“How do you find it?”

[i>The Angry Mage Engineer lets out a hum as he ponders.]

I was tense, waiting for the investor’s reaction.

Although it’s just a draft, it’s an episode I worked tirelessly on for three nights.

I absolutely cannot get a rejection here.

…It would be unbearable to tell our Star Lord that I need to redo it, especially after he looked so exhausted yesterday.

[i>The Angry Mage Engineer points to himself as a villain, Orpheus.]

“Yes, I’m listening.”

Is he angry because I used him as a villain?

He said it’s fine to use him however I wanted, so he wouldn’t change his mind, would he?

[i>The Angry Mage Engineer asks why I had to fake a false identity and pretend to be dead in the early stages.]

“Oh, is that what you mean?”

Phew, thank goodness he isn’t upset about consuming his character as a villain.

“It’s to create a dramatic twist that will shock players and leave a lasting impression.”

The Mage Engineer must be a villain that incites anger in players, yet he should make an attractive exit at the very end.

A compelling character is more likely to attract more Star Lords to support our game.

That’s why it was essential to introduce a special villain, even through a cumbersome process.

[i>The Angry Mage Engineer asks if players won’t be confused.]

“That part is fine. Ultimately, Orpheus’s backstory will be revealed at the conclusion of the tale.”

The monumental first act episode of [Akashic Archive], [Abyssal Orpheus].

In this episode, Orpheus, part of the Abyssal forces and one of the Seven Demonic Stars of Destruction, appears as the main villain.

And that villain was a character born from the inspiration of the Mage Engineer.

Throughout the episode, Orpheus constantly thwarts the protagonist’s adventure.

Through the Abyssal Power, he threatens the protagonist steadily without becoming a part of the story.

Then, at the conclusion of the episode, after defeating Orpheus, the protagonist glimpses his memories and confronts the tragic past of that character.

“And once this story is complete, Orpheus’s love, Saint Cartecia… in other words, Lady Kate’s narrative will also be powerfully recognized by players.”

[i>The Angry Mage Engineer nods, indicating he understands.]

[i>The Angry Mage Engineer states he will be satisfied if he can shape public perception about her.]

“You’ll definitely be satisfied.”

Killing the Star Lord out of love.

A nefarious act to save the woman he loves.

For people from this other world, not accustomed to such narratives, this will surely leave a stronger imprint in their minds.

*

Strutral Empire

In the very center lies the Imperial Palace.

Inside is the deepest chamber of Crown Prince Raizeol’s room.

“Let no one enter.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The guards, upon hearing the Crown Prince’s command, secured the area.

Thud.

After closing the door behind him, the Crown Prince, with light steps, leaped onto the bed holding the mana transmitter.

“A new update?! I thought I was going to die from anticipation!”

It was the first story update of the esteemed [Akashic Archive].

Throughout work hours, the new story lingered in his mind, making it incredibly hard to bear!

With a pounding heart, the Crown Prince launched the [Akashic Archive] program.

Brrrm.

As the black intro screen faded, the lobby displayed the 4-star and 5-star characters he had summoned welcoming him.

“How’s everyone doing?”

Except for [Knight Ren], the rest were regular characters, all from sub-stories rather than the main story, but to the lovesick Crown Prince, they were all beloved characters.

“New story. A new narrative, huh?”

Until now, the story content released in [Akashic Archive] included the tutorial-esque main story, Knight Ren’s Act 0, and five side stories.

The side stories were simple content that players could enjoy after clearing Act 0, and though they held a vast scale, not many players had cleared them all.

This was a testament to how seriously the Crown Prince took [Akashic Archive], having completed all side stories despite his grueling royal schedule.

“Finally, your time to shine has come.”

As the Crown Prince pressed the start button for the new story, the characters surrounding him were absorbed into him.

The protagonist of [Akashic Archive] possesses the ability to absorb essences.

Through this, he could invoke the powers of Abyssal Creatures he defeated or figures from the past he connected with.

This setting was made to grant the protagonist a special quality while allowing him to use the abilities of characters obtained through summoning.

“Last time’s first test was perfect, Zeol. Not only did you repel the Abyssal invasion, but you restored the original narrative flawlessly as well.”

As the story mode began, the Crown Prince was met with the appearance of the head of the [Akashic Archive].

‘Restoring the original narrative. Is this about Knight Ren’s sacrifice while defeating the Queen?’

The Crown Prince had cleared the tutorial by defeating the ultimate boss, the Queen, but could not prevent Knight Ren’s sacrifice in the process.

It was a tutorial designed so that Knight Ren had to sacrifice herself for a full clear. The fact that reality’s Ren had cleared the tutorial while saving her was an exceptional case.

‘Though the original history was restored, it leaves a bitter taste.’

While he crushed the Legion of the Abyss and saved humanity, the hero had to sacrifice himself in the process.

The Crown Prince was slightly irked by the current headmaster’s policy of pursuing not a happy ending, but the restoration of actual history.

Swish.

As the headmaster waved his hand, a new book flew into his grasp.

“Now, it’s time for the second test. This one also concerns a story afflicted by the Abyss.”

The pages of the book turned automatically atop the man’s hand.

“This time, there’s something different. The Abyss has sent a lower being here. Ah, don’t worry. It’s not a top-level executive like a Demonic Star, judging by the magnitude of power observed. It’s likely just a subordinate minion beneath them… What? You’re worried it’s still dangerous? Hmm… If the Demonic Stars invaded through Abyssal Infestation, they could indeed exert influence beyond the story. In that case, our special powers as the headmaster wouldn’t affect them. Even if we reset the story and return to the initial point, they would not be affected.”

The Demonic Star at the peak of the Abyss.

Could I consider that the arch-enemy of [Akashic Archive]?

“But there’s no need to worry. If a powerful existence like a Demonic Star invaded, I would surely notice. And I wouldn’t have pulled it out as a test subject. Currently, the power measured in this story is nothing more than a few tiers lower than that. So, you can go in without worry. Even if something happens, I’ll be there, you know?”

The headmaster gave what he thought was a rather ominous smile.

The Crown Prince didn’t want to see such a man’s grin and frowned.

“If something happens, I’ll come to your rescue, so you don’t need to worry.”

Hah.

It doesn’t matter. If that happens, I can just turn off and restart the game.

It’s merely entertainment made for leisure.

The Crown Prince didn’t have a single hint of caution regarding danger.

Brrrm.

As the long, boring explanation from the headmaster concluded, light erupted from the book.

“Then let’s begin. The second test.”

A white light enveloped the Crown Prince.

Flap!

Opening his eyes once more, the Crown Prince found himself surrounded by a pure white space.

“Hero! You’ve opened your eyes!”

As the Crown Prince was about to collect his thoughts and rise from the sarcophagus, a girl suddenly jumped out and seized his hand.

Ding!

Along with this, a brief explanation announcing the start of the main story appeared before him like a hologram.

[Born to thwart the invasion of another world]

– You have been summoned to the underground sanctuary as a hero to fend off the monsters of another world. In this realm, humanity has retreated underground to escape the invading Abyss. You must reclaim the surface from the last bastion of humanity and stop the Abyssal minions that infiltrate through the gaps of the Abyssal Infestation.

…Hero?

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow.

It seems in this story, the protagonist’s role is that of a hero.

*

The Saintess, who introduced herself as Cartecia, guided the Crown Prince, now in the hero’s body, around the sanctuary.

“This is Sprite, the commander of the Paladin Order.”

“To have the hero join us! Our victory has drawn nearer!”

“This is Saloniir, the head mage of the sanctuary’s magical division.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Hero.”

“This is the one responsible for rations at the sanctuary….”

“This one is….”

The Crown Prince compared the visible sanctuary to the reality of his Empire.

It seemed woefully insufficient to fend off the invading Abyssal creatures.

With just this level of facilities and military force, destruction seemed imminent.

‘Is this world another dimension’s history rather than the actual continent’s history like the side story world?’

He had never heard of heroes or the destruction of sanctuaries due to Abyssal Infestation in the historical context.

Unlike during Knight Ren’s story, this world appeared to have no connection to the real world.

“The last is our Mage Engineering Department, responsible for the technology of our sanctuary.”

The Crown Prince followed the Saintess to a research facility located at the edge of the sanctuary.

“This is Ian, the head of the Mage Engineering Department.”

As the Saintess introduced him, a man brushed up his glasses and shook the Crown Prince’s hand.

“I am Ian Kalyuga. It’s a pleasure.”

Ian Kalyuga.

His intelligent yet kind appearance was the very essence of a typical researcher.

Therefore, at this moment, the Crown Prince couldn’t even imagine.

That this character would be the core of the story, the villain that runs through the narrative, and… someone he would want to resemble the most.