Chapter 121: Enjoying the Game 1
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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(Caution: Spoiler) RoughSummaryOfTheStory.txt
[HanSeAhsStreamWhereTheGoddessAppears.JPG]
[HanSeAhTalkingWithTheGoldenGolem.JPG]The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.
Based on what I watched in the 18th stream, I've fleshed out some details, though some parts are speculative and not confirmed.
[CloseUpOfTheGoddessAndHerCollarbone.JPG]
The Goddess appears in the Blessed Forest, discussing the Tower.
She says that the Demon King suddenly intruded into the world she created.
The Demon King, hailing from another world, is currently invading the world of the Goddess, and the Tower serves as the forward base for this invasion.
[CloserZoomInOnTheGoddessChest.JPG]
The Goddess, is more like the Goddess of life itself, as she is the only God and creator and even the monsters are her creations.
Monsters, after all, can be healed by divine energy.
Unless it's an undead as was mentioned in a different post.
However, the nature of the Demon King is the opposite of the goddess, I'm not sure what to call it, but like an imposter?
A doppelganger?
Or maybe a parasite that inhabits human bodies?
Or perhaps he's like the aliens in some foreign horror films, which consume humans and then impersonate them, seeming like a living being but not actually.
So the monsters in the Tower imitate the monsters outside, but they have no actual bodies.
The Goddess speculates that the Demon King's intention might be to devour all living beings outside the Tower and replace them with the monsters that spit out mana stones.
[ScreenshotOfASelfDestructingGoldenGolem.JPG]
And then theres the Golden suicide bomber introduced in the 21st floor.
Although it might feel clich, a certain pattern emerges.
[ScreenshotOfTheGoldenGolemDeclaringTheLastFortress.JPG]
This Demon King hasn't invaded just the world of "Heroes Chronicle".
He's most likely invading and consuming various other worlds, replicating his forces in the process.
The sudden appearance of a maze within the 21st floor's cave might be the aftermath of the Demon King devouring a world where the Golem served as a guardian.
To summarize in three lines:
1 The Demon King invades various dimensions, consuming them.
2 Those consumed by the Demon King transform into non-living entities, a mana stone being.
3 The Tower likely houses remnants of various worlds, which might appear as in-game events.
Multiple worlds would indeed make it easier to create events.
So you think there are other worlds just because of the maze?
If you think of it in terms of fantasies, it could just be a relic from a different era.
If it's the Demon King's second invasion, the divine energy bags would have said something.
She's scheming again.
After their hushed conversation, Grace gets another bowl of stew from Irene and starts walking towards me.
While she acts nonchalant, the mischievous Han Se-ah, has taken out her camera drone again.
Grace's cheeks turn a shade of red.
She seems more serious about this than I thought.
Why is Han Se-ah so passionate about pairing us?
From the past videos I've seen of her, she didn't seem to have such interests.
Maybe she sees the virtual reality game as a real-life drama unfolding before her eyes.
Even Irene has started to catch on, as evident by her glances in our direction after serving the stew.
Only Kaiden, either uninterested or acting aloof, continues to tend to her sword.
Grace takes a seat beside me.
Haven't you finished eating already, Roland?
"I'm finished, but I can still sit with you."
"Oh? Did I get an extra bowl for no reason?"
"If you're full, let's split it. We can share."
We sit side by side on the thick blanket laid over the rugged cave floor and I help myself to some of the stew Grace brought.
To the others, our simple act of sharing a meal together seems to hold a different, deeper meaning.
From behind us, we can hear muffled sounds of amusement and astonishment.
Regardless, Grace starts to eat, sitting close enough that our arms occasionally brush against each other.
We're close enough that I can feel her breath.
Despite the slight discomfort from our closeness every time we moved to eat, Grace seemed content.
"...The Demon King. He's bound to be strong, right?"
"Definitely."
In the comfortable silence, Grace brings up the topic of the Demon King.
Perhaps meeting the Goddess imbued everyone with a sense of purpose.
In Grace's mind, our mission isnt just exploring the tower but defeating the Demon King to save the world.
She placed her stew bowl on her firm lap, twiddling her fingers.
It doesn't feel real.
She began.
Hmm?
Not long ago, I was a hunter from a small Village, hunting goblins on the lower floors of the tower, and arguing with the party leader over silly things.
Ah, the female swordsman.
And now, I've met the Goddess, been blessed with divine energy, and am preparing to fight the Demon King. If someone how come to the village and prophesied this to me, I wouldve dismissed them as a fraud.
As she spoke slowly, her restless fingers kept bothering me so I gently took her hand to calm her.
When she's drunk, she throws off her clothes and goes on the attack, but when she's sober, she shows such a girlish side.
Id like to make a move, but... the hovering camera drone above and the intense stares from the two spectators behind us were a bit annoying.
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