Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Sub-Heroine (1)
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Before I entered this game, back in reality, there was a time when I wandered aimlessly in the heat of my youth.
That period ended leaving behind a sad wound and a profound sense of loss that 5,700 characters couldn't express, but anyway, what I realized then was the 'opportunity to put in effort.'
There is a time limit even for firmly deciding on the field you want to pursue and putting in effort without waste. Effort itself isn't a given opportunity for everyone. That's the fact.
So when I first encountered D/Z SAGA, I cursed like crazy.
Yeah.
The time limit in D/Z SAGA was insanely tight.
This game was designed around multiple playthroughs from the start, with tons of content unlocking from the second round onward.
The Gate of the Demon Realm in Filtias's route is a prime example.
Anyway, the system's "go to round 2" was a huge middle finger, and it frustrated me to no end.
Following the system, I pushed into round 3, 4, and beyond.
After clearing the final boss of Filtias's route in one turn on my first save file at round 283, I felt it.
'Is this... the D/Z SAGA I wanted?'
'Is this playstyle really mine?'
'No. With the initial freshness gone, is this easy Jefrin life really what I wanted?'
My post drew countless affinity nickers, trolls, and floaters in the comments.
No.
No, kids.
That's not it.
I'm not trying to quit...
Amid the endless praise and encouragement from countless cafe members, a post saying 'At this point in the game, shouldn't the devs invite him and buy him a meal?' hit concept post status and racked up about three hundred recommendations.
And from then on, I stubbornly stuck to pure round 1 playthroughs.
From speedruns to no-Kelters runs, Eve route without using Eve, planting all death flags in Regina route and surviving... the only failure was surviving Professor Rudika.
Anyway, for these round 1 runs, the absolute essential was early-game buildup.
Since D/Z SAGA has such tight time management, you can't mess around with character growth each round.
For example, suppose you build Kelters with 17 Magic Power and 17 Strength.
What if 18 Strength or 18 Magic Power was possible, but you greedily went for both?
Noobs would say, 'Whoa, melee and magic both? God tier char!' But any D/Z SAGA player worth their salt would respond:
'Newbie, no harsh words, just delete that save and start fresh.'
The gap between 17 and 18 is extreme, and there's no jack-of-all-trades in this game.
Eve, the pure mage with 22 Magic Power, can lose to Rudika of equal skill. Rudika can fall to battle mage Aila. And a careless Aila can get lucky-punched by pure melee Kelters.
It's rock-paper-scissors, pure and simple.
To win rock-paper-scissors, you gotta commit to rock, paper, or scissors—no half-assed bullshit.
I don't forgive scrubs making mediocre trash chars.
And I, with my keen self-awareness and sharp instincts, know exactly how to navigate this world.
A 'production dexterity' build.
Gather a bunch of strong party members, slap items on them, wrap 'em in buffs, plan tactics for them—become the ultimate support char.
No frontline thrill, but better than mediocrity. Peak efficiency at endgame.
"Plus, it helps the convenience store."
It's natural that higher production skills reduce costs for lower ones.
To stockpile all sorts of goods in the store ahead, production dex is the way.
And from now on, accelerate both store and self-growth in tandem.
Anyway, my grand plan.
Survive to Act 12, Chapter 45, live happily ever after as convenience store boss laughing ha-ha-ho-ho. To make this great plan real, every step from here counts double.
But crucially, from Act 4, it's 'individual heroine routes.'
However, no individual heroines for me.
Which means Wolfram's solo route begins now.
An unprecedented path even vet Yi Young-jin never saw!
This summer break. I get strong!
"Won't you go anywhere else, little brother?"
"Nowhere I particularly want to."
"No one invited you? That's... kinda sad, isn't it?"
"No..."
Filtias's question stung oddly sharp, but it didn't hurt.
Truth is, there were.
Even for a guy like me, kids invited me to their hometowns or to hang out over summer break.
Nefti wanted to show me Gluco Village, Mille-feuille asked me to go east together, Rudika offered to introduce her Shadow clan, Aila and Spica invited me to Eden, and finally Eve asked if I wasn't heading to the imperial palace.
But.
I'm not going.
"...No, I won't go out."
"Oh? Really? I thought summer break was a great chance for students to catch their breath?"
Truth is, considering Wolfram's canon end—kicked from the academy, stabbed, dead in five minutes—staying in Jefrin is safest now.
Need physical nullify items or at least resistance gear before venturing out. Otherwise, risky.
Above all. There's must-do business this summer break.
"I have business with you, Filtias sis."
"...Uh, yeah?"
"Prep for conquering the 【Gate of the Demon Realm】. No time for play this summer."
"Whew. Whew. R-right. So you're staying at the academy... for sis?"
"Not entirely. Other reasons too."
"I-see."
"But helping you is a big one."
"...Eek!"
Gate rewards are endgame content, so super juicy.
Can't do it right away, but gathering mats will make it happen.
"Hm. Honestly... it's no easy task. But I'll make it happen."
Filtias stared at me, then bowed her head deeply.
Well, can't do it instantly, so she's downcast.
But unavoidable. The Gate's hardcore content.
"Whew. Whew..."
Filtias's breathing grew ragged. Makes sense—she thought it'd be quick.
Don't worry. I'll find a way.
First off.
"Well then, shall we head out?"
"...Where to?"
"The most incongruous place, as far as I know."
"...You know sis can't leave Jefrin."
"What're you saying? It's inside Jefrin. Oh, Filtias sis."
"Yeah?"
"Got any good booze by chance?"
I pictured the side heroine's face.
Wonder if she's doing well?
And so, Patrascheu. Me. Filtias's trio opened the portal at the Eastern Forest entrance... and met the first person who'd know about the first emperor's relic burial spot.
El Pirane.
Sub-heroine and fairy queen.
And drunkard.
She greeted us in her proper form, which was bizarrely on point.
I expected her wasted, slurring 'Huuung can't eat monster meat anymore free me El Pirane baby cry cry.'
"Quite the surprise. To think the heir of my old friend would return."
"Fairy Queen El Pirane. You knew we were coming?"
"...Yeees. Sort of."
Don't lie. Booze on your breath.
Bottles rolling under the curtain behind her.
So this normal facade is forced... but why bother?
"Anyway, your companion has immense magic power... As fairy queen, I must treat unvetted guests as intruders. Just a heads-up."
Ah, that.
Filtias is young but a dragon, so she's sobering up to probe.
"Judging by the magic pattern, you're dragonkin... May I have your name? Oh?"
"As expected..."
The two stared, heads tilted. Like 'Why are you here?' with their eyes.
"Tia? The real Tia?"
"Long time no see, Aunt El Pirane."
"Oh my, oh dear. ...Hehe. I see. You're on this island too?"
"You two know each other?"
They nodded in unison at my question.
"Auntie fought alongside Papa against the demonkin."
"Hehe. Nostalgic. Challenged Hark, got crushed, forced into the Mid-Realm alliance to fight demons."
"So, comrades-in-arms."
"Comrades? Nah, I was one-sidedly protected. Thanks to Auntie, who knows how many dragons survived."
"The fire of youth, perhaps."
"Amazing story. Who knew we had this connection."
"...Hehe, really, thanks to little brother, I reunite with Auntie. Thanks, bro."
"Yeah. Never thought I'd see Tia again like this."
"Truly touching."
"Right? How've you been, Auntie?"
"Challenged Hark again after, crushed as you see, trapped here."
"Sad tale."
"Hehe. But that's why we reunite?"
"True."
"Fate's mysterious."
......
Damn.
Pretending ignorance and just chiming in is exhausting.
Truth is, I know their relationship well.
Three hundred years ago, the battle for Mid-Realm's fate. El Pirane fought by Hark, close as aunt-nephew with Filtias.
Then El Pirane yelled 'A world for humans only? No way!' led fairy army against Hark again, got wrecked, sealed in Jefrin.
But can't reveal I know.
I'm already scamming everywhere with first emperor talk—can't handle if it backfires here. Especially with El Pirane sniffing lies via magic pattern. High risk. So, chimes only. Safest.
The two otherworlders' chat dragged on. Meanwhile, I realized human brains can chime that much.
"Hehe... But yes. You're trapped in this model garden too."
"...Here, Papa's barrier lets me just guard the Gate. Papa protects."
"Great ancestor's barrier."
"But stuck here three hundred years because of it?"
"......Yes."
"So tragic."
Wondering if my chime pattern's thinning, I tilted my head—then El Pirane hugged Filtias's shoulder tight.
"Still, don't lose hope just 'cause you can't leave this model garden."
"...Yes, Auntie. Even ten thousand years here, I can endure. With you here."
Huh?
"What're you saying? You can leave."
"......Heir?"
"......Bro?"
Whoops. But hearing 'can't do it in D/Z SAGA' makes my mouth run before I think.
"El Pirane's vow breaks if 【someone beats her one-on-one】. Filtias sis's if 【fully seal all Gates】. Both doable."
They stared wide-eyed, then smiled softly.
What? Think I can't?
"Hehe. Thanks for the comfort, heir."
"I'd rather challenge harsh reality than console with nonsense. El Pirane. I'll free you."
"...Eek."
"Bro? Sis is fine. Even if Gate fails, Auntie's here."
"Same for you, Filtias sis. Why'd I come today? Think I'm some miraculous reunion bluebird? No. Here to realistically get you out of Jefrin."
"...Eek."
"Don't worry. I'll take you outside."
They stared intently.
"Tia. Thinking the same?"
"...Probably, Auntie."
"Eight hundred year age gap... fine, right? Could turn him fairy..."
"Short lifespan worries me... half dragon heart makes half-dragon..."
They gazed blankly, muttering cryptic stuff.
"Jefrin summer break's short. Let's prep."
Same time.
Imperial library.
This bastion of silence and serenity issues no entry passes to commoners, but royals roam freely.
Total volumes: about eight million three hundred thousand.
The golden-haired princess, who greeted the emperor briefly post-summer return home then dove into the library, trembled with rage.
"You said it was in the Imperial Central Archive!"
"P-Princess!"
"Searched everywhere—no dice! Where the hell did you get that knowledge?!"
"P-Princess! Calm down!"
Eve von Loengrin.
Containing the wrath of the 'natural disaster' with Magic Power 22 was near-impossible for mere attendants, but this archive embodied 300 years of Loengrin history.
Bound by duty to die trying, the attendants stood before Eve.
"That uselessly vast, precise knowledge! From this archive! But n-nothing, not one bit here!!"
"Princess! Please calm down!"
"Calm? I wanna punch 'em!! Where'd the info come from?! WOLFRAAAAAM!"
Eve's war with eight million three hundred thousand volumes had just begun.