Ren decided to speak privately with Ian for a while.

“So... you also lost someone precious to you.”

As she listened to his story, Ren realized that their circumstances were remarkably similar.

“Could it be that the Akashic Archive truly has the power to resurrect the dead and elevate them to divinity?”

It was hard to believe such a thing could be accomplished through what was supposedly just a game. Yet, the impact of the Akashic Archive far exceeded anything she could have imagined.

This couldn’t simply be explained as the power of dreams.

“To be precise, it’s only possible under special circumstances.”

A faint hum.

As Ian moved his fingers slightly, magic flowed from the bracelet he was wearing, forming a hologram.

“As you know, your Constellation title changed from Sacrifice of Indolence to Sacrifice Overcoming Indolence. Likewise, mine changed from Magitech Engineer Consumed by Wrath to Magitech Engineer Who Cast Off Wrath.”

Words spelling out their Constellation titles appeared in the hologram, neatly arranged.

“Tell me, haven’t you ever found this odd?”

“What do you mean by odd?”

“We’ve never had any real connection to indolence or wrath in our lives. You’ve never lived idly even once, and I rarely let myself get consumed by anger. Yet, our Constellation titles included ‘indolence’ and ‘wrath.’”

“……”

“And the other gods referred to us as Indolence and Wrath, as if those concepts were integral to our very identities.”

Ren nodded.

She, too, had felt a strange disconnect with her former self after overcoming indolence.

“Before I cast off wrath, I never once questioned the anger that occasionally consumed my thoughts, as though I’d been brainwashed.”

“You’re saying… could it be…?”

“Some transcendent being must have deliberately embedded concepts like ‘indolence’ and ‘wrath’ into our ascension to divinity, for their own purposes. There’s no other explanation.”

Indolence…

The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

Back when she was human, she’d always been diligent, starting her training at dawn. Yet, as a Constellation, she had languished in bed, wasting away her days.

If someone had indeed twisted the essence of her divinity during her ascension by attaching indolence to her identity, it all made sense.

…In that case, I owe that girl and her apostle another debt.

They had helped her reflect on herself, making it possible to overcome Indolence.

How much did she owe them now?

How could she possibly repay this growing gratitude?

“And who might this transcendent being be?”

“…I don’t know. For now, there’s too little information. But based on what they’ve done to us, it’s clear they wouldn’t be pleased about us overcoming our respective sins.”

“So, they might intervene with us or the Akashic Archive?”

“Exactly. That’s why I said I would protect them. If this transcendent being ever targets our benefactor, we need to be ready.”

“I understand. But what did you mean when you said resurrection and ascension are only possible under special circumstances?”

“I researched countless methods to bring back the one I loved. From reversing time to synthesis through cognition. But nothing worked. In the end, my final attempt involved implanting Kate’s image into the consciousness of everyone across the continent via the Akashic Archive, then using that collective faith to coalesce divinity and give birth to a god.”

“So, you tried to artificially create a god through faith, just as I was created.”

“Precisely. But I failed. It’s not something that can be done artificially.”

“Then how was it that my comrades and your loved one were able to return?”

“That’s the crux of it. According to my theory, it was thanks to the sins we conquered.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The words attached to a Constellation’s name embody power. Your ‘Sacrifice’ represents one of the seven virtues held by the seven heroes. My ‘Magitech Engineer’ reflects one of the three sages. By that logic, ‘Indolence’ and ‘Wrath’ must also carry power.”

“So, what you’re saying is… some transcendent, malevolent being embedded sins within us to suppress us, but by overcoming those sins, we gained new power, enabling the resurrection of those we love. Is that it?”

“Exactly… Though it’s still just a theory, and in my case, the process wasn’t perfect, so there’s more to refine. In other words, not just anyone can be manifested into reality through the Akashic Archive.”

“I see… Should I consider that a relief?”

There were restrictions, then.

It was true. If every character from the game could manifest, countless others would have already appeared.

“You’re discussing something quite intriguing.”

Boom!

“Ugh!”
“What the—!?”

A foreign woman’s voice echoed as pitch-black magical energy engulfed Ren and Ian.

“A domain…”

The ultimate power of gods: creating a domain in the form of a barrier.

Inside, it was entirely isolated from the outside world unless permitted by the domain’s owner.

Any hope of aid from their companions outside was now impossible.

“That’s right. This is my domain—Pandemonium.”

From within the swirling darkness, a woman with the distinctive horns of a demon emerged.

With an alluring gaze, she conjured a throne and sat upon it.

Constellation Name: The Arrogant Queen of Ten Thousand Demons
Demon God Huffniss.

She had once defeated the previous Demon King, Perlerina, bringing harmony between the demon race and the continent’s other species.

As one of the five Demon Lords who ascended to godhood, Huffniss was the strongest Demon King in history.

Looking up at her, Ian and Ren swallowed nervously.

Even among the seven heroes, the three sages, and the five Demon Lords, she was on another level entirely.

Her unparalleled combat instincts, coupled with the divine power drawn from the faith of all demons, and the inherited battle experience of her predecessors, made her unmatched in single combat.

Even with the growth Ian and Ren achieved by overcoming their sins, their chances of victory were slim in her domain.

“What brings you here? This is my domain.”

“I found something… interesting.”

Huffniss curled her lips into a smirk.

“Those who were never meant to live again have defied the fundamental order of the world.”

!!!

Ian and Ren’s eyes widened.

“As the ruler of demons, it would be disgraceful if I couldn’t recognize such things.”

Whoosh!

As she crossed her legs, flames of dark magic ignited in her hand.

“There’s something I must know from the dead. So, reveal the identity of the one who resurrected them.”

“……”

They hadn’t expected a threat to their benefactor to arrive so soon.

Exchanging glances, Ian and Ren nodded.

“Sorry, but that won’t be possible.”

“We can’t repay kindness with betrayal, can we?”

“Foolish creatures often don’t know their place.”

“Are you certain it’s wise to act here? Combat among gods is forbidden. If you harm us, the heavens will hold you accountable and strike you down.”

Huffniss let out a sinister laugh.

“Accountable? Struck down? How amusing. Tell me, who dares hold me accountable?”

Rumble!

Her domain trembled violently.

“I will remind you of your place—of the difference between us.”

Boom!

***

[The right magitech arm of the Magitech Engineer Who Cast Off Wrath has been severed.]
[The abdomen of the Sacrifice Overcoming Indolence has been struck by a magic projectile.]
[The Sacrifice Overcoming Indolence loses consciousness momentarily and crashes to the ground.]
[The Magitech Engineer Who Cast Off Wrath transforms his left arm into a beam weapon.]
[The Magitech Engineer Who Cast Off Wrath’s energy is depleted.]
[The transformation of the Magitech Engineer’s left arm halts mid-process.]

I jolted awake.

To think that even these two—one of the Seven Heroes and the other one of the Three Sages—were being so thoroughly crushed.

The opponent I had glimpsed through the thoughts of the two Constellations was none other than The Arrogant Queen of Ten Thousand Demons, one of the Five Demon Lords.

Her strength was beyond imagination.

I had to do something.

If this continued, my patrons could be killed.

They were risking their lives, refusing to reveal my identity in order to protect me.

As the one responsible for this mess, I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

“Constellation, can you project me into the divine realm in the form of a dream?”

[The Dreamteller is startled.]
[The Dreamteller asks if you’re seriously planning to go to the divine realm.]

“There’s no time. Our patrons are in danger.”

[The Dreamteller says it’s possible but dangerous.]
[The Dreamteller explains that while it’s feasible to send only your mental form in a dream, if the dream projection is killed, you could become permanently incapacitated in reality.]

“……”

Hearing that, I hesitated.

I might be the director of a game that was a continental sensation, but without the Constellation’s help, I was an utterly useless weakling.

To stand against a Demon God that even greater deities struggled to endure?

“It’s… fine.”

My body trembled uncontrollably.

“I’ll come back safely, so don’t worry.”

I couldn’t abandon those two.

They were among the few who had been kind to me since I arrived in this world.

Above all, I could still hear their thoughts as they fought, risking their lives to protect me.

How could I just sit back and watch?

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes.

Flash!

“Aaaghhh!”

“Time is precious to me. I’d appreciate it if you’d hurry up and answer.”

When I opened my eyes again, I saw a woman with jet-black hair torturing the Magitech Engineer.

Behind her, the goddess Ren lay collapsed.

“Stop right there.”

As I spoke, the woman slowly lifted her head to look at me.

Her golden eyes locked onto mine, as if piercing through my very soul.

“B-Benefactor?! No! She’s dangerous, don’t—ugh!”

“Don’t interrupt. Stay silent.”

The Demon God grabbed the Magitech Engineer’s head and slammed it into the ground, leaving him unconscious.

…Now that I thought about it, this wasn’t just a transcendent being.

This was a full-fledged Constellation—a god.

Had I acted too rashly?

[…So, it’s the power of dreams. That explains it, the Demon God thought.]

At that moment, her thoughts flowed into my mind.

[If it’s the power of dreams, it might even be possible to manifest a previous Demon King.]

I could read her thoughts?

First Ren, then the Magitech Engineer, and now even the Demon God herself?

What was happening to me?

“Dream Apostle, I have a proposal.”

The Demon God lifted the Magitech Engineer by the neck, his unconscious body dangling limply.

“Create the dream I desire, and I will spare their lives.”

[The Arrogant Queen of Ten Thousand Demons is certain you have no choice but to comply, given that you appeared to save them.]

“…Fine.”

There was no other way, was there?

No matter how much of an Apostle of a god I might be, I was still just a regular human. There was no way I could defeat a god with physical strength alone.

And if I refused her proposal and fled, my patrons would be in mortal danger.

Even as they lay dying, they hadn’t betrayed me. Not once.

I couldn’t let them die.

“I accept.”

I had no other choice.

Constellation, I’ll be borrowing your power for a moment.

I unfolded the power of dreams.

Hum!

A black haze expanded, enveloping both the Demon God and me within a dream.

[The Arrogant Queen of Ten Thousand Demons observes the dream’s power and thinks she could escape anytime she wishes.]

So even this wasn’t enough to contain her?

It didn’t matter.

I wasn’t trying to trap her, anyway.

“Tell me the dream you desire. I’ll create it for you.”

The dream I create will be one you can never wake from.

I don’t enjoy being controlled by others, you see.