Chapter 14
The live broadcast ended right at that moment.
Balance.
The balance of a game was nothing short of a sore spot for a director.
Perfect balance does not exist in this world.
Playing a game, and maintaining balance within a game.
Both are done by human hands, so perfection is unattainable.
Because every person is different.
Even if a perfect balance was achieved, it would be meaningless.
Because to someone, that perfect balance may not feel perfect.
For that reason, it was clearly a misstep for Akare’s official director to mention balance.
If another director had mentioned balance, especially favouring another class, in an official statement.
That director could have been criticized for years just because of that statement.
But Akare’s director, Aurora, was no ordinary director.
Moreover, Akashic Records hadn’t even started its beta test.
Everyone, except for one person, was forcibly in a ‘non-player’ state.
In reality, the only class information released was for the Martial Artist.
Thus, it was a reset.
What Aurora’s statement would lead to in the future was something to keep an eye on.
***
“…Ah.”
The moment I woke up, I remembered what happened yesterday.
Even though I thought I had done my best and progressed smoothly.
Because of one chat comment that hurt the pride of mages, I lost my rationality for a moment.
It was a very emotional response, and it was impossible to take back the words I had already said.
“Ugh…”
I’m scared. I’m really scared.
“How many hours did I sleep…”
Looking outside the window, the sun was already high in the sky.
It seemed like Aka-chan had already gone inside the capsule and started working in the virtual reality.
“I slept for 12 hours.”
Maybe because I was mentally exhausted, I had spent half a day purely sleeping.
“Ugh…!”
Stretching my body, I slapped my soft cheeks with both hands.
Smack!
A stinging pain… wasn’t felt, but it was stimulating enough to clear up my tangled thoughts a little bit.
There was only one hour left until the beta test began.
I instinctively stopped my hand from accessing the gallery.
Ignoring the mistake I made, I thought it would be better to face the aftermath that resulted from it.
[Indie Minor Game Gallery]
―――
-One hour before the opening! Bring me drinks and women [360]
-Everyone who won the draw should be dragged to the execution chamber [455]
-Famous streamer Sweet’s latest status.jpg [348]
-Official Director: “I’ll… become the chaos” [399]
-Director roasted by the in-game gallery’s public opinion yesterday [411]
-Post-mortem analysis of the bastard who made that chat comment [568]
―――
Huh? The public opinion isn’t as bad as I thought.
Considering it was an explosive comment regarding balance, it didn’t look that bad.
Even scrolling through the featured posts, I didn’t see any particularly malicious posts.
Rather, most posts praised me and were enthusiastic about my actions.
What in the world…
―――
[Title] One hour before the opening! Bring me drinks and women
(Dynamic laughing frog meme)
The time has come for heroes to pioneer a new world.
Like: 566
Dislike: 0
―――
[Comments 360]
This is always funny to see.
ㄴThe meme is hilarious, lol.
ㄴDamn it, I didn’t win the draw.
So it means you got into the beta, huh? Damn it.
ㄴSeriously, drag this bastard out.
ㄴIf you reveal yourself, we’ll corner you and roast you in the veteran forum.
―――
[Title] Famous streamer Sweet’s latest status.jpg
(Picture of him meditating in a dignified posture)
He’s sitting cross-legged in reality, lol.
Seems like he’s been watching Daehyeop Kim’s stream a lot during his trip.
―――
[Comments 348]
That’s not cross-legged; it’s just meditation.
ㄴOh man, what a troll.
ㄴAsperger’s posture, lol.
ㄴWhat’s with that fake cross-legged posture?
What’s wrong with him? Is he secretly a Martial Artist?
ㄴHe’s been doing that for an hour on stream, lol.
ㄴIf he picks the Mage class, the old school mages will start coughing up blood.
ㄴSweet dropped out of contention, sigh. What a martial arts wannabe.
―――
[Title] Official Director: “I’ll… become the chaos”
(Director’s clip getting scratched while trying to diss the Martial Artist)
(Director’s clip where she covers her mouth in shock with both hands)
(Director’s clip abruptly ending the live broadcast)
Casting a stirring punch and then covering her mouth, lol.
Like: 675
Dislike: 5
―――
[Comments 399]
Her eyes going wide are so cute, lol.
ㄴAccepted as my future wife.
ㄴReveal your main class. Hurry up.
ㄴMartial Artist looks fun.
ㄴMartial Artist sucks, damn it.
The true essence of fantasy is magic.
ㄴSeriously, what’s with the Martial Artist?
ㄴForget the Schrödinger’s Cup, Mage is way more attractive.
ㄴForget the Schrödinger’s Cup (as I lift the Schrödinger’s Cup).
ㄴThere they go again, using that technique.
―――
…Just by looking at the first page of trending posts, I could tell that public opinion was favourable.
Of course, the in-game gallery was already like the stronghold of Akare.
It was hard to say that public opinion here was the same as that of the general public.
So, I checked all the other communities as well.
Considering it was an explosive comment, the overall atmosphere was good.
The dominant reaction being completely different from what I expected…
‘It’s what Aka-chan emphasized so much…’
A cute girl director.
My unique identity and personal character.
That might be what made a potentially negative statement instead become attractive.
More than anything, the last scene provided the most crucial element: fun.
Communication and fun.
These were the most important aspects for a director.
There were many directors who focused on communication.
But there were few directors who had both communication and fun.
And now, there was a director who possessed communication, fun, and even charm?
“Is being a director also a skill?”
Honestly, I found it hard to understand.
I tried my best to communicate.
But to think they found fun and charm in me… It was hard to comprehend.
“Well, whatever. I guess it’s a good thing.”
I couldn’t understand it, but I didn’t really need to understand it either.
Thinking positively, I moved into the virtual reality through the capsule.
***
[Sweet’s broadcast has started – One hour before Akashic Records]
[Sweet’s broadcast title: Akare Opening Run]
“Those who have reached the Hall of Heroes. What brings you here?”
Hall of Heroes.
The starting point in Akashic Records where one chooses their class.
Sweet looked at the maid who asked the question and suddenly felt curious.
“Why are you dressed as a maid?”
“…”
Aka-chan’s doppelgänger remained silent, surprised by the unexpected question.
Although she knew the answer to why it was a maid outfit, she judged that it was outside her authority and was about to respond with a prepared line.
Right then, Aka-chan’s consciousness intervened.
“It’s the Director’s personal preference.”
“Well, you have quite an unusual taste. That must be hard.”
In response to Sweet’s attempt to connect on a personal level, Aka-chan’s consciousness made the doppelgänger nod its head.
Nod, nod.
“That’s a secret, by the way.”
“Of course.”
Sweet glanced at the viewer count written below the chat window.
A secret known to only 100,000 people.
Isn’t that practically common knowledge at this point?
―――
-The maid is cute too, lol.
-Shall we go find the hidden class?
-We must go Martial Artist.
-100,000 secret friends.―――
Seeing the chat more chaotic than usual, Sweet softly responded.
“I want to become a Mage.”
―――
-?
-??
-Can you explain what the hell you were doing for the past hour?
-?
-No hidden class search?
―――
Sweet didn’t care about finding the hidden class or becoming a Martial Artist.
Fantasy, another world, virtual reality.
“Mage is the true essence, isn’t it?”
―――
-Backstabbed, huh.
-Did the Martial Artists get excited?
-He even backstabs with such dedication, that crazy bastard, lol.
-Use that dedication to stream more often.
―――
The act of sitting cross-legged and meditating before the opening run was a kind of show.
It was a show designed to drive both supporters and detractors mad.
Sweet took his eyes off the chat window, which was filled with question marks and laughter.
“Is that so?”
The maid smiled softly.
What could that smile mean?
“I will show you the Echo of Records. If that is the path you desire, please call me.”
Before he could even reply, the scenery around him changed in an instant.
The first thing he saw was a massive dragon.
The dragon was using a mountain peak as its base of support.
It stayed still in that position, staring intently at one spot.
“It looks like it’s on guard against something…”
Sweet turned his head toward where the dragon’s gaze was fixed.
Something was floating in the empty air.
He wanted to see it more clearly. As he had that thought, his view zoomed in.
“Whoa, what the…!”
Since it was his first time experiencing this, Sweet was momentarily startled.
But before he could finish expressing his admiration, his mouth closed shut.
It was Director Aurora. She was slowly floating towards the dragon.
―――
-Director entered the scene.
-Dragon raid, whoa.
-Is she going to solo it?
-Looks like this was filmed personally as well.
―――
The distance between Aurora and the dragon gradually closed.
Aurora was the first to go on the offensive, deploying a crimson magic circle.
“Fall, Meteor.”
The dark clouds in the sky cleared away in an instant.
What emerged from beyond them was a massive meteor summoned from the magic circle.
The meteor fell.
Slowly, at a pace that was by no means fast.
If you ran hard enough, you could probably escape its range.
It felt that slow, but it wasn’t.
The meteor was absolutely unavoidable.
The visible area of the meteor… The impact would affect every part of that range.
That’s why history called Meteor “the slow-approaching death.”
Once it was visible, it was an inescapable death.
But the dragon was different.
The dragon, known as the Lord of Magic.
It stopped the slow-approaching death.
No actions, no signs of preparation.
It simply watched.
“Chain Lightning, restrain it.”
Magic circles appeared all around the dragon.
Chains made of lightning extended out and bound the dragon’s body.
“Pull it down, Gravity.”
Under the enhanced power of gravity, the halted meteor began falling again.
At a much faster speed than before.
Craaaa—!!!
The dragon roared.
Its reptilian eyes glowed red.
Raising its massive body, it spread its wings.
The lightning chains snapped from the dragon’s flapping wings.
And just from its roar alone, the meteor began to crumble.
It was truly a being that could be called the pinnacle of all lifeforms.
However.
“You’re finally awake.”
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Aurora teleported to the mountain peak.
The short-distance teleportation spell, Blink.
“Well then, goodbye.”
The foolish dragon.
A flame of a different magnitude bloomed at the tip of Aurora’s sword as she bade it farewell.
That flame caused an explosion and enveloped the dragon’s body.
High-level magic, Explosion.
-!!!
The flame that scorched even the soul swallowed the dragon’s scream.
At the same time, the crumbling meteor crashed down.
Booooom—!!!
The collision between the massive meteor and the mountain peak.
As a result, everything in the surrounding area vanished.
The forests, the mountain ranges, and even the mountain peak.
The only thing left was the dragon’s corpse.
“Only magic can save this world.”
Aurora reached her hand toward the dragon’s heart.
With that sight as the last image, the scenery shifted back to the Hall of Heroes.
“Did it suit your taste?”
The maid asked.
Did the path of the Mage that he had just witnessed appeal to him?
“…Director, you’re scarier than I thought.”
Sweet, who had just given his review, burst into laughter.
“I like it. I really do.”
Sweet recalled the meteor from earlier.
“Can I become like that too?”
Sweet asked, but the maid didn’t give him an answer.
“Open the door beyond the statue and step into the new world.”
She simply gestured for him to move forward toward the new world.
“This is going to be fun.”
Sweet, his anticipation rising, opened the door at the end of the corridor.
—
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