Chapter 28: Suddenly a peddler appeared, Part 1

When Rahat regained consciousness, he found himself in a place best described as a desolate wasteland of darkness.

The air, which should have been transparent, was a thick, inky black, yet he could still see. A paradoxical space.

The ground was a bloody crimson, like a battlefield soaked in gore. Above, an endless expanse of black stretched beyond his sight, punctuated by a single, crimson moon that seemed to distort perspective.

Rahat finally realized he was in the demon realm, the place he’d longed to reach.

But… how?

While the boundary between the human and demon realms had weakened recently, it was still difficult, if not impossible, for a human to cross over.

Only one explanation came to mind: the curse on his right hand, which had reacted strongly just before he arrived, and the girl he’d encountered.

That meant… the girl was a demon, the ultimate goal of their grand ambition, and he’d been brought here as a reward for his dedication!

“…I understand your enthusiasm… but this isn’t the demon realm.”

“Y-you are…!”

Thud.

Rahat’s legs gave way, and he collapsed before the white-haired girl who regarded him with an indifferent expression.

Not from fear, like ordinary humans, but from overwhelming joy.

While she might appear as an ordinary girl, Rahat sensed something vast lurking behind her small form.

Ordinary humans, those blessed by the gods, might only feel an inexplicable fear, but Rahat, bearing the curse of the stars, the blessing of the demons, could perceive her true form.

A massive, ethereal white whale, its enormous red eyes gazing down at him.

But Rahat felt no discomfort. He believed those favored by the gods shouldn’t be on the same level as them.

However, he had one question.

“…If this isn’t the demon realm… then where…?”

“Ah. That.”

Leviathan flicked its finger, conjuring a seat in the air, and sat down.

“I don’t know.”

“…Excuse me…?”

“That girl called it a ‘housing system’ or something… You don’t need to know. Just wait here until our conversation outside is finished. That’s the agreement.”

“…Understood.”

While the vague answer was unsatisfactory, Rahat obediently sat on the conjured seat.

A mighty demon had no obligation to explain anything to a lowly human, an insignificant ant in comparison.

He simply felt a pang of disappointment, realizing he wasn’t worthy of their attention yet.

But that sparked another question:

Who was this individual capable of contracting with such a powerful being?

Judging by the mention of a conversation “outside,” it referred to the woman who had been standing behind Leviathan…

To form a contract implied equality, or even superiority. How could such a person exist?

And why had she stopped him from killing the divinity user and brought him here?

Despite his burning curiosity, Rahat remained silent, his head bowed.

This was a test.

Leviathan hadn’t answered his questions because he hadn’t earned their favor yet.

Once he returned and eliminated the divinity users, proving his worth, he would receive the answers he sought. That’s what Rahat believed.

Crack. Crack.

Cracks appeared in the air, signaling the end of his time here. As light seeped through the fissures, Leviathan rose from the disappearing seat and looked at Rahat.

“Ah, right. One piece of advice. You likely won’t survive out there, but if you ever encounter the one who calls herself ‘Kayleen’…”

Shatter!

The space fractured, and Rahat saw Lucia, her expression serious.

Her wounds were slowly healing, and her sword seemed to glow even brighter than before, intensifying its repulsive aura.

“…Pray her soul… is free of sin.”

“Haaaaah!!!”

As Leviathan vanished along with the fractured space, Lucia’s glowing sword descended. Rahat, expecting minimal damage, casually raised a hand to block—

Slash!

“W-what…!”

—and his arm was severed, blood spraying from the wound.

Amadeus’s protagonist was… complete from the start. As if created solely as a vessel for divinity.

Like any gacha game protagonist, she wasn’t a flawless superhuman. She had a playful, mischievous side, but when the situation demanded it, she was serious and determined.

Her strength lay in her unwavering convictions. She saved people, towns, and even nations, guided by her firm beliefs.

However, this world’s protagonist wasn’t the same.

Unlike the original, she’d never trusted the kind and beautiful merchant who’d helped her, never sought my assistance in the past two years.

And judging by her current state, she hadn’t bothered forming close relationships with others, neglecting the experience-boosting quests.

Rahat, while a challenging boss, was beatable as long as one met the level requirement.

In fact, Amadeus’s protagonist was the unusual case, while this protagonist’s behavior was more realistic.

Would anyone readily accept a world-saving mission after losing their memories?

The original protagonist’s cheerful and proactive personality was a convenient plot device to avoid the awkwardness and potential stagnation of a confused and amnesiac hero.

It prevented player frustration and attrition.

Even I, a transmigrator without amnesia or a world-saving mission, had initially struggled.

Someone burdened with such a responsibility from the start, with no memories to guide them, would likely be paralyzed by indecision.

However, while it might sound cruel, Lucia had to overcome this, had to clear the game.

For the sake of this world, and selfishly, for my own sake. And perhaps, for her own growth as well.

So, I decided to bend the rules slightly.

A peddler, bound to a specific location, would actively seek out the player.

It wasn’t a complete deviation from the established lore. There were instances in some event stories where Kayleen appeared in unexpected locations.

I’d wanted to emulate the post-apocalyptic merchant aesthetic, with various goods attached to my coat, but…

The scene before me was… grim.

The expensive trees within the academy grounds were uprooted and scattered, the ground scarred and torn.

Even with magic, restoring this would cost a fortune. And the academy’s reputation would plummet if news of the cult attack spread.

The protagonist’s party wasn’t faring well either.

Princess Carmel lay curled up in a corner, covered in blood. A sword protruded from Ciella’s chest.

Fortunately, holy weapons didn’t inflict lasting damage on those aligned with good, so she’d recover.

Lucia’s ankle was twisted at an unnatural angle, her body bruised and battered.

It was slightly disappointing that she didn’t recognize me.

While it was a testament to the Mask of Anonymity’s effectiveness, I still felt a pang of resentment. I’d saved her life twice before. This would be the third time.

Regardless, I had a job to do.

I removed my mask and spoke, reciting the line I’d rehearsed.

Lucia’s eyes widened as she finally recognized me.

“You seem to be in a difficult situation. Need anything?”

“Y-you…!”

“I’ll offer you the lowest price.”

Time to make a deal, protagonist.

It sounded a bit villainous, considering I was here to help, but…