A day ago.
Elaine was dreaming.
After I ‘awakened’, I started having more dreams. I wasn’t sure if I could really call them dreams.
She periodically closed her eyes and sank into the depths of her unconsciousness, and each time, fragments of images that could not be called memories would cloud her vision.
I’ve had many different kinds of dreams, but this one was one I had particularly often.
Swish… … .
A seaside view.
It was just dawn. The sun rose brilliantly over the blue sea in the distance.
All you can see around you is white sandy beach.
Nothing is visible except water, sand, and sun.
As if it were the morning of the first day of creation, on a barren beach with nothing… … .
The man was standing.
It was a man wearing an orange robe turned inside out. His face was not clearly visible due to the shadow of the robe.
‘It works, it works! The sun is really rising!’
The man was jumping for joy as he watched the sunrise.
‘I spent a week on this simple task of making the sun rise on this world! It’s like a f*cking VR world, it’s incredibly immersive but it’s so hard to handle!’
Even as he swore, a faint smile remained on the man’s lips.
‘Someday, I guess.’
dump.
The man sat down on the sand and looked at the sun that had clearly risen.
‘I want to create a truly living world. A world where the environment, plants and animals, NPCs, and everything else is vivid and alive.’
The ‘I’ in the dream was listening blankly to the man’s long dream story.
‘I want to make an incredibly fun game that takes place in that world.’
The man looked back at me and grinned.
‘That’s my dream!’
It was a childish smile.
It was a vain dream.
But somehow, it looked so brilliant.
So, ‘I’ thought.
I want to follow this man’s dream.
I want to go on this man’s adventure together…
* * *
“… … .”
From the dream, I woke up.
“ha…….”
Elaine sat up, gasping for breath.
I didn’t know how many times I had dreamed this. Now, I could clearly remember the smile the man in my dream gave me.
‘Who on earth… whose memory is this?’
There were many different ‘memories’ that I had.
First of all, the memories that form the basis of ‘Princess Elaine, the youngest daughter of the Snow White royal family’.
Memories of being born in the countryside, learning archery from my mother, and moving to the capital as Snow White.
The following are the memories of ‘Adventurer Elaine’.
A long and arduous adventure to protect the world with those called ‘Players’.
These memories were as varied as the number of people called ‘players’.
As each of them was different, each of their memories was different.
But I could remember everything clearly.
The story of a grand adventure with countless players.
however.
“… … .”
The scenery I saw in my dream a little while ago was definitely not my own.
At that moment, Elaine was lost in thought about who the main character of her dream was.
“Your Majesty the Queen.”
A voice echoed from outside the room.
“The Moonlight Knight and the Engraver have arrived.”
“Please take me to the command barracks. I will go there too.”
“yes.”
Elaine got up and adjusted her clothes.
Unlike when she left Snow White, she was dressed in a fancy dress.
A splendid crown of jewels rested on his head.
“… … .”
Looking in the mirror, Elaine looked at herself dissatisfied.
Your Majesty the Queen.
It felt awkward to be called that, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that all of this was just a facade.
Elaine left the room and headed straight to the command barracks.
The two NPC servants who had been waiting at the entrance to the room quickly followed her.
This is the third occupied territory of the New World, Sasu-gwan.
This is where the main force of the ‘Swallowed Kingdom’ is stationed.
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Flutter!
Elaine entered the command barracks. There were two NPCs standing there with familiar faces.
A wizard with tattoos all over his body, and a knight wearing armor inlaid with moonstone.
They were called ‘Engravers’ and ‘Moonlight Knights’.
“Hello, Her Majesty the Queen.”
“I came running because I was called.”
The two NPCs bowed to Elaine in respect. Elaine nodded in return.
These two were boss NPCs of dungeons located in the north and south of the New Continent respectively.
Survivors of the Swallowed Kingdom, which fell a hundred years ago, fled to the northern and southern ends of the continent, choosing two ways to survive the inevitable destruction.
Those who fled south placed a spell of immortality upon themselves.
They were granted immortal bodies, but their souls were torn to pieces.
Those who fled north transplanted their consciousness into golems.
They infused their souls into the moonstone armor, making it a living, moving armor.
… … was the boss of two dungeons with the same setting, ‘Memories of the Sealer’ and ‘The Moonlight Knight’s Rest.’
That’s why the NPC legions they lead wear helmets that cover their faces.
What was inside was not a living human being. It was either a corpse with a broken soul or an empty armor.
“Mr. Imprint, Mr. Moonlight. It’s been a few days since I’ve seen you.”
Elaine called them both:
Imprint, moonlight.
The two boss NPCs looked at each other with their heads bowed silently.
“The reason I called you two today is to conclude the meeting we have been having.”
Elaine made a stern sound.
“Are you still attacking the ‘player’ forces?”
After a moment of hesitation, Moonlight answered.
“Yes.”
“I would have told them to declare a ceasefire first.”
“… … .”
“If you won’t listen to me, why did you put me on the throne?”
Elaine raised her clear voice.
“I am not a doll that you worship as an idol! If you want to call me king, obey me!”
“… … You are without a doubt our king.”
The imprint and the moonlight spoke alternately.
“The House of Gargantua is related by blood to the House of Snow White. As the last Snow White, you are more than qualified to rule over us.”
“Furthermore, you are a being chosen by the Goddess herself. You are the rightful successor who will carry out and realize the Goddess’s will.”
This time the wizard and the knight raised their heads and spoke simultaneously.
“Therefore, you must carry out our will, the command of the Goddess.”
“What is that?”
“Defeat the Demon King.”
“… … !”
Elaine bit her lip.
“In the war against the Demon King, they, the players, are only a hindrance.”
“If we occupy the Twilight Port they are occupying and conduct a defensive battle at the port, at least this continent of Bethelos will be safe from the Demon King’s army.”
Complete control of the New World.
For that, the NPC army was moving and was now about to take the last step.
Elaine shook her head.
“But there is also the option of forming an alliance with them and fighting together!”
“They are unpredictable variables themselves. If they are used as allies, it is too risky.”
“They antagonize, betray, and fight each other. They are not united. It will certainly be the same for us.”
“no!”
Elaine threw her arms out.
“Even if that’s true, we must join forces with them!”
Imprint and Moonlight were confused.
“Why?”
“For the past five years, I have been protecting the world with them. Because I believe that they, too, are beings who want to protect this world.”
Elaine clenched her fists and placed her hands in front of her chest.
“I remember the moment they rescued me from the sewers… … .”
Even if it was just following a set quest.
“And I remember those moments when we joined forces with them in the graveyard, in the castle, underground and in the sky, to destroy evil and protect this world.”
Even if it’s just for their own enjoyment.
“I remember the glimpses of goodness they showed me!”
Still, Elaine wanted to believe.
The times I spent with so many players.
“Of course, they are not all good! No, rather, they are selfish, self-willed, and self-centered… … That may be their nature.”
Elaine looked back and forth between the imprint and the moonlight.
“But even now, they are fighting against the Demon King’s army to protect this world.”
Everyone had already heard about Iceberg’s situation.
Elaine raised her voice.
“I don’t know their true feelings, but I trust their actions! I trust the long time they spent together with me trying to protect this world.”
“… … .”
“Players are also citizens of this world! We are facing the same enemy. Even if they may betray, I think we should accept them as our allies.”
The seal sighed and Moonlight shook his head.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Yes, it may not be rational, but I have been granted ‘freedom’ by the Goddess.”
Elaine was unwavering.
“I decided to act according to my own judgment and thoughts, not according to the will of others!”
“… … .”
“I ask you not as the successor to the goddess, nor as your representative, but simply as I, Elaine Snowwhite.”
The young queen’s voice was soon filled with conviction.
“Let’s go help the ‘players’.”
The two NPCs looked up at the queen without any hesitation.
“To win this war.”
* * *
today.
Blawima, a port city on the Old Continent.
“I have come to Iceberg to provide assistance. Please open the way, ‘Players’.”
Elaine, who personally led the army on the expedition, said so.
But users’ response was cold.
The grizzly in front growled.
“How can I believe what you say?”
Until just a day ago, NPC armies were attacking users.
What makes you believe that you’re letting it land?
Elaine took a deep, calming breath, then turned around to look at the grizzly that had asked her that question.
“Mr. Grizzly.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Grizzly was startled when his name was suddenly called.
“During the quest, you were drinking and you were rambling in front of me about your ex-boyfriend. It’s been happening less and less since last year. Have you gotten your mind together now?”
“… … .”
The grizzly opened its mouth wide.
“Mr. Panda.”
“to?”
“You must have had a lot of complaints about the manager of the company. You swore at me in front of me, saying that I was the only one who would listen to you. When you were happy that the manager caused an accident and got demoted, I was happy too.”
“… … .”
The panda also opened its mouth wide.
“Mr. Sloth.”
“Yes, yes… … .”
“Every time I did a quest, you would sleep on my lap. Sometimes it was so bad that you would sleep all night. You called me a drug pillow.”
“Heh, heh heh… … But, Elaine’s thighs were really nice.”
Sloth smiled awkwardly. Everyone glared at the pervert with disgusted eyes.
“Mr. Orion, you were trying to take a screenshot under my skirt while making a bet with your party members on the color of my underwear.”
“Mr. Hyuk-soo, you tried to touch my body without permission, saying you were an NPC. When the Protector stopped you, you cursed and said it was a mess.”
“Ms. Seira, you came in a wedding dress and had a wedding ceremony with me without permission. You even called me your cyber girlfriend.”
The corruption of everyone present was exposed one by one.
Users screamed every time their secrets were revealed, burst out laughing every time they heard their colleagues do something stupid, and then screamed when it was their turn.
Elaine met with each player one by one and told them about the episodes that happened during her adventures with them.
“Do you understand now?”
Elaine looked around at the scorched earth users and placed her hand in front of her chest.
“I am Elaine, who went on an adventure with you all. I am the clumsy and weak youngest princess who has struggled to protect this world for the past five years.”
I had no choice but to believe it.
All the users who thought of Elaine as an NPC, who always followed her around during scenario quests, and who treated her like a friend and comfortably revealed their secrets to her, had no choice but to believe that she was that Elaine.
“The world has become like this, and yet you are still fighting.”
Elaine looked up at the distant sky of the Old Continent where the flames of war were rising.
“I believe in the hearts of those who love this world.”
“… … .”
“And I ask you to trust me too. We… … are surely of the same mind.”
Now Elaine’s ship was pushing into the harbor.
But no one stopped him. No, no one dared to stop him.
“Please open the way.”
Who could stop the procession of the princess who has been fighting alongside him for the past five years, whose eyes shine with such clear goodwill?
“To protect this world from the Demon King’s army!”
