It was decided that Ren would have a private conversation with Ian.

“I see… You also have someone precious…”

Listening to his story, Ren realized they were in the same situation.

“Indeed, the [Akashic Archive] has the power to resurrect the dead and elevate them to godhood.”

Though it was just a game, its influence was immense; she never thought it would lead to the resurrection of the deceased and their ascension to divinity.

This was something that couldn’t be explained simply by the powers of dreams.

“To put it accurately, it’s only possible in special cases.”

Hmm…

As Ian flicked his fingers, mana flowed from the bracelet he wore, forming a hologram.

“As you know, your constellation name has changed from [Sacrifice Ensnared by Sloth] to [Sacrifice Who Overcame Sloth]. I have shifted from [Angry Mage Engineer Ensnared by Rage] to [Angry Mage Engineer Who Casts Off Rage].”

The hologram displayed the names in arrangement.

“But, you know… did you ever feel something strange about this?”

“What do you mean by strange?”

“We were never people associated with sloth or rage in our lives. You never lived lazily, and I hardly expressed anger. Yet, the names that signify us include sloth and rage.”

“……”

“And other gods referred to us as [Sloth] and [Rage]. As if that was our identity.”

Ren nodded in agreement.

She also felt discomfort about her previous self after overcoming sloth.

“I never thought about the rage that once consumed my mind until I cast it off. It was as if I had been brainwashed.”

“You don’t mean…?”

“Some transcendental being secretly inserted the concepts of [Sloth] and [Rage] into the process of our elevation to godhood with a specific intention. That’s the only explanation.”

Sloth…

Even she found it strange.

The girl who used to live diligently, training from dawn, now sprawled in bed wasting time.

If someone twisted the essence of divinity to include sloth in front of her sacrifice as she ascended to a constellation, it would make sense.

“Then I owe that girl and her apostle yet another debt.”

It allowed her to reflect on herself, enabling her to overcome [Sloth].

Just how many debts had she accrued?

She was at a loss as to how to express her gratitude.

“Who could that transcendental being be?”

“……I cannot say. Currently, the information is too lacking. But considering what they’ve done to us, it’s certain they are not pleased with us overcoming our respective [Sins].”

“That means they could also be intervening with us or the [Akashic Archive].”

“Exactly. That’s why I said I would protect you. Just in case that transcendental being might strike at our benefactor.”

“……I understand for now. But what do you mean that resurrection and elevation are only possible in special cases?”

“I researched numerous methods to resurrect my beloved. From methods to turn back time to cognitive synthesis. But none worked. In the end, the final attempt was to implant recognition of Kate throughout the continent via the [Akashic Archive] and concentrate that recognition to give birth to a god.”

“You tried to artificially create a being born through worship, just like me.”

“That’s right. But it failed. This part couldn’t be done artificially.”

“Then why could my companions and your lover be resurrected?”

“That part is the crux. According to my theory, it was because of the virtues we’ve conquered from our sins.”

“……What do you mean?”

“The words attached to the constellation names embody their powers. The name ‘Sacrifice’ signifies one of the virtues held by the Seven Great Heroes, while my name ‘Mage Engineer’ indicates a part of the Three Great Sages. Therefore, ‘Sloth’ and ‘Rage’ must also hold power.”

“So you’re saying an evil and transcendental being planted sins to suppress us, and in overcoming those, we gained the new power that allowed the resurrection of our loved ones… is that what you mean?”

“Precisely. …Of course, this is merely a theory, and my case also had issues with the order of things, so it needs some refinement, but it means it’s impossible for just anyone to manifest the [Akashic Archive] in reality.”

“I see… Should I be relieved then?”

Is there a restriction?

If anyone from the game could manifest, all characters should have appeared, but that didn’t happen, after all.

“You’re telling an interesting story.”

Whoa!

“Ah!”

“This is!”

As a strange woman’s voice echoed, a pitch-black mana covered Ren and Ian.

“Unique Domain…”

The ultimate power that unfolds the unique domains of gods in the form of barriers.

Inside it, they are completely isolated from the outside unless permitted by the domain’s owner.

Receiving help from their companions outside became nearly impossible.

“Indeed. The owner’s unique domain, [Pandemonium].”

As the darkness swirled, a woman with horns unique to demons appeared in mid-air.

With a captivating gaze, she created a throne and sat upon it.

Constellation name: [Proud King of Demons]

Demon God Hupnis.

She was the one who defeated Perlerina, the previous demon king and the continent’s most notorious murderer, bringing unity between the demons and other races of the continent.

One of the Five Great Rulers who ascended to godhood as the mightiest demon king.

Looking up at her, Ian and Ren gulped.

Even if they regarded the Seven Great Heroes, the Three Great Sages, and the Five Great Rulers on the same level, she was in a different class.

With the massive divine power fed from the belief of all demons, her innate combat sense as a born demon king and the battle experience of her predecessors made her known for being unmatched in one-on-one combat.

Even if Ian and Ren had achieved growth by overcoming their respective sins, the likelihood of victory in the current situation, where her conceptual world was unfolding, was exceedingly low.

“Why are you here? This is my domain.”

“I got interested in a certain matter.”

Hupnis smirked.

“Those who should not have resurrected have disregarded the world’s fundamental order and come back to life.”

!!!

Ian and Ren’s eyes widened.

“As the ruler above demons, if you cannot notice this much, how can you call yourself the King of Demons?”

With a whoosh, as Hupnis crossed her legs, mana flames ignited in her hands.

“I have something to ask the deceased. So reveal the identity of the one who resurrected them.”

“……”

They never anticipated such a quick threat to their benefactor would come knocking.

Exchanging glances, Ian and Ren nodded.

“Sorry, but that’s not possible.”

“One cannot repay grace with malice.”

“……It’s not uncommon for lowly beings to not know their place.”

“Are you sure you’re alright? Combat in the Divine Realm is forbidden. If you harm us, the entire Divine Realm will hold you accountable and hunt you down.”

The Demon God let out a wicked laugh.

“Hunt down? Accountability? What an amusing notion. Who dares to hold me accountable?”

Boom!

Hupnis’s conceptual world shook.

“Let me enlighten you. The difference in standing between me and you.”

Boom!

* * *

[The right mechanical arm of the Angry Mage Engineer Who Casts Off Rage was severed.]

[The abdomen of Sacrifice Who Overcame Sloth was hit by a magic beam.]

[Sacrifice Who Overcame Sloth temporarily lost consciousness and fell to the ground.]

[The Angry Mage Engineer Who Casts Off Rage transformed his left arm into a beam weapon.]

[The energy of the Angry Mage Engineer Who Casts Off Rage has been depleted.]

[The left arm of the Angry Mage Engineer Who Casts Off Rage stopped mid-transformation.]

I felt a jolt of awareness hit me.

To think that those strong Seven Great Heroes and Three Great Sages were being so ruthlessly destroyed.

The opponent deduced from the thoughts of the two constellations was one of the Five Great Rulers, [Proud King of Demons].

An overwhelming strength beyond imagination.

I had to do something.

If this continued, our investors might be killed.

To be murdered for not revealing my identity to protect myself—there was no way I could just watch.

“Constellation! Could you project me into the Divine Realm in dream form?!”

[The Dream Storyteller is startled.]

[The Dream Storyteller asks if I intend to come to the Divine Realm.]

“I don’t have the time. If this goes on, our investors are in danger.”

[The Dream Storyteller says it’s possible but dangerous.]

[The Dream Storyteller states that while they can leave the main body here and send only the spiritual body in dream form, if that dream’s spiritual body is killed, it may lead to becoming a cripple in reality.]

“……”

Hearing that I might become a cripple gave me pause.

Though I had become the director of a continent-wide hit game, I was utterly helpless without the help of the constellations.

Blocking a demon god who was difficult even for the highest deities to withstand?

“I… I’m fine.”

My body trembled uncontrollably.

“I’ll come back safely, so don’t worry.”

But I couldn’t just leave those two behind.

They were among the few who had treated me kindly since I arrived in this world.

Above all, I could still hear their voices filled with determination to fight for me at the risk of their lives.

How could I just watch that?

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes.

Pash!

“Ugh!”

“When you’re finished, I’d like you to hurry up and tell me because my time is valuable.”

When I opened my eyes again, I saw the woman with black hair tormenting the Mage Engineer.

I also saw the goddess Ren lying unconscious in the background.

“Stop right there.”

As I raised my voice, her head slowly turned towards me.

Her yellow eyes pierced through me.

“It’s… it’s my benefactor?! No, this woman is dangerous… Cough!”

“Don’t interrupt, just stay quiet.”

As the Demon God slammed the Mage Engineer’s head into the ground, he fell unconscious.

…Come to think of it, I wasn’t just facing a transcendental being; it was a fully-formed constellation, a god.

Did I act too hastily?

[…Was that a power of dreams? If so, that makes sense.]

At that moment,

[…It should indeed be possible if it’s a power of dreams. I think it can manifest the former demon king.]

The thoughts flowed into me.

[The Proud King of Demons thinks that if it’s the power of dreams, it could manifest the previous demon king.]

The thoughts of the Demon God… are they being read?

Now, reading the thoughts of Hupnis, a Demon God, alongside Ren and the Mage Engineer…

What is happening?

“Oh, Apostle of Dreams, I have a proposal.”

The Demon God lifted the Mage Engineer by the neck. His unconscious body dangled.

“Create the dream I wish for. In return, I will spare the lives of these two.”

[The Proud King of Demons appears to be showing up to save their lives, so I have no choice but to follow.]

“……Alright.”

It seems I have no choice.

Even if she is a divine apostle, there’s no way an ordinary human like me can physically oppose a god.

If I turned down the proposal and fled, it would put my investors in danger.

They were the ones who risked everything to keep me safe, never revealing anything about me while facing death.

I couldn’t just leave them to die.

“I accept.”

It seems there’s no way around it.

Constellation, I’ll be borrowing your powers for a moment.

I unleashed the power of dreams.

Whoosh!

With that, a black veil unfurled, engulfing both me and the Demon God.

[The Proud King of Demons thinks, “Is this the power of dreams? If I just set my mind to it, I could escape.”]

Looks like this alone isn’t enough to contain her.

But that’s alright.

What I’m aiming for is something entirely different.

“Tell me the dream you desire. I’ll create it for you.”

I’ll create a dream from which you can never awaken.

Let’s not be pushed around anymore, that’s just not my style.