life nor in the game.

The reason was simple: it just wasn’t fun.

But despite Akane’s firm response, the person wiggled their finger.

“That’s why your <Unique Magic> is black flames that burn everything, right? I know. The darkness in Akane’s heart. You must have felt lonely being left alone, right? Don’t worry. I’m here now.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Akane’s darkness, Akane’s true feelings, Akane’s desires. Now. Look deep into your heart. The desire to destroy everything that lies there—.”

“Are you Yoorim?”

Suddenly, that thought crossed her mind.

Isn’t that Han Yoorim? she thought.

The voice was completely different from the Han Yoorim Akane knew, but it still felt like her.

“……”

“……”

“Now. Look deep into your heart. Let’s liberate that desire to destroy everything together.”

“What are you doing, Yoorim?”

“Akane. I am your darkness. Not Yoorim.”

“Darkness. What are you up to?”

“I’m trying to seduce you, Akane.”

Akane stared blankly at the darkness, who spoke so calmly.

It was strange. The Han Yoorim she saw in Kirinuki was much smaller than this.

Now, the darkness was slightly shorter than Akane, around the average height of an adult woman.

…Though still a bit short for an adult woman, it was definitely not the elementary school kid she saw in Kirinuki. It was baffling.

She hadn’t created two characters. Server rules didn’t allow that.

What on earth was going on?

She was curious, but she didn’t pry.

This was the Life Server. She had to respect the other’s RP.

“Darkness. Akane isn’t interested in the world. Is there really a need to burn it all down?”

“There is.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s more fun.”

Fun. Those two short words shook Akane’s heart.

The darkness quickly continued.

“Imagine it. A Demon King appearing in a peaceful city, and heroes gathering to protect the world. The battle between them always draws a crowd. The theaters would sell out.”

“Well, that’s true, but burning the world down for no reason seems a bit random, doesn’t it?”

“Sigh. Akane, what are you talking about?”

The darkness let out a small sigh and then calmly spoke.

“Who has time to prepare a narrative for a concept server that lasts just a few days? You just go for it. Say you were left alone, got depressed, and decided to burn the world. That’s all you need.”

“Yoorim. Your RP is slipping. Come back to being Darkness.”

Akane fell into thought.

Listeners often misunderstood, but Akane wasn’t particularly into the hero RP.

The core of Akane’s RP was never giving up. She was the type to cheerfully take on any challenge with a smile.

That’s why Akane didn’t mind taking on the role of the Demon King.

She would take the role seriously and see it through to the end.

That was just who Akane was.

“But I might dislike a half-baked reason. Maybe a clear motive would be better.”

“Got it. Then let’s go with the concept of a Demon King who believes the world has entered a wrong timeline and must be reset to prevent its destruction.”

“That might work.”

And so, Akane’s Demon King army (with Han Yoorim) made its appearance in the world.

Akane didn’t do anything special.

Because Han Yoorim had already prepared everything.

“Darkness. When did you prepare all this?”

“By the time I came to my senses, it was all ready.”

In Kirinuki, she only saw Yoorim messing around with Mai. When did she prepare such an impressive organization?

Han Yoorim had only one request for Akane.

To become strong.

To gain strength that would never lose to anyone.

“Then wouldn’t the Demon King win?”

“Akane. The stronger the enemy, the more fun it is. That’s the rule of games.”

“This is unrelated to Darkness, but I might dislike games that are too hard. Embarrassingly, Akane once cried while playing a game by someone named Han Yoorim. Akane isn’t the type to cry easily, but it just happened.”

“Oh dear.”

“It was too hard. Especially the hidden boss at the end. It was so painful. It took me three weeks to beat it because it dodged every technique…”

“That game developer doesn’t know moderation. But I suspect they might have had a soft spot for you, Akane. Giving the protagonist such trials, you know.”

Akane half-listened to the darkness’s nonsense and then focused on her training.

Perhaps because the server’s experience multiplier was maxed out. Following the darkness’s advice, she achieved optimized growth and soon reached the 7th rank.

The 7th rank. A realm where one could shake the laws of the world, called the Grand Mage.

Once she reached that level, there was nothing left to fear.

“Are you ready to burn the world?”

“Maybe.”

That day, Akane erased the Player Family from the world.

And then.

“Mai. An event has occurred. What are we going to do now?”

“We have to stop it.”

Kurohina Mai and countless other heroes flocked to the Demon King’s castle.

And then.

‘……’

Mai’s mind was still a mess.