Creating the Fourth Route

As the wind picked up and brushed against my cloak, I stared at the moon, its right half illuminating over the spires. A nauseating pit formed in my stomach, and my shoulders grew heavier the more I realized my situation… and my severe lack of time.

The Falling Ash Calamity was… a mass execution event by Queen Verisette. With the help of four demon generals, she’d perform a ritual encompassing the whole capital city once the full moon arrived, sacrificing everyone in it, for godlike power. This was a plot twist in the hero route, a shocking surprise in the neutral route, and an inevitable outcome for the villain route of the prologue. No matter which route the player chose, blood would always spill.

Apparently, the game writers thought it was the best way to show that “actions have consequences” and convince players to make better decisions when they move onto the next region.

In other words, Grovendale Kingdom was treated like nothing more than a massive plot device. That was why it was considered a prologue chapter, after all.

I never liked how the story went, but who was I to speak up on that? I was hired to make the game, not judge the story.

“This is so not fair,” I mumbled under my breath, kicking a pebble. “Why do I have to deal with this stupid calamity? Those assholes wrote it, not me…”

…I suppose I was still guilty nonetheless, since I did work on it too.

I took a slow, deep breath of resignation and resumed my stroll, observing the shadowy streets and buildings as I passed by. Looking at it up close, it really did feel like walking through a scene straight out of medieval history.

But this was the present, and it wouldn’t have a future for long. I found it hard to believe that this was my new reality.

What… should I do? How could I, a complete nobody who’d never fought for survival up until now, achieve anything?

The only route that could prevent The Falling Ash Calamity and save the most people was obviously the hero route, but that was only unlockable after getting imprisoned by Silvestine. All I had to do was act like a naive, wannabe hero back then, but if I couldn’t even do something as simple as that, how could I even save a whole city?

Consumed with these thoughts, I wearily dragged my feet through the streets until I stopped before an inn. It was as if my subconscious had been telling me that I needed sleep more than anything right now, and honestly? After everything that happened today? My mind and body felt like it was on the brink of collapsing.

So, after checking I had enough coins left, I booked for a night and called it a day.

❖❖❖

Moonlight pierced through the arching glass windows and shone on the red carpet covering the royal hall. Four figures in dark attire stood before the throne, occupied by a woman with blonde hair and dressed in red silk and gold. The queen leaned against an armrest and tapped her fingers on the other, gazing at the moon.

“And so, another day passes,” said a masked, slender demon dressed as a red jester patterned with checkers and stripes. “Oh, I can’t wait until the full moon arrives! It’ll be the spectacle of the century! Kyahahaha!”

“Calm down,” said a pale little girl in a frilly, purple dress with long, black hair. “We still have about a week left before it’s time.”

“Mm, yeah, I know, I know. Ugh, why can’t we do it sooner?” he whined.

“The full moon is a necessary environmental condition,” said a towering, bull-headed warrior, one with a gruff voice. “That is when the flow of magic is at its highest, which will be the only time a ritual of this scale can succeed.”

“Yes, yes, I know that too. It pains me to see how… civilized you all have become. Boohoo, where did everyone’s enthusiasm go?”

“Can you blame us?” a succubus with pink and white hair interjected. She folded her arms and squinted at her masked colleague. “Once it happens, we’re basically going to war again. That means we’ll have to work even harder from now on. Ugh, I’m tired just thinking about it.”

“You should be more honored that our king has chosen you to be one of his ambassadors for this alliance, Lady Silvestine,” said the bull demon. “The fate of the world’s order relies on whether we succeed in this mission.”

The masked demon cackled. “Fate? Order? Mallie must be a fool choosing me then! I don’t give two sh—”

Out of nowhere, a giant pair of scissors gleamed under the moonlight and sliced through the masked demon’s throat. He exploded into a cloud of confetti and balloons before he regenerated back into his normal form.

The little girl narrowed her dull, glossy eyes. “I will not tolerate any disrespect to Lord Malistraeus,” she said, pointing her scissors. “Did you already forget what he told you? You have the most important role here. Don’t disappoint him.”

“Ooh, how scary,” said the masked demon. “Someone’s jealous, I see. Maybe I should tell him how you casually decapitated his favorite subordinate! Kyahaha!”

“Argh, I’ve had it with you—!”

“Enough,” the bull demon interrupted. “It’s rude to bicker in front of Her Majesty.”

Queen Verisette, still keeping her eyes on the moon, said, “I will allow it. These halls will never hear noise again in due time.”

“Well said!” said the masked demon, throwing a thumbs-up. “How should we spend our last days together, then? Ooh, about we throw a party?”

“No,” said the bull warrior.

“Aww. Oh, oh, then what about—”

“No,” said the little girl this time.

“I didn’t even get to say what it was!”

She rolled her eyes and scowled. “It’s going to be something stupid like blowing up someone’s house ‘because it’s funny.’”

“It is funny! Wait, no, that’s not it this time!” His mask warped into a wicked grin. “I meant to say we should check out that new outsider!”

Silvestine flinched and shot a look of exasperation. “Did you not listen to any of what I reported from the meeting?”

“Why, of course, I did. That’s why I suggested that, duh.”

“What, you don’t believe that he’s bad news?”

“I do.”

“...Eh? Really?”

“Yes, really. There’s no way you have the brains to make up that kind of story.”

She twitched an eye, and a vein swelled at her jaw. “Your Majesty, may I burn him to a crisp?”

“Eek, how violent, haha! If you think you can kill me, what makes you so scared of that human, then? Isn’t he just like me but, oh I dunno, sane?”

“You don’t know until you see him!” said Silvestine. “I’m telling you, his swordplay was weird!”

“And I want to see! That’s why I’m so, so, soooo curious!” The demon swayed his shoulders, his mask distorting into full-blown laughter. “A complete outsider who managed to cut up your little pet by using such bizarre skills? He sounds like my long-lost kin! Hey, you don’t think he’s actually one of us, do you?”

“Fat chance. He’s definitely human.”

“Do refrain from meddling with uninvolved parties,” said the bull demon. “We mustn’t forget to prioritize this mission above all else.”

The queen slowly stood up, finally turning her gaze back on the four. “As long as the outsider doesn’t interfere, he is none of our concern. We have about a week until all preparations are complete, and until then, continue to be on full alert.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said three of the ambassadors, bowing.

“Yes, Ma’am!” said the masked one, saluting.

Queen Verisette nodded. “You’re dismissed.”

All at once, the four demons disappeared into the shadows, leaving echoes and traces of their presence before it all fell to silence.

The queen stared at the empty halls before turning to the moon again, and after one last look, she turned around and marched into the darkness, her green eyes filled with bottomless, raw hatred.