YM778.TV Chapter 387: The Hero Who Dies In 7 Days
In a space filled with darkness and tentacles.
From within this space, the Eye stopped its relentless attack at and spoke to her in an annoyed voice.
- Anyway, the bet isn’t over yet because of your wit. So, this battle is meaningless.
“I know, this is just me venting my anger.”
- To be swayed by emotions despite your position. How amusing.
The Eye, which looked at the Star God spewing anger with amusement, began to wrap itself in tentacles.
- Ssshh…
The tentacles wrapped around the Eye spun around and stretched out in all directions before retracting again.This was a common action every time the Eye prepared to move to another place.
“…Tsk.”
The Star God, knowing this well, began to show a distorted expression.
- No matter how strong you are, if you interfere with the system again, you’ll lose your divinity, won’t you?
- Did I hit a nerve? I can still interfere several more times. I’ve absorbed quite a bit of energy so far after all.
What the Eye said was true.
She could also lose her divinity if she interfered with the system recklessly like she just did.
That didn’t mean she was weak.
Rather, the Eye, which had enough power left to interfere with the system several more times, was the abnormal one.
After all, it was not a common feat to be able to interfere with the ‘management system,’ a rule that could bind divine beings.
- It’s a pity. If it weren’t for this unfamiliar ‘system’ of this dimension’s management system, things would have been easier.
“It’s a relief. I used to scold her a lot, thinking she liked strange things. But thanks to her weird hobby, we can protect this dimension.”
The only fortunate thing was that the Sun God, who took over as the Main God of the dimension in place of the weakened Star God due to the battle with the Eye, loved the culture of the blue star, especially ‘games.’ �
Because the Main God liked games, the dimension’s management system was modeled after a game system.
For the Eye, accustomed to dimensions where simple things like ‘scripts’ or ‘canvases’ were the management systems, the complex controls and understanding of ‘systems’ required for games were unfamiliar and difficult concepts.
Even after gaining control, the Eye couldn’t recklessly devour the dimension and was forced into a ‘game-like’ bet with the Star God.
It was precisely because of the Sun God’s otaku-like hobby that the dimension demise was delayed.
- But, that’s the end of it now.
But, in the end, it was all just enough to buy some time.
- The heroine of the zeroth cycle, and the hidden heroine and sixth main heroine after the first cycle, Ruby. She has already lost her qualifications as the “Demon King” and has become a “Girl”.
The Eye, having observed countless repeated timelines, had almost completely understood the ‘system.’
- And Frey is in no condition to win, no matter who becomes the Demon King.
The Eye whispered, raising its eyelids into a crescent shape.
- Admit it. This bet is already my victory.
“I won’t admit it.”
- If you admit it now, I’ll leave you alone.
The Star God frowned at those words.
- I’ll devour the world and then leave. How about it?
“Bullshit.”
- So, you’re going to see the bet through to the end?
“…Yes.”
The Star God, who answered, quietly turned her gaze to the real world and muttered.
“The story isn’t over yet.”
- I was quite satisfied and was about to end it appropriately.
the Eye, looking at her with a pitiful gaze, retracted the tentacles that had spread in all directions and slowly closed its eyes.
- Then struggle until the end.
- The more you do, the more delightful my last feast will be.
Hearing the Eye’s voice filled with anticipation, the Star God bit her lips quietly.
- By the way, which dimension should I visit after finishing my meal?
Ignoring her, the Eye left without a trace, as if the outcome was already decided.
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“…Haa.”
Watching the dark space gradually brighten, the Star God sighed and muttered while looking at the world with a somber expression.
“The sins of transcendent beings, including myself, run too deep.”
The ‘divine beings’ existing in each dimension, including the Star God, had originally maintained their divinity by receiving worship from their creations.
“If I had known it would come to this… I would have rather lost my divinity.”
However, this method was like sitting on a bed of nails for the divine beings.
If, by any chance, the faith of their creations weakened or disappeared, losing divinity would only be a matter of time.
Thus, they spent every moment anxiously trying to maintain their followers’ faith, but no matter how much effort they put in, it was nearly impossible to maintain their creations’ faith forever.
Because of this, the gods had to live in constant fear of the inevitable downfall that would come in the future.
Until one day, everything changed when a dimension called ‘Earth’ was discovered.
A small dimension without magic, mana, anomalies, or even divine beings.
Among the countless dimensions, for some reason, only that small blue star possessed ‘normalcy.’
And on that blue star, various cultures had developed significantly.
Theater and film. Songs and poetry. Novels and comics. And entertainment like games.
The inhabitants of the normal dimension imagined abnormal beings through such things.
What the ‘divine beings’ aimed for was precisely that point.
To easily obtain energy from the inhabitants of the blue star, they began to disguise their worlds with Earth’s culture and send them out.
The inhabitants of Earth enjoyed the entertainment provided by gods disguised as creators, and the gods maintained their divinity with the emotions generated by the people enjoying said entertainment.
The inhabitants were happy because they enjoyed it, and the gods were happy because they could maintain their divinity with the byproducts of that enjoyment. It was a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.
Of course, accidents sometimes happen.
The worlds created by the gods were not fictional like human creations; they actually existed. Thus, some unlucky Earthlings would end up falling into these other worlds.
However, those accidents were merely incidents, and the gods were satisfied with the new worship method that saved them for a while.
“…I warned you so much about the dangers.”
But it was the beginning of the end. There was a simple fact that the gods had overlooked.
The emotions humans felt while consuming creative works were not only joy. Negative emotions were bound to emerge just as much as joy.
As a result, evil gods who fed on such emotions began to appear.
It would have been better if it had ended there. Such a situation could be handled if the gods united their strength.
But as the negative emotions accumulated and piled up, something unexpected happened.
A being from the void outside the world began to send its gaze inside.
The result was the destruction of countless dimensions and the distortion of the happy world envisioned by the three goddesses, which turned into Dark Tale Fantasy.
“If even our dimension, one of the highest dimensions, ends… the apocalypse will come. There will be no dimensions left to stop it.”
Muttering with a dark expression, the Star God clenched her fist and turned her gaze.
Reflected in her eyes were Roswyn in the debug room and Glare, who was diligently returning to the Empire.
“Now… it’s finally the final phase. The story will end one way or another.”
Watching the two for a long time, she closed her eyes and muttered.
“I will watch over the end of the story you create.”
Then she looked at the children who should have long since finished their happy lives, with eyes filled with regret.
“No matter how the story ends, as the Creator God, I must take responsibility.”
That night, the stars in the Empire’s night sky were said to shine more beautifully than ever.
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“Wow, look over there, Ruby.”
The night of the day the Fourth Ordeal ended.
In a shabby cabin located at the Western Continent’s port.
“The stars are so bright tonight. It’s been years since I’ve seen them this bright.”
Frey, who had been interrogated by the Hero Party for a while and then rescued by the main heroines and Ruby, was looking at the stars through the cabin’s window before returning to the empire.
“Ruby?”
Noticing Ruby’s unusual silence as she sat beside him, Frey turned his gaze towards her.
He saw Ruby staring at him with a dazed expression.
“Why are you making that face?”
Frey asked, looking puzzled. Ruby replied in a dreamy voice.
“I’m just so happy.”
“Huh?”
“This moment feels like a dream.”
Ruby smiled bashfully as she spoke.
“I feel like I have everything in the world. I’m happier than anyone right now.”
She looked at Frey with her ruby-colored eyes and quietly took his hand.
“I’d love to hold you in my arms right now, but given your condition, I should refrain from doing that, right?”
“But a kiss… should be okay, right?”
Ruby stammered as she shyly asked, glancing at Frey’s expression.
- Swish, swish…
Her tail gently wrapped around Frey’s arm, swaying slightly.
“Hmm.”
A moment later, Frey kissed Ruby, his tongue gently entwined with hers.
“Mm… huh?”
Ruby, who was feeling her tongue being caressed inside Frey’s mouth, tilted her head in confusion.
“…Frey?”
Holding her hand and kissing her, Frey was trembling for some reason.
“Why are you trembling…?”
“B-because I’m happy.”
That was a lie.
Due to the Curse of Mental Weakness, Frey’s mental state was at its limit.
No matter how precious Ruby was to him, the trauma she had inflicted affected him in this state.
“I’m so happy… It makes me tremble.”
But Frey knew that Ruby had placed that curse on him.
Knowing this, he mumbled to prevent her from feeling guilty.
“You adorable thing.”
Ruby slowly rubbed her cheek against Frey’s and nestled into his embrace.
“Frey, by the way… I have a favor to ask.”
“You want my surname? Sorry, but that’s a little tough right now. I’m… a commoner now. Haha.”
“No, it’s something else…”
“What is it? Tell me.”
“It’s nothing much… but if you have time…”
Ruby blushed and turned her head, whispering in his ear.
“Make me pregnant.”
Frey’s face turned blank as he started to process her words.
“I… I want to carry your child.”
“…Ruby?”
“I want to have your seed, your baby, in my belly.”
Ruby’s face turned as red as a beet, and she grabbed Frey’s hand, placing it on her stomach.
“As a defeated Demon King… it’s natural to become the Hero’s mate, right?”
“Huh?”
“The thought of this flat belly swelling… It makes me happy just imagining it.”
She whispered with dazed eyes, patting her lower abdomen with his hand.
“Of course… not right now. After everything is over.”
“I want to be the wife of the person I love the most in the world. I want to bear the fruit of our love.”
Her eyes glistened with a tender light.
“How cute would our baby be? A hybrid of a hero and a demon king. A child with the blood of the Starlight family and pure-blooded demons… it would be so adorable.”
“Mm.”
“I’ll take care of the child. You can rest. I’ll take responsibility for the rest of our lives… let’s just have twenty kids. Okay? I want to live happily ever after with you and our children.”
Her imagination was running wild.
“D-did you know, Frey? Female demons can ovulate whenever they want…”
- Shiver…
Ruby said, her body trembling as she glanced at Frey.
“I just… ovulated.”
A heavy silence followed.
- Tap, tap…
In that silence, Ruby’s tail quietly tapped against Frey’s side.
“Sorry, Ruby. I don’t think I can today…”
Looking at Ruby, Frey replied with a bitter smile.
Although he hadn’t revealed it to her, his current mental state couldn’t handle such an act.
For weeks, he’d been barely maintaining his sanity, dealing with overwhelming guilt and trauma from his actions.
- Crackle, crackle…
And even now, Frey was desperately fighting against his demonification.
As a result, both his body and mind were in the worst possible state, torn and battered.
“No, no. I just meant that I’m ready whenever you are. If it’s too much, just give me the seed. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Seeing Frey’s expression, Ruby quickly stood up and spoke.
“By the way, I have something to do… I’ll visit the others. Rest well, okay?”
“The others…?”
Frey tilted his head at her words.
“Yes, I need to establish my position among the main heroines.”
“And… I want to see my friends again.”
Ruby, who had finished speaking, took a step forward with an expectant face, but then stopped.
“Well, I’m off then…”
The glowing black ring on Frey’s left hand caught her attention.
“Ruby, if you want, I can step in and…”
“No. No, no.”
As Frey hurriedly reached out his left hand and tried to stand up, Ruby stopped him and gently pushed him back down.
“I don’t need anything else. Just let me stay by your side.”
With a happy smile, she pressed her cheek against Frey’s.
“If you do that, I’ll shine by your side forever.”
“But…”
“That’s what a gem is meant to do.”
She whispered softly in his ear.
“But if you let me hold the starlight inside me just once, I’ll shine even more.”
“Well then, goodbye!”
Leaving those words, Ruby quickly exited the room.
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“Ugh…”
As soon as Ruby left, Frey bowed his head, his hands trembling.
“…I don’t want to die.”
Closing his eyes tightly, he began to mutter.
“I want to live… happily…”
The fact that he was now truly terminally ill, unable to resurrect through a wish, continued to gnaw at him even at this moment.
Hearing Ruby’s innocent confession, affectionate advances, and future plans made it all the more unbearable.
“Do you really, Young Master?”
“…!?”
Unable to share this cruel fate with anyone, Frey was suffering alone.
But he widened his eyes when he heard a voice beside him.
“K-Kania…?”
His butler and eternal confidant, Kania, was quietly looking down at him.
“I’ve come to talk about the matter of you dying in seven days.”
“What I just said… It’s nonsense. Because of the Curse of Mental Weakness… Wait, did you say seven days?”
“I already know.”
Kania, holding Frey’s trembling hand, began to speak in a shaking voice.
“I know that your time is now truly limited.”
“…!”
Frey’s face turned pale at her words.
“…What?”
Outside the cabin, listening in secretly were Alice, Arianne, and a few members of the Hero Party.
“…Brother?”
Among them was Aria, who was in a panic due to her rapidly returning memories.