Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Release - Demon's Relic (3)
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In conclusion, the hidden event didn't generate any additional side quests.
It was just an event, plain and simple, where the two characters fought and you could mediate through a choice afterward.
After all, there were 72 heroines.
They said each heroine had about zero to three hidden events, so implementing all of them would have been impossible with the available manpower.
I wasn't disappointed.
The reward was that unique and fun.
‘This is…?’
[Hidden Event Cleared.]
[Heroine Skills Synthesized.]
An alert popped up along with some dialogue.
[You want me to stay put if I don't want to die?]
*GRAB!*
Andras grabbed Murmur's head in her grasp.
As she squeezed hard enough for the veins on the back of her hand to bulge, Murmur let out a shriek, "Kyaaaang!"
That was the moment.
*RUMBLE!*
Murmur's hands trembled along with the vibration.
Andras clicked her tongue and turned Murmur's head toward a distant mountain.
Then, along with Murmur's scream, a shockwave shot forward.
*BOOM!*
[Synergy Skill: Grudge Emission Created.]
[While using synergy characters simultaneously, existing skills cannot be used.]
Han-su let out a dry laugh and checked the skill's options.
‘Not bad.’
A projectile skill where Andras grabs Murmur's head with an iron claw and fires a shockwave forward.
Not only was its range wider than Andras's original linear projectile, but it also came with a special effect he'd never seen before.
[Grudge Emission: Inflicts the 'Curse of Unlife' on enemies hit by the skill. Enemies who die while cursed are resurrected as vengeful soldiers.]
[Maximum Vengeful Soldiers: 3]
It seemed Murmur's necromancy skill was added to the projectile.
This had implications.
‘I can apply curse and projectile attributes at the same time.’
It was the moment he realized the game's core system.
‘Ah, synergy combinations.’
Who knew what kinds of bizarre combinations would be possible if he wanted?
Of course, using synergies with conflicting effects would only lower the deck's value.
His anticipation soared.
Han-su thought.
‘This is better than I thought...’
Is this a masterpiece?
It had become something more than just a waifu game.
The question of how they implemented such volume was outside Han-su's domain.
A single truth was simply at work in Demon's Relic.
Development Rule 0: Grind the developers, and the quality will rise.
A game steeped in someone's blood, sweat, and tears was, at this moment, clearly appealing to its users.
* * *
On the first day of Demon's Relic's release, the reaction was hotter than expected.
The synergies created through hidden events were just that surprisingly appealing.
One of the hottest synergies was a case in point.
『GuksinaGariyo: Holy crap lol, what the hell is this unicorn synergy? lmao
(Video of Amdusias freaking out and launching her horn like a missile the moment Paimon touches her)
(Screenshot of the 'Synergy Skill: Confusion, Fear, Bizarre' skillset)
Rewind, is this for real?』
It was the synergy skill between Amdusias and Paimon, commonly known as the Unicorn Missile.
It didn't just become a hot topic because the skill was funny.
Surprisingly, this ridiculous skill was made even more absurd because it followed the original lore from the 72 demons of Solomon.
『PoppyLetsGoForAWalk: (Info) Demon's Relic life pro tip.
Amdusias is a unicorn in the original lore.
Paimon is described in the original lore as a man more beautiful than a woman.
At the same time, in the Demon's Relic lore, he's Schrödinger's trap.
The unicorn has no choice but to be terrified...』
Of course, Amdusias was also implemented as a beautiful unicorn girl.
So it was bound to be hilarious.
A cute girl shrieking "Kyaaaak!" and launching her horn forward the moment she touches another cute girl—how could that not be comical?
It was even strong.
The horn, fired in a frenzy, exploded on impact, creating a mushroom cloud.
Just like a nuke.
『Han-su the King: Paimon's performance is top-tier, as expected....
My heart swells with pride...』
As the character Amdusias was highlighted, the otaku came up with another bizarre idea.
...Perhaps it was an inevitable step.
『BloodlordOfBangbae: So you're saying she's a virginity detector.
If you put her on the same team and do the camping event, she'll act like a radar, right?
IWantToQuitJaehee: ?
Han-su the King: Are you a genius?』
In reality, during the camping event with Paimon, Amdusias would tremble in confusion and try to distance herself from him.
This meant the feature wasn't entirely unimplemented.
And of course, that event was implemented in-game.
What kind of person was Rewind's director, Keisuke Nishimura?
A man who had lived his whole life obsessed with subculture, whose dream was to use the money he earned to enter a virtual reality and marry the beautiful anime girl who was his first love.
『WaitingForHellic4: ? How is this real?
(Image of Amdusias in front of a campfire saying, "It's nice here because there are no impure things.")
Are these guys really insane?』
Perverts make the best games.
It was a moment when an immutable truth proved its verity once again.
And so, Amdusias rose to stardom with the official release.
Her charm shone especially bright in the 'Contract Break Event,' known as the alpha and omega of Demon's Relic.
[No! Don't go! Please! I'm begging you! I-I don't want to become a bicorn! Take responsibility!!!]
The sight of her clinging in fear of becoming a bicorn if abandoned naturally stimulated the sadistic tendencies of some (the abuse faction).
Those with a strong experimental spirit actually tried breaking the contract, and the results made them admire the developers' attention to detail once again.
[Kyaaaaaaak!]
It happens.
She really becomes a bicorn.
Afterward, Amdusias transforms into a seductive figure with brown skin, black hair, and two horns, and her speech becomes cynical.
On top of that, if you tried to break the contract again in this state, there was a gimmick where the event would be forcibly canceled, just like with Andras.
[Now? After turning me into this?]
Her eerie smile exuded a raw obsession.
The users cheered.
『Han-su the King: Nishimura!!! Copson!!! You guys should be the bosses of Rewind!!!』
By Yeon-ho's standards, this was the second coming of Demon's Relic.
This all-weather, AAA-class waifu game, into which capital and manpower had been ground, was on its way to becoming a highly acclaimed masterpiece.
Amidst this flow, the content that would drive the final nail was slowly revealed.
What else could it be but the very content that established the worldbuilding.
The main story.
* * *
Han-su decided to seriously start playing the main story eight hours into the game.
He'd procrastinated until now, busy researching new builds and searching for the heroines' hidden events.
But he couldn't put it off any longer.
No matter what, clearing the story was an indispensable requirement to participate in the achievement-hunting event.
Han-su's character returned to the starting point after wandering the map and thought.
‘So, the story is...’
The plot is about making all 72 demons kneel to obtain Lucifer's power.
What Han-su knew was that you used Lucifer's scent to proceed and the story ended when you finally reached Lucifer's citadel.
Along the way, you resolve conflicts between the demon factions.
You earn their trust, become their master, and gain more power.
That was the story revealed up to the third demo.
Han-su smoothly passed that part.
And then, a new map.
The moment a new story unfolded, he tilted his head.
"Huh?"
[But why did Lady Lucifer choose you, Master...?]
Andras asked, puzzled.
[Lady Lucifer has never permitted a contract with anyone before. She never even showed herself to us. If anyone had such intentions, she would just snap their necks....]
The foreshadowing began to unravel.
Lucifer was a demon who would never make a contract.
A demon who found even that desire impure.
But she permitted a contract only with the protagonist.
Why?
He was moving forward, harboring that question.
[This is...?]
Not much time was left before reaching Lucifer's citadel.
The main story achievement progress was around 80%.
[An angel's feather...!]
Paimon was on guard.
The other demons were the same.
There's a certain literacy that comes with being an otaku.
Once it was officially established that angels existed in this world, Han-su had a pretty good idea of what was going on.
‘Ah, so Lucifer is the traitor.’
Come to think of it, that's how the original lore goes.
Lucifer was a fallen angel who fell from heaven.
In Demon's Relic too, among all the heroines, only Lucifer had feathered wings.
Of course, their color was black, but the fallen angel setting was still valid.
It was reasonable to assume that Lucifer had hatched some plot, and because of it, angels had started appearing in Hell.
Waifu games, in the first place, don't usually have very deep main stories.
Most of them move within a predictable range, so Han-su expected the same.
The moment he entered Lucifer's citadel, his expectation turned into conviction.
[You've come this far.]
Han-su was reunited with Lucifer.
Behind the throne where she sat, a gate of brilliant light, unbefitting the ominousness of Hell, was stirring.
She was probably preparing to turn Hell into the land of angels.
At that moment, Han-su exclaimed, "Ah!"
It was because he remembered a piece of lore about Demon's Relic revealed in the early game.
—A demon bound by a contract will suffer damage to their soul if the contractor dies before the contract is fulfilled.
What was the flow of the main story?
It was about mediating the conflicts of each demon faction and becoming their master.
In fact, the demons considered the strongest in the world are automatically contracted at major story turning points.
If he lost to Lucifer in this state, Hell would be devoured.
‘They paid some attention to the foreshadowing, at least.’
His assessment ended there.
One truth was that Lucifer was the final boss, and the one he thought was a heroine was an enemy.
In other words,
‘She trampled on my pure heart?’
It was a moment that called for violence.
Jeong Han-su, age 26, a man who felt the sting of rejection acutely.
[Now, let us see the end.]
The battle began.
* * *
As befitting a final boss, Lucifer was strong.
Not just strong, but the mechanics themselves were so vicious that it made him think, 'No matter how different the developers are, it's still Rewind.'
He had already needed three tries on the first phase alone.
But who was Jeong Han-su?
The king of waifu games, a proud son of Korea, a merciless avenger who had to get back at anyone who rejected him!
In the end, he succeeded in defeating Lucifer.
Now, wouldn't it end with the protagonist becoming the king of Hell?
Just as he was thinking that.
[...Splendid.]
Han-su saw it.
Behind the kneeling Lucifer's back, behind her wings, a pure white incandescence was burning her.
It was the light from the gate of Heaven.
At that moment, Han-su belatedly noticed one thing.
‘Come to think of it...’
Lucifer had never once shown her back throughout the cinematic and the battle phase.
She had simply stood before the throne with her wings wide open.
In other words, she had been blocking the light pouring out of Heaven's gate with her body the entire time.
Han-su's eyes widened.
‘Wait, why!!!’
She wasn't a traitor!
As he was crying out, a cinematic began to play.
[I did not know you would grow so strong. You've exceeded my expectations. I am pleased.]
Lucifer reached out and caressed the approaching protagonist's cheek.
She gave a faint smile.
Her gaze turned to the gate of Heaven.
Her cheek began to burn.
[Those vermin from the heavens have always coveted this land. I have held them back for a long time. But, it seems that will be difficult now.]
[That is why I called you.]
[I will offer my body and soul to seal the gate of Heaven. I needed to prepare for it beforehand.]
[I needed a king to look after the children of this Hell in my stead, a master to mediate for those who know nothing but struggle.]
Lucifer's gaze turned back to the protagonist.
[Do not be sad. Such is the weight of the crown. I am simply glad to be able to fulfill my duty.]
She stood up, as if to change the mood.
She spread her arms benevolently.
[Now, you are the king of Hell.]
Han-su was a little dazed.
An assumption based on the clues given.
It was a magnificent trick that completely overturned it.
The entire structure leading up to the final battle was like that.
So he couldn't quite shake off the lingering emotion and was focusing on Lucifer's words.
[You may do whatever you wish. For you are the king of Hell. The seat of the strongest monarch.]
Lucifer asked.
[What is it that you desire?]
It was then.
*Ding!*
A choice appeared on the screen.
A choice with a strong sense of déjà vu, with the same nuance as the one he'd seen in the prologue.
[I desire power.]
[I desire you.]
In the prologue, he had to choose power.
But now, it was impossible.
The [I desire power.] option was grayed out and cracked.
A brilliant bookend.
Han-su felt a thrill.
His finger automatically chose the only remaining option.
[I desire you.]
*Click!*
When he pressed the button, Lucifer's eyes widened.
Soon, she smiled brightly.
[You wish for something empty. However...]
Lucifer approached and kissed the protagonist.
The brief, light kiss ended.
As Lucifer stepped back, her body began to be consumed by a brilliant flame.
[…If you wish for it, you may achieve it. For that is what it means to be king.]
She turned around.
She reached her hand toward the gate of Heaven.
*CRACK!*
A crack appeared on the gate.
A crack appeared on Lucifer's body as well.
*CRACKLE!*
Once again, the two began to distort simultaneously.
Immediately after.
[…May your power and authority be eternal.]
With Lucifer's whisper, a shattering sound rang out as the gate of Heaven and she broke apart like glass and scattered.
Glistening fragments flew through the space.
Among them, a single black feather fluttered down.
The protagonist clenched it tightly.
Then, an alert [You have cleared the 'Single-Minded Devotion' achievement!] appeared, and the ending credits began to roll.
Han-su was stunned.
The main story ended with Lucifer's death.
But Han-su couldn't give up.
‘Resurrection!’
They planted the possibility of resurrection in the dialogue.
They had to.
Before the lingering feeling of clearing his first playthrough could settle, Han-su opened the community forums.
『Han-su the King: Ah lol, stop messing around lmao
Give us the DLC lmao, or give us a sequel with the angels lmao
This isn't funny lmao
GuksinaGariyo: If they don't make a sequel, they've lost their touch. If they abandon this after that ending, I'm burning down their headquarters.』
The ending fanned the already blazing flames even higher.