"This city is already mine. Can't give it back!"
I stuck out my tongue at her.
"You think I would just give it back because it's originally yours? As if! To spit out power as sweet as a candy that's already been in my mouth! What a delusion!"
"..."
"This city is already claimed by Prince Ash!"
Evangeline, with an exasperated expression, froze in place, her mouth hanging open. Her eyes were wide with shock.
A chuckle escaped my lips. Perhaps it was time to tease her a bit.
"But! If you insist. If you insist on asserting your right as a successor."
I lightly tapped Evangeline's forehead with my fingertip.
"Under the condition that you, as a mere knight under my command, cooperate in defending this frontline."
"Damn..."
"When you become an adult, when you're mature enough to take responsibility for this city. If you keep assisting me diligently until then, and if your feelings don't change until then!"
I nodded emphatically.
"I'll give back the position of Margrave and the lordship. All of it."
"..."
Evangeline, unable to close her agape mouth, suddenly narrowed her eyes.
"Three years."
"Huh? What's in three years?"
"In three years! No, two and a half years, I'll be an adult. Let's see then."
Whether she was heated or happy to have a challenge, Evangeline passionately spoke to me with a subtly pleased expression.
"I'll earn your recognition! And I'll rightfully inherit both the title and the city."
Looking down at such a knightly girl, I curled one side of my lips into a smile.
"I'll look forward to it, Evangeline Cross."
Anyway, the strategy for this game takes about three years.
What does it matter if I return the city or not after that? I'll just throw a few more tickets at it.
We continued our staring contest for a moment, but eventually, both of us groaned in pain from our injuries and sat down on the bench.
After sitting silently for a while, basking in the sun,
"Can I ask you one more thing?"
Evangeline opened her mouth cautiously. I nodded in response.
"What is it?"
"When I was young, my mother told me."
Evangeline's face was distant as she brought up an old memory.
"That she knew living in this city, marrying my father, and giving birth to me would lead to sorrow and hardship."
"..."
"Even knowing this, she chose this path because of 'continuity'."
Evangeline gently shook her small head.
"What does 'continuity' mean? Why did she choose to live in this city, knowing she would face such an end... for the sake of 'continuity'."
"..."
"She said I would understand when I grew up, but even now, I still don't..."
"Is that so?"
I brought my fingertips together and placed them on the brow of the pensive Evangeline.
Pop!
I flicked her forehead.
With every ounce of sincerity, I poured all my available strength into my fingers.
"Arghhh!"
Evangeline, belting out a monstrous scream, clutched her searing red forehead and squealed.
"What, what is it?! Why are you hitting me?! What's going on! Why are you hitting me!"
"What's 'the thing that continues'?"
I lifted my index finger and pointed it straight at Evangeline.
Stupefied, she stared at me and hissed violently.
"Hey, what! You hit me and then quiz me! So what's this 'thing that continues'... huh..."
My finger, pointing at Evangeline, did not waver.
"...Huh?"
Only then did Evangeline's mouth slowly open as she realized the nature of 'the thing that continues'.
That's right.
"The 'path' your parents wished to continue, it's right here."
That's you, Evangeline.
"..."
Evangeline fell silent, frozen, as I gave her a sly smile and got up from my seat.
"Welcome back to the Monster Front, Evangeline Cross."
"..."
"Rest well for now. From now on, you'll be at my mercy."
Evangeline simply sat there, her hand on her forehead, with a blank expression on her face.
Leaving the child to gather her thoughts, I stepped out into the courtyard.
The sun was shining brightly. The weather was nice.
Looking over the sprouting plants in the courtyard garden, I murmured to myself.
"Spring is finally coming..."
***
"..."
Evangeline still sat in the courtyard pavilion, head bowed low.
'...I think I understand a bit now.'
Evangeline could faintly grasp her mother's intentions.
Her mother had made a resolute decision.
Despite knowing the pain of losing someone you love. Perhaps knowing that she might die a horrible death as a result.
Still, she chose to marry and give birth to a daughter. She loved with all her might.
To bridge the gap between people.
To pass on 'the thing that continues' to the next generation.
If there's a single reason humans fight against monsters, maybe that's it.
'Everyone in this city is living with the same resolution.'
Evangeline slowly raised her head and looked around.
Detecting the onset of spring, sprouts were blossoming from the ground frozen over the winter.
Though the stem might wither and the fruit might die, under the frost the flower will wilt and the leaves will decay beneath the permafrost.
But spring will come again, and the sprouts will bloom once more from the buried soil.
While everyone will die someday.
The 'thing that continues' is undoubtedly, right here.
'The Cross family didn't just leave death and dust behind.'
Evangeline clenched her fist in front of her chest.
Despite death and dust, in the end, the Cross family left their last heir - Evangeline Cross, here on this land.
'I think I understand a little, Mom. Dad.'
A faint smile crossed Evangeline's lips.
"I think I understand, just a little."
Because there was something to continue. People lived on this front line.
So, Evangeline will not stop either, she will pave the path behind her.
Because that is what the Cross family has been doing... No.
Because that's what everyone living here has done every day.
Evangeline, who had risen from her seat, left the courtyard, hobbling with the aid of her crutch.
Her whole body ached from the injuries, but her spirit was utterly invigorated.
It's spring.
Finally, it's spring.
***
[STAGE 3 - CLEAR!]
[STAGE MVP - Ash(EX)]
[Leveled-up Characters]
- Ash(EX) Lv.20 (↑5) (First job change available!)
- Lucas(SSR) Lv.35 (↑2) (Second job change available!)
- Evangeline(SSR) Lv.38 (↑2)
- Jupiter(SR) Lv.39 (↑1)
- Lilly(R) Lv.23 (↑2)
- Damien(N) Lv.30 (↑3)
[Injured or Deceased Characters]
- Ash(EX) : Severely Injured
- Evangeline(SSR) : Slightly Injured
- Damien(N) : Severely Injured
[Acquired Items]
- Golem Legion Magic Stone : 110
- Golem Legion Glove Fragment : 182
- Magic Stone Golem Magic Core(SR) : 5
[The stage clear rewards have been given. Please check your inventory.]
- N grade reward box : 3
- SSR grade reward box : 1
>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE
>> [STAGE 4 : World on the Chessboard]
***
Upon returning to the room, the Stage 3 settlement window appeared before my eyes.
"Huh, I'm the stage MVP?"
My eyes widened at the unexpected result.
It must have been because I monopolized the achievements in the orchard. I'm not even a combatant, but I got the MVP.
"Well, let's look at the other results one by one."
Since I hadn't participated directly in the defense this time, I intended to carefully review the details.
But then,
Zap!
A silver spark flickered from my neck, and I felt a sharp pain in it.
As I reflexively clutched my neck, a system window appeared before my eyes.
[??? Necklace - Unlocking function in progress.]
The item that had been marked as '??? Necklace,' which I had received as a tutorial stage reward.
The exact name of that necklace... was finally being displayed.
[Necklace of the Rebel(EX)]
- Necklace of the 'Player' who rebels against fate.
- You can use the exclusive shop with the achievement points you have accumulated so far.
In other words, it seems like it allows me to use the special shop with the achievement points I've accumulated.
"I don't know why it's called the Necklace of the Rebel, though."
The player rebels against fate?
It's the first time I've heard such a thing. I wonder if there's some hidden information.
"Hmm-"
After pondering, I set it aside for now and opened the achievement shop. Let's see what's there first.
Ding!
As I opened the achievement store, tutorial text flowed out.
[Welcome to the Achievement Points exclusive store!]
[You can purchase various items and abilities that will aid your game with the achievement points you've gathered.]
[Current Achievement Points: 1,000,000P]
[Add more joy to your gaming strategy by purchasing appropriate perks!]
'Joy, huh... Aren't they just trying to spice things up? I wonder if there's anything worth using.'
Muttering to myself, an advertisement similar to a supermarket flyer popped up next.
[※Director's Recommendation!※]
[Dark Event Tracker]
- Detects and notifies you in advance when a dark event will occur in the stage.
- Price: 100,000P
[※Please buy it because it's really recommended by the director!※]
"..."
A message that seemed to be desperately written by that guy, Aider, was visible. Did he consider this item particularly necessary...?
'A dark event detector?'
But, what's a dark event? I've never heard of it before.
I touched the item for more detailed information about the perk.
[Dark Event]
- Occurs when ???'s ?? intervenes in the game.
- A random event occurs on the stage, adversely affecting the player's strategy.
I opened my eyes wide.
'Could it be?'
Though the points were considerably expensive, without hesitation, I immediately purchased the Dark Event Tracker.
Flash!
The necklace flashed once, and the tracker function was instantly added to the system.
When I opened the system window and expanded the Dark Event logs,
"Holy shit..."
Just as I suspected.
Every single stage thus far had activated a dark event.
Stage 1 designated a horde of the worst starting monsters, Living Armor.
Stage 2 involved the intrusion of hostile NPCs.
Stage 3 saw the monsters behaving oddly. Precise, a feint alongside a swift attack.
The worst parts of the stages so far had been due to these dark events.
'Now it's certain.'
I had thought that the game had suddenly gone insane and the difficulty had spiked, but that wasn't it.
'None of this is a coincidence. Someone is deliberately trying to ruin this game.'
The malice I felt was not a misunderstanding.
But why?
'Why would they go to such lengths to ruin this game? Why?'
I glared into the empty void.
Whose malice is it that's disrupting my strategy...
Who on earth could it be?