Chapter 5
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Episode 2 - Second scenario [1]
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At the end of the tunnel, there was a bright white light.
But...
Beyond that light, something different from what I had grown accustomed to in recent days could be seen.
"Forest."
The green color of the leaves, the grass, the blue sky, the clouds...
'What a load of crap...'
In reality, it was the complete opposite.
A world that could easily be called "End of the world" was the perfect description for what lay outside the sewers.
A black sky, as if a storm with torrential rain were about to break... but no. That was the sky. That was everything.
A forest with ash-black leaves. A ground without grass. Without sunlight.
A white light... but at the same time black. It was a visual contradiction, and yet it was real.
"This is the outside."
"I imagined something different, but this..."
Seth and Yuri.
In the novel, both had faces of unease, fear, and despair upon seeing the world where an "awakened" awoke.
'It's the same as in the novel.'
Of course, I looked at their faces. They were exactly as I had perfectly described them in the story.
Their reactions were quite accurate. Seeing a devastated world, without life or colors, there was no other kind of expression they could have.
'But... I feel the same.'
Now I understand why they reacted that way.
My first impression as the author of this story and creator of this world was the same as theirs.
'Well, what can you expect... after all, the title of the story includes the word "Ruins," so a view like this was to be expected.'
'Anyway, it's time...'
Suddenly, a golden-colored screen appeared in front of our faces.
— — — || Main Scenario || — — —
Category: Main
Difficulty: F+
Condition: Survive the underground prison.
Time Limit: None.
Reward: 500 coins.
Failure: Death.
Progress: Completed.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
「500 coins obtained as a reward for the main scenario」
A square screen and then a rectangular one appeared almost simultaneously.
「The second main scenario will begin soon」
A third message appeared shortly after.
"That means we survived... for now."
"Yes."
The three of us had a smile, though somewhat forced.
'I should have added more coins as a reward...'
In 'The Hero in a Ruined World', coins were of great importance.
They were used to increase stats, level up skills, and after the second scenario, you could access the store, where there was a variety of crucial items.
500 coins weren't much. The second scenario was more difficult and granted 1,000 coins as a reward.
Thinking about it, I should have put more from the start.
'Well, this is enough for now...'
And just as I was about to check the Survival Window, a new notification appeared.
「You have contributed to the death of 138 Giant Rats of Lv 3 and Lv 2」
「Reward: 690%」
「You have killed 89 Giant Rats of Lv 3 and Lv 2」
「Reward: 445%」
「You have reached Level 11」
"....."
'Wow...'
I hadn't realized all the accumulated rewards for killing so many giant rats over these two days.
The path to the sewer exit was long. And the giant rats were its rulers.
'While I did level up several times...'
I looked at Seth, then turned my gaze back to the notifications.
Seth should be at level 23. He killed several orcs on his own before joining the group.
Orcs were the ones that granted the highest percentage.
Of course, killing lots of rats also gave experience, but let's not forget that Seth took down plenty on his own as well.
'I've only killed a few orcs and rats...'
Seth's skills were very powerful. As the protagonist, I gave him some pretty good abilities for the start. An OP protagonist, as it should be.
'Survival Window.'
A golden screen appeared before my eyes.
— — — || Survival Window || — — —
「Zeth Dover」
Rank: F
Level: 11 「35%」
「Stats」
Strength Lv 23 | Endurance Lv 22 | Agility Lv 22 | Magic Power Lv 24
「Stigmas」
Obtained: Requiem of Devoured Souls
「Skills」
Weapon Master Lv 1 | Intellectual Genius Lv 1 | Perfect Synchronization Lv 1 | Instinct Mastery Lv 2 | Step Master Lv 1
「Coins: 500」
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Seeing the updated Survival Window, a smile formed on my face.
Then I touched each of the stats. A "+" symbol appeared on each one, and they all rose to level 30.
「500 Coins have been used」
「Strength Lv 23 → Lv 30」
「Endurance Lv 22 → Lv 30」
「Agility Lv 22 → Lv 30」
「Magic Power Lv 24 → Lv 30」
Seeing the change once again in the Survival Window, my smile widened even further. I couldn't help but clench my fists, satisfied.
Then I looked at Seth.
'Now we're almost even in stats, Seth.'
Seth had all his stats at level 40, perfectly balanced.
You might wonder why they're so close.
There's a hidden 'Sub-scenario' if you manage to max out all stats, that is, to Lv 100, which is the limit for rank F.
'To change the story, I need to obtain the best benefits I gave to the protagonist. In that case, I must become, at least in part, him.'
But there was a problem.
Becoming the protagonist entirely would make Seth lose relevance… and that would be a fatal mistake for the final scenarios of the story.
"It's better to distribute the rewards equitably, so both of us will be on equal footing."
The guy behind the screen mentioned that I had to change the story.
That's what I'll do… but not in a drastic way, like killing more than one main character.
"It's true… there will be a death among the protagonists."
If more than one dies, like in the original story, it would not only change the entire course of events, but even the ending could lead to my death… and I wouldn't get any answers.
I don't want that.
"That's why it's better to preserve the essentials and modify certain things little by little."
But…
"If I do all this with my identity, it would be dangerous. After finishing the second scenario… I should get a mask and create a second identity."
At that moment, a long sigh escaped my lips. I turned around slowly, preparing myself for what was coming.
「The Scenario Administrator will appear in a few moments」
The Scenario Administrator…
They were beings with power close to that of the constellations.
While the constellations watched us as if we were part of a movie, the administrators ensured that said movie had no errors or deviations from the script.
Above all… the scenario administrators could even kill participants if they deemed it necessary.
"It's better to be careful… especially with this one."
A pillar of white light appeared in front of us. It was like seeing the light of a door opening, illuminating everything around it.
A man stepped out of it. An elegant white suit, golden hair and eyes, his hairstyle impeccable, without a single flaw. His gestures were refined, like those of a royal butler.
"Hmm… the other participants haven't arrived yet, but the first scenario has already ended."
The man snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, a blue glow enveloped the area around me. One by one, people began to appear.
Some terrified, others covered in blood. Psychopaths, lunatics, the wounded… Dozens of people, each with different expressions and states, emerged out of nowhere.
They were confused, stunned, looking around without understanding anything.
'Clap! Clap!'
At that moment, the man in the white suit drew everyone's attention with a radiant smile on his face.
With that gesture, all the attention focused on him.
As if something had touched them from within, everyone slowly turned their heads toward the man.
And at that moment…
The bodies of every single person froze.
No one could move in the slightest not Yuri, not Seth, not me…
"Damn, this guy is completely insane if it's not about manners and that nonsense."
The man's mouth opened, and words came out.
"It's great to see the chosen ones brought to this world, where their lives will change completely. Now then, my name is Jerry. I'm the administrator of the scenarios, and I'll explain some things in each scenario: announcements, clues, and so forth."
"….!"
A terrifying silence spread across the small area.
No one could speak.
No one could move.
Everyone stood upright, with a straight, firm, and polite posture.
How could they not?
After all, it was this maniac of manners, Jerry, who had put us in this state.
"Ahem, very well, ladies and gentlemen. I'll give you a clue about the second main scenario. Also, keep in mind that you'll be living in this forest until the end of the second scenario."
Moving calmly, with his hands behind his back, Jerry continued.
"You can camp, gather resources like food and water in the forest, and so on. There are also 'Detours,' like hidden sub-scenarios where you can level up and earn coins… Oh, that's right, I haven't told you what to do with the coins, have I?"
I gritted my teeth as my body trembled from the effort of trying to resist that overwhelming presence.
"The coins are mainly used to improve your stats, enhance your skills, and buy things in the shop. But the shop won't be available for now."
"Now that I've explained about the coins, you're probably wondering what a Detour is. In your previous world, those who read novels, watch anime, or engage with things related to fantasy and magic know about what's called 'dungeons.' Detours are exactly that: dungeons. Here, they're called Detours. Keep that in mind."
Suddenly, Jerry stopped. His body slowly rose until he was floating in the air. He looked at us with a wide, chilling smile.
"Now, about the second main scenario…"
I froze, and my breathing grew unsteady with every passing second.
Jerry's presence was truly terrifying.
How could it not be?
"A being so close to the power of the constellations, someone so close to surpassing the SSS rank…"
His mere presence made it hard to breathe.
And even though Jerry was suppressing his entire existence before us, it was still suffocating.
"I'll give you a clue. No, I think it's more like advice: if you don't want to die, don't go to the city across the forest. That's all."
Then he snapped his fingers, and suddenly I could move, even speak.
"He really is a lunatic…"
I muttered under my breath as my body wavered. Even so, I stayed on my feet.
"The second scenario will begin now. Good luck, chosen ones."
A crack appeared behind Jerry. From the crack, a white light poured out, like the one we'd seen before.
Jerry walked toward it backward. Just as he was about to enter…
'Thump! Thump!'
My heart skipped a beat.
Jerry's lips moved. He seemed to be saying something.
'Thump!'
My heart sank, and I felt like it might leap out of my chest.
That was because of what he said, just before disappearing, while looking directly into my eyes.
"I'm not a lunatic."
Those words burned into my mind as Jerry smiled at me and stepped into the crack, vanishing completely.
"Ha… He really heard me say that…"
I nearly collapsed to the ground from the fear coursing through my entire body. My legs trembled, and I could barely keep my balance.
And it was at that exact moment that a notification appeared in front of me and everyone else.
「The second main scenario has begun」