Let me say it again. Deep Blue Pearl is a god, and *Hero Legend* is God itself.
"My one good eye must be off, or your ears are clogged. One of the two."
I'd wandered the night streets and found another inn to kill the remaining hours till dawn. After a shower—better than the first place, which didn't even have a communal bath—I'd ordered some decent food to settle the fullness in my gut.
But then, uninvited guests joined me at my solo table in the hall. The priest and the mage, naturally.
Bam!
"Do I really need to cut out your tongue for you to understand words?"
I slammed down the cup I'd been sipping from. The inquisitor flinched. Her face was beet red—she knew even an NPC like her had crossed a line.
On one hand, I was impressed by Deep Blue Pearl's programming of such emotions. On the other, it seemed joining these two was indeed part of the story.
Of course. If it wasn't scripted, they wouldn't be sticking to me like this.
"Don't get so heated, friend. I won't offend further. No more mistakes either… and this talk won't cost you a thing. I swear it."
Even so… wasn't staying in character without anger a bit much? I'd ignored story beats to stick to my concept plenty of times before.
Ah, sure, this was my first time going full throttle. In other games, NPCs wouldn't play along if I pushed too hard, so I had to adjust. Sometimes it blocked progress entirely, forcing a restart.
"You trying to mess with me?"
But this game rolled with whatever I threw at it, letting me indulge my concept freely. It was too damn fun.
"…I."
Just then, the inquisitor mumbled. When I glanced her way, her already tomato face turned even redder. It matched her hair and skin—almost cute, honestly.
"I came to learn that tolerance!"
But what she shouted was pure nonsense.
"…What?"
Game bug? My ears broken? Was I even sticking to concept?
"Show mercy and consideration to others, shun arrogance and prejudice. I've studied that my whole life, yet I followed none of it. But… you were different. You overlooked my insults time and again, even granting forgiveness at the very end."
I gripped my nearly slipping cup tight and barely suppressed my twitching lips.
"I saw in you the side of myself I always wanted to be…! That's why I dared return here despite my rudeness! I know I've been an utter nuisance and boor, but still…!"
There's an ancient otaku proverb: Your favorite isn't the one you choose—it's the one who barges in, grabs your heart by the collar, and slaps it into place.
And what that proverb means for my point here is.
She just collar-grabbed and slapped my otaku heart.
"…If you're trying to ruin my mood, it worked perfectly."
I barely held concept while screaming internally, clutching my head.
She was cute, yeah. Her kneeling sincerity earlier had struck my tastes, making me uneasy.
But charging in like this?! Apologizing so bluntly and earnestly, straight-up striking my strike zone?!
Is she insane? For real?! The priest's backstory was my favorite in the original, but this was overkill!
"D-Did I… misspeak again? Another offense…?"
"..."
And her wording was so literal, yet spot-on. Driving me nuts. How'd she nail my eternal weakness for rigid, clumsy characters!
Her round bob haircut made her look just like a kimchi dumpling…
"Now I get it. Nice try. First one to attempt suicide like this—refreshing."
Couldn't break concept, so I trembled my lips in feigned fury.
Mistaking it for peak rage, the archmage tensed up.
"That's not it at all. Please, hear me out."
Good—concept intact. Small mercies, even if this sudden fave-drop wasn't welcome.
"No need."
But she *was* cute, fact. Charging in raw and unpolished like a fresh grad? Too adorable. Unavoidable, right?
"I've got nothing for you but blades."
Scrape.
I swallowed tears, stood roughly. My hand went straight to the two-hander on my back.
Of course—couldn't ditch kimchi dumpling, story, or concept. How stay calm hearing that crap—even if meant as praise—from this hothead?
"What if we said you could kill the king of demons, Satan?"
But as I went to draw, the archmage dropped that bomb.
The moderately crowded hall fell silent. My hand froze mid-pull.
"What if we could drive Satan and all demons from this land—would you still draw that blade?"
Sage lived up to the name. Barely talked, yet hit my concept's weak spot dead-on.
"…That story."
I could roll with it blindfolded. My concept *couldn't* ignore this.
"What's that mean?"
I drew the sword, dangling it with eyes full of irritation and madness.
Swing it if the words rang false—that intent hit the archmage clear.
"Before that, a drink—story's long, need to wet the throat."
"Blood'll do."
Meant to lighten the mood, maybe. But with my temperament—rip every demon apart—I wasn't allowing it.
I gripped the two-hander hard. The archmage cleared his throat.
"…I said the inquisitor just left the temple, right?"
Wise move. He sensed my aura and toed the line.
"Young for an inquisitor, but she left for a reason. All because of the oracle."
He glanced at her. She caught the cue and spoke fast.
"Undeserved honor… the Lord told me I'm fated to vanquish Satan."
That… threw me off. Oracle already? And to the priest, of all people?
"But I can't do it alone, so gather companions, He said."
That oracle was *player* turf. Not the priest's.
"So I sought the archmage first… then planned to recruit across the lands."
Did the remake shift the story fully to priest-centric?
"I knew you'd be displeased, yet came back for that reason."
"…? Archmage, didn't you say it'd be fine earlier…?"
"Ahem."
As bewilderment bulged my veins, the archmage declared urgently.
"Care to join the quest to slay Satan?"
「※One Step Toward Demon King Subjugation※」
That line popped the quest.
Even blind drunk, I'd spot the main quest marker stabbing my chest.
"Turns out you're a famed mercenary. No hesitation killing demons, they say. So, the offer: Kill Satan, and all demons flee this land."
…Expected right about joining them for story—fine.
And nearly killing the main char? Eh… no warning or UI sucked, but restart from last save if dead. No biggie.
Even if not, that'd rock—means I can warp the story my way.
*Hero Legend* wasn't billed as "do anything" despite the hype, so it startled me, but not unprecedented. Adapted quick.
Sure, wondered how many devs they ground up for this freedom in *these* graphics… but hey, it shipped.
Sudden setup threw me, but as a fun-gamer? All welcome. Free concept play too. How refuse!
"Me, a hero? Hah."
So, concept check: How's my character react to this pitch?
Can't just nod along. No trust between us—just my one-way contempt and rage.
"Her oracle's legit. Want proof? We'll go to any temple—they recognize her as the chosen."
But the sage pushing like that? Can't refuse forever.
Why? My demon hate outweighs beef with these two.
Opportunity to erase demons' source, Satan? My concept's grudge—deep enough to burn itself—won't miss it.
"…As I thought, I…"
"That word."
So, if it means killing *all* demons, tagging with these annoyances? Piece of cake.
"Better be true."
I thrilled at the NPC's perfect line delivery, gripping the hilt tighter.
"Or I'll hack your limbs and offer them to my ruined home."
Like I'd swing any second. But held back.
"Welcome aboard the expedition, then."
「You are now acting with ??? (Inquisitor).」
「You are now acting with ??? (Archmage).」
「※One Step Toward Demon King Subjugation※
∎ Joined the subjugation party
∎ Talked with Archmage」
Quest updated.
* * *
"No need for thanks. I permit your company only because it aligns with my goals—don't dream I forgive your arrogance or insolence."
The inquisitor etched every word into her mind. His tone was savage and cold, but her guilt dulled the sting.
"Don't treat me like a comrade. If not for killing Satan, I'd never share space with scum like you."
If anything, his restraint before the goal impressed her—funneling rage into calm.
The bishop's teaching—always keep reason—must've aimed at such poise.
"Got it?"
"Yes!"
No comrade status stung a bit. But companionship? Gratitude enough.
Traveling together meant chances to atone for rudeness, learn his ways.
"..."
Her eyes sparkled at his shout, ignoring the demon knight's furrowed brow.
At first, her shallow knowledge led her to deny and doubt him, unprecedented as he was…
Now? Different.
『Take his life if you must? Do you grasp what that means, Inquisitor! Your mission's weight! Had he not shown mercy…!』
『My actions were impulsive and irresponsible. Your rebuke is just, Archmage.』
She no longer disliked the demon knight. Recalling her shortened hair, she admired him.
『But my narrow view caused harm. Lucky it was money this time—but if someone died? Could gold fix that?』
『Does that justify throwing away your life?』
『Justice is justified violence, thus heavier, demanding caution. Even the Lord says doubt your own justice. Yet did I heed that then?』
『…The Ninth Commandment.』
『How can I save the world if I can't follow God's word? I… I don't qualify as chosen. Truly…』
She recalled yesterday's talk with the archmage, eyed the man before her.
『Yet I was forgiven. Given another chance. A shot at atonement.』
『Inquisitor…』
『I couldn't forgive. I'd have cut out tongues. I couldn't act like him.』
Behind fierce eyes lay the will to sheath killing intent despite harboring a demon; behind harsh words, the tolerance to swallow disgust and show mercy.
The side she'd missed.
『Dare I, God's proxy, call him less so?』
She'd prayed all night, pondering the demon knight. Why he harbored a demon, his trials to reach here, his thoughts. How she'd blinded herself with prejudice.
Regret and respect only grew. Their investigation confirmed he purged demons, aided folk.
『I want to know him. Learn from him. Enduring the demon coiled in his body, mastering rage, forgiving those who reviled him.』
Rough speech, crude manners… but the archmage said shallow learning yields short words. And learning isn't for all.
So she understood. He shone brighter, unlearned yet superior.
Yes—learn him, become like him.
Twenty years old. A young woman's admiration began.
She'd learn it illusion far later.
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