"Aaaaaaaghââ!"

Like ripples spreading across a lake under moonlight, screams echoed through the dark prison. The mages of the Purple Tower who conducted the experiment found beauty in those sounds.

How could they not be pleased? The children's pain indicated the progress of their great work. Just as diligent farmers thank roosters crowing at dawn, they too thanked the screaming children.

In their minds, this wasn't particularly inhumane or cruel. They had the noble cause of pursuing esoteric knowledge, and besides...

Don't farmers harvesting crops behead living rice plants with sickles while giving thanks?

Now the first phase was complete.

Through repeated oppression, they had embedded deep into the children's marrow that escape from this tower was impossible, making them unable to even dream of active rebellion. It was time to proceed with the main experiment.

In the circular prison, they activated the magic circles embedded in twelve cells.

"It's hot, I'm dying of heat. Damn it, the sweat won't stop! Get me out of here!"

"I'm hungry. How am I supposed to finish a meal with just this piece of bread...?"

"It stings, it stings. Why are there suddenly thorns coming from the floor...?"

Small pain.

Everything begins with small pain. Each of the twelve rooms had magic circles installed according to their concept. Though the pain was trivial now, stress severe enough to make one give up on life was scheduled for later.

This was crucial work. The essence of "Illusion" that had never existed in this worldâlay in impermanence. That was the theory.

By lowering the will to live to near zero, creating a state neither alive nor dead. In this state, a child would become the "Gate" that could pull products of imagination into reality.

But pain alone couldn't lead to impermanence. One had to be disappointed in everything in the world. So the mages of the Purple Tower prepared a game.

"Now, what you see placed in the center of this circular prison is the 'Golden Key.'"

Though called a golden key, it was actually just a worthless ticketâa paper scrap with a key shape carelessly scribbled on it. Yet the children instinctively knew it was very important.

The experiment supervisor, "The Goat," explained the rules to the twelve children.

"From now on, at one-hour intervals, the prison cells will open and close in order, starting from number one. This means anyone can acquire this 'Golden Key.' Using it will immediately stop the torture in that particular cell."

However.

"In exchange, the torture intensity in one of the other cells will double. The 'Golden Key' is generated once a day. Do you understand?"

It was a cruel game. If you used the "Golden Key" for your own comfort, someone else would suffer more.

The twelve children split into three factions:

No one should use the key. Don't fall for their tricks.

We should take the key. We have no choice if we want to survive.

We should serve the key-maker. Perhaps they will save us.

In this situation, Yuna Urenstoâ

===============================================================

"âThat's how it is."

"So to summarize, the martial arts world is currently under the Heavenly Demon's curse. The way to break it is by using the 'Golden Key' from the Heavenly Demon's Tomb, but if one faction uses it, the curse intensifies for the other two factions?"

"Yes, the 'Golden Key' is basically a prisoner's dilemma."

"So that's why the three orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions are all rushing to the Heavenly Demon's Tomb."

I was able to get this backstory explanation from Aisha, who sat modestly with her silk blanket covering her cleavage.

When I asked how she knew all this when Woo Chae-rin and Oh Hye-in didn't, she said she'd thoroughly investigated everything while taking over half the demonic cult. That's my daughter for you.

"What exactly is this Heavenly Demon's curse?"

"They say your body gradually breaks down over time. When the curse reaches its final stage, it's as painful and agonizing as having your flesh torn from your bones."

"Good grief."

What a messed-up world setting.

But finally, I understand the context. I know what I need to do. In this story, the player's role must be to determine the fate of the "Golden Key."

I still don't understand why the "Stellaria" and "Magical Girl" parts were included... but I've decided on a direction, so I just need to move forward.

When Aisha saw that my thoughts seemed to be organized, she scratched her temple with her pipe and asked:

"So, what will you do? If you're taking the orthodox route, should I stir up some internal conflict in the demonic cult?"

"No, I'm not taking the orthodox route."

"Then are you going to show that dark temperament of yours and take the demonic cult route? Just say the wordâI've prepared beautiful women who've mastered demonic arts for daddy. Enough for a weekly rotation of three different women each day."

"I don't have a suicide hobby. Not interested. I won't take the demonic cult route either."

Ultimately, whichever side I choose, someone will suffer. Didn't she say the "Golden Key" intensifies the curse for the other two factions when used?

For the same reason, I won't take the unorthodox route either. I'll forge a fourth path.

"Everyone's just playing into the curse. If we solve the curse itself, there's no need to fight each other."

"The curse is a map gimmick, daddy. It's a fundamental session settingâis it even possible to remove the curse? There might not even be an opportunity for that."

I know.

Most likely, I won't be able to remove the curse. This isn't a session where I'm the protagonist; it's Yuna's flashback disguised as a session. But still.

"Even if we can't solve the curse, fighting over the 'Golden Key' is the wrong answer. The future is obvious. What happens after the orthodox faction seizes the key and uses it? Will the unorthodox and demonic factions facing death just sit quietly?"

They'll create a bloodbath, thinking, "If I'm going to die anyway, I'll take those bastards with me."

Though they explored the Heavenly Demon's Tomb and fought conflicts to survive, this story will ultimately end with all three sinking together.

So the best solution is harmony.

"A peaceful crossover that brings together the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions."

As I made a cross with my fingers declaring the path of harmony and peace, Aisha tapped her pipe with an unimpressed face.

"...I want to say it won't be that easy, but you're already blabbering because you've planned everything out, right? Contact Oh Hye-in and Woo Chae-rin when you're done explaining. We'll do as you say."

"Yes, Surahyeolgwi Nachal Baekcheonma. I'll follow your orders."

"...Hmmmph."

With a little teasing, Aisha glared at me fiercely with the pipe in her mouth. She managed to hide the blushing data on her face, but couldn't control her ears turning bright red.

Right, it's been about six months since Aisha was born. It must be time for her to want a cool name along with her chuunibyou phase.

I'm not really in a position to criticize someone else's naming sense. But I still have to say this:

"You need to study the aesthetics of exposure more. Just showing everything doesn't make it appealing. It's about the tease, you know? The almost-but-not-quite is the poin."

"Ah, I'll handle it myself, so shut up, daddy!"

"And if you named yourself Surahyeolgwi Nachal Baekcheonma, you should have paid attention to your coloring. If it were me, I would have started with your underwear colorâ"

"Hey!! I said I'll handle it myself!!"

I immediately bolted. Judging by the amount of anger in that vocalization, this could escalate to parent-child violence.

Aisha tracked me with tiger-like agility, wielding her pipe.

If I were at full condition with free use of magic, it might be different, but with the session's constraints, I couldn't shake off my daughter and ended up getting thoroughly beaten with the pipe. The familiar WWE.

While receiving Aisha's techniques, I briefly thought:

People sometimes face unavoidable challenges. Like the unpleasant roommate sealed in my head.

Looking back, the reason we were able to somehow resolve our fight with "that thing" was because we chose to care for each other instead of taking the easy way out.

If they had pointed swords at me thinking, "This thing might be released in the future, the affected mad magician might become a monster"âit would have been a tragedy.

But instead, we got this far by loving each other. I believe that this approach, which seems like a detour, will ultimately be the shortcut.

Whether orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic cultâlet's bind them together and break through. Let's aim for the ultimate happy ending.

Just as we've always done.

===============================================================

âYuna Urensto said:

"We need to join forces. Let's not be swayed by the 'Golden Key.' Let's not fall for the mages' instigation. Let's convince everyone and make a promise together. Let's not use the 'Golden Key'... at all."

She made the same judgment as the mad magician from the distant future. Another child listening to Yuna's persuasion nodded heavily after deep thought.

A pair of earrings swayed with the nodding motion.

"Okay, I understand. You're right. No one should use the key. I'll talk to the others too. But the greedy kids and those who follow those damn mages... can we convince them too?"

"...I'll try."

They needed to unite all the children with one heart and escape the temptation of the "Golden Key."

For everyone's sake. Believing that even in this inescapable hell, a better tomorrow could exist. Yuna Urensto clenched her small fist tightly.

===============================================================

I returned to Oh Hye-in and Woo Chae-rin and unpacked the information I'd gatheredâabout the Heavenly Demon's curse and the effects of the "Golden Key."

After hearing the information, both Oh Hye-in and Woo Chae-rin seemed lost in their own thoughts.

"A curse... It reminds me of 'Fallen Magic Demon King Lucifer Zecniel.' Since monsters gain power by feeding on people's feelings of despair, perhaps the Heavenly Demon's curse is his plan."

"A curse...? That makes me think about the characteristics of the 'Great Beast.' It was a being that tormented humans with pure malice, so perhaps my being summoned here is a sign of the 'Great Beast's' revival..."

"..."

Both of them turned their gazes toward me. They must be reflecting on the fact that I was the one who introduced both the Great Beast and Zecniel into the session. I turned my head away and gazed at distant mountains.

Like with Abraham, once they realize that I'm the one who made their worlds miserable, the atmosphere becomes strange and awkward.

Oh Hye-in bluntly asked:

"Since it came up, I'm curiousâdo you like self-sacrifice, boss?"

"Huh?"

"It happened with Chae-rin's group, with Centra's group, and here tooâDaesu oppa self-destructed at the end. Do you perhaps like... one person taking on everything and bringing happiness through their sacrifice?"

"...I don't particularly like it. Though I do think it's admirable."

A story that ends with sacrifice isn't a happy ending.

I prefer a complete victory, if possible. Even if the plausibility is slightly off, I want everyone to survive until the very end and share smiles.

When my sessions were just stories, I thought they had to end that way because fantasies are just fantasies, and I needed to return the players to reality.

But after realizing that NPCs had gained self-awareness, that changed. Shouldn't the main characters get married, have children, and live happily together?

So Irid's story, and other players' stories, aren't endings yet. They're ending withdrawals. I want to make them continue until they cross the finish line of happiness.

The same goes for my story with Yuna.

I clapped my hands to get their attention and began explaining the plan.

"Alright, the goal is simple. We happen to have an ally in each of the three factionsâorthodox, unorthodox, and demonic cult. Using this advantage, we'll unite the three factions to stop the fighting and prevent anyone from touching the 'Golden Key.'"

"Excellent except for the missing 'how.' Administrator, how exactly do you plan to unify these forces?"

"With the power of love."

"...?"

That's right.

No matter how much persuasion, distribution of interests, or threats you use, the embers of conflict don't easily extinguish. That's true even if I could beat them all down and make them kneel.

But people who love each other don't point swords at each other.

Conveniently, we have the Heavenly Demon's Tomb as our stage. A confined space full of mechanical traps and dangers. And such places are perfect for love to blossom.

With a bit of direction, guidance, modified traps, and a pair of men and women, it's simple. I solemnly raised my hand and declared the operation name:

"Operation name: 'Heavenly Demon's Tomb Heart-Pounding Date ~The Room You Can't Leave Until You Become a Couple~'"

"..."

"..."

If we turn everyone into couples regardless of faction, they can't fight!

===============================================================

The Heavenly Demon's Tombâthe grave of the Heavenly Demon.

Once a great evil known to everyone in the central plains. His wickedness and power reached the heavens, with rumors that he could turn day into night.

Surely there must be terrible and vicious trapsâpoisoned needles that rot flesh, or saw blades that instantly cut throats.

But for the sake of everyone in the sect, to solve the curse that has settled on the martial arts world, this place must be conquered. Without fail!

...The orthodox martial artist resolved this and vowed to accomplish it even at the cost of his life, but...

"W-why do I have to do this with a demonic cult minion...!!"

"Shut up! Orthodox lackey, your chattering is making the water balloon shake!"

Why am I doing a water balloon transfer, chest-to-chest, with a demonic cult villainess? Why are there suspiciously many two-person traps laid throughout the Heavenly Demon's Tomb? And why is my heart racing...?

...

"Alright, this section's modification is complete. Next."

"What mini-game should we put in next? Twister?"

"That's a good one."

The martial artist had no way of knowing that a genius scientist, a mad magician father-daughter duo, and a magical girl were working together to modify the Heavenly Demon's Tomb in real-time.