A whole month passed in the daily rhythm of life with Eriri and Yukino. During this time, Ryuya also visited the Yukinoshita parents a couple of times.
Strangely, Haruno wasn't there on either occasion, and he heard she was busy with some project involving Shinomiya Kaguya.
Gradually, the mental strain from the decade of relentless combat within Rashomon had settled. After a month, Ryuya felt ready to initiate a new Life Simulation.
[Host's current points: 3560.] (Points from one A-rank and two S-rank evaluations, plus converting the 3 daily simulation attempts into 90 points each day, accumulated over a month.)
[Exchange items?]
Scanning the System Shop, Ryuya found numerous high-quality items, though their prices were steep.
Generally, D-rank items cost 100 points, C-rank 500, B-rank 1000, and A-rank items jumped to 5000 points.
Items rated A+, A++, S, SS, and beyond were each in their own league, costing tens of thousands at minimum, making them very expensive.
'System, these prices are a bit unbalanced compared to the points I earn.' Ryuya remarked, raising an eyebrow. He recalled that an A-rank evaluation only granted 100 points, and a perfect S-rank just 300. It seemed the Simulator was designed to encourage earning rewards through scenarios rather than direct purchases.
[Host, begin a new Life Simulation?]
The system ignored his comment and prompted again.
'Let me think... which scenario should I choose?'
After completing Rashomon, two new scenarios had unlocked: 'Eternal Night Empire' and 'Age of Gods Legend'. Based on the names alone, it was hard to guess the specifics. After some consideration, Ryuya decided 'Age of Gods Legend' seemed more fitting, given his prior experience with the end of that era in Camelot.
[Confirmed simulation scenario: Age of Gods Legend. Please select talents to carry.]
'I'll take The Eternal Nation, White Dragon King's Bloodline, and Fairy of Avalon.'
He had planned his talent selection beforehand. This time, Ryuya opted against choosing the power of the Lord of the End.
The main reason was that each simulation started him from scratch, and the Lord of the End required a high base level of power he wouldn't initially possess.
If he had possessed either the White or Red Dragon Bloodline during the Rashomon scenario, the ability to transform into a dragon would have provided a massive boost to his endurance and strength, preventing much of the struggle he faced.
Therefore, selecting three talents required careful thought about synergy.
[Confirmed host selection: Fairy of Avalon (S), White Dragon King's Bloodline (S), The Eternal Nation (SS).]
[This simulation begins.]
[You are born.]
[You died.]
[This simulation has ended. Evaluation is... You want an evaluation? You died immediately!]
A series of question marks seemed to float in Ryuya's mind.
Having completed two scenarios, Ryuya considered himself somewhat experienced.
So, what did 'died immediately' mean? What exactly happened?
He was utterly baffled. Even the Sun-Crowned King was confused.
"System, is there some mistake? How could I die? How could I die right at the start?"
[No mistake. Host can spend 1000 points for a partial data analysis.]
"...Hold on."
Ryuya tried to recall the brief glimpse he had before dying. He remembered being born into a world filled with intense, shimmering light... and then he was simply crushed.
Not killed by anyone or anything specific, but the very environment of his birth was utterly incompatible with his existence… a place where he couldn't possibly survive.
So, he died. Instantly and efficiently.
"System, what exactly is the 'Age of Gods Legend' scenario? Where was my birth point?"
[Please spend 1000 points for a partial data analysis.]
"Are you upset because I didn't run any simulations for a month?"
[...No, Host, you are overthinking it.]
He definitely sensed a hesitation there!
Sighing, Ryuya realized the system seemed to have its own quirks. He started trying to reason with it, a feeling reminiscent of trying to persuade Merlin to keep a normal sleep schedule.
[Please spend 100 points for a partial data analysis.]
"I agree."
Finally, the system relented, offering a heavily discounted rate.
[Age of Gods Legend. An SSS-rank danger level scenario set in the primordial Age of Gods. This is an era where deities walk the earth in great numbers, an era where Phantasmal Species are as common as stray dogs. It is the earliest and most glorious epoch for humanity.]
Though the description was brief, the information within was staggering.
Danger level: SSS. Gods everywhere. Phantasmal Species as common as dogs?
He knew from his time in Camelot, which existed at the end of the Age of Gods, that beings like Vortigern (White Dragon), Artoria (Red Dragon), Vivian (Succubus), and Merlin (Incubus) were considered Phantasmal Species. But by that late era, their numbers had already dwindled significantly.
Yet this 'Age of Gods Legend' scenario described them as 'common as dogs'? This had to represent the absolute peak of mystery, the very dawn of human history.
"The dawn of human history..."
Names from ancient myths flickered through his mind. Ryuya opened his computer and began searching for information.
A while later...
"As I thought... the 'Age of Gods Legend' must be set there..."
The genesis of mystery. An environment so potent that even a White Dragon and Fairy hybrid couldn't withstand it.
The most ancient era of humankind, teeming with Phantasmal Species and gods... After reviewing history, he found very few settings fit all these criteria perfectly.
Greek Mythology's Mount Olympus? The level of mystery didn't seem high enough.
Norse Mythology's Asgard? Humanity was already somewhat established, not the true beginning.
Even the dynasties of ancient China, for all their power, didn't have Phantasmal Species in such overwhelming numbers, certainly not 'as common as dogs'.
That left only one legendary civilization that fit.
The King acknowledges, the King permits, the King bears the whole world!
The most ancient Age of Gods: Uruk of Mesopotamia!