After returning to the castle, Xio, the "Knight Princess," immediately announced the news of victory to the soldiers and adventurers. After the cheers died down, she introduced Ebner, this "new Hero," to everyone.
Although Ebner technically belonged to the category of a blacklisted individual without a "destined identity," judging from what he had just done, even if he claimed he wasn't a "Hero," no one would believe him.
The arrival of a new "Hero" who had eliminated the monsters besieging the kingdom was naturally exhilarating news. The king immediately ordered a grand banquet to be held to celebrate the victory and entertain the "Hero."
But how could Ebner afford to waste time here? He stated that he needed to immediately go and rescue a neighboring country, tactfully declining the king's goodwill.
Xio also seized the opportunity to volunteer herself as a guide, saying she wished to follow at the "Hero's" side.
Because the situation truly was urgent, the king, though regretful, did not refuse. He even bestowed large quantities of supplies and equipment upon them.
—Though Ebner had no use for these things at all. After resisting the rules of the "Hand of Order," he and this "world" no longer belonged to the same system.
"The new Hero is really amazing! What a pity he's leaving right away—otherwise I'd definitely have a drink with him."
"Her Highness the Princess seems to be following the 'Hero'… I'm so envious. It's just a shame I'm only level 8—by the Hero's side I'd only be a burden."
"Only someone as strong as the 'Knight Princess' is worthy of teaming up with the 'Hero,' right? Hopefully the new Hero can destroy the Demon King's Castle."
Amid the discussions of the adventurers, Ebner and Xio left the royal city and headed toward the neighboring country.
"So this is basically the distance from Ginster Street to the 'Brave One's Tavern,' and you're already abroad… not even one stop on the Backlund subway," Ebner complained as he looked at the map the king had given them.
Xio responded absentmindedly, occasionally turning her head to glance back at the king standing on the castle balcony, watching them leave.
The king looked very much like her father, Mason Derecha. Combined with what Ebner had said earlier—that her "identity" largely came from her own "subconscious"—this king was likely the image of her father in her heart.
Seeing this, Ebner sighed and said, "That's just an illusion. It's no different from a dream."
After we go back, however many dreams like this you want, I can satisfy them all.
"I understand…" Xio nodded. After falling silent for a moment, she then asked, "Tell me—after we leave here, what will happen to this kingdom?"
"Two possibilities. First, it was a 'module' temporarily added because of your 'subconscious.' Once you leave, that portion of information might be removed…
"Second, it might assign some 'ghost' to play your role and continue this 'world's' story."
Ebner thought for a moment before answering.
This warship was called the "Ghost Empire" for a reason. Within its many "worlds" were countless "ghosts," each implanted with an "identity," forming the myriad living beings of those worlds.
As for the origins of these "ghosts"? Some were former subjects who had once believed in the "Night Emperor" and were taken aboard this ship after death. Others were people over the past several thousand years whose faith had been weak and who died amid various "catastrophes."
Of course, there were also those who had accidentally fallen into "mirror worlds" and died unnatural deaths.
"'Story'?" Xio caught the implication hidden in Ebner's words.
"The core of the 'Ghost Empire' consists of the former 'Demoness of Apocalypse' Monica, an unknown 'Planeswalker,' and a 'Hand of Order' left behind after the Night Emperor's death.
"The 'Planeswalker' turned what he saw on his journeys into 'worlds,' but under the Demoness's influence, the 'stories'—or scripts—of these worlds are inevitably destined to encounter 'catastrophe,' or even 'apocalypse.'
"But the 'balance' aspect of the 'Hand of Order' brings vitality to these worlds… which is us, the 'intruders,'" Ebner explained while thinking. "Or rather, even that former 'Demoness of Apocalypse' Monica herself seems to have been hoping for a 'savior' or 'hero,' which is why the current rules came into being."
These "worlds" having such a strong video-game style from my previous life is really not right… Ebner did not say this last sentence aloud.
"So that means only by saving the 'world' within the 'story' will the correct 'exit' appear?" Xio grasped the hidden meaning in Ebner's words after a bit of thought.
Ebner nodded. "That's right… but 'saving' also has different levels, corresponding to different 'exits'…
"For example, after we just wiped out the monsters besieging the castle, an 'exit' appeared within the royal city. Theoretically, if we had stayed and attended the king's banquet, we could have left directly through that 'exit.'
"However, that 'exit' is low-level and would definitely deviate from the 'correct' route, moving us farther and farther from the 'endpoint.'"
Xio had experienced similar "rules" once in Daniel's Maze, so she wasn't particularly surprised. She instead asked, "So once we find Edwina, we'll go straight to the Demon King's Castle?"
"Yes. And we'll also retrieve the Beyonder characteristic of the previous 'Hero,' Giuseppe, as material for your advancement to an 'Imperative Mage,'" Ebner said with a smile.
As for that so-called "Demon King," he didn't really take it seriously—just a Sequence 3–level monster. In this "world," that was merely level 30. If Giuseppe had focused on grinding levels a bit longer back then, he might not have lost.
While they were talking, they had already entered the neighboring country's territory—after all, it wasn't far.
What surprised Ebner slightly was that this place was already blanketed in ice and snow. Countless monsters were "sealed" within blocks of ice, like oversized ice sculptures.
"What a huge area-of-effect 'ice and snow' spell… Does this country have a legendary mage above level 20?" Ebner asked in confusion.
Xio searched her "character setting" memories and shook her head. "The strongest here is their queen, a level-16 'Arcane Scholar'… It couldn't be her!"
"Then it's very likely Edwina made her move!" Ebner's eyes lit up as he took Xio and flew straight toward the neighboring country's castle.
Soon, a towering structure that had already collapsed by more than half appeared before them.
"This is… the walls were breached?" Ebner frowned as he slowly descended.
Xio grabbed a soldier digging through the ruins and asked, "What happened here? Where is your queen?"
The soldier raised his head dully. Then, as if recognizing who had seized him, a look of joy appeared on his face. "You're Her Highness the 'Knight Princess'?!
"That's wonderful! Please, save our queen!"
Even without being able to use Beyonder abilities, the level gap of over ten gave Xio immense "authority." She asked again, "Soldier, tell me—what happened?"
"Yes, Your Highness!" The soldier responded, organized his thoughts, then continued. "Not long ago, the monsters breached the walls. Just as the queen was about to die in battle, that Frost Dragon from the northern 'Abyss of Horns' arrived. It used its dragon breath to kill all the monsters…
"But that dragon wasn't here to save us… Afterward, it took all of the kingdom's gold and books. When the queen went to negotiate, she was instead abducted by it…"
"Stole the gold and the books…" Ebner repeated those two words with a strange expression, and the image of the flag on the Golden Dream, composed of coins from various nations, surfaced in his mind.
"As expected of a 'Pirate Admiral'… even the role that fits her subconscious is that of a habitual plunderer," Xio sighed inwardly.
It was obvious now—they had already determined that the evil dragon was none other than "Iceberg Admiral" Edwina.
…
At the same time, inside a cave within the "Abyss of Horns," the queen who had been captured by the dragon gradually awakened from her confusion.
"I am the kingdom's 'Scholar Queen'?
"No… that's not right! I'm Filinna of the Kingdom of Loen!
"I remember that after parting ways with Stuart, I accidentally fell into a gap between 'mirror worlds' during one experiment…
"How did I suddenly arrive in this strange world?"
(End of the chapter)