"Ah, where am I?"
I was standing in a village?
[Welcome to the starter village adventurer!]
I looked around slowly.
'Ah, I'm inside of a video game.'
More specifically it was an old unknown rpg maker game created by my brother for fun.
'Those terrible houses and that lack of fashion sense is proof enough. Why are there flowers sticking out of the houses?
[Welcome to Sacred journey!]
'Why is the title screen after the location?'
I sighed and started going from location to location, talking to people.
["Hello adventurer! Can you help me with farming?"]
["Hello adventurer! Can you deliver this to my friend?"]
["Hello adventurer! Can you kill 5 slimes for me? I'll give you this nice sword!"]
["Hello adventurer! Huh? You want to know where to go? Your master is in that house on the left."]
I didn't even have time to be socially awkward due to their generic dialogue.
'Whatever, time to find my suposed 'master' somewhere.'
I found the house and entered it.
'Maybe he's different? Oh, I'll probably learn a starter skill.'
["Ah! You're here! The final test is killing 5 slimes! Then you can learn my secret move!"]
"F***."
He's so goddamn generic, I need to beat this game asap. And of course I have to kill slimes, what did I expect?
["The forest is dangerous so take this with you."]
[You have obtained a dagger!]
At least I got a weapon.
I immediately went to the forest.....
A person in full dark armor from head to toe was standing while leaning on a tree.
[You have encountered the demon king!]
"What the f-"
[The demon king used slash!]
[You have died!]
The moment I stepped into the forest my head got cut off.
"Fool."
I heard as my vision faded.
[Respawning...]
I opened my eyes and was in the same village.
'Is this a nightmare?'
I looked at my hand which held a dagger and sighed.
"I couldn't even feel myself get cut, why is this so unfair?"
I needed to escape this place.
'Fine, if this place is unfair I'll just ignore your rules!'
I went in the opposite direction of the forest.
'Wait, this whole village is surrounded by a forest. I won't meet that demon king again right?'
[You have encountered the demon king!]
I jinxed myself.
The demon king sat by a rock while staring at me silently.
"Fool."
'I have to do-.'
[The demon king used slash!]
This time I tried to dodge but to no avail.
[You have died!]
[Respawning...]
"Ah, that's so unfair. It's unfair!! What the hell am I supposed to do against the damn demon king when he's basically in my a**?!!"
I have every right to be mad! I got kidnapped into a strange game and the balance is shit!
I'm not sure how long I complained but I eventually decided to go back into the forest.
[You have encountered the demon king!]
"Back again? Well, whatever."
[The demon king used slash!]
[You have died!]
[Respawning...]
I didn't move this time but simply stared at his attack.
'As expected.'
It was too fast and I couldn't even see him moving!
'I guess this is what hell is like.'
I was tired, should I just sleep instead?
I looked around and eventually found what was supposed to be my house.
I sat on my bed.
[Resting...]
'Ah, I can't even sleep...'
As I touched the bed my vision disappeared and I was reset to a standing position.
My body felt better than ever but my mental hadn't recovered in the slightest.
'It's like I can jump twenty metres in one, hahaha... why am I laughing in my thoughts....?'
I stayed in the village and talked to everyone again.
["Hello adventurer! Can you help me with farming?"]
["Hello adventurer! Can you deliver this to my friend?"]
'Right, I can help that guy with farming!'
I picked up a a hoe-
[Farming...]
A keyboard appeared.
[Hit the button with the right timing!]
It was all about timing! I could do something!
*Bop.. bop! Bop.....bop! Bop.....bop!*
[Farming complete!]
'That was short.'
Nevertheless I completed it!
["Adventurer! Thank you for helping me! Here's some coins for your trouble."]
I couldn't use those....
'Well, at least I have something else to do...'
Two hours later...
'I want to die...'
[Coins: 2540]
The farming minigame was the exact same no matter how many times I tried it!!
The only option was to go to the forest.
'Damnit.'
[You have encountered the demon king!]
"You're back. I thought you gave up. No matter."
'Ah, actual dialogue.'
It was almost enough to bring me to tears.
[The demon king used slash!]
[You have died!]
I went straight back to the forest!
[You have encountered the demon king!]
"So you're the demon king?"
"You finally ask? I guess I should've introduced myself before killing you, hero. Yes, I am the one hundreth demon king, Erlik. Now perish."
[You have died!]
I yet again died, but I found a conversation partner!!
'He's not just repeating lines and is actually talking properly!'
"Why are you killing me?"
"It's simple, it's because you're the hero."
[You have died!]
".... you're fast. Do you want to die that badly?"
This time I sprinted towards the forest.
"Yeah! By t-"
"Weirdo."
[You have died!]
Well that was rude, I was speaking.
".... You seem frustrated?"
"Yeah! You cut me off!"
"What you say doesn't matter to me, goodbye."
[You have died!]
'Hmm, am I growing used to dying?'
The sight of the disfunctional village seemed normal now.
I could even run to the forest the instant I respawned.
'Wait a second... why is the demon king in the forest anyway?'
Now I had two questions.
"Why am I the hero?"
"Hah? Figure it out yourself."
I died again and quickly ran ack.
"Alright, I'll change my question. How do you know that I'm the hero?"
"I have no need to reveal anything to you."
[You have died!]
"New question, why are you in the forest?"
It was odd, shouldn't a king be at his castle? Especially if we're talking about a demon king from a game.
"Can't even figure that out? You must be stupid."
[You have died!]
'Oh? Maybe this village hides a secret? There could be a way to beat the demon king then!'
"Let me guess. Because there's a secret in this village?"
"You're even dumber than you look."
[You have died!]
He insulted my appearance and killed me....
"And what about your looks? Are you better than me?"
"Pfft, of course."
[You have died!]
That damn bastard. He just laughed at me and killed me!
"Then show me proof!"
"Hah. I don't have anything to sh-."
"I bet you're so ugly that you have to hide b-."
[You have died!]
He didn't deny it. Hoho~. An ugly demon king?
"You didn't deny that you're ugly. I won't believe you unless you show proof."
"I'll have you know, every succubus wanted my attention and even incubi were jealous of me."
[You have died!]
"Did I get on your nerves?"
[You have died!]
Damn, he didn't even respond he just killed me.
"That just means he's hiding something."
I quickly rushed back to the forest at mach 5.
"Coward, prove it to me."
"I have nothing to prove to you, bug."
[You have died!]
"-."
[You have died!]
I barely even opened my mouth...
"Insulting me will get you nowhere. You're just a coward."
"Haah, fine. Here's your proof."
Probably fed up with me, he took off his helmet.
'...'
His wavy black hair glistened and his face resembled a sculpture of the perfect human. His dark eyes perfectly captured the light and his eyelids were the perfect size.
"Do you see now? I have no reason to lie to a bug."
[You have died!]
"You may be handsome but your personality is trash!"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah! With a personality like yours you'd never get a girlfriend!"
"What does personality matter if I have money?"
[You have died!]
Damn. He could certainly just buy someone off....
"Money can't buy you happiness!"
"Sure, but I can just buy a boat and sail the seas. I'm sure someone like you would never understand though."
[You have died!]
Sail the seas? What?
"You see, I have wealth beyond your imagination. If I decided to sell everything I would break the economy several times over."
This time it wasn't me who started talking.
"Then I bet you're living your best life then."
*Swish!*
*Boom!*
He cut something. Along with it the trees fell and I was pushed back, eventually hitting my head on a tree, instantly ending me.
It was painful.
[You have died!]
"Aurgh! Cough! Cough!"
'Damn, that felt personal...'
I would rather not die like that again....
I stood still for a while. Damn.
'.....'
Then I walked into the forest.
[You have encountered the demon king!]
No one said anything.
"Sorry for assuming."
I said.
"I don't need pity from a mere bug."
[You have died!]
[You have died!]
[You have died!]
[You have died!]
[You have died!]
"Let me ask you a question."
I looked at the demon king.
"What is this world to you?"
I looked around the forest quietly.
"What a meaningless question. It is just yet another thing to conquer. After the surface I'll go for the sky and then the earth that binds me."
There were slimes jumping up and down in their natural state. Nothing interupted them.
The forest itself seemed peaceful.
"Are you stopping me from destroying the order of the world?"
"Where did that idea come from?"
[You have died!]
So I was wrong. Still, I felt like I was figuring something out.
'Urgh, if only these generic npcs were of any help.'
I grumbled as I went back into the forest.
"It's not a meaningless question."
"What now? Did you finally lose your shattered mind?"
"Why do you want to conquer this world?"
Assuming that he didn't lie, then why?
"Why do you ask? I assure you that you won't even understand."
"If I don't understand, then I'll figure it out. I have time."
The demon king looked at me silently. His black eyes piercing through me.
"Useless question."
[You have died!]
Did he avoid the question?
"Do you want to go to the seas?"
"Now what giberish are you talking about?"
Eh? He was the one who mentioned it first.
"You said something about going to sea when I asked about happiness."
"Did I? I guess your stupidity rubbed off on me."
"That was rude."
"Goodbye."
[You have died!]
If his dream isn't that. Then what?
'Happiness, destruction of the world, hero... I made an assumption and was wrong. I'm so close, I feel it.'
This world was something to conquer. That's what he said.
"You want to conquer this world. How?"
"By getting rid of you. Hero. You're the only threat to me after all. Our destininies are intertwined... is it too hard to understand?"
"Ah, I-."
[You have died!]
I think I got it.
Although he killed me the momment I seemed to figure it out. Was it instinct?
'Conquering the world? No, if that was his goal then he would've done it already.'
If I live then he dies. For his happiness I NEED to die. No, maybe he's just scared of death.
"Let me ask you a question."
"Ask away."
"How did you know I would be here?"
The demon king sighed and answered.
"That doesn't matter. I can't let you leave."
He waved his arm in my direction.
"Wait!"
Nothing happened.
"What is it?"
"Are you scared of dying?"
"What? I thought you'd say something smart for once. You've been asking questions nonstop after all. I should just..."
[You have died!]
Avoiding the question.
'If he was only scared of death, then why talk to me? Was he bored....'
I ran to the forest.
"This dull world! Everyone repeats the same lines and it's as if you're the only REAL person here right?!"
The demon king stopped. This question. He knew the answer as well.
[You have stunned the demon king!]
[Achievement unlocked!]
[L-
Shut it.
"Huh, I guess that's true now that you say so. Yes, this dull world only consists of 'living books'. They talk and know, but they don't learn."
"And despite that you want to live! Even if it's in a dull world!"
This was my answer.
He himself may not have realized it, or maybe he was avoiding it.
The reason he killed me on instinct. He wanted to avoid the problem.
The demon king was silent.
"Is that your answer? I guess the words of my predecessors are true.... hahaha."
He wasn't going insane, he was coping with the truth.
So I needed to move.
[Using item: Dagger]
The dagger moved naturally, too naturally.
'Damn, I've gotten too used to this.'
[You have died!]
He needed space. So I gave him space.
I stayed in the village for a while, even resting once.
Then I went back into the forest.
This time the demon king was nowhere to be seen.
'Did he run? After everything?'
I sighed and killed five slime.
[You have learned a new skill!]
I moved on to the next village.
It was a harbor village and I had the kill fish.
Afterwards I bought a big boat with my accumulated wealth.
I went to a jungle village, I needed to kill animals.
'Let's skip this village.'
I didn't do the quest.
I went on to the next village.
It was filled with snow. I had to kill ice bears. I moved on.
Next was an abandoned village. I had to kill bandits.
[You have died!]
They were too strong. I had to die hundreds of times, but I completed the quest.
Then I reached the demon realm.
Monsters were swarming everywhere. I had to die hundreds of times before I reached a checkpoint.
I reached a demon village and met demons.
I bought a few things there and was told the location of the demon castle.
I entered the castle.
There were no enemies. I looked around, ignoring treasure chests and found the throne room.
"So it comes to this in the end."
The demon king sighed deeply.
He was stronger than me. But I had infinite lives. He was destined to lose.
"Erlik the demon king.... now that I think about it. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Seraph."
"How ironic. A demon and an angel..."
I touched the handle of my sword.
"Erlik, I have a proposal."
Throughout my journey everyone I talked to was an npc, except for Erlik.
"What is it?"
He was truly a good conversation partner.
"Let's go to the seas. Until you feel satisfied, let's explore this weird world. Together."
So that he could find his freedom.
"Hahaha! Just as my predecessors warned!"
I tilted my head slightly and Erlik explained.
"You see, "a demon king should never meet with the hero". Those were the final words of the fourth demon king. He was truly wise! Hahaha!"
He laughed in amusement and self loathing.
"Eh? I don't follow."
Erlik grinned and got up from his throne.
"Being understood, it's truly a scary thing. Being understood by your enemy. It seems I was clouded by my fears and wanted to avoid my fate."
Being understood by the enemy? What?
"No matter! Seraph the hero! I would like to accept your request."
"Finally you're speaking my language."
Erlik grinned.
"Let's journey through this world until I'm tired of it! Then, you can return home."
'So he knows that I'm not from here?'
"How did you know?"
"Hahaha! Wouldn't you like to know! Now let's go to the seas!"
I didn't know what awaited us on the seas, but I was excited. After all, despite it's flaws, it was another world!