Throw Yourself into This Play
“I wish to express my deepest concern regarding this tragic incident. Furthermore…”
How many minutes has this been going on? What kind of consolation drags on this long? Growing irritated, I finally stood up. Fortunately, Lily had arranged for my seat to be at the very back. Since I was listed as a mere mercenary rather than part of the Church’s entourage, no one paid me any attention.
The attack on the cathedral was to be officially attributed to a suicide bombing by the Demon God Worshippers. After their underground base was raided, they had prepared a retaliatory strike, using the mana rift effect to stage a kind of bomb terror attack. The main point was that they had used their own bodies as the source. More precisely, it had been the work of their core members—those commonly called Demonic Humans—but revealing that was still premature. Following my judgment, Lily had decided to wrap things up that way for now.
“Is this really all right?”
Iris had somehow followed me and now asked cautiously. She was questioning the decision to frame it as a suicide attack while deliberately omitting any mention of the Demonic Humans. When the Church—when the Saintess herself—said such things, people had no choice but to believe it. Even if it was a well-intentioned lie, a lie was still a lie. That seemed to be what Iris thought.
“Of course it isn’t. Not in the slightest. But right now, it has to be this way. There’s no other choice.”
The world had always been a place that could be manipulated through fear and terror. If word spread that there existed people terrifying enough to launch an attack even with the Saintess openly present in the city, the Demon God Worshippers would be delighted and become far more active. Rather than let that happen, it was better to plant anger in the general public instead. The Demon God Worshippers used their own bodies like bombs. Someday, they would burn away everything—your loved ones, your families, your friends, your homes and possessions. Framing it that way was the lesser evil.
“I don’t like using fear like this.”
“Because it’s the method that works best. It’s exactly how the Demon God Worshippers operate.”
“So now we have to use the same tactics? That can’t be right, Master.”
“…”
Iris’s voice carried more sorrow than accusation, yet that very quality made her words cut even deeper. The very people who should despise the Demon God Worshippers most were now employing the same methods. Instead of guiding them toward the right path with hope and light, they were trying to control the masses through fear, terror, and rage. For Iris, who had been taught to hate the Demon God Worshippers above all else and to erase them from the world, this was probably difficult to accept.
“I understand what you’re saying. I also think it’s wrong.”
“Then it’s wrong. Isn’t there a better way?”
“What if there isn’t? What if this really is the best option? Would you still refuse to choose it even then?”
“That’s…”
“Let’s say we tell the truth, just like you want. The ones who attacked even though the Saintess was here weren’t ordinary Demon God Worshippers carrying out some reckless suicide mission. They were Demonic Humans who came specifically to kill the Saintess—powerful enough to threaten the Heroes themselves. We nearly faced a catastrophe. If we said that, how do you think the people here would react? Would they grow more hostile, or would they become afraid?”
I was certain it would be the latter. Even ordinary monsters passing through inspired fear in these people. How much greater would that fear be toward beings as vicious as the Demonic Humans? The Demon God Worshippers exploited precisely that fear. The only way to survive an inescapable terror wasn’t to overcome it, but to stand beside the source of that terror and seek its protection. To the monsters themselves, such an idea would be absurd—they existed only to kill and destroy, beings that didn’t even belong to this world by the game’s logic. They would simply follow their instincts regardless of whether the world worshipped them or not. But the Demon God Worshippers didn’t care about that. They believed the only path forward was to end the world completely and die together with it.
“People will definitely tremble in fear. They believed that as long as the Heroes existed, the world would someday become safe. But now that belief is gone. An enemy capable of threatening even the Heroes has appeared, and they’ll think death will come before salvation. In the end, they’ll succumb to that fear and fall into something unthinkable.”
“…”
“Our enemies keep increasing, but we have no reliable allies, Iris. That’s why I’m relying on all of you. This fight is going to be a very lonely and very long one.”
I had searched the entire world, wondering if there might be something I had missed. There had been other characters besides the ones I raised. Even if I hadn’t chosen them, other players had definitely raised and nurtured them! Yet no matter how thoroughly I searched, the Heroes were the only ones who existed. The characters I hadn’t raised simply weren’t there at all. Only then did I realize the truth: this world had been built around me, the player.
“Master.”
Iris quietly moved closer and slowly took my hand, bringing it to her face.
“I know full well the kindness you’ve shown me—from Garam all the way down to myself. A debt we could never repay even if we died trying. I can see it just by looking at the others’ faces. Just as you were to me, you must have been a benefactor or even a parent to them. I’ll follow whatever you say. After all, this life itself was saved by you.”
“…”
“If you act and speak without the slightest hesitation, I’ll follow you completely.”
Her voice and gaze were so solemn that I almost wondered if this was really the same foolish disciple, Iris Futurewalker, I knew. What could I even say? It felt as though an entirely different person had taken her place.
“But there’s one thing that worries me.”
“…What are you worried about?”
“I wonder if you yourself might be hesitating inside. Even if there are other methods, perhaps you’re stubbornly clinging to just one and deliberately turning a blind eye to the rest.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, you foolish disciple.”
“Yes, I’m a fool. That’s why I can only understand one thing. That I must become a Hero who saves this world. That’s the only thing I’ve understood. Using fear, terror, and incitement just like the Demon God Worshippers… that part I can’t easily accept.”
“Iris, that’s…”
“Maybe it’s because I’m stupid, because I’m an idiot, because I only know one thing. But… I never want to see even you become just like them. You’re the master of the Heroes. The Heroes are your disciples.”
“…”
This… this was definitely not Iris. It wasn’t something she would say, nor the atmosphere she would give off. Absolutely not. I felt an overwhelming urge to grab her by the shoulders and demand to know who she was. But what stopped me was the very “doubt” she had pointed out—the question I had been carrying myself.
Was this really the right way? Would simply fostering hostility toward the Demon God Worshippers be enough? When I thought about it, what my disciples and I were facing was the world’s own malice. Even in the game, the characters hadn’t fought this way. The Heroes had always spread hope, trying to guide others toward the light however they could. They had wanted to become hope themselves, performing acts of selfless kindness and duty. The people in the game had cried out the names of the Heroes they believed in. They had praised them, seen them as light, and considered them their only hope. Rather than relying on fear or terror of the Demon God Worshippers and monsters, they had drawn courage from thinking of the Heroes who stood before them.
“…Iris.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Let’s talk about this again later.”
“…You could do it now.”
“Now isn’t the right time. From here on, things are going to get busy.”
Earlier, while thinking about the Fragment of the Demon God, one question had occurred to me. The creature had clearly seen me and could have easily started a fight. Yet it had only taken the twins and the Demonic Humans before retreating swiftly, as though it believed fighting me would put it in a very troublesome position. I couldn’t land any effective blows on the Fragment of the Demon God. No matter what that thing did to me, I couldn’t do anything in return. Even so, it had chosen to retreat immediately. Why? What had led it to that decision?
The conclusion came to me faster than expected.
It doesn’t know.
I knew I couldn’t harm the Fragment of the Demon God. Why? Because I had played this game extensively. Because I knew the setting. Because I knew that only Heroes could defeat the Fragment of the Demon God. I was merely an outsider who had come to this world—I wasn’t a Hero meant to protect it! But the Fragment of the Demon God didn’t know that. It might think I was a Hero. No, it almost certainly did. If it had judged that it couldn’t handle me with only the injured twins and itself, then its decision to flee immediately made perfect sense.
“I’m not sure if listening to you is the wise choice, foolish disciple. But now that I think about it, this might not be so bad either. So…”
So, I decided to give it a try.
Soon, Lily would make the Church’s official statement. She would strongly condemn the nonexistent suicide attack by the Demon God Worshippers and attempt to stir up public anger against them.
Tap, tap.
The moment Lily stepped onto the platform, I sent a pulse of energy toward her—something only she could sense. Fortunately, it reached her before she opened her mouth. Lily turned her gaze precisely toward where I stood.
“…”
I shook my head. Don’t do that. Do this instead. Her expression stiffened slightly, as though asking if I was serious. I gave her a small smile. It meant that doing it this way wouldn’t be so bad either.
“Everyone.”
In the end, Lily nodded as if she would follow my lead and opened her mouth.
“The ones responsible for this incident are Demon God Worshippers, but they are not the same as the ones you know.”
“They are the core force among those evil beings. They are also called Demonic Humans.”
“It pains me greatly to say this, but they are powerful. If their mission had succeeded, perhaps I would not be standing here before you today.”
“They are strong. Perhaps as strong as the Heroes themselves.”
The sudden declaration startled the various Church officials. But no one was more shocked than the general public. The Saintess was herself one of the Heroes, and now a Hero was saying such things. Murmurs spread rapidly through the crowd. Instead of words of certain victory from a Hero’s mouth, there were words that amplified anxiety. They had believed the Heroes would surely win—so now what? If the Heroes fell, would everyone really die?
That restless unease was transmitted clearly.
“Therefore, there is someone I would like to introduce to you.”
Lily stepped back slightly. It meant that preparations were complete, and now only the choice remained. I began walking forward slowly. Until now, I had been content to remain an outsider who had drifted in from elsewhere, thinking it would be enough to play a supporting role. But this path seemed far more certain. Stepping directly onto this stage. Throwing myself into this play. Perhaps that was the most reliable method after all.
I ascended the platform. Lily retreated further and knelt, bowing her head. It was an extremely embarrassing and awkward situation, but it would serve as the perfect smokescreen.
“I greet the Master.”