༺ Ending Credits Screening ༻
“Sob, sob…”
Tears streamed down Kania’s cheeks as she read the diary,
“M-Miss Kania…?”
The three other girls exchanged bewildered glances as they saw Kania.
“What kind of memories were written in it…?”
“Well, I’m not sure, but if Miss Kania is reacting this way…”
Irina and Clana’s voices trembled as they spoke.
“…I need to check it.”
Serena spoke, her expression devoid of emotion as she reached for the diary.
“W-wait a moment…!”
Clana halted Serena’s actions and turned her gaze toward Irina, who looked pale.
“Miss Irina, if we touch that diary… Will we be able to uncover the truth?”
“Could there be any possibility of manipulation or a trap? Perhaps, some form of magic at play?”
“The magic in that diary merely reveals the embedded memories of the writer. There is no possibility of manipulation.”
“I see…”
After Irina clarified that, Clana stared at the diary fearfully.
“If I… If I touch it, I’ll see Frey’s memories… I’ll see everything, the whole truth…”
Serena whispered desperately as she brushed away Clana’s hand.
“Then, I can see him again…”
“W-Wait…!”
– Shaaa…
Soon after, Serena laid her hand on the diary before anyone could intervene.
“Ah…”
Then, with a vacant expression, Serena started reading the diary, joining Kania, who had been flipping through it earlier.
“Sob, sob… sob…”
As she grew increasingly alarmed by this scene, Clana mumbled while tightly closing her eyes, before placing her hand on the diary.
“I-I want to know the truth too…”
“…………”
Irina, who had been staring blankly at the girls, took a deep breath and touched the diary as well.
“…I shouldn’t be the only one running away.”
“……….”
After that, silence fell.
[Single Player Mode: End]
“…Huh?”
“M-Miss Kania?”
“Where is this?”
A while later, the four girls, including Kania, who had barely managed to hold in the bile crawling up her throat, found themselves in an unfamiliar location.
[Applying Multiplayer Experience Mode]
It was a dimly lit space with a giant screen.
.
.
.
.
.
– Crackle…!
“…..!”
The four girls, tense with wariness, involuntarily flinched as the light flickered to life on the giant screen.
– Frey, you are… the chosen hero.
– What?
The scene that appeared on the screen was a conversation between a young Frey and his father, Abraham.
– You are the Star Hero. It is you who will defeat the Demon King that rises in the world once again after a thousand years.”
– What… What are you talking about…?
After hearing Abraham’s next words, young Frey asked, his voice trembling, but was only greeted by silence.
[On the day I took my mother’s life with my own hands, the prophecy awakened, and I became a hero.]
Then, a composed and meticulously crafted passage emerged before the four girls.
[Since then, numerous cycles and timelines have come into existence.]
“……..”
Deep silence enveloped the space as the girls stared at the passage.
[As the countless timelines and regressions approached their respective ends.]
Then, another set of words materialized before them.
[Whenever a pivotal event leading to a fixed outcome occurred, I would evaluate my actions. I wanted to know if this cycle was one where I didn’t need to retry. I wanted to judge whether my actions were right.]
“Sob, sniff…”
“Um…”
As the words faded away, an image of Kania and Frey materialized before the girls.
“…Eugh.”
Frey was infusing life force into Kania, just as he always had.
“I-I still have to give you a little more…”
However, Frey’s condition was critical due to Aishi’s curse freezing his heart.
– Crackle… Crackle…
“I can’t stop yet… If I were to stop now, in the next scenario, Kania…”
“…What are you doing right now?”
At that moment, Frey’s previously restless expression became stunned with shock.
“K-Kania…”
“What are you doing to my body?”
Kania glared at Frey with a disgusted expression as he reached inside her top, touching her bare skin.
[Event: Kania’s Liberation]
In that critical moment, as the text appeared, Kania, who lay on the bed, shouted.
“What are you doing to me!!”
A brief silence.
“Uuuh…”
While clutching his chest, Frey groaned and decided to take action.
“Why, why are you like this? It’s not the first time, is it?”
“W-What…!”
“…You held me every night. Weren’t you secretly enjoying it too?”
It was a lie.
“F-Fuck… Fucking bastard…”
“Stay still. You can’t resist me anyway…”
As a result, Kania, who was completely deceived by Frey, confronted him with a resentful expression, as her eyes welled up with tears.
Frey tried to shift the hand resting on her back to her chest, all while feigning a sinister expression. However, soon after, he coughed up blood and collapsed onto the bed.
“Cough!”
“D-Do you think I didn’t realize it?”
Looking at him with a cold expression, Kania spoke.
“That was from some of the poisons and curses I implanted within you. I’ve only activated them slightly.”
“W-what are you talking about… Agh!!”
“What am I talking about? Huh. I said, I’m not your puppet anymore.”
Kania calmly adjusted her clothes, as she watched Frey tremble in pain.
“I’ll make you suffer… as much as you tainted me…”
As she whispered that, the intensity of his suffering increased.
“Be prepared.”
At that moment, the video playing in front of the girls came to an end.
And before the girls could react, a new set of words appeared.
Event: Kania’s Liberation
Score: C
Evaluation: Inflicts irreparable wounds on Kania.
Comments: Even if she manages to defeat the Demon King and finds a happy ending, she will carry the memory of being violated by me for the rest of her life. Of course, the “Stone of Purity” might offer some relief, but the shock of being violated will persist.
Following Frey’s regretful record, small letters emerged.
[Solution: Allow her to torment me as much as she wishes. It is crucial to help Kania overcome the trauma I caused, even if it’s only to a small extent.]
After those letters disappeared, even smaller ones appeared, containing Frey’s comments.
[For her, my soul partner who supported me since the beginning, I wish her a happy ending.]
– Shuuuu…!
And in the next moment, before the girls could react, a new scene appeared.
[Event: Duel with Irina]
“…This is my final Fireball. Any last words?”
“Ugh…”
Frey lay sprawled on the training ground, battered and bruised, while Irina looked down at him with a cold expression.
“Are you… really going to cast that?”
Frey asked Irina as he looked at her cowardly.
“If you shoot that… Arianne’s sister…”
“…I already got her out from your filthy hands.”
“What!?”
With that, Irina, her expression full of resentment, hurled a fireball at the thoroughly defeated Frey, delivering the final blow.
“Shut up and just take this.”
“…K-Kuggh!!”
Event: Duel with Irina
Score: A
Evaluation: Nothing to criticize.
Comments: I’d fought against Irina countless times, allowing me to gracefully orchestrate my own defeat. Having challenged the Demon King alongside her countless times, if I couldn’t even handle a fight at this level, all my efforts in retrying would be futile. Bound by the death oath I had made to her, I couldn’t voice a single word of protest. Everything is proceeding as planned.
And once again, a new message appeared:
[To her, who was once my most reliable warrior, I offer you peace instead of war.]
With the appearance of these smaller words, the scene shifted once again.
[Event: The Covenant with Clana]
“Do you know what day it is today, Your Highness?”
“Ugh…”
“Today is the day when the grace period for the covenant, as decreed by His Majesty, comes to an end.”
Before the girls stood Frey, who wore a despicable expression, and as his gaze fixed on Clana, her face drained of color.
“Once the clock strikes 12 o’clock… you’ll belong to me. It means that whatever I do to you, it’s legally allowed.”
“Ugh…”
“How does it feel? You worked so hard to become an Empress, but in the end, you’re just a servant to me. No, you’re not even worthy of being a servant. You are a puppet that has all its strings under my control. How does it feel to be moments away from despair?”
The clock showed 11:59, and at this moment, Frey wore a satisfied expression and continued.
“Let me see… Hmph, should we have a rehearsal?”
“No, I don’t want to…!”
“You have no choice. There are only a few seconds left.”
With those words, Frey slowly started counting.
“Five… Four… Three…”
“Two… One second!”
“Ahhhhh…”
Just as Clana looked at Frey’s outstretched hand with a despairing expression, someone intervened.
“Wait!”
“…What now?”
“Stop it!”
With her sudden appearance, Hero Ruby glared at Frey, who inquired with a snide grin.
“…On what authority do you do that?”
“I will invoke the covenant!”
“What… what did you say!?”
As Ruby raised her voice, Frey looked bewildered, and Clana’s expression brightened.
“H-Hero…!”
“I will employ the covenant granted to me by the Imperial Family as a recognized Hero, right here and now!”
At that moment, Ruby shouted once more and secretly flashed a victorious smile at Frey, intended only for him to see.
“…Hmph.”
Event: The Covenant with Clana
Score: A+
Evaluation: Perfection.
Comments: It was like a scene from a fairy tale. When Ruby appeared, I had the urge to draw my sword in anger, but I held back when I saw Clana’s bright smile.
Then, once again, new words appeared as the paused scene faded.
[I hope she can live a blissful life filled with ordinary love, without becoming tarnished like Kania did because of me.]
As those words disappeared, darkness abruptly engulfed everything around them.
[Event: Deceiving Serena]
“Frey… Please answer me…”
“Mmgh…”
Instead of the bright and clear atmospheres they had witnessed so far, the screen now displayed vague and somber darkness that remained indecipherable.
“Frey!! Answer me!!”
“What…?”
Within the hazy scene, Serena trembled while Frey appeared utterly disinterested.
“Were you the one who put the Curse of Familial Subordination on me?”
“Mm…”
“Was it all because you fell for my father’s stupid scheme?”
As Serena asked in disbelief, Frey, who had women draped all over him, yawned and responded.
“Yawn… What if it’s true?”
“No, no, it can’t be true… You must be deceiving me…”
Unlike her usual self, Serena’s voice trembled, but Frey replied with a smug grin.
“If you were truly clever, you would have noticed. All the evidence and clues point to me.”
“But, but… This is strange. Something’s definitely not right… Agrh!”
As Serena attempted to formulate counterarguments while desperately glancing at Frey, a familiar pain surged through her, causing her eyes to widen.
“Ah, ugh…?”
“This can’t be real… You can’t possibly be activating my curse right now…”
“You’re merely a pawn.”
“What?”
“Yes, you’re the pawn that could provide a strategy for conquering the world, the goose that lay golden eggs.”
After saying that, Frey embraced the women around him and declared.
“I have never loved you even a bit.”
“Ah…”
“You already know that, for me, there’s no such thing as love for you.”
“………”
“So, just go away. I want to have some fun with these girls.”
As Frey finished speaking, Serena watched him exchange a deep kiss with the woman sitting on his lap. Shortly thereafter, she departed with sunken eyes.
“…Goodbye.”
Event: Deceiving Serena
Score: S+
Evaluation: Did I really succeed?
Comments: At last, it’s a success. Among countless regressions, it was the most challenging and the final crucial event: successfully deceiving Serena. Honestly, it’s still hard to believe I pulled it off. I never thought I could succeed in this.
And another message appeared.
[I meticulously manipulated all the evidence and carefully analyzed the Curse of Familial Subordination inscribed within her, finding a way to trigger it forcibly.
Furthermore, the Secret Lord of the Moonlight Family is already in my grasp. Of course, all these efforts are just basic prerequisites for deceiving her. The most vital part lies elsewhere.]
Frey’s record seemed to have ended with calm and concise notes.
[I had to loathe Serena to deceive her. However, even after countless regressions, I couldn’t find that method. Why?]
However, for the first time, the entry had continued, even after his evaluation.
[It was because I love her.]
“…Huh?”
After reading the contents, Serena broke her long silence, her voice filled with astonishment.
[Because of that, no matter what tactics I used, regardless of how cunningly I schemed, and even with my intellect surpassing all limits in mental battles, Serena always saw through my true identity.
It was because I loved her, and she could always sense my love for her.]
“F-Frey…?”
As Serena read the contents that materialized before her, for the first time in her life, an expression of unsure disbelief crossed her face.
[To ensure everyone receives a happy ending, no one could know my true identity. So, I came up with a last resort.]
“Why?”
[Throughout countless regressions, I had learned Serena’s ‘mind control’. With this skill, I concocted a plan to use it on myself, so I could convert my love for her into hatred.]
“What the hell is this…!”
The revelations continued to shake her as they unraveled.
[And finally, after countless efforts, I ultimately succeeded in transforming my affection for Serena and the love I held for the others like Kania, Irina, Clara, and Ferloche into all-consuming ‘hatred.’]
[It was inevitable. Maintaining a facade of evil deeds while harboring love was too painful. For a perfect regression, a change in emotions was necessary.]
“Ah…”
[Despite the hesitation to potentially undo everything in the end, I clearly remember having changed my feelings toward them. I had grown weary long ago and yearned for eternal rest. But, when the final moment arrives… perhaps my heart will not waver…]
The entire narrative unfurled before the girls.
[…Ah.]
In a flurry of hastily scrawled text, the story continued to unfold.
[I’ve encountered a big problem; I’ve just confirmed those girls’ affection levels… it’s rising.]
[Why is this happening? Why? If this continues, will I be caught again?
No.
I can’t let all my efforts go to waste…]
Gradually, it reached the end.
[…There’s no other choice.
It would be a very sad and desolate conclusion.
I have no choice but to even erase the memory of me manipulating their emotions.]
“……!!!”
The four girls were taken aback as Frey’s voice reached them instead of the characters they had been following.
[If I use a powerful memory erasure magic, I can end everything before the memories etched in their souls resurface, right?
Anyway, there’s not even a year left until the final battle.]
Ignoring the girls’ reactions, the voice continued to echo.
[And… regrettably, I must erase this record as well.]
Frey, who was writing in the diary, whispered these words in a sad voice.
[If I leave this record behind, all my effort spent erasing the memories would be meaningless.]
And the moment those words ended…
Swish…
The records regarding Serena’s incident, which had been hovering before them, began to disappear.
“No, it can’t be…”
Serena, who had been staring blankly at that scene, instinctively reached out to the vanishing characters in the diary.
However, at that moment, the same score as before materialized in front of her.
Event: Memory and Emotion Erasure
Score: S+
Evaluation: Success.
Comments: Of course, it was bound to happen. Because now, it isn’t only Serena…
And the four girls, who were reading the newly created records on top of the erased characters…
[…I also no longer love anyone else.]
Their expressions simultaneously grew somber.
[I just want to finish everything and rest.]
It was because they had now realized the full scope of the events.
[Event: Liberating Ferloche from the Pope]
Even as characters and scenes continued to appear before them, no one paid attention anymore.
“Ferloche, it’s time to give up now…”
“I, I will never give up.”
“…………”
They were all just sitting in the dark space, their eyes devoid of life.
Finally, a red window appeared before them after all the characters and scenes had played out.
[Frey Raon Starlight’s Achievements]
Disposition: Hero
Goodness Stat: 100
Retry Count: ???
Death Count: ???
Number of Times Forcing Criminal Acts: 0
Number of Times Committed Misdeeds out of Selfishness or Self-Satisfaction: 0
Number of Times Erased Memories: 8
Number of Times Losing Sanity: 8
Number of Times Committed Unnecessary Crimes: 8
Number of Times Deviated from Path of False Evil: 5
Number of Times Completely Resented the Main Heroines: 1
Number of Times Corrupted by the Demon King: 0
…
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.
.
– Crackling… Crackling…
“…Huh?”
Inside Isolet’s house, as the translucent Frey was observing everyone with a dark expression…
“This is…”
To be certain, he delved into his pocket and took out the pendant necklace he always carried around, as a look of puzzlement filled his face.
“…This is what the merchant left behind at that time.”
The ‘Easter Egg’ the merchant had left behind when crafting the Robe of Deception was now glowing.
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