“Rescue Citrine”
“Time remaining: 49 minutes 10 seconds”
Suddenly, the ending of “Legend of Academy” can be classified into three types.
First, there’s the normal ending where the protagonist somehow graduates from the academy. In this ending, the future is determined based on the relationships built with characters through the events experienced by the player.
For example, if you achieve the normal ending with high favorability with Nicasia, you’ll get an ending where you work at the Imperial Palace. However, in this ending, the player remains unaware of many incidents, events, and character secrets that occur in the Legend of Academy.
It’s literally the normal ending. Why is Nicasia suffering? What was Colette Bloodberry’s purpose for appearing at the academy and causing such trouble? What is Citrine’s secret? What about Lachesis’s talent? Why does the Crown Princess enjoy such madness?
Because it’s the normal ending, you can’t know anything.
“Ugh…”
Next, there’s the hero ending, which most users, including myself, consider the “true ending.” This ending allows you to uncover the world’s truths, characters’ pasts, background settings, and hidden stories by thoroughly completing the “hero route” events.
Personally, there are many touching scenes, and since Cosmos Academy itself is a place to select heroes, I believe this is the true ending.
Originally, there were quite a few characters in the game whose purposes for attending the academy were unclear unless you properly followed the hero route.
And fundamentally, the hero route is virtuous. You help people in danger, defeat demon races attacking villages, and can rescue heroines. There’s also the touching event of lifting the hero’s sword, and if you end up with a heroine, there’s a dedicated CG at the end. No matter how you think about it, this is the “true ending.”
“Sigh…”
Lastly, there’s the “demon king ending,” which offers extreme freedom. Once the “demon king route” starts, you can do whatever crazy things you want in between.
You can kill the Cosmos Academy Headmaster if you don’t like her.
You can poison Professor Aiaie Hekati after learning all her magic because she’s annoying.
You can tear off Professor Marea’s prosthetic arm.
You can kill Nicasia.
You can use Lachesis as a sacrifice to learn ultimate magic.
You can do whatever you want. It’s a crazy ending where the developers say the world is free.
Moreover, the demon king ending is one you can see as long as you somehow manage the beginning and end. You don’t need to max out Citrine’s favorability. You don’t need to join the New Helheim club. You don’t have to kill specific NPCs.
Even if you start the demon king route and suddenly change your mind to play normally, the ending is fixed as the demon king, so you can play as you please.
It was literally a sandbox for evil-aligned players. There was even a surprisingly detailed storyline, continuous quests, and interconnected events called the “demon king route,” ensuring the fun of growing a terrifying tree of evil in the land where heroes are born.
“Murmur, are you okay? Your horn keeps getting hot.”
“Yeah… I’m fine, thanks, Esme.”
“Rescue Citrine”
“Time remaining: 49 minutes 05 seconds”
My thoughts got a bit long, but that’s why I don’t particularly like the demon king route.
While there are certainly touching parts, in the end, you can’t uncover all the world’s secrets in the demon king route. It’s more of a route overflowing with pleasure and dopamine.
You can truly play as you like, do what you enjoy, and avoid what you dislike, but the ending is always predetermined.
Murmur becomes the demon king.
The endless battle between demons and humans, the chain of hatred that can be called meaningless, continues.
Thinking about the various truths you learn while progressing the hero route, it’s an ending where the developers’ message is hidden, making it uncomfortable.
Of course, there are people who praise it, saying, “Isn’t this a god-tier game for offering this much freedom?”, “LOL, I killed all the professors, and the academy still runs! Reoa is crazy!”, “Can’t I see the hero ending? I accidentally killed about 10 students;;”, and I don’t deny that it’s fun.
『Stress increased by 20!』
And there are characters who can only be saved by progressing the demon king route.
Citrine is the prime example.
Considering Citrine’s secrets and settings, she can’t be happy unless you progress the demon king route.
In the normal ending, her true identity is never revealed, only hinted at, so it shows her being recognized by the Crimsonbrand Duchess and living a happy life, but that’s absolutely not Citrine’s happiness.
Can you say an actor performing beautifully is happy just because their character gets a happy ending in the play? Absolutely not.
“Murmur is…”
Still, even so… I think it’s a bit too harsh!
If you weigh Citrine’s true happiness against the happiness of everyone in this world, which should you choose?
I ultimately chose the latter.
If you call me a coward, I have no retort, but I didn’t take Citrine’s coin pouch because I had no intention of starting the demon king route.
She might end up with a fabricated, fake happiness, but at least Citrine won’t die.
That’s how it had to be.
Citrine shouldn’t be in danger.
Worried that things might go wrong, I even warned Citrine about Rowan’s danger.
Was that the mistake? Even though I didn’t take the coin pouch, the demon king route started on its own.
“Rescue Citrine”
“Time remaining: 49 minutes 01 second”
Originally, why did she get into danger?
The demon king route starts when you receive Citrine’s coin pouch and team up with Professor Marea for a collaborative assignment.
To cut down Citrine, who started showing more “competence” than they thought, Rowan draws his sword, and Murmur defeats Rowan, learning Citrine’s true identity.
At the same time, you slowly uncover the dark stories hidden in the shadows of Cosmos Academy, and if you wish, you can become the master of those shadows at any time.
Thinking from that perspective, Citrine wasn’t competent today. She desperately tried to seduce me but got rejected, right?
Can you call that competent? Can you say she broke free from control?
“Murmur? What’s going on?”
“…There’s someone I need to save.”
“Huh? Save? Who… who is it? Everyone’s here, right?”
“Esme, stay here with Torlin! Got it?”
“Huh? Huh? Huh?! Wait a minute! Murmur! So who are you going to save…?!”
“Rescue Citrine”
“Time remaining: 48 minutes 59 seconds”
I’m sorry, Esme, but I can’t tell you.
I don’t know exactly what situation Citrine is in, but if the demon king route is progressing, I can’t bring Esme along.
The secret Citrine desperately wants to protect.
Because it will be revealed that she’s a “demon” using transformation magic, which is considered a crime.
* * *
“Phew…”
Citrine wiped the sweat dripping from her forehead with a proud expression.
“Citrine~!! There don’t seem to be any more treasure chests around here!”
“Well done! Can you still fit more in the cart?”
“Yeah! There’s still plenty of room! Citrine, you’re amazing!! How did you know there would be so many treasure chests?”
At the bright words of her classmate Cornelia, Citrine showed a proud expression.
“Hehe, everyone foolishly followed Murmur. With the dowsing rod, finding treasure chests that haven’t been found yet is easier than eating porridge!”
“Still, it’s impressive. The monsters guarding the treasure were stronger than expected… but you handled them well, right?”
“That’s because Leon and Rowan helped.”
“It’s thanks to the weapons Citrine lent us.”
At the incoming praise, Citrine shrugged her shoulders.
‘With Murmur, we could have aimed for first place, but… hehehe! This isn’t bad either! If you suffer trying to hold onto unreachable happiness, you’re bound to lose.’
If not first, then second.
If you don’t lose, it’s still a gain.
Citrine, who thoroughly calculates numbers in her head, wasn’t feeling much dissatisfaction with the current situation.
“But this chest, isn’t it really big? What’s inside?”
“Hmm… I’m curious too. Should we open it? Citrine?”
At Leon and Cornelia’s innocent questions, Citrine fidgeted with her fingers for a moment.
“Yes, I think it’s good to open it. Professor Marea didn’t say not to open treasure chests.”
“Right? Right? But it’s a treasure chest, so there must be something pretty inside!”
“I hope there’s a sword! Though it can’t compare to the sword Citrine lent us!”
Unlike the two who were giggling, Citrine had a relaxed smile on her lips.
‘Professor Marea told me there’s nothing inside, but I don’t need to spoil the fun by telling the truth.’
Citrine watched Cornelia open the treasure chest with a somewhat indulgent, adult-like gaze.
“Huh…?”
“What’s this?”
Inside the treasure chest was filled with purple smoke. The moment the chest opened, the smoke burst out in all directions, and Cornelia and Leon, panicking, blinked their eyes and immediately collapsed to the ground, falling asleep.
“…Cornelia? Leon?”
Citrine, startled, grabbed their shoulders and shook them.
“Hey, wake up!!”
“They won’t wake up. It’s quite a precious sleep magic.”
Citrine turned around in surprise to see Rowan walking towards her, speaking.
“Rowan…? How did you know there was sleep magic in this chest?”
“The answer is obvious, I think.”
A moment of silence.
Citrine quickly got up and backed away, but Rowan’s attack was a bit faster.
─ Crack!
The red magical energy emanating from Rowan’s hand, forming a pure magical sword, mercilessly swung towards Citrine’s abdomen, and blue flames burst out between them.
“Ugh…!”
“As expected, you’re wearing expensive armor. I can play with you a bit more before killing you.”
Citrine lowered her right hand and touched the scaly armor that felt hot. It was a moment when her butler Balkan’s persistence paid off.
“Haa… Haa… Rowan, why are you attacking me?”
“Well…”
As gray smoke emanated from Rowan’s body, Citrine vaguely realized the truth.
Rowan, who was the same height as Citrine, had now returned to the form of an “adult” demon, towering over her. His face was covered by a grotesque mask emitting eerie breaths, except for his eyes.
“The era of Nectar’s descendants is coming, yet you still hide among the vermin, flirting with betrayal. Do I need a grand reason to kill such a traitor?”
“You… you’re insane.”
Citrine stepped back, regretting.
‘Murmur… you were right. Rowan was dangerous trash.’
Watching the demon slowly approaching, Citrine shed a tear.
‘I thought I would become your bride, yet I ignored your precious warning. I deserve to die for being such a fool.’
