Drink your justice(4)
One of the reasons I'd been thinking this way was because following the original story's plotline had kept producing new clues. The Blood Knight in Chapter 1. Cardinal August in Chapter 2. Both were deeply connected to Cthulhu, and through them we'd gradually been approaching the world's truth.
'The protagonist of Chapter 3 is Luna. So the answer is probably heading to the elves' forest.'
Yggdrasil. The massive tree in the elves' forest where their souls reside, a place where the departed can linger. …In the original game, it had burned down and vanished. But now that I'd been reincarnated into the past and protected it, variables had emerged.
"Demian, I had a nightmare."
"…What kind of nightmare?"
"A dream where I heard the death cries of all the past Heroes."
It occurred to me that the only place they could have left traces while evading Cthulhu's gaze was there. …Was that why the original had burned it down?
— My name is Hero □■□■! Even if I die here, the Hero's soul! Humanity's will shall endure forever!
I chewed over the memory that sounded like the First Hero's last words.
"The First Hero's name had four characters… and he said the Hero's soul doesn't disappear, but continues."
It might have sounded absurd, but—
"So is that why the First Saint held onto her lingering attachment and waited for Shade?"
Demian nodded as if he knew everything. …Had he been secretly peeking at what happened in the Holy Kingdom's basement through his future sight?
"Probably."
I let out a deep sigh. I'd already been reincarnated from the real world into this one. Since it had happened once, I didn't think it was impossible a second time.
"Anyway, it seems the First Hero judged that he lacked the power to kill Cthulhu on his own."
"So he planned for the future? Through the continuation of souls?"
"At least, that's what I think."
I nodded at Demian's words. The First Hero and Saint were probably the first to grasp the truth of this world. …If they'd achieved victory, this world wouldn't be the way it is now.
— One sword may not be enough, but hundreds, thousands of swords might be able to kill ■□■.
The next Hero wouldn't have left words like that. This had to refer to Cthulhu.
"The Second Hero probably… also sought a way to kill Cthulhu. Not alone, but by gathering everyone's strength."
"But he failed, right?"
"Yeah. That's why the Third Hero chose to run away."
I gave a small nod at Demian's words. It was just like the original Cthulhu Mythos. Humans struggle against gods from beyond, but—
— Run away. There is no □■ in this world. Saving even one more life is my only mission.
In the end, they fall into helplessness. The filtered word was probably "hope." It was a shame I didn't know the First Hero's exact name…
"If we go through Yggdrasil, we should be able to learn more."
In the end, everything converged on one point. The truth of this world that Yuho had spoken of. It was that this place was being encroached upon by the Cthulhu Mythos—and to overcome it, we'd have to gather as many stories as possible and face it head-on.
"Demian, could you bring me my dagger? I'm still not strong enough to get out of bed."
I'd had a good idea and made the request, but—
"…You're not thinking of doing something bad, are you? Like self-harm."
His expression had darkened strangely. What was this? He seemed a bit sulky.
"Says the guy who can see the future."
"But asking for a sharp object after learning about an Outer God is dangerous."
…He had a point. People who encountered Outer Gods often tried to gouge out their own eyes or committed suicide from the endless despair. That was probably why Demian had avoided mentioning his ability and tried to hide the truth as much as possible.
"I just want to engrave a name on the dagger. No other intentions."
I gave a small smile to reassure him and explained.
"What name?"
"Carnwennan. Same as the weapon from the myth I know."
I wanted to engrave the same name as the dagger from King Arthur's legend. Originally it should have the effect of hiding the user's appearance, but… I could mimic something similar with Shadow Wolf Phantom's power.
"Will it… have an effect?"
"Maybe not right now. But faith gains power the more people believe in it."
It might become useful later. Right now, I had to scrape together even the smallest amount of power. The Holy Sword Einherjar. Saint Lavi with Huginn and Muninn. And Yggdrasil in the elves' forest. …No matter how I looked at it, there were many motifs taken from Norse mythology.
"A person's name works the same way. If you build achievements as a Hero, the word 'Demian' will become famous too."
Calliope or Isabella probably had meanings as well. Was it from the Bible, or Greek mythology? Many things came to mind, but my head was too cluttered to sort them out properly.
"…I actually don't like becoming famous."
"Really? I thought you were obsessed with the Hero position."
"I used to be. Back when I believed without doubt that as the Hero chosen by the Lord God, I could change the world."
Demian wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, his lips pulling sideways.
"…But after living life, there were too many difficult things."
Honestly, having a male companion made this kind of conversation easier. Game characters were defined more by their narrative and setting than their design, so showing these human sides made even another guy think well of them. In gacha games, male characters with cool visuals or good stories often became idols to male players.
"Even though you know the future?"
"Of course. Knowing your own future isn't a blessing—it's a curse."
Demian smiled bitterly and removed his hand from my forehead.
"It's an ambiguous talent, isn't it? If I'd known the future clearly, I might have had some hope."
An ambiguous talent was like a curse. …He wasn't wrong. If I'd had no talent at all, I wouldn't have even started. And that regret becoming the boss was exactly what Chapter 3 was about. He was the complete opposite of Luna Moonwalker, but the result was similar.
"No, it would've been boring if that were the case."
But I didn't think so. Because we didn't know the end, this world was full of interesting things.
"…What's fun about a future that won't change no matter how hard you try?"
"But…"
"Even if this world is truly filled with evil, Demian."
I recited a passage I'd read somewhere and smiled at him. Even if it was a world being devoured by an Outer God, even if it was a world despairing over unfair talents, even if it was a world where one couldn't protect the person they loved…
"If you'd given up halfway, I wouldn't be here right now."
Because he hadn't given up on any of it and kept walking to the end, we'd found hope. Dying was easy, but living was hard. …I'd also been about to make an extreme choice after Yuho died, but changed my mind after reading the note she left behind.
"…So don't be too discouraged."
"Do I even deserve to be?"
"At least you landed a hit on that Cthulhu bastard, didn't you? You took care of the Cardinal and the Blood Knight too."
I placed my hand on Demian's head. …Normally I'd have patted his shoulder, but I didn't have the strength for that right now. It was a bit embarrassing between guys, but seeing his eyes redden made it hard to just watch.
"Pet me a little more, Master."
Then the Hero, crying and laughing, grabbed my hand and shook his head.
"…You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"Who knows? Woof."
He was still using that bet we'd made before. Guys tended to dig up embarrassing pasts to tease each other.
"Then I'll go talk to the others tomorrow."
After pulling that prank, Demian left the room with a much more relaxed expression.
"Don't worry too much and get some sleep!"
It was a relief, but… something kept bothering me.
* * *
Click.
Demian left the room with a smile on his lips. Ah, I couldn't let it show too much. Managing my expression when Shade patted my head had been difficult. …But I had to take responsibility. He was the one who approached me first, after all.
"You must have had a good time, Demian."
"Lavi."
Demian turned his head at the voice that came as soon as he left the room. The Saint who resembled a black crow. It seemed Lavi had been waiting near the door the whole time.
"…Let's talk for a moment. It won't take long."
"What is it about?"
Demian pretended not to notice Lavi biting her lower lip. This woman was jealous enough that it showed even with her face hidden behind a veil and wings. But I couldn't let him be taken away. I liked him first.
"…Did you do that on purpose even though you knew the whole truth?"
Lavi asked Demian with a slightly angry voice. The inn room on the second floor where only Shade stayed. A place where all the other companions were absent had now become the site of two women's romantic rivalry.
"It was a necessary sacrifice."
Demian immediately understood what Lavi was talking about. It was probably about the person who'd saved her when she was young.
"You could've at least given me a hint!"
"I never once said I was the one who saved you, Lavi."
But it wasn't entirely her fault either. Knowing this day would come someday. …
"You misunderstood on your own, misremembered on your own… Why are you blaming me?"
Because I'd deliberately kept my words vague. She wouldn't have believed me even if I'd told her. To defeat Cthulhu, Shade's existence had to be hidden as much as possible. Someone who didn't understand that anguish and sorrow.
"Ha. Haha… Demian, you were a frightening person. I didn't expect that."
It was too ridiculous that she was now arbitrarily talking about Shade.
"You, even though you're a woman, you've been hiding your gender until now. What exactly do you want…?!"
"…There's only one thing I want. It's the same now as it was back then."
The words slipped out without me realizing it.
"Because I liked Shade first. Because I wanted to reduce the number of competitors."
"…What?"
"So keep the secret for me too, Lavi."
This wasn't good. My greed was overflowing and leaking out. No. …Thinking about it, it wasn't a bad offer for Lavi either. If they were both after the same man, fewer competitors was better.