Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 339



339 – S6. 『Illusionary Realm』 -2

The power gathered at Mirror Yuna’s fingertips was shrinking into a single point. All the information under her control was compressed, and soon a bright red circle took shape.

It was the result of scraping together everything that comprised 『The Tower of Illusion』, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it contained an entire world.

They say that for something to be born, a world must be destroyed, but there’s no need to throw everything away like that. What meaning can there be in a space that’s just pure white, after abandoning memories and pain?

At least it won’t be interesting.

The form I’m going to create, the form I want to create, is the opposite of that.

If I can’t accept it, I have no choice but to fight it. I picked up the brush with my heart.

『Illusionary Realm : Gate Open』, cast based on the understanding I’d gained while seeing, hearing, and feeling Yuna’s past.

The effect is the same. To blur the boundary between illusion and reality, and grant the power to summon things that don’t exist in this world. But the fact that I’m the one who cast it is what matters.

Up until now, she was the game master, I was the player.

But now I’ve also taken the position of game master. I have the raucous duty of telling stories, breathing together, crafting the flow for joy and pleasure.

It’s my turn to fulfill that duty.

“Don’t you think it’s too desolate? Yuna, just stay put. I’ll fill it up soon enough.”

S0.

First, sightseeing (遊覽). The background.

I repaint the erased modern cityscape. The night sky is black, the countless crosses red, the lights mostly white. It rapidly spreads out from the door I opened.

Mirror Yuna, seeing this, scrunches up her face.

“I don’t know what you’re planning, but I won’t let you. I won’t give you even a single grain of sand’s worth of time!”

“I’ll give you all my time though.”

“—Shut up, disappear! Just disappear—!!”

Crack.

Fwooosh-!!

The soap bubble that Mirror Yuna created burst. The chaotic torrent of mixed worlds is ejected forward, swallowing everything. Various scenes flash by between the red rays.

Long ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of trying to win with a direct attack, but now it’s different.

The modern cityscape is being neatly pushed back by Mirror Yuna’s attack. Before it completely collapses, I need to quickly reinforce it.

S1.

Next, flowers (花). Emotions.

“Creator, it’s only been a moment since we last met. Has the rain stopped?”

Centra steps through the door. At that moment, the 100-year-later Crown Hall merges into the modern landscape, and the shadows of people begin to flicker. The festival continues, even within the ended story.

That spire’s hook, and the memory of a couple soaring through the sky – that’s the highlight of this session, no doubt.

My world, a little more solid now, can withstand Mirror Yuna’s attacks a little bit better.

S1.5.

Next is homecoming. Looking back.

“Destruction God, I’ve filled it all in meticulously, as you ordered!”

Pero tumbles through the door. A mix of wasteland and safe bunker; wanderers who yearn for the past start walking. People look back to the past, perhaps, in order to move forward.

I couldn’t invite her to this place, but a recreation is possible. I drew Elaine, and she smiled faintly before unleashing a storm.

My world, a little more resilient now, fought against Mirror Yuna’s attack.

S2.

Adding to this is the star. Direction.

“Young Creator, are you seeking?”

Abraham tumbles through the door. A brilliant constellation is added to the night sky, and people begin to look up. When lost, people followed the constellations.

Starlight twinkles, comforting the lonely moon. I moved the night sky and whispered. I am coming to you, so you, too, should fly into my arms and become a star.

My world, having found its direction, pushed back a little against Mirror Yuna’s attack.

S2.5.

What’s added to the void is dream. Hope.

“A dazzling light that saves everyone──『Pure Light』, here it comes!”

Oh Hye-in tumbles through the door. The demons, cackling as they slipped through the shadows, disappear, and stability settles over the chaotic jumble of the city’s landscape. As long as people dream of hope, darkness and shadow will not be things to fear.

I, too, have countless dreams now. The thousands of dreams I want to achieve with you will not lose their light, even when the darkest night comes.

My world, sparkling under the illumination, began to move forward against Mirror Yuna’s attack.

S3.

To sing in silence is a journey (紀行). An adventure.

“…Is it really right for me to appear here, Dad?”

“That’s when you started to enjoy it, isn’t it?”

Hee-Young Hyun comes tumbling through the door. Various martial artists create a ruckus leaping across rooftops, and amusing commotion begins to spring up in various places. Life may be so turbulent, but as long as there is agreement within the heart, it’s worth enjoying.

Aisha sneered.

“Let’s be honest. You only tacked this on because the master of the tower likes martial arts.”

“Is that not allowed?”

Look, you fool, isn’t the moon so beautiful? I can practically see Yuna internally enjoying this. Isn’t that enough?

Aisha stood beside me and added variations to her magic. My world, which has begun to possess more diverse possibilities, started to swallow up the mirror Yuna’s attacks.

S4.

To stride forward amid chaos is a path (路). A footstep.

“Mima, I came because I heard your call… Is there anything I can do to help?”

Yuri Lanster comes tumbling through the door. Black paths and white paths crisscross the world, and each begins walking their own path towards their own constellation.

I made a simple request to Yuri, who had come to my side.

“Just cheer me on.”

“I shall disrobe.”

“That’s not cheering, that’s an obstruction.”

“Isn’t it cheering in a way? It’s invigorating.”

Jokes flew back and forth, as per usual. It feels like we just need one more person here. What do you think, Yuna?

My world, starting its deliberate walk, began to push back against Mirror Yuna’s assault.

S5.

What rises now is the dawn. The future.

“For humanity, for survival, and now… I’m fighting for a happy future. I’m ready. I’m beyond even a 『Great Monster』 now.”

Woo Chaerin crosses over the threshold. Colossal monsters are appearing everywhere, buildings are splitting in half, and gigantic robots have made their debut. It’s a bit chaotic with different genres mixed together, but—

I still have so much to show you. So, I deeply hope that you’ll… look forward to it.

My ever-changing world, before I knew it, had reached right before Mirror Yuna’s nose.

And now.

S6.

What punctuates it, is fantasy. It’s me.

Mirror Yuna, desperately squeezing out her power, screamed.

“Why… why am I being pushed back? I’m stronger, I have more compressed information, I— I suffered more. But why! Why can’t I break something as insignificant as this?!”

“You said the reason yourself, you know. You dense idiot.”

It’s something so simple.

Looking back, those born from my world are chatting amongst themselves. Oh Hyein is asking Abraham how he’s doing, Woo Chaerin is asking Perona and Centra to explain the situation. Aisha is bickering with Yuri.

In an afterword following many incidents and trials, they are all taking their peaceful and tranquil lives as their stage… and are steadily moving towards happiness.

I chuckled and told Mirror Yuna.

“A painful ending can’t win against a happy ending, can it? Forehead.”

“Don’t be ridiculous— AHH!”

*THWACK-!!*

I really, gritted my teeth, put every ounce of power into a flick to the forehead of mirror-Yuna. Mirror-Yuna went straight backwards, falling flat on her ass. And with tears welling up, she didn’t get back up.

It was a de facto declaration of defeat.

Then, the moon in the sky slowly descended and touched the ground. Carefully peeling back the moon’s texture, there was my love, Yuna, inside.

I spoke, kind of swaggering.

“How’s that?”

“…You blew your arm off again, idiot.”

“Is that what matters? What matters is that I can now become an armored mega-monster using martial arts. If I merge with Aisha, I can even use the Ten Thousand Flower Rain.”

“………”

Yuna fidgeted for a long while, then muttered softly.

“…Are you really okay?”

“About what?”

“Me, everything I touch…nothing ever works out. I couldn’t protect my friend either. I mess everything up. I always become a burden, and even now…this time again. But still, even so…will you love me?”

“Love you? Please. We’ll get married, have kids, live so happily that everyone will be jealous. I already have all the plans laid out. Yuna just needs to nod. Here.”

I shaped her light, which had been sunk to the bottom of the [Erasure Zone], into a ring and held it out. A proposal, that’s what it is.

Yuna reached out a hand, then pulled it back. Reached out, pulled back…

“Do I even deserve to be loved – uhph?!”

I said I love you, stop talking nonsense.

She kept talking crap, so I just went straight for her lips. With all my heart, putting every skill I had into it, I finished the ‘persuasion’ process, and Yuna was blushing like a tomato, eyes spinning.

Looks like she’s finally decided to accept. Or maybe my warning threat of “If you talk nonsense again, next time it’s double” got through.

“…Um, well. You know. Could you, um, propose?”

“I am doing it.”

“No, pro-properly! I mean, since it’s going to be a memory that lasts a lifetime… make it impressive.”

“Ughhh…”

Impressive, huh?

I don’t know if it’ll be impressive, but there’s something I want to say.

“No matter what happens, I’ll make you happy. If God blocks us, I’ll kill God, and if the world stands in our way, I’ll change that whole world.”

“……Yeah.”

Yuna carefully raised her hand.

I took her small hand and slipped a ring of light onto her left ring finger.

Deeng- Deng- A bell rings. Seems some sensible soul rang the tower’s bell. Don’t know who that was, but thanks. I’ll compensate them later.

She and I gazed into each other’s eyes for a long while.

“I, I like… you. I, I’d do anything for you too— mmph?!”

Before the witnesses created by our shared story, we shared a vow-sealing kiss promising our happy ending.

–

Now it’s time for damage control.

“The ‘Phantom Tower’… what are we going to do? It needs to be dismantled. Perhaps wrapping Yuna up with ‘original sin’ restraints might work.”

“Just curious, my love. Can you undo this spell?”

“Th, thaa- a-aah! I mean, it’s kinda out of control. It’s sucking in too much information, more than the usual one, so the door won’t close.”

“Thank you, babe.”

Screeeech!

Yuna would make these weird noises and tremble whenever I poked at her with a title. She seemed mortified beyond what she could handle. But seeing as she didn’t say to stop, not even with a Yuna Punch, I guess she liked it.

Basically, if we want to get rid of this “Tower of Illusions,” we have to spend this energy somewhere. There are ways.

“What about her?”

Yuri, cat-like, lifted the now-limp Mirror Yuna and dangled her. Her expression was so pouty and sulky, like a cat that just had its claws trimmed.

“About her disposal, I couldn’t separate her. They’re practically one and the same. She’s basically identical to Yuna. Just with a nastier personality.”

It’s not like Mirror Yuna has a friend of Yuna’s nested inside her. The reflection in the mirror was Yuna, through and through, what’s loaded onto her is just her friend’s wish.

So.

We’ve already sorted out the hierarchy, I’m just going to leave her be. She’s not a negative influence on Yuna. This whole situation got screwed up because of that Goat-b*stard.

I manipulated the “Tower of Illusions,” shifting the space around.

Then, the twelfth door, hidden inside Yuna’s mental barrier, revealed itself. Dark and melancholic things were pouring out of that door. Even now.

Just taking a tiny taste, a painful memory from the old violet magic tower flashes past.

This is the backdoor that caused all this mess. The door connected to Yuna’s friend.

“…Alice.”

Yuna murmured gloomily.

I gently stroked her hair, and said,

“I told you I’d make you happy, didn’t I? Just wait.”

There’s something odd here.

‘It’s a relief. That I’m dead. Truly…’

That memory of when Yuna’s friend died, the narrator here is clearly Yuna’s friend. Doesn’t that seem strange? This is inside Yuna’s mind.

It could be argued that it got mixed in when Mirror Yuna was created, but there’s too much information for that. And, crucially, this. This memory, leaking out of that backdoor I just tasted.

This memory is also from Yuna’s friend’s perspective.

I think… when Mirror-Yuna appeared and started the Magic Tower’s big clean-up, 『The Goat』 must’ve taken Yuna’s friend’s body and the 『Evil God Statue』 and fled. And kept them safe so they wouldn’t die.

They must’ve returned Yuna’s friend’s soul, bound to the Evil God Statue, to her body, and are using her like this, for Yuna’s rampage.

Even if it’s not that, it’s all fine, as long as the soul is there. Then she can be saved.

“Yuna, give me all the authority of 『The Illusion Tower』. I’ll make it spit out everything it sucked in, and I’ll make sure to dissipate the remaining excess energy, too.”

“U-uh, okay.”

Sssshhh──

The control authority is transferred, and I feel a slight sense of omnipotence. It’s the power emitted by an Archmage who has reached transcendence while going berserk. With this power… I feel like I can use what I used in the past.

If we’re connected, I can move.

I go through the twelfth gate, swim against the reverse torrent, and reach the inside of Yuna’s friend’s mind. And I materialize using the succubus’s knack for moving in and out of dreams.

Then, ta-da.

“…A crazy mage?”

I’m able to appear in front of 『The Goat』 who was manipulating Yuna’s friend.

–

Crack.

The space shatters, and a huge red eye appears from beyond, staring outwards. It happened without any warning, without any movement of magic power.

“…A crazy mage?”

Wasn’t he trapped?

One of 『The Goat’s』 clones froze in place. There are too many incomprehensible aspects to even discuss how this happened. The fact that his location was tracked, the power overflowing from the eye, it’s all unfathomable.

This pressure… it’s different. Did his plan perhaps succeed? Has that person finally awakened from the mad mage and come to meet me?

No. The glint in its eyes wasn’t playfulness, but a ferocious murderous intent.

-I’ll be taking your friend, Yuna.

From noble mtl dot com

Then… it extended a massive, white, viscous arm, and swallowed Alice’s body, which had been lying on the magic circle. And.

-You won’t get to die nicely. If I had my way, I’d carve you all up right now, but, upon calculation, it seems I’m a little short on power to do everything. So for today… I’ll leave a small present while we wait for our reunion.

A crimson light.

『Capricorn』 recalled the past. A flash that erases and devours all information. That was…the current tower master’s signature technique, 『Subtraction』. Or so it seemed. Still.

Keeeiiiiing──!!

The color gradually intensified in brightness and saturation, until it was overflowing with a hue that no human could perceive. 『Capricorn』 recoiled, feeling an instinctive dread.

He was immortal. Even if the current him were to die, another clone would take his place. Therefore, there was no reason to fear any attack. There shouldn’t be.

-『I’ll take half of your name, lamb. I sincerely hope you suffer every time you dwell on that void.』

Flash.

────After that, there was light.

It was three hours later when 『Lamb』 regained consciousness. Opening his eyes, the test subject Alice was nowhere to be seen. He felt around. He was intact. His arms and legs were there too. Everything was fine.

Was it all bluff?

Was the crazy mage’s actions simply… bluff and threat?

『Lamb』 felt a strange unease. The feeling that he was forgetting something. He ransacked the room, turning everything upside down to investigate what exactly he had suffered.

And then he found it.

“Ha, ha ha…”

The number of spare 『Lamb』 he had, the personality-replica ampoules, had all been cut in half.

His information volume had been halved.

Contacting the other Replicas, I asked. They’d experienced the same phenomenon. Every single ‘Lamb’ existing in this world had been sliced in half. Half of us, simply erased.

The ampules and the ‘Lambs’ are the same entity. If the ampules vanished, then a part of oneself did too. Half of me, gone.

A full 50 percent. A person usually dies if they lose half their body. Information is no different. If half the information that makes up who you are has been ripped away, there will undoubtedly be severe side effects.

Throb.

A headache starts to set in. I feel as though maggots are writhing inside my brain. But no matter how I ransack my mind, I can’t find any trace of illusion magic.

It wasn’t an illusion. My very essence had been shaved away and transformed. The ‘Lamb’ gripped its head, desperately trying to remember. What did I lose? Why is this pain happening?

Putting the pain aside for now.

If parts of the spell formulas I remember have been erased, I could produce different effects than intended the moment I use them.

If I forgot parts of the schemes I remember, I could fail the moment I execute them.

If the goals I remember have vanished… Damn it.

I need to remember. What did I forget? Quickly!

“……”

However, the ‘Lamb’ could never recall what it had lost.

Perhaps never.